CAIRO, 17 November 2022, (TON): Egyptian and Jordanian officials discussed joint relations in the natural gas sector during a meeting on the sidelines of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Tarek El-Molla, Egypt’s minister of petroleum and mineral resources, and Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, Jordan’s minister of energy and mineral resources, discussed cooperation, energy transition efforts, and opportunities to develop natural gas and hydrogen resources.

El-Molla highlighted the fruitful international dialogue and exchange of visions between all parties during COP27 sessions and on the Day of Decarbonization, one of several thematic days Egypt has designated for focused discussions.

DHAKA, 17 November 2022, (TON): State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam expressed his optimism that Bangladesh-Japan relations would further be strengthened through the upcoming prime ministers-level meeting in Tokyo.

He said “we keep working with this expectation.”

He added that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official visit to Japan will hopefully benefit the common people of the two countries.

The prime minister is scheduled to pay the official visit to Japan from November 29 to December 1 at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.

KABUL, 17 November 2022, (TON): The Islamic Emirate’s Political Office in Qatar said “it considers the recognition of the Islamic Emirate by the international community to be a process that will take time, and that efforts are ongoing to achieve recognition.”

Mohammad Naeem, spokesman for Islamic Emirate’s Political Office in Qatar said "announce the recognition and we are hopeful that this problem will be solved, we are trying to solve this problem soon.”

The spokesman for the Islamic Emirate’s Political Office said that now the interaction of the Islamic Emirate with most countries of the world is ongoing in various sectors.

NEW DELHI, 17 November 2022, (TON): The government of the Indian state of Manipur has extended a ban on travel through a major border gateway for three more months to prevent “illegal entry of Myanmar nationals.”

The move, which bars Myanmar citizens from entering India through the Tamu-Moreh border gate, was announced.

In a statement, Manipur government official Peter Salam said that the suspension of the Free Movement Regime between India and Myanmar, first imposed on September 15, was necessary due to the current political situation in Myanmar.

Tamu is located in western Sagaing Region, which has been a stronghold of anti-regime forces since Myanmar’s military seized power in February 2021.

DHAKA, 17 November 2022, (TON): Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque has said “Bangladesh will warn diplomats stationed in Dhaka against making remarks on the country's internal matters.”

The minister said while responding to questions from reporters “we will not tolerate any ambassador's interference; they will be cautioned again.”

“Bangladesh is a sovereign nation; we liberated this country through a bloody war. We will not make any concessions when it comes to maintaining the dignity of our country.”

DHAKA, 17 November 2022, (TON): Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan said “Turkey would be more than happy to play the role of a transit country for energy supply to Bangladesh.”

He said “the Russian Federation has conveyed that it would like to see Turkey as an energy hub for exporting oil and gas to Europe.”

Ambassador Turan said “if that is possible for Bangladesh and some formula can be found, and if we need to play a role in this as a transit country, of course we will be more than happy to do so.”

He said “Turkey is not a country with energy resources. So, we are not a source country for energy supply but we are a transit country.”

By. F.F Mushfika

My only concern of expressing my view is because I am a Sri Lankan. I am a Sri Lankan who has gone through the craziest days of bankruptcy and economic crisis, like every individual of the nation today. The nation is going through the most difficult days with cries for help. In fact, it cries for help to stand up once again.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and an Island nation with several attractive places and cultural sites. It has been a developing country ever since the ancient times and have contributed massively by building trade relations around the world. It has been considered as the “pearl of the Indian Ocean”, which significantly highlights the values of the paradise nation. Despite the fact that it is a tourist wonder place, Sri Lanka has its own life of troubles and worries. It has suffered the worst civil war in its recent past with serious questions and repercussions about how it ended. However, Sri Lanka immediately commenced to shine again. It was approaching the new world with sheer dreams and ventures. Unfortunately, the breakdown of corona and the subsequent events of economic crisis put the nation into the dark, once more. The struggle was and is profound and real.

