DHAKA, 13 November 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will sign two important agreements on security cooperation and "Route to Meeca" service which would consolidate relations between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said “Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will join hands to train police personnel including women police.”

He said after his meeting with Saudi Deputy Interor Minister Dr Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al Dawood "I thought this is a new opening. Our women police are doing good. It's good.”

The two sides also discussed labour issues and import of LNG from the KSA at a cheaper price.

DHAKA, 13 November 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate 50 industrial units, projects and facilities in Economic Zones on November 20 marking the 50 years of independence.

Talking to BSS, Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority Executive Chairman Shaikh Yusuf Harun said the prime minister will virtually inaugurate 50 industrial units, projects and facilities in the EZs across the country and BEZA will have the event at eight venues.

He added "these include commercial operations of four factories at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Chattogram and eight factories in different privately-run EZs.”

RIYADH, 13 November 2022, (TON): Saudi Press Agency reported “the Falcon Eye 3, a joint training exercise with the Royal Saudi Air Force and its Greek counterpart, was launched from the Souda Air Force Base in Crete.”

The drill began with a ground study, which organized and unified the tactics of the Saudi and Greek air crews, and was followed by joint training flights in the sky above the Mediterranean Sea.

The Falcon Eye 3, which is among several bilateral air exercises for the Saudi and Greek air forces, aims to achieve an exchange in military experiences.

NEW DELHI, 13 November 2022, (TON): Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with the National Security Advisor of India Ajit Kumar Doval today in New Delhi and reviewed the current status of the relations between Sri Lanka and India.

The meeting took place as part of the regular and ongoing dialogue between the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and the National Security Advisor of India.

They discussed a range of issues pertaining to the mutual interests of the two countries as well as priority areas for future cooperation.

DHAKA, 13 November 2022, (TON): Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said “the prices of essential commodities have increased in the country as the Ukraine-Russia war is affecting global food market.”

"The country has enough food stock, we are taking steps to increase food production in the country to control prices of food" he made the comment while inaugurating the selling of TCB products at a fixed price among the people of Garpara Union under Manikganj Sadar Upazila in the district.

The Health Minister said the present government has taking multiple measures to ensure economic stability in the country.

DHAKA, 13 November 2022, (TON): After the International Monetary Fund it is now its sister concern World Bank's turn to negotiate economic reforms with the government for the prospective $2 billion financial support package sought to help the country weather the global economic turmoil.

For that end, Martin Raiser, the WB's vice president for the South Asia Region, will be arriving in Dhaka today along with Abduoulaye Seck, the incoming country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan.

Raiser said in a press release "I am glad to be back in Bangladesh and to continue discussing with the government the important reforms that can help the country stay on the resilient and inclusive growth path and create opportunities for the people.”

DHAKA, 13 November 2022, (TON): Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is likely to be here on a brief official visit later this month to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen extended an invitation to his Russian counterpart to attend the 22nd IORA Council of Ministers meeting to be held in Dhaka on November 24.

Russia is a dialogue partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

Bangladesh, the current chair of IORA, expects over a dozen ministers including the Russian Foreign Minister at the meeting, a senior official told UNB.

By Usman Khan

On Friday 11, 2022, Chinese vice Minister for Culture and Tourism, who is also the head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, has arrived in Nepal on a five-day visit. Delegation plans to visit the heritage sites including those being reinstated with Chinese assistance. There is also news that Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had advised the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu to postpone the visit until after the November 20 elections as it may affect the performance of some parties in the upcoming elections.  However, the Chinese side maintained that the trip is purely “personal” and intends to visit only to cultural heritage sites.

The Prime Minister’s Office was also against receiving foreign dignitaries ahead of the elections as most leaders are busy electioneering and as the government is a caretaker one. It had advised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reschedule the visit, if possible. However, the Chinese side insisted on coming on schedule. Even the Prime Minister has stopped meeting foreign dignitaries after the start of the election campaign. The visitors should understand that pre-election is not the right time to visit given our leaders’ busy schedules.”

According to the Nepal’s, Department of Archaeology, the Chinese vice-minister is coming at the invitation of the government of Nepal and he will visit some cultural heritage sites that were damaged or destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes and are being restored with Chinese government’s help. With the election code of conduct in effect, the government cannot sign any agreement with foreign countries as such accords can potentially influence elections. Meetings with foreign diplomats have also been cut down significantly as such interactions could be interpreted as signs of foreign influence.

On Friday, the Chinese delegation will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport at 10:30 PM, but no welcome ceremony is planned. After this, the Chinese delegation left for Hotel Soaltee and there is no official engagement on Friday, as per the schedule. On Saturday, the Chinese delegation led by Vice Minister Li will visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and inspect the heritage site. The Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage and Nepali sides jointly reconstructed the Basantapur Palace complex which earlier served as one of the oldest museums in Kathmandu.

In the afternoon, the Chinese delegation will visit the China Cultural Center at Maharajgunj which imparts training to Nepali citizens on Chinese culture, art, literature and language. After that, the delegation will visit the Chinese embassy, Kathmandu. On Sunday, the Chinese entourage will visit and inspect the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Later in the same afternoon, it will inspect the Basantapur Palace Complex restoration Project at Kathmandu Durbar Square

The Chinese side has recently completed the restoration of the Basantapur palace complex and has promised to support the rehabilitation of other quake-damaged structures including those at Bhaktapur Durbar Square and the Nuwakot palace in Nuwakot district. Nepal will sign the memorandum of understanding on the restoration of these heritage and cultural sites after the elections. In the same evening, on Sunday, the Chinese officials will visit Swayambhunath, and on Monday, they will visit the Patan Durbar Square and the national museum at Pashupatinath. On Tuesday morning, the Chinese delegation will leave for Hong Kong.

With the election code of conduct in effect, the government cannot sign any agreement with foreign countries as such accords can possibly influence elections. Meetings with foreign diplomats have also been cut down significantly as such communications could be construed as signs of foreign influence. Although, the visit is being described purely personal and informal where the Chinese delegation will visit some cultural heritage sites in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. However, it is yet to see the impact of the imminent visit of Chinese vice Minister for Culture and Tourism

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, 12 November 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden on Friday praised Egypt for speaking up strongly on the war in Ukraine and said Cairo had been a key mediator in Gaza.

Biden was speaking as he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the COP27 summit in the resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

He said “in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Egypt has spoken up strongly in the United Nations and that is appreciated very much as well.”

Addressing the COP27 climate conference, Biden vowed that the United States was on track to slash its carbon emissions, urging all nations to ramp up their own efforts to avert catastrophic global warming.

RIYADH, 12 November 2022, (TON): Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb met with Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, former executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Sharm El-Sheikh.

They discussed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to sustainable growth in the tourism industry, stressing the important role in protecting the environment and supporting communities.