NAYPYITAW, 18 November 2021, (TON): Four local resistance forces based in Myanmar’s delta claimed that their members attacked a military convoy accompanying two junta ministers in Ayeyarwady Region, killing at least 10 soldiers.

The assault, which was carried out using homemade explosives, occurred along the Chaungtha-Pathein road.

Locals said that the military council’s hotels and tourism minister Htay Aung and Tin Maung Win, the Ayeyarwady Region chief minister, were on their way back from Chaungtha and Ngwe Saung beaches after attending “travel season openings” there.

In a joint statement released, the Pathein Western Defence Force, the Beach Defence Force, the Delta Guerrilla Warfare Coalition Force, and the Ayeyarwady Wild Boar said that their members struck the convoy with improvised mines, after which soldiers opened fire on them.

A spokesperson for the Beach Defence Force said “the convoy got hit by our mines. The soldiers returned fire and we exchanged shots for about five minutes.”

He told media “we retreated after a while because they outnumbered us. We are all now in a safe place.”

He added that the local resistance forces planned to collaboratively carry out more attacks against the junta. 

NAYPYITAW, 18 November 2021, (TON): A wave of explosions and shootings in Yangon was just part of a wider operation that is set to see an increase in attacks on regime targets in Yangon, Bago, and Ayeyarwady regions, Myanmar’s underground government has warned.

The operation, dubbed Pyan Hlwar Aung, was launched following the declaration of a “resistance war” by the National Unity Government (NUG) in September.  

Meaning “swallow” in English, Operation Pyan Hlwar Aung aims to emulate the swift-flying bird by carrying out rapid attacks on junta forces and other targets associated with the regime that seized power in February.

There were at least 14 separate attacks in Yangon, according to a spokesperson for the Yangon Division Command, which operates under the NUG’s Ministry of Defence.

The spokesperson said that resistance forces detonated at least 10 bombs at various locations in and around Myanmar’s former capital, while four direct attacks on regime forces resulted in at least eight junta casualties.

He said “in Thaketa Township, three soldiers and two traffic police were shot dead by members of the NUG’s People’s Defence Force (PDF) near the Thanlyin Bridge at around 11am”

Although Myanmar Now was unable to confirm this report, a local resident said the road leading to the bridge was closed for about an hour at around the time of the alleged shooting.

DHAKA, 18 November 2021, (TON): Bangladesh, as the next chair of the IORA, is hosting the 21st IORA Council of Ministers' meeting.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday stressed the need for making best efforts to develop blue economies by the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member states.

She said "IORA member countries should put all-out efforts to develop the blue economies.”

The prime minister said this while a delegation of 12 IORA member countries had a meeting with her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Dhaka.

Bangladesh, as the next chair of the IORA, is hosting the 21st IORA Council of Ministers' (COM) meeting in Dhaka.

During the meeting, the delegation members also stressed the need for making a collective effort by IORA nations for development of blue economies.

DHAKA, 18 November 2021, (TON): Visiting Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said when she met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter's office "we're going to send a strong message to Myanmar for resolving the Rohingya crisis.”

The PM said “Bangladesh's wait for the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals continues.”

She was quoted as saying “it's a huge burden for Bangladesh.”

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister conveyed her country's President's greetings to the Prime Minister.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus were present during the meeting.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister arrived in Dhaka to attend the 18th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers' Meeting.

Later, South African Minister for International Relation and Cooperation Dr Pandor, who is also in Dhaka to attend the IORA Meeting, met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

LONDON, 17 November 2021, (TON): Britain’s Prince Charles has arrived in the Middle East for a four-day trip to Jordan and Egypt that started, after agreeing with the Queen that the trip must go ahead despite her ill-health.

Charles, the first in line to the throne, is said to have discussed the trip with the queen and agreed with her that the official visit must still go ahead. It is designed to strengthen ties with Egypt and Jordan, both of which have longstanding relationships with Britain.

Queen Elizabeth II, 95, is the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, she has sat on the throne since 1952.

She has reduced her normally packed schedule to “light duties” until the end of the year after spraining her back.

Prince Charles, 73, and his wife Camilla, 74, were greeted on the tarmac by a Jordanian color guard.

They met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Queen Rania at the Al-Husseiniya Palace in Amman, where they aimed to build on the longstanding ties between the two royal families.

They were scheduled to visit religious and historical sites during their trip to Jordan before heading to Egypt.

The trip will see them carry out over 30 official engagements between them in Jordan and then Egypt.

RIYADH, 17 November 2021, (TON): Saudi Press Agency reported that the Saudi cabinet has delegated the Kingdom’s energy minister to discuss and sign a potential Memorandum of Understanding in the field of hydrogen energy with China.

The cabinet has also authorized the Minister of Health to discuss and sign a draft agreement with the World Economic Forum to cooperate in promoting wise health care.