Nonetheless, in the interim - the current government which has taken its oath under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremasinghe is working towards a progress, finding novel methods to fight the battle. Regardless of the different opinions and criticisms, the government is taking a positive ride, seemingly focusing on the real problems of the nation. Although many critics are of the opinion that it is falling to a “low-income” country, President spoke against such notions. The Presidential office stated that, “Sri Lanka will remain a middle-income country. We will request the World Bank to grant the country eligibility to obtain loans offered by the International Development Association (IDA)”. Besides, IMF the International Monetary Fund, also signed up to its preliminary and fundamental negotiations and the country is waiting for a dollar 2.9 billion bailout.

Further, according to the CBSL official exchange rates, the rupee continues to be steady against the US dollar. Presently the selling rate is at 371.75.

Apart from these financial requests and developments the country had its basic struggle such as shortage of fuel, gas, and food. It was terrible on the days when the nation citizens had to suffer in long extended queues that prevailed for many days, hindering a normal life. This was equally for the poor and the rich. Sadly, the poor suffered more due to the downfall of their income and rising inflation, whereas the rich had an uncomfortable period out from their comfort zones. However, the situation has changed from worst to better. Presently, we see less queues due to the QR code system and the crisis of gas has been sorted at a far length. Also, the endless peoples’ protests have been minimized and controlled which was a major headline in many news channels, months back. Although, the protests highlighted major problems to be catered it also withdrew tourists from the country which is an essential part of any improvement within the country and economy. This has been addressed and we also see many tourists visit Sri Lanka once again and some even go to the extent of promoting Sri Lanka as a helping hand to come out from its shady days.

In addition, it also has captured the internet era where several ticktock videos has been made under the theme of “Habibi, come to Sri Lanka”. In fact, it is trending and going viral which also shows the positive sides of the Sri Lanka in terms of its beauty and cuisine. These videos are far-reaching and nowadays Sri Lankans are more likely to see tourists enjoying the warmth of the sun and the conducive environment in many corners of the island.

Most prominently, Sri Lankans were under the candlelight due to the severe shortage of fuel for long hours. Despite that, today Sri Lankans are merely facing minimum 1 to 2 hours of power cuts. These power cuts are excluded to important areas such as hospitals and petroleum places. Nonetheless power shut has been organized and informed and therefore people are getting accustomed to a new pattern of life by ensuring a life with precautionary measures such as powering their mobiles and laptops for work, engaging in productive tasks that need no energy consumption, reading books, watching movies, or spending quality time with family. In fact, instead of complaining, Sri Lankans are learning to adopt to the current scenario facilitating themselves with effective learning and enjoying pattern of life.

Moreover, the government is also sharing constructive reports such as high economic growth of US dollar 3 billion from new exports, tax reduction for several import items in 2023, measures to boost foreign exchange, new economic zones to attract international investments, internet connection for 1000 rural schools to increase teaching and learning experiences and so on. These bring forth a positive note and remind that the country is heading towards its rise. It is necessarily on the run to stand up from its biggest fall. This further urges Sri Lankan diasporas and foreigners to support the country.

Today we also see many career opportunities and educational offers that are surging Sri Lankan nationals. There had been many fully funded scholarships such as from the countries like Pakistan and USA recently. Whereas we also witness Canada and UK opening up career aspirations to the citizens of Sri Lanka. This will be life saving for a country that is suffering economically, thriving to develop.

Thus, Sri Lanka is rising again. It further is attempting to not fall to a lower level again. It is learning from its mistakes, and I believe Sri Lanka can, once again stand up on its knees.

Sri Lanka – a paradise nation will remain essentially a paradise in nature, overcoming any challenge. Let us salute the country for surviving their rough days with a wish of luck.

By Syed Ali Hasnain

Bangladesh has been remained a very fine field for the politics either used by other actors directly or indirectly. The upcoming elections in Bangladesh 2023 have created political uprising and point of concerns for many political actors which have been involve in political games of Bangladesh. Boosting one political party and opposing other to look for favorable conditions in Bangladesh, the international actors have always played their role at their best to set up the regime in Bangladesh. The reason behind this unfortunate or fortunate is the variation in the ideologies of the political parties in Bangladesh. Moreover the common interests also do not lie on the sample point and the principles as political parties are more likely busy in earning fame in the world politics by creating win-loss situation in Bangladesh.

