UNITED NATIONS, 30 October 2022, (TON): The Security Council voted unanimously Friday to extend the UN political mission in Libya for a year and urged key institutions and parties in the divided north African country to agree on a road map to deliver presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.

The resolution adopted by the UN’s most powerful body urged dialogue, compromise and constructive engagement aimed at forming a unified Libyan government able to govern across the country and representing the whole people of Libya.

Libya plunged into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. The oil-rich nation has been split between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.

In response, the country’s east-based parliament appointed a rival prime minister, Fathy Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.

MOSCOW, 30 October 2022, (TON): The Russian army on Saturday accused the UK of helping Ukraine plan a drone attack on its Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, and said that one of its ships suffered minor damage.

Moscow’s defense ministry said in a statement “the preparation of this terrorist act and the training of the military personnel of the Ukrainian 73rd Special Center for Maritime Operations were carried out under the guidance of British specialists located in the city of Ochakiv in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region.”

LONDON, 30 October 2022, (TON): UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has hit back at criticism over his decision not to attend the COP27 climate conference in Egypt.

Sunak, who was appointed PM, said “he was personally committed to stopping climate change, and that the UK was unmatched in its efforts, but claimed he was too busy dealing with his country’s economic crisis to attend the conference.”

On a visit to a hospital in Croydon, South London, Sunak said “it’s important to me that as prime minister we leave behind an environment that is better for our children and grandchildren. I’m very passionate about that, I’m very personally committed to it.”

LONDON, 30 October 2022, (TON): Iranian drones supplied to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine contain parts made in the US, Europe, and Asia, Ukrainian investigators have found.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the investigators found drones shot down by Kyiv’s military contained pieces of Western-made hardware that guide and power the machines.

Weapons experts told the newspaper that Iranian engineers had likely been able to scavenge and copy pieces from downed American and Israeli drones for use in their own drones.

DHAKA, 30 October 2022, (TON): A flag meeting between members of Border Guard Bangladesh and Myanmar's Border Guard Police at commandant level will be held over the prevailing unrest along the border at Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar.

Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Mohammad Iftekhar, commandant of BGB-2 Battalion, told UNB that they would discuss the issues related to the border security and prevailing tension.

He said “you have learned what incidents have happened, we will discuss issues, which have triggered tension among our people living along the border.”

DHAKA, 30 October 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said through misquoting him journalists have tried to make the US Bangladesh's enemy.

Momen said "a total of 17 media outlets including print, electronic and online ones published headlines saying that I had mentioned the USA as a war-mongering country, which I didn't say. The headings had no connection with what I had actually said. I think our journalists have weaknesses in them and I'll be happy if they focus on gaining maturity.”

The Minister said this after paying homage to the grave of Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara on Saturday noon.

Momen said “the headlines of the reports were false, fabricated and imaginary.”

NEW DELHI, 30 October 2022, (TON): India on Saturday cautioned the world about the possible implications of misuse of new technologies such as encrypted messaging and crypto-currency by "non-state actors" in absence of adequate regulatory mechanisms, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar seeking united global efforts to deal with the challenge.

In an address at a special meeting of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee, Mr Jaishankar said the social media platforms have turned into potent instruments in the toolkit of terror networks and that the terror groups, their ideological fellow-travellers and lone wolf attackers have significantly enhanced capabilities by gaining access to new technologies.

Reaffirming India's commitment to combat terrorism, he also announced that New Delhi would make a voluntary contribution of half a million dollars in the UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism this year.

DHAKA, 30 October 2022, (TON): Edward M Kennedy Jr will deliver a speech commemorating 50 years of Bangladesh-US relations on Sunday at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University.

United States ambassador Peter D Haas and Dhaka University vice-chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman will be present during the ‘landmark’ speech.

Ted Kennedy Jr said “my family and I will honour the 50th anniversary of my father’s pivotal role in the Bangladeshi struggle for independence.”

Kennedy, Jr, son of late US senator Edward M Kennedy and nephew of late US President John F Kennedy, and his family will visit the Bengal Foundation in Dhanmondi.

His accompanying family members include his wife Katherine Kennedy, daughter Kiley Kennedy, son Teddy Kennedy, niece Grace Kennedy Allen, and nephew Max Allen.

DHAKA, 30 October 2022, (TON): Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder says that the country has enough food in stock, and he sees no chance of food crisis unless natural disasters hit the country out of the blue.

In a recent interview with UNB, the minister, who is a three-time MP from Naogaon-1, says that his ministry is taking steps so that no land in the country remains uncultivated.

Sadhan says “Boro season is coming soon after the current Aman season. We’ll take steps so that Boro is cultivated in all the cultivable land. We’ve already asked the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure proper irrigation during the upcoming Boro season.”

The minister says that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked all the MPs to stay careful in their constituencies so that farmers cultivate their land for maximum production in the upcoming harvest season.

DHAKA, 30 October 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and Japan expect to elevate bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership" during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Japan, scheduled for November 29 to December 1.

She will visit the country at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The issue was discussed when Arima Yutaka, Japan's assistant minister/director general of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, called on Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in Dhaka.

At the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction at the ever-growing bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, and particularly highlighted the visit of Hasina to Japan in May 2014, when she and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe elevated bilateral relations to the 'comprehensive partnership' level.