BEIJING, 26 November 2021, (TON): The PRC Embassy in Lithuania has temporarily suspended the provision of consular services. This is stated in the statement of the diplomatic mission.

The message said “for technical reasons, from November 25, 2021, the provision of consular services will be temporarily suspended. Their resumption will be announced separately.”

In July, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry announced the planned opening of a representative office of Taiwan. It began work on November 18.

China has repeatedly protested and recalled its ambassador from Vilnius in August.

DHAKA, 26 November 2021, (TON): The foreign minister said “Bangladesh has a very transparent democracy with free and fair elections.”

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said “Bangladesh maintains a very stable and transparent democracy and the US might have invited those countries with weak democracies for its Democracy Summit.

He told reporters "we have had a stable democracy over the last several years, a very clear and transparent democracy. Free and fair voting is happening.”

After attending a program in the city, the foreign minister said voters can cast their votes freely and anybody can contest elections if they want.

The foreign minister said “in Myanmar and Afghanistan, many cannot vote. In our country, all people can vote. When there is a will, there is a way. From that perspective, we are much better."

Dr Momen said “those who are weak were convened and the US side said they will hold the summit in two phases.”

In the first phase, some countries that are weak in democracy will join.

He said “there is nothing to be worried about as the people of Bangladesh will work for further strengthening the democracy, if required.”

DHAKA, 26 November 2021, (TON): Dhaka is looking forward to commencing a Political Dialogue with the European Union (EU) in 2022.

According to a press release “this was revealed while EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at the latter's office.”  

During the meeting, Alam appreciated the EU’s role as a development and looked forward to commencing the ‘Political Dialogue’ with the EU next year.

The EU ambassador said “certain provisions of concern for Bangladesh’s RMG industry are being looked into further in Brussels.”

The state minister underscored the need for enhanced bilateral cooperation in climate action.

Alam encouraged the European Investment Bank to further support regional hydropower projects, alongside other solar regional connectivity projects.

He thanked the EU for its constructive engagement with Bangladesh’s Universal Periodic Review (UPN) recommendations implementation under the UN Human Rights Council.

NAYPYITAW, 26 November 2021, (TON): According to merchants based in the Shan State-China border town of Muse “border trade is scheduled to start up again under a new set of restrictions.”

The Kyin San Kyawt gate, one of the five major trading gates in Muse’s 105 Mile Trade Zone, is scheduled to reopen after being closed since July 8, vice chair of the Muse Fruit Wholesale Centre Sai Khin Maung told media.

No date has been given regarding the opening of the other four gates, which have been closed since April 2020. Exports at the overland trade route have plummeted by more than $534m as a result of the shutdown.

Five shipping containers from Myanmar and five from China will initially be exchanged through the Kyin San Kyawt gate to signify the restart of trade.

More than 2,000 trucks carrying such dried goods had been stranded in Muse while the borders were closed; the five designated shipping containers will deliver these goods that had been stored in Myanmar to China.

yanmar has typically exported agricultural products such as rice, beans and fruit to China through overland routes, and imported medicine, electronics and construction materials.

NAYPYITAW, 26 November 2021, (TON): At least four clashes broke out between Karenni anti-junta resistance groups and the Myanmar army in Kayah State’s Demoso and Loikaw townships, reportedly causing multiple military casualties.

Two of the battles took place in and near Dawpoesi village in Demoso, as well as near the township’s police station, and one in Loikaw’s Pankan village, with the Karenni National Defence Force (KNDF) collaborating with the Karenni Army in fighting the military.

According to a KNDF statement “the clashes resulted in the death of five junta soldiers, with seven more injured, as well as one KNDF member.”

A spokesperson from the resistance group told media that two junta troops were killed and five wounded during a clash in Dawpoesi.

Another clash broke out at 3pm between Karenni forces and soldiers occupying Phan Khar Kone monastery near the village, injuring two more Myanmar army troops.

A third battle took place near the Demoso Township police station two hours later, the spokesperson explained. Two junta soldiers were reportedly killed after being hit by RPGs fired by the resistance, and one KNDF member suffered a minor injury.

The Karenni coalition also attacked a military unit stationed near a monastery in Pankan village in Loikaw Township on the same day, resulting in the death of one junta soldier.

ISLAMABAD, 26 November 2021, (TON): Pakistan has strongly condemned the Modi government's military crackdown in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and extra-judicial killings of Kashmiris at the hands of the occupation forces.

An official statement said "Pakistan strongly condemns Indian state-terrorism and extra-judicial killings of innocent Kashmiris in fake encounters and so-called "cordon and search operations" in IIOJK.”

It added "three more Kashmiris have been martyred in a fake encounter on 24 November in Srinagar.”

It highlighted that 35 innocent Kashmiris have been martyred by the Indian occupation forces in less than two months in the held valley.

The statement pointed at the fact that Indian troops are committing grave crimes against the Kashmiri people including enforced disappearances, targeted and extra-judicial killings, and collective punishment of the population.

It remarked "no amount of Indian sophistry can obfuscate the Indian state-terrorism perpetuated with shameless impunity in IIOJK, nor could use of brutal force ever succeed in breaking the will of the Kashmiri people struggling for their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UNSC resolutions.”

The communique emphasised that a comprehensive dossier presented by Pakistan in September this year provided incontrovertible evidence of the gross and systematic human rights violations and crimes against humanity by Indian occupation forces in the occupied territory.

KABUL, 26 November 2021, (TON): Chinese state media reported “representatives of five Chinese companies have arrived in Afghanistan on special visa to explore lithium resources in the war-torn country estimated to be worth $1 trillion.”

According to media “the officials are conducting on-site visits to explore extraction of the metal which is a critical but scarce resource used in batteries and other technologies considered crucial to tackle the climate crisis.”

Exploration of the minerals, however, come with risks as the interim government in Afghanistan tries to consolidate power.

Yu Minghui, Chinese director of the China-Arab Economic and Trade Promotion Committee, said special visas were made available after coordination with Afghanistan’s Mining Ministry.

According to Yu, the officials of the Chinese companies were “concerned about basic guarantees of security and social order in Afghanistan.”

KABUL, 26 November 2021, (TON): The Islamic Emirate vowed to increase efforts for the development and reconstruction of the country, including education for girls and young women.

Talking to a gathering in the west of Kabul, Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said that the government was committed to the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. 

He said “if we facilitate some projects and provide security, the economic challenges will not last for more than six months or one year at the most.”

Mujahid reiterated the Islamic Emirate’s support for girls’ education, saying that the government would provide education and work opportunities for girls and women in the coming year.  

The participants in the gathering expressed criticism of the officials of the former government, accusing them of causing disunity among the various ethnic groups settled in Afghanistan. 

Jafar Mehdawi, deputy of Hezb-e-Milat party said “our people were the victims during the past decade.” 

ISLAMABAD, 26 November 2021, (TON): The military's media wing said the military's media wing said “army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has emphasised the urgency for swiftly devising an institutional mechanism for channelling humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.”

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement “the COAS made the remarks while talking to Lieutenant General Luciano Portolano, Secretary-General of Defence and National Armaments Director, Italy who called on him at the General Headquarters (GHQ).”

According to the communique, Gen Qamar further said "peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan."

The ISPR added "during the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including the recent developments in Afghanistan and with particular reference to enhanced military cooperation in the field of training and counter-terrorism domains were discussed.”

The COAS said “Pakistan values Italy's role in global and regional affairs and "we look forward to enhancing our bilateral relationship.”

The ISPR said "the visiting dignitary acknowledged the professionalism of Pakistan's armed forces and vowed to enhance cooperation in various fields.”