TEHRAN, 31 December 2021, (TON): Iran has used a satellite launch rocket to send three research devices into space, a defence ministry spokesman said, as indirect US-Iran talks take place in Austria to try to salvage a 2015 nuclear deal.

He did not clarify whether the devices had reached orbit.

Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, has suffered several failed satellite launches in the past few years due to technical issues.

Spokesman Ahmad Hosseini said the Simorgh satellite carrier rocket, whose name translates as "Phoenix", had launched the three research devices at an altitude of 470 kilometres (290 miles). He did not give further details.

"The intended research objectives of this launch were achieved," Hosseini said, in comments broadcast on state television. "This was done as a preliminary launch ... God willing, we will have an operational launch soon."

Iranian state television showed footage of what it said was the firing of the launch vehicle.

BEIJING, 31 December 2021, (TON): Wang Yi, state councillor and foreign minister said in an interview with state media “the United States is at risk of paying an "unbearable price" due to its actions over Taiwan.”

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and in the past two years has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to assert its sovereignty claim.

Wang said “by encouraging 'Taiwan independence' forces" the United States "not only puts Taiwan into an extremely dangerous situation but also exposes the United States to an unbearable price.”

Taiwan has emerged as a key factor in strained relations between China and the United States, the island's most important international backer and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Taiwan says it is an independent country and vows to defend its freedom and democracy. China regularly describes the island as the most sensitive issue in its ties with the United States.

Wang said "Taiwan has no other way forward other than reunification with the mainland.”

RIYADH, 31 December 2021, (TON): Saudi Arabia's King Salman urged archrival Iran to end its "negative behaviour" in the region, after Riyadh accused Tehran of aiding Yemeni rebels in launching deadly attacks on his country.

However, the monarch who turns 86 on Friday appeared to soften his hawkish tone towards the Islamic republic, after having urged world powers last year to take a "firm stance" against Tehran.

Salman, addressing the Shura council, the top government advisory body, virtually for a second year in a row, spoke for less than four minutes.

He read slowly from a white piece of paper, pausing at times, in a speech broadcast three hours after its initial scheduled time.

The official Saudi Press Agency later released the king's full statement.

He said, according to the statement "we hope (Iran) changes its policy and negative behaviour in the region, and it heads towards dialogue and cooperation.”

NEW DELHI, 31 December 2021, (TON): The Indian government extended a special law giving armed forces sweeping powers in the north-eastern state of Nagaland, days after a botched army ambush killed 14 people.

The killings triggered protests against the law which gives the armed forces sweeping powers to conduct raids, warrantless searches and open fire, with broad protection from prosecution.

But the six-month extension issued by India's ministry of home affairs said the government believed the state was in a disturbed and dangerous condition.

The government said, justifying the extension of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act "the use of armed forces in aid of the civil power is necessary.”

Earlier this month, the Indian army shot dead six miners returning to their homes in the state's Mon district, near the Myanmar border, believing them to be insurgents.

Another eight people were killed by the troops when they were confronted by an angry crowd. A soldier was killed and a military vehicle was set alight.

Those calling subsequently for a repeal of the AFSPA included the head of the state government, an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party.

KABUL, 31 December 2021, (TON): A four-member delegation from the Ministry of Finance has traveled to Pakistan to discuss matters related to extra duty charges on Afghan goods.

Headed by EsmatullahSaleemi, General Director of Revenue Evaluation, the Afghan delegation is visiting Pakistan.

“The main purpose of the visiting delegation is to prevent double taxation on Afghan goods by Pakistani authorities.”

The first meeting on double taxation was held in 2016, in which both sides reached understanding on some items while some items remained undecided.

KABUL, 31 December 2021, (TON): The supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate has directed government officials to respect the general amnesty announced by him.

The Afghans needed to live in unity and brotherhood, Haibatullah Akhund told officials at a meeting, the governor’s house in southern Kandahar province on Thursday.

Haibatullah Akhund made the remarks during Wednesday’s meeting at the governor’s house in Kandahar City.

Dr. Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for the Taliban’s political office, also shared Akhund’s directives on his Twitter account.

The statement said the meeting was attended by Kandahar Governor Haji Mohammad Yousuf Wafa, Deputy Governor Maulvi Hayatullah Mubarak and police chief Mullah Abdul Ghaffar, as well as provincial directors, district governors and police chiefs.

NEW DELHI, 31 December 2021, (TON): Indian police arrested a Hindu religious leader for allegedly making a derogatory speech against India’s independence leader Mahatma Gandhi and praising his assassin.

Gandhi was shot dead by a Hindu extremist during a prayer meeting in the Indian capital in 1948 because he was considered sympathetic toward Muslims during the partition of the Indian subcontinent by British colonialists in 1947 into India and Pakistan.

India news agency cited police officer Prashant Agrawal as saying “Kalicharan Maharaj was arrested in central Madhya Pradesh state on Thursday for allegedly promoting hatred between religious groups in a speech earlier this week.”

According to media reports, Maharaj said “Gandhi destroyed the country salutations to Nathuram Godse, who killed him.”

He will be formally charged in court after the police complete an investigation. If convicted, he can be jailed for up to five years.

Attacks by Hindu hard-liners against Muslims and other minorities have intensified after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, and won a landslide reelection in 2019.

SRINAGAR, 31 December 2021, (TON): Kashmir Media Service reported that Indian security forces in their fresh acts of state terrorism martyred six youth in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) during the last 24 hours.

Indian troops martyred three more Kashmiri youth in the Islamabad district on Thursday.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the youth were martyred by the Indian troops and paramilitary forces during a cordon and search operation in the Veerinag area of the district.

Earlier, on Wednesday evening, the Indian troops martyred three youth during a cordon and search operation jointly launched by the Indian army, police and Central Reserve Police Force in the Mirhama area of Kulgam district.

Earlier, two Indian army soldiers and a policeman were also injured in an attack in the same area. The attack was carried out on the joint team of the Indian army, police and Central Reserve Police Force, which was engaged in the cordon and search operation.

DHAKA, 31 December 2021, (TON): Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, a senior judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, has been appointed the 23rd Chief Justice of the country.

President M Abdul Hamid made the appointment in line with article 95(1) of the constitution as current Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has retired.

Article 95 (1) says "The Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President, and the other Judges shall be appointed by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice."

Justice Hasan Foez Siddique was one of the 10 judges who were dropped from the confirmation list of High Court judge, by the BNP-led four-party alliance government, that was in power since 2001 to 2006, despite the chief justice's positive recommendation, as they were appointed during the Awami League tenure (1996-2001).

The judges were reappointed as HC judges on March 24, 2009 in line with the Appellate Division verdict.

Justice Siddique was a member of the seven-member bench of the Appellate Division that scrapped the controversial sixteenth amendment of the constitution which had empowered the parliament to remove SC judges for incapacity or misconduct.

DHAKA, 31 December 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hoped that Bangladesh will one day be able to produce aircraft and helicopters.

She said while addressing the President Parade (Winter)-2021 of Bangladesh Air Force "InshaAllah, one day we'll be able to produce aircraft, helicopters and warplanes in our country. I do believe it. We want to impart training and conduct research accordingly from now.”

The Prime Minister virtually joined the parade held at Bangladesh Air Force Academy in Jashore from her official residence Gono Bhaban.

The present government established Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University in Lalmonirhat with an aim to modernise aerospace research, development of the Air Force and the civil aviation sector, she said.

The Prime Minister insisted "we put the utmost importance to aerospace research.”

She highlighted Awami League government's measures to modernise the Bangladesh Air Force particularly in the last 13 years after assuming power in 2009.