WASHINGTON, 22 November 2020 (TON): The head of the Tibetan government in exile visited the White House for the first time after 60 years and met the senior US official on Tibetan issues. The recent move has been confirmed by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) on Saturday. China earlier gave statement that such moves would amount US of trying to interfere in China’s internal affairs.

As per the reports emitting from the White House, Dr Lobsang Sangay was the official guest invited by the US Administration on Friday. This is the first occasion that political head of the Central Tibetan Administration has formally visited White House. US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Robert Destro has confirmed the high level contact since long but first visit at the White House.

Central Tibetan Administration which is based in Dharamshala in India has also made contacts in the neighbouring countries to get official reorganization. The recent contacts between Indian opposition leaders, especially minority leaders, and Central Tibetan Administration has made New Delhi in a real fix to choose between agreement on water course and rivers with China and question of supporting Tibet against Chinese political ambitions.

RIYADH, 22 November 2020, (TON): Around two dozen world leaders spoke at the G 20 summit hosted by Saudi Arabia. In his opening remarks, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdul Aziz spoke to international leaders and highlighted the economic support G-20 members had contributed in combating the coronavirus pandemic and economic fallout due to COVID-19. He urged the G-20 to forge a collective path forward.

The King said, “In the near future, we must address the vulnerabilities exposed by covid-19 by working to protect lives and livelihoods.” 

Expectations are high that the two-day summit will produce significant results in in combating the coronavirus pandemic and devising some economic strategy for global economic crises and climate change.

President Trump participated in the Group of 20 (G-20) summit on Saturday and also set to attend another G-20 session on Sunday, highlighted the administration's coronavirus actions, suggested quick steps to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that Trump in his remarks "discussed with other world leaders the need to work together to restore strong economic growth and jobs as we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic." She said, "During his remarks, President Trump highlighted how the United States marshaled every resource at its disposal to respond to the crisis, as well as the unprecedented economic recovery of the United States on a foundation of tax and regulatory cuts, energy independence, and fair trade deals."

Italy, which takes over the presidency next in 2021, has said debt relief for Africa will be among its priorities. Africa is least affected continent but the European nations are much concerned about spread of coronavirus pandemic in Africa.

Earlier on Friday in a statement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she planned to push members to continue to provide pandemic-related economic support until recovery from the virus is certain.

She also expressed hope that the United States’ “new president-elect” will “increase multilateral cooperation” in areas such as health and climate change, noting that until now “the United States has resisted engaging,” in a rebuke of Trump’s isolationist policies.

U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said that $ 28 billion is needed to fund the manufacturing and distribution of coronavirus vaccines. He also urged them to extend relief until the year’s end so that governments could prioritize tackling the virus and economic fallouts.

SUNDARBAN, 21 November 2020, (TON): The Forest Department of Bangladesh has increased its surveillance to protect the Bangabandhu Char’s biodiversity in the Bay of Bengal near the Sundarban. It is under the supervision of the Nilkamal Sanctuary Center of the Sundarban West Forest Department.

Already, different types of mangrove plants are growing there, and various wild animals have been wandering there. If it is kept out from harm, there is a greater possibility to become another Sundarban. On 14 November this year, Ziaul Hasan, the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate, visited the Char and instructed them to set up a patrol outpost. He also said to survey the Char.

All of his commands was to consider the importance of the biodiversity of the Char. The protection of the area will play a vital role in disclosingit as a fantastic tourist place.

The Bangabandhu Char is about 10 square kilometers. Gradually, the area of the char is extending. Besides, various government and non-government organizations have expressed their interest to build their office and tourist spots, according to officials.The officials’information of the Char to become Bangabandhu Char is given, which is unknown to them. However, they heard that the fishermen discovered the Char initially. Maybe, someone has named which has now.

The Divisional Forest officer of the Sundarbans, Mohsin Hossain Abu Naser, added the Char is in an outlying area where people go there only their need. As secretary, Ziaul Hasan came to visit this first time. An outpost is being set up there as per the secretary's instructions.

NEW YORK, 21 November 2020, (TON): Russia on Friday stopped a UN Security Council committee from blacklisting a Libyan militia group and its leader for human rights abuses because it said it wanted to see more evidence first that they had killed civilians.

The United States and Germany proposed that the council’s 15-member Libya sanctions committee impose an asset freeze and travel ban on the al-Kaniyat militia and its leader Mohammed al-Kani. Such a move has to be agreed by consensus, but Russia said it could not approve.

