Farmers are demanding that Germany's government drop plans to cut agricultural subsidies. Major traffic disruptions are expected in parts of the country due to the demonstrations. Dozens of farmers on Sunday arrived in Berlin ahead of demonstrations against government plans to reduce subsidies. The convoy reached the iconic Brandenburg Gate at 5:30 pm local time (1530 UTC), according to the local Berliner Zeitung daily. A candlelight vigil is scheduled for 11 p.m. What are the farmers' protests about? Farmers are demonstrating against plans by Germany's government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz for the suspension of agricultural subsidies. The governing coalition is made up of Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP). On Thursday, the government announced that it would walk back some of the planned cuts to subsidies, which the German Farmers' Association (DBV) considers to be an insufficient measure. On Friday, a spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry warned that anti-state and far-right elements could attempt to instrumentalize the protests for their own interests. Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP urged farmers to "turn around," adding that agriculture was a "highly-subsidized sector," according to der Spiegel. The conservative opposition coalition CDU/CSU, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the right-wing populist Free Voters have expressed their support for the farmers' protests. Traffic disruptions expected in various parts of the country The Strasse des 17. Juni, a major thoroughfare that connects central Berlin and the western suburbs, has been closed to traffic ahead of the protests. Major transport disruptions are expected on Monday due to the demonstrations. The eastern state of Brandenburg's Transport Ministry voiced fears that there could be disruptions in the delivery of goods, according to Berliner Zeitung. To reduce the probability of disruptions, the state exempted January 7 from a driving ban for trucks that applies on all Sundays and public holidays. Authorities in the northern city-state of Hamburg warned of the possibility of traffic chaos as farmers from the state of Schleswig-Holstein are to arrive for a rally in the city.

President Xi Jinping has arrived on his first visit to the US since 2017. The leaders of the world's two largest economies will hold one-on-one talks in San Francisco later on Wednesday. US President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping have both arrived in San Francisco, California, where they will hold one-on-one talks later on Wednesday. The presidents of the world's strongest economies are set to meetat an undisclosed venue amid the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit (APEC) in the city. It's Xi's first trip to the US in any capacity since 2017, and it will be the two leaders' first in-person, one-on-one talks since last November. Biden says 'not trying to decouple' from China but seeking to 'change the relationship' The talks come amid frosty US-Chinese ties as China closes in on the title of the world's largest economy and becomes more assertive on a range of foreign policy issues where it clashes either with the US or its allies. It also coincides with European and US giants looking at reducing their dependence on China — partly as a lesson learned from the economic costs of sanctioning Russia amid its war in Ukraine. Initial references to this as "decoupling" from China had angered Beijing, and western countries have since been looking for a more neutral terms for the process like "de-risking." "We're not trying to decouple from China. What we're trying to do is change the relationship for the better," Biden said on Tuesday. China was already perturbed by the more confrontational trade policies of former US President Donald Trump, many of which Biden kept after taking office. Speaking with reporters before departing for San Francisco, Biden said that success for him would mean: "To get back on a normal course, corresponding and being able to pick up the phone and talk to one another in a crisis, and being able to make sure that our militaries still have contact with one another." Aboard Air Force One en route to San Francisco, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Biden and Xi would likely talk about the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, US efforts to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, North Korea's missile tests, and other geopolitical issues. Biden is "not going to be afraid to confront where confrontation is needed on certain issues where we don't see eye-to-eye" but also will look for areas to cooperate on such as climate change, Kirby told reporters. Climate working group announced before talks Although there are few expectations for high-level agreements or major breakthroughs, comments prior to the summit suggested negotiators in Washington and Beijing had been seeking areas where they could more easily find common ground — for instance on environmental policy.  The two countries said they would launch a working group on climate action in a joint statement released early on Wednesday. This follows months of bilateral talks behind the scenes. The group would focus on "energy transition, methane, circular economy and resource efficiency, low-carbon and sustainable provinces/states and cities, and deforestation," the joint statement said.  The two sides said they agreed to "work together and with other parties" to "rise up to one of the greatest challenges of our time for present and future generations of humankind."  US, South Korea and Japan issue North Korea warning On Tuesday evening in San Francisco, Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts.  The three countries agreed to step up cooperation against the increasing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, calling it a "serious threat" to international peace, according to a statement from South Korea's government early on Wednesday.  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia for several days in September, visiting military and space-related sites in the country and holding talks with President Vladimir Putin.  Even Russia will be represented at the APEC meeting in San Francisco this week. Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk and other Russian officials not subject to US sanctions will represent Moscow at the meeting. 

