IRBIL, 16 February 2021, (TON):  US military base in Irbil to protect Kurdish received series of rockets in an attack on Monday that killed a civilian contractor and wounded five other people including a US service member, according to reports by the US coalition in Iraq.

US-Kurdish security sources said at least three rockets landed near Irbil International Airport which caused several loud explosions and fire near the airport. US troops are holed up in the military base near Irbil airport. The US presence in Ain al-Asad Air Base and Irbil Air Base was subject of criticism for quite some time.

A statement from the Kurdish interior ministry said a number of rockets were fired towards Irbil and its outskirts on Monday killing one and wounding some people.

Reports says that US contractors are empowering a group Shiite group namely Saraya Awliya al-Dam overtly claiming to be anti-American to balance the situation arising of Turkish interests in Iraq, especially after  Turkish defense minister's visit to Iraq and sending of 25 Turkish military consultants to Baghdad to support Iraqi army. 

Sources in Baghdad said despite tension between the United States and Iran, Saraya Awliya al-Dam is being funded and armed to check foreign interference by neighbouring Muslim countries. However, inner circles claims that US has plans to target population in Kirkuk are surroundings.

MANILA, 15 February, 2021 (TON): The military aid provided by the U.S. to Philippines amounts to “loose change” in comparison to other Asian countries, a top official said on Monday, justifying President Rodrigo Duterte’s demand to pay more.

Last week, Duterte said, that the United States should fork out more if it wants to maintain a two-decade old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which he unilaterally cancelled last year in an angry response to an ally being denied a U.S. visa.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque told the media, that “If we have very strong ties with a very strong ally then I think it also comes with a higher amount of financial assistance to be given.”

He cited a study by the Washington-based Stimson Center, which showed that Philippines received $3.9 billion in U.S. counter-terrorism support from fiscal year 2002-2017 compared to the $16.4 billion for Pakistan over the same period.

In response to the Stimson Center’s study that Philippines received $3.9 billion in U.S. counter-terrorism support from fiscal year 2002-2017 compared to the $16.4 billion for Pakistan over the same period. Rogue said, “We got $3.9 billion. Is that a huge amount? That’s loose change compared to what other countries were getting.”

Although, there are close ties between the military of the two countries as a result of the joint exercises that even boosted Philippines forces, the U.S. embassy in Manila did not respond to the request for immediately.

DUBAI, 15 February, 2021 (TON): On Monday, Iran said if the parties of the nuclear deal fail to fulfill the obligations, Iran will block snap inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog this month.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, “If others do not fulfill their obligations by Feb. 21, the government is obliged to suspend the voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol,” “It does not mean ending all inspections by the U.N. nuclear watchdog. All these steps are reversible if the other party changes its path and honors its obligations.

Iran’s statement sets a challenge for the U.S. President Joe Biden in the hope to revive the accord.

The Biden administration aims to return to the nuclear deal, that former administration abandoned in 2018.

The deal made Iran agree to restraint its nuclear program in return for lifting of sanctions.

Iran has long denied seeking nuclear weapons.

Iran’s intelligence minister said last week that persistent Western pressure could push Tehran to fight back like a “cornered cat” and seek nuclear weapons. But Khatibzadeh rejected this, citing a religious decree issued in the early 2000s by the Islamic Republic’s top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, banning nuclear arms.

After the Trump administration quit, Iran began violating some limits, however, Washington and Tehran now seek each other to first initiative to return to the deal.

LONDON, 15 February, 2021 (TON): Two Houthi militia drones intercepted and destroyed by the Arab coalition on Sunday.

The drones were launched towards Khamis Mushait in Southern Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Early on Monday, a third one was shot down.

The drones targeted the civilians and the civilian property, coalition spokesman Col. Turki Al-Maliki said.  

Al-Maliki said “civilians are a red line” and that the coalition would respond by targeting Houthi militia leaders and members.

The attack in the afternoon prevailed four days after the passenger aircraft droned on Abha airport.

WASHINGTON, 15 February, 2021 (TON): US State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned the killing of 13 Turkish citizens kidnapped in Northern Iraq as the Turkish officials said they were executed by militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

The Defense minister of Turkey, Hulusi Akar stated, the executions, which included military and police personnel, took place during a Turkish military operation launched on 10 February against the PKK, in which 48 militants were also killed.

Troops have found the bodies of 13 Turkish citizens abducted by Kurdish insurgents in a cave complex in northern Iraq.

The United States on Sunday condemned the killing of 13 kidnapped Turkish citizens in northern Iraq after Turkish officials said they were).

In reaction to this, the U.S. said in a statement, "The United States deplores the death of Turkish citizens in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.”

It added, “If reports that the PKK was responsible were confirmed, we condemn this action in the strongest possible terms."

Although the operation Claw-Eagle 2 led to the deaths of 48 PKK militants, including three senior members, and the capture of two insurgents, the world considers it an act of brutality.

KHARTOUM, 15 February, 2021 (TON): Ethiopian aggression on Sudanese territories and direct violation of its lands have been condemned by Sudan in a statement on Sunday.

