LAHORE, 19 November 2020, (TON): Khadim Hussain Rizvi, Chief of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan has reportedly passed away. As per the reports from Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, an unidentified dead body was received at the hospital on Thursday at 0845 hours who had already expired so the dead body was returned to those who brought the body to the hospital. The hospital authorities declined to comment on the cause of the death.

Later, for the reasons best known to the attendant who brought the dead body to Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, shifted the said body to another private hospital where dead body was kept for quite some time. Later the dead body was reportedly shifted to unidentified location when last report came in.

The media report claims that it was dead body of Khadim Hussain Rizvi but nothing has been confirmed as yet; either the cause of death or other details.

As per one witness, Khadim Hussain Rizvi died mysteriously and was shifted to Farooq Hospital in Iqbal Town, Lahore where he was pronounced dead but his dead body was shifted to Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore where too Medical Officer pronounced dead. Isolated reports claimed that Khadim Hussain Rizvi has not expired and has just gone underground.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chief of the Army Staff  General Qamar Javed Bajwa have expressed condolences on the demise of Khadim Hussain Rizvi. His funeral will be offered at compound of Minar-e--Pakistan at Lahore on Friday. 

VIENNA, 19 November 2020 (TON): IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi alledged in a press conference on Wednesday that Iran has begun operating advanced centrifuges that it had installed at an underground section of its primary nuclear enrichment facility.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had reported last week in a Report that Iran had installed the centrifuges in a buried part of the Natanz site.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told a press conference on Wednesday that while at the time of that report “they had not started operations... it is now happening”.

Under the terms of Iran's 2015 deal with world powers, it is only meant to enrich uranium with a less sophisticated variety of first-generation IR-1 centrifuges.

However, Tehran has refuted the report and said that it has not carried out any activity that violates any laid down procedure in the deal.

JERUSALEM, 19 November 2020 (TON): The Palestinian Authority on the invitation of third parties and Tel Aviv made announcement two days back to resume suspended talks with Israel to prevent Israelis for undertaking its annexation plan of parts of the occupied West Bank, has seen on ground progress.

A senior Palestinian official, Hussein al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Authority’s civil affairs minister said on the behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday tweeted that “the relationship with Israel will return to how it was” following “official written and oral letters we received” confirming Israel’s commitment to past agreements.

This is the first time that President Mahmoud Abbas  has admitted since announcement in May that the Palestinians would not be bound by any past agreements signed with Israel to carryout coordination on various matters.

The move came as Israel was preparing to annex up to a third of the West Bank, including all of its far-flung illegal settlements, as part of a plan unveiled earlier this year by United States President Donald Trump, a controversial policy of his administrations that favour Israel.

ADDIS ABABA, 18 November 2020 (TON): Ethiopia's forces have claim to have captured two towns in the northern region of Tigray; the leaders of Ethiopia’s government at Tigray region refused on Wednesday to surrender before federal troops..

Government forces claimed to have seized the towns of Shire and Axum after a three-day deadline given by Prime Minister Abiy to Tigray's Government forces to surrender expired on Tuesday.

Tigray's leader confirmed the losses but said it was a temporary setback and vowed to retake its area from Ethiopian and Eritrean forces.

The conflict is between regional party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopia's central government over election and formation of Government in Tigray. When Ethiopia Prime Minister postponed elections due to coronavirus in June, tension escalated was created between two. The TPLF sees the central government action as illegitimate. The government accused the TPLF of attacking a military base to steal weapons, which the TPLF denied. In response, Mr Abiy ordered a military offensive, accusing the TPLF of treason.

Over 450 people have reportedly been killed in two weeks of clashes  further destabilised the region.

WASHINGTON, 18 November 2020, (TON): US Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller discussed on telephone on Wednesday with President Ghani Afghan security situation and US decision for the reduction of troops as step forward for Afghan peace process. President Donald Trump made the decision to draw down troops in Afghanistan in consultation with his top national security officials.

As per the earlier plan, Washington has honoured its words to reduced US troop in Afghanistan to   2,500 personnel.

Christopher Miller announced on Tuesday revealed plan during a press briefing at Pentagon and said, "President Trump's plan to bring the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to a successful and responsible conclusion and to bring our brave service members home,"  

Christopher Miller said, the conflict in Afghanistan, Miller said that "with the blessings of providence in the coming year, we will finish this generational war and bring our men and women home."