“Our support in the future is possible, but conditioned by provision of an irrefutable evidence of their involvement in killing of civilian populations,” a Russian diplomat told his Security Council colleagues in a note seen by Reuters.

The United States and Germany wrote in their sanctions proposal that international human rights groups and the U.N political mission in Libya, known as UNSMIL, has “received reports of hundreds of human rights abuses perpetrated by the al-Kaniyat militia against private individuals, state officials, captured fighters, and civil society activists in Tarhouna.”

“Under Mohammed al-Kani’s leadership, the al-Kaniyat militia has reportedly carried out enforced disappearances, torture, and killings. In addition, UNSMIL verified numerous summary executions at Tarhouna Prison conducted by the al-Kaniyat militia on September 13, 2019,” the proposal read.

WASHINGTON, 21 November 2020, (TON): The White House announced that US President Donald Trump will participate in the virtual G20 Summit on Saturday and Sunday, as global leaders were trying to stem the raging Covid-19 pandemic. White House confirmed President Trump's participation on both days of the Summit.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman will chair the Summit, which was originally set to take place in Riyadh but had to be moved to a virtual format due to the pandemic.

The Summit also comes as the overall number of global coronavirus cases has increased.

ANKARA, 21 November 2020, (TON): Head of the High Council for National Reconciliation , Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday left for Ankara to gain Turkey's support for negotiations with the Taliban and discuss bilateral ties. His visit aims to strengthen regional consensus on Afghan peace. Over the last month, he has visited Pakistan, Iran and Uzbekistan.

Abdullah Abdullah, on Friday met with Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan in Istanbul and exchanged views on the Afghan peace process, ongoing talks in Doha and bilateral relations between both countries.

Erdogan said that Afghanistan is an ally and friend to Turkey and his country's support will the peace that is supported by the people of Afghanistan, He added that both countries have time-tested relations strengthened by common culture and values. 

Erdogan said that Turkey supports the ongoing peace efforts in Afghanistan and wants an end to violence in the country.

According to the statement issued by Abdullah’s office he highlighted the role of Turkey in Afghanistan’s issues, active presence in ensuring security, its economic and cultural assistance and the Istanbul process. And he demanded Turkey’s continued support to the country’s efforts for achieving an enduring peace. 

Top Afghan peace negotiator Abdullah Abdullah on Wednesday left for Ankara to garner Turkey's support for negotiations with the Taliban and discuss bilateral ties. His visit aims to strengthen regional consensus on Afghan peace. Over the last month, he has visited Pakistan, Iran and Uzbekistan.

NEW DELHI, 21 November 2020, (TON): In a new development, New Delhi has claimed that it has eliminated four terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed in a military operation.

 The Indian Prime Minister said in a tweet on Friday, “Neutralising of 4 terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed and the presence of large cache of weapons and explosives with them indicates that their efforts to wreak major havoc and destruction have once again been thwarted.” 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao said in a statement, “China appreciates the positive contribution by Pakistan to the international counter-terrorism cause, firmly supports Pakistan in cracking down terrorist forces”.

The Chinese statement came soon after Indian Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi’s claimed that a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) plot in occupied Kashmir had been thwarted.

The Indian allegations came days after Pakistan shared indiscriminate evidences of India’s sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan with five permanent members of UN Security Council, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation regarding India’s direct involvement in terrorist attacks across Pakistan including financial and material sponsorship to multiple terrorist organizations, including UN-designated terrorist organizations Jamaat ul Ahrar, Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and Baloch militant organizations.

India has, in fact, taken action and named the banned organizations which Pakistan claimed that India is providing financial and material sponsorship, however, Pakistan could always share direct Indian involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan and Afghanistan but, Islamabad named its own groups involved in insurgency to strengthen its case. There is no doubt, in addition to financing and providing material support to Pakistan insurgent organization, Indian nationality holders are operating terrorist outfits inside Pakistan.

ROME, 20 November 2020, (TON): Further, Bangladesh will get access to the labor market in Italy later eight years of prohibition. The Italian government has agreed to recruit Bangladeshi workers from this year.

According to officials, Bangladesh is one of the lists of 30 countries approved to send workers to Italy. The Italian government will employ Bangladeshi workers in a range of both seasonal and non-seasonal. Now, there is an ongoing process of submitting applications for sending workers to that country, which will continue till this year, on December 31.