The FM Sudan, said while describing the aggression on Sudanese territories as “an unacceptable and regretful escalation.”

“The aggression contradicts the values of good neighborliness and the positive treatment between the countries to strengthen security and stability,” the statement said.

It added that the actions of Ethiopia would have caused a dangerous impact on security and stability in the region.

However, the statement did not specify the nature of the new aggression and whether it had led to casualties on the Sudanese forces.

Sudan has called Ethiopia to have a dialogue on completing the re-demarcation of the agreed borders and place signs indicating them.

The Sudan of Sudan has made Ethiopia responsible for sheer aggression on the Sudanese lands however, this conflict is not new yet it dates back to the tensions in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region in early November and the arrival of Ethiopian refugees in Sudan.

WASHINGTON, 15 February, 2021 (TON): Donald Trump's acquittal for inciting mob violence is a reminder that "democracy is fragile" says the new President Joe Biden.

The conviction voting fell short of the two-thirds majority, although seven Republicans joined the Democrats in voting to convict. The vote split largely along party lines, with the seven Republicans joining the Senate's 48 Democrats and two independents in voting to convict.

Mr. Biden said the charge, relating to Mr. Trump's role in the Capitol riot last month, was "not in dispute", while seeking to move on from the process.

In the Senate on Saturday, the trial ended with a 57-43 vote in favor of conviction.

Calling it a “sad chapter”, Mr. Biden has kept his distance from the impeachment process, not watching the trial live. Aides were reportedly worried that it would distract from his early plans for office.

NEW DELHI, 15 February, 2021 (TON): British cabinet member, Alok Sharma arrived in New Delhi on Monday to have climate discussions with the Indian leaders.

Mr. Sharma, the President designated to lead the UN climate talks will meet senior Indian leaders and leaders from the business and civil society to strengthen the UK-India climate partnership for a COP26 summit this year.

Priority themes at COP26 with potential collaboration include adaptation and resilience; corporate action; green finance; clean growth and technology; and nature-based solutions.

New Delhi-based British High Commission said, in his first visit to Asia as COP (Conference of the Parties) President, Sharma is expected to welcome India's significant progress on climate action and clean energy transition and also will highlight PM Modi’s global leadership in setting up the ISA (International Solar Alliance) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), that UK is proud to co-chair.

India and the UK have many mutual common priorities on climate action however, it is likely expected that India’s expertise on clean energy transition is worth globally that is a part of COP.

LEKKI, 15 February, 2021 (TON): Nigerians rallied against the reopening of the Lekki toll gate in Lagos, where the police shot at unarmed demonstrators and the place of the #EndSARS protest movement.

The people are demanding justice for the victims shot in October 2020 incident.

Amnesty International says at least 10 were killed in October.

One protester said, "For the people that were shot, for the people that died, for the people that have been amputated, for the people that have lost their loved ones, we want justice, nothing more than justice.”

A dozen protesters who rallied against the reopening were arrested as a commission was launched to investigate reports of police brutality which voted to reopen the tollgate.

However, it is observed that some protestors are denouncing President Buhari and his presidency and calling him to step down.

DELHI, 15 February, 2021 (TON): Disha Ravi, a twenty-one year old environmentalist has been arrested after allegedly using social media to mobilize support for the farmers protesting by sharing the campaign, “toolkit”.

The girl was taken from her home in Bangalore on Saturday and flown to Delhi for police inquiry.

This reflects the capital’s immensely challenging approach to dissent and criticism, said the activists.

The Delhi police said on Sunday, that Disha is a key conspirator in developing and disseminating the toolkit, which they have described as “a call to wage economic, social, cultural and regional war against India”.

Police say Ravi developed the guide, which offered advice on how to support the farmers’ protests and shared it with Thunberg. They also accuse Ravi of collaborating with Sikh separatists “to spread disaffection against the Indian state”.

The girl has been remanded in police custody for five days for interrogation, the court statement said.

Ravi’s detention has prompted alarm among activists and lawyers. “To accuse a young climate activist of sedition even if it’s true that she had some part in a social media ‘toolkit’ is deeply egregious,” said Karuna Nundy, a Supreme Court lawyer. “This comes at a time when those who disagree with government policy are being systematically targeted for saying so.”

Authorities are investigating what they say is an international conspiracy against the Indian government after Thunberg wrote a tweet showing her support for the protesting farmers and providing a link to the toolkit.

Ravi’s detention has prompted alarm among activists and lawyers. “To accuse a young climate activist of sedition — even if it’s true that she had some part in a social media ‘toolkit’ — is deeply egregious,” said Karuna Nundy, a Supreme Court lawyer. “This comes at a time when those who disagree with government policy are being systematically targeted for saying so.”

“Going after perhaps the youngest and most vulnerable of the activists sends out a chilling message,” she added.

The months-long protests against the farm laws are viewed as intentionally deregulating India’s controlled agriculture markets by the overseas Sikh separatists as the Delhi alleges, however, the many consider linking it to a separatist movement has allowed the authorities to use tough tactics.