RIYADH, 10 May 2022, (TON): Saudi Press Agency reported “Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman received phone calls from Kuwait’s crown prince Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.”

During the phone calls, the leaders were reassured of the health of King Salman and they, in turn, wished him constant good health.

Erdogan also expressed thanks and appreciation for the warm welcome and hospitality during his visit to the Kingdom last month.

King Salman underwent a colonoscopy at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Jeddah.

WASHINGTON, 10 May 2022, (TON): Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen will represent the United States at the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Bonn, Germany on May 19 and 20. Prior to the G7 sessions, Secretary Yellen will travel to Warsaw, Poland on May 14 and to Brussels, Belgium on May 16.

While overseas, Secretary Yellen will reinforce the U.S. commitment to multilateralism and advance U.S. policy priorities on an inclusive economic recovery.

Secretary Yellen and U.S. allies will also continue their united efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia to end its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine.

She will also work with her counterparts to advance global tax policy as a part of a foreign policy for the middle class.

STOCKHOLM, 10 May 2022, (TON): Tobias Baudin, spokesman for the ruling Social Democratic Party of Sweden, confirmed that a decision on joining NATO would be made on May 15.

Baudin said “we in the leadership of the party and in the executive commission discussed the issue and came to the conclusion that our party will make a decision on Sunday, May 15, regarding our line on security policy.”

Last week, the same channel reported that in Sweden on May 15 a decision could be made on the issue of joining the North Atlantic Alliance.

Finland and Sweden started talking about the possibility of abandoning their long-term neutrality and joining NATO against the backdrop of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

BEIRUT, 10 May 2022, (TON): Holding the sixth international donor conference “in support of the future of Syria and the region in Brussels on May 9-10 without the participation of the Syrian state is not consistent with the United Nations principles governing humanitarian activities.

This is stated in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic, transmitted by the agency SANA.

The document emphasizes “the host countries of this forum impede the process of post-war reconstruction of Syria and the return of refugees to their homeland.”

The foreign ministry rec-alls that the conferences in Brussels deliberately politicize the issue of providing humanitarian assistance to Syria, which is linked to political conditions.

The statement says “Damascus condemns the refusal of the forum organizers to extend an invitation to the Russian Federation or other countries with a balanced position to participate in the Brussels conference, which was done for political reasons that have nothing to do with the situation in Syria.”

DHAKA, 10 May 2022, (TON): EU envoys stationed in Dhaka said “European Union’s new “Global Gateway” strategy - which is designed to deliver investment in sustainable, high-quality projects in infrastructure and other linkages - bodes new opportunities for Bangladesh-EU relations.”

According to a joint article written by the envoys to mark Europe Day “there is much potential for increased investment by European businesses, particularly if the business climate can be further improved.”

At present, the EU counts 27 Member States and 450 million citizens within its borders.

Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley, Danish Ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen, Chargé d'Affaires at the French Embassy Guillaume Audren de Kerdrel, German Ambassador Achim Troster, Italian Ambassador Enrico Nunziata, Dutch Ambassador Anne van Leeuwen, Spanish Ambassador Francisco de Asís Benítez Salas and Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg von Linde jointly wrote the article.

KABUL, 10 May 2022, (TON): Local officials said “at least five members of Islamic Emirate forces were killed and two were wounded in a clash that took place on Friday in Dara district of central Panjshir province.” 

A spokesman for the provincial governor’s office, Abubakar Sedeqqi, said that 5,000 troops are stationed in Panjshir following the clash. 

Earlier, the provincial governor's spokesman told TOLOnews that six Islamic Emirate Force troops had died in the clashes.

He said “Less than five people were killed and two others were wounded. They were evacuated to the hospital and the martyrs were sent to their provinces. The claims made by the opponents of the Islamic Emirate are absolutely untrue.” 

Reports of clashes between the forces of the Islamic Emirate and the Resistance Front have been posted on social media over the past several days. 

KABUL, 10 May 2022, (TON): The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, said “the Islamic Emirate will not allow Afghanistan to become a center of conflict between the world powers.”

He made the remarks in a meeting with Shia clerics and other public figures held.

Muttaqi once again reiterated that the Afghan soil will not be used against anyone. 

Referring to criticism of the international community, the acting foreign minister said “the formation of the current government was already inclusive.”

He said “if the former government of Ashraf Ghani was inclusive, then only the leaders of that government left and the rest of the government remained here.”  

Muttaqi voiced concern that there are some circles that seek to trigger disputes among Afghan tribes by conducting attacks on public areas.

NEW DELHI, 10 May 2022, (TON): India and France agreed to work in close proximity in line with the Make in India initiatives to address challenges related to space issues, besides having deeper ties in climate change and defence-related matters.

India and France have agreed on setting up a bilateral strategic dialogue on space issues during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to France.

The joint statement from the meeting revealed "it will bring together experts from space and defence agencies, administration and specialised ecosystem to discuss security and economic challenges in outer space, the norms and principles applicable to space as well as unveil new areas of cooperation. The two sides agreed to hold the first dialogue this year at the earliest.”

During the meeting between PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, both sides welcomed the ongoing intense cooperation across all defence domains. Joint exercises illustrate efforts towards better integration and interoperability wherever possible.

NEW DELHI, 10 May 2022, (TON): An official said “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on May 13 virtually launch the Madhya Pradesh government's Startup Policy and Implementation Plan-2022, aimed at encouraging budding entrepreneurs in the state.”

Official from the public relations department said “event will be held at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore in the presence of MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.”

The official said “various programmes have been launched across the state to bring awareness about the state's start-up policy, specially developed to strengthen and bring to reality the entrepreneurial ideas of youth.”

DHAKA, 10 May 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said “the Romanian embassy in Dhaka has started issuing visas for Bangladeshis.”

He thanked the Romanian government for this initiative of taking Bangladeshis after a meeting with his Romanian counterpart Bogdan Aurescu in October 2021.

Meanwhile, their consulate in Delhi issued a total of 4,629 visas for Bangladeshis till April 16 this year.

Among them, 580 visas were handed out in 2020, 2,869 in 2021 and 1,180 this year.