French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit Dhaka. He will also visit the residence and studio of popular music artist Rahul Ananda on Sunday night. However, Macron is currently in India to attend the G-20 summit. Macron is scheduled to visit Rahul Ananda’s studio at Dhanmondi at 10 pm on Sunday for a short visit after landing in Dhaka, according to media reports.  He will be greeted by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, whose performers will showcase classical music and dance before or after dinner. On Monday, he is scheduled to visit the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 and pay his tribute, and a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  

French President Emmanuel Macron will come to Dhaka from New Delhi after attending the G20 summit to deepen bilateral relations tomorrow. the French embassy in Dhaka said, "It will also be an opportunity to deepen our bilateral relations with a country that is experiencing rapid economic growth and seeking to diversify its partnerships." However, the president is scheduled to visit Dhanmondi Lake, will enjoy 'Joler Gaan' an independent band of Bangladesh. 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will arrive in Dhaka today.  This is the first time, when any foreign Ministers of Russia will come to Dhaka. However, Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will hold a bilateral talk with his Russian counterpart.  According to the officials of the Bangladesh foreign ministry, apart from bilateral cooperation issues like energy, food security, fertilizer supply and Rohingya crisis are likely to be discussed during the foreign minister level talk.

Muslim World League Secretary General Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa is set to arrive in New Delhi on July 10 on a six-day visit, the sources said. Upon his arrival in India, Al-Issa will be meeting India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval for a one-on-one in the evening. On July 11, at 11 am, on the invitation of the Khusro Foundation, Al-Issa will address a gathering of prominent religious and community leaders, academics and media at BS Abdur Rahman Auditorium at the India Islamic Cultural Centre. The National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval shall also address the gathering. Al-Issa will be in India from July 10-15. As per sources, Al-Issa is expected to meet India's Minister for External Affairs, S Jaishankar, and Minister for Minority Affairs Smriti Irani, and he may also call on the President of India, Droupadi Murmu. He will also meet the President of ICCR and interact with a group of distinguished faith leaders at Vivekanand International Foundation. As per sources, he might visit Akshardham Temple and meet some prominent personalities. During his stay in the national capital, an important part of his engagement will also be the visit to Jama Masjid Delhi for Friday Prayers. He is also scheduled to visit Agra. Notably, Al-Issa is an Islamic scholar and a leading voice on moderate Islam. He is also a promoter of inter-faith dialogue and world peace. He is a prominent religious leader, Islamic scholar and reformist from Saudi Arabia. Before being appointed as the Secretary General of the Muslim World League in 2016, Al-Issa served as the Minister of Justice in the Saudi Cabinet. As the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, an influential non-governmental organization representing Muslims worldwide, Al-Issa has spearheaded initiatives to build partnerships and strengthen relations between diverse communities, faiths, and nations. He also serves as the chairman of the Centre for Responsible Leadership, a body of globally influential government, faith, media, business, and community leaders working together to solve the challenges facing humanity and the world today. 

The Good Friday peace accord anniversary comes amid heightened tensions in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of Brexit. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland police said they found four suspected pipe bombs near Derry. US President Joe Biden will head to Northern Ireland on Tuesday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the deal that ended some 30 years of civil conflict. Also on Tuesday, police in Northern Ireland said they had recovered four suspected pipe bombs from a cemetery in Creggan near the city of Derry. During the visit, Biden will also meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He is also scheduled to deliver an address at Ulster University in Belfast on Wednesday. It is the first visit by a US president to Northern Ireland in 10 years. Biden's visit, and the anniversary, come at a delicate time for Northern Ireland, as it grapples with the repercussions of Brexit on its borders and trade dealings. The Day with Brent Goff: Good Friday Peace at 25 What is the Good Friday Agreement?  The 1998 deal was the culmination of years of talks. Chaired during their home stretch by the United States, the talks resulted in a truce agreed by the UK and Irish governments, as well as Northern Irish political party representatives, including the militant Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). The agreement ended  the decades of violence known as the Troubles. The conflict pitted largely Protestant Unionists who preferred to stay part of the UK against largely Catholic Republicans, who wanted to be united with the Republic of Ireland in the south. The years of conflict often spilled out into mainland Britain, with terrorist attacks striking London. The shadow of the Troubles has returned to Northern Ireland since Brexit made alterations to the conditions upon which the 1998 deal was based. With the UK no longer part of the European Union, its trade agreements, and hence those of Northern Ireland, with the bloc were upended. That included EU-member-state Ireland, Northern Ireland's most important neighbor. "While it is time to reflect on the solid progress we have made together, we must also recommit to redoubling our efforts on the promise made in 1998 and the agreements that followed," Sunak said in a statement marking the agreement's anniversary. How does the 'Windsor Framework' seek to smooth Brexit tensions? In February, the UK and the EU reached a new post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland. Dubbed the "Windsor Framework," the plan aims to scrap some checks on goods crossing from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland, and give Northern Irish lawmakers greater say over future EU-related rules. However, it has yet to garner the needed endorsement at home from the pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), with tensions about the deal still high in Belfast. The party said Biden's visit would not pressure it to change course. On Monday evening, and ahead of Biden's visit, masked people attacked a police vehicle with Molotov cocktails and other objects at a parade opposing the Good Friday anniversary celebrtions in Londonderry, also known as Derry. The British intelligence agency has recently increased Northern Ireland's threat level from domestic terrorism to "severe," a sign it believes an attack is highly probable. Biden to reconnect with Irish ancestry Biden, who has always been proud of his Irish ancestry, plans to use the trip to reconnect with his roots. He is due to spend three days in the Republic of Ireland and address the parliament in Dublin. The US president is scheduled to meet distant cousins in County Louth on Wednesday. He also plans to visit the western county of Mayo, where his great-great-grandfather grew up, and address thousands of residents there. Moreover, in the grander scheme of the much anticipated 2024 US presidential election, Biden's visit to Ireland is seen as an endorsement to the American dream of immigrant success. Like Biden's ancestors, millions of Irish people crossed the Atlantic in the late 19th century and early 20th century, escaping the famine at home and seeking a better future.

