BEIRUT, 12 February, 2021 (TON): Saad Hariri, Lebanon’s PM said on Friday, that no progress had been made in talks to form a new government.

This week Hariri dined with his French counterpart, Emanuel Macron who has so far failed in his efforts to unite the Lebanese leaders together to tackle their country’s unprecedented financial crisis.

Hariri told the media after his first meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun, that there is no progress in forming the government.  

The government of Lebanon resigned amid growing public anger following the Beirut explosion in August 2020. The economic situation pushed tens of thousands of people into poverty and triggered large anti-government protests.

TOKYO, 12 February, 2021 (TON): Toshiro Muto Tokyo-Olympics organizers committee chief executive said on Friday, that the committee aims to find a new president as soon as possible.

The statement came when the former President, Yoshiro Muro resigned on Friday for making inappropriate remarks that sparked a global outcry, leaving the troubled Olympics searching for a chief in just five months from the ceremony.

Mr. Muto told the conference that the organizers will set up a committee to find a replacement for Yoshiro Mori.

It is likely observed that if the new replacement is not made in time, this will erode confidence in the organizers’ ability to execute an already postponed Summer Games event.

WASHINGTON, 12 February, 2021 (TON):  U.S. President Biden revoked the national emergency order used to fund Donald Trump’s border wall.

On Thursday, in a letter to Congress, Mr. Biden wrote that the order was "unwarranted" and said that no further tax dollars will be spent on the wall.

In 2019, Trump declared a state of emergency over the southern border that allowed him to bypass Congress and use military funds for its construction.

About $25bn (£18bn) had been spent on the project when Trump left the office.

The border wall was a pledge of Mr. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign; however, the project faced strong opposition in the democratic controlled house.   

Biden has already sought to reverse most of Trump-era policies and this announcement is the latest in the series of executive orders that have rolled back.

NAY PYI TAW, 12 February, 2021 (TON): As the protests are wide-spreading across Myanmar against the Military coup arrest of the leader, on Friday, the Commander in Chief of Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing urged the citizens to safeguard the constitution.

In his message on the 74th Union Day, Min Aung Hlaing said that non-disintegration of the Union, non-disintegration of national solidarity, and perpetuation of sovereignty are the three main national causes and also the most important task of the democratization process, as media reported.

The main duty of the military is the task of safeguarding the three causes as all the sectors of the state duty have already been transferred to the military, he stressed.

The Commander has also urged the entire nation to join forces with the military for the successful realization of democracy while adhering to the three main national causes.

The reports state that pledges for a quick socio-economic recovery and to lessen the impact of the pandemic on society and economy was made foreseeing to unite strength for the nation.  

MELBOURNE, 12 February, 2021 (TON): Aslan Karatsev stunned Diego Schwartzman to reach the Australian Open fourth round but Alexander Zverev made light work of Adrian Mannarino on day five.

Karatsev made his first Grand Slam main draw appearance and beat the Argentine 6-3 6-3 6-3.

He has not dropped a set since the first round of qualifying.

Karatsev will play one of Canadian duo Denis Shapovalov or Felix Auger-Aliassime next.

World number 114 Karatsev has mostly played on Challenger events, the level below the ATP Tour and has previously lost in qualifying for every major.

MOSCOW, 12 February, 2021 (TON): Russian FM Sergei Lavrov said in an interview on Friday, if the European Union hits Moscow with painful economic sanctions it will readily cut ties with the EU.  

Over the arrest of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny that sparked talk of new sanctions, relations between Russia and the West have come under pressure.  

Three European diplomats told the media that European Union was likely to impose travel bans and asset freezes on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly as soon as this month, after France and Germany signaled their willingness to move ahead.

The pressure for the sanctions grew when Moscow expelled German, Polish, and Sweden diplomats on a visit last week that angered the European countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was asked in an interview due to be published in full later on Friday whether Moscow would now move toward cutting ties with the EU itself.

“We proceed from the fact that we’re ready (for that). In the event that we again see sanctions imposed in some sectors that create risks for our economy, including in the most sensitive spheres,” Lavrov said.

It seemed that the country has already prepared the people for war and global isolation in accordance with the sanctions scenario for the official said, “…if you want peace then prepare for war”.

NEW DELHI, 12 February, 2021 (TON): A charge sheet filed by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) against six SFJ members accused in a case of hoisting Khalistani flag at a government building in Punjab’s Moga.

An NIA spokesperson said that the agency has named Inderjit Singh, Jaspal Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Jagwinder Singh, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and Harpreet Singh aka Ranjit Singh under several sections of the IPC, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Prevention of Insult to National Honor Act.

The agency took over the case relating to the hoisting of the Khalistani flag by the SFJ cadres at the Deputy Commissioner Office Complex in Punjab’s Moga on September 5 last year, the official said.

The official said, “Investigation has revealed that accused Inderjit Singh, Jaspal Singh and Akashdeep Singh were radicalized members of SFJ, a proscribed unlawful association, and conspired with Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and Rana Singh of SFJ.”

“In furtherance of the conspiracy, Inderjit Singh, Jaspal Singh, and Akashdeep Singh were involved in hoisting the Khalistani Flag at DC Office Complex, Moga on August 14 last year and also tearing of the Indian National Flag hoisted in premises of DC Office.”

In support of Referendum-2020 for making the separate State of Khalistan, they made a video of the incident and sent it to Pannun and Rana Singh of SFJ to broadcast on various social media platforms like YouTube, US Media International, and SJF Channel to propagate the secessionist agenda of the SFJ, said the official.

It is reported that Pannun and Rana Singh also sent funds through money transfer services to accused Inderjit Singh and Jaspal Singh after commissioning the crime.

GAZA, 12 February 2021 (TON): UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) for Palestine Refugees has appealed to the international community for a $1.5 billion contribution this year.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the UN body said that the fund “is for essential services, emergency appeals and priority projects for registered Palestine refugees in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria”,  media reported.

The UN agency said, that of the required $1.5 billion, $806 million “is needed for core services, such as education, health, relief, and social services, protection and infrastructure, and camp improvement”.

“To respond to the hardship caused by the Syrian conflict to Palestine refugees in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, UNRWA is seeking $318 million.

Both emergency appeals include adjustments that UNRWA made to its services to prevent the spread of the viral disease among Palestinian refugees and address its impact, it added.

“Approximately $170 million are needed for priority projects to repair or build UNRWA facilities and strengthen or improve core services,” it added further.

The UNRWA provides life-saving services to about 5.6 million Palestinian refugees in its five fields of operation that include Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. However, as it is already known that the global agency is experiencing a serious financial crisis due to a shortage of donations caused because of the decreasing economies previously. The crisis began after the U.S. cut $360 million from the agency in 2018.

ATHENS, 12 February, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, a new initiative launched in Athens between Europe and the Arab World, aimed to deepen cooperation.

The foreign ministers of  Cyprus, Egypt, and Greece, along with their counterparts of Bahrain, France, Saudi Arabia, and the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates participated in the First Philia Forum, also known as Friendship Forum.

Many participated through the video link.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said while addressing the meeting, that it aimed to deepen cooperation in a series of areas, from diplomacy and the economy to the management of the pandemic, energy, and innovation.

"The enhancement of cooperation among this new group serves the common interests of our countries, promoting prosperity. The initiative is open to all, without turning against anyone," he said, according to an e-mailed press statement from his office.

The ministers said in a joint statement released, that they exchanged views on issues of common interest and concern, with the aim of further strengthening cooperation and actively contributing to the consolidation of peace, stability, and security in the wider region.

"In this context, we reiterated our common adherence to International Law, including the UN Charter, UN Security Council Resolutions, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to which we are all signatories," said the statement.

"We stressed our strong commitment to fundamental principles enshrined therein, such as the respect of the sovereignty, sovereign rights, independence and territorial integrity of states, the peaceful resolution of differences and rejection of threat or use of force, the non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and the freedom of navigation," they added.

The Friendship Partnership is an effort to ease harmony across the countries, where multilateral interests are to be looked forward that actively consolidate peace and stability widely.   

JUBA, 12 February, 2021 (TON):  South Sudan said on Wednesday, that it has sought support from the European Union (EU) to help lift the arms embargo and sanctions imposed by the US following the outbreak of a conflict in December 2013.

Addressing reporters, Deng Dau Deng, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the government has urged the EU to support their effort in lifting the existing arms embargo and individual sanctions imposed by the UN and US, media reported.

“This is why we have to talk to them (EU) to know that the reasons why sanctions were imposed was because of war and now the war has come to an end, we are implementing the peace agreement, those sanctions on individuals have no reason to remain,” he added.

For obstructing the peace process, in 2017, the U.S. imposed sanctions on senior South Sudanese officials including military officers from both the government and opposition.

And due to renewed violence in July 2016 that violated the 2015 peace deal signed to end years of conflict, the UN Security Council in July 2018 imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan.

The unilateral sanctions imposed by the US were endorsed by the EU and for this reason that they are urging the latter’s support to help lift them, revealed Deng.

“We are very concerned about our government officials who have been sanctioned by the UN and US We have to speak to the international community for them to be able to review and support the call for lifting the arms embargo and sanctions on individuals in South Sudan,” he said.

The sanctions and existing arms embargo are the frustrating implementations of the 2018 revitalized peace deal, the official told.

Perhaps, but certainly, the S, Sudan’s call for the lifting of arms embargo seems right for the territory has to provide security across the borders and to its citizens to restore its integrity.