The comparison of the last elections that held in Bangladesh and the predictions on the basis of previous elections for forthcoming elections in 2023 has created political unrest in Bangladesh which is resulting in damaging the infrastructure of the state and mass killing of the innocent public which is totally against the law and democracy.  Moreover the international watchdog and human rights observers have also condemn this pathetic activity which is being carried out in the name of politics. Politics never means the disloyalty or selfishness in the state rather it is done for the betterment of the state and people of the state. The states which never compromised on their state’s basic ideology are counted now in the developed states and world powers. The territorial mass and the people or public mass are the building blocks of any state, harming any of the block means the harming of the whole state.

In recent times the political unrest in being marginalize to give more heat to the situation in Bangladesh which is becoming worst by every passing day. Both the main parties, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP and Awami league, AL, are not agreeing on single stance and both have contradictions on certain points such as caretaker government and election commission  for the election of 2023 in Bangladesh. The clear stance of Bangladesh not trusting AL leadership is just because of the previous elections which have been controversial throughout the debates in the international world politics. However, democracy has been at risk in Bangladesh during past years. BNP assured Bangladesh to restore democracy in Bangladesh. Keeping these petty issues in view Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh in event organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) in partnership with Friedrich-Ebert-Sifting, Bangladesh, at a city hotel, Mustafa Osman Turan gave his comments that Bangladesh will miss the opportunity to hold a free and fair election if opposition parties do not participate in the polls which are yet to be held. In Bangladesh, there is obviously room for dialogue among political parties. Unfortunately, it is not taking place. However, he thinks that the government and the Election Commission are trying to do their best to create possibility of participation for all parties but in fact the struggles are very limited that they could not reach up to any solution yet.  But if we analyze the current political situations and the forthcoming elections, there are about 14 months until the next election. The BNP will join the polls as the circumstances may get changed. Many things could happen before the election, there could be a change in the world, and there could be a change in the country and even in politics. So taking decisions on the base of predictions may be proven wrong.  The ruling party must be challenged by the opposition and then decision should be left up to public as by using democratic rights. People who are the sufferer of the policies or get benefits could best illustrate the shortcomings and the requirement of the time for the state and the people. Moreover, the incumbent EC wants all political parties to join the elections, and it does not want to be the referee of the game in which only one team is participating. For EC, the biggest challenge is to create a level playing field for everyone, and bringing all the parties in the election is also a challenge.

These political parties under the flag of Bangladesh should priorities the state first and then they should go for any challenge to achieve. AL should accept the shortcoming any the blunder that it committed during its regime and should not react badly when it is being assessed and criticized. If the leadership of AL finds the other politician good and loyal for the state and the people of the state it must not stop or create hurdles in the way rather it should encourage for the sake of state.

BALI, 16 November 2022, (TON): Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year appeared to overshadow all else on the agenda of the leaders’ meeting of the Group of 20, with the conflict in Europe having fueled geopolitical tensions and a global surge in food and energy prices.

Leaders of G20 member states, invited countries and international organizations have gathered in Bali to discuss the pressing challenges facing the global economy, which is creeping toward a recession.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most populous country and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is hosting the summit under the theme “Recover together, recover stronger” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences.

KYIV, 16 November 2022, (TON): President Joe Biden convened an emergency meeting of the Group of Seven and NATO leaders in Indonesia Wednesday morning for consultations after NATO-ally Poland said a “Russian-made” missile killed two people in the eastern part of its country near the Ukraine border.

Biden, who was awakened overnight by staff with the news of the missile explosion while in Indonesia for the Group of 20 summit, called Polish President Andrzej Duda early Wednesday to express his deep condolences for the loss of life.

Biden promised on Twitter “full U.S support for and assistance with Poland’s investigation and reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to NATO.”