KABUL, 23 January 2022, (TON): A government delegation is set leave for Oslo for talks on different issues with Norwegian officials. Led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, the delegates will also meet US and EU diplomats and some Afghan figures.

Inamullah Samangani, deputy government spokesman, said the delegation’s visit was taking place an invitation from the Norwegian government.

The team, including several ministers, is expected to hold talks with Afghan politicians in Oslo during the three-day trip beginning from Jan 23.

Also, the Norwegian foreign ministry announced meetings were planned between the delegation and other Afghans, including women leaders, journalists and human rights defenders.

“This is not a legitimisation or recognition of the Taliban,” Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt was quoted as saying.

DHAKA, 23 January 2022, (TON): According to the Global Firepower Index released “Bangladesh has remained stable as the 46th powerful military in the world in 2022 compared to the position last year.”

Among two neighbours of Bangladesh with land and maritime borders, India ranked fourth and Myanmar remained stable at the 39th position in the index.

The United States topped the 2022 list followed by Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, France, United Kingdom, Pakistan and Brazil respectively.

Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, Israel, Spain and Saudi Arabia ranked 11th to 20th respectively in the list made for 2022.

Among the countries in South Asia, India ranked fourth, Pakistan ninth, Sri Lanka 79th, Afghanistan 118th, Nepal 119th and Bhutan 140th.

The GFP ranking is based on each nation’s potential war-making capability across the land, sea, and air fought by conventional means.

The results incorporate values related to manpower, equipment, natural resources, finances, and geography.

KABUL, 23 January 2022, (TON): The European Union said “it was re-establishing a physical presence in Afghanistan for humanitarian purposes, but stressed it was not formally recognising the Taliban-led administration.”

It was the first such announcement by a Western power since the 27-nation EU and many governments withdrew staff and diplomats from Afghanistan as Kabul fell to the hardline Islamist Taliban last August.

European Commission foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano said "the EU has started to re-establish a minimal presence of international EU Delegation staff to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and monitor the humanitarian situation.”

A Taliban foreign ministry spokesman had earlier said in a Tweet that its officials had reached an understanding with the EU, which had "officially opened its embassy with a permanent presence in Kabul & practically commenced operations".

The EU spokesperson stopped short of saying the mission had been formally re-opened.

KABUL, 23 January 2022, (TON): Three members of the US House of Representatives of the United States have issued a letter to President Biden urging him to release Afghanistan’s assets to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

They said that helping the Afghans is not only a moral responsibility of the United States, but also contributes to the security of the United States.

The letter reads “we have not just a moral obligation to help the Afghan people, but a national interest in preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for our enemies.”

The letter also reads that the United States must uphold its promises toward the people of Afghanistan and make sure the progress made in the last 20 years is not lost.

They said in letter “when the last American troops left Afghanistan, the United States promised that we would not abandon Afghanistan. That is a mistake we made once before with grave consequences for our own security, as well as for the Afghan people. We must uphold our promises and do what is necessary to ensure that the progress made in the last 20 years is not lost.”

DHAKA, 23 January 2022, (TON): Information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud said that those were are conspiring against Bangladesh from home and abroad were talking a lot about the role of Rapid Action Battalion.

He said “however, this RAB has played a praiseworthy role against drugs and extremism in Bangladesh.”

He said ‘that is why we have been able to tackle drug abuse and peddling, and extremism in Bangladesh more effectively than many developed countries.”

He said “Hasan said that those who were talking about the role of RAB today, they really want a sanctuary of terrorism and extremism and drugs to spread more. Otherwise, they cannot speak against them in this way.”

The information minister made the remarks as chief guest while addressing a reception and training workshop for new lawyers at Chattogram District Bar Association auditorium.

DHAKA, 23 January 2022, (TON): President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted all the members of Bangladesh Police on the occasion of the Police Week-2022.

On the eve of the beginning of the week, they issued separate messages wishing a success of all the programs.

In his message, President Abdul Hamid said “Bangladesh Police is a traditional organization of the country and this force has a glorious role in the great war of liberation.”

Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for independence in the early hours of March 26, 1971 and later, responding to his call, members of the Bangladesh Police at Rajarbagh Police Lines formed the first armed resistance against the Pakistani Hanadar Bahani, he said.

The head of the state added “about 1262 members of Bangladesh Police sacrificed their lives in the war of liberation.”

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said “Bangladesh Police has been working tirelessly to maintain internal peace, curb crime and establish rule of law.”

The premier added “the role of police in combating militancy and terrorism, eradication of drugs and smuggling has further enhanced the image of Bangladesh in the world arena.”

WASHINGTON, 22 January 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden said that he withdrew his troops from Afghanistan because it’s not possible to unify the war-torn country under one single government.

At a White House news conference, Mr Biden also said that the United States was “spending a billion dollars a week in Afghanistan for 20 years” and could not afford to do so indefinitely.

The Biden administration started pulling out troops from Afghanistan in August last year, leaving behind a vacuum, filled by the Taliban. Taliban troops entered Kabul on Aug 15 and replaced the US-backed government with their own.

Since then Taliban have ignored US appeals to include other political forces into the government and to protect the rights of Afghan women and religious minorities guaranteed in the US-backed Afghan constitution.

President Biden while responding to his government’s alleged incompetence said “let’s take Afghanistan. I know you all would like to focus on that, which is legitimate.”

He said “raise your hand if you think anyone was going to be able to unify Afghanistan under one single government.”

He further said “it’s been the graveyard of empires for a solid reason: It is not susceptible to unity.”

LONDON, 22 January 2022, (TON): We reject allegations that our countries are financing political or environmental protests in Serbia. These claims do not reflect our partnership with Serbia.

Since Serbia’s transition to democracy, the United States, the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany have been among its most generous and reliable partners and friends, providing assistance funding totaling well over 3.0 billion euros.

We are clear and transparent about this assistance and our goals: to support reform, good governance, democratic development, green transition and prosperity. Significant amounts of this assistance is provided to the Serbian Government or delivered in cooperation with the Serbian Government and its agencies.

These aims support Serbia’s stated policy of progress towards EU Accession, as well as to support reconciliation and stability across the Western Balkan region.

Without reservation we reject any suggestion that our countries, or the organisations through which we provide technical assistance and support, are funding or directing actions specifically targeting the Serbian Government or any of its policies, this includes the financing of protests.

WASHINGTON, 22 January 2022, (TON): President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold their first formal talks as the two leaders face fresh concerns about North Korea’s nuclear program and China’s growing military assertiveness.

The virtual meeting comes after North Korea earlier this week suggested it might resume nuclear and long-range missile testing that has been paused for more than three years.

According to the Korean Central News Agency “North Korea’s Kim Jong Un on Thursday presided over a Politburo meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party where officials set policy goals for “immediately bolstering” military capabilities to counter what were described as the Americans’ hostile moves.”

Both the U.S. and Japan are also concerned about China’s increasing aggression toward Taiwan. China claims self-governing Taiwan as its own territory, to be annexed by force if necessary.

In recent months, it has stepped up military exercises near the island, frequently sending warplanes near Taiwan’s airspace.

ACCRA, 22 January 2022, (TON): The government said “at least 17 people were killed and 59 injured Thursday in a devastating explosion in a western Ghana town after a truck carrying explosives collided with a motorcycle.”

The blast left a huge crater and reduced dozens of buildings to dust-covered piles of wood and metal in Apiate, near the city of Bogoso some 300 kilometres (180 miles) west of the mineral-rich West African country s capital Accra.

Footage showed locals rushing towards a raging fire and rising plumes of black smoke to inspect the damage, while rescue workers waded through the rubble for survivors caught in the devastation.

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement released overnight “a total of 17 people have unfortunately been confirmed dead, and 59 injured people have been rescued.”

The minister said initial signs point to “an accident involving a truck transporting explosive materials for a mining company, a motorcycle and a third vehicle” which took place near an electrical transformer.

Nkrumah added “out of 59 people injured, 42 are receiving treatment in hospitals or health centres and “some are in critical condition.”