Chandika Hathurusingha will come to Bangladesh tomorrow, February 20 at night to take charge as Bangladesh national cricket team head coach for the second term.  Earlier, Hathurusingha was in charge of Bangladesh national cricket team from may 2014 to December 2017. Chandika Hathurusingha's second term will begin with the upcoming series against England. Hathurusingha's practice session will start with 22 cricketers in addition to the declared ODI team. On March 1, the scheduled ODI series against England kick off at Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the ODI squad for the England series before Hathurusinghe set foot in Bangladesh.  The 14-member ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal (Captain), Litton Das, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mehidy Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Ebadot Hossain, Taijul Islam and Towhid Hridoy. Regarding the preparation of the Bangladesh team, chief selector Minhajul Abedin said, "On Monday night, February 20, Hathurusingha will set foot in Dhaka and come to the BCB the next day for some necessary discussion. Out of the 22 cricketers, 1 cricketer likely to be given a chance in the main squad."

United States assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh capital Dhaka on Saturday on a two-day visit to discuss a range of issues relating to energy, security cooperation, religious freedom, labour and human rights. After concluding his two-day visit in India from January 12 to 13, Lu is expected to fly to Dhaka on Saturday.  ‘Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India and Bangladesh January 12-15, for meetings on a range of priorities including energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labour, and human rights,’ said a press release from the US embassy in Dhaka. In India, the Assistant Secretary is scheduled to participate in the India-US Forum. He will also meet with senior Indian officials to discuss ways in which the United States and India can further expand energy, trade, security, and human rights cooperation, according to the release. ‘While in Bangladesh, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with senior Bangladeshi officials and civil society leaders to discuss strengthening our bilateral relationship, expanding economic engagement and hear their perspectives on labour and human rights,’ release said. Lu’s visit comes just within a week after US National Security Council senior director for South Asia rear admiral Eileen Laubacher’s visit to Bangladesh.

The Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela at the famous Ragnya Devi temple near Srinagar is being observed after a hiatus of two years owing to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Voice for Peace and Justice, on Tuesday, welcomed the pilgrims at Mata Kheer Bhawani at Tullamullah Ganderbal. The organization distributed water, juice and roses as a gesture of communal harmony, brotherhood and peace. This is one of the biggest religious gatherings of the displaced community at a temple situated at a distance of 25 kilometres northeast of Srinagar. As is the custom with Hindu deities, the goddess has many names including Ragyna or Rajna[c], along with variations in honorifics such as devi, mata or bhagavati. The term kheer refers to a milk and rice pudding that is offered to propitiate the goddess. Kheer Bhawani is sometimes translated as ‘Milk Goddess’. The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir, most of them worship her as their protective patron deity Kuladevi. Farooq Ganderbali, President of Voice for Peace and Justice, felicitated the pilgrims. “Kashmiri Pandits are part and parcel of our lives, unfortunately, the extremism and terrorism created a wedge between the communities but we are incomplete without one another. we shouldn’t rely upon the administration only to maintain peace in Kashmir, instead, we should contribute our part as well,” he said. President, Jammu and Kashmir Youth development forum, Shehreyar Dar, President Uthaan Mission Trust Zeeshan Farooq Dar and General Secretary Voice for Peace and Justice Sheikh Minhaj were present on the occasion. Other participants included Editor in Chief Asian express, Ajaz Kawoosi and BDC chairman Sherpathri, Ali Mohammad Ganaie. Source: zee5