UNITED NATIONS, 03 August 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden said on Monday he is ready to pursue a new nuclear arms deal with Russia and called on Moscow to act in good faith as his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said there could be no winners in any nuclear war.

Both leaders issued written statements as diplomats gathered for a month-long UN conference to review the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

It was supposed to have taken place in 2020, but was delayed by the pandemic.

“It occurs at a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the conference.

“Humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation.”

MOSCOW, 03 August 2022, (TON): Moscow denounced a potential visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan as a provocation, expressing full solidarity with ally China.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters “what is connected with this tour and a possible visit to Taiwan is a pure provocation.”

He said “the potential visit was leading to an increase in tension in the region and accused Washington of choosing the path of confrontation.”

“We want to emphasise once again that we are absolutely in solidarity with China, its attitude towards the problem is understandable and absolutely justified.”

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also accused the United States of being provocative over the potential visit.

NEW DELHI, 03 August 2022, (TON): Indian authorities withdrew permission at the last moment for a planned demonstration against Myanmar's recent execution of four democracy activists, due to take place at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

An official from the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw National Unity Government Support India that organised the protest said “today's demonstration had already been approved by Indian’s Delhi police since 27 July. Since that day, I have been in contact with them every day.”

They asked for details of the protest and how many people were participating in the protest and [the authorities said] everything was okay.

But when people were gathering to go to the site of the protest, the police suddenly called us saying that they would no longer allow us to hold the protest.

DHAKA, 03 August 2022, (TON): A Bangladeshi diplomat has been withdrawn from her post at the Bangladesh Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General DM Salah Uddin Mahmud confirmed the withdrawal of Deputy Chief of Mission Kazi Anarkoly.

She had been brought back to Bangladesh, Mahmud told media.

He said “we got a complaint against her about marijuana possession and indiscipline while she was in Indonesia, but it has not been proven yet.”

Mahmud added “a probe committee would investigate the matter, and assured that necessary actions would be taken.”

DHAKA, 03 August 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged the international community to unite against the perpetual holding of nuclear weapons by a handful of states in total disregard of the safety and security of humanity.

He said “we hope that the 10th Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty would produce an outcome that would facilitate the universality and implementation of the Treaty to make the world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.”

The foreign minister was speaking at the 10th NPT Review Conference held at the UNGA hall in the UN headquarters.

Momen said “forms the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s total and unwavering commitment to general and complete disarmament of nuclear weapons which is also a constitutional obligation of Bangladesh.”

DHAKA, 03 August 2022, (TON): Bangladesh is expecting around USD $4.5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund as a precautionary measure and stabilising foreign exchange reserves.

In the wake of a record $30.86 billion trade deficit, remittance inflow falling by 15.12% and current account deficit of $17.23 billion in the recently concluded 2021-22 fiscal, the country is trying to get an IMF loan.

The two South Asian countries Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s economy are in danger, so they are trying to get IMF loans.

The economy of Bangladesh is not in a disaster like them. Sri Lanka is bankrupt, and Pakistan is in dire economic straits. Still, many people ask why Bangladesh has to take an IMF loan.

Bangladesh’s foreign loan burden increased to $93.23 billion till March 2022.

