WASHINGTON, 29 October 2021, (TON): The top US general has said “China's suspected hypersonic missile test is close to a Sputnik moment, referring to the Soviet satellite launch that sparked the Cold War arms race.”

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley said in an interview with media that the Chinese military is "expanding rapidly".

The Financial Times reported this month that the test stunned the US military.

Beijing denies any missile test, saying instead it was a spacecraft.

Gen Milley told media "what we saw was a very significant event of a test of a hypersonic weapon system. And it is very concerning.”

"I don't know if it's quite a Sputnik moment, but I think it's very close to that. It has all of our attention."

His comment is the first official acknowledgement by the US of claims that China conducted two missile tests over the summer. Reports indicate that it was a nuclear-capable missile that could evade US air defence systems.

KHARTOM, 29 October 2021, (TON): Sudan's coup leader, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has said the military seized power on Monday to prevent "civil war".

He added that the deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was being kept at the general's house "for his own safety", but has now returned home.

Protests are continuing for a second day in the capital, Khartoum, with roads, bridges and shops closed. Phone and internet lines are also disrupted.

At least 10 people are reported to have been killed since the unrest began.

"The dangers we witnessed last week could have led the country into civil war," Gen Burhan told a news conference earlier on Tuesday.

He added that the prime minister was at his house but we feared that he will be harmed.

BEIJING, 29 October 2021, (TON): Taiwan has "no right to join the United Nations", a Beijing official said and after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged greater inclusion of the self-governing island in UN institutions.

The response came after Blinken - in a statement marking 50 years since the UN General Assembly voted to seat Beijing and boot out Taipei - regretted that Taiwan had increasingly been excluded on the world stage.

The United Nations is an international governmental organization composed of sovereign states," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing at a regular briefing,

 He added "Taiwan is a part of China.” Beijing considers Taiwan - where the mainland's defeated nationalists fled at the end of China's civil war in 1949 - to be a province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.”

Ma said “the People's Republic of China is the only legal government representing the whole of China.”

WASHINGTON, 29 October 2021, (TON): President Joe Biden and China's Premier Li Keqiang will join an annual summit of 18 Asia-Pacific nations by video in a region where the world powers have dueled over trade, Taiwan, democracy, human rights and Beijing's increasingly assertive actions in disputed territories.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will also speak at the East Asia Summit, a wide-ranging forum on political, security and economic issues organized by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The World Health Organization is expected to brief the leaders on the pandemic, which has set back the economies of the 18 countries representing more than half of the world's population and accounting for over 60% of global GDP.

A White House statement said “Biden will reaffirm U.S. support for the ASEAN-led regional architecture and discuss his vision for working together with allies and partners to address issues facing the Indo-Pacific region.”

It was the first time since 2017 that a U.S. president is attending the summit, part of three-day high-level meetings hosted by Brunei, ASEAN's chair this year.

During a separate meeting with ASEAN leaders, “Biden announced a $100 million initiative to beef up U.S. engagement with the region in the face of China's growth as a national security and economic adversary. Biden called the U.S. relationship with the bloc "essential."

The funding will cover health spending, a new climate initiative, education and programs to bolster economic recovery.

PARIS, 29 October 2021, (TON): Macron reiterated that Canberra's decision to cancel a deal for conventional-powered French subs in favour of US nuclear vessels had broken the relation of trust between the two countries.

The Elysee Palace said “French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison by telephone for the first time since the diplomatic crisis over a scrapped submarine deal last month.”

Macron reiterated that Canberra's decision to cancel a deal for conventional-powered French subs in favour of US nuclear vessels "had broken the relation of trust between our two countries," his office said in a statement.

It said "it is now up to the Australian government to propose concrete actions that could embody the will of Australian authorities to redefine the bases of our relationship and pursue joint action in the Indo-Pacific region.”

Paris was furious after Australia ditched the deal last month, saying it had been given no warning that Australia was instead negotiating a new defence pact with the US and Britain.

NAYPYITAW, 29 October 2021, (TON): According to local sources “seven branches of the privately-owned KBZ Bank were bombed at locations around Mandalay overnight.”

Explosions were reported throughout the city’s downtown core, including at three intersections on Thatepan Road, as well as on 62nd Street, 73rd Street, the corner of Manawhari Road and 57th Street, and the corner of 38th Street and 84th Street.

Myanmar’s coup regime has not released a statement regarding the bombings, and so far no group has claimed responsibility for carrying out the attacks. A spokesperson for KBZ Bank could not be reached for comment.

The blasts come amid growing concerns that the country’s private banks have begun to cooperate with the junta, which has been pressuring them to disclose information about customers in a bid to track down financing of anti-regime activities.

One local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said “I think KBZ became a target because it is believed that they have been sharing information about those suspected of donating money to support the revolution, and also freezing accounts used for this purpose.”

NEW DELHI, 29 October 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left New Delhi to attend the G20 Summit to be held in Rome today (Friday).

Prime Minister Modi will pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his first day of arrival in Rome. He will also call on Pope Francis in the Vatican during his two-day visit.

The Prime Minister will be visiting Rome and the Vatican City from October 29 to 31 on the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

He will be in Glasgow, United Kingdom, on November 1, 2 for the COP26 meeting at the invitation of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

In Rome, the Prime Minister will join other G20 Leaders during the 16th summit in discussions on global economic and health recovery from the pandemic, sustainable development, and climate change.

The Prime Minister said "this will be the first in-person Summit of the G20 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020 and will allow us to take stock of the current global situation and exchange ideas on how the G20 can be an engine for strengthening economic resilience and building back inclusively and sustainably from the pandemic.”

During his visit to Italy, the Prime Minister will also visit the Vatican City to call on Pope Francis and meet Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

DHAKA, 29 October 2021, (TON): European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management Janez Lenarcic has said “the European Union decided to increase their humanitarian assistance by an additional €2million-€10million for the Rohingyas and host community in Bangladesh, and €2 million will go to Myanmar for displaced people in Rakhine State.”

During his visit, Lenarcic shed light on the Rohingya crisis and the prospect of the return of the Myanmar nationals to their homeland.

The European commissioner said “this requires the additional engagement of the international humanitarian community, including the donor agencies and the government of Bangladesh to continue to provide support to the Rohingya community.”

He added that the EU will do its part.

He appreciated Bangladesh’s progress in disaster preparedness and assured continued support from the European Union.

He said in a video statement on his Bangladesh visit ‘I’m looking forward to our continued cooperation. In this area also, Bangladesh can count the solidarity of the European Union.”

DHAKA, 29 October 2021, (TON): A memorandum of understanding on public-private partnership was signed between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh aiming to increase Saudi investment in the country.

A press release said “Saudi investment minister Khalid Al-Falih and Bangladesh prime minister’s private sector industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman signed the deal from their respective sides at King Abdul Aziz International Conference Centre in Riyadh, Saudi Arab.”

ISLAMABAD, 29 October 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) today (Friday) to discuss the ongoing situation in the country.

The news has been confirmed by the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry.

Fawad wrote on Twitter “in view of the situation arising because of the illegal activities of the proscribed organization, Prime Minister Imran Khan has convened a meeting of the National Security Committee tomorrow. Other issues related to national security will also be considered in this meeting.”

The federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari tweeted, “Killing of policemen and other law enforcement agencies and any act of terrorism by the TLP or any group will be dealt with the full force of the law.”

Restraint by the government so far should not be mistaken as weakness. Let there be no ambiguity on that count.”

She added that restraint by the government so far should not be mistaken as weakness. “Let there be no ambiguity on that count.”