DHAKA, 13 February, 2021 (TON): Police dispersed the BNP rally against the government’s decision to strip its founder Zia ur Rahman of his gallantry title, Bir Uttam.

The rally, jointly organized by the party's Dhaka Metropolitan North and South units, began in front of the National Press Club around 10 am on Saturday.

However, the program was marred by clashes after police charged baton to disperse the protesters towards the end of the meeting. The protesters retaliated by hurling brickbats at law enforcers.

The rally is the aftermath of government’s decision to revoke the gallantry title conferred on the late military ruler and wartime sector commander Zia for his involvement in the killing of Sheikh Mujib ur Rahman in fleeing the country.

Affected and agitated but the decision, the BNP announced to call protest rallies in every district on Saturday.

After the committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain finished his speech, police started moving in from the Kadam Fountain and directed speakers to end the program.

It is reported that more than 100 party leaders and activists were injured in the skirmish.

NEW YORK, 13 February, 2021 (TON): International Rescue Committee said that more than 1500 would be migrants have been rescued by the Libya off its west coast in the past week.

"The Libyan coastguard has conducted several rescue operations from a week ago until (Wednesday) and rescued about 1,500 people," Adel al-Idrissi from the International Rescue Committee told.

About 240 migrants were rescued from the two boats off the port city of Al-Khums on Wednesday, said Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed Abdel Aali of the coastguard.

"We encountered difficulties in getting the (migrants from the first boat) on board," but the second group "showed less opposition," he said.

The country of Libya remains an important transit point for the migrants in escaping instability in other parts of Africa and the middle east and approaching Europe.

KABUL, 13 February, 2021 (TON): Blasts hit in the eastern and southern provinces on Saturday, Afghan security force members, including a commander were killed and seven critically injured, the officials said.

None of the group took the responsibility of the blasts that came up after the upsurge in violence in Afghanistan as the clash intensified between the government and the Taliban.

A string of near-daily roadside bombings in recent weeks has killed government officials, judges, journalists and activists.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said, “18 Taliban terrorists were killed and 9 others were wounded” in an operation in Arghandab district of Kandahar province on Friday night.

Taking notice of the ongoing conditions in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden’s team is reviewing a peace-building deal that the government of his predecessor Donald Trump sealed with the Taliban in February 2020. The pact requires all American and allied forces to leave the country by 1 May.

BRUSSLES, 13 February, 2021 (TON): EU alarmed a famine threat in the Tigray region, as the country's three-month-long conflict continued.

The region is largely cut off from the world as fighting enters a fourth month.

Speaking in Brussels, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said the EU was "extremely concerned" by the situation in Ethiopia, and announced the bloc would be postponing an 88.5 million euro (107 million US dollars) support payment until there was a "cease of hostilities, unhindered humanitarian access and an investigation of reported human rights abuses".

"Three months into the conflict in Tigray, the EU is still extremely concerned by the situation in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is an important EU partner in the Horn of Africa and Ethiopia is one of the few countries with whom the EU has a strategic engagement. Our decision to postpone the disbursement of three budget support payments for a total amount of 88.5 million euros (107 million US dollars) must be seen in that context, where we are asking for a cease of hostilities, unhindered humanitarian access and an investigation of reported human rights abuses. As time passes by, let me be clear, colleagues, the humanitarian situation is getting dangerously critical. The newly established administration in Tigray stated mid-January that over 4.5 million people were in need of emergency food assistance, of whom 2.2 million were internally displaced persons with other basic needs," said Urpilainen.

It is observed that the condition of the region is getting critically dangerous however, EU is in steadfast efforts to reach calming the condition.

LONDON, 13 February, 2021 (TON): Edward Lister appointed as new special envoy for the Gulf, Downing Street by the British PM Boris Johnson on Friday.  

“The Gulf is a pivotal region both economically and geopolitically. I’m very pleased to be sending Lord Udny-Lister to work with our partners there and to unlock its potential,” Johnson said.

“His appointment marks my ambition to achieve a whole-scale modernization of our Gulf relationships, creating jobs and driving prosperity at home while delivering on our priorities and values overseas.”

Mr. Lister has been a longtime companion of the PM and has served alongside him working.

