STOCKHOLM, 06 May 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister Ann Linde said in Washington “Sweden has received assurances from the United States that it would receive support during the period a potential application to join NATO is processed by the 30 nations in the alliance.”

Sweden and neighbor Finland stayed out of NATO during the Cold War, but Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion of Ukraine have led the countries to rethink their security policies, with NATO membership looking increasingly likely.

Both countries are concerned they would be vulnerable during an application process, which could take up to a year to be approved by all NATO’s members.

“Naturally, I’m not going to go into any details, but I feel very sure that now we have an American assurance,” Linde told Swedish TV from Washington after meeting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

She added “however, not concrete security guarantees, those you can only get if you are a full member of NATO.”

LONDON, 06 May 2022, (TON): Thank you, Mr Chair. Since Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, week after week we have seen the brutality of Russia’s actions.

The Russian Federation has attempted, in vain, to legitimise its war. This includes in the southern city of Kherson, where Russia has sought to assert its control of the city and surrounding areas through installing a pro-Kremlin administration.

So far this administration has stated a return to Ukrainian control is “impossible” and announced a four-month currency transition to the Russian rouble from 1 May. These statements are likely indicative of Russian intent to exert strong political influence in Kherson over the long term.

We are further appalled by reports that Russia intends to stage a referendum in Kherson oblast, in an attempt to provide a pretext for consolidating its control over the area.

We saw this in 2014, when Russia held an illegitimate referendum on the accession of Crimea into the Russian Federation to retrospectively justify its seizure of the Peninsula.

KYIV, 06 May 2022, (TON): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “civilians including women and children remain trapped inside Ukraine’s besieged city of Mariupol and a prolonged cease-fire is needed to ensure their evacuation as Russia presses its assault.”

After failing to capture the capital Kyiv in the early weeks of a war that has killed thousands and flattened cities, Russia has accelerated attacks on Ukraine’s east and south.

Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the eastern region of Donetsk, said at least 25 civilians were wounded as Russian forces shelled Kramatorsk, and town some 180 kilometers west of Luhansk.

Moscow declared victory over Mariupol on April 21 after weeks of siege and shelling, but fierce resistance by Ukrainian forces holed up in the Azovstal steelworks has prevented Russia completely overrunning the city.

WARSAW, 06 May 2022, (TON): Poland President Andrzej Duda met with the Saudi ambassador to Warsaw, Saad bin Saleh Al-Saleh, on the sidelines of the Polish Constitution Day celebrations, which falls on May 3 every year.

During the meeting, the Saudi ambassador congratulated Duda on behalf of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Duda thanked Saudi Arabia’s leadership, and wished the Kingdom further progress and prosperity.

KABUL, 06 May 2022, (TON): A senior member of the Islamic Emirate, Anas Haqqani, told “an assembly of clerics will be held soon, and problems related to girls’ schools will be solved.”

Haqqani, who visited Khost, said “attendees have been considered, including religious clerics and experts, and the meeting will be held in the near future.”

He said “you will hear good news. It will make everyone happy. We should understand that the foreigners are undermining us in this regard. A lot of people have been disappointed. And they have the right to be disappointed. It was a major (issue) for the people.”

Without citing the name of a certain group or individual, Haqqani said “instead of fighting and bloodshed, the issue should involve negotiations.”

He said “I request that if a problem is solved via negotiations behind the curtain with (brothers), we should not be brought into the need for force and bloodshed.”

KABUL, 06 May 2022, (TON): Anas Haqqani, a senior member of the Islamic Emirate, called on the Islamic Emirate forces to respect the general amnesty announced by the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada. 

Speaking at a gathering in Khost province, he also said “government posts should be filled by skilled, professional people in order to provide good services to the country.”

He urged the Islamic Emirate forces to treat the citizens of the country respectfully.  

He said “we should not disobey our (seniors) due to hatred, anger and personal wishes. We shouldn’t break our Islamic system and undermine it and defame the name of the Islamic system.”  

Haqqani made the remarks at a gathering in Sabri district of Khost province.  

NEW DELHI, 06 May 2022, (TON): Union Minister of State for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma ruled out shortage of coal in the country.

Replying to a question on the scarcity of coal, leading to power outage across the country, Mr Verma, in Coimbatore to participate in the National Coir Conclave, told reporters “there was no problem in the availability of coal in the country, and if such a problem arose, the government would tackle it.”

The minister said “considering the plight of MSMEs, particularly during the two-year pandemic situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi allocated the enterprises ₹ 5 lakh crore for their capital needs.”

Mr Verma said “the government would take action to find the solution, if it was brought to its notice.”

NEW DELHI, 06 May 2022, (TON): A joint statement issued by India and France after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with President Emmanuel Macron expressed serious concern over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

India and France have also agreed to unitedly deal with the menace of terrorism and the challenges in the Indo-Pacific, amid China flexing muscles in the strategically vital region.

France reiterated its commitment to support India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council and New Delhi's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group.

Here are key takeaways from India-France joint statement:

The two countries are committed to the shared values of democracy, fundamental freedoms, rule of law and respect for human rights.

DHAKA, 06 May 2022, (TON): State minister for disaster management and relief Md Enamur Rahman  said  “the government is taking necessary preparations as cyclone ‘Ashani’ is likely to hit Bangladesh coast.”

The state minister told reporters “Cyclone ‘Ashani’ may hit Satkhira district after hitting northeast India’s Odisha and West Bengal.”

He said “a cyclonic system has been developed near the Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean which may turns into low pressure.”

He added “then on May 11, it is likely to intensify into a deep depression and cyclone.”

He said ‘if it turns into a cyclone then the cyclone will be named Ashani.”

He said “after the formation of depression and cyclone, we can tell when it will hit the coast of Bangladesh.”

DHAKA, 06 May 2022, (TON): Noting that every country is facing challenges of its own in varied degrees, foreign minister AK Abdul Momen said “mutual collaboration was much more essential than ever before.”

He said “the dual impacts of Covid-19 pandemic, its resultant supply-chain disruption and the war between Russia and Ukraine have distorted the global economy.”

The foreign minister made the remarks while handing over medical assistance to Sri Lanka at a function held at State guesthouse Padma.

He said “we also stand ready to extend further support to Sri Lanka in all possible ways we can.”

Health minister Zahid Maleque, Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industries president Nazmul Hasan Papan and Sri Lankan high commissioner to Bangladesh Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne were present at the programme.