CAIRO , 09 March 2022, (TON): Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohammed Abdel-Aty and his South Sudanese counterpart Manawa Peter, who is currently visiting Cairo, discussed issues of common interest and ways to enhance bilateral relations.

Among the topics of discussion was the status of projects in South Sudan to provide drinking water and protection against floods.

Abdel-Aty said that Egypt was implementing the projects requested by South Sudan, citing the history of cooperation between the two countries, during which several development initiatives benefitting the South Sudanese people have been implemented.

He explained that the ministry has established six underground wells, while seven underground drinking water stations equipped with solar energy in and around vital areas of South Sudan’s capital, Juba, are currently being constructed to provide clean drinking water to residents.

A lifting unit, the minister added, was installed to transfer river water to population centers near the waterways in the city of Wau in South Sudan to provide clean drinking water for citizens, and river sidewalks connecting the main cities and villages of the country were constructed.

A project to purify waterways in the Bahr Al-Ghazal basin was also implemented.

WASHINGTON , 09 March 2022, (TON): The United States welcomes launch of inclusive consultations by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg.

Through consultations with a wide range of Yemeni political and civil society groups over the next few weeks, the UN Special Envoy seeks to finalize a new, comprehensive peace process framework.

These consultations provide a valuable opportunity for Yemenis to discuss a renewed vision for a political resolution to the conflict.

We call on all Yemeni groups to participate fully, meaningfully, and in good faith in the UN consultations.

WASHINGTON , 09 March 2022, (TON): The Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, M. Nasser Bourita, and the Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America, Ms. Wendy Sherman, held bilateral political consultations in Rabat today and co-chaired a session of the Morocco-U.S. Strategic Dialogue on Regional Political Issues.

Foreign Minister Bourita and Deputy Secretary Sherman welcomed the celebration of International Women’s Day as a milestone in promoting and advancing women’s rights. 

They underscored the need to advance efforts aiming at strengthening women’s rights and achieving equality.

The meeting was an opportunity to reiterate the commitment to the long-standing relations between Morocco and the United States that date to the Treaty of Peace and Friendship in 1787. 

They emphasized that the strategic bilateral partnership between Morocco and the United States is rooted in shared interests in regional peace, security, and prosperity.  They also discussed areas for future U.S.-Moroccan cooperation.

FLORIDA, 09 March 2022, (TON): Comprehe-nsive Health Services LLC, located in Cape Canaveral, Florida, has agreed to pay $930,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by falsely representing to the State Department and the Air Force that it complied with contract requirements relating to the provision of medical services at State Department and Air Force facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is the Department of Justice’s first resolution of a False Claims Act case involving cyber fraud since the launch of the department’s Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative, which aims to combine the department’s expertise in civil fraud enforcement, government procurement and cybersecurity to combat new and emerging cyber threats to the security of sensitive information and critical systems.

CHS is a provider of global medical services that contracted to provide medical support services at government-run facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Under one of the contracts, CHS submitted claims to the State Department for the cost of a secure electronic medical record (EMR) system to store all patients’ medical records, including the confidential identifying information of United States service members, diplomats, officials and contractors working and receiving medical care in Iraq.

The United States alleged that, between 2012 and 2019, CHS failed to disclose to the State Department that it had not consistently stored patients’ medical records on a secure EMR system.

When CHS staff scanned medical records for the EMR system, CHS staff saved and left scanned copies of some records on an internal network drive, which was accessible to non-clinical staff.

RIYADH, 09 March 2022, (TON): A joint statement was issued to mark Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s visit to the Kingdom.

Saudi Press Agency reported “in the statement, Saudi Arabia and Egypt affirmed their determination to enhance cooperation on all political issues and seek to strengthen common positions that preserve their security and stability.”

They also stressed the importance of continuing coordination and consultation regarding developments in all bilateral and multilateral forums, in a way that contributes to achieving security, stability, and prosperity in the two countries and the region.

