NAYPYITAW, 16 September 2021, (TON): A student leader has said that soldiers arrested six students from Dagon University who were staying together in an apartment in downtown Yangon.

Min Htet Han, chair of the university’s students’ union, told Myanmar Now it is unclear why the six were arrested, but that soldiers arrived at the 39th street apartment in Kyauktada saying they were inspecting overnight guest lists.

He suggested “they were staying on the top floor and it was the only apartment that was checked,” he said. “I think it’s safe to assume that they were looking for them in particular.” Informants may have told the military they were staying there.”

The six detainees are zoology student Wutyi Aung, chemistry student Thinzat Zaw, law student Sithu Aung Tin, archeology student Ye Lin Oo, geology student Myint Thein Naing, and Nay Htet Lin, who studies history.

Earlier this month the former chair of the Dagon University Students’ Union, Min Thukha Kyaw, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a military court. He had taken part in anti-coup protests before his arrest more than three months ago. The military accused him of receiving combat training from the Kachin Independence Army.

DHAKA, 16 September 2021, (TON): The TIFA expects to address questions on trade and investment between Dhaka and Canberra.

Bangladesh and Australia inked a framework on trade and investment with the aim of enhancing economic cooperation between the two countries.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and his Australian counterpart Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan signed the agreement on behalf of their respective countries in a virtual ceremony.

The Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA), the first of this kind between Australia and Bangladesh in the last five decades, is expected to provide a platform for institutionalized economic interaction and to open newer opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries.

A joint working group will be formed under the TIFA, with due representation from relevant sectors and sub-sectors. The JWG is expected to offer a mechanism to take forward discussion to realize the full potential of trade and investment.

Speaking on the occasion, Tipu Munshi hoped that the TIFA would address all relevant questions, including retention of the DFQF treatment for Bangladesh in the post LDC graduation, trade liberalization, creating conducive atmosphere for greater trade in services and flow of investment.

Tehan said “the Morrison Government is working to energize and expand the trade and investment relationship between Australia and Bangladesh, to support jobs and business opportunities in both countries.”

He assured Bangladesh of the continuation of DFQF treatment pending the next review, which is not scheduled in the foreseeable future.

He added “Australia has the potential to meet Bangladesh’s increasing education, training, and energy needs. We offer world class expertise in agriculture and infrastructure development.”

Bangladesh-Australia bilateral trade has grown six times over the past decade, reaching A$2.6 billion last year. RMG, agriculture, food and education services were key drivers of this growth.

DHAKA, 16 September 2021, (TON): She is likely to address the assembly on September 24. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Friday on a two-week official visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and other engagements with a likely stopover in Helsinki, Finland.

As per her schedule, the prime minister will leave for New York from Helsinki, Finland on September 19 after her stopover there on September 17-18.

She will stay in New York from September 19-24 to attend the UNGA where she is likely to address on September 24.

Wrapping up her official visit to New York, the prime minister will visit Washington DC where she will stay from September 25 to 30.

Hasina is scheduled to leave Washington for Dhaka on September 30 and will return home on October 1 after a stopover in Finland. 

KABUL, 15 September 2021, (TON): The Taliban thanked the world for pledging hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency aid to Afghanistan, and urged the United States to show “heart” to the impoverished country.

A donor conference in Geneva saw countries promise a total of $1.2 billion in aid for Afghanistan, which was taken over by the Islamist group last month in a lightning offensive that took retreating US troops by surprise.

Afghanistan, already heavily dependent on aid, is facing an economic crisis, with the new authorities unable to pay salaries and food prices soaring.

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the regime's acting foreign minister, told a press conference the Taliban would spend donor money wisely and use it to alleviate poverty.

Muttaqi said “the Islamic Emirate will try its best to deliver this aid to the needy people in a completely transparent manner.”

He also asked Washington to show appreciation for the Taliban allowing the US to complete a troop withdrawal and evacuation of more than 120,000 people last month.

LONDON, 15 September 2021, (TON): China’s ambassador to the United Kingdom has been banned from the British parliament because Beijing imposed sanctions on legislators after they spoke out against alleged human rights abuses directed at the minority Uighurs in the far western region of Xinjiang.

Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, and John McFall, the speaker of the House of Lords, said it would not be “appropriate” for Zheng Zeguang to speak at an event in parliament while members were subject to Chinese sanctions. The ban was put in place on Tuesday.

Hoyle said “I regularly hold meetings with ambassadors from across the world to establish enduring ties between countries and parliamentarians.”

“But I do not feel it’s appropriate for the ambassador for China to meet on the Commons estate and in our place of work when his country has imposed sanctions against some of our members.”

The ban, described by the London-based Times newspaper as an “unprecedented intervention”, prompted a furious response from China.

