NEW YORK, 7 February, 2021, (TON): The United Nations on 6th February, Saturday welcomed the announcement of U.S. intention to revoke the designation of the Houthi movement in Yemen as a terrorist organization. 

The revocation will provide profound relief to millions of Yemenis who rely on humanitarian assistance and commercial imports to meet their basic survival needs. It will help ensure that much-needed essential goods reach them without significant delays, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a note to correspondents. 

“At a time when Yemen is at significant risk of famine, maintaining commercial imports and humanitarian assistance in adequate quantities is essential,” said the note. 

"We hope this positive development will contribute to UN efforts to resume a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process to reach an inclusive, negotiated settlement to the conflict," it added.  

Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when Houthi insurgents took control of Yemen’s capital and largest city, Sana and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemen conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. 

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to take a heavy toll on Yemeni civilians, making Yemen the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that the civilian casualty toll has exceeded 15,000 killed or injured and pushed the country to the brink of famine. 

Separate from the ongoing civil war, the U.S. continued its counterterrorism operations in Yemen, relying mainly on airstrikes in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and militants. 

The United States intends to revoke the Houthi movement’s terrorist designation in response to Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, reversing one of the Trump administration’s most criticized decisions. 

The move came one day after President Joe Biden announced an end to U.S. support for offensive operations in Yemen and his decision to step up diplomacy and support UN-led initiative to end the war. 

TEHRAN, 7 February, 2021, (TON): Iran’s foreign minister urged Biden administration to act fast to return to nuclear agreement 2015, pointing out that legislation passed by parliament forces the government to harden its nuclear stance if U.S. sanctions are not eased by February 21. 
Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also referred to Iran elections in June. If a hardline president is elected, this could further jeopardize the deal.In an interview with newspaper on Saturday Zarif said, “Time is running out for the Americans, both because of the parliament bill and the election atmosphere that will follow the Iranian New Yea,” Iran’s new year begins on March 21. 
The parliament, dominated by hardliners, passed the legislation in December that set a two-month deadline for an easing of sanctions. 
President Joe Biden’s administration is exploring ways to restore and to rejoin the Iran nuclear agreement signed with world powers, but U.S. is insisting that Iran return to full compliance first. 
“The more America procrastinates, the more it will lose … it will appear that Mr Biden’s administration doesn’t want to rid itself of Trump’s failed legacy,” Zarif said in the interview. 
“We don’t need to return to the negotiating table. It’s America that has to find the ticket to come to the table,” he added. 
In May 2018, the Former President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the agreement under which the U.S. had relaxed its sanctions program. US re-imposed the anti-Iran sanctions lifted by the accord.  
Tehran has said Washington must ease sanctions before it resumes nuclear compliance, and ruled out negotiations on wider security issues such as Iran’s missile programme. 

ISTANBUL, 6 February, 2021 (TON): The President of Turkey ordered to establish two new departments in the country’s prestigious university rocked by students’ protests.

The decision published in the Gazette, saying law and communications faculties are to be launched in Bogazici University.

Critics say the establishment of new departments would allow the presidentially appointed rector to staff them with government loyalists. Student groups involved in the protests tweeted against the new decision, saying it was an “occupation” attempt against academic freedoms.

For the past few weeks the faculty and the students led mostly peaceful protests against the new rector, Melih Bulu who had links to President Erdogan’s ruling party. They are calling for Bulu’s resignation and for the university to be allowed to elect its own president.

The government top diplomats called the students are provoked by the extremists groups, although the President called the students protesting as extremists.

The situation gained international attention and officials from the U.S. and EU criticized the country’s handling of the situation and passing homophobic comments.

MANILA, 6 February, 2021 (TON): The new Philippines military chief, Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana vowed that the army will honor the human rights and the rule of law as it moves fast to destroy the communist groups and insurgent militants in the country.

On Thursday, in his assumption speech he urged the nation people to be one with the soldiers fighting against the enemies.

“Rest assured that your soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines will do their job while following the rule of law, giving due respect to human rights and strictly adhering to international humanitarian law,” Sobejana said.

“We are living in times of unprecedented challenges, and are facing enemies from left and right, visible and invisible, not to mention the threat posed by calamities both natural and man-made,” he added.

Sobejana said that peace was a “collaborative project” that required commitment, dedication and support from the military, civil government and the people.

“We will adopt a whole-of-nation approach to end local armed conflict. Through this convergence we will nurture the concept of peace and progress,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who led the ceremony, said that Sobejana, with the help of the government and armed forces, could address multiple threats confronting the country.

“I am confident that under Lt. Gen. Sobejana’s leadership, the armed forces will achieve even more milestones in the campaign against insurgency and terror, and put an end to all threats to our national security,” Duterte said.

The country looks at the man with valor as a leader who will keep on advocating peace while fighting insurgency and improve its welfare and upgrade the capabilities ensuring national security.

NEW YORK, 6 February, 2021 (TON): The UN human rights called on the Indian authorities and the farmers protesting to apply maximum restraint hours before the farmers impose a nationwide road blockade on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of farmers have camped out on the outskirts of New Delhi for more than two months, blocking key roads and demonstrating against the laws they say will benefit large private buyers at their expense.

The protests have been peaceful except for the tractor rally on 26 January, 2021 that caught national as well global attention.

Since then, authorities have shut down the mobile internet in parts of the national capital and heavily barricaded border roads to prevent protesters from coming into the city again.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Friday, "The rights to peaceful assembly & expression should be protected both offline & online," "It's crucial to find equitable solutions with due respect to #HumanRights for all."

The farmers have hold a three-hour "chakka jam", or road blockade announced on Monday, against  the Union government’s three farm laws, started around noon local time (0630 GMT) across the country except in New Delhi and a couple of neighboring states.

While the protests were initiated by rice and wheat growers from northern India, particularly opposition-ruled Punjab state, support has been growing across the country.

The issue has also caught international attention with celebrities such as pop star Rihanna and environment campaigner Greta Thunberg announcing their support for the farmers. The United States has also urged India to resume talks with farmers.

The government of Modi as held several rounds of talks with the farmer representatives to resolve the differences saying the reforms will bring much needed investment to the sector, but the group stands firm on the repeal of the laws.

AMMAN, 6 February, 2021 (TON): The Joint Arab list including the four parties in Israel has shattered, with Mansour Abbas leaving the alliance.

“We’ve failed, unfortunately. The Joint List will not continue in its current party lineup,” said Balad Knesset member Mtanes Shehadeh, adding: “At this point, we cannot continue as the Joint List because of our fundamental political differences.”

Presently, the three party list comprises of Hadash, the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality, headed by Ayman Odeh, Balad (Tajamu) the Pan-Arabism, left wing party headed by Sami Abu Shehadeh, and Ta’al, the Arab Movement for Change, headed by Ahmad Tibi.

This move has been described as a win-win for the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. “If Mansour Abbas fails to pass the 3.25 percent (vote) threshold, he would have burnt tens of thousands of Arab votes and if he wins, he will likely support Netanyahu to form a government,” Nazareth-based lawyer and political analyst Botrus Mansour told the media.

Abbas’s split had become clear in the past few months, having tested the waters with Netanyahu, who made a surprise visit to the Arab towns of Um Al-Fahmi, Tire and Nazareth, and pledged to help fight crime within Arab society.

The violence in the Arab has claimed many lives in the past few weeks. Abbas’s party also criticized t the vote of some members of the Joint List to support LGBTQ legislation.

Wadie Abunassar, director of the Haifa-based International Centre for Consultations, told the media that passing the high electoral threshold will be the test for a number of parties in the center and left.

He said, “The only thing that is sure is that Netanyahu’s Likud and his supporters are united, while the center and center-left factions are splintered with a number of lists unlikely to pass the threshold, which requires about 120,000 votes for any list to qualify for entry to the Knesset.”

The polls by the public exhibit that the parties in coalition against Netanyahu becoming the PM will more likely to be tied or maybe have more seats than Netanyahu and his associates, however, it is confusing that whether the anti-Netanyahu groups would be united and be able to choose the PM.

RIYADH, 6 February, 2021 (TON): “Common challenges and security maintenance and stability in the country” were discussed on the telephonic conversation between Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

During the conversation Prince Faisal congratulated Blinken on his new position as the pair discussed historic ties between their nations as well as a number of issues of common concern.
On Thursday, the Kingdom welcomed US President Joe Biden’s speech, in which he reiterated the US’s commitment to cooperate with the Kingdom to defend its sovereignty and address the threats facing it.

The ties between the two countries have always been bilateral and mutual. Historically, the relationship had long revolved around the two central concepts, security and oil.

NEW DELHI, 6 February, 2021 (TON): Addressing the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Gujrat High Court, PM Narendra Modi said on Saturday, that the government and judiciary are responsible for developing a world-class judicial system in which justice would easily be available to the last man in the society and will be delivered on time.

The Prime Minister in the online interaction said that at a click of lawyers and a litigant all details of cases at the National Judicial Data Grid has not only ensured "ease of justice" but also increased "ease of business".

"Confidence has increased among foreign investors that in India their judicial rights are safe. In 2018, in its ease of doing business report the World Bank has praised the National Judicial Data Grid," he added.

He also stated that the use of "Artificial Intelligence" (AI) is being explored to make it part of the judicial process to make the judicial system "future ready" and AI will increase efficiency and speed of Judiciary.

"To end digital divide in the country and help common man, 'e-sewa kendras' have been opened at high courts and district courts. At a time of pandemic, online and e-lok adalat has been the new normal, and the First lok adalat was held in Junagadh of Gujarat e-courts," he said.

He appreciated the progress of the E-lok adalat, and said that “It has become the medium for timely justice with ease. In 24 states of the country, several lakh cases have been received and resolved in e-lok adalat. "Same speed, facility and faith are required from our judicial system.”

The PM of India is presently taking into consideration the situation and trying to ease all the issues in the country in the hope to emerge stronger.

BENGALURU, 6 February, 2021 (TON): Stressing to promote political, economic, and cultural and defense participation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday that India is ready to share its expertise and resources with other countries in the IOR.

Kovind told at the valedictory ceremony of the 13th biennial AeroIndia 2021 expo at the Yelahanka air base here that "As an advocate of universal peace and development, we are ready to share our expertise and resources with all the 28 IOR nations in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief."

Referring to the theme of 'Enhanced peace, security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean' at the IOR defense ministers' conclave held on Thursday, the President said that India is for 'security and growth for all in the region' (Sagar).

He further told that under the operation Sagar-1, India has reached the neighbors after the pandemic crisis outbreak and has helped them with almost all the supplies.

The Indian Ocean, a vital sea lane is present at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Australia, houses a number of littorals that play critical roles in the region. It has choke points that are of immense strategic importance, as huge volumes of trade pass through them.

While as a move to strengthen itself at the IOR, India has increased its military capacity from operating only in the neighborhood to operating in the entire region from the Malacca Strait to the waters off the African coasts. In the wake of the pandemic, when the world order is expected to witness a geostrategic shift, India will aim at further strengthening its presence in the IOR.

GENEVA, 6 February, 2021 (TON): On Friday, delegates from Libya’s warring factions chose four leaders to guide the North African country through the national elections in December.

The step is seen as a major move forward for integrating a nation with two rival governments in the east and west.

In the UN hosted process, 74 delegates selected a list of candidates aimed to give balance to the regional powers and various political and economic interests.

Mohammad Younes Menfi, a Libyan diplomat with a support base in the country’s east, was chosen to head the three-person Presidential Council. Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, a powerful businessman backed by western tribes, was chosen as interim prime minister.

The process, Libyan Political Dialogue Forum held for choosing an interim authority to oversee Libya as part of an effort to effort to rebuild state institutions and lead to national elections on 24 December, 2021.

Menfi's list was elected in a runoff as none of four lists initially proposed secured the required 60% of votes from the delegates in the first round.

U.N. secretary-general’s acting special representative for Libya, Stephanie Williams said, “I am pleased to witness this historic moment,” addressing delegates upon the announcement of the results. “The decision that you have taken today will grow with the passage of time in the collective memory of the Libyan people.”

The representative stressed that the transitional government must fully support the ceasefire and upholds the date of the elections. She added that the new executive authority must launch “a comprehensive national reconciliation process."

Libya has been divided between two governments since 2015, one in the east and another in the west of the country backed by a vast array of militias.

Both the parties were convinced by the UN to sign a cease-fire agreement and gather on a political platform.

The voting was taken place under the UN in hopes of bringing stability to the country that has been largely without any law since Moammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.