Lister has been a longtime ally of the Prime Minister, and has served in a number of roles working closely alongside him.

The analysts state that Mr. Lister may by far be the right choice for it is particularly important that the envoy has a direct line to the PM for concerns over boosting the relationship between British and the Gulf.

TATAOUINE, 13 February, 2021 (TON): On Friday, agitated over un-kept government’s promises to provide work and investment, dozens of Tunisian youth blocked roads in southern Tataouine.

Last year in November, administration of the PM Hichem Mechichi pledged for hundreds of jobs and a fund to launch economic projects in Tataouine

In November last year, after talks with union leaders and protesters after a months-long blockade of an oil installation, the administration of Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi pledged to create hundreds of jobs and a fund to launch economic projects in Tataouine.

Three months later, the protest movement launched further demonstrations, saying concrete measures had not materialized.

On Friday, some protesters burned tires and chanted slogans while others made businesses and institutions shut and take part in the demonstration, which has been criticized by some residents.

However, the recent protests sparked as the President Kias Saied proposed the cabinet reshuffle.

GUWAHATI/AIZAWL, 13 February, 2021 (TON): On Friday, the Assam Assembly discussed the Assam-Mizoram border disputes, following the violent incidents on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Cr Pc have been continued on Friday along the bordering areas, in addition to the deployment of a large contingent of security forces in the area, the south Assam’s Hailakandi district officials.

In the tension along the borders, at least 10 people injured and 20 houses burnt down in a series of upright incidents on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Over 100 people belonging to 20 affected families are staying in the relief camps after their houses were torched by the miscreants.

In the second day of the three-day budget session of the Assam Assembly, raising the border issue Congress accused the BJP-led government for not protecting the state’s territory being encroached by Mizoram.

Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said while targeting the BJP government,  that the BJP came to power in the state in 2016 by promising to protect “jati” (community), “mati” (land) and “bheti” (foundation), but it entirely failed to keep its commitment though it is the time for the state government to take strong actions to save the state’s territory.

The tension along the two northeastern states had intensified after a bomb blast at an Assam government school in October last year, and the alleged abduction of 48-year-old Intyaz Ali from Lailapur and his subsequent death in the Mizoram government’s custody on 2 November, prompting the local residents to agitate.

The borders issue has now been discussed by the top officials to ease the tensions in the areas.

BENGHAZI, 13 February, 2021 (TON): In backing the peace process in Libya, Haftar offered support.

The military commander met a former diplomat, Mohammed Younes Menfi from eastern Libya who got selected last week in a UN-backed process to head the three- member presidential council.

Libya’s eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar has offered his backing for a peace process that seeks to end a decade of chaos, after meeting the head of a new transitional presidential council.

A statement from his office read, Haftar offered “the support of the armed forces for the peace process, to defend democracy and the peaceful transfer of power.”

The spokesman to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the Turkish troops will remain in Libya as long as a bilateral military agreement between Ankara and Tripoli is active and the government of Libya requests it.

Libya has been under civil war since NATO- backed uprising led to the toppling of Gadaffi in 2011.  

Recently, the government has been split between GNA (Government of National Accord) in Tripoli and an eastern based administration supported by Haftar.

Thursday’s statement read that Haftar reiterated a recent pledge of support for the leaders of this new executive authority, who were chosen “so that they can reunite the institutions and lead the country to elections.”

Erdogan said on Tuesday that Turkey would discuss withdrawing its troops, who Ankara says are providing military training to GNA if other foreign powers are withdrawn first.

Reports state that Turkey would play an active role in the efforts to rebuild Libya and provide support to the elected interim government.

KAMPALA, 13 February, 2021 (TON): UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) states that about 1,400,000 people have found refuge in the country of Uganda.

The country is one of the leading hosts of refuges.

The city of Kampala appears to have a mechanism of refuge rapid integration into the Ugandan society as many new refugees become members of their host communities.

Those who cross the border at an early age are raised in Ugandan schools promoting a healthy fusion of double culture and adequately preparing the young refugees to thrive in their new home.

Ganiko Jerry, a southern Sudanese refugee, shares his positive experience with the local educational system, "The education part I received from Uganda really helped me a lot."

However, there are few challenges that need to be met and sparked after the ongoing pandemic crisis.