PARIS, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the French Minister of State for European Affairs Clement Beaune warned that Britain will face “retaliatory measures” if it refuses to respect engagements made regarding the Brexit deal.

He told the media, “(British Prime Minister) Boris Johnson thinks that you can sign deals with the Europeans, not respect them and Europe will not react. It is a test for Europe.”

“I am telling the British people that commitments must be respected and if not, we will take trade retaliatory measures,” said Beaune.

When asked about the differences on the Northern Ireland Protocol, he said, “We exclude nothing we have enough to defend our interests, and we will do.”

Under the 1 January, 2021 Protocol, food products from Britain to the EU will have to enter through new border control posts at Northern Ireland’s ports.

Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, will continue to apply EU customs rules at its ports, to allow goods to flow into the Republic of Ireland, a member of the EU, and the rest of the EU bloc.

Such an arrangement led to the so-called Irish Sea border, an informal term for the new trade border between Northern Ireland and the other parts of Britain.

The British government has threatened to unilaterally extend again the customs “grace period,” which was set to end on 30 June, to October on Irish Sea border checks, over which the EU has vowed retaliation.

JERUSALEM, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, former Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu promised to oust the new government.

His remarks came a day after the country's longest-serving ex-leader was ousted by an eight-party diverse coalition government.

As new leader of the opposition, Netanyahu made the remarks during a meeting of the opposition parties.  

He said referring to the new government, “The deceit government will soon be toppled."

He urged lawmakers with his allied parties to show cohesion and "iron discipline" to paralyze the coalition in the parliament, saying ending the rule of the new government will "bring redemption to the people and the State of Israel."

Considering the new government, the lawmakers with the Likud, Netanyahu's right-wing party, interrupted Bennett when he addressed the parliament on Sunday. They shouted insults and interrupted almost every sentence he said.

Moreover, the formal handover ceremony that accompanies a change of prime ministers was not held as David Bitan, a lawmaker with Netanyahu's Likud party, told the media that Netanyahu would not hold the ceremony because he feels cheated by the establishment of the new government and does not want to give even the slightest legitimacy to this matter.

AL HUDAYDAH, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, 25 dead bodies of the migrants were recovered after the boat that was carrying them capsized with up to 200 people on board.

The bodies were floating in the waters of Ras al-Ara in the southern province of Lahij, the fishermen told the media.

Jalil Ahmed Ali from the Lahij provincial authority said, "The boat overturned two days ago and was carrying between 160 and 200 people."

The UN's International Organization for Migration confirmed that a boat sank in the area but said it was still trying to establish the details of the incident.

However, despite the grinding war in impoverished Yemen, migrants continue to travel there in the hopes of finding work in Saudi Arabia and other neighboring oil-rich states whose economies depend on millions of foreign laborers.

COLOMBO, 15 June, 2021 (TON): The captain of the burnt cargo ship MV X-Press Pearl has been arrested by the Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The container ship caught fire on the outskirts of the Colombo Port on 20 May.

On Monday, the police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana said that the captain was arrested from a hotel in Colombo, where he and other crew members were held, and will be produced before a local High Court.

The Department had earlier recorded statements from the captain and several others including the chief engineer of the vessel over the incident, said Rohana.

On 15 May, the X Press Pearl ship registered under the flag of Singapore was carrying 1,486 containers with 25 tones of nitric acid and several other chemicals and cosmetics from the port of Hazira, India.

The vessel soon caught fire while sending out a distress call to the Colombo Port on 20 May.

The Sri Lankan Navy dispatched vessels to bring the fire under control.

However, the Marine Environment Protection Authority said that the burning of the X Press Pearl vessel had caused a massive environmental disaster as beaches from the south coast to the west coast had been damaged by debris washed ashore.

BRUSSELS, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the U.S. and the Turkish President Biden and Erdogan discussed a number of issues, including ways to cater the pandemic and vaccination situation.

Erdogan told the media that during the 90-minute meeting, "There are no outstanding problems between the US and Turkey that cannot be solved. On the contrary, there are many areas where we could focus on prospective and fruitful cooperation."

