NEW YORK, 11 September 2021, (TON): At a meeting of the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a high-level “summit of the future” to develop a new agenda on peace and global security.

He said “the world cannot afford to ignore the threat posed by a pandemic and rapid climate change.”

The Secretary General called “to start a new era of bold transformative policies in all directions.” Guterres urged to “get our heads out of the sand” and be ready to face future crises in health, finance and climate.

“One of the central recommendations of my report on our shared agenda is that the world should come together to address all of these and other issues at the High-Level Future Summit.”

“This Summit will seek to build a new global consensus on how be our future and how we can preserve it, “the secretary general stressed. According to him, the summit should include a new agenda “for peace, with a more comprehensive and holistic view of global security.”

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said “the Taliban’s quick rise to power in Afghanistan could encourage terrorist groups in other parts of the world.”

MADRID, 11 September 2021, (TON): The military said that Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and discussed the latest situation in Afghanistan,.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement During the meeting “matters of mutual interest, regional security situation including the current situation in Afghanistan and enhanced bilateral and defence cooperation were discussed.”

It added that both sides reiterated the combined resolve for the provision of humanitarian aid and assistance to the Afghan people.

According to the military’s media wing, the Spanish FM appreciated Pakistan’s role in successful evacuation operations from Afghanistan and efforts for regional stability.

He also pledged to play his role for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels.

COLOMBO, 11 September 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa left the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake this morning (10) for a diplomatic visit in Italy.

During the visit, the Hon. Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Inaugural Session of the G20 Interfaith Forum Italy-2021. The visit will also include several other high level diplomatic meetings.

Foreign Minister Hon. (Prof) G. L Peiris and Secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Gamini Senarath also accompanied the Prime Minister.

KATHMANDU, 11 September 2021, (TON): A meeting of the ruling parties' alliance today held discussions on finalising the cabinet expansion issue soon. The top leaders of the five-party alliance attended the meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar.

In the meeting, Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba urged the leaders of the alliance to give him the list of names of persons to be appointed ministers.

Vice-chairperson of the Rastriya Janamorcha, Durga Poudel who attended the meeting said that the PM asked the leaders of the parties in the alliance to submit the name list at the soonest as the Cabinet expansion has been delayed.

She said "the meeting spent much time discussing the topic of giving full shape to the Council of Ministers. Likewise, talks were held on further refining the alliance and tabling bills in Parliament. The meeting adjourned agreeing to sit again at 6 pm today."

Prime Minister Deuba had urged the parties in the alliance to promptly finalize the names of the nominees to be appointed ministers after consultations in the respective parties in order to give full shape to the Council of Ministers.

PM Deuba, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairperson of CPN (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairperson of Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal Upendra Yadav, NC General-Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka and Spokesperson of the Rastriya Janamorcha Poudel attended the meeting.

KATHMANDU, 11 September 2021, (TON): Nepal and India have agreed to collaborate for the development of the second transnational transmission line with the capacity of supplying around 20,000 megawatts of electricity.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), an investment agreement was signed between the two sides for the construction of the Butwal-Gorakhpur second transnational transmission line. The proposal to this regard was floated for a long, but no substantial progress was achieved.

It may be noted that the Energy Secretary-level meeting of Nepal and India three years back had agreed to construct the transmission line with a total capacity of 400 KV. As per the agreement, the transmission line will be constructed on the joint venture of NEA and Power Grid Corporation of India.

NEA executive director Kulman Ghising confirmed the signing of a bilateral investment agreement in regard to the Butwal-Gorakhpur 400 KV transmission line.

The transmission line is related to the US aid project Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as well.

The line to be originated from Nanglebhare of Kathmandu will reach Butwal which will connect with a substation to be built there. It will reach Gorakhpur via the same substation.

NEA executive director Ghising and Power Grid's executive director YK Dixit signed on the agreement from their respective sides amidst a programme in New Delhi, India.

The August 3 meeting of the Council of Ministers had granted permission to the NEA to invest for 50 per cent share for establishing a company for the construction of the section of the transmission line to be developed towards India.

Executive director Ghising said “the signing of the agreement has opened the way for the establishment of a joint company with a 50-50 per cent share of NEA and Power Grid of India for the construction of the transmission line towards India.”

WASHINGTON, 11 September 2021, (TON): US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke for 90 minutes, in their first talks in seven months, discussing the need to ensure that competition between the world's two largest economies does not veer into conflict.

The US side said that the "proof will be in the pudding" as to whether the stalemate can be broken with ties between the superpowers languishing at their lowest point in decades.