By Ermeya A. Afzal
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has expressed that there is no lack of fuel in the country right now. "Bangladesh has sufficient load of fuel this moment and nothing remains to be stressed over as import plans have been arranged for the following a half year too," BPC director ABM Azad has said.
Around 50,000 tons of octane and 30,000 tons of diesel will arrive at Bangladesh inside several days, the BPC director added, encouraging individuals not to focus on bits of hearsay about an oil emergency. The BPC executive was talking during a media call at the enterprise office on Wednesday. As indicated by him, the nation currently has a diesel supply of 431,835 tons, octane load of 12,238 tons, and 21,883 tons of petroleum. Also, there are loads of 62,891 tons of stream fuel and 85,041 tons of heater oil.
"It doesn't imply that BPC will prevent imports from tomorrow. Import, stockpiling, and supply are a repeating cycle," he said.
Bangladesh has sufficient power-age ability to give power to all, yet a discouraging truth is that heap shedding has turned into an everyday illicit relationship. The inquiry is the reason then sufficient power isn't created? The response is the administrators are obliged by lack of energizes, essentially gas, to run the power plants.
Universally presumed organizations have affirmed that there is more undiscovered flammable gas in Bangladesh than had been extricated by it. A two-year joint concentrate by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and Petrobangla showed that Bangladesh has unseen flammable gas to the tune of around 32 trillion cubic feet. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NDP) showed that Bangladesh has 42 trillion cubic feet of unseen gas. The NDP completed its concentrate in a joint effort with a Bangladeshi partner, the Hydrocarbon Unit (HCU) under the service of energy and power.
As of late, Ramboll, an European oil and gas expert, proposed that there is around 34 trillion cubic feet of unseen gas in Bangladesh. As Bangladesh consumes around one trillion cubic feet of gas each year, it implies that 34 trillion cubic feet would show up for something like 30 years for the country to consume.
Be that as it may, Bangladesh lingers behind in investigation to find and tap its stores contrasted with the US, Norway and Australia. Contrasted with even India's Tripura state Bangladesh has up to this point penetrated around 100 exploratory wells while Tripura has bored more than 150.
A couple of years prior, the specialists declared an arrangement to penetrate 55 exploratory wells in five years, just to surrender the clarification eventually, because of reasons most popular to them. No big surprise Bangladesh has been ordered as perhaps of the least-investigated country on the planet. Just 33% of the coastal area of Bangladesh has been investigated for gas, and its progress of finding gas has been a lot higher than the worldwide normal.
The nation has an immense seaward region for gas investigation, isolated into 26 investigation blocks. To draw in worldwide oil organizations in seaward investigation, in 2015, Petrobangla started an arrangement to connect with a global help organization to complete seismic review (multiclient overview) and to create a data set which would then be utilized to haggle with unfamiliar oil organizations. A public master board of trustees was framed to choose the best qualified help organization for the gig. Be that as it may, because of reasons not known, the choice was invalidated.
After the recently chosen organization again qualified briefly round of determination, the entire interaction was strangely deserted. Long stretches of inaction prompted slowed down seaward investigations in Bangladesh. No seismic overview has been finished, and the inaction keeps on devastating the country.
At present, just a single consortium of Indian oil organizations claimed by state-possessed Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, otherwise called ONGC, is doing seaward investigations in Bangladesh, penetrating just a single well in seven years.Bangladesh is planning power slices to protect its fuel saves.
Bangladesh looked for a credit from IMF, turning into the furthest down the line South Asian country to request help. Independently, Bangladesh's administration requested a functional stop at diesel-took care of force plants. The country, which has near a month of diesel holds, started booked power slices to safeguard its diesel and flammable gas stores to decrease the effect of exorbitant fuel imports, as indicated by an authority of Bangladesh Petroleum Corp., who asked not to be distinguished as he isn't approved to freely talk.
"The energy issues will make an expanding influence with delayed power cuts and potentially hamper modern development in the district," said Suleman Rafiq Maniya,
Specialists declared that fuel stations should close for one day out of each week cross Bangladesh from July 19 in the midst of continuous fuel deficiencies. The public authority might present different measures before very long, remembering limits for working hours for government workplaces, and empowering working from home for organizations. Load shedding will likewise go on endlessly. In spite of the fact that authorities intend to carry out blackouts of one to two hours, expanded blackouts can't be precluded.

Cross country gas supply disturbances go on in Bangladesh as of July 18, influencing homegrown and modern clients, as well as power plants. Authorities expressed that the suspension of imported liquified flammable gas (LNG) because of exorbitant costs, as well as decreased homegrown creation is causing a stock lack. Specialists didn't explain when the circumstance will standardize; interruptions might last half a month. The public authority has ordered a proportioning framework and moving blackouts during prior deficiencies, with modern clients regularly focused on.
Interferences at power plants subject to gas have caused load shedding in a few regions. Impermanent business, interchanges, and transport interruptions are conceivable during blackouts. Organizations without reinforcement generators might need to suspend activities. Cell and portable administrations could be impacted. Power outages could likewise cause specific fundamental offices, like ATMs and filling stations, to momentarily quit working. Consumable water supply interferences might happen in areas subject to electronic water filtration or siphon frameworks.
Occupants, resistance groups, and nearby modern gatherings might show before very long, particularly assuming gas supply deficiencies are delayed. The biggest social events are probable in more prominent Dhaka and other significant urban communities, where dissenters might assemble outside power supplier workplaces, service stations, government structures, and at significant convergences. Police will probably screen social occasions; conflicts between security faculty and dissenters are conceivable. Bigger exhibits might bring about restricted transport and business disturbances.
The current measures which Bangladesh government is taking regarding the potential fuel crisis are sufficient. Nevertheless if they keep on working on the weak areas they wont suffer fuel crisis which many South Asian countries are suffering.

By Nasriya Naffin

The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of the IORA held their 12th annual meeting on the 28^th of July, hosted by Bangladesh under the theme “Harnessing the opportunities of the Indian Ocean Sustainably for inclusive development”. Bangladesh assumed the Chairship of IORA in November 2021 for a period of two years (2021-2023) under the same theme. Forty-six delegates from 21 member states attended this meeting.

