By Afshain Afzal

WASHINGTON, 14 November 2020, (TON): Republican Party, also known as Grand Old Party (GOP) led by President Donald Trump has rightly announced that he would not leave White House and Oval Office till Election results are properly investigated for the frauds. It is, of course, not a big demand from the American tax payers to exactly know what happened to their votes casted in favour of Republican leader, President Trump. So far in some of the State election results have been challenged in courts, where some successes and some procedural set aside has been witnessed.

Usability laboratory study in the past for electronic voting systems and audit systems found differences among their evaluations and traces of relevance mistakes and casting vote which changes result of vote due to automatic advancing, mechanical navigation and a full-face ballot. Systems also differed in the automatic corrections. Although generally voters properly casted their votes and results were satisfactory but several types of errors were found, including automatic voting for an opposing candidate. More so, digital divide had an impact on their voting experiences and certain numbers of votes were not accepted or became invalid.  COVID-19 was another factor that hindered the transparency of the voting and ultimately affecting the overall results.  

As per an authentic report, there are five areas which are doubtful. Firstly, the Postal ballots which has quite a small percentage if compared to overall votes needs testing for the system to check genuinity of the signatures, has become important to detect fraud. There are reports certain organizations are involved in casting Postal ballots of the persons who never participated in the voting and have no knowledge of their vote casted. More so, machine created signatures for frauds are usually undetectable to a naked eye and even can defeat many checking systems.

The second area is double voting while third is voting against un-casted votes.  Certain electronic voting machines were programmed to act as instructed in the software by the vendors or the hackers to cast automatically the non-casted votes during the last minutes of the election 2020.

Another dangerous area is that certain people are in possession of personal voting machines. Would someone believe that American voters used their personal voting machines which they purchased from commercial websites?  This has seriously put security vulnerabilities to at high risk-level. It is open secret that hackers were successful in carrying out cyber interference in Election-2020 to make changes that resulted in someone win or lose.

What is now required that full investigation into US Election-2020 as internal and foreign hackers as well as institutions had access to election database which can be proved from the fact that media announcing the election results even before the votes counting was completed. Despite media and institutional propaganda, the fact cannot be denied that popular American leader like US President Donald Trump cannot lose and is still the US President.

ANKARA, 12 November 2020, (TON): Turkey took offense at a U.S. statement that said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would promote religious freedom during an upcoming visit to Istanbul and called Wednesday on Washington to focus on racism and hate crimes in the United States instead.

The State Department said in a statement Tuesday that Pompeo would travel to Istanbul to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader of the world’s Greek Orthodox Christians. The top U.S. diplomat plans to discuss religious issues in Turkey and to promote “our strong stance on religious freedom around the world,” the statement read.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry rebuked the statement “as extremely inappropriate,” insisting that the country protects the rights of citizens of various faiths to freely practice their religions.

“It would be more advisable for the United States to look in the mirror first and to show the necessary sensitivity to human rights violations such as racism, Islamophobia and hate crimes in its own country,” the Turkish ministry said in a statement.

“Our reaction on this matter was conveyed to the U.S. side, and it was suggested that (Washington) focus on increasing cooperation between our countries on regional and global issues,” the Foreign Ministry said.

In July, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan converted Istanbul’s landmark Haghia Sophia into a mosque, ignoring calls for the former cathedral to be kept as a museum in recognition of the city’s multicultural past. The move led to accusations that the Turkish leader was trying to erase Orthodox Christians' cultural heritage.

The structure, a United Nations world heritage site, served as one of Christendom’s most important cathedrals before being turned into a mosque with the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople and then into a museum 86 years ago.

Erdogan later also announced a decision to transform the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, another Byzantine-era church in Istanbul, into a mosque as well.

Turkey is also under pressure to reopen a Greek Orthodox theological school that was shut down in 1971.

Pompeo was not scheduled to meet with Turkish officials during a tour that will also take him to France, Georgia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia during Nov. 13 – 23.

WASHINGTON, 9 November 2020, (TON): The world leaders are actively waiting for the US’ election results and have so far restrained from officially congratulating the Joe Biden. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, 56, launched a transition website, BuildBackBetter.com, and a Twitter feed, @Transition46.