Saudi Arabia has pledged to reach net zero by 2060, without diminishing its position as the world's leading oil producer, as the Crown Prince announced he would invest SR700 billion ($187 billion) in climate action this decade.

LONDON, 17 November 2021, (TON): The head of UK armed forces, Gen. Nick Carter, said that the UK must engage with the Islamic Emirate to provide support for local Afghan allies and to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

He said “we certainly have to engage them for a number of reasons. I mean, first and foremost, there are still Afghans who worked with us who we are worried will be the subject of vendettas, and we would like to see them find a way out of Afghanistan, and we would like to look after them to achieve that.”

He added “secondly, we’re very worried about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and that’s been in the media this week.”

He further said “according to Carter, the UK needs to persuade the “Taliban” to form an inclusive government and respect human rights, especially of women and minorities in Afghanistan. “And if that doesn’t happen, then the answer is that we will have failed.”

Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate said “in reaction to Carter’s remarks, the Islamic Emirate said that the paths for negotiations are opened. If the neighboring countries have any concerns about any issue, the path for negotiations is opened. We can listen to their offers and concerns and can solve them through engagement.”

Referring to the fall of Kabul to the Islamic Emirate, General Carter said that hopes had been placed on the Afghan armed forces to create the circumstances for a political reconciliation.

WASHINGTON, 17 November 2021, (TON): Officials said “US President Joe Biden pressed his Chinese counterpart on Beijing’s human rights practices, in an over three-hour call, while Xi Jinping warned that China would respond to provocations on Taiwan.

The closely watched conversation between the leaders of the world’s biggest economies was described by both sides as frank and direct as the two sides tried to lower the temperature and avoid conflict.

The talks appeared to yield no immediate outcomes, but gave the two leaders opportunity to nudge their relations away from icy confrontation.

They discussed North Korea, Afghanistan, Iran, global energy markets, trade and competition, climate, military issues, the pandemic and other areas where they frequently disagree.

Xi told Biden, according to Xinhua “I hope that, Mr. President, you can exercise political leadership to return the United States’ China policy to a rational and pragmatic track.”

Biden spoke of avoiding conflict as well.

MINSK, 17 November 2021, (TON): Clashes have erupted between stranded refugees and Polish border guards at the Polish-Belarusian border. The chaos unfolded late morning on Tuesday, with refugees stranded at the Kuznica border crossing reportedly throwing stones at Polish guards.

According to Poland’s Ministry of National Defence (MOD) “the guards responded by using water cannon and tear gas against those who have been trying to cross the border.”

“The use of force [by Poland] is completely unjustifiable because there are legal procedures which should be used from the very beginning,” said Marta Szymanderska from Grupa Granica, a coalition of NGOs which are responding to the humanitarian crisis at the border.

She told media “the actions of the Polish forces are not only illegal but also inhuman.”

The MOD said “the migrants attacked our soldiers and guards with stones and are trying to force the fence to get to the Polish territory.”

“Our forces used tear gas to thwart the aggression of migrants.” It was unclear if there were any injuries among refugees, while at least one policeman was wounded.

The Polish Border Guard said “illegal migrants have been gathering at the border crossing in Kuznica, at the Belarusian side. New groups, which so far have been squatting at the border, are joining them. An attempt to forcefully cross the border is being prepared. Everything is taking place under the supervision of Belarusian forces.”

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Palestinian killed by Israel army in West Bank: ministry

JERUSALEM, 17 November 2021, (TON): The Palestinian health ministry said “a Palestinian was killed during dawn clashes with Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank.”

The ministry said “Saddam Bani Odeh, 26, died in hospital from a bullet wound to the lungs following the clashes on the road into the northern town of Tubas.”

The Israeli army had no immediate comment when contacted by AFP.

Clashes routinely break out in the West Bank when Israeli forces enter Palestinian-administered towns to make arrests or after demonstrations.

TRIPOLI, 17 November 2021, (TON): Libya’s powerful commander, Khalifa Hifter, filed as a candidate in the country’s presidential elections next month, as the long-waited vote faces growing uncertainty.

Hifter submitted his candidacy papers in the eastern city of Benghazi and announced the move in a video.

He said he’s seeking the country’s highest post to “lead our people in a fateful stage.”

He called on Libyan people to vote “with the highest levels of awareness and responsibility” so the nation can begin rebuilding and reconciling after a decade of chaos and civil war.

Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The oil-rich nation had for years been split between a government in the east, backed by Hifter, and a UN-supported administration in Tripoli, aided by west-based Libyan militias.

Each side has also had the support of mercenaries from countries such as Russia and Syria and different regional powers.

Hifter, a dual US and Libyan citizen, commands the self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces but delegated his military duties in September to his chief of staff, Abdel-Razek al-Nadhouri, for three months, to meet candidacy terms.

Hifter’s announcement comes after Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son and one-time heir apparent of the late dictator, submitted candidacy papers in the southern town of Sabha. Seif al-Islam, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity, has spent years largely in hiding.