On October 12, AK Abdul Momen, Bangladeshi foreign minister, mentioned Italy has considered the request of Dhaka to open the labor market for Bangladesh by including Bangladesh in that country's seasonal and non-seasonal workers program, according to the UNB report.On that day, the foreign minister highlighted the Bangladeshi workers' intentional violation of the condition of the Italian government by staying in Italy after finishing the season period. For which the Italian government closed its such program for Bangladesh since 2012.

Confirming this matter, Arfanul Haque, labor welfare counselor at the Bangladesh Embassy in Italy, said the Italian government had given a further chance to send Bangladeshi workers in Italy and, jointly seasonal and non-seasonal categories will be applicable.He added Italy would employ nearly 30,850 workers in both categories. Among them, 18,000 workers will be employed under a seasonal visa, and the rest of them will be non-seasonal workers.

For now, the number of Bangladeshi will be less, but the essentiality of reopening the Italian job market for Bangladeshi workers is a crucial fact.He also said the workers must apply to apply directly to the Italian government by submitting workers' passport numbers, name, address, and other details.

He informed the Embassy’s plan to gather the employer's list after this year for creating bondage between Bangladeshi workers and Italian employers in the future.In the meantime, The Ministry of Expatriate Welfare in Bangladesh has warned job-seeker Bangladeshi workers not to pursue any syndicate getting a visa by adopting an illegal way. It has called for following the rules and regulations of the Italian government.Up-to-date, there are about 145,000 thousand registered Bangladeshi workers in Italy. Also, there are a significant number of undocumented Bangladeshis workers there.

Undoubtedly, this launching of the job market for Bangladeshi workers in Italy will impact on Bangladeshi economy positively during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MELBOURNE, 20 November, 2020, (TON): The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has released findings from a four-year inquiry into misconduct by its forces.

According to a long-awaited military report into war crimes released on Thursday found that at least 19 serving and former Australian Special Forces allegedly committed up to 39 unlawful murders during the conflict in Afghanistan.

Australia launched the inquiry in 2016, amid reports from whistle-blowers and in the local media of the alleged killing of unarmed men and children in Afghanistan in 2009-13.

The inquiry was conducted by Maj Gen Justice Paul Brereton, interviews were conducted with more than 400 witnesses.

The inquiry found evidence that some Australian troops in Afghanistan carried "throw downs" such as weapons, radios and grenades not issued by the ADF but planted next to the bodies of Afghan civilians to suggest they were a "legitimate target" in any post-incident investigations.

The ADF blamed crimes on an unchecked "warrior culture" among some soldiers.

Issuing an apology to Afghanistan people while releasing the report in Canberra, Australia's Chief of Defence Force Angus Campbell said: "These findings allege the most serious breaches of military conduct and professional values. The killing, the unlawful killing, of civilians and prisoners is never acceptable.''

The US is also under investigation for possible war crimes in Afghanistan after the ICC authorised an investigation earlier this year.

Australia has had forces in Afghanistan since 2002, following the overthrow of the Taliban, as part of a US-led coalition. Australia has about 1,500 troops remaining in Afghanistan. Initially the international forces' role was only to train Afghan troops but they became increasingly involved in fighting with Taliban.

DECCA, 20 November 2020, (TON): The World Bank has approved USD 10 crores to raise the living standard of the forcefully displaced Rohingya population in Bangladesh. The infrastructural development by the allocation will facilitate about seven lakhs 80 thousand800 people, including the one 40 thousand 800 locals.

The allowance is adopted under the ‘Emergency Multi-Sectoral Rohingya Crisis Response' scheme. On 19 November2020, the agreement has been signed between the Bangladesh government and the World Bank. The Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Department of World Bank, Md. Shahabuddin Patiwary and the World Bank's Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan, Mercy Tembon we’re the signatories on behalf of the World Bank.

The international organization announced in a press briefing that the allocation is for fuel, water, sanitation, and disaster protecting infrastructure development for Rohingya Camps and the local population of Cox’s Bazar area. In that briefing, Mercy Tembon said that the Rohingya influx has been affected the infrastructure of the site and the basic needs of the locals badly. She added that this new allocation would assist the Rohingyas and the locals to meet up with their basic needs.

The utilization of the allowance will secure safe water for about three lakhs 65 thousand 800 along with safe sanitation for about one lakh 71 thousand 800 people. Four thousand solar streetlights, 975 electricity safety management systems along with 40 multi disaster shelter center, which will assist 81 thousand people in Cox's Bazar.