ADDIS ABABA, 23 February, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, Ethiopia urged Sudan to withdraw its army troops from the borders before any dialogue begins amid a spike of tensions between the two countries.

Ethiopia does not wish to enter into a conflict with Sudan, said Dina Mufti the ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson.

“Our position on the border crisis with Sudan is clear and has not changed,” Mufti said.

He stated that Sudanese army must return to its former position prior to November 2020 to begin dialogue.  
The spokesperson reiterated accusations of “a third party” involvement in the crisis.

“Sudan’s exploitation of Ethiopia's preoccupation with the law enforcement process in Tigray, and its violation of our borders, confirms the involvement of a third party pushing the military component in Sudan to enter into conflict with Ethiopia to implement its own agenda,” he said.

On 4 November last year, the Tigray went into clash between the Tigray Regional Government and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and since then, tensions are increased between both sides.

NEW DELHI, 23 February, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, Delhi court granted bail to 22 years old Disha Ravi arrested for more than nine days for involvement in the toolkit case.

The climate change activist was arrested by the Delhi police in Bengaluru on 13 February. She has been granted bail by Delhi’s Patiala House Court against two sureties of Rs. 1 lakh each. 

Disha Ravi was arrested by Delhi police and charged with criminal conspiracy and sedition in connection with the probe into the ‘toolkit’ or the Google document on farmers’ protests shared on the social media by Greta Thunberg.

A ‘toolkit’ is a Google document or Word document often used to organize a social media campaign or to plan protests.

During the earlier hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for Delhi police, had opposed bail for Disha and said that it was not a simple ‘toolkit', that the ‘toolkit’ preceded the violence that took place in Delhi on January 26 and that it was linked to the Khalistani movement through the Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF), a Canada based organization.

On Monday, a Delhi court had sent her to one day police custody, which ends on Tuesday.

The case involves fake theories since her arrest that have been shared widely on social media about Disha Ravi. One theory misrepresented her name as Disha Ravi ‘Joseph’ and claimed she is a Syrian Christian from Kerala looking to malign India. Another theory suggested she was being represented by lawyers who charge Rs 5-7 lakh per appearance.

DHAKA, 23 February, 2021 (TON): The descendants of the freedom fighters have gathered at the Shahbagh intersection demanding the reinstatement of a 30 percent quota in government jobs.

On Tuesday at 1100 hours, hundreds of demonstrators arrived in the capital from around the country and took position at Shahbagh for their seven-point claim to be fulfilled.

The protesters said, until the government takes decision the blockade which has caused severe traffic congestion around the intersection, would remain.

“We will not leave Shahbagh until the 30 percent job quota is reinstated and our seven-point demand is approved,” said Mizanur Rahman, a protest leader.

“Leaders and members of the association have arrived from around the country. We have requested them to be present with the arrangement of food for at least three days. The demonstration will continue,” he said.

Their demands include; reinstating the 30 percent freedom fighter quota in all jobs, providing constitutional recognition and passing Freedom Fighters’ Family Protection Act, delivering a final list of freedom fighters as per the 1972 definition, strict lawful steps have to be taken against assaults on and oppression of families of freedom fighters and annexation of their lands and the freedom fighters have to be given VIP status in hospital treatment, government office services and insurance.

KOLKATA, 23 February, 2021 (TON): A day back, the Indian Coast Guards’ vessels have reached a boat carrying 90 Rohingya refugees and three Bangladesh crewmen, that drifted into India's territorial waters.

Indian Coast Guards have given them some food and water, but a full rescue operation had not yet happened, said the Humanitarian groups eyeing the plight.

"The last we heard from the Rohingyas was on Monday evening when the one sat-phone in the boat was still working. They reported that the Indian vessels had reached their boat and some food and water has been provided," said Chris Lewa of the Bangkok-based 'Arakan Project'.

She welcomed the Indian supplies but added saying, "What the Rohingyas on that boat need most now was medical attention. Many of them are awfully sick, down with dehydration and acute diarrhea, and at least eight of them have died so far."

She said they had not yet received any information of a full-fledged rescue mission by the Indian vessels, but said that should happen sooner rather than later. Or else many Rohingyas will die."

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also appealed for immediate rescue of the Rohingya refugees on this boat.

In Malaysia, there are currently some 1,02,250 Rohingya registered with the UNHCR but rights groups say there are many more who are undocumented. Neither Malaysia nor Indonesia is the signatory to the UN convention on refugees.

However, humanitarian assistance and quarantine measures are being provided to those who were rescued, in line with public health protocols.

RIYADH, 23 February, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) disclosed the headquarters of the World Defense Show.

The show is to be held in Riyadh on March 6-9, 2022.

Sean Ormrod, CEO of the show, said the venue has been designed to serve as a platform to showcase all the latest equipment available in the industry and ensure the safety and security of the participants. The venue will feature a special runway to display military aircraft.

It is observed that the design of the facility has been inspired by the traditional architecture of the Kingdom.

SEOUL, 23 February, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the Seoul city government vowed to strictly respond to all illegal rallies held in downtown squares on 1 March Independence Movement Day.

Plans to stage rallies denouncing President Moon Jae-in, a liberal, at Gwanghwamun Square in the city centre on the national holiday have been announced by the Conservative groups.

"We are in constant communication with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to learn the latest details concerning the rallies on March 1," Kim Hyeok, a city government official said

"We are fully aware of the seriousness of the situation with Covid-19, and remain committed to doing everything we can to stop the spread of infections from illegal rallies," he said.

Since last February, the city government has banned rallies at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Plaza and Cheonggye Plaza.

Strict measures are to be taken as details on the form, size and possible merging of rallies have been receiving.

NEW DELHI, 23 February, 2021 (TON): Kashmiri separatist and Dukhtaran-e-Millat Chief Aasiya Andrabi has been charged for terrorism and sedition and allegedly conspiring to commit terror acts and waging war against the country.

On 20 February, Andrabi and two of her associates Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen were put on trial by Special Judge Parveen Singh of Patiala House Court for offences punishable under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code.

Charges for offences such as criminal conspiracy, waging war against the government, conspiracy to wage war against government, sedition, promoting enmity, imputations prejudicial to national-integration and public mischief under the IPC were framed by the Special Judge.

It further framed charges for attempts to commit, or incite terror act, being member of terrorist gang, support to a terrorist organization under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

In 2018, the women were arrested as Andrabi has been accused of being involved in conspiracy and acts to severely destabilize the sovereignty and integrity of India since then.

MOSCOW, 23 February, 2021 (TON): India-China rivalry seems to be pushed into the Russian Far East, where Modi administration is planning significant investments in the energy and other sectors.

Russia, on the other hand is welcoming India in the area however, China is a top investor in the region.

India’s Foreign Secretary, Harsh Shringla repeated India’s deep interest in Russian Far East on his recent visit to Moscow, "We see that as a very high potential area, where we can develop new sectors and help companies looking to invest in new areas such as coking coal, timber, liquid natural gas," he said during an address to the Russian Diplomatic Academy." “There is huge potential there," he added.

During a 2019 visit to the Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that New Delhi would pitch in a $1 billion loan to foster the region's development. A memorandum to anchor a direct maritime corridor between Vladivostok and Chennai was also signed by him. Unlike the European sea route which takes 40 days, the new corridor will consume only 24 days.

As it is seen that India’s deepening interest follows major Chinese inroads in the region. Over the past several years, China has emerged as the Far East's primary foreign investor and trading partner. In 2019, the country accounted for over 70% percent of all direct foreign investment in the region and 28.2% of its foreign trade.

SEOUL, 23 February, 2021 (TON): As restrictions on import remains in place, the WFP (World Food Program) could suspend its operations in North Korea, a report stated on Tuesday.

According to the report, the U.N. aid agency has continued to be faced with difficulties in deploying its staff in the North, with its physical monitoring activities being curtailed for a prolonged period of time.

The WFP said, "Pandemic-related restrictions do not ease and food imports, international staff deployments and physical monitoring access remain curtailed for a prolonged period.”

"WFP will opportunistically use windows in which food imports are allowed to replenish and optimize in-country stocks and mitigate against import delays. However, there is a significant residual risk that, should food imports not be possible, operations will cease in 2021," it added.

Due to Pyongyang's tightened border controls put in place since early last year, the humanitarian aid efforts in the North have been severely hampered.

North Korea is believed to be faced with a food shortage of about 1.2 million to 1.3 million tons this year. However, the country is exploring various ways to provide food and fertilizers in humanitarian assistance.

GUJRAT, 23 February, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the early trends in the Gujrat local body polls show the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leading in 46 seats in the elections for six municipal corporations in Gujarat, while Congress has maintained a lead in 10 seats, and AAP is leading on 18.

The BJP is leading Jamjodhpur, Thaltej, Vastrapur, Asarwa, Saijpur, Nava Vadaj and Navrangpura wards in the local body polls.

The State Election Commission (SEC) has said an average 46.08% turnout was registered during voting for 576 seats in 144 wards across six municipal corporations, which was held between 7 am and 6 pm on 21 February.

Ahmedabad recorded the lowest turnout of 42.51%, while Jamnagar saw the highest turnout of 53.38%, followed by 50.72% in Rajkot, 49.46% in Bhavnagar, 47.84% in Vadodara and 47.14% in Surat. Of the total 1.14 crore voters registered in these major cities of Gujarat, 52.83 lakh had cast their ballots, the SEC said in a release.

Elections to 81 municipalities, 31 district panchayats and 231 taluka panchayats are scheduled on 28 February.