KABUL, 03 March 2022, (TON): Washington’s former special envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has called for intra-Afghan negotiations to discuss the structure of the new government.

In an interview, Khalilzad said that there are some points in the deal that have not been implemented by the international community, the IEA and other Afghans, but that there can be negotiations for their implementation.

Khalilzad said “Afghans should decide on the future by their own, no foreigner can resolve the problem.”

He said that there was a need for an intra-Afghan political settlement and that some of those who previously opposed the Doha deal are now backing the deal.

He further said that conditions have changed and the US cannot offer a specific formula or insist on the inclusion of specific people in the government.

NEW DELHI, 03 March 2022, (TON): India abstained on a UN General Assembly resolution that strongly deplored Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the third abstention in less than a week by the country in the world body on resolutions on the escalating crisis between Moscow and Kyiv.

The 193-member General Assembly Wednesday voted to reaffirm its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and "deplores in the strongest terms" Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The resolution was adopted with 141 votes in favour, five Member States voting against and 35 abstentions. The General Assembly broke into an applause as the resolution was adopted.

The resolution required a 2/3 majority to be adopted in the General Assembly.

NEW DELHI, 03 March 2022, (TON): sources said “the Indian Air Force's first evacuation flight with 200 Indians from Romanian capital Bucharest landed at the Hindon air base.”

The first flight which was conducted using C-17 military transport aircraft landed in Delhi at 1.30 am.

Sources said “three more C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force with approximately 300 evacuees from Ukraine will land at the Hindon airbase.”

India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine's western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive.

Sources said “the IAF planes are also coming from these neighbouring countries.”

They said “Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt received the Indian evacuees of the first C-17 flight at the airbase.”

DHAKA, 03 March 2022, (TON): President M Abdul Hamid received credentials from the ambassadors of Indonesia and Qatar to Bangladesh in two subsequent ceremonies after they were ceremonially welcomed at Bangabhaban here.

The resident ambassadors are: Heru Hartanto Subolo of the Republic of Indonesia and Seraya Ali MS Al-Qahtani of the State of Qatar.

President's press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told media “receiving their credentials, the President appreciated Bangladesh ties with the two countries and urged them to play an important role as envoys particularly to enhance trade and economic relations for the mutual benefits.”

The president hoped the bilateral relations with the countries will further be expanded during their respective assignments here.”

Immediately after submitting his Letter of Credence, Indonesian ambassador held a brief meeting with the President, where he ensured the Indonesian Government's commitment to continue strengthening Indonesia and Bangladesh relationships in different fields.

DHAKA, 03 March 2022, (TON): Deputy prime minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai has reassured Bangladesh to provide all possible support to ensure an early, safe and dignified return of the displaced Rohingya from Bangladesh.

Pramudwinai, who is also foreign minister of Thailand, made the assurance while Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen requested him for utilizing Bangkok’s friendship and influence with Myanmar.

Masud made the call while he called on him in Bangkok, a foreign ministry press release received.

During the meeting, both of them exchanged felicitations and greetings on the occasion of the 50 years of bilateral relations and stressed the importance of further strengthening the existing excellent ties for mutual benefit of the two friendly peoples.

Earlier on the same day, the Second round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Thailand was held.

LONDON, 02 March 2022, (TON): Foreign Secretary Liz Truss addresses the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Mr President, Excellences, the UK is proud to defend and promote freedom around the world.

We come here to the Human Rights Council to unite in this shared mission.

Together, we have the moral duty to stand up to aggression especially when it comes from members of this very council.

We remain concerned about reports of violations from China, particularly Xinjiang and Tibet and other parts of the world like Afghanistan and Myanmar.

But today, we must face up to the urgent situation in Ukraine.

RIYADH, 02 March 2022, (TON): The Chief Executive Officer of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Murshed received a delegation from the Kyrgyz Republic headed by First Deputy Prime Minister Arzybek Kogoshev and including the central Asian country’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Olukbek Maripov.

During the meeting they discussed ongoing SFD projects in Kyrgyzstan and ways to overcome challenges hindering the progress of other programs in the republic.

LONDON, 02 March 2022, (TON): Foreign Secretary Liz Truss addresses the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Mr President, Excellences, the UK is proud to defend and promote freedom around the world.

We come here to the Human Rights Council to unite in this shared mission.

Together, we have the moral duty to stand up to aggression especially when it comes from members of this very council.

We remain concerned about reports of violations from China, particularly Xinjiang and Tibet and other parts of the world like Afghanistan and Myanmar.

But today, we must face up to the urgent situation in Ukraine.

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Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba

WASHINGTON, 02 March 2022, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to offer support and condemn reports of Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities and mounting civilian deaths.

The Secretary emphasized that the United States and its allies and partners are united and resolved to stand with Ukraine and hold the Russian government accountable for its war of choice.

The Secretary offered steadfast solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who are bravely resisting and repelling a brutal.

GENEVA, 02 March 2022, (TON): The United Nations said “some 677,000 refugees have fled the conflict in Ukraine for safety in neighbouring countries, while around a million people are estimated to be internally displaced.”

The UN Refugee Agency chief Filippo Grandi said the numbers of people on the move was extremely worrying, as Russian troops pound cities in eastern Ukraine, on day six of Moscow's invasion.

Grandi told a press conference in Geneva that the latest figure he had was 677,000 people who had fled from Ukraine to neighbouring countries.

He said "we are looking at what could become Europe's largest refugee crisis this century.”

Grandi said that around half had fled to Poland, whilst roughly 90,000 had reached Hungary, 60,000 Moldova, 50,000 Slovakia and 40,000 Romania.

At an earlier press conference, Shabia Mantoo, a spokeswoman for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said the numbers were exponentially increasing.

NEW YORK, 02 March 2022, (TON): Well over 600,000 people have fled Ukraine in under a week, since Russia’s military offensive began, UN humanitarians said as they issued an appeal to protect civilians from further bloodshed.

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder said “we know that children have been killed, we know that thousands and thousands are at risk, and we know that more children, gutwrenchingly, are going to die or be injured in this unless fighting ends.”

Speaking over his mobile phone from western Ukraine, where an exodus of families, students and migrants have been making their way westwards towards Poland, among other neighbouring countries, Mr. Elder said that the military escalation that has been reported across several Ukrainian cities would result in more children being separated from their families.

He added “we’re going to see more fathers handing children across to border guards in Poland.”

Needs remain high within Ukraine, in areas most affected by the violence, Mr. Elder insisted, as widely relayed images showed what appeared to be a Russian military convoy approaching Kiev, stretching back some 60 kilometres.