TOKYO, 28 July 2022, (TON): Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio is considering visiting Saudi Arabia in late August “to request an increase in crude oil production in light of the soaring energy prices associated with the prolonged crisis in Ukraine.”

Kishida plans to attend the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) in Tunisia on August 27th and 28th.

According to the officials “after that, he will visit Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar.”

The visit comes while China and Russia try strengthening relations with oil-producing countries in the Middle East.

US President Joe Biden visited Saudi Arabia this month.

RIYADH, 28 July 2022, (TON): When Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman paid a visit to the archaeological site of the Acropolis in Athens, the purpose was more than to take in the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek antiquity to the world.

The crown prince went to the Acropolis Museum, where he and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Saudi Arabia and Greece for cooperation in the cultural field.

The agreement was signed from the Saudi side by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud, the Kingdom’s culture minister, who previously visited Athens in May 2021 to discuss aspects of cultural cooperation.

The crown prince oversaw the signing of a major cultural cooperation deal with Greece.

RIYADH, 28 July 2022, (TON): Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense announced “the Royal Saudi Naval Forces has launched the newest addition to its fleet at a ceremony in San Fernando, Spain, with several top officials from both countries in attendance.”

The HMS Al-Diriyah Avanti 2200 Corvette is the second ship, after the HMS Jubail, to be launched in four months. The Kingdom’s joint Sarawat manufacturing project will produce a further three vessels to add to the fleet.

During the commissioning ceremony, RSNF Commander Lt. Gen. Fahd Al-Ghufaili hoisted the Saudi flag on the HMS Al-Diriyah, marking its official entry into the navy’s service.

He said “the Sarawat project would ensure the navy was combat-ready, and able to strengthen the country’s maritime security, and protect its vital strategic interests in the region.”

By Ammara Farooq

Maoist Centre chair’s recent active maneuvers to build a left alliance in the name of socialist center cause disturbance with its former rebel leader’s latest stratagem. CPN (Maoist Centre) chair Pushpa Dahal knows how to keep others on bay. Despite the commitment by the Nepali Congress, the leader of the ruling coalition of which the Maoist Centre is a key partner. CPN (Maoist Centre) chair has a close eye on his recent maneuvers.

Of course and is cautious concerning recent developments after CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s active initiatives to create a left alliance in the name of socialist center. Since the Nepali Congress has decided to aim for a majority from the next elections. CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s desperation has increased and he is now working to create a new front.

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s left front idea as of now is minus the UML. Many understand this as his tactic to keep both the Congress and UML in check. A Congress central member said until CPN (Maoist Centre) chair wants to rope in CPN (Unified Socialist), a party formed after splitting from the UML, and Janata Samajbadi Party, by keeping the UML out.

The Janata Samajbadi, however, does not appear to be interested in CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s left front. And is not keen on being part of a new political front that is emerging as a mini-alliance within the ruling coalition,” said a leader close to Yadav. Anyway the idea looks far-fetched.

After separating ties with the Maoist Centre in 2015, Bhattarai had made Naya Shakti, which he amalgamated with Janata Samajbadi party in 2019. Amid the advances, a careful Congress trusts as long as CPN (Maoist Centre) chair does not join hands with the UML, it will be comfortable in the upcoming elections due later this year.

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair is clearly trying to make a tricky bargain. He has even spoken of distribution the prime minister-ship by turns. If he starts a left front, seat-sharing will be even easier, at least for the Congress. A Congress valuation of the future polls proposes the party can win at least 77 out of 165 seats under the direct election system if parties fight elections self-sufficiently, without any associations.

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair has a propensity to change sides whenever he sees benefit for himself. In 2017, he abandoned the Congress to join hands with the UML. When he fell out with UML, he came to the Congress last year for a salvage.

As of now, the UML seems extremely reluctant to accommodate CPN (Maoist Centre) chair but has not ruled out an alliance if he abandons his association with the Congress.

Maoist leaders, meanwhile, say the Congress need not fear about the creation of a new political front that rejects the UML. The source of fear in the Nepali Congress is that we may unite with the UML. We are not going to do so. The UML has not abandoned its regressive political ideology. There are no prospects of our party uniting with the UML.

The Maoist Centre’s political objective is yet to be achieved and the socialist center idea looks good to establish what it really purposes for and always been viewed as an unbalanced political force. Some leaders blame them for being opportunist too. However through its fresh political maneuvering Maoist Centre’s desires to establish that it is a steady political force.

