KABUL, 15 January 2022, (TON): Senior Taliban member and government envoy to the UN Suhail Shaheen has welcomed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appeal for the release of Afghanistan’s’ frozen assets and ease other rules that could help prevent economic collapse in the war-torn country.

On his twitter handler Shaheen said “I welcome UN Secretary-General Mr Antonio Guterres appeal to release Afghanistan’s frozen assets and jump-start its banking system.”

He reflected the ground realities by saying, freezing temperatures and frozen assets are a lethal combination for the people of Afghanistan.

 NEW DELHI, 15 January 2022, (TON): A senior official has said “the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Nagaland government to probe the killings of 14 civilians by security forces in Mon district on December 4 and 5 last year will submit the final report to the court after receiving the forensic results.”

Nagaland Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Sandeep Tamgadge, the overall supervisor of the SIT, told reporters that 85 civilians, and 37 security personnel, including 31 army jawans involved in the botched operation, have been examined and the team has visited the spot multiple times.

He said "the exhibits, soil and blood samples have been sent to Central Forensic Science Laboratories in Guwahati and Hyderabad and their reports are awaited. As soon as we receive those, we will start preparing the final report which will be submitted to the court.”

The official said that once the final report is submitted to the court, everyone can access the findings but not before that as it would not be "legally tenable".

He said "we have worked against time to complete the probe, and we have reached this far. But it would be difficult to say how long the forensic laboratories take, but we have made a special request to them to expedite the scientific analysis considering the sensitivity of the case.”

DHAKA, 15 January 2022, (TON): Business leaders of Bangladesh and Mexico have laid emphasis on increasing bilateral trade as both countries work together on exploring untapped potential.

The business leaders said “the bilateral trade volume between Mexico and Bangladesh stands at around $300 million and can reach the $1 billion mark within a few years.”

They made the remarks at a webinar titled “Bangladesh & Mexico: Potential & Opportunities,” organized by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Mexico with the assistance of local dignitary Francisco Pena Manjarrez.

The business leaders of Guadalajara, the third-largest metropolitan city of Mexico, expressed their interest in ICT, apparel, furniture, processed food, and the import of decorative lights from Bangladesh.

During the webinar, Bangladesh Ambassador Abida Islam delivered a presentation on the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, highlighting the potential of important sectors such as RMG, pharmaceuticals, health and medical equipment, IT, jute products, leather and footwear, light engineering, electronics and electrical equipment, processed agro-based food, automobiles, ceramic, plastic and shipbuilding.

NEW DELHI, 15 January 2022, (TON): Indian Naval Ships Shivalik & Kadmatt undertook Maritime Partnership Exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Ships Uraga and Hirado in the Bay of Bengal on January 13.

The exercise included a wide range of flying operations, replenishment approaches and tactical manoeuvres.

The precision, coordination and high level of interoperability reflected not only the high standards of professionalism and preparedness the two navies maintain to counter threats at sea, but also the high level of trust and understanding that they have built over the years.

The complex maritime exercises will enable the two navies to further strengthen their already wide-ranging strategic partnership and, when required, to jointly safeguard their maritime interests and ensure peace, security and stability in the region.

NEW DELHI, 15 January 2022, (TON): Army Chief General MM Naravane said “the Indian Army stands firm to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along the country's borders and India's desire for peace is born out of strength and should not be mistaken otherwise.”

The army chief also said that differences in perceptions and disputes are best resolved through established norms based on the principle of equal and mutual security.

The armies of India and China are locked in a military standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5, 2020, after a violent clash erupted in the Pangong lake area.

Both the countries have conducted 14 rounds of military-level talks to resolve the standoff.

General Naravane said in his speech on the eve of Army Day "we stand firm to counter any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo along our borders. Our response to such attempts has been swift, calibrated and decisive as was seen when the situation so demanded.”

General Naravane said the Army has instituted additional safeguards to prevent any further attempts at military brinkmanship.

