WASHINGTON, 15 July 2022, (TON): US president said “Joe Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia is aimed at reasserting America’s influence in the region after a period of neglect.”

Biden said “Washington’s strategic pivot away from the Middle East had been a mistake, and his trip to the Kingdom would promote US interests.”

He said “there are so many issues at stake, I want to make clear that we can continue to lead in the region and not create a vacuum, a vacuum that is filled by China and/or Russia.”

The president will arrive in Jeddah on Friday after flying directly from Tel Aviv, having capped his visit to Israel on Thursday with a joint pledge to deny Iran access to nuclear weapons.

TOKYO, 15 July 2022, (TON): Japan is allocating a $3.5M emergency grant to Lebanon through the World Food Program, as food security around the world is being threatened, especially with the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The assistance will enable WFP to provide monthly in-kind food parcels for 300,000 Lebanese to help them meet their nutritional requirements during these critical times.

Through this initiative, Japan is renewing its commitment to continue its support to the Lebanese people, and to contribute to the alleviation of the repercussions of the socio-economic crisis on the country.

LONDON, 15 July 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden will discover a stronger and more confident Iraq during his Middle East trip this week, according to Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.

Writing for Foreign Policy magazine, the premier said that his country was now finding Iraqi solutions to Iraq’s problems, and that he would meet Biden as the leader of a more resilient Iraq.

Al-Kadhimi used his piece to ask the US as well as international partners to recognize and support the progress Iraq was making in a post-war, post-Daesh era.

Biden will meet with several regional leaders in the Kingdom, including Al-Kadhimi, as part of his trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia.

KYIV, 15 July 2022, (TON): Ukrainian officials said “Ukrainian forces hit two military checkpoints and a landing pad in the second strike this week on a Russian-held area in southern Ukraine.”

The new attack on Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region killed 13 occupiers, Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Odesa regional administration, quoted the Operational Command South as saying. He cited no evidence for the death toll.

Russia’s defense ministry did not immediately comment.

Ukraine’s military said “an attack by its forces on Nova Kakhovka had killed 52 people. The town’s Russia-installed authorities said at least seven people were killed in that attack, Russia’s TASS news agency reported.”

LONDON, 15 July 2022, (TON): Kingdom’s ambassador to Washington said “Joe Biden’s trip to Jeddah is pivotal in developing the Saudi-US partnership as well as delivering peace and prosperity for both nations and the world.”

In a Politico opinion article on Thursday, Princess Reema bint Bandar wrote there was a lot that the two allies could achieve together, especially during these very perilious times.

The diplomat wrote that the days the relationship could be defined by the outdated and reductionist ‘oil for security’ paradigm had long gone.

The world has changed and the dangers facing it “cannot be resolved without an effective U.S.-Saudi alliance.”

WASHINGTON, 15 July 2022, (TON): The leaders of the United States, India, Israel and the United Arab Emirates held their first virtual summit as part of a new initiative under the banner of I2U2, a collection of countries that have pledged greater collaboration.

According to Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid “the idea was hatched last year in Washington, at the home of the UAE ambassador.”

Lapid said “we sat around the table and spoke about how, after we get control over the pandemic, anyone trying to go back to how things used to be would fail.”

“Anyone who understands that we live in a new world with new challenges would succeed and flourish.”

He added “in the 21st century, challenges are local, but the solutions are global.”

TOKYO, 15 July 2022, (TON): Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida blamed “inadequate police protection for the death of former leader Shinzo Abe, who was shot while giving an outdoor campaign speech.”

Abe, one of Japan’s most influential politicians, was assassinated in western Japan, shocking a nation known for its low crime rate.

Photos and videos of the shooting show the gunman was able to come close to Abe.

Kishida said “officials at the National Public Safety Commission and National Police Agency are investigating what went wrong and will come up with measures.”

He said “I urge them to fix what needs to be fixed, while also studying examples in other countries.”

Kishida also announced plans to hold a state funeral for Abe later this year, noting his contributions at home and in boosting Japan’s security alliance with the United States.

CAIRO, 15 July 2022, (TON): Egyptian Ambassador Khaled Anis met with Malta’s prime minister to deliver an invitation to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh in November. Dr. Robert Abela expressed his gratitude for the invitation.

During their meeting, Anis reviewed Egypt’s vision for the conference, from commitments to implementation.

He also reviewed aspects of Egyptian-Maltese cooperation, including recent meetings on energy, water, air travel, trade and investment.

Abela praised these developments and affirmed his support for the further strengthening of bilateral relations.

DHAKA, 15 July 2022, (TON): United Nations resident coordinator Gwyn Lewis today paid a courtesy call on the Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury at the latter's JS office here.

A press release said “during the meeting, they discussed several issues such as Bangladesh government's endeavor in handling COVID-19, the stable economic situation of post-COVID Bangladesh, women's empowerment and socio-economic development and gender budget.”

Appreciating the unprecedented development of Bangladesh, Lewis said that the present government played due role in dealing with the recent flood situation in Bangladesh.

She added “with the joint efforts of all, it has been possible to reach the remote areas with relief.”

DHAKA, 15 July 2022, (TON): Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswami paid a courtesy call on Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at his secretariat office here.

During the meeting, they discussed “the progress of various development projects of road transport and bridges taken with India's loan assistance and Line of Credit.”