The chairman is taking this step of forming socialist center so as to give clarity to what he actually want to achieve. The essential aim is to make a new trustworthy and reliable political front. Some Nepali Congress leaders have the reservations that Nepal cannot bear so many political parties and only three political parties or forces Nepali Congress, UML and a socialist alliance are enough.

A section of the Nepali Congress believes that the making of a new socialist front or alliance will not come as a disadvantage for the Congress. Since incumbent prime minster and CPN (Maoist Centre) chair share good working relationship. It seems prime minster is more self-assured about the Maoist chair.

CPN (Maoist Centre) chair was in Delhi last week on a three-day visit. It was during his stay in Delhi he said that the issue of prime minister-ship on a rotational basis will be discussed. Congress General Secretary said that he has not gone into details of CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s plan of a new front.

The creation of such an alliance may, however, put pressure on the Nepali Congress. Congress is keeping a close watch on how this new political front emerges and what difference it will make in national politics. The idea of a socialist center is CPN (Maoist Centre) chair’s last resort to remain relevant. The rest of his plan will become clear only when it takes a form practically.

DHAKA, 28 July 2022, (TON): The International Monetary Fund said “it would discuss with Bangladesh its loan request after the country became the third in South Asia to seek such support after Pakistan and Sri Lanka.”

Bangladesh's $416 billion economy has been one of the fastest-growing in the world for years, but rising energy and food prices because of the Russia-Ukraine war have inflated its import bill and the current account deficit.

The IMF said “Bangladesh was interested in its new Resilience and Sustainability Facility aimed at helping countries face climate-change challenges and had also requested negotiations for an accompanying IMF programme."

An IMF spokesperson said "the IMF stands ready to support Bangladesh, and the staff will engage with the authorities on program design as per the established policies and procedures of the Fund.”

 "The amount of support will be part of the program design discussions."

DHAKA, 28 July 2022, (TON): According to the latest census “the population size of Bangladesh is currently 165,158,616.”

The primary data of the Population and Housing Census 2022 was revealed at an event at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka.

Of the total population, 81,712,824 are men, while 83,347,206 are women.

As many as 113,063,587 of them live in rural areas and 52,009,072 live in cities.

DHAKA, 28 July 2022, (TON): Two pilots were injured as a training helicopter of the Bangladesh Army made a crash landing on a waterbody at Nawabganj upazila in Dhaka.

The pilots, Lieutenant Colonel Ismail and Major Shams, were shifted to Dhaka Combined Military Hospital by helicopter, according to Inter-Services Public Relations.

It said “both the pilots are out of danger now.”

The accident occurred at about 1:30pm due to a mechanical fault when the BELL-206 helicopter of Army Aviation was practicing the emergency landing procedure as part of conducting routine training flights.

Local police provided assistance for the security of the area and the helicopter.

KATHMANDU, 28 July 2022, (TON): The second phase of the Kajaki power dam, now providing 100 megawatts of power, was inaugurated with senior officials of the Islamic Emirate and a top Turkish diplomat attending.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the first Deputy Prime Minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, said “the Afghans should themselves work for their country.”

Meanwhile, the acting Minister of Economy, Din Mohammad Hanif, said that 7 billion cubic meters of water is flowing from Afghanistan abroad annually.

He said “if we control our water, we will have developments including power.”

The second phase of the Kajaki dam was constructed by a Turkish company for $160 million.

DHAKA, 28 July 2022, (TON): Switzerland Ambassador to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard inspected the living, livelihood and traditional cultural activities of the marginalized people, including ethnic minorities, in the drought-prone Barind areas here.

During her two-day visit that ended today, the envoy enjoyed traditional reception by Oraon and Santal ethnic community at Koyelhat in Tanore Upazila of Rajshahi and at Nadupara in Gomostapur Upazila of Chapainawabganj districts.

Along with attending discussions on socio-economic livelihood conditions of plain land ethnic minorities in Barind, the diplomat witnessed two development projects including Integrated Water Resource Management project and Resilience to Economic Volatility of Indigenous and Vulnerable Populations through Empowerment.

Side by side with meeting with members of the water resources management committee in the water scarce areas, the ambassador visited IWRM project including ponds centered livelihoods of ethnic minority people.

DHAKA, 28 July 2022, (TON): Bangladesh will remain chair of the D-8 for another year while the Preferential Trade Agreement among the bloc's member states is likely to be operational by this year.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told media "seven member states other than Egypt have ratified the D-8 PTA, Egypt has announced at today's meeting that they will ratify the PTA soon.”

Momen also informed that Bangladesh will continue the D-8 presidency for another year as Egypt will remain busy with Conference of the Parties.

he said "they made a special request. We have no objection. Other member states also agreed. This is good news for us.”