In a statement, the White House said Biden and Xi had "a broad, strategic discussion," including areas where interests and values converge and diverge. The conversation focused on economic issues and climate change, a senior US official told reporters.

The White House added "President Biden underscored the United States' enduring interest in peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the world and the two leaders discussed the responsibility of both nations to ensure competition does not veer into conflict."

In the months since, the two sides have lashed out at each other almost constantly, often with vitriolic public attacks, sanctions on officials and criticism over not upholding international obligations.

Chinese state media said Xi had told Biden that US policy on China imposed "serious difficulties" on relations, but added that both sides agreed to maintain frequent contact and ask working-level teams to step up communications.

"China and the United States should show strategic courage and insight, and political boldness, and push Sino-US relations back to the right track of stable development as soon as possible," state media said, citing Xi.

BAGHDAD, 11 September 2021, (TON): Pakistani Ambassador Ahmed Amjad Ali said that Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi will visit Pakistan for talks on boosting cooperation between Baghdad and Islamabad.

The envoy told state-owned newspaper "Al-Kadhimi's visit to Pakistan in the next few days aims to strengthen bilateral relations, and sign several agreements and memoranda of understanding in the fields of culture and trade between the two countries."

He, however, did not give an exact date for the visit.

The Iraqi authorities have yet to confirm al-Kadhimi’s visit.

The Pakistani diplomat said “the annual trade exchange between Iraq and Pakistan amounts to $64 million.”

The ambassador said that we are discussing concluding several contracts with the Iraqi army in logistical support and pilot training.”

He hailed Iraq’s important role in the region, describing the recently concluded Baghdad summit for neighboring countries as “a positive step."

NAYPYITAW, 11 September 2021, (TON): Two soldiers including a major were killed in the guerilla bomb attack against a military vehicle in Yangon’s Sanchaung Township, it has emerged.

Several junta troops were riding in a truck near the intersection of Bargaryar and Baho roads at around 4pm when a group of men tossed an explosive inside.

A major who was sitting in the front passenger seat was killed in a shootout following the explosion, several local media outlets reported.

The other soldier, a private, was in the back of the truck when he died. Further details about the dead soldiers were not immediately available.

The attack took place next to a busy market, but two guerilla groups who claimed responsibility said no civilians were harmed, the BBC’s Burmese service reported. 

The groups, who call themselves Revolution Force and Generation Freedom Army, codenamed the attack Tigre Ogre, the outlet reported.

NAYPYITAW, 11 September 2021, (TON): A spokesperson for the political wing of the organisation said “the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) managed to take over a Myanmar military base in Bago Region.”

Saw Ywar Kwee Doo of the Karen National Union’s (KNU) central information department confirmed that the base is located in Kyaukkyi Township, but said that further details from the ground were not yet available.

Another KNU member told that the attacking forces were a coalition of troops from the KNLA’s Brigades 5 and 3, and that the base was located in the Kapaw Du area.

He said “the attack started at 6am and ended at 8am. We had no casualties on our side. We have secured the base now.”

A KNU statement published following the attack said that the military had flown over the occupied base with a jet in what appeared to be a surveillance effort, and that they would release further statements on any casualties at a later date.

The base was strategically located between the third and fifth brigade’s territory, a Karen local explained.

DHAKA, 11 September 2021, (TON): Over 460,000 Rohingya children live in camps in Cox’s Bazar, according to the UN. Speakers at a webinar have emphasized imparting proper education for the Rohingya children living in camps in Bangladesh in a bid to groom them as global citizens.

The webinar was organized by SM Zillur Rahman, chairman of Bangladesh Bamboo, Cane and Mate Craft Foundation (BBCMF), to raise awareness about the education of Rohingya children in the present-day world.

SM Zillur Rahman said “the government of Bangladesh has now relocated some 18,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char from the camps in Cox’s Bazar. According to the government’s plans, the island has the capacity to house 100,000 Rohingyas, based on the currently available infrastructure and space.”

According to the UN “currently there are 461,266 Rohingya children living in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.”

It is a major challenge for the government to provide quality primary and secondary education to the Rohingya children in the overflowing Cox’s Bazar camps, remarked Zillur, former director of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

Ministry of Women and Children Affairs Additional Secretary Dr Md Abdur Rouf said “the government, in cooperation with BBCMF, has set up a primary school at the Bhashan Char for some 18,000 Rohingya children.”

The global number of forcibly displaced people has doubled since 2010, according to the latest report from the UNHCR, he noted.

At the end of 2020, there were 82.4 million forcibly displaced people in the world, according to the UNHCR, Rouf added.