By TON Research Desk

Lately, China has responded sharply to a recent anti-china statement and disinformation Campaign by Washington’s ambassador nominee for Nepal against china that the Millennium Challenge Corporation compact (MCC) was endorsed despite a “propaganda campaign” by China.

On Wednesday in an inaugural statement before the Foreign Relations Committee of the US Senate, the US nominated ambassador for Nepal said that the United States’ relationship with Nepal has seen recent gains that strengthen the 75-year partnership.

In February Nepal’s parliament ratified the $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact in the face of a stifling People Republic of China (PRC) disinformation campaign. This project will build electricity transmission lines to connect Nepal’s clean, abundant hydropower with South Asia’s energy grid. It will also build high-quality roads in Nepal. These projects will increase the prosperity of both of our countries.

On Friday, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu issued a statement and condemned the ambassador said remarks describing it as completely untrue. Furthermore, China has reacted again, making the US grant a highly charged-up geopolitical issue in Nepal.

Apparently, it is clear that Nepal has fallen into a big geopolitical quagmire between its immediate neighbor China and US. The Chinese embassy in Kathmandu said that the US remarks were totally baseless. They have not only maligned China but also insulted Nepal and its people.

According to the Chinese embassy in Nepal, they have not only insulted China but also affronted Nepal and its people. It is a true ‘disinformation.’ China firmly rejects it. In February, Nepal’s parliament ratified the $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation compact in the face of a torrid PRC [People’s Republic of China] disinformation campaign.”

The Embassy of China in Kathmandu said in the statement that the MCC compact was endorsed along with an explanatory testimony to safeguard that the Constitution of Nepal shall overcome the compact and other related agreements and that Nepal shall not be part of any United States’ strategy, military or security alliance including the Indo-Pacific Strategy.

These are genuine movements of the Nepali government and people to protect their sovereignty and independence and safeguard national interests. The spokesperson of the Chinese embassy said that “It is China’s consistent belief that in pursuing international development cooperation, the principle of mutual respect and equality should be upheld, the sovereignty of the country concerned and the will of its people should be fully respected.”

The embassy added that there should be no interference in any country’s domestic affairs, no political conditions should be attached, no coercive diplomacy, and certainly no infringement on other countries’ sovereignty and interests for selfish and petty interest gains.

The Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact (MCC) Compact was ratified by the House of Representatives on February 27 along with the interpretative declaration. When debates were intense in Nepal over the MCC compact, China had warned Washington against “forced diplomacy” in Nepal.

China also raised the question that it if it is a gift according to the US government then why the US is pursuing forceful diplomacy in Nepal. Beijing’s strong position had become even more apparent after it said if the MCC compact was a gift then why there was a deadline in its relations with Nepal.

According to the statement of the Chinese embassy, Nepal friendly is a close neighbor and development partner, China will continue to support Nepal in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, and national interests. China also vowed to help the Nepali people in choosing independently their own development path and offer support and assistance to Nepal’s socio-economic development to the best of its capability.

However, it is an open secret that the US government through MCC wants to drag Nepal into its alliance and strategy against China to stop its increasing influence in the economic sphere Indo specific arena.

DUBAI, 18 July 2022, (TON): Iran said it had imposed sanctions on 61 more Americans, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for backing an Iranian dissident group, as months of talks to revive a 2015 nuclear deal are at an impasse.

Iranian state media reported “others blacklisted by Iran’s Foreign Ministry for voicing support for the exiled dissident group Mujahideen-e-Khalq included former President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House national security adviser John Bolton.”

Giuliani, Pompeo and Bolton have been widely reported to have taken part in MEK events and voiced support for the group.

In January Iran imposed sanctions on 51 Americans, and it blacklisted 24 more Americans in April in its latest sanctions moves.

CAIRO, 18 July 2022, (TON): Sefik Dzaferovic, president of Bosnia and Herzegovina, received Yasser Sorour, Egypt’s ambassador to the country, in Sarajevo.

Sorour handed him an invitation from Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh in November.

The ambassador expressed his aspiration for the country’s participation, given the importance Egypt attaches to uniting international efforts to deal with climate change.

Sorour reviewed Egypt’s preparations, vision and priorities for the conference.

Dzaferovic expressed his thanks to El-Sisi, his aspiration to strengthen bilateral relations, and his country’s interest in confronting climate change.

