Category: WORLD

Minsk, Dec 13 (IANS) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko approved the country’s defence plan for 2026-2030.

The military-political situation around Belarus has changed in recent years, Lukashenko said at the Security Council meeting on Thursday. Individual states continue to escalate the situation around Belarus, he added.

Lukashenko said that destructive rhetoric from European countries toward Belarus is growing, indicating ongoing attempts to destabilise the domestic political situation in the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

The president stressed the Belarusian army does not threaten anyone and is an instrument for preventing war, and in the event of aggression, the army must be able to repel it.

Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said the approved defence plan was developed on the basis of a deep analysis of the events of 2020 in Belarus and the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Belarus Pavel Muraveiko said one of the main directions of the plan for the next five years is reducing the level of military danger and preventing military conflicts.

“Also among the main directions of the plan is the preparation of the state for defence which covers all areas from the economy to the military sphere. These are options for armed defence of the country in various modern conflicts. The issues of preparing the economy of the state and the state as a whole for functioning in conditions of military action are also included in the plan,” Muraveiko said.

–IANS

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Damascus, Dec 13 (IANS) Senior officials from Turkey and Qatar arrived in Damascus to engage in discussions with militant coalition leaders that overthrew the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s interim information ministry announced.

The Turkish delegation included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, while Qatar was represented by Khalfan bin Ali bin Khalfan Al-Batty Al-Kaabi, head of the State Security Service, Xinhua news agency reported.

Both delegations were joined by “expanded advisory teams,” according to a statement by the ministry.

The officials are scheduled to meet Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which played a pivotal role in toppling al-Assad. They are also set to hold talks with Mohammed al-Bashir, a former regional militant leader now serving as the interim prime minister appointed by the militant coalition.

Discussions are expected to focus on advancing internal political dialogue among militant factions, the ministry said.

There has been no official confirmation of the visit from either the Turkish or Qatari governments. Fidan stated earlier that Ankara intends to reopen its embassy in Damascus “once conditions permit.”

Turkey closed its embassy in the Syrian capital on March 26, 2012, citing escalating violence and its call for Assad to step down amid Syria’s civil war that began in 2011.

The Syrian constitution and parliament have reportedly been suspended for three months, according to Sawt al-Asima, a news outlet supportive of militant groups that overthrew the Assad government.

The outlet reported the development on Thursday, citing unnamed sources, but did not provide details on how the suspension would be implemented.

Earlier on Wednesday, Syria’s Military Operations Administration announced that it has lifted the curfew previously imposed on Damascus and its surrounding areas, calling on residents to resume their daily activities and return to their workplaces.

–IANS

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Cape Town, Dec 13 (IANS) Traveller movement at South Africa’s main border crossing point with Mozambique is now open “until further notice,” the country’s Border Management Authority (BMA) announced.

This came after the BMA temporarily suspended operations at the Lebombo Port of Entry on Monday due to election-related protests in Mozambique near the border area. These protests have repeatedly forced the closure of the crossing since the results of the southeast African country’s disputed elections were released on October 24, Xinhua news agency reported.

“The Acting Commissioner of the BMA, Jane Thupana, has provided the latest update on the Lebombo Port of Entry, that traveller movement is now open until further notice,” the authority said in a statement.

According to the statement, pedestrians and small vehicles are being processed, with statistics reflecting that 7,471 travellers were processed on Wednesday.

“The statistics indicate that movement is about 50 per cent less than what it was this time in December 2023,” it said.

The authority added that the processing mainly took place in the early hours and late afternoon when the unrest on the Mozambican side subsided.

However, the processing of cargo remained suspended “due to protesters blocking their entry into Mozambique.”

The BMA said the situation remains under close observation and advised trucking companies to divert vehicles to nearby depots or the designated truck holding area.

“Transporters are continuously urged not to dispatch new vehicles to the port until further notice,” it said.

The authority also reaffirmed its commitment to effective collaboration, proactive management, and resolution of the current challenges at the border.

“The BMA is working tirelessly together with key stakeholders in the border management sector to manage the situation,” it said. “We urge all affected parties to exercise patience as we continue to monitor the situation and engage with relevant authorities to find lasting solutions.”

–IANS

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Beirut, Dec 13 (IANS) An Israeli airstrike targeted Khiam town in southeastern Lebanon following the Lebanese army deployment in the area, killing one person and injuring two others.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called the attack Israel’s “treachery” that “violates all the pledges” binding on it under the ongoing ceasefire agreement, requiring the US and France, who sponsored the ceasefire, to curb the Israeli aggression, according to a statement released by Mikati’s office, Xinhua news agency reported quoting Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).

The prime minister also blamed the continued Israeli violations on a committee monitoring the ceasefire agreement, demanding the committee address such violations immediately and prevent their recurrence, said the statement.

