PARIS, 29 January, 2021 (TON): The interim President of Mali, Bah N’Daw met French President, Emanuel Macron in Paris to have bilateral talks on cooperation.

Mr N'daw was received on Wednesday 27 January by Emmanuel Macron for a working lunch and discussed the transition in Mali and the G5 summit in Ndjamena to be held on 15 and 16 February.

This was the first meeting for the Malian leader N'daw outside Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that was accompanied by three of his ministers. The Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zeini Moulaye, stated that the exchanges were well and it was a frank and necessary meeting.

A long political crisi could be seen following the ousting of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, since August 2020.

President Macron has said that he intends to “adjust” France’s efforts in the region, and is counting on the new European force, Takuba, to support troops.

In the last week, France announced that some 20 rebels were killed by French forces and their partners in the north of Burkina Faso while, on Tuesday, the Malian army said in a statement that from 2-20 January over 100 of the rebels were killed, 20 captured and several motorcycles and other equipment confiscated.

Both, the French forces and the Malian army are seen offensive in the middle of the country as the statement projected.

RIYADH, 29 January, 2021 (TON): The Saudi Ministry of Defense said that a joint naval exercise involving the Royal Saudi Navy, U.S. Navy, and British minesweepers in the Arabian Gulf came to end on Thursday.

The director of exercise, Brig. General Awad Al-Enezi said participating vessels executed a number of marine formations, as well as boarding and searching ships, floating mines and reconnaissance operations, port training and defense, drone operations and shooting air and surface enemy targets with live ammunition.

The Naval Defender 21 exercise began last week at King Abdul Aziz Naval Base, the headquarters of the Eastern Fleet in the city of Jubail in the Eastern Province.

For the professionalism and high readiness, Brig. Gen. Al-Enezi praised and appreciated the participants saying they emerged with “many positive results that reflect the importance of continuous training.”

There were a number of ships, infantry, special maritime security units and naval aviation forces training in several maritime scenarios that took part in the mixed naval exercise.

Saudi armed forces conduct the Naval Defender 21 as part of the joint military exercises throughout the year with friendly countries, to hone the expeditionary skill set, and elevate the overall readiness as a unit, and gaining more field experience.

BIELLA, 28 January, 2021 (TON): Andy Murray has joined a lower-tier challenger tournament in Italy next month.

Before this, Andy withdrew himself from the Australian Open.

The Italian Tennis Federation confirmed that Andy Murray will compete in a challenger tournament in Biella next month following his Australian Open withdrawal.

The indoor tournament begins ion 15th February and has 132,000 Euros of prize money and will mark the 33-year-old's first appearance at a challenger event since competing in Mallorca in August 2019.

The player is ranked 123rd in the world after battling his way back from two hip operations.

Also entered for the Biella tournament are 54th-ranked Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, No 74 Lucas Pouille, Sebastian Korda, Andreas Seppi and Lorenzo Musetti.

Murray has offered advice to recreational tennis players on how to stay fit for the sport during lockdown.

In a blog he wrote, "The last 12 months have been tough for tennis players. Courts have been closed, then opened, then closed again”.

"Club tournaments and social events have been cancelled, junior tennis has been scaled back and there hasn't been much professional tennis to watch either.

"Whilst clubs are still shut, I thought it would be useful to put together some of my tips on how to stay tennis ready for when we can all get back on court."

General fitness as the most important cornerstone, Murray cited, tennis-specific exercises he recommends include catching a ball thrown against a wall, knocking down targets and a footwork drill involving moving around two tennis balls in a figure of eight.

BANGUI, 28 January, 2021 (TON): An ex-Central African Republic rebel leader, Abdel Kani is to appear for the first time before the International Criminal Court on Thursday.

Mahamat Said Abdel Kani is facing war crimes and crimes against humanity charges,

On Sunday, the ex-militia commander, was arrested by the officials in the C.A.R. in Bria region and handed over to the ICC.

Presiding judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala will use Thursday's session to verify Kani's identity and the language he prefers to use in following proceedings.

The ex-rebel leader will then be informed of the charges against him and his rights under the ICC Rome Statute.

Due to the ongoing restrictions, a limited number of people will be allowed in the courtroom.

But the session will be broadcast live on the ICC website in French, English and Sango, the official and primary language in the CAR.

On 7 January 2019, the ICC issued a warrant of arrest for Mohamat Said Abdel Kani.

He is alleged to have committed the crimes in 2013 in Bangui, after the ouster of President François Bozize.

NEW YORK, 28 January, 2021 (TON): According to the UN agency report published on Thursday, the refugees are at risk of being pushed forcibly from the European borders

UNHCR the ships were being sent back to the open sea and the people who managed reaching the shore were compelled into the vessels and forced to leave.

The refugee agency's assistant high commissioner for protection, Gillian Triggs said, “UNHCR has received a continuous stream of reports of some European states restricting access to asylum, returning people after they have reached territory or territorial waters, and using violence against them at borders".

The official has not specified any country nor has he mentioned any country by name. However, this behavior was reported of the Greek coastguards by the refugees.

"The push-backs are carried out in a violent and apparently systematic way," Triggs said. "Boats carrying refugees are being towed back. People are being rounded up after they land and then pushed back to sea. Many have reported violence and abuse by state forces."

The people who fled across the land borders have also been turned away without investing about the help or protection they might need.

The UNHCR said it had made its concerns clear to European capitals and called for "urgent inquiries into alleged violations and mistreatment."

"Respecting human lives and refugee rights is not a choice, it's a legal and moral obligation," Triggs stressed.

EU border protection agency has been accused of illegal deportations by the refugees and migrants.

The number of arrivals to the EU has also decreased in the recent years.

"With so few arrivals to Europe, this should be a manageable situation," Triggs said. She added that every case needed to be assessed individually under both the UNHCR Refugee Convention and European Union law.

"It is regrettable that the issue of asylum remains politicized and divisive despite such declining numbers."

Some countries were carrying a disproportionate responsibility in hosting new arrivals, UNHCR noted.

It urged other European nations and the EU itself to show solidarity by supporting them.

KINSHASA, 28 January, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, The Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba has been dismissed by the lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during a Kinhasa’s parliamentary plenary session.

The dismissal came after the majority of the lawmakers passed a vote of no-confidence to the Premier alleging his inability in the management of the country.

Targeting the Prime Minister Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba, President Felix Tshisekedi has led a vote of no confidence will likely force the government's collapse and mark the final death blow to the coalition Tshisekedi formed with his predecessor, Joseph Kabila, two years ago.

The vote was originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday,

The National Assembly approved a motion of censure against Ilunga Ilunkamba and his government by 367 votes to seven.

The parliamentary censure requires the prime minister to step down within 24 hours, under the Democratic Republic of Congo's constitution,

The Prime Minister boycotted the session terming it illegitimate under the constitution and internal regulations of parliament.

The session was also boycotted by pro-Kabila party Mps for they believed that the parliament session had no mandate capacity to organize the vote according to the constitution.

President Félix Tshisekedi and his two new allies still do not agree on the appointments of several heads of major institutions, following the end of the alliance between him and former president Joseph Kabila. The post of Prime Minister and leadership of the National Assembly’s office are in contention.

By controlling a majority in Parliament, President Tshisekedi would be able to nominate a cabinet of his choosing after two years in which Kabila’s allies have dominated the major ministries.

As a result, now Tshisekedi hopes to win over the members of Kabila’s coalition, and form a new majority in Parliament.

WASHINGTON, 28 January, 2021 (TON): In a statement on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea beyond permitted under international law and supported the South Asian nations resisting its pressure.

Blinken made the remarks in a call with Philippine Foreign Minister, Teodoro Locsin, in which he focused on the importance of the long-standing defense agreement between the allies and its clear application if Manila came under attack in the South China Sea.

“Secretary Blinken pledged to stand with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of PRC pressure,” it said, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

“Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea,” it said.

His statement came after Locsin’s on Wednesday stating that the Philippines had filed a diplomatic protest over China’s passing of a law allowing its coastguard to open fire on foreign vessels, describing it as a “threat of war”.

On Friday 22, January, 2021, a legislation passed by China allowed the coastguard to use all the necessary means to stop threats from foreign vessels, including demolishing other countries’ structures built on Chinese-claimed reefs.

China claims almost all of the major trade route, South-China Sea. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

China on Tuesday said it would hold military drills of its own this week.

On Monday, a spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines hoped no country would do anything to increase tension.

Contrary to this, the U.S. has accused China of taking advantage of the global pandemic and to hold its presence in the Sea. In order to promote freedom of Seas, U.S. has sent a carrier group through the waterway.

LONDON, 28 January, 2021 (TON): The Prime Minister of UK, Boris Johnson is set to visit Scotland on Thursday as support grows for a second independence referendum in the country.

Scotland’s leader, Nicole Sturgeon questioned the necessity of the trip during the lockdown.

Scotland, which makes up the northernmost part of United Kingdom, voted against independence in 2014. But ties have strained since the 2016 Brexit vote to leave the European Union.

Majority of the Scots voted to stay in the EU, apart from UK as a whole that voted to leave Brexit.

The pandemic condition has taken its toll in relations between the two neighbors.

The semi-autonomous administration has had a large say in dictating Scotland's own response, often pitting it against central government in London.

The Prime Minister is expected to highlight his government’s role in dealing with the pandemic crisis.

According to his office, he will say, "The great benefits of cooperation across the whole of the UK have never been clearer than since the beginning of this pandemic”. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the majority Scottish National Party, (SNP) on Wednesday questioned if reasons for visiting are "really essential" amid the pandemic. She added it sets a bad example to the public.

Sturgeon is hoping a strong performance by her SNP in May elections for the country's devolved Parliament would give her the mandate to hold a second referendum.

Scotland voted against independence by 55% to 45% in the 2014 referendum. But recent polls showing Scotland would vote to leave the union in any re-run.

NEW YORK, 28 January, 2021 (TON): During the virtual UN Peace-building Fund Replenishment, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau announced Canada’s contribution of $15 million.

The announcement was made in the presence of UN Secretary-General, Germany, Sierra Leone Sudan.

Canada has always been one of the top most donating funds since its inception in 2006.

The support empowers UN entities, local governments, regional organizations, financial institutions and civil society and helps prevent conflict and build peace in fragile states. This includes dialogue and reconciliation, improving human rights protections, justice and security sector reform, and demobilization and reintegration of combatants.

The contributions of the member states help underpin these efforts through predictable, sustained funding.

Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs said, “Despite financial challenges, we must do better to prevent conflict and build peace by addressing tensions and injustice before the result in violence. We cannot afford to wait. Canada’s leadership at the UN Peace-building Commission and with the UN Peace-building Fund helps advance inclusive approaches to better prevents conflict, as well as builds and sustains peace.”

Since it has been giving a handsome sum to the Fund since 2006, Canada has advocated for sustained and predictable resources to be dedicated to countries’ peace-building priorities. The Peace-building Fund places great importance on gender equality, and engaging women and youth throughout its work.

Canada will continue to advocate for concrete action and commitments from UN Member States, as well as partners such as the World Bank and civil society.

BEIJING, 28 January, 2021 (TON): Talks held between Li Zhanshu, China’s top legislator and Asad Qaiser, Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly.

While remembering the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, the media reported that Li, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, on Wednesday said the two sides should take this opportunity to carry out higher-level, broader and deeper cooperation.

The countries should strengthen high-level exchanges, promote anti-epidemic cooperation, and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges. He said.

He added that the both countries should join hands in building the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) and turn the corridor into a project that demonstrates high-quality development under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Pakistan and China should also deepen multilateral coordination, jointly maintain the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, safeguard multilateralism and the basic norms of international relations, uphold fairness and justice to promote regional peace and prosperity, he said.

Li focused on the NPC’s willingness in continuing enhancing friendly exchanges with Pakistan’s National Assembly in order to promote the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state as well as bilateral cooperation agreements.

Asad Qaiser extended his heartfelt gratitude to China for the selfless assistance in coping with the ongoing condition and said Islamabad stands firmly with Beijing on issues of core interests.

A sound legal environment has been provided by Pakistan’s National Assembly for the joint construction of the BRI and the CPEC to actively contribute to the bilateral relations and friendship between the two.