CAIRO, 08 August 2022, (TON): Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has said “his country’s policy remains consistent on Taiwan, with Egypt supporting the “One China” policy.”

During a speech to military students, El-Sisi said that Egypt supported the “One China” policy as it is in the interests of world security and stability.

He said “we do not want more global crises that may affect us all.”

“In our foreign policy, we have constants in our policy that do not change, and we are always keen to be supportive of regional and international stability.”

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has angered China, which views the island as part of its territory.

KYIV, 08 August 2022, (TON): Ukraine accused Russia on Sunday of again shelling Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia, and called for new international sanctions on Moscow for nuclear terror.

Ukraine’s state nuclear power firm said Russian forces damaged three radiation sensors at the facility in renewed shelling on Saturday night, wounding a worker with shrapnel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Twitter “Russian nuclear terror requires a stronger response from the international community – sanctions on the Russian nuclear industry and nuclear fuel.”

The plant, in Russian-controlled territory, was also shelled on Friday. Moscow blames Ukrainian forces for the strikes.

HAVANA, 08 August 2022, (TON): A fire set off by a lightning strike at an oil storage facility raged uncontrolled in the Cuban city of Matanzas, where four explosions and flames injured 121 people and left 17 firefighters missing.

Cuban authorities said a unidentified body had been found.

Ministry of Energy and Mines tweeted “firefighters and other specialists were still trying to quell the blaze at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, where the fire began during a thunderstorm.”

Authorities said about 800 people were evacuated from the Dubrocq neighborhood closest to the fire, The government said it had asked for help from international experts in friendly countries with experience in the oil sector.

Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said “the US government had offered technical help to quell the blaze.”

On his Twitter account, he said “the proposal is in the hands of specialists for the due coordination.”

KYIV, 08 August 2022, (TON): Ukrainian and Turkish officials said “four ships carrying Ukrainian foodstuffs sailed from Ukrainian Black Sea ports as part of a deal to unblock the country’s sea exports.”

Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority said on Facebook “the four bulk carriers were loaded with almost 170,000 tonnes of corn and other foodstuffs.”

The resumption of grain exports is being overseen by a Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, where Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and United Nations personnel are working.

The UN and Turkey brokered the deal last month after UN warnings of possible outbreaks of famine in parts of the world due to a halt in grain shipments from Ukraine that had squeezed supplies and sent prices soaring.

Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said “a foreign-flagged ship arrived in Ukraine for the first time since the war started in February to be loaded with grain.”

He said on Facebook “we are gradually moving on to larger volumes of work. We plan to ensure the ability of the ports to handle at least 100 vessels per month in the near future.”

ROME, 08 August 2022, (TON): Italian ministry of foreign affairs said “Italy condemns the escalation of violence in Gaza and is deeply concerned about the news of casualties among Palestinian civilians.”

The ministry said it “strongly condemns the launch of rockets toward Israel’s territory and reiterates Israel’s right to ensure the safety of its citizens, and urges all sides to show moderation to prevent an escalation of the hostilities, which would cause further casualties and pain among civilians.

An official communique added “this new wave of violence confirms once again the necessity to relaunch diplomatic efforts to reach a fair and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

A diplomatic source in the prime minister’s office told “the situation is escalating badly and may bear unexpected consequences: This is just something we do not want to see in a global situation, which is already full of tensions due to the war in Ukraine and the China-Taiwan contest.”

The Italian Parliament is also concerned about the escalation in Gaza. Members of the foreign affairs committees of both Houses will meet in Rome to discuss the situation in a joint meeting.

DHAKA, 08 August 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said “South Asia, South East Asia and China could work together for economic progress by facing challenges arising from the Russia-Ukraine war.”

Referring to the Russia-Ukraine war, sanctions and counter-sanctions, she said "people are suffering from all these reasons. South Asia, South East Asia and China can work together for economic progress."

The prime minister made the remarks when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a courtesy call on her at her official Ganabhaban residence.

During the meeting, the Chinese foreign minister said his country would support issues involving Bangladesh in the international forums and continue their cooperation for Bangladesh's overall development as a strategic partner.

DHAKA, 08 August 2022, (TON): State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid said “Japan is the biggest development partner of Bangladesh.”

He said "Japan has played an important role in our economic development since our independence by contributing to the infrastructure development of Bangladesh. Japan, the land of the rising sun, the land of peace, the unyielding nation, has always stood by us.”

The state minister spoke at an event marking the historic Hiroshima Day. Theatre group Swapnadal organized the event at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s Experimental Theatre Hall.

The state minister said "at the end of World War II, the atomic bombs explosion on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the imperialist United States was the most brutal and atrocious killing in the history of the world.”

KABUL, 08 August 2022, (TON): Facing international and domestic pressure over the closure of girls' schools above the sixth grade, Ministry of Education officials now say that issues with the girls' educational curriculum are the cause for the delay in reopening girls' schools.

The deputy minister said “the decision to close girls' schools isn't just related to the Ministry of Education, it's also linked to the Islamic Emirate's policy of opening girls' schools in accordance with Islamic principles.”

Saeed Ahmad Shahidkhail, the deputy of the ministry said “in the light of Quran and Sunnah the schools will be reopened. They should give the Islamic Emirate time, they will reopen.”

He added “they intend to include the studies of ethics, belief, family life, child raising, and husbandry in the curricula for girls, and that one day the schools will reopen for female students free from outside pressure and within the framework of Islamic Sharia.”

DHAKA, 08 August 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and China have agreed to work with patience to achieve their development goals ignoring provocation and obstruction noting that peace and stability are required for a country’s further progress.

While briefing media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday afternoon, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen described Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s just concluded Dhaka visit as politically very significant.

He said “the Chinese side assured that they will always remain beside Bangladesh in its development journey and will work together to take the existing good relations to a new height.”

Responding to a question, Momen said there has been discussion on the Global Development Initiative but no talks on Global Security Initiative, Belt and Road Initiative or new Chinese loans.

DHAKA, 08 August 2022, (TON): Chinese Embassy in Dhaka said “the long-standing friendship between Bangladesh and China is accelerating the development of both countries, promoting common prosperity and shared benefits.”

It said "we believe this friendship will take the two countries to unlimited heights. Happy Friendship Day, dear Bangladesh.”

The embassy said “both countries have considered each other indispensable partners for the past 47 years, with a strong belief in the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and mutual non-aggression.”

In the morning, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence after holding bilateral talks with his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen.