KUALA LUMPUR, 21 December, 2020, (TON): Malaysia will enter 2021 with its biggest spending plan yet to spur its virus-hit economy, but concerns are focusing on how to foot the bill after a sovereign-rating downgrade earlier this month.

The government expects revenue to rise 4.2 per cent next year, counting on higher tax collections, without raising taxes or introducing new ones - coupled with a move to slash its dependence on oil. The plan hinges on one key assumption: that tax income will rise as economic activity returns close to normal.

Malaysia’s economy is losing an estimated MYR 2.4 billion daily during the Movement Control Order (MCO), a total of MYR 63 billion, as all the business activities are suspended.

According to the Malaysian Ministry of Finance, Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to contract by 4.5% in 2020, before regaining its growth in 2021 of 6.5% to 7.5%.

"If the economy does not recover as strongly as the 6.5%-7.5% that the government is expecting, any revenue shortfall is likely to manifest" in lower tax revenue, said Mr Wellian Wiranto, an economist at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp in Singapore.

Even with the pandemic still raging, the government relaxed restrictions this month to give the economy some breathing room. Daily virus cases hit a record-high of 2,234 on 10^th December.

Since abolishing an unpopular Goods and Services Tax in 2018, the country has depended on oil-and-gas revenue and dividends, largely from state energy company Petroliam Nasional Bhd, to fill its coffers. That backfired when crude prices plunged this year, contributing to a 14 per cent decline in government revenue for 2020.

Earlier this year, the World Bank’s Malaysia Economic Monitor, projected Malaysia’s economy to contract by 3.1 percent in 2020 due to a sharp slowdown in economic activity caused by COVID-19 and measures to contain its spread.

The implementation and subsequent extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO) have greatly affected Malaysia’s economic performance.

RAMALLAH, 21 December 2020, (TON): A Palestinian official said on Sunday that there is a joint Palestinian-Egyptian-Jordanian move to support holding an international peace conference to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The move came as a result of a consultative meeting among three foreign ministers in Cairo on Saturday who stressed that the Palestinian cause is the central Arab issue and discussed ways to push the concerned parties to engage in the peace process.

Palestinian Ambassador to Egypt Diab al-Louh told Palestinian official radio station "Voice of Palestine" that the ministers held the meeting to place the Palestinian issue at the front of the Arab and international position to find a just and comprehensive solution.

"The ministers are going to take advantage of the political changes in the Middle East Region, as well as the world, to support holding the international peace conference," al-Louh said.

The move will be based on the international resolutions related to the Palestinian issue in order to allow the Palestinians to establish their independent state on the borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to al-Louh.

He explained that the move includes political, diplomatic and legal actions at the international level, as well as the European Union, which stresses the importance of solving the Palestinian issue as soon as possible.

Earlier, on 28 October, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted a request to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to hold urgent consultations and prepare an international peace conference.

The last US-sponsored peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians had stopped in 2014 due to differences over settlement, security, and borders. The Palestinians rejected sole American sponsorship of the peace negotiations.

The Palestinians are calling for holding an international conference for peace in the Middle East; however, their call is facing significant political obstacles.

TOKYO, 21 December, 2020, (Media Report): Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government approved a ninth consecutive rise in military spending on Monday, to fund the development of an advanced stealth fighter and longer-range anti-ship missile to counter China’s growing military power.

The Ministry of Defense will get a record 5.34 trillion yen ($51.7 billion) for the year starting in April, up 1.1% from this year, Reuters reported.

Suga is continuing the controversial military expansion pursued by his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, to give Japan’s forces new planes, missiles and aircraft carriers with greater range and potency against potential foes including neighbouring China.

China plans to raise its military spending by 6.6 percent this year, the smallest increase in 30 years.

Japan is buying longer-range missiles and considering arming and training it’s military to strike distant land targets in China, North Korea and other parts of Asia.

A planned jet fighter, the first in three decades, is expected to cost around $40 billion and be ready in the 2030s. That project, which will be led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd with help from Lockheed Martin Corp, gets $706 million in the new budget.

Japan will spend $323 million to begin development of a long-range anti-ship missile to defend its southwestern Okinawan island chain.

RIYADH, 21 December, 2020, (TON): The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) of Saudi Arabia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese tech giant Huawei to strengthen the kingdom's digital economy and information communication technology (ICT) talent ecosystem.

The MoU was signed by Ahmad Aljarboa, deputy governor of Corporate Support Sector at CITC, and Terry He, CEO of Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia, said a statement by Huawei on Sunday.

According to the statement Huawei will become a strategic partner to CITC in several areas, including collaboration on knowledge exchange, human resource capacity development, and ICT industry.

Huawei will also share its experience and best practices with CITC in the future, including joint trainings for CITC officials focusing on emerging technologies such as AI and cloud, the statement said.

Charles Yang, president of Huawei Middle East, said that the wise leadership that CITC has shown in progressing Saudi Arabia's digital ambitions in line with the kingdom's Vision 2030 is truly commendable.

"We have been privileged to collaborate with CITC on many projects in the past, and look forward to supporting CITC in further enhancing digital infrastructure, nurturing local talent, and promoting the successes of the kingdom's ICT market on an international stage," he added.

Huawei is already a partner of choice for serving telecom operators, government entities and enterprise clients in Saudi Arabia. It offers end-to-end ICT solutions and professional services for telecom operators covering terminals. In 2015, Saudi Arabia's CITC and Huawei signed the MOU for “Seeds for the Future” program which has been under operation for the last five years. Huawei has been operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2002, and views the country as a key market regionally and globally.

KATHMANDU, 20 December, 2020, (TON): Nepal’s president has dissolved Parliament at the request of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s cabinet and announced that general elections would be held in April and May, more than a year ahead of schedule.

Move comes after Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli recommended dissolution of the Parliament’s House of Representatives at an emergency Cabinet meeting as a feud rages within his Communist Party.

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s office said in a statement the next vote will be held on April 30 and May 10, as recommended by the cabinet.

Oli, 68, pushed for a fresh mandate after the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) accused him of side-lining his party in government decisions and appointments.

“The prime minister has lost the majority in the parliamentary party, central committee and the secretariat of the party,” said Bishnu Rijal, an NCP central committee member.

“Instead of seeking a compromise within the party, he chose to dissolve Parliament.”

Meanwhile, constitutional experts have termed the move to dissolve Parliament as unconstitutional.

Politics in Nepal is also influenced by its neighbour India, who has been keeping a wary eye on China’s stepped-up efforts and growing clout in a country that New Delhi considers its own back yard.

After PM Oli’s win in 2017, he had vowed to ensure political stability and fight corruption and poverty but has made little progress, especially since the pandemic.

NEW DELHI, 20 December, 2020, (TON): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made a surprise visit to a Sikh temple Gurudwara Rakabganj in the national capital when the sikh community is leading a massive farmers protest against the new agricultural reforms.

During the protests against the three laws, at least 25 people have died. Law was approved by Parliament in September so far, police said; several deaths were due to the biting cold weather.

Modi, whose security detail often keeps him far from the general public, offered prayers during his visit to the Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib on Sunday and interacted with Sikh religious leaders there and obliged visitors seeking to take pictures with him.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s death anniversary was observed on Saturday.

Tens of thousands of protesting farmers, mainly from Sikh-dominated Punjab and neighbouring Haryana have camped near the border of New Delhi since November 27 to protest the new laws, blocking most of the entry points to the national capital.

The farmers have said they will not return home until the laws are repealed.           

The protesters have repeatedly rebuffed Modi and his ministers’ attempts to reach a compromise, in what has become the biggest challenge from the country’s farmers in his six-year rule. As the issue remained deadlocked with both sides sticking to their respective positions.

ISLAMABAD, 20 December 2020, (TON): Pakistan has taken up the reprehensible attack by India on the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) Observers and their vehicle along the Line of Control (LoC) with the United Nations, urging it to initiate a transparent investigation into the incident.

In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General (UNSG) and the President of the Security Council, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that deliberate targeting of the UN Observers and their vehicle – which was clearly marked with UN logo and flying a blue flag of the UN – appears to be a new coercive and reckless ploy by India to hinder UNMOGIP’s work, and facilitate another Indian military misadventure against Pakistan.

The letter also informs the Secretary General and the UNSC that Pakistan had credible information that the RSS-BJP Government was planning to stage a ‘false flag’ attack to divert attention from its domestic difficulties, and create justification for another misadventure against Pakistan. If that were to happen, Pakistan will exercise its right to self-defence, the letter warns.

The letter from Pakistan’s Permanent Representative requests the UN to forcefully condemn the attack on the UNMOGIP Observers and call on India to observe the 2003 ceasefire understanding. The UN must respond positively and urgently to repeated calls by Pakistan to strengthen UNMOGIP and improve its ability to observe and report on ceasefire violations, the letter contends.

Pakistan has also reminded the UN that the illegal and inhuman military siege and communications lockdown in the occupied territory had now lasted for over 500 days. Highlighting the atrocities and crimes committed by Indian occupying forces against the innocent Kashmiris since August 2019, it has been forewarned that India’s ultimate plan is to change the demographic structure of IIOJK from a Muslim majority area into a Hindu majority territory.

While drawing attention to the deteriorating situation along the LoC, Pakistan’s communication recalls that India had committed over 3000 unprovoked ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary this year alone, primarily targeting the civilian populated areas resulting in 276 casualties, including 92 women and 68 children, out of them 27 had embraced martyrdom.

ISLAMABAD, 20 December 2020, (TON): A senior Indian diplomat was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today to register Pakistan’s strong protest over ceasefire violations by the Indian occupation Forces along the Line of Control (LoC) on 19th December 2020, resulting in serious injuries to an innocent civilian.

Due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing by the Indian occupation forces in Rakhchikri Sector of the LoC on 19th December 2020, 25 year old Sagheera d/o Muhammad Haneef , resident of Akhori village, sustained serious injuries.

The Indian occupation forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have been continuously targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars, and automatic weapons. In 2020, the Indian occupation forces have carried out 3003 ceasefire violations to date, resulting in 27 shahadats and serious injuries to 250 innocent civilians.

Condemning the deplorable targeting of innocent civilians by the Indian occupation forces, it was underscored that such senseless acts are in clear violation of the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, and are also against all established humanitarian norms and professional military conduct. These egregious violations of international law reflect consistent Indian attempts to escalate the situation along the LoC and are a threat to regional peace and security.

It was added that by raising tensions along the LoC and the WB, India cannot divert attention from the grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK).

The Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding, investigate this and other such incidents of deliberate ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB. The Indian side was also urged to allow the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.

LONDON, 20 December, 2020, (TON): a group of British MPs warned in a report released Saturday that Britain has not yet installed all the complex IT systems and port infrastructure needed to ensure Brexit runs smoothly.

The Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union, a cross-party group of lawmakers, released the report after meeting Thursday online.

The group said they were “concerned about the overall state of readiness” and warned that “some decisions on infrastructure have been taken too late”.

The “early months... are likely to be difficult”, the report said, echoing comments by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who conceded the switch to new rules “might be difficult at first”.

Hilary Benn, a prominent Labour MP who chairs the committee said, “With just seven working days until the end of the transition period, significant concerns remain.”

The committee has warned that borders must not be compromised if there is no agreement on policing that ensures continued access to law enforcement tools including the European arrest warrant.

The warning comes in a report published on Saturday as Downing Street and Brussels continue to try to hammer out a deal, deadlocked over fishing, by the European parliament’s deadline.

The report criticised delayed delivery of IT systems in places such as ports, making it hard for businesses and traders to learn to use new government systems and update their in-house technology by the year-end deadline.

The report also said there could be problems with getting enough vets and other professionals to check goods and process customs declarations.

It warned that the government needed to have “robust contingency plans to deal with whatever happens” after 1^st January.

The MPs urged the EU to delay introducing import procedures on British goods, after the UK did the same for EU goods.

The cross-party committee, which backed the report unanimously, warned that the combination of Brexit uncertainty and Covid-19 could hamper UK businesses.

The UK officially left the EU on 31 January, 2020, but trade and other sectors remain within the bloc's structures until the end of the year. If this deadline passes, trade between the two sides will fall back on rules and tariffs established by the World Trade Organization in 1995.

As a result, the UK will have to start paying tariffs on imports from the EU. Deal or no deal, change is coming on January 1, as Britain will leave the EU single market and customs union.

KATMANDU, 20 December 2020, (TON):  Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli on Sunday, 20 December, recommended dissolution of the Parliament’s House of Representatives at an emergency Cabinet meeting.

According to the details there was conspiracy to involve India forces in crushing the insurgencies and declaration of Nepal as a Hindu State. Council of Ministers made the decisions after a series of meetings with all the leaders and ministers of Nepal’s ruling Communist Party.

Meanwhile, after the Cabinet meeting Prime Minister of Nepal  KP Sharma Oli  decided to recommend the President Bidya Devi Bhandari to dissolve the Parliament. The dissolution came two years prior to its normal term.

This year meeting of Nepali leadership with Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Samant Kumar Goel and the Indian Intelligence Bureau official as well Indian Military Intelligence delegation created a lot of misunderstanding and suspicion between various stakeholders in the Parliament’s House of Representatives. The aim behind the move was to acquire Nepali territories which India temporarily acquired in tension with China as well issue of construction of Ram Mandir in Nepal as it is generally believed that Nepal is the birth place of Saint Ram not India.