KIEV, 02 January 2022, (TON): Ukraine and the United States are negotiating a possible transfer of military aid to the Ukrainian side, which was previously intended for Afghanistan.

This was stated by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova in an interview published on Saturday on the website of the Ukrainian service “Radio Liberty”.

Markarova said “we are actively working now, and the Minister [Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba] talked about this during his visit, and this issue is also being actively discussed.”

Markarova stressed that the question is not what Kiev can get in this case, but what the Ukrainian side needs in this situation. The ambassador noted in this regard that earlier Kiev and Washington signed a five-year agreement, which enables the parties to interact “at a higher strategic level.”

The diplomat also said that Ukraine is working on expanding the list of military assistance to Ukraine from the American side.

WASHINGTON, 02 January 2022, (TON): President Joe Biden said on Friday he told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that a move on Ukraine will draw sanctions and an increased US presence in Europe, where tensions are high after Russia's military buildup at the border.

The US and Russian leaders exchanged warnings over Ukraine in a 50-minute call to address Russian military actions.

Biden told reporters as he left a Wilmington, Delaware, restaurant "I made clear to President Putin that if he makes any more moves, if he goes into Ukraine, we will have severe sanctions. We will increase our presence in Europe, with our NATO allies, and there will be a heavy price to pay for it.”

Biden says Putin agreed on "three major conferences" next month with senior staff to help find a resolution and said he expected progress from those negotiations.

However, he added, "I made it clear that it only could work if he de-escalated."

TUNIS, 02 January 2022, (TON): The North African country’s technology ministry said “Tunisia has launched a wide-ranging national consultation process that will help in drafting a new constitution.”

Part of a reform package pushed by President Kais Saied, who is seeking to bolster his authority, the exercise called on citizens to send suggestions through electronic platforms from January 1 to March 20.

Eligible topics include electoral, economic, financial, social, developmental, health, education and cultural affairs.

The constitutional referendum is planned for July 25, exactly a year after Saied sacked the government, suspended parliament and seized wide-ranging powers.

His power grab was initially supported by many Tunisians, amid frustration surrounding repeated deadlocks within the fractious legislature in recent years.

The president later took steps to rule by decree, and in early December pledged to press on with reforms to the political system.

KABUL, 02 January 2022, (TON): Today marks the first day of 2022 and 2021 saw the afghani depreciating by more than 33 percent against the US dollar, while food prices jumped by more than 26 percent and car fuel by 43 percent.

Considering the political changes in the country and freezing of over $9 billion in Afghan assets by the US, the Afghan currency against foreign currencies, especially the US dollar, depreciated.

Depreciation of afghani against USD main challenge this year

Haji Hussein Malik, a moneychanger at Sara-i-Shahzada Market in Kabul, told media that today one US dollar was accounted for 103 afghanis and 1,000 Pakistani rupees 530afs.

About three weeks ago, one US dollar was exchanged for 131 afghanis, but after the intervention of the central bank and some decisions by the government, the value of the afghani appreciated again.

Based on Pajhwok reports, one US dollar was accounted for 77.20afs and 1,000 Pakistani rupees 480afs this date last year.

BERLIN, 02 January 2022, (TON): The chairmanship of the Group of Seven (G7) economically developed countries passes from the UK to Germany.

The Federal Republic accepts it in turbulent times the aggravation of the situation around Ukraine, in which the West blames Russia, a pandemic, the coming to power in Afghanistan of the Taliban movement banned in the Russian Federation, an energy crisis, and global warming.

These and many other topics, in one way or another, define the current international agenda and will determine the G7 agenda.

The FRG chairmanship in the association will be a test for the new German government, which was formed at the end of 2021 after the parliamentary elections held on September 26.

Angela Merkel has twice chaired the G7 as chancellor. In 2007, she welcomed the leaders of the countries at that time of the G8 in the resort town of Heiligendamm on the shores of the Baltic Sea; in 2015, she hosted the G7 at Elmau Castle in Bavaria.

WASHINGTON, 02 January 2022, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Di Maio discussed the importance of continued coordination to deter any further Russian aggression against Ukraine and affirmed the consensus among Allies and partners to impose severe costs on Russia for such actions.

They reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

They highlighted their solidarity with Lithuania in the face of escalating political pressure and economic coercion by the People’s Republic of China, which risk U.S. and European prosperity and security.

NEW DELHI, 02 January 2022, (TON): A defence spokesperson said “troops from the armies of India and Pakistan, along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir, today exchanged sweets to mark the New Year.”

The incident took place along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch amid renewed ceasefire between the two countries.

India said that the gesture is an effort to enhance peace and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir.

The defence spokespseon spokesperson said “at the beginning of 2022, to promote mutual trust and tranquillity, the Indian Army exchanged sweets and greetings with the Pakistan Army at Poonch and Mendhar crossing points.”   

India and Pakistan agreed for a renewed ceasefire along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir in February last year and barring a few violations, the agreement is holding much to the relief of border residents and farmers, who have started resuming farming activities even along the LoC and International Border.

NEW DELHI, 02 January 2022, (TON): India and Pakistan have exchanged lists of each other's citizens they are holding in prison, and details of each country's nuclear assets, under an agreement that has been in place for three decades.

Pakistan and India have had strained relations since their independence from colonial British rule in 1947 over the Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Pakistan shared with India's top diplomat in Islamabad on Saturday a list of 628 Indian prisoners being held in Pakistan, including 577 fishermen accused of illegal fishing in Pakistani territorial waters, and 51 others.

The practice is consistent with a 2008 agreement between the two sides on consular access to inmates.

The deal requires them to exchange lists of prisoners in each other's custody each January and July.

 DHAKA, 02 January 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 26th edition of Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) declaring ICT products and services as “Products of the year 2022”.

The largest annual commercial and trade event of the country is being held at its permanent venue Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center, in Purbachal on the outskirts of the capital for the first time.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the fair virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi presided over the function jointly organized by the Commerce Ministry and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Md Jashim Uddin and EPB Vice Chairman AHM Ahsan also spoke at the program.

DHAKA, 02 January 2022, (TON): Dhaka has sought more time from Washington for sending feedback on the Leahy Law, which governs the US' funding to foreign security forces.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told our correspondent "we need more time to complete stakeholders' consultations…we informed them (Washington) about the need for more consultations.”

Officials concerned said Dhaka in principle decided to agree to the Leahy Law, with some suggestions to protect the interests of Bangladesh.

As per the Leahy Law, the US needs to get consent letters from the countries it provides security assistance to.

In a letter to the foreign ministry on December 1, the US had sought Bangladesh's response by December 15. Dhaka then extended the time until December 31 to give feedback. During this time, two inter-ministerial meetings were held, with the last one on December 28.

After the meeting at the foreign ministry -- attended by top officials from the ministries of home, law and law enforcement agencies, Masud Bin Momen told reporters that they would hold another consultation meeting soon to finalise the language of the feedback.