A statement from the embassy said “the despicable and cowardly action of certain individuals of the UK Parliament to obstruct normal exchanges and cooperation between China and the UK for personal political gains is against the wishes and harmful to the interests of the peoples of both countries.”

China imposed sanctions on nine British politicians, lawyers and an academic in March for spreading what it said were “lies and disinformation” over the treatment of the mostly Muslim Uighurs.

SOMALI, 15 September 2021, (TON): Police and witnesses said “at least nine people have died in a suspected suicide bombing in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.”

The attack on Tuesday has killed and wounded civilians and members of the security forces.

“There are still investigations going on but with all indications so far, a suicide bomber caused the blast,” police officer Mohamed Ali was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency, adding that six members of the security forces and three civilians were killed and 11 other people wounded.

Dadir Hassan, another police officer in Mogadishu, said the death toll stood at 11. He told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the suicide bomber targeted a busy tea shop near a main military base in Mogadishu.

Hassan said “the preliminary investigations confirmed that the attack was a result of lone suicide bomber who blew himself at a teashop where security forces and civilians frequented and we can confirm that at least 11 people, including soldiers, were killed and several others wounded.”

The bombing was claimed by the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab armed group, which has been fighting to overthrow Somalia’s federal government.

“I have passed by the area a few minutes after the blast, the whole area was in a mess with abandoned shoes belonging to the victims,” witness Kudow Yusuf told media.

Another witness, Adan Hussein, said “he had seen several bodies, some of them in uniform, carried into ambulances.”

ISLAMABAD, 15 September 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged views on the latest developments in Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation in a phone call، the second between the two leaders in less than a month.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said “recalling their earlier telephone conversation of August 25, the two leaders also discussed collaboration within the domain of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).”

According to the press release “Prime Minister Imran, who like last month was called by Putin, underscored the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan for regional security and prosperity. He emphasised the "urgent need" to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and the imperative of averting an economic crisis.”

The premier also highlighted the need for the international community to remain engaged in Afghanistan, saying "the Afghan people should not be abandoned at this crucial juncture."

He added that close coordination and consultations between Pakistan and Russia on the evolving situation in the war-ravaged country were of "crucial importance".

In the bilateral context, Prime Minister Imran noted the growing cooperation across a range of sectors and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to "further upgrade the overall relationship".

He said strengthening trade and investments and energy cooperation were the cornerstones of engagement with Russia.

ISLAMABAD, 15 September 2021, (TON): Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Asad Majeed Khan has said that Pakistan is monitoring the ability of the new Taliban government in Afghanistan to deliver on commitments and promises to uphold human rights that they have made to the international community before extending recognition to it.

The Pakistani envoy said in an interview “whether the Taliban actually abide by those (commitments) is their call.”

“But we have basically laid out our expectations, which is that we want the rights of everyone to be respected,” he said when asked under what conditions Pakistan would recognise the Taliban government.

“We want that Afghan territory not be used against any other country, including Pakistan. We want human rights and women's rights to be preserved.”

At the same time, Ambassador Khan said Pakistan believed that “instead of indulging in give-and-take on these issues, right now what's really important is to avert a humanitarian crisis.”

He said “what was really important at the moment was to basically not let things fall apart.”

He added “clearly, there is a new reality, which is a government under the Taliban.”

SANA'A, 15 September 2021, (TON): At least 80 Houthi militia fighters have been killed in two days of fierce fighting with government troops and by Arab coalition airstrikes in flashpoint areas outside Yemen’s central city of Marib.

New clashes erupted in Al-Kasara, Mashjah, Helan, Jabal Murad and Rahabah on Monday and Tuesday when hundreds of Houthi fighters attacked government troops with the hope of advancing toward Marib city.

Col. Yahiya Al-Hatemi, director of Yemen Army’s military media, told media “the national army’s artillery fire and the Arab coalition warplanes have managed to exterminate almost 20 waves of Houthi fighters in Marib. We counted the bodies of 81 dead Houthi strewn all over the battlefields.”

He said that the coalition’s warplanes killed a large number of Houthi fighters and destroyed military equipment before they reached the battlefields in Marib.

TEL AVIV, 15 September 2021, (TON): Bahrain’s first-ever ambassador to Israel Khaled Yousif Al-Jalahma presented his credentials to President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

Jalahma gave his letter of credence to Herzog in a formal ceremony, a day before the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Abraham Accords at the White House, which normalized ties between Jerusalem and Manama.

Jalahma held a diplomatic meeting with Herzog after the presentation ceremony, which was followed by joint statements to the press in Hebrew and Arabic.

“Brave states take brave steps,” Herzog said to Jalahma. “The Abraham Accords were the fruit of both vision and power.”

The president called the relationship “a model for the whole Middle East” and expressed his hope that other countries will follow Bahrain’s example.