DECCA, 17 November 2020, (TON): Bangladesh Remittance inflow of 2020-21 fiscal year is increased to 42 percent till mid-November. The Covid19 situation damaged All sectors of the country. But the recorded rate of remittance inflow is getting higher than before.

In the current fiscal year,from July to 12^th November, about US$ 10 billion standsas entered remittance amount by the Bangladeshi migrants. In comparison, the rate was about US$ 7 billion in the previous fiscal year.

Remittances from more than 10 million nationals abroad are very significant for Bangladesh, and along with the garment, exports are the central basis of foreign exchange. Saudi Arabia has been the highest remittancesending country, followed by UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Iraq, Singapore, the US, and the UK. Coronavirus has been hitting world trade horribly, but the Bangladeshi migrants continue to send remittances to fuel the economy. Bangladesh's government announced many initiatives to stimulate citizens to send remittances continuously. Recently in the current fiscal year, the government has announceda 2percent cash stimulus package for the remittancesending migrants.

The Finance Minister of Bangladesh, A.H.M. Mustafa Kamal,highlighted in a press briefing, “ the government a 2 percent stimulus package for formal remittance sending. Many criticized the initiative, but the remittance inflow is increasing day by day”.

NEW DELHI, 14 November 2020 (TON): ” My Years With Rajiv”, a book by Wajahat Habibullah reveals that --- Rajiv Gandhi--- Former Indian prime minister--- had no clue about Operation Brasstacks, which was staged by his army chief and a cabinet minister without apparently informing the premier, a family friend and former civil servant has claimed in his new book

Habibullah reveals that Rajiv was totally clueless when, in February 1986, the gates of the Babri Masjid were unlocked. “Was Rajiv Gandhi involved in the decisions leading up to this unlocking?” he asks. This is the answer that Rajiv Gandhi gave him: “I had not been informed of this action and have asked Vir Bahadur Singh (then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh) to explain. I suspect it was Arun (Nehru) and Fotedar (Makhan Lal) who were responsible, but I am having this verified. If it is true, I will have to consider action.”

Even more surprising is what Habibullah has to reveal about Operation Brasstacks. In 1986-87, this operation was viewed as unwarrantedly provocative and many feared that it could spark a conflict with Pakistan. Although Habibullah says that it involved “the entire Indian Army”, it emerges that Rajiv Gandhi had no idea of its planning or that it was actually happening. Habibullah reveals he only found out as a result of a casual comment to Lieutenant General P.N. Hoon, then Western Army commander, at an Army Day reception.

It has been widely claimed that Gandhi used the Ayodhya concession to Hindus to balance his communal award to appease Muslim orthodoxy over a Muslim divorcee’s right to alimony.

The Operation Brasstacks of 1986-87 was viewed as unwarrantedly provocative and many feared it could spark a conflict with Pakistan.

What make us think is that how the former premier of a secular democratic state has been kept ignorant of the country most important events? It clearly reveals the legitimacy of his leadership to control the state events. He was kept aside by the then Army Chief, generals and politicians that are supposed to follow the orders of the Premier with in the jurisdiction of constitution. It also indicates a gruesome picture of the civil-military relationship and ultimately civilian supremacy in a considerably so called larger democracy.

ISLAMABAD, 14 November 2020 (TON): Five civilians and a Pakistan Army soldier were martyred, and 17 others, including five soldiers and 12 civilians, injured on Friday in "unprovoked and indiscriminate" firing by Indian troops from across the restive Line of Control (LoC) in several areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), official from Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations, the Indian Army licked dust at the hands of few freedom fighters in an alleged encounter in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and instead of resolving the crisis through finding out the reasons within, it opened unprovoked fire along the LoC at different sectors targeting both the civilian population and Pakistan Army check posts.

“The Indian Army on the night of 7th and 8th November reportedly had an encounter with few freedom fighters in District Kupwara, well within IIOJK territory, opposite Neelum valley, wherein it suffered few casualties, including four soldiers,” referring to the latest flare up, an ISPR press release said.

