WASHINGTON, 26 March 2022, (TON): During her August 2021 visit to Vietnam, Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed the importance of U.S. and Vietnamese efforts to ensure space activities are conducted in a responsible and sustainable manner. 

As part of those joint efforts, U.S. and Vietnamese officials met virtually March 22-24 for the third U.S.-Vietnam Civil Space Dialogue.

The discussion focused on cooperation in space-based Earth observation.  Participants discussed the SERVIR-Mekong project, a partnership with USAID and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which helps countries use satellite data to address challenges in food security, natural resource management, climate, air quality, and natural disasters. 

WASHINGTON, 26 March 2022, (TON): The Navy will christen the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), the first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony, March 26, in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Jacklyn Harold “Jack” Lucas, the ship’s namesake, served as a U.S. Marine during World War II and was awarded the Medal of Honor at the age of 17, making him the youngest recipient.

Private First Class Lucas received the award during the Iwo Jima campaign when he hurled himself on two grenades to absorb the explosion with his own body and protect his fellow Marines. Surviving the blast, Lucas lived until June 5, 2008, when he died from cancer.

The future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) is the first combat warship to bear his name.

Admiral Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations, will deliver the christening ceremony’s principal address.

The Honorable Roger Wicker, U.S. Sen. from Mississippi; the Honorable Steven Palazzo, U.S. Rep. from Mississippi’s Fourth District; the Honorable Meredith Berger, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy; Major General Jason Bohm, Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruiting Command; and Ms. Kari Wilkinson, President of Ingalls Shipbuilding will also provide remarks.

BUCHA, 26 March 2022, (TON): Moscow signalled “it was scaling back its ambitions in Ukraine to focus on territory claimed by Russian-backed separatists in the East as Ukrainian forces went on the offensive to recapture towns outside the capital Kyiv.”

In an announcement that appeared to indicate more limited goals, the Russian Defense Ministry said “a first phase of its operation was mostly complete and it would now focus on the eastern Donbass region, which has pro-Russia separatist enclaves.”

Sergei Rudskoi, head of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate said “the combat potential of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been considerably reduced, which makes it possible to focus our core efforts on achieving the main goal, the liberation of Donbass.”

Reframing Russia’s goals may make it easier for President Vladimir Putin to claim a face-saving victory, military analysts said. Moscow had said its goals included demilitarising Ukraine.

Western officials dismiss this as a baseless pretext for a war they say is aimed at toppling Ukraine’s government.

Facing stiff resistance, Russian troops have failed to capture any major city in the month since invading Ukraine.

BRUSSELS, 26 March 2022, (TON): President Emmanuel Macron said “France was working with Turkey and Greece on a humanitarian operation to evacuate people from the devastated Ukrainian city of Mariupol under attack by Russian forces.”

Macron said after an EU summit in Brussels “we are going to work with Turkey and Greece to launch a humanitarian operation to evacuate all those who wish to leave Mariupol.”

He said “I will have a new discussion with (Russian) President Vladimir Putin within the next 48 to 72 hours to work out the details and secure the modalities.”

The French leader said “he hoped to be able to involve the maximum number of stakeholders in this operation.”

He said that he wanted to be in a position to conduct the evacuation in the next few days.

JAKARTA, 26 March 2022, (TON): Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh met the Vice President of Indonesia Ma’ruf Amin, in Jakarta.

During their meeting in the Indonesian capital, they discussed ways to further strengthen ties in relation to Islamic matters and Amin lauded the Kingdom’s leadership for its ongoing efforts in the service of Islam and Muslims throughout the world.

He noted Saudi Arabia’s work in providing facilities for pilgrims and Umrah performers that was admired and recognized by Muslims everywhere.

He also praised the Kingdom for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic through the introduction of health and safety measures designed to protect worshippers.

Al-Asheikh pointed out the efforts of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in promoting services to Islam, spreading the message of moderation, and denouncing terrorism, violence, and extremism.