"Our history goes back a long time and we managed to exchange views on a vast area of issues. We also focused on the incidents on which we have different opinions and, in a very constructive fashion, talked about areas where we could further explore cooperation.

"We agreed on the necessity to effectively use dialogue channels between our nations in a regular fashion so, at the end of the day, it was a very fruitful and very sincere meeting. We also underlined the fact that bilateral cooperation should be revitalized," he added.

In response to a query about whether the S-400 defense system was discussed, Erdogan said, "I expressed our previous opinion on the S-400, I also expressed our opinion on the F-35. 

"What are the steps we can take, I expressed them. Of course, this process does not end here; our ministers will secure this process as a result of their talks.

"We said that our Defense and Foreign Ministers should discuss these among themselves, and after this meeting they will hold among themselves, we have to take our steps, we have come to such a decision."

Addressing a separate press conference, Biden said of the meeting: "We had a positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one. We had detailed discussions about how to proceed on a number of issues... 

"Our teams are going to continue our discussions and I'm confident we will make real progress with Turkey and the US."

He also emphasized that it was a positive and productive meeting, adding that "our countries have big agendas. Our teams will continue our discussions, I think we will make great progress as the US and Turkey".

However, describing his relationship with Biden as "long-standing", Erdogan said he invited his American counterpart to visit Turkey.

BAGHDAD, 15 June, 2021 (TON): Iraqi security forces confirmed that a drone targeted one military base housing U.S. forces in Baghdad in the region of the International Airport.

The media reported that on Monday, a drone dropped bombs that strike the outer fence of the base.

According to the statement issued by the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, three drones attacked the military base at the airport in southwestern Baghdad on 9 June. However, one of the drones shot down.

It remained unclear as no one took the responsibility of the attack.

MANILA, 15 June, 2021 (TON): The termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between Philippines and the U.S. has been suspended for another six months, said Foreign Secretary Philippines.

In A video message on Monday, the Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin announced the decision made by President Rodrigo Duterte, the media reported.

Locsin said, “The President conveyed to us his decision to extend the suspension of the abrogation of the VFA by another six months while he studies and both sides further address his concerns regarding particular aspects of the agreement."

Philipinnes has terminated the order for the third time; however, the second suspension was to expire in August this year.

Duterte threatened to terminate the VFA in January 2020 after the US cancelled the entry visa of his long-time aide Senator Ronald dela Rosa, over the latter's role in the war on drugs during his tenure as the Philippine National Police chief.

Consequently, the notice of the termination paved the way for both sides to "review the provisions" in the pact deemed that seemed to be troubling to the Philippines.

TEHRAN, 15 June, 2021 (TON): The spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that there are some issues in the ongoing Vienna talks to revive the nuclear deal have remained unresolved.

On Monday, while addressing a press briefing, the spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that some technical, legal and executive subtleties issues and a number of other key points remain to be resolved in the talks, reported the media.

The ways for the US and Iran to fulfil and resume their commitments are underway in the talks, Khatibzadeh said, adding "there is no impasse".

However, the Iranian officials have reportedly urged the U.S. government to avoid "repeating the events" that took place during the administration of former President Donald Trump.

BEIRUT, 15 June, 2021 (TON): On Monday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun stated considering the maritime border demarcation, Lebanon hopes to continue indirect U.S. mediated talks with Israel.

His remarks came when he met the head of the U.S. delegation John Desrocher in Beirut.

Desrocher called on to push fair and impartial talks, noting that the new Israeli government may hold the negotiations for some time.   

However, the negotiations between the two are over the disputed area of about 860 sq.km, whereas, the Lebanese have recently claimed additional area as its territory.

ADDIS ABABA, 14 June, 2021 (TON): The government wants a peaceful democratic election, said the Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed.

During the inauguration of the rebuilt of the Meskel Square, the PM called on for unity Meskel Square ahead of the country's approaching election.

PM said, "We are facing an election that will develop or destroy our country, build it or demolish it. We, Ethiopians, firmly know that the division that has been borne out of conflict is not a better option. I want to call again for an agreement and for the protection and prosperity of our country."

Ethiopia's elections are going ahead after two delays.

However, election authorities last year pushed back polls due to the pandemic, and due to the logistical concerns delayed the vote from 5 June.