NEW DELHI, 19 January 2022, (TON): Senior bureaucrat Vikram Dev Dutt has been appointed as the chairman and managing director of Air India Ltd as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre.

Dutt is a 1993-batch IAS officer of Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.

An order issued by the Personnel Ministry said “he has been appointed as the Air India chief in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary.”

It said “Chanchal Kumar has been appointed as Managing Director, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd.”

KABUL, 19 January 2022, (TON): Officials said “Rescue workers searched for survivors after an earthquake in a remote western region of Afghanistan killed at least 26 people and damaged hundreds of houses.”

Monday's 5.3-magnitude shallow quake jolted the province of Badghis and wrecked houses, mostly in Qadis district, a rural area not easily accessible by road.

Badghis provincial spokesman Baz Mohammad Sarwary said in a video message "the earthquake caused massive damage to houses, about 700 to 1,000 have been damaged.”

"There is the possibility that the casualties could increase."

Images circulating on social media showed residents, including children, searching through the rubble of collapsed homes for belongings and essential items.

Taliban government spokesman Inamullah Samangani said rescue workers were helping find survivors and transferring the wounded to local hospitals.

A Taliban team was in the area assisting in the relief work.

KABUL, 19 January 2022, (TON):  The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Iran has welcomed the UK’s first-ever contribution from the United Kingdom in support of vulnerable refugees from Afghanistan.

The £1 million contribution through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will allow WFP to preposition assistance for potential new arrivals from Afghanistan with ready-to eat meals and other rations, the WFP said in a statement.

It also gives WFP the flexibility to channel part of the contribution towards supporting 31,000 refugees who have already been living in 20 settlements across the country, helping to stabilize their food security situation and avoid any further population movements.

This allocation will enhance WFP’s life-saving mission, allowing WFP to quickly respond to any increased additional needs through a combination of cash and direct food assistance.

WFP Representative and Country Director in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Negar Gerami said “we’re extremely grateful to the FCDO for this generous contribution and its support to our operations in Iran.”

Simon Shercliff, the UK Ambassador to Iran said “we are pleased to help Iran support the large numbers of Afghan refugees who have chosen to leave Afghanistan.

NEW DELHI, 19 January 2022, (TON): Three naval personnel died of injuries caused by an explosion on board Indian Navy's destroyer ship INS Ranvir.

A Defence Ministry release said "in an unfortunate incident today at Naval Dockyard Mumbai, three naval personnel succumbed to injuries caused by an explosion in an internal compartment onboard INS Ranvir."

It added “no major material damage has been reported.”

Sources said “the explosion occurred around 4:30 pm and had nothing to do with weapons or ammunition explosion. A board of inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause.”

The release said "the ship's crew responded immediately and quickly brought the situation under control.”

NEW DELHI, 19 January 2022, (TON): Nepal requested India to stop the 'unilateral construction and expansion' of roads to its East of Kali River territory.

This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to widen the road across the Linpulekh area, on December 30, while addressing the election rally hosted by BJP at Haldwani in Uttarakhand.

Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, spokesperson of Nepal's minister for Information and Broadcasting said “territories including, Limpiadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, East of Kali river, are integral of Nepal, and India must stop any construction or expansion of roads.”

Karki also added that any dispute between India and Nepal must be settled diplomatically, on the basis of historic documents, maps and papers that prove the spirit of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

India pressed the ongoing construction comes under Indian territory; however, it could solve any dispute through dialogue in the spirit of bilateral friendship.

DHAKA, 19 January 2022, (TON): Bangladesh has strongly condemned the 'Houthi militias’ attack' with explosive-laden drones on Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The attack reportedly resulted in explosion of petroleum tankers and fire near Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, causing damage to civil property as well as loss of lives.

A Foreign Ministry news release said "this latest attack is an escalation of aggression on the part of the Houthi militias adding to further tension in the region.”

It said "this is a repeat terrorist attack following the hijack on a UAE-flagged cargo ship called Rawabi off the coast of Al Hudayah Governorate on 2nd January 2022.”

