DHAKA, 31 August 2022, (TON): The government of the Republic of Korea has announced its plan to provide US $3.2 million in 2022 to support humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and their host communities in Bangladesh.

The South Korean embassy in Dhaka said “this year’s humanitarian assistance will be provided through international organizations such as UNHCR, IOM, WFP, UNICEF and IFRC operating in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char.”

According to the Embassy, some portion of this year’s funding will be allocated to the refugees in Bhasan Char for the second year in a row.

South Korea has supported UN agencies’ operation in Bhasan Char since the inception of the relocation to the island in 2021.

DHAKA, 31 August 2022, (TON): Prime minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her firm confidence “Bangladesh would never plunge into Sri Lanka-like situation for its development spree, rather the country would continue to move ahead overcoming all global challenges.”

She said at a discussion “remember one thing that Bangladesh will never be Sri Lanka.”

The PM, however, said that Bangladesh had to face Sri Lanka-like situation in the regime of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, but Awami League government had pulled the country out of that state.

Dhaka South City AL and Dhaka North City AL jointly organised the discussion in the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Center, marking the National Mourning Day and 47th martyrdom anniversary of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

DHAKA, 31 August 2022, (TON): President Md Abdul Hamid urged the Kuwait government to recruit more professionals as well as more skilled and semi-skilled manpower from Bangladesh in different sectors.

The head of the state made the call as the new resident ambassador of Kuwait, Faisal Mutlaq Aladwani, presented his credentials to him at Bangabhaban.

Thanking the government of Kuwait for financing in different development projects in Bangladesh, the president also requested for enhanced participation of Kuwait in different development projects in the days to come.

President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin informed media “he emphasized the joint initiatives at government and private levels to increase trade and investment between Bangladesh and Kuwait.”

LONDON, 30 August 2022, (TON): The US said “it was concerned about the escalation of tensions in Iraq and urged all parties to “remain peaceful and refrain from actions that could lead to a cycle of violence.”

12 protesters were killed and 270 others wounded as Iraq declared a nationwide curfew after supporters of Moqtada Sadr stormed the government palace in Baghdad’s Green Zone following the powerful Shiite leader’s declaration that he was quitting politics.

The US embassy in Baghdad said “reports of unrest across Iraq are alarming as they do not allow Iraqi institutions to operate.”

He added that the country’s security, stability and sovereignty should not be endangered and dialogue was needed to resolve differences.

TEHRAN, 30 August 2022, (TON): Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi has said an investigation by the global nuclear watchdog into safeguards issues” relating to nuclear particles found at Iranian nuclear sites, needs to end if an agreement on restoring the country’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers is to be clinched.

Raisi asserted at a news conference “without resolving safeguards issues, talking about an agreement would be meaningless.”

Asked if he would meet United States President Joe Biden during his upcoming trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Raisi reiterated his no answer from his first news conference with foreign media shortly after being elected as president last year.

Such a meeting would have no benefit for the people and interests of Iran.

WASHINGTON, 30 August 2022, (TON): The United States on Sunday denounced Russia’s cynical obstructionism after Moscow blocked adoption of a joint declaration on nuclear non-proliferation following lengthy international negotiations at the United Nations.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which 191 signatories review every five years, aims to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, promote complete disarmament and promote cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Russia on Friday prevented the declaration’s adoption, saying it took issue with political aspects of the text, a step criticised by Washington.

State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said “after weeks of intensive but productive negotiations, the Russian Federation alone decided to block consensus on a final document.”

MOSCOW, 30 August 2022, (TON): The Kremlin called for pressure on Kyiv to reduce tensions at the Moscow-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine that Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of shelling.

The nuclear plant, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters “all countries are obliged to put pressure on the Ukrainian side so that it stops endangering the European continent by shelling.”

His remarks came as International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi announced he was en route to the plant Europe’s largest nuclear facility that has been under Russian control since the early days of Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.

Peskov said “we have been waiting for this mission for a long time. We consider it necessary.”

LONDON, 30 August 2022, (TON): The race to become Britain’s next prime minister is in its final week, with Liz Truss appeared poised to secure the top job, along with daunting challenges.

Foreign Secretary Truss, 47, has consistently outrun 42-year-old former finance minister Rishi Sunak by wide margins in polls of Conservative party members who will decide the contest, which started in early July.

An estimated 200,000 Tory grassroots have been able to vote since earlier this month for their preferred candidate, before postal and online ballots close.

The winner will be announced next Monday and replaces outgoing leader Boris Johnson in Downing Street the following day only to face immediate crises over the spiralling cost of living.

OSLO, 30 August 2022, (TON): Tesla founder Elon Musk told reporters “the world must continue to extract oil and gas in order to sustain civilisation, while also developing sustainable sources of energy.”

Musk said “realistically I think we need to use oil and gas in the short term, because otherwise, civilisation will crumble.”

Asked if Norway should continue to drill for oil and gas, Musk said “I think some additional exploration is warranted at this time.”

He said “one of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced is the transition to sustainable energy and to a sustainable economy.”

“That will take some decades to complete.”

TUNIS, 30 August 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said “Japan will use its place on the United Nations Security Council to push for an African seat on the top world body.”

Kishida told “Japan reiterates its determination to redress the historical injustice against Africa of not being represented through a permanent membership on the Security Council.”

He said “in order for the UN to work effectively for peace and stability there is an urgent need to strengthen the UN as a whole through Security Council reform.”