 President Trump has refused to honour forged results and has used his constitutional right to request for recounts of votes. It is feared that American taxpayers will witness forgeries in this election which appears to a normal voter fair and transparent.

20^th January 2021, is the date when the winner of election-2020 will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States but an atmosphere of uncertainty prevails. Republican lawmakers are waiting for the moment to emerge so that they may unfold their strategy.

First Lady Melania Trump also chipped in, tweeting: "The American people deserve fair elections. Every legal - not illegal - vote should be counted."

President Trump’s supporters have asked the American nation including opponents to remain united for the truth about fairness to be made public and wait for the official announcement of election 2020.

VIENNA, 3 November 2020, (TON): Austrian authorities confirmed several suspects armed with rifles opened fire at six locations in the Austrian capital near Vienna’s main synagogue; Army has been authorized to take the control and guard the buildings.

Jewish community leader Oskar Deutsch confirmed that it was not target on synagogue and adjoining offices as they were all closed at the time of shooting. Several deaths have occurred.

As per the details the people in Vienna refused to obey the orders for complete lockdown which was due to come into effect at midnight local time. The shooting began at a time when bars and restaurants were packed with customers and people refused to care for coronavirus lockdown. There are claims that Austrian themselves created the mess, which caused deaths and injuries.

In a sort of repulsive attack against a harsh police cum military operation, shootings by several terrorists armed with rifles in in Seitenstettengasse, central Vienna resulted at least one person dead and several others wounded.  A large armed operation by police operation was still in progress when last reports came in. Warning by the authorities  urged residents to stay away from the city centre, and public places and not to use public transport.

In a statement, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said, “It was repulsive terrorist attack but we will never be intimidated by terrorism and we will fight this attack with all means”. Austria’s Interior Minister, Karl Nehammer, called the incident “an apparent terror attack” in which several deaths might have occurred.

PARIS, 30 October 2020, (TON): Three people were killed in France; two beheaded and one killed in knife attack by unidentified terrorists in the Notre Dame Basilica church in Nice while French security personnel shot an innocent person in Montfavet near the southern French city of Avignon.  Witnesses, however, refused to accept the version that any one was beheaded by the terrorist. They suspected that it was later done to aggravate the situation.

Speaking after visiting Nice, President Macron said: "If we are attacked once again it is for the values which are ours: freedom, for the possibility on our soil to believe freely and not to give in to any spirit of terror”. He said, "I say it with great clarity once again today: we won't surrender anything." 

It is important to mention here that French President has set a new democratic precedent by placing offensive and abusive cartoons of sacred and respected personalities of other nations and minorities on the government building to respect freedom of speech and action. Such French actions may also be adopted by other nations to arouse similar sentiments.

French investigative agencies are suspecting Italian Red Cross sponsored 21-year-old Tunisian national as suspect behind terrorist attack in Nice. Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi spoke of "Islamo-fascism" and said the suspect had "repeated endlessly 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest)".

Police sources earlier named the attacker as Brahim Aioussaoi. They said he had travelled by boat from Tunisia to the Italian island of Lampedusa in September 2020. An anti-terror investigation is being conducted into the attack and France has raised its national security alert to its highest level by increasing the number of soldiers to protect public places across the country from 3,000 to 7,000.

Some of the witness said they heard firing from multiple directions if it an encounter between the terrorist and the Police but terrorist had only knife with him. One witness said, Police arrived at the scene immediately and the attacker was fired upon, injured and arrested alive.

It has become a route of anti-terrorist agencies, whether in France or elsewhere, misreports and exaggerates the situations. None of the witness said that the terrorist shouted 'Allah o Akbar', however, Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi gave such a statement which had no foundation.

NEW YORK, 25 October 2020, (TON): The United Nations announced Saturday on the occasion of ratification from Honduras that 50 countries have ratified a UN treaty to ban nuclear weapons triggering its entry into force in 90 days. The 50th ratification came on the 75th anniversary of the ratification of the UN Charter which officially established the United Nations and is celebrated as UN Day.

The United Nations efforts abolition of nuclear weapons could not bear fruit as the five original Nuclear Powers; Russia, China, Britain and France and the US are in strong opposition to the signing of treaty. Rather, these countries persuaded other countries including NATO members not to sign or ratify the treaty.

Analysts are of the view that the countries which is in possession of Nuclear arsenal are not ready to ratify the treaty and hope to bring peace in this world.