The release said "Bangladesh feels that the recent drone attack targeting civilian establishments and killing of innocent civilians constitutes an unlawful and cowardly act of terrorism.”

It said "Bangladesh also believes that such insensible and illegal acts are targeting civilians and civilian facilities and are a flagrant violation of international law and norms of civilized behavior.”

DHAKA, 19 January 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said “the Cambodian chairmanship of Asean has provided a great opportunity for them to facilitate the speedy, safe and dignified return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.”

He spoke to Prak Sokhonn “the Cambodian deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, on Tuesday and discussed the issues of mutual interests.”

Momen congratulated his Cambodian counterpart on Cambodia’s assumption of the Asean chairmanship and on the latter’s appointment as the special envoy of the Asean chair to Myanmar. 

He also sought to sensitize his Cambodian counterpart of the potential security risks to Bangladesh, Myanmar and to the greater region if the crisis is left festering for a much longer period of time due to the vulnerability of the displaced people to radicalism, extremism, terrorism and cross-border crimes. 

Referring to the longstanding and excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, Momen mentioned that Bangladesh highly valued its relations with Cambodia as an important partner in the neighbourhood.

KHARTOUM, 18 January 2022, (TON): Activists said “Sudanese security forces opened fire on protesters Monday, killing at least seven people and wounding around 100 others in the country’s capital in one of the deadliest days since an October military coup.”

Thousands had once again flooded the streets of Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan to denounce the Oct. 25 military takeover that scuttled hopes of a peaceful transition to democracy.

The coup came more than two years after a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocrat Omar Al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019.

The turmoil has been amplified after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok stepped down earlier this month. Hamdok, the civilian face of Sudan’s transitional government, resigned after his efforts to bridge the gap between the generals and the country’s pro-democracy movement failed.

Monday’s deaths bring to at least 71 the number of people killed in near-daily demonstrations in Khartoum and other cities and towns in Sudan.

Footage circulating online shows protesters, mostly young people, marching in the streets of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman. There were also protests in Port Sudan, Wad Madani Obaid and the western Darfur region.

Protester Hamed Al-Ser said “I’m here today to resist the military coup.”

He added “we hope our free revolution reaches the democratic civilian path.”

LONDON, 18 January 2022, (TON): The State Department said “US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone call with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah.”

State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement “during the call, they discussed “Russia’s threats against Ukraine and the importance of dialogue to de-escalate the situation.”

The West has accused Russia of deploying tanks, artillery and about 100,000 soldiers on Ukraine’s war-torn eastern border in recent weeks, in what NATO says is preparation for an invasion.

Meanwhile, Blinken also said he looks forward to hosting the Kuwaiti minister soon in Washington for the fifth US-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue.

The fourth round was held in November 2020, where both government reaffirmed their shared commitment to promote regional stability and security.

HEBRON, 18 January 2022, (TON): The army said “a Palestinian tried to stab an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank and was shot dead by him.”

In a separate incident, the Palestinian Health Ministry said an elderly Palestinian died of injuries received nearly two weeks ago when he was hit by a vehicle in Israeli police service.

Violence has simmered in the West Bank, among territories Palestinians seek for a state, since US-backed peace talks with Israel stalled in 2014.

Video circulated on social media, and apparently taken by a motorist, showed a man lying on the road at the Gush Etzion junction in the West Bank, knife in hand, as three soldiers approached with rifles trained on him. A military spokesman said a man had emerged from a car and tried to stab a soldier, who shot him dead, and that the vehicle had fled the scene.

Another Israeli military official identified the dead man as a Palestinian from an outlying village.

In the nearby city of Hebron, the Health Ministry announced the death of 75-year-old Suleiman Al-Hathalin, a veteran protester against Israel’s West Bank settlements.

A relative, Hazem Al-Hathalin, said “he had been standing in front of a tow truck that had been sent to his village of Um El-Kheir to confiscate unlicensed cars on Jan 5.”

He said that Suleiman Al-Hathalin was struck deliberately by the truck, which “ran him over with its front and back wheels” before driving away.

Israeli police spokespersons did not immediately comment.