GENEVA, 01 May 2022, (TON): The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights criticised Mali’s decision to ban French media outlets and called on its military rulers to reverse their decision.

A spokesperson for High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet said “we are deeply dismayed by the Malian media regulator’s decision to definitively suspend Radio France International and France24.”

“These suspensions are the latest in a string of actions curtailing press freedom and the freedom of expression in Mali, and come at a time when more, not less, scrutiny is needed.”

Mali’s military leaders first imposed the suspensions on March 16, accusing the two broadcasters of airing false allegations about reports of human rights violations by the army.

The High Authority for Communication announced those provisional suspensions would be definitive.

Journalist associations have denounced an increase in attacks and smear campaigns against reporters over the past year, in particular against representatives of French media outlets.

LONDON, 01 May 2022, (TON): The official WAM news agency reported “Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed wished Pakistan’s new leader success in leading his country toward further progress and prosperity.”

He was speaking during a meeting with Shahbaz Sharif during his visit to the UAE.

Sharif became prime minister on April 11.

Sheikh Mohammed praised the historical relations between the two nations and the valuable contributions made by the Pakistani community in the UAE to the country’s successful development drive.

ANKARA, 01 May 2022, (TON): Following the meeting in Jeddah between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Salman of Saudi Arabia, the strained relationship between the two countries is expected to dramatically improve.

The ice-breaking meeting the highest-level diplomatic rendezvous between Turkey and Saudi Arabia since 2017 is part of broader efforts by Turkey to improve its relationships with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in recent months, during which economic ties have been revived and Turkey has abstained from regional conflicts.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on Turkish goods, which had been in effect for four years.

As a result of Erdogan’s visit, the two countries are set to boost bilateral cooperation in health, energy, food security, defense, agriculture and finance. Turkey’s emerging drone technology may also be of interest to Riyadh.

Erdogan was received by Makkah Governor Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, who is also advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and several senior officials. Erdogan also met with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

ISTANBUL, 01 May 2022, (TON): Turkey has condemned Germany’s summoning of its ambassador and called in Berlin’s ambassador to Ankara in a tit-for-tat move amid a row over the jailing of a Turkish philanthropist for life.

Osman Kavala was sentenced after being convicted of trying to overthrow the government by financing protests, in a case that Europe’s top court and Western powers say is politically motivated.

Media reports cited a spokesman for Germany’s foreign ministry as saying the Turkish ambassador was summoned over the sentencing of Kavala who had already been detained without conviction for four-and-a-half years.

Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Twitter that Germany had trampled on justice many times in the past and said it should act in line with international law.

Germany’s ambassador to Ankara, Jurdgen Schulz, was also summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Turkish diplomatic sources said, adding he was told Ankara rejected attempts to interfere in its judiciary or politics.

SEOUL, 01 May 2022, (TON): State media reported “North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has repeated his warning that Pyongyang could “preemptively” use its nuclear weaponry to counter hostile forces.”

The official KCNA news agency reported “Kim told top military officers that to maintain the absolute superiority of North Korea’s armed forces, the country should be able to preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves, if necessary.”

Kim said “Pyongyang should continue to build up its arsenal so that it can have the “overwhelming military muscle that no force in the world can provoke.”

The leader’s comments followed similar remarks at a military parade on Monday, when he said “he could use his atomic arsenal if North Korea’s fundamental interests were threatened.”

Kim made his latest comments at a meeting with top brass to praise their work on Monday’s parade, which commemorated the 90th anniversary of the country’s armed forces and showcased its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles.

WASHINGTON, 01 May 2022, (TON): The war in Ukraine has pushed the United States to expedite its investment in cybersecurity amid constant though so far unrealized warnings of Russian cyberattacks on government agencies, election systems and critical infrastructure.

Following the invasion of Ukraine, federal agencies have invested millions in cyber technology, seized and sanctioned hacking forums, charged Russian cyber criminals, and issued almost weekly warnings on the latest threat risks.

Even lawmakers in Congress have stepped up their efforts, with the introduction of several cyber-related bills, and the passage of a new law requiring companies in critical sectors to report significant cyberattacks within 72 hours and ransomware payments within 24 hours.

The legislation passed in March as part of an omnibus spending bill that significantly increased fun-ding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which oversees federal cybersecurity infrastructure and enforcement.

RIYADH, 01 May 2022, (TON): Saudi Press Agency reported “Saudi Arabia’s King Salman received Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah.”

The king also received Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, adviser to the royal court and member of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Issuing Fatwas, the imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque, and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, the the general president of the affairs of the Two Holy Mosques.

King Salman also received Sheikh Saad bin Nasser Al-Shathri, adviser to the royal court and member of the Council of Senior Scholars and the Permanent Committee for Issuing Fatwas, and other imams of the Grand Mosque, who came to greet him.

The officials arrived before sunset and broke their fast with the king, along with a number of senior Saudi officials.

KABUL, 01 May 2022, (TON): Sources told “Islamic Emirate and Qatar as well Turkey have made progress on a contract for the technical affairs of the five major Afghan airports.” 

The sources said the aviation services will be performed based on standard procedures after the Qatari and Turkish companies take responsibility for its technical operation. 

Economists say that handing over the technical affairs of the airport to major companies will encourage airline companies to resume flights in Afghanistan.  

Seyar Qureshi, an economist said “if this comes into practice, it will benefit Afghanistan. We can use our own airports for economic development and export.” 

A former deputy minister of transport and civil aviation said that the Islamic Emirate will insist on providing security with its own forces, but Qatar and Turkey will deny it. 

Imam Mohammad Warimach, deputy minister of transportation and aviation said “this issue may have been opposed by the Islamic Emirate, and therefore this issue has been delayed.” 

Afghanistan: Less trafficking of drugs, cash, gold through airport

Afghanistan: Less trafficking of drugs, cash, gold through airport

KABUL, 01 May 2022, (TON): The Ministry of Transportation and Civil Aviation said “the trafficking of gold, cash and drugs has significantly dropped at Kabul airport over the past 8 months.”

A spokesman for the MTCA said “they have taken serious steps to prevent the trafficking of gold, cash and drugs through the Kabul airport.”

“We have scanners and a committed team. There are forces from the Interior Ministry and other departments.”

They are preventing the trafficking said “Imamuddin Ahmadi, a spokesman for the MTCA. Meanwhile, analysts said the reduction of international flights to and from Kabul is the main reason for the drop in drug trafficking.”

Afghanistan: Uzbeks say aircraft flown from Afghanistan are US property

KABUL, 01 May 2022, (TON): Defying Taliban demands, authorities in Uzbekistan say dozens of aircraft flown into their territory as the former Afghan government collapsed last summer are the property of the United States and will not be returned to the interim government in Kabul.

The decision is likely to complicate efforts by the Uzbek government to engage with the Taliban and ultimately develop trade routes through its southern neighbor to Pakistan and the Indian Ocean.

Afghan air force personnel flew almost 50 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to Uzbekistan in mid-August as former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country and Taliban forces overran the capital, Kabul.

Several more aircraft and Black Hawk helicopters were taken to neighboring Tajikistan to prevent them from falling into Taliban hands.

Taliban leaders have since insisted that the aircraft are Afghan property and demanded them back. Addressing an Afghan air force ceremony in Kabul in January, Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob said his government would never allow the aircraft to be seized or used by its northern neighbors.