"To ward off the humiliation faced by Indian Army in front of domestic audience, instead of finding the reasons from within and addressing the same, on November 13, 2020, Indian Army opted for resorting to unprovoked and indiscriminate fire of all calibres, including artillery and heavy mortars, along LoC in various sectors of AJK," the statement added.

Those areas targeted included Neelum Valley (Nekrun, Kel, Sharda, Dudhnial, Shahkot, Jura, Nauseri sectors), Leepa Valley (Danna, Mandal and Kayani sectors), Jhelum Valley (Chham and Pandu secorts), and Bagh Valley (Pirkanthi, Sankh, Haji Pir, Bedori and Kailer sectors).

In the deliberate attempt, the Indian Army did not limit itself to engagement of army posts and positions, rather, in utter disregard to all international obligations and human rights, targeted the civil population resulting in martyrdom of four innocent civilians and injuries to 12. Local officials later provided increased figures.

The statement said, India also suffered "substantial losses" in terms of troops and material in Pakistan Army's "befitting reply" to the firing that had also been accepted by Indian media, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations statement. India's confirmed losses are "much more than being acknowledged, it added.

A report by The Hindu newspaper said 10 people, including six civilians, three army soldiers and one Border Security Force (BSF) soldier, were killed and more than 20 others injured in firing by Pakistani troops in four districts of Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The Inter Services Public Relations said, “Such cowardly acts of targeting innocent civilians reflect sheer lack of morality, utter un-professionalism and total disregard to human rights by the Indian Army and are also clear violation of cease fire understanding of 2003.”

It reiterated that Pakistan was a peace loving country and the Pakistan Army also pursued the same aspirations.

In the wake of India Belligerent posture as it has revocated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir; and changed the controversial land laws of J&K, the militancy in IIOJK has been increasing since then. Despite the extended number troops and strict restrictions in J&K, Kashmir are producing continues freedom fighters, who have this time resorted to peaceful means to win independence.

Although Inter Services Public Relations claims that in latest encounter with freedom fighters the Indian Army have suffered causalities but according to other reports it was fake encounter in which innocent Kashmiris were killed to show presence of militants in the area. Because of these fake encounters, Kashmiris are suffering other serious domestic problems in the wake of Indian government’s negligence to address their internal issues in the occupied territories. To satisfy the Indian Government and Army war-mongering ambitions they are trying to divert their domestic audience attention toward their heinous atrocities.

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, 13 November 2020, (TON): Eight Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) including six US, one French, and one Czech serviceman were killed in a helicopter crash in Sinai Peninsula.

Acting Secretary of Defence Christopher Miller in a statement said, "We are saddened by the loss of six US and two partner nation service members in a helicopter crash in the Sinai Peninsula operating with the Multinational Force and Observers".  

In a statement, the Multinational Force and Observers also confirmed that eight members of the multinational peacekeeping force in Sinai Peninsula were killed in a helicopter crash, which took place during a routine mission in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh.

The authority is carrying out inquiry to determine the cause of crash.

MANAMA, 11 November 2020 (TON): Bahrain’s Prince Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa, who had held the post since independence in 1971, had been died at the age of 84 while, receiving treatment at Mayo Clinic, state TV reported without specifying a cause of death.

Sheikh Khalifa was one of the world’s longest-serving prime ministers who held the post since Bahrain’s independence in 1971.

According to the state news agency “The Gulf state’s King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa announced official mourning for a week during which flags will be flown at half-mast.”

It added “The burial ceremony will take place upon the repatriation of his body and the funeral will be limited to a specific number of relatives.”

Sheikh Khalifa was one of the world’s longest-serving prime ministers who held the post since Bahrain’s independence in 1971 and survived the 2011 Arab Spring protests that demanded his removal over corruption allegations.

“Khalifa bin Salman represented the old guard in more ways than just age and seniority,” said Kristin Smith Diwan, a senior resident scholar at the Washington-based Arab Gulf States Institute.

“He represented an old social understanding rooted in royal privilege and expressed through personal patronage.”

The son of Bahrain’s former ruler, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who ruled from 1942 to 1961, Sheikh Khalifa learned governance at his father’s side as the island remained a British protectorate.

Though, less powerful in recent years as he faced unexplained health problems yet, his machinations still drew attention in the kingdom as a new generation now jostles for power.