He said "we believe that the differences in perceptions and disputes are best resolved through established norms based on the principle of equal and mutual security.”

DHAKA, 15 January 2022, (TON): A team of Bangladeshi Police has left Dhaka to join the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.

According to a statement issued by the Police Headquarters “the 140-member strong contingent led by Commander Mohammad Shahinur Alam, left for Bamako in Mali by a chartered aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.”

The statement said “apart from the stipulated forces working with different peacekeeping missions under the UN, Bangladesh Formed Police Unit 2 (BANFPU-2, Rotation) team will work there.”

It added “Deputy Inspector General of Police Md Haider Ali Khan and officers of the UN desk gave them a farewell at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.”

Bangladesh Police earned the trust and respect from associating peacekeepers of the UN for showing competence and professionalism.

Police also introduced a French language course for police personnel so that they can share their working atmosphere with the UN officers as well as other peacekeepers easily.

DHAKA, 15 January 2022, (TON): Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal left for the Maldives and Sri Lanka at the invitation of the Chief of the National Defense Force of the Maldives and Chief of Sri Lankan Navy.

A press release said that Assistant Chief of Naval Staff and Commander of Dhaka Naval Office officially bid him a farewell at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

During his visit in the Maldives, the Chief of Naval Staff will pay a courtesy call on Major General Abdulla Shamaal, Chief of the country's National Defense Force, and Mariya Didi, Defence Minister.

The release added “the Navy Chief will also visit Bangladesh High Commission in Maldives tomorrow.”

LONDON, 14 January 2022, (TON): The US reiterated on Thursday its concern over the Iran-backed Houthi militia’s continued obstruction of the peace process in Yemen and harassment American and UN-employed local Yemeni staff.

Samantha Power, administrator of the US Agency for International Development said “if they are serious about peace and upholding international norms, they will release our colleagues immediately.”

The UN Security Council had condemned in the strongest terms the Houthis’ seizure and intrusion into a compound that was formerly used to house the US embassy in Sanaa, when dozens of local employees were detained.

Power was speaking a day after US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield issued a similar statement saying the Houthi militia is continuing these actions despite condemnation from the Security Council.

She said during a Security Council briefing on Yemen “the Houthis must immediately cease threats, release unharmed those detained, vacate the compound, return seized US property, and cease their threats against our employees and their families.”

UNESCO and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Dec. 28 said they continued to be deeply concerned for the well-being of two of their staff members who were detained in early November in Sanaa.

No communication from the UN has been possible with the staff members since that time.

WASHINGTON, 14 January 2022, (TON): Defense officials from Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and the United States conducted a call on January 13, 2022 to discuss regional security affairs.

Japanese Director General for Defense Policy Masuda Kazuo, ROK Deputy Minister for National Defense Policy Kim Man-gi, and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner engaged in consultations on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear and missile threat, regional security, and substantive ways to strengthen trilateral security cooperation.

The representatives reaffirmed the importance of trilateral security cooperation and committed to conduct a Trilateral Defense Ministerial on a date to be mutually determined in the future.

TEHRAN, 14 January 2022, (TON): Eight countries that include Iran, Venezuela and Sudan have lost their right to vote at the United Nations because of unpaid dues.

A total of 11 countries are behind in their payments, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday in a letter to the General Assembly. AFP obtained it on Wednesday.

Under the UN charter, a member country s right to vote is suspended when its arrears equal or exceed the amount of dues it should have paid over the preceding two years.

If the outstanding debt is deemed to be “due to conditions beyond the control of the member,” the assembly may let that country continue to vote.

For 2022 this is the case of the Comoro Islands, Sao Tome and Principe, and Somalia, Guterres said.

He said “the eight countries that have lost their right to vote for now are Iran, Sudan, Venezuela, Antigua and Barbuda, Congo, Guinea, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu.”

He spelled out the minimum amount each must pay to recover their vote. For Iran, for instance, it is just over $18 million while Sudan needs to come up with nearly $300,000 and Venezuela around $40 million.