TRIPOLI, 16 March, 2021 (TON): In 2021, a total of 4,129 illegal migrants have been rescued and returned to Libya so far, said the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday.

The media cited IOM saying, the rescued migrants comprised 293 women and 215 children.

73 migrants died and 159 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route so far this year, it added.

According to the IOM estimates, a total of 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya in 2020.

However, in the North African nation following the 2011 uprising that toppled Qaddafi, thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean from Libya towards Europe amid the chaos and violence. Many were either rescued or arrested by the authorities.

TEL AVIV, 16 March, 2021 (TON): Following the cabinet’s decision to enable nationals to arrive before the 23 March elections, flights to Israel will be allowed from all destinations, starting from Tuesday.

Media reports said the cabinet decided to keep a quota of no more than 3,000 arrivals per day.

On 24 January, Israel imposed a ban on incoming and outgoing flights, however, later the country eased the ban allowing some flights from London, Frankfurt, Paris, Kiev, and New York.

Consequently, the allowing of flights comes about a week before Israel's unprecedented fourth elections within two years, following three rounds of inconclusive elections.

LONDON, 16 March, 2021 (TON): The PM office said on Monday, the PM of the UK Boris Johnson will visit India at the end of April.

PM Boris’s visit will be the first international trip after the U.K.’s Brexit exit from the EU.

To enhance and boost trade talks between the two countries, Boris planned the visit in January this year but canceled it due to a pandemic crisis.

At the time, his office said he had hoped to rearrange the visit before Britain hosted the meeting of leaders from the Group of Seven rich nations in June, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to attend as a visitor.

The foreign minister Dominic Raab said in December last year, “We are pursuing trade deals from Australia to the U.S. and around the world particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, a huge growth market for the future."

However, as part of the U.K.’s Integrated Review of government policy for the coming years,  Johnson's government said it would tilt its focus towards the Indo-Pacific region, saying the area increasingly represented the geopolitical center of the world.

LUCKNOW, 16 March, 2021 (TON): For inappropriate comments against the Holy Quran, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) issued a notice to the former Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board Chairman Waseem Rizvi.

The notice involved that Rizvi must tender an unconditional apology and withdraw his comments within 21 days.

The NCM has raised concerns about Rizvi's statements in the media on his plea in the Supreme Court for removal of the 26 verses from the Quran and has called it a "well-thought conspiracy to disturb communal harmony."

The NCM will hold a hearing under Section 9 of the NCM Act of 1992 and take appropriate legal action, in response to failing Rizvi's apology within the stipulated time, said the notice sent by Joint Secretary, central government, Daniel E Richards.

Complaints to NCM were made by one Abdul Majid Nizami, Ali Raza Zaidi, Mohd Faizan Chaudhary, and Maulana Syed Nazar Abbas.

The ICM concluded after receiving complaints that statements were "provocative, malicious, against the national interest and creating animosity between different sects of Muslims and against rights of religious freedom guaranteed under the Constitution of India."

 The NCM further pointed out that Rizvi's statements violate Section 153 A and Section 295 A of the IPC (Indian Penal Code), the notice came later.

BRUSSELS, 16 March, 2021 (TON): On Monday, a call for improving the external and internal coordination on the bloc's migration issues have been made by the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

On Monday, the EU Ministers of Foreign and Home Affairs held an informal video conference on the external aspects of the bloc's migration policy under the new pact on migration and asylum, the media reported.

Following the meeting, Borell told the media, "The internal and external strands of migration have to go hand in hand."

He urged the member states to work in partnership with the countries of origin and transit and said, "We cannot look at the migration policy in isolation from overall relations with our partners and in order to achieve the results we are looking for.”

The Ministers, who focused in particular on migration as an important element in relations with key third countries, discussed at the meeting how to best develop and further enhance cooperation between countries of origin, transit, and destination in a comprehensive and mutually beneficial manner.

COX'S BAZAR, 16 March, 2021 (TON): Fire broke out in a house in the Chakaria area of Cox’s Bazar caused three casualties on Monday.

At 11 pm, the incident occurred in Sabanghata area of ​​Harbang union as a result of electrical malfunctioning, said local UP Chairman Mizanul Islam.

When the house caught fire, the three siblings were sleeping, the rest of the family was in another room.

The mother along with one child was able to escape the room, while the other children who died were unable to flee the area, Chakaria police station OC Saker Md Jubair said.

Locals tried to douse the fire before firemen managed to reach the spot. Later, members of the law enforcement also arrived at the place.

KABUL, 16 March, 2021 (TON): On Monday, Afghan’s Educational Ministry disapproved of the ban on age 12 and above schoolgirls singing in public.

Najiba Aryan, a ministry spokesperson said, “The letter issued recently by the education department of Kabul city does not reflect the stance and official policy of the Education Ministry.”

She added, “The Education Ministry is assessing the issue, will share its findings and, if need be, will also take disciplinary action.”

A letter leaked from Ahmad Zamir Kawara, Kabul’s director of education, asking “all public, private and supplementary schools to ban schoolgirls 12 and older from performing in music choirs in any ceremony and public programs” was disclosed to the public on 10 March.

The letter further warned the headmasters or principals of the schools to be punished if schools did not follow the order. It stated that teenage schoolgirls could only perform in choirs for female audiences and could not be trained by male tutors.

The move was seen by many as part of Kabul’s campaign to boost its religious credentials with the Taliban ahead of crucial talks on the future of Afghanistan. However, the previous decision also evoked harsh criticism.

TRIPOLI, 16 March, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the swearing-in of the newly selected unity government before the Libyan parliament.

UNSMIL said in a statement, “Jan Kubis the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya, and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), welcomes the swearing-in of the Government of National Unity (GNU) today before the House of Representatives (HoR), during its session in Tobruk."

Moahmmed Menfi was appointed as the President of the Presidency Council along with the new Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, whose Government, was granted confidence by the House of Representatives on Wednesday; and its main task will be to general elections in the country on 24 December, 2021.

The Mission confirmed that it, along with its international partners, will stand firmly ready to continue providing all necessary support to the Libyan people and Libyan institutions.

In addition, Kubis urged the new executive authority to swiftly embark on addressing the many challenges the Libyan people face, enhance the living conditions and basic services and prepare the country for the holding of inclusive national elections later this year.

MADRID, 16 March, 2021 (TON): Pablo Iglesias, Spain’s second Deputy Prime Minister announced to resign from the cabinet, planning to contest the upcoming regional elections in the Autonomous Community of Madrid.

According to his announcement on Monday, Iglesias will contest from as a candidate his left-wing Unidas Podemos party, media reported.

Iglesias said, “His aim was to prevent the far-right from taking over the institutions."

"Madrid needs a left-wing government and I believe I can be useful in helping to win and lead it," commented Iglesias.

He planned to discuss the possibility of a joint candidacy with Inigo Errejon, leader of the left-wing Mas Pais (Mas Madrid in the Madrid area) party and one of the original founders of Unidas Podemos.

DHAKA, 16 March, 2021 (TON): In an effort to build one-story brick and cement houses, the government of Bangladesh is constructing houses for 30,000 freedom fighters and their families.

Each 635 square feet house, to be called Bir Nibas, will include two bedrooms, two washrooms, dining space, and a kitchen.

The project worth Tk 41.23 billion will be placed before the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council or ECNEC for approval on Tuesday.

The project will replace a previous program to build flats in multi-story buildings for the freedom fighters, said Mamun-Al-Rashid, a member of the Planning Commission.

However, this initiative taken by the government aims to improve the social status and develop the socio-economic condition of the freedom fighters and their families through Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s gift on the occasions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary and the golden jubilee of independence.