Leaders of the two countries exchanged views on regional and international issues of concern to the two countries, and affirmed work to coordinate their positions in a manner that serves their interests and enhances security and stability in the region and the world.

KABUL, 09 March 2022, (TON): Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan officials said that the US wants to impose its political demands on the new government of Afghanistan. Suhail Shaheen, IEA’s designated envoy to the UN.

“First their consideration is political and they want to impose their political system on Afghanistan. Second, they have a list in their pockets and want to include their loyal people in government,” added Shaheen. This comes amid calls by the IEA to be recognized by the international community and for IEA leaders to be removed from UN and US blacklists.

The Doha deal, signed in 2020, has also caused some obstacles with some analysts saying the IEA and the US have different opinions on how to implement some of the articles.

Analysts have also said that some of the articles within the deal have been kept secret, adding however that since the August takeover by the IEA, the deal no longer holds any legitimacy.

Sayed Ishaq Gailani, leader of the National Solidarity Movement of Afghanistan said “some articles of the deal are mysterious. No one knows about them. IEA should explain it, or Americans should explain it. The Afghan nation is not aware about these and what was included in the Doha deal.”

Wahidullah Sabawoon, leader of Hizb-e Mutahed Islami Afghanistan said “the world wants two things, first they want women’s and girls’ education… second they want an inclusive government that all tribes are included in.”

KABUL, 09 March 2022, (TON): The World Food Program recently stated the organization’s Afghanistan-allocated funds are running dry as the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan continues, saying nearly no family can access enough to eat and humanitarian needs may reach levels the WFP we cannot help.

Margot Van Der Velden, Director of Emergencies at WFP, while distributing food at a site in Kandahar province, said that it is a very desperate situation in Afghanistan and the need for assistance is very urgent.

Margot Van Der Velden said “we have now a major economic crisis, so the assistance is very urgent, we need to come … and bring the food that is required. We need also the cash to flow into this country, need the jobs to be created and it is quite urgent that we get the funding to do so.”

She further said that at least 23 three million people in Afghanistan are facing an acute food insecurity situation. According to WFP findings, 95% of all households do not have enough food.

At the same time, officials at the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) say that fundamental projects must be funded by the international aid organizations or economic challenges will continue in Afghanistan.

NEW DELHI, 09 March 2022, (TON): Indian Embassy in Ukraine issued an advisory for Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine urging them to leave the conflict-ridden country using the humanitarian corridors using trains or any other means of transport.

The advisory said "the Humanitarian Corridor for evacuation of stranded people has been announced in various parts of Ukraine from 1000 hrs on 8 March 2022.”

It added that considering the security situation, the establishment of the next humanitarian corridor is uncertain.

It added "all stranded Indian nationals are urged to make use of this opportunity and evacuate using trains/vehicles or any other available means of transport giving due consideration to safety.”

Under 'Operation Ganga' to rescue Indian citizens from Ukraine's neighbouring countries, 410 Indians have been airlifted today by 2 special civilian flights from Suceava.

NEW DELHI, 09 March 2022, (TON): The US and Indian Navies discussed collaborative efforts to enhance maritime safety and security through information sharing in the Indian Ocean Region.

The US Navy delegation led by Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander of US 7th Fleet visited Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region.

The US delegation was briefed on the maritime pattern of life observed in IOR.

DHAKA, 09 March 2022, (TON): Former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said “Bangladesh's position on the Russia-Ukraine issue was neutral and fairly balanced but it might require a review in the coming days.”

He said "neutrality may not always be the preferred path.”

Bangladesh is still watching how the war evolves and has apparently taken an interim position.

"In every aspect we'll feel the impact whatever position we take."

The former foreign secretary was addressing a seminar titled "Russia-Ukraine War: Whose Profits and Whose Losses?" organised by the Centre for Peace Studies of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance at North South University.

Haque said the global military complex will be the most beneficiary of the Russia-Ukraine war while everyone will be affected more or less, including the loss of lives.