The Meeting was preceded by IORA Development Agency-Dhaka Development Initiative Workshop (IORDA-DDI) in Bangladesh at the same venue in collaboration with German Agency of International Cooperation (GIZ), Germany. An initiative made by Bangladesh to establish an IORA Development Agency to facilitate tangible national/regional level developmental projects to promote regional integration, and economic and sustainable development in the region.

The meeting discussed the progress that has been made so far under the six priority areas–(Maritime Safety and Security, Fisheries management, Disaster and risk management, Trade and Investment facilitation, Academic, Science and technology co-operation, and Tourism and cultural exchange), the two cross-cutting issues of the Association and financial concerns. Member States discussed preparations for forthcoming events, meetings of IORA’s institutional mechanisms, IORA’s engagement with its international partners and special programmes. The meeting also provided an opportunity for Member States to discuss the preparations for future IORA events and meetings, while considering the impact of the pandemic during the past two years. Furthermore, the meeting placed a clear emphasis on the need to reflect on the format of the Meetings of CSO-COM and IORA Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

What is IORA?

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) was established on the 7th March 1997 as an intergovernmental organization. The vision for IORA originated in 1995, when the late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa payed a visit to India, where he said:

“The natural urge of the facts of history and geography should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean Rim for socio-economic co-operation…”

This rationale and sentiment were the underpinnings of the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in March 1995, which led to the creation of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (then known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation) two years later, in March 1997.

The Indian Ocean being the third largest ocean which weaves trade routes, commands control of major sea-lanes which carries 50% of the world’s container ships, 33% of the world’s bulk cargo traffic and 63% of the world’s oil shipments, the Indian Ocean remains as an important line-of-life to international trade and transport.

It is home to almost 2.7 billion people. States whose shores are washed by the Indian Ocean are rich in cultural diversity, languages, religions, traditions, arts and cuisines. They may vary considerably in terms of their geographic locations, levels of economic development and population. They can be divided into a number of sub-regions such as Australasia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and Eastern and Southern Africa.

Each of the states have their own regional groupings such as ASEAN, SAARC, GCC and SADC. Despite the differences, and diversity these countries are bound together by the Indian Ocean.

The Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) is the apex body of IORA, which meets annually. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) assumed the role of Chair from November 2019 - November 2021, then the People's Republic of Bangladesh took over from November 2021 - November 2023. A committee of Senior Officials (CSO) meet twice a year to keep the agenda of IORA moving forward and discuss recommendations put forward by working groups and forums of the officials, academics and businesses to implement policies and projects to enhance the lives of people in the Indian Ocean Member States.

IORA celebrated its 20th Anniversary of the Association in 2017 as a proactive inter-governmental organization with a heightened importance within the region of the Indian Ocean. Enhancing the bonds among the Member States whose shores are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, IORA remains as a committed organization that helps to improve understanding and build co-operations that are mutually beneficial to member states through a consensus based, evolutionary and non-intrusive approach in the swiftly changing environmental features of the region.

Currently, IORA is a dynamic organization consisting of 23 Member States and 9 Dialogue Partners, which has seen continuous growth in mutually beneficial regional co-operations through a consensus-based, evolutionary and non-intrusive approach.

Overall, IORA is a great initiative with a vision to mutually help countries facing the Indian Ocean through collaborations and strengthening the livelihood of the people of these nations, and for the mutual benefit of the Member States. As most of the developing countries are involved in the organization, IORA will take measures to help countries that were hit hard after the pandemic and to overcome challenges that are being faced by many of them.

BEIRUT, 02 August 2022, (TON): Amos Hochstein, US special envoy and coordinator for international energy affairs, expressed optimism that Lebanon and Israel could move toward a maritime border deal to settle competing claims over offshore gas fields.

Hochstein said “I remain optimistic that we can make continuous progress, as we have over the last several weeks, and I look forward to coming back to the region and being able to make the final arrangements.”

This came after his second visit to Beirut in less than two months, carrying an Israeli proposal in response to a demarcation offer made by Lebanon.

He met with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon Nabih Berri at the presidential palace.

WASHINGTON, 02 August 2022, (TON): The United States imposed sanctions on Chinese and other companies it said were used by one of Iran’s largest petrochemical brokers to sell tens of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian products to East Asia.

The US Treasury Department in a statement accused the designated companies of being used by Iran’s Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industry Commercial Co. to facilitate the sale of Iranian petroleum and petrochemical products from Iran to East Asia.

The US Treasury and the US State Departments imposed sanctions on a total of six companies in actions that were announced in separate statements.

The action freezes any US-based assets and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. Those that engage in certain transactions with the firms also risk being hit by sanctions.