Category: Asia News

In 2019, Turkey and Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) signed two memorandums of understanding on military cooperation and maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean….reports Asian Lite News

Any attack by the forces of the Khalifa Haftar-led Libyan National Army (LNA) on Turkish troops in the North African country would be retaliated, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said.

“A war criminal, murderer Haftar and his supporters must know that they will be seen as a legitimate target in case of an attack on Turkish troops by his forces,” Xinhua news agency quoted Akar as saying while addressing Turkish soldiers in Libya, according to a video tweeted by Turkey’s Defence Ministry on Sunday.

The Minister cited that a few days ago Haftar made calls targeting Turkish forces in Libya.

In 2019, Turkey and Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) signed two memorandums of understanding on military cooperation and maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Nearly 3,000 Libyans received training within the scope of the agreement, Akar also said.

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Libya plunged into chaos after the fall of late leader Muammar Gaddafi’s government in 2011, witnessing prolonged conflict between the eastern-based LNA and the GNA in the country’s west.

On October 23, the Libyan delegations to the 5+5 Joint Military Commission talks in Geneva signed a UN-sponsored permanent ceasefire agreement.

In November, the Joint Military Commission agreed on terms for the ceasefire implementation in the country, including the return of forces back to their camps and the withdrawal of foreign forces from conflict lines.

The delegations also agreed to exchange all prisoners, remove landmines in cooperation with the UN teams and the General Intelligence Service, and combat hate speech.

Also read:US sanctions Turkey over S-400 purchase

Pakistan government under Prime Minister Imran Khan has already spent over $10 million as legal expenditures on this case…reports Hamza Ameer

The Imran Khan-led government of Pakistan is confronted with yet another setback in the Riko Diq case as the high court in the British Virgin Islands has directed it to present assets as bank guarantees to an international arbitrator after Islamabad failed to provide them in the past.

The court has passed an ex parte order on December 16, asking Pakistan to attack details of some of its assets as a guarantee for an international arbitrator.

As per details of the court order, Pakistan will not be able to sell assets managed by offshore companies registered in the British Overseas Territory.

Also Read – Daniel Pearl: US ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Pak Court Ruling

Further details revealed that the Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) had asked Pakistan to provide attachments of these assets for enforcement of $6 billion award, slapped on the country by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) on July 12, 2019, after Islamabad revoked the TCC contract for mining at Reko Diq in Balochistan province of the country.

However, the ICSID later stayed the enforcement of the $6 billion award and later on September 17, put out an order, stating that the stay shall continue on a conditional basis.

Pakistan was asked to provide unconditional and irrevocable bank guarantee or Letter of Credit (LC) for 25 per cent of the award, plus accrued interest as of date of the decision.

Later, ICSID held that if Pakistan fails to provide security and undertaking in terms as set out within 30 days of the notification, the stay of the enforcement in the amount of 50 per cent of the award and accrued interest would be lifted.

And after Pakistan failed to meet the deadline, the British Virgin Islands high court has now ordered for provision assets.

Pakistani government maintains that it will “vigorously pursue proceedings initiated by the TCC in any jurisdiction and the government reaffirms its commitment to protecting national assets, wherever they may be located”.

As per sources, Pakistan is weighing options of an out of court settlement with the TCC during next year as Pakistan has very limited assets abroad.

The litigation of the case has continued for years with TCC, initially claiming $11.4 billion in damages for the termination of their contract, which was later brought down to at least $4.08 billion.

Pakistan government under Prime Minister Imran Khan has already spent over $10 million as legal expenditures on this case.

Pakistani lawyers and some government officials maintain that it was the misstatement of scientist Samar Mubarakmand, which pushed Pakistan towards being, slapped the heavy penalty by ICSID.

Mubarakmand claimed in front of the tribunal that Reko Diq gold mines would fetch the country around $2.5 billion annually, adding that the Reko Diq and other gold reserves in the country will bring in $131 billion to the national exchequer, a statement the tribunal relied on.

In the meanwhile, the ICSID had rejected over a dozen allegations by Pakistan of attempts made by the TCC of bribing the Balochistan Chief Minister in the same case.

The Reko Diq case has been manipulated and misused by many politicians and authorities through corrupt practices over the years.

However, with the current challenge at hand, the Imran Khan-led government and its legal team is trying to get TCC on negotiation table in an out of court settlement.

Ambassador Hou met NCP President Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Thursday morning during which they discussed issues of bilateral concerns,said Bishnu Rijal…reports Asian Lite News

As the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) is all set to split into two factions, Chinese Ambassador to the Himalayan nation Hou Yanqi held talks with the top political leadership of the ruling party.

