GUWAHATI, 18 February, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, PM Narendra Modi said with the launching of a huge number of connectivity projects, Assam and the northeast region would emerge as the hub of East-Asia and will strengthen the "Aatmnirbhar Bharat" initiative.

As the projects like 'Mahabahu-Brahmaputra' Ro-Pax vessel operations, the foundation stone of the Dhubri Phulbari Bridge, and performing the Bhumi Pujan for construction of Majuli Bridge launched in Assam, via videoconferencing the PM said these projects would boost the more reliable, efficient, and time-saving connectivity and help to further widen the tourism and improve the economy.

Referring to the setting up of the first National Data Centre for the North Eastern Region at Amingaon, on the outskirts of Guwahati city, Modi said that the data center for the eight northeastern states would do huge improvement to the e-governance, start-ups, and industrialization in the entire region. "India's 6th data centre in Guwahati would further strengthen the Digital India vision," he pointed out.

"Projects already implemented or under implementations would reinforce the physical and cultural integrity of Assam and other northeastern states and security of the nation would further make it stronger.

"Many projects of roadways, waterways, airways, railways, and several gas grids are either completed or under implementation," the Prime Minister said.

Praising the former government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee on what progress and growth their government brought in the northeast, Modi encouraged words of appreciation for his own government and said, the present "double engine" government has given further momentum to it.

TRIPOLI, 18 February, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, Libyans flocked to the Martyrs’ Square in the center of the capital Tripoli for celebrating the 10^th anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the regime of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The march amid the tight security measures also included children.

Kholoud Mazugi, a Libyan citizen said, "Today, we celebrate the revolution in an enthusiastic atmosphere. We are optimistic about the political stability that prevails in the country now. We hope that this atmosphere will translate into real stability and address the economic and security conditions that the Libyan people are suffering from."

At the celebration, Khalifa Al-Darhoubi said the anniversary should be an incentive for politicians to resolve issues and achieve consensus on the road map leading to the elections.

"We came with the hope that the Libyans still have the opportunity to move on and forget the past, take advantage of the current opportunities, rebuild the country, improve their conditions, and reach the elections at the end of this year," Al-Darhoubi said.

In February 2011, against the regime of Gaddafi, many Libyans demonstrated demanding justice, equality, and improved living conditions. And soon afterward, the demonstrations turned into an armed conflict between the rebels and the Gaddafi forces

Since then, Libya has been plagued by escalating violence, political division, and economic instability.

COLOMBO, 18 February, 2021 (TON): One of the main challenges faced by the Sri Lankan packaging industry is the transition to eco-friendly packaging and the current Government is willing to provide the packaging industry with the world's most advanced technology and professional resources to overcome this challenge, said Sri Lankan Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa while addressing the opening ceremony of the “Lankapak” exhibition.

Minister Weerawansa mentioned, “we have to continue our political and socio-economic activities under the new normalization situation and ensure the economic development of the country by holding these exhibitions, conferences, and seminars while maintaining health guidelines”.

The minister voiced in favor of eco-friendly packaging and the country’s progress saying the government has re-established the Advisory Committee on the Packaging Industry that has been dormant for a long time.

WASHINGTON, 18 February, 2021 (TON): U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said, the United States will pay the more than $200 million it owes to the World Health Organization by the end of the month, a move that reaffirms the new administration’s commitment to global health.

“This is a key step forward in fulfilling our financial obligations as a WHO member and it reflects our renewed commitment to ensuring the WHO has the support it needs to lead the global response to the pandemic even as we work to reform it for the future,” Blinken told the U.N. Security Council during a videoconference.

Since becoming the nation’s top diplomat, Blinken stated, “The United States will work with our partners across the globe to expand manufacturing and distribution capacity and to increase access, including marginalized populations.”

 “The ongoing expert investigation about the origins of this pandemic and the report that will be issued must be independent with findings based on science and facts and free from interference,” Blinken said. “To better understand this pandemic and prepare for the next one, all countries must make available all data from the earliest days of the outbreak,” he added.

In April, Trump said he suspended U.S. funding to the organization pending a review, citing what he called “the World Health Organization’s role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus.”

After taking the office as the President of the U.S., Biden rescinded former President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the United Nations’ health organization as one of his first acts.

KAMPALA, 18 February, 2021 (TON): On Thursday in Maaji II Refugee Settlement in Adjumani district, a grenade explosion killed four children and five other injured, the police said.