The minister also noted the advances that had taken place in the Kingdom in the political, economic, social, and cultural fields under the Vision 2030 reform plan.

KABUL, 26 March 2022, (TON): Afghan Taliban denied rumours that Afghanistan's Prime Minister Mullah Hasan Akhund has been replaced by his deputy.

Some media reports suggested that former first deputy prime minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has been appointed as the new premier of the interim government.

Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on his official Twitter handle "some media reports about the reshuffle of the prime Minister are untrue. There has been no change in the cabinet of the Islamic Emirate”

Earlier today, China’s foreign minister arrived in Afghanistan on his maiden trip to the country after the exit of US-led foreign forces last year.

KABUL, 26 March 2022, (TON): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said “Beijing welcomes Afghanistan’s active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure plan proposed by China, and is willing to push for extending the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Afghanistan.”

According to a statement from an Afghan foreign ministry spokesman “Wang met acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to discuss political and economic ties, including starting work in the mining sector and Afghanistan’s possible role in China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.”

Wang said “China was willing to promote the extension of CPEC to Afghanistan, making the latter a bridge for regional connectivity.”

He also said “China hoped Afghanistan would fulfil its commitment of not allowing any external forces to use its territory as a tool to oppose neighbours, or harm the security of other nations.”

Wang visited Kabul, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said “the highest-level visit by a Chinese official since the Taliban took power last year and a day after many in the global community were angered by the group’s closure of girls’ high schools.”

China is among just a handful of countries, including Pakistan and Qatar “has sent a minister to Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the country in August.”

KABUL, 26 March 2022, (TON): The United States and the United Nations warned Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers that the failure to reopen girls’ schools could hurt their efforts to get international recognition and rebuild the Afghan economy.

The Taliban had announced earlier that high schools in Afghanistan will open their doors to girls but later reversed their decision until it’s decided what would be an appropriate uniform for girls.

US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken warned “this decision by the Taliban, if it is not swiftly reversed, will profoundly harm the Afghan people, the country’s prospects for economic growth, and the Taliban’s ambition to improve their relations with the international community.”

In New York, UN Secretary general António Guterres said “the Taliban’s decision not only violates the equal rights of women and girls to education, but it also jeopardises the country’s future in view of the tremendous contributions by Afghan women and girls.”

The Taliban’s ambassador-designate to the United Nations Suhail Shaheen, however, assured the international community that this was only a technical delay.

DHAKA, 26 March 2022, (TON): Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen said that Bangladesh voted in favour of UN resolution demanding halt to ‘Russia’s war in Ukraine’ on ‘humanitarian ground’.

He told reporters emerging from a programme in the capital “the main reason is humanitarian cause, Bangladesh is well known all over the world as a humanitarian country.”

The non-binding resolution, drafted by Ukraine and its allies was adopted at the UN general assembly in New York where 140 countries voted in favour, 38 abstained and five voted against the measure.

The vote came after the adoption of a similar non-binding resolution on March 2 that demanded Russia immediately ceases its use of force. Bangladesh had abstained from voting along with its South Asian neighbors, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Though Bangladesh voted in favour of the Thursday resolution, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstained from voting.

NEW DELHI, 26 March 2022, (TON): An Indian official said “Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Indian counterpart and the national security adviser to expedite the disengagement of thousands of Indian and Chinese forces involved in a tense faceoff and occasional clashes along their disputed border.”

A fierce brawl in June 2020 exploded into hand-to-hand combat with clubs, stones and fists that left 20 Indian soldiers dead. China said “it lost four soldiers in the clash.”

India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told reporters “I would describe the current situation as a work in progress obviously at a slower pace than desirable.”

He was referring to 15 rounds of talks between military commanders as well as diplomatic contacts between the countries to end the impasse.

He said “Friday's talks with Wang focused on expediting the disengagement of troops in friction areas and the possibility of de-escalating the situation.”