WASHINTON, 12 June, 2021(TON):  The U.S. condemned the ongoing suspension of Twitter by the Nigerian government and subsequent threats to arrest and to prosecute Nigerians on using it.

According to the statement issued by the U.S. Department of State's Spokesman Ned Price, he further condemned the Nigerian National Broadcasting Commission after it ordered all television and radio broadcasters to cease using the Twitter.

Some part of the statement said, “Unduly restricting the ability of Nigerians to report, gather, and disseminate opinions and information has no place in a democracy. Freedom of expression and access to information both online and offline are foundational to prosperous and secure democratic societies.”

On Friday, the Nigerian government decided to indefinitely suspending Twitter after the company deleted a controversial tweet President Muhammadu Buhari made about a secessionist movement.

In response to the recent attacking on police and government building, Buhari in his tweet promised to “treat them in the language they understand.”

To his Wednesday’s tweet, twitter deleted it calling it abusive.

LONDON, 12 June, 2021 (TON): On Saturday, the G7 leaders are expected to disclose the anti-pandemic action plan to overcome the destruction caused by the pandemic crisis.

On Friday, the three-day G7 summit kicked off at the Cornish seaside resort of Carbis Bay where  Carbis Bay Declaration will be issued, the media reported.

The Declaration will set out a plan to try to prevent any repeat of the human and economic devastation wreaked by Covid-19. 

Some of the measures under the Declaration are reducing the time taken to develop and license vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for any future disease to less than 100 days.

Besides, it will reinforce global surveillance networks and genomic sequencing capacity; and the support for reforming and strengthening the World Health Organization (WHO). 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus will also take part in Saturday’s session.

DHARAMSALA, 12 June, 2021 (TON): In a letter to the Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Dalai Lama of the Tibetan Buddhism talked on the bilateral brotherly relations between the two sides and extended felicitations to the Mongolian PM on becoming the President.

He stated in the letter, "I have warm memories of your country, which I first visited in 1979. I have been encouraged by the interest and enthusiasm shown by Mongolians both young and old in my efforts to promote human values, as well as the need to combine traditional Buddhist knowledge with modern education.”

"Historically, the people of Mongolia and we Tibetans have been like twin brothers and sisters. The Dalai Lamas have enjoyed a unique and close relationship with your people since the time of the third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso,” he added. 

He said further, "As I have mentioned during my visits to Mongolia, although there are other faiths in the country, it is Buddhism that has historically shaped the identity, culture and spiritual life of your people. Since the Buddha's teachings emphasize such fundamental human values as compassion and non-violence, they have the potential to be of benefit, without contradicting an individual's personal beliefs. I trust that you and your government will continue to preserve and uphold these values." 

Besides, the Dalai Lama ended his letter by wishing the country’s sixth democratically elected President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh of Mongolian People's Party (MPP), every success in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the Mongolians.

WASHINGTON, 12 June, 2021 (TON): A sum of 150 million dollars has been announced as security assistance package by the Pentagon for Ukraine.

This aims to boost Ukraine’s defense capability.

According to the Pentagon, Ukraine will be provided with counter-artillery radars, counter-unmanned aerial systems, secure communications gear, electronic warfare and military medical evacuation equipment, and training and equipment to improve the operational safety and capacity of Ukrainian Air Force bases.

The statement said that the package represents the remaining funds appropriated by Congress for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) in Fiscal Year 2021, which ends on September 30.

The US had provided $125 million of security assistance to Ukraine this March.

The statement added, “The package is made possible by the Defense Department, in coordination with the Department of State, certifying that Ukraine has made sufficient progress on defense reforms this year."

However, on Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed his support to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

RIYADH, 11 June, 2021 (TON): In an attempt to foster cultural ties on both sides, a cultural network has been set up in Saudi Arabia by the European countries.

On Thursday, the ambassadors from the European countries including Austria, France, Spain, Italy and Czech Republic along with the Goethe Institute, signed a charter at the Austrian embassy in Riyadh.

