TAIPE, 31 July 2022, (TON): The crisis sparked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s potential visit to Taiwan misses a key point, experts said ”the real focus should be on how the United States and China manage their differences so the risks of confrontation don’t spiral out of control.”

News of a possible visit by Pelosi has set off intense speculation about China’s potential diplomatic and military responses. But for Taiwan, the visit if it occurs would be merely the latest point of strife in an already tense situation that has shadowed the island democracy for decades.

Arthur Zhin-Sheng Wang said “the main point is not in Pelosi coming to Taiwan, but it’s to look at how the U.S. and China effectively control the risks that may arise.”

Wang said “Thursday’s call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping was an example of how the two sides can manage their differences through dialogue.”

KYIV, 31 July 2022, (TON): Dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war appeared to have been killed when a prison building was destroyed in a missile strike or explosion, with Moscow and Kyiv accusing each other of responsibility.

The deaths, some of which were confirmed by journalists at the prison where the men were held in eastern Donetsk province, overshadowed a UN brokered deal to restart shipping grain from Ukraine and ease a worldwide food crisis.

The deal was discussed by the top diplomats of the United States and Russia in their first phone call since before Russia’s invasion of its neighbour began on Feb. 24.

The foreign ministry said “Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Washington was not living up to promises regarding the exemption of food from sanctions.”

NEW DELHI, 31 July 2022, (TON): A newspaper reported “India will ground all its Soviet-era Russian fighter jets, the MiG-21, by 2025, following the death of two officers in a crash, the latest in a series of casualties involving the single-engine jet’s failure.”

The Times of India quoted unnamed Indian Air Force officials as saying the MiG-21s have long past their retirement but must be replaced before being grounded.

The report did not specify what portion of India’s fighter-jet capability would be affected. The Wion news outlet said the air force has around 70 MiG-21s.

The air force and defence ministry have been buying aircraft from Western makers in recent years.

A senior defence ministry official declined to confirm or deny, discussions on the future of the MiG-21 were underway, as sourcing of spare parts from Russia was increasingly difficult due to the war in Ukraine.

DHAKA, 31 July 2022, (TON): Prime minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for developing direct connectivity with Uzbekistan for mutual benefits.

She said that Bangladesh was keen on setting up a fertiliser factory in Uzbekistan under a joint venture, while Uzbekistan hoped to establish its embassy in Bangladesh.

The discussion was held when the deputy prime minister for investment and foreign economic relations and minister of investment and foreign trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Jamshid Abdurakhimovich Khodjaev, paid a courtesy call on the prime minister at her official Ganabhaban residence in Dhaka.

PM’s press secretary, Ihsanul Karim, briefed journalists after the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina said “both Bangladesh and Uzbekistan should work together to explore many areas for the mutual benefit of the two countries.”

DHAKA, 31 July 2022, (TON): Bangladesh has recently become a member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries, an affiliated institution of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, that gives food and other goods’ certification, especially as halal, for member countries.

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution soon will start its services on the basis of the SMIIC standard as the country exports different food and non-food items to the OIC member countries.

Exporters said “the certification would help to explore more markets and export diversified items to OIC countries.”

Bangladesh Fruits Vegetables and Allied Products Exporters’ Association president SM Jahangir said that Bangladesh produces all halal goods as it is a Muslim majority country but some countries demand halal certification on the products.

DHAKA, 31 July 2022, (TON): Bangladesh government has distributed free seeds and fertilizers worth Tk 11 crore to 1.85 lakh farmers in 17 districts affected by recent floods.

In the first phase, 94,000 farmers have been given Amon seeds and fertilizers worth Taka 5.88 crore 88 lakh.

A press release said “in the second phase, 700 farmers of the 4 most affected districts - Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulavibazar and Habiganj have been given Amon paddy seeds and fertilizers worth about 3.5 lakh Taka.”

In the third phase, implementation of rehabilitation assistance worth 5 crore Taka to 90,000 farmers and the work of providing each of them 5 kg of high-yielding Amon seeds, 10 kg of DAP and 10 kg of MOP fertilizer is underway, added the release.

DHAKA, 31 July 2022, (TON): US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele J Sison will travel to India, Bangladesh, and Kuwait on August 2-10.

Sison will have consultations on a range of US multilateral priorities, including combating food insecurity, advancing global health, addressing human rights and humanitarian needs, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and support for Rohingya refugees.

According to the US Department of State “her meetings with senior government officials will focus on opportunities to deepen our cooperation at the United Nations, and US support for the candidacy of Doreen Bogdan-Martin to become the next Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union.”

In meetings with civil society leaders, the assistant secretary will exchange ideas on how the United States and other countries can collaborate on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

DHAKA, 31 July 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said “developed countries and the international partners need to ensure smooth transfer of the latest technological innovations to developing countries to effectively combat human trafficking in person.”

He said “human traffickers equipped with technology can do greater harm but the government agencies and relevant stakeholders can undo the efforts of the trafficker effectively with the help of technology.”

He said “we need to keep in mind that human trafficking is trans-boundary crime and the traffickers may possess better technology than it is available in a particular country.”

Momen was speaking at National Consultation on Combating Human Trafficking in the Context of Use of Technology and its Abuse at a city hotel.

WASHINGTON, 30 July 2022, (TON): President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping are exploring meeting in person, a senior administration official said after the leaders spent more than two hours talking through the future of their complicated relationship, with tension over Taiwan once again emerging as a flashpoint.

Biden conducted the telephone call from the Oval Office, where he was joined by top aides, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The official declined to be identified to talk about the private conversation.

When Biden was vice president, he spent long hours with Xi in the United States and China, an experience he often recalls as he talks about the two countries’ opportunities for conflict and cooperation.

However, they have not met in person since Biden became president last year.

BEIRUT, 30 July 2022, (TON): Ukrainian diplomatic mission in the Mideast nation said “a Syrian cargo ship, sanctioned by the United States and carrying what Ukraine says is stolen barley from the war-torn country, has docked in Lebanon.”

The embassy said “according to the Ukrainian Embassy in Beirut, the cargo vessel Laodicea docked in the port of Tripoli, Lebanon’s second-largest city. It was carrying 5,000 tons of flour and 5,000 tons of barley.”

The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned the Laodicea in 2015 for its affiliation with the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad.