MOSCOW, 27 January, 2021 (TON): United States and Russia agreed to extend the “New START” arms treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) by five years, following a phone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President, Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

It will continue to limit the number of nuclear missiles and warheads each country can deploy.

The media reported that the two leaders exchanged satisfactory diplomatic notes earlier Tuesday, confirming the extension of treaty.

Putin had submitted a draft bill for the extension to the Russian Parliament, the Kremlin statement added. The extension doesn't require approval from lawmakers in the US.

Press secretary Jen Psaki said the two leaders agreed to have their teams "work urgently" to iron out the details of the extension before the treaty's expiration date, February 5^th, 2021.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart at the time, Dmitry Medvedev signed the New START in 2010.

The treaty limits each party to 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), 1,550 nuclear warheads on deployed ICBMs and SLBMs, and 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers.

It also envisions a rigorous inspection regime to verify compliance.

During the presidential campaign, Biden favored extending the treaty and Russia has long proposed its extension without any conditions or changes.

During the reign of former U.S. President Donald Trump, the extension of the treaty was obstructed that insisted on tougher inspections for Russia and China to be included that Beijing refused. During Trump's term, the US withdrew from a separate nuclear weapons control agreement with Russia, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, making New START the last remaining nuclear weapons control treaty between Russia and the US.

TUNIS, 27 January, 2021 (TON): Protests by the Tunisians outside the parliament took place on Tuesday, a week later a youth demonstrator was killed and hundreds have been jailed in mass riots and rallies.

Tunisians protested outside parliament on Tuesday a week after a youth demonstrator was killed and hundreds have been jailed in mass riots and rallies.

The parliament was heavily guarded for the lawmakers voted on a new government after the Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi announced a cabinet reshuffle last week.

He promised Tuesday that the new team would concentrate on deep reforms to create jobs and improve living conditions as there are economic crisis.

However, four out of eleven new cabinet members are facing investigations on corruption.

Human rights groups and other groups called the protests, demanding the release of several arrested during the month of demonstrations and denounced repressive police measures.

The government reshuffle is unconstitutional, because the prime minister did not follow the procedures for informing the president first, President Kais Saied said.

It comes at the last when the confidence vote is scheduled, with lawmakers voting on the new members of the government one-by-one.

On the tenth anniversary of the revolution that started the Arab Spring, the protests started.

DODOMA, 27 January, 2021, (TON): Tanzanian President, John Pombe Magufuli pardoned and the release of 1789 Ethiopian illegal migrants.

The decision was made after a diplomatic meeting on Monday between Magufuli and Ethiopian Prsident Sahle-Work Zewde.

"Ethiopians can go home today if they want to. There are no conditions for the release of the foreigners who lacked proper travel documents,” Magufuli ordered.

Ethiopians are seeking jobs and political asylum in many other countries and are moving in thousands in number.

In order to reach South Africa, many have used the Tanzania route, despite the dangers of getting arrested by authorities in their respective countries.

EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa and similar organizations have proven to be helpful in securing the release of Ethiopian migrants and safeguarded their employment as well.

In early 2020, 13 Ethiopians were arrested by the Kenyan authorities for illegal entry across the border. Previously, another 22 Ethiopian nationals were arrested in Kenya while being smuggled through Nairobi.

Human smugglers also arrested as they were transporting several Ethiopians to Tanzania, Kenyan Police reported.

The vastness of the region between Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda has attributed to the influx of Ethiopian illegal migrants to other regions. Refugee rights organizations and aid agencies have blamed extreme poverty in Africa for the rising number of illegal immigration.

NEW DELHI, 27 January 2021, (TON): India has started making restricted movements both at Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC). Satellite imageries did not show any major move except movement of certain vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned India to “refrain from actions that might complicate the situation along the border”. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian confirmed that Chinese border troops are “deployed at their respective positions for mere peace and tranquility along the border with India”. Speaking to the reporters in response of Indian movement along the Bangladeshi border and Sikkim,  Zhao Lijian said, “We urge the Indian side to work in the same direction as us and refrain from actions that might escalate or complicate the situation along the border.”

The situation got tense after there was a physical brawl between the Indian and Chinese soldiers on 20 January 2021. Chinese spokesperson confirming that there was a minor face-off between Indian Army and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops at Naku La, Sikkim on 20 January said, ”It was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols.”  

Both countries have agreed to to negotiate on the issue on Wednesday.  

KIGALI, 26 January, 2021 (TON): In a virtual session of the World Economic Forum, Rwandan President Paul Kagame advocated for innovative approaches to tackle social protection.

He stressed on the inclusive, global response to tackle mass unemployment in the session that features new social contract on Monday.

"In fact, the pandemic has also reminded us of how we are interlinked and how we are interdependent in many ways, so that in one part of the globe, things are happening that affect the other part as well, it doesn't matter how rich or how poor we are. It must be inclusive, therefore, globally, otherwise existing inequalities among countries will only grow wider and the working conditions in the developing countries will degrade", Kagame said.

He added that an important point is the arbitrary distinction between formal and informal sector employment, particularly in the developing countries. Many earn their livelihood as small scale entrepreneurs, especially women and young people. Therefore, an innovative and comprehensive approach to social protection is needed that include workers of all backgrounds and types.

Also on the virtual session was Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez said the Southwestern European nation is one of countries most impacted economically by the pandemic in the region. It is the biggest recipient of European Union recovery funds with almost $85 billion.

Three aspects of the recovery plan, which includes creating jobs, long-term reforms to up productivity and competitiveness as well as the re-skilling of workers, especially in high demand fields like green energy and digital sectors.

The forum, which discussed ways to build a better future, hopes to hold its annual meeting in person in May in Singapore.

MOSCOW, 26 January, 2021 (TON): During the police crackdown against the pro-Navalny rallies, a police officer apologized for the appalling incident in St. Petersburg.

Police officer apologized to 54-year-old Margarita J., whom he kicked in the stomach the previous day at a rally in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The officer is seen handing flowers to the hospitalized woman. He says he was attacked with tear gas and was struggling with a foggy visor before he set upon the woman.

The officer was heard stating that the incident is a personal tragedy for him.

In a weak voice, Margarita J. is heard replying: "Don't worry, everyone is alive." The commanding police captain also visited the woman to apologize for the incident, according to the media.

The lawmaker in the Legislative Assembly in St. Petersburg, Boris Vishnevsky and member of the opposition socially liberal Jabloko party, urged Russian authorities to launch an investigation.

While talking to the media Boris stated that this was a brutal abuse of authority and he hoped this case will be brought before court.

In the recent Truncheon-wielding police officers crackdown, several arrested, and the number of people injured is yet unclear. The odds of this horrific event are slim. Police violence against the demonstrators is considered a norm in Russia.

NEW YORK, 26 January, 2021 (TON): Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary General encouraged global action to set up an alliance against the alliance against the growth and spread of neo-Nazism, white supremacy and xenophobia revival, anti-Semitism, and hate speech against the pandemic crisis on Monday.

He also emphasized to take international action “to fight propaganda and disinformation.”

And he called to enhance information on Nazi actions during World War II, focusing that almost two-thirds of young Americans do not know that 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust.

He talked at the annual Park East Synagogue and United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Service marking Wednesday’s 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp held virtually.

He said the pandemic “has exacerbated longstanding injustices and divisions”

“Propaganda linking Jews with the pandemic, for example, by accusing them of creating the virus as part of a bid for global domination, would be ridiculous, if it were not so dangerous,” he said. “This is just the latest manifestation of an anti-Semitic trope that dates back to at least the 14th century, when Jews were accused of spreading the bubonic plague.”

The secretary-general said it’s sad but not surprising that the pandemic has triggered another eruption of Holocaust denial, distortion and minimizing history.

“In Europe, the United States and elsewhere, white supremacists are organizing and recruiting across borders, flaunting the symbols and tropes of the Nazis and their murderous ambitious,” he said. “Tragically, after decades in the shadows, neo-Nazis and their ideas are now gaining currency,”

The people have lessened the role of science and fact based analysis for there is a threat that the neo-Nazis have risen across the country and worldwide, he pointed.

NEW YORK, 26 January, 2021 (TON): Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) to remove five Chinese firms from global index on Donald Trump orders.

MSCI Inc said it will remove five Chinese companies from its flagship global equity index as of the end of 27th January, 2021, as an update on Trump administration order banning Americans from investing in certain Chinese companies.

The five companies - CGN Power Co, China National Chem, China National Nuclear Power, China Shipbuilding Industry and Inspur International - will be removed from the MSCI ACWI Index, relevant non-market capitalization weighted indexes and custom indexes.

On Monday, 25th January, 2021, MSCI stated if there is no fresh guidance from the Office of Foreign Assets Control by 1200 hours on January 26, 2021, it will delete the securities.

The agency within U.S. Treasury Department, OFAC is responsible for ensuring sanctions.

President Joe Biden, who took office on Wednesday, is yet to spell out plans for Trump’s executive order forcing the divestment of the Chinese securities, but can easily revoke it.

ISTANBUL, 26, January, 2021 (TON): Germany called the new talks between the two NATO member countries, Greece and Turkey to be a positive sign, on Monday in Istanbul.

The countries went through tensions over claims to Mediterranean waters, energy rights and other issues.

In Istanbul, the 61st round of discussions between the countries on the eastern Mediterranean standoff took place on Monday.

Tensions between the neighboring NATO members have been mounting over claims to Mediterranean waters, energy rights and a number of other issues. Germany has called the new talks a "positive" sign.

It is expected that the meeting will foster good relations between the two parties. The consultations were described as exploratory, with the expectation for more formal meetings to follow.

The United States said it "welcomes" the resumption of contacts, while Germany called them the "positive (sign) we have been waiting for some time." The standoff with both Greece and Cyprus last summer saw Turkey send exploration vessels into contested waters, EU allies dispatch ships to the region to back Greek claims and both Ankara and Athens conduct military maneuvers with warships and fighter jets.

The EU had threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey. But after a virtual meeting with his 26 EU counterparts on Monday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who was in Turkey last week, said the ministers had decided to hold off on those measures for the time being.

Monday's talks are not only important for Turkey's bilateral relations with Greece, but will also play a key role in the country's relations with the EU.

NAIROBI, 26 January, 2021 (TON): On a two day visit to Kenya, the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defense, Ben Wallace agreed to refresh the UK-Kenya Security Compact.

Mr. Wallace stressed on the need to combat the extremist groups in the region.

Wallace said that it is important that we work together to defeat the common threat of the terror groups and friends and allies support in the task here in Kenya but also the United Kingdom and through the international community and indeed through the UN in Somalia.

“I think it is important that the United Kingdom stands side by side with Kenya in standing up for its values, for democracy, and working with Kenya to make sure that its neighbors follow a similar path", He added.

Fred Matiang’I, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government denied reports of Kenya’s involvement in sponsoring forces fighting against Somali forces.

"We understand there is a conflict on the other side of the border but it is a conflict internal to Somalia. It has nothing to do with us. We are not involved in it and none of our forces have crossed the border to go over to Somalia, so I do not know what they are referring to but you can take this to the bank, we are not involved in that. That is a conflict that is internal to Somalia", Matiang'I said.

Wallace’s visit to Kenya turned out to strengthen the long standing relations between both the nations. Kenya is a key base to fight against the terror group as it is based in the neighboring Somalia.