PARIS, 29 March 2022, (TON): French Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian discussed the consequences of the events in Ukraine and the supply of energy resources to Europe during a trip to Qatar.

According to her “Le Drian, who was received by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, met with Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.

With them, the French minister discussed ongoing efforts to end the Russian offensive in Ukraine, its implications for international hydrocarbon markets, and the need to diversify gas supplies.

The parties touched upon regional crises especially in Libya and Lebanon as well as the need for the urgent resumption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program.

Le Drian supported Qatar’s mediation in the issue of reconciliation of the warring factions in Chad, discussing the further actions of Paris and Doha on Afghanistan.

MICHOACAN, 29 March 2022, (TON): The State Attorney General’s Office said in a statement “Nineteen people were shot and killed in central Mexico.”

 Authorities were called to the scene following reports of an attack on a festive gathering in the town of Las Tinajas, Michoacan state.

The FGE said “19 lifeless bodies were found (16 men and three women), who had gunshot wounds.”

It added “several others were injured and had been sent to hospital.”

Authorities did not give a reason for the shooting.

But Michoacan and neighbouring Guanajuato are two of Mexico’s most violent states, due to turf wars between rival gangs involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, including trade in stolen fuel.

Mexico has been trapped in a spiral of cartel-related violence since 2006 when the government launched a controversial anti-drug operation with federal troops.

KABUL, 29 March 2022, (TON): Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan said “the acting FM Amir Khan Muttaqi met with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Mersudi and Deputy Foreign Minister of Qatar Lolwah Al-Khater in the Qatari capital Doha.”

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry said “the trio discussed Afghanistan’s humanitarian, economic, and educational situation.”

Indonesia’s Deputy Foreign Minister pledged continuing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan adding “they will support the educational sector in the country and will grant scholarships to Afghan students, reads the press release.”

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Deputy Foreign Minister pledged that Qatar’s Charity Foundation will open its office in Kabul in near future.

Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister expressed gratitude to both Indonesia and Qatar and pledged cooperation with the country’s operations in Afghanistan.

KABUL, 29 March 2022, (TON): World Health Organization said “it has resumed its first capacity-building training program since the fall of the previous government to support and improve the provision of health services and support to 2,000 health centers in Afghanistan.”

Officials of WHO said they have new plans in hand to improve the quality of health services in the country.

Ahmad Wali Rasekh, in charge of the health project said “we are trying to continue the services that already existed, and secondly to improve the quality of those programs…we are currently in an emergency situation, because in an emergency we can continue the minimum services.”

According to WHO “the program will continue for three days to create good governance, greater transparency and coordination between the various health institutions with the participation of health officials from 34 provinces.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health ensured that corruption and transparency in the process of providing the country’s health services will be prevented.

DHAKA, 29 March 2022, (TON): Prime minister Sheikh Hasina called the sanction against some Rapid Action Battalion personnel ‘a very condemnable act’, saying “the elite force has a great contribution to contain extremism and terrorism in the country.”

She said “USA protect the criminals and shelter them in their country and give sanction in our country without any crime. And this is their character, so what else I can say about them.”

The prime minister said this while addressing a function as chief guest marking the 18th founding anniversary of RAB, joining virtually from her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka.

The elite force organised the function at the Lt Col Azad Memorial Hall at its headquarters in capital in the morning.

Each of the 15 battalions of the RAB got connected to it virtually.

The prime minister also inaugurated battalion headquarters of RAB 2, 10, 13 and 14, RAB Forces Training School, RAB Heritage Museum having a Mujib Corner while laying the foundation stone of RAB-3 battalion headquarters, at the same function.

Sheikh Hasina said “ the USA gave shelter to the war criminals and self confessed convicted killers of Bangladesh’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and provided them citizenship.”

NEW DELHI, 29 March 2022, (TON): Afghanistan has collected 10,700 tonnes of wheat from India using Pakistan’s territory through Lahore’s Wagah border.

According to official sources “the remaining 39,300 tonnes are likely to be collected by Afghanistan under humanitarian assistance by the end of next month.”

A senior official told media “five convoys of Afghan trucks collected wheat consignments at Attari from Indian authorities and returned to Afghanistan via Wagah and Torkham borders. All these convoys collected five consignments of almost 10,700 tonnes of the total 50,000 tonnes as pledged to be given to Afghanistan by India on humanitarian grounds.”

The official said “the fifth convoy of 39 Afghan trucks returned to Afghanistan after collecting 2,000 tonnes wheat from Indian authorities.”

As India had pledged giving wheat to Afghanistan, Pakistan announced last month that it would facilitate entry of Afghan trucks into its territory via Torkham, ensuring trouble-free movement of trucks right from Torkham to Wagah, collection of wheat from India and smooth operations of wheat loaded trucks without customs duty.

Therefore, the first fleet of 41 Afghan trucks collected the first consignment of 2,500 tonnes of wheat from India on Feb 22.

NEW DELHI, 29 March 2022, (TON): According to a top Indian trade official “a system that could allow the direct rupee to rouble payments could be launched this week, enabling trade between India and Russia.”

RT reported “a Sakthivel, President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), recently told CNBC that the arrangement would pave the way for financial operations between the two countries as they bypass the US dollar.”

Moscow is currently barred from using the US currency in wake of US sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.

The official further stated that the Indian government was working to enable up to five Indian banks to engage in the mechanism.

The move would essentially allow Indian exporters to continue business with Russia despite the US sanctions.

DHAKA, 29 March 2022, (TON): The eighteenth ministerial meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation opens in the Sri Lankan capital today as the members explore ways to strengthen the forum on all fronts.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen reached Colombo this afternoon to lead the Bangladesh delegation at the ministerial meeting ahead of the 5th BIMSTEC Summit.

Sri Lanka is hosting the summit in hybrid mode with the theme BIMSTEC-Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies and Healthy Peoples.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will formally inaugurate the summit in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will join virtually from Dhaka.

DHAKA, 29 March 2022, (TON): Bangladesh has strongly condemned the recurrence of attacks by Houthi militias, including the latest one deliberately targeting civilian facilities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “these unlawful and cowardly acts of terrorism jeopardise the stability of the kingdom and the region.”

Bangladesh feels that the repeated regular drone and ballistic missile attacks targeting civilian areas and establishments in the Kingdom are a flagrant violation in the face of international law and norms.

The MoFA said “Bangladesh notes with dismay that the Houthi attacks came ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-sponsored peace talks in Riyadh scheduled for March 29.”

TEL AVIV, 28 March 2022, (TON): The military says “Israeli Air Force jets have landed in Greece to participate in a major international aerial exercise, simulating operations against air defense systems and large airstrikes.”

Eight other countries are joining Greece in its Iniochos exercise this year: the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Cyprus, Slovenia, Austria and Israel.

The exercise is scheduled to last through April 8.

The Israel Defense Forces says its delegation includes F-16 fighter jets and Gulfstream G550 surveillance planes.

The IDF says in a statement “the exercise is part of strengthening aerial cooperation through mutual learning and training, as well as strengthening cooperation between the participating countries.”