Local police in a statement said the children picked the explosive from the bush and took it home, where they were joined by other children.

The children were trying to cut the grenade with a panga when it exploded, "killing three children on spot and leaving six others in critical condition," said the statement.

After the incident, the six were rushed to the nearby health center.

More than 17,000 refugees are hosted by the Maaji II Refugee Settlement. The refugees are mainly from neighboring South Sudan as per UNHCR.

NEW DELHI, 18 February, 2021 (TON): While delivering the inaugural virtual address at the annual conference of USIBC State of US-India Business, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that trade between India and the US has grown exponentially, but there is a lot more to be desired. 

He said, that the US and India complement each other. 

Mr. Goyal said India is a region that has a large market to be served whereas, the US offers technology, finance, and innovation.

The minister, however, said that at the same time, there is a need to protect people in agriculture and protect the citizens from low-quality products. 

He said emphasizing at a fair dealing in their engagement, that India provides an under-served aspiring market. The minister said that the US will have to be very sensitive to price points in India, which matter to emerging economies with millions of people just coming out of poverty. 

Inviting businesses in the U.S. to look at India as a manufacturing base, Goyal stressed that from here, they can serve a large Indian market and at the same time, also serve global markets through cost-competitive products. 

WASHINGTON, 18 February, 2021 (TON): Discussions on a call held between the U.S. Treasury Secretary and Saudi Finance Minister on Wednesday.

The U.S. official, Janet Yellen, and the Saudi Finance Minister, Mohammed Al-Jadaan discussed several issues, though focusing on the ongoing pandemic crisis.

Yellen “emphasized the need to address the daunting challenges of ending the pandemic, supporting the global economic recovery, fighting income inequality, and forcefully addressing the threat of climate change,” the Treasury said in a statement.

The Kingdom is no doubt building ties with most of the super economies and emerging steadfast in the conditions so far.  

SRINAGAR, 18 February, 2021 (TON): International envoys being hosted in Jammu and Kashmir by India, showcasing its efforts to restore the routine after India stripped the region’s special status.  

On Wednesday, a group of 24 diplomats were present in Kashmir and later on Thursday.

Since August 2019, it was the third delegation when Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government ended Jammu and Kashmir state's autonomy, split it into two federally run territories, and locked it down for weeks.

Several roads were blocked and markets were partially closed for security purposes.  

Armed guards and officials from the external affairs ministry accompanied diplomats from Africa, the EU, Central, and South Asian nations on a tightly controlled tour of Srinagar, the largest city in Kashmir, residents said.

According to the sources, the trip included meetings with the Indian army and government officials, as well as journalists and civil society groups selected by the security services.

However, the diplomats were allowed to speak to local residents and discuss their responses to recent local elections and economic opportunities.

After the revocation of Kashmir’s special status, Indian media and officials have repeatedly insisted that Kashmir is “limping” back to normalcy. Currently, there are more than half a million Indian soldiers stationed in Kashmir. Many Indian army camps are located adjacent to residential areas and in some cases entire villages are surrounded. Cordon and search operations are a regular occurred in IIOJK. However, these visits are tightly controlled and leave little room for making an independent judgement of the situation.

KUNDUZ, 18 February, 2021 (TON): A local official confirmed on Thursday that twenty-four more people got released from a Taliban hideout in the Northern Province of Kunduz.

The special operation was launched in Kabuli Qishlaq village of Haqtash district Wednesday night. No armed clash took place following the raid as the Taliban fled before troops' arrival, Mohammad Omar Haqtash told the media.

"Those among the freed people were members of Afghan army and police as well as civilians. They will join their families soon on Thursday," he added.

Medical treatment was provided to the people freed and got shifted to an army camp.

Despite all the reports from the Taliban hideouts, the group has not made comments on the report so far.

RIYADH, 18 February, 2021 (TON): A decree issued on Wednesday by Kuwait’s emir sets to postpone the parliament meetings for a month.

The decree issued is effective from Thursday, 18 February, 2021.

Based on Article 106 of the constitution, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah issued the decree.

The article stipulates that the emir may, by a decree, adjourn parliament sessions for a period not exceeding one month.

Kuwait’s emir last month reappointed Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah as the prime minister to nominate a new cabinet, who had resigned along with his Cabinet members a week earlier.

However, the Kuwaiti Cabinet’s resignation came due to the current developments in the relationship between the National Assembly (parliament) and the government.