BRUSSELS, 18 July 2022, (TON): The European Union will discuss tightening sanctions against Russia, as Moscow is accused of using the continent’s largest nuclear power plant to store weapons and launch missiles on the surrounding regions of southern Ukraine.

Ukraine’s atomic energy agency chief Petro Kotin said “the situation at the captured Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is extremely tense.”

He added “the Russians had installed missile launchers and used the facility to shell the Dnipro region.”

Describing a deluge of fire, regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko on Saturday said Grad missiles had pounded residential areas.

He said “rescuers found two dead people under the ruins in the riverside city of Nikopol.”

CAIRO, 18 July 2022, (TON): The Egyptian and US presidents reiterated, in the Saudi city of Jeddah, their commitment to the strategic dialogue that is co-chaired by Egypt’s foreign minister and his American counterpart.

In a joint statement, the two sides affirmed the continuation of consultations on a wide range of global and regional security challenges.

 They also discussed strengthening bilateral relations.

Presidents Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Joe Biden expressed their intention to meet again in the near future to enhance the multifaceted bilateral partnership, in light of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of diplomatic ties between their countries.

They also agreed to continue defense cooperation as a pillar of regional stability and in the interests of both countries.

KYIV, 18 July 2022, (TON): A Ukrainian military official said “Russia is preparing for the next stage of its offensive in Ukraine, after Moscow said its forces would step up military operations in all operational areas.”

Russian rockets and missiles have pounded cities in strikes that Kyiv says have killed dozens in recent days.

Vadym Skibitskyi, a spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence, said “it is not only missile strikes from the air and sea.”

We can see shelling along the entire line of contact, along the entire front line. There is an active use of tactical aviation and attack helicopters.

“There is indeed a certain activation of the enemy along the entire front line clearly preparations are now underway for the next stage of the offensive.”

DUBAI, 18 July 2022, (TON): UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed announced an $817 million fund to support space sector in a post on Twitter.

The president announced a new $817m national investment and development fund for the space sector, The National Space Fund.

The president tweeted “the establishment of a dedicated fund to support the UAE’s burgeoning space programme and the launch of a new initiative to develop radar satellites are expected to expand our growing capabilities in this vital sector while accelerating innovation in environmental sustainability.”

The Fund’s first project to be launched to space will be a constellation of advanced remote sensing satellites using radar technologies to provide unparalleled imaging capabilities.

TEHRAN, 18 July 2022, (TON): Tehran accused Washington of provoking tensions in the Middle East, a day after US President Joe Biden ended a tour to Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said “Washington has once again resorted to the failed policy of Iran-phobia, trying to create tensions and crises in the region.”

The comments come after Biden vowed that the United States would not tolerate efforts by any country to dominate another in the region through military buildups, incursions, and/or threats, in a transparent reference to Iran.

Biden’s first Middle East visit came just a few days before Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to visit Tehran on July 19.

LONDON, 18 July 2022, (TON): Kuwait News Agency reported “Mrs. Dalal Yaqoub Al-Humaidhi, wife of the Kuwaiti ambassador to the United Kingdom, was awarded Honorary Freedom by the City of London on Saturday for her volunteer work in a number of British charitable societies.”

Lord Mayor of London's financial district, Vincent Keaveny, told KUNA that Al-Humaidhi played an integral role in supporting her husband's diplomatic career, Ambassador Khaled Al-Duwaisan, for 30 years, and that this is in recognition of the Al-Duwaisan family's generous efforts across various fields.

Lord Keaveny added “the award, which dates back to 1237 and is given to those who have made significant achievements in their chosen fields, exemplifies the nature of the special relations that exist between Kuwait and the United Kingdom.”

KYIV, 18 July 2022, (TON): As Russian troops pressed their offensive in Ukraine’s east, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired his state security chief and prosecutor general, citing hundreds of criminal proceedings into treason and collaboration by people within their departments and other law enforcement agencies.

Zelensky said “in particular, more than 60 employees of the prosecutor’s office and the SBU have remained in the occupied territory and work against our state.”

He said “such an array of crimes against the foundations of the state’s national security, and the links recorded between Ukrainian security forces and Russian special services raise very serious questions about their respective leaders.”

Zelensky dismissed Ivan Bakanov, a childhood friend and former business partner whom he had appointed to head the SBU.