VISAKHAPATNAM, 23 October 2020, (TON): Indian Army Chief General M M Naravane was on visit to Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, where he commissioned anti-submarine warfare vessel INS Kavaratti. On the occasion, he said that it is a major step in ensuring security of maritime domain of the country.

Highlighting importance of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Corvette, The Army Chief said, “commissioning of INS Kavaratti marks yet another significant step in securing India’s maritime goals”. He added that it aims at making India Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, the ship is 109 meters long and 12.8 meters broad and is highly maneuverable with a speed limit of 25 knots.

As per the sources at Visakhapatnam, INS Kavaratti already existed in Indian Naval fleet and it is neither new nor indigenous as it was the same ship which participated for the defence of India shores not very insignificant ship in the past. It was US Naval ship that prevented Pakistani supplies from coming to Bangladesh during civil unrest in 1971. The same participated in various exercises, especially in 2000s and afterwards. INS Kavaratti was also remodeled after refit. It was also reported that the US has also provided Indian Navy with same class ship last year.  
 

SRINAGAR, 18 October 2020, (TON): Lieutenant General B.S. Raju, Corps Commander 15 Corps, Srinagar said in a statement on Sunday, "We are doing counter-terror operations without harming other people in the areas. We are appealing the youths who have taken arms to surrender and many young Kashmiris are willing to shun terrorism and surrender now". He added, ““From the military point of view or Information Warfare point of view, Pakistan can keep spending its money but it is of no use.”

The statement came as a backlash of UN estimate that more than 15,000 Kashmiri’s were arrested soon after the special status of Kashmir was revoked by the Indian Parliament as well as reveal of the truth in media about Indian policies and atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir State. Indian Army and the security forces are under tremendous pressure after protests by Kashmiri politicians against atrocities by Indian security forces to suppress peaceful Kashmiri movement to get their right of self determinations under the UN Security Council Resolutions. The Kashmari politicians of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir said few days back, “Our battle is a constitutional battle. We want the government of India to return to the people of the state of Kashmir the rights they held before 5^th August 2019.”

Lieutenant General Raju seems satisfied with the ongoing tense security situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and declared that situation in the Kashmir Valley is normal while Pakistan is not happy about it and "propagating false narratives about the Valley". However Indian atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been internationalize and world has focused on disappearances of civilians, fake encounters by Indian security forces, custodial deaths, extra judicial killings and instances of rape, kidnapping, torture and extortion in Jammu and Kashmir.

KABUL, 14 October, 2020, (TON): US General Mark A. Milley on Tuesday broaden the gap between the White House and Pentagon on declarations on US troop withdrawals that emerged from the White House a week ago. His criticism arrived after US President Donald Trump tweeted withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by Christmas.

 In a talk with Afghan National Army commanders, General Milley, the administrator  of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the arrangement of US troops withdrawal came with Afghan and Taliban authorities to leave Afghanistan was conditional on the security situation in Afghanistan.
 General Milley did not try to isolate himself from schedule announced by President Trump for pulling back US troops from Afghanistan, however, his comments did not in any way challenged or confirm withdrawal schedule.   

SYDNEY, 12 October 2020, (TON): Google on Sunday condemned Australia's draft for new News Media Bargaining Code, saying it is unworkable and the company has raised concerns about its unfair payment conditions and unclear definitions and obligations. About the the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Media code, the Australian Government has announced that the code would initially apply only to Facebook and Google. Other digital platforms may be added to the code if they hold a significant bargaining power imbalance with Australian news media businesses in the future.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a draft code for public consultation on 31 July 2020 due to conclude on 28 August 2020, asking the ACCC to develop a mandatory code of conduct to address bargaining power imbalances between Australian news media businesses and digital platforms, specifically Google and Facebook. The draft code would allow news media businesses to bargain individually or collectively with Google and Facebook over payment for the inclusion of news on their services.

The draft code would allow news media businesses to bargain individually or collectively with Google and Facebook over payment for the inclusion of news on their services. The draft code has been developed by the ACCC in close consultation with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. The ACCC would be responsible for administering and enforcing the code, and would have a role in providing submissions as part of compulsory arbitrations conducted under the code. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) would be responsible for determining eligibility of news media businesses to participate in the code.