LONDON, 12 May 2022, (TON): The Home Secretary has introduced the National Security Bill, which brings together vital new measures to protect the British public, modernise counter espionage laws and address the evolving threat to our national security.

This Bill will keep our country safe by making the UK an even harder target for those states who seek to conduct hostile acts against the UK.

It will provide new and updated tools for our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to tackle modern threats, which range from cyber-attacks and spying to interference in our economy and democracy.

This Bill will, for the first time, make it an offence to be an undeclared foreign spy in the UK and introduce a new foreign interference offence to disrupt illegitimate influence activity done for, or on behalf of, a foreign state.

A new sabotage offence will be introduced to provide greater scope to respond to new tactics and technology, such as the use of drones and cyber attacks.

DHAKA, 12 May 2022, (TON): A senior visiting USAID official said “United State is committed to continue its support to Bangladesh over Rohingya crisis despite its additional funding to Ukraine in view of “unprecedented humanitarian crisis” there.”

USAID’s Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman told a media “we are committed to continuing our support for Rohingya response.”  

She added “there is a very principal approach that we take towards humanitarian response and making sure that the refugees who are here receive the basic needs to meet is a priority for us.”

In an apparent reference to the enhanced US focus on Ukraine, Coleman said  the US congress already responded with additional funds to address the European challenge.

She said “the Russian military assaults on Ukraine virtually caused a global crisis posing a threat of worldwide food crisis, prompting the USAID to work closely with the US congress to face the situation with extra funding as manifestation of the Americans generosity.”

She said “we can deal with food crises (worldwide) that has resulted by Russian unprovoked invasion in Ukraine.”

KABUL, 12 May 2022, (TON): Iran’s Foreign Ministry said “this week that 20 Afghan investors have become eligible to receive Iranian citizenship based on their contribution towards the economy.”

According to Iran’s news agency “granting citizenship to the group of Afghans is part of the ministry’s plans to make use of skilled foreigners.”

Announcing their decision, Iranian Foreign Minister’s Deputy for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian Expatriates Affairs Alireza Bigdeli said at a ceremony that identifying and organizing foreign nationals living in Iran is now underway by the ministry.

Bigdeli said the group of 20 Afghans were also presented with their required documents during this ceremony. IRNA reported that Iranian missions in foreign countries, particularly those in neighboring countries, have been told to facilitate granting services to foreign nationals.”

KABUL, 12 May 2022, (TON): The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is scheduled to hold a major summit in Kabul that will see religious scholars, representatives of different ethnic groups, and politicians come together to discuss political and economic issues.

The exact date of the summit has not yet been disclosed but politicians believe this meeting might be beneficial as solutions to problems could be put forward.

These politicians, however, believe that Afghanistan will face serious problems if an inclusive government that represents all sections of society is not formed.

According to sources “the focus of the meeting will be on how to address the current problems in Afghanistan and the need to prioritze them, taking in to account the advice of all participants.”

Sayed Ishaq Gilani said “the first step is legitimacy.”

NEW DELHI, 12 May 2022, (TON): A powerful Republican Senator has lifted the hold on the Senate confirmation of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who has been nominated by US President Joe Biden as the country's next ambassador to India.

In a notice to the Senate on March 10, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley had said that he intended to object to Garcetti's nomination to be the Ambassador to India.

According to Senator Grassley "I will object because I have received numerous credible allegations from multiple whistleblowers alleging that Mr. Garcetti, while mayor of Los Angeles, had knowledge of sexual harassment and assaults allegedly committed against multiple city employees and their associates by his close adviser and that he ignored the misconduct.”

The Senator had said "the allegations involving the mayor's office have been the subject of public reporting and a purportedly independent investigation. However, serious questions remain regarding the alleged misconduct, as well as the mayor's knowledge of that misconduct.”

NEW DELHI, 12 May 2022, (TON): India has contributed USD 800,000 to the United Nations as part of the initiative to enhance public outreach of the organisation in Hindi.

Country's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, R Ravindra handed over a cheque for the UN project launched by India in 2018 to disseminate information about the UN to the Hindi-speaking population across the world.

The UN said in a statement "the Government of India has been making continuous efforts to expand the use of Hindi in the United Nations. As part of these efforts, 'Hindi UN' project, in collaboration with the UN Department of Public Information was launched in 2018 with an objective to enhance the public outreach of the United Nations in Hindi language, and to spread greater awareness about global issues among millions of Hindi-speaking people around the world.”

DHAKA, 12 May 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and Bulgaria will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries this year.

Bangladesh and Bulgaria established diplomatic relations on 26 January 1972.

This was discussed while Bulgarian Ambassador Eleonora Dimitrova called on Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at foreign ministry.

Foreign Minister and the Bulgarian Ambassador recalled the official visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Sofia in May 2016 to attend the Global Women Leader's Forum and her meetings with the President and Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

DHAKA, 12 May 2022, (TON): US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has said “Bangladesh and the US can go fastest together in building trade and investment relationships between the two countries.”

He said “the US is willing to deepen and expand the bilateral partnership with Bangladesh.”

The US ambassador was addressing an event titled “US-Bangladesh Business Forum: Building on 50 Years of Friendship” held in a hotel in Dhaka.

It was hosted by HSBC Bangladesh, in partnership with the US-Bangladesh Business Council.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Ahmad Kaikaus, CEO of HSBC Bangladesh Md Mahbub Ur Rahman and Vice President of Business Development for Chevron Jay R Pryor also spoke at the event.

WASHINGTON, 11 May 2022, (TON): Leading up to and during Russia’s unprovoked and illegal further invasion of Ukraine, the United States is supporting Ukraine’s continued access to the Internet and to enhance Ukraine’s cyber defenses. These efforts, coordinated across the U.S. government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has provided direct support to its Ukrainian national security and law enforcement partners, including briefing Ukrainian partners on Russian intelligence services’ cyber operations; sharing cyber threat information about potential or ongoing malicious cyber activity; helping to disrupt nation-state efforts to spread disinformation and target the Ukrainian government and military; and sharing investigative methods and cyber incident response best practices.

The FBI also has received threat intelligence and leads from its Ukrainian partners for action using the FBI’s unique investigative and intelligence capabilities. 

FBI, State, and other U.S. government agencies have also assisted Ukraine with identifying and procuring hardware and software to support network defense.

NEW YORK, 11 May 2022, (TON): Novosti correspondent reports “General Assembly elected the Czech Republic to the UN Human Rights Council in the place vacated after the withdrawal of Russia.”

The Czech Republic was the only candidate.

To be elected, she had to gain 97 votes, the country scored 157. It is expected that the Czech Republic will fulfill its duties in the HRC until December 31, 2023.

On April 7, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution suspending Russia’s work in the UNHRC due to a Russian special operation in Ukraine.

The decision of the General Assembly deprived the Russian Federation of the right to vote and the right to speak in the Council. In response, Russia announced that it was terminating its powers in the HRC ahead of schedule.

Thus, Russia has moved to the status of an observer at the HRC, which allows it to continue to participate in its work, introduce its own initiatives and take part in negotiations on draft resolutions.