According to the NNA, the Lebanese army’s Engineering Regiment entered Khiam on Thursday with three bulldozers, several troop carriers, and about ten ambulances.

After ensuring the area was free of explosives, unexploded shells, and explosive devices, the regiment began removing the rubble and opening the roads previously identified in coordination with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

A ceasefire agreement, effective on November 27, aims to halt more than 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

The ceasefire terms stipulate Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory within 60 days, with the Lebanese army deploying along the border and in the south to assume security control and prevent any armed presence.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have conducted strikes in Lebanon, resulting in casualties.

–IANS

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Juba, Dec 13 (IANS) South Sudan’s ceasefire monitors expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Tambura County of Western Equatoria State, located southwest of Juba, the national capital.

Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, chairperson of the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), said the security situation in the restive Tambura County remains concerning following the attempted assassination of the county commissioner on November 28, Xinhua news agency reported.

“CTSAMVM is concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Tambura County. One man was killed in what was assessed to be an attempt on the life of the Tambura county commissioner,” Gelaw said during the meeting of CTSAMVM members in Juba.

Armed people shelled the residence of Tambura County Commissioner Matthew Mabenge with a rocket-propelled grenade, leaving one person dead.

“This represents a concerted attempt to remove an official from office and undermine peace and security in Western Equatoria,” Gelaw said.

Tambura County has been experiencing ethnically motivated fighting since June 2021, which drew in the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition to fight on opposite sides of the conflict.

On November 8, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) ramped up peacekeeping patrols following reports of the mobilisation of armed groups, which have increased tensions and fear among local communities in Tambura County.

The peacekeeping mission also said the number of displaced individuals seeking refuge near the UNMISS temporary operating base in Tambura rose from around 3,700 to over 10,500.

–IANS

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New York, Dec 12 (IANS) Continuing with his maverick diplomacy, U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump has invited China’s President Xi Jinping to his inauguration next month for “open dialogue” with adversaries, his spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.

The invitation to the leader of China which had been his target during the campaign and after is in keeping with the unconventional diplomacy that Trump practiced in his first term reaching out to North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong Un.

Without being specific about Xi, Trump said of the invitations that are being sent out, “Some people said, ‘Wow, that’s a little risky, isn’t it’? And I said, ‘Maybe it is. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens’. But we like to take little chances”.

Leavitt said in an interview with Fox News, “This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors too.”

She added: “He had done this in his first term and he got a lot of criticism for it, but it led to peace around the world. He is willing to talk to anyone. He will always put America’s interest first.”

Beijing had not reacted to the invitation as of Thursday night.

Throughout his campaign for presidentship and after his election, Trump had criticised China for its predatory trade practices, and its role in the narcotics network that is behind the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans.

He has threatened to increase tariffs on China’s imports if it did not end the export of materials used to make synthetic narcotics.

He has also complained about China continuing to have “developing country” status at the World Trade Organization giving it favourable export status.

Trump has named David Perdue as his Beijing Ambassador, who is considered to be a hawk on China.

Earlier, David Perdue, warned in a newspaper article, “Americans first have to realise the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) actually is at war with us.”

–IANS

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Washington, Dec 12 (IANS) Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Indian-descent Hindu member of the House of Representatives, has urged the US Senate to question Marco Rubio about anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh at his confirmation hearing for the post of secretary of state.

“As targeted violence against Hindus and other minorities continues amid the disorder in Bangladesh, I urge the members of the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations to address this crisis directly during the upcoming hearings to confirm Senator Rubio as the next U.S. Secretary of State,” Krishnamoorthi said on Thursday.

He said that through publicly conferring on the turmoil in Bangladesh, Senator Rubio must reaffirm the incoming Administration’s position on this issue and pledge concrete action steps to combat anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh.

Rubio’s confirmation hearing will take place sometime after January 20, when President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office to start his second term.

Rubio is among Trump’s cabinet nominations considered to be the safest given his long years of experience as a member US senator and foreign policy chops as a leading member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is likely to be confirmed by his fellow senators, both Republican and Democratic.

Rubio, expectedly, will have a robust position on Bangladesh given the position already taken by his boss, the incoming President, who posted on X, “I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos.”

The Hindu-American community has been concerned over reports of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Krishnamoorthi is one of four Hindus in the US House of Representatives, along with Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna and Shri Thanedar. Their number will grow when the next Congress is in place with Suhas Subramanyam, who was elected last November from Virginia.

–IANS

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Aaccra, Dec 12 (IANS) Ghana has inaugurated a joint transition team comprising representatives of the outgoing government and incoming administration to facilitate the smooth power transfer.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and President-elect John Dramani Mahama inaugurated the team at a ceremony in the national capital of Accra, vowing their commitment to the transition process.

“As we embark on this transitional process, members of the transition team from both sides should approach this task with the spirit of collaboration, transparency, and mutual respect,” Akufo-Addo urged during the team’s inauguration.

For his part, Mahama urged team members to let the spirit of nationalism guide them in their work as they prioritize national unity and the greater good of Ghana, pledging his full cooperation with Akufo-Addo during and beyond the transitional period.

The joint transition team will supervise the handing over of government operations and executive authority, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Wednesday, Mahama paid a courtesy call on Akufo-Addo at the presidency, during which the two leaders acknowledged each other’s roles in the development of democracy in Ghana.

Ghanaians cast their ballots on December 7 to elect a new president and 276 members of parliament.

Mahama, who leads the opposition National Democratic Congress, secured 56.55 per cent of the total valid votes and has been announced as the winner of the presidential race.

A statement released on December 10 from the presidency announced that Akufo-Addo had called Mahama, leader of the opposition National Democratic Congress, to congratulate him on his victory.

“President Akufo-Addo expressed his commitment to ensuring a seamless transfer of power on January 7, 2025, and looks forward to working with the president-elect and his team to achieve this goal,” read the statement.

The Ghanaian incumbent president also commended the EC and the Ghanaian people for conducting a successful election, which he said reflects the enduring strength of the country’s democracy.

Akufo-Addo urged Ghanaians to unite and work together to strengthen democracy and uphold the rule of law in the country.

–IANS

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Tehran, Dec 12 (IANS) Iran and Qatar called on Thursday for urgent efforts to end Israel’s attacks on Syria’s infrastructure and its ongoing occupation of the Arab state.

In a phone call, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani discussed the latest developments in Syria, stressing the need for continued bilateral and multilateral consultations to help stabilize Syria and form an inclusive political system with the participation of the Syrian people, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government, Israel has significantly increased airstrikes across Syria, along with ground operations targeting critical military infrastructure. The Israeli military has also crossed into the demilitarized buffer zone established under the 1974 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria, taking control of border areas, Xinhua news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) condemned “U.S. and Israeli attacks” on Syria’s infrastructure, calling them a continuation of “aggressions” and violations of Syria’s sovereignty.

The IRGC, in a statement on its official news outlet, Sepah News, accused the United States and Israel of exploiting the current instability to target Syria’s vital centers and interfere in the country’s internal affairs.

During his meeting with the visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Aqaba on Thursday, King Abdullah II of Jordan also reiterated the country’s respect for the choices of the Syrian people while emphasising the importance of safeguarding Syria’s security and the safety of its citizens.

Following the meeting, Blinken wrote on social media platform X that he and the Jordanian king discussed developments in Syria and the importance of “an inclusive transition to an accountable, representative government in Syria chosen by the Syrian people,” among other topics.

–IANS

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Washington, Dec 12 (IANS) President Joe Biden on Thursday commuted sentences of nearly 1,500 people and pardoned 39 convicts of non-violent crimes, making it the largest grant of clemency in a single day in modern U.S. history.

“America was built on the promise of possibility and second chances,” said Biden.

He added that as President, he has the great privilege of extending mercy to people who have demonstrated remorse and rehabilitation, restoring opportunity for Americans to participate in daily life and contribute to their communities, and taking steps to remove sentencing disparities for non-violent offenders, especially those convicted of drug offences.

“That is why, today, I am pardoning 39 people who have shown successful rehabilitation and have shown commitment to making their communities stronger and safer. I am also commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 people who are serving long prison sentences – many of whom would receive lower sentences if charged under today’s laws, policies, and practices,” the President said.

The commutation recipients mostly included those placed in home confinement during the Covid-19 pandemic, those pardoned were people convicted of non-violent crimes such as marijuana possession. A pardon wipes out a conviction. A commutation leaves the convict guilty but reduces or ends the punishment.

President Biden had pardoned his son Hunter Biden a few weeks ago for his conviction on charges of gun law violation and tax evasion.

Biden still has 40 days left of his term and the White House said more such actions are expected.

“While today’s announcement marks important progress, there is more to come. President Biden will continue to review clemency petitions and deliver criminal justice reform in a manner that advances equity and justice, promotes public safety, supports rehabilitation and reentry, and provides meaningful second chances,” the White House said.

It added that these actions build on the President’s record of criminal justice reform.

The White House added that the President has issued more sentence commutations at this point in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms.

“He is also the first President ever to issue categorical pardons to individuals convicted of simple use and possession of marijuana, and to former LGBTQI+ service members convicted of private conduct because of their sexual orientation,” the White House said.

The White House added that in the coming weeks, the President will take additional steps to provide meaningful second chances and continue to review additional pardons and commutations.

–IANS

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