The charter aims to strengthen dialogue between the nations and Saudi Arabia leading to increased cultural activity and diverse opportunities in the Kingdom in various fields.

The deputy head of the mission at the Austrian embassy, Wolfgang Kutschera said, “What we would like to do is implement projects together with Saudi powered institutions interested in working with us but we also stand ready to provide capacity building and we can bring in experts.”

However, since EUNIC is already working on two projects in Saudi Arabia, the EU ambassador to the Kingdom Patrick Simonnet supported the partnership in his speech while, elaborating opportunities relating the charter.

ACCRA, 11 June, 2021 (TON): On Friday, Ghana is aiming to plant over 5 million trees in an effort to preserve and protect the country’s forest cover and the environment and to mark the Green Ghana Day.

President Nana Akufo was expected to lead the occasion on Friday.

In Ghana’s 16 regions, thousands of bags containing millions of different types of seedlings were distributed.

While describing the event as a huge achievement, Ghana’s Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor said, “As part of the program, we are seeking to work out a formula where the trees to be planted will be economic trees. We are talking about the Timber, Wawa, Nim, Rosewood, Shea trees. The rationale for this intervention is so that in planting the trees, we are also investing for the future.”

However, according to the sources, the government aims to plant the trees mostly on the degraded land, the areas that had depleted almost 80 percent since 1990.

RIYADH, 11 June, 2021 (TON): Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister took part in the discussion hosted by the Institute of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

Several regional and international matters were discussed during the discussion.
The session included a group of politicians and experts from the European Union and various European countries.

Also, following Omani FM Sayyed Badr Al-Busaidi’s official visit to the Kingdom that aimed at strengthening the brotherly and bilateral relations between the two sides; Prince Faisal bid farewell to his Omani counterpart.

MASERU, 11 June, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, several Lesotho diplomats expelled from South Africa over illegal sale of alcohol, said Lesotho foreign ministry.

The diplomats and the families have been given 72 hours to move from the country, said the ministry.

The Foreign Ministry in Maseru said in a statement, “South Africa had taken the decision because the diplomats violated laws specifically, the illicit trade in duty-free alcohol.”

According to the South African media, Lesotho diplomats have been bringing alcohol into the country without paying duty and then re-selling it in bars and restaurants.

The ministry expressed "disappointment and embarrassment that several Basotho diplomats have been declared persona non grata" by South Africa.

However, the ministry has vowed disciplinary action on returning of the officers to the country.

BERLIN, 11 June, 2021 (TON): On a Thursday, a survey issued the stats that the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) gained four percentage points and reached 28 per cent, while the Green Party lost three percentage points and only reached 22 per cent.

The media reported that in September, Germany is heading for federal elections.

After the Chancellor Angela Merkel announced in 2018 that she would not run for office again after four consecutive terms, people’s opinion on the appointment of the Chancellor also shifted.

According to the survey, after scoring an approval rating of 43 per cent in May, only 28 per cent believed that Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock was suitable as chancellor, a 43 percent chance of the CDU leader Armin Laschet was seen, whereas, of the three candidates, Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) was in the lead, with 48 per cent.

COLOMBO, 11 June, 2011 (TON): Sri Lankan authorities have steps to investigate possible oil leak from sinking X-Press Pearl ship that caught fire on 20 May.

The incident took place while anchoring 9.5 nautical miles off the Colombo harbor.

The media reported that the suspicion of the leak was raised after international media showed satellite images of a suspected oil patch around the ship.

S Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera told the media that the Chairperson of the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) informed him that a team from the MEPA has been sent to the ship to investigate and obtain the relevant oil and water samples.

However, the X-Press Feeders, operators of the container ship X-Press Pearl confirmed that the situation on the scene remains under observation with no signs of debris and no confirmed reports of fuel oil pollution.

The MEPA said that the burning of the X-Press Pearl vessel has caused a massive environmental disaster as beaches along the southern and western coast have been damaged, and a large number of marine life have been killed as a result of the pollution caused by the fire while the Fisheries Department has imposed a temporary ban on fishing in the region.