It is widely believed that Beijing had put enormous energy and resources to unify Nepal’s two communist parties back in 2018, but the way it is falling apart after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dissolved the House of Representative on Sunday, the Chinese interest has surfaced once again, according to experts.

Ambassador Hou met NCP President Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ on Thursday morning during which they discussed issues of bilateral concerns, Bishnu Rijal, deputy chief of department of foreign affairs to the ruling party, said.

According to sources, Prachanda and Hou discussed the latest political developments of Nepal, the “split” of the NCP besides taking stock of the latest scenario, sources said.

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On Tuesday, the envoy met President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and expressed dismay over the dissolution and the way the ruling party is falling apart only two years after it unified, sources told IANS.

Political observers have noted that China, like in the past, has been particularly concerned over the row within the ruling NCP, and the latest political developments here.

Earlier, the envoy had also met other top NCP leaders, including NCP Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal in May this year when the party was on the verge of a split.

Sources said that she is also preparing to meet with Prime Minister Oli and other ruling party leaders.

Also read:Nepal PM Oli removed as parliamentary party leader

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Aoun, Hariri indicated that “there are clear political complications”, while stressing that “there must be a government after the end of the year”…reports Asian Lite News

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said that existing complications were hindering the formation of a new government.

In a statement on Wednesday, Hariri said that he was still consulting with President Michel Aoun to form a government of specialists, reports Xinhua news agency.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Aoun, Hariri indicated that “there are clear political complications”, while stressing that “there must be a government after the end of the year”.

He emphasized the ability of the forthcoming government to stop the political and economic collapse, adding that the country needs a government of specialists in order to move forward with necessary reforms.

He said some disagreements remain among political parties, not regarding reforms, but over the necessity to restore confidence among different parties.

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Hariri called on the political parties to focus on the needy, the poor, those who lost their jobs and their purchasing power, and those who lost their houses after the August 4 Port of Beirut blasts which claimed the lives of 190 people, injured at least 6,000 others and left some 300,000 homeless.

“We must form a government as soon as possible, and the Lebanese must feel that there is a safety net to protect them,” he said.

Lebanon has witnessed a political deadlock since the resignation of Hassan Diab’s government on August 10 in the wake of the port blasts.

Over a month later, former Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib announced on September 26 of his failure to form a new government.

Also read:Lebanon seeks int’l negotiation in border dispute with Israel

The government, formed just seven months ago, was plagued by consistent infighting. As the deadline for the approval of an annual budget passed on midnight, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, automatically dissolved…reports Asian Lite News

Experts said that a new general election may turn to an internal fight for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the coalition government collapsed, leading the country to the fourth elections within two years.

The government, formed just seven months ago, was plagued by consistent infighting. As the deadline for the approval of an annual budget passed on midnight, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, automatically dissolved. Elections are set for late March 2021, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

The government, led by Netanyahu and Defence Minister Benny Gantz, failed to tackle the crisis or any other issues. Netanyahu is under indictment on three corruption charges.

According to the coalition agreement, Netanyahu was supposed to hand over the premiership to Gantz in November 2021. From the beginning, many believed Netanyahu would not keep his promise because he wanted to remain in power while on trial. While he has now averted vacating his seat for Gantz, a new election may be a major gamble for Netanyahu.

In recent months, two opponents from within his bloc have emerged, threatening his ability to form a government after the election.

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“The electoral mass may look similar, but the coalition dynamics will be different. The competition to Netanyahu is coming from the right this time,” said Jonathan Rynhold, professor with the Political Studies Department at Bar Ilan University, adding that it is an internal fight and Netanyahu’s position “has definitely weakened.”

Another factor that may change this election is the new American administration.

“This could be a major campaign point,” said Dr. Yonatan Freeman, from the Political Science Department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Issues such as the Iranian nuclear deal or negotiations with the Palestinians could return to the forefront.

“The more foreign policy issues arise, this usually sways more votes to the right,” Freeman added.

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As Israel appears to be heading to a third lockdown in order to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the Israelis are more concerned with the fallout of the pandemic.

“Covid-19 is a wild card. If things go wrong, Netanyahu will get blamed and if it goes well, he will get the credit,” Rynhold said.

“If the global crisis continues, people may be more inclined to support the leader in power no matter who it is,” said Freeman.

This new election may pose Netanyahu with the greatest political challenge he has yet to face. As the scene of the battle appears to be an internal one in the right, Israel may be in store for even longer political instability.

Also read:UN envoy expresses concern over Israeli settlements