WASHINGTON, 05 July 2022, (TON): The US State Department said “Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely killed by unintentional gunfire from Israeli positions, but independent investigators could not reach a definitive conclusion about the origin of the bullet that struck her.”

Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American, was killed on May 11 during an Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank.

The State Department said “the US Security Coordinator, after summarizing investigations by both the Israel Defense Forces and Palestinian Authority, concluded that gunfire from Israeli positions was likely responsible for Abu Akleh’s death.”

The State Department said in a statement “the USSC found no reason to believe that this was intentional but rather the result of tragic circumstances during an IDF-led military operation against factions of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”

BEIJING, 05 July 2022, (TON): Chinese authorities said “Twelve bodies have been found following a shipwreck in the South China Sea over the weekend that left the crew of 30 missing.”

The Guangdong Maritime Search and Rescue Center said in a notice “as of 3:30 p.m. on July 4, rescue forces found and recovered 12 bodies, suspected to be of victims who drowned, in an area around 50 nautical miles southwest of the site where the vessel sank.”

CAIRO, 05 July 2022, (TON): Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed to London to inaugurate the first partnership council between his country and the UK.

The council will be co-chaired by Shoukry and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

It will include political consultations and discussions on economic and trade issues, with the participation of British Trade Policy Minister Penny Mordaunt.

A spokesman for Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said the launch of the council comes in light of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

SEOUL, 05 July 2022, (TON): North Korea criticised the United States, South Korea and Japan’s recent agreement on strengthening military cooperation to be a means to materialise a US plan for a military alliance like Nato in the region.

North Korea’s foreign ministry spokesperson said as much to a question put by KCNA, the state news agency reported.

The spokesperson said “the reality clearly shows that the real purpose of the US spreading the rumour about ‘threat from North Korea’ is to provide an excuse for attaining military supremacy over the Asia-Pacific region.”

The spokesperson added “the prevailing situation more urgently calls for building up the country’s defences to actively cope with the rapid aggravation of the security environment.”

The leaders of the United States, South Korea and Japan met on the sidelines of a Nato summit last week and agreed to explore further means to reinforce extended deterrence against North Korea.

WASHINGTON, 05 July 2022, (TON): Officials said “a shooter opened fire during a parade to mark US Independence Day in the state of Illinois, killing at least six people.”

Commander Chris O'Neil of the city's police told journalists “at this time, two dozen people have been transported to Highland Park Hospital. Six are confirmed deceased.”

O'Neil said “the suspected shooter, who is still at large, has been described as a white male aged 18-20 with long black hair.”

He added “all individuals are still urged to shelter in place at this time.”

TOKYO, 05 July 2022, (TON): A Japanese official said “Japan lodged a protest with China over a Chinese naval vessel sailing near disputed islands, as reports emerged of Russia also sending its own navy ship to the area.”

The islets in the East China Sea, known as the Senkaku by Tokyo and the Diaoyu by Beijing, are at the center of a long-running dispute between Japan and China.

According to public broadcaster NHK “Japanese officials regularly protest the presence of Chinese coast guard vessels in waters near the islands, but it is the first time since 2018 that a navy ship has been spotted there.”

A statement from the Japanese defense ministry said “a Chinese navy frigate was observed entering Japan’s contiguous waters southwest of one of the Tokyo-controlled islands.”

Contiguous waters are a 12-nautical-mile band that extends beyond territorial waters.

MOSCOW, 05 July 2022, (TON): Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to press ahead with Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine after troops took control of the entire Lugansk region.

Putin told Shoigu “Military units, including the East group and the West group, must carry out their tasks according to previously approved plans.”

DHAKA, 05 July 2022, (TON): Japan ambassador to Bangladesh Ito Naoki urged Transparency International Bangladesh to publish reports with evidence-based arguments.

He made the remarks at the second stakeholder meeting on Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan at a city hotel.

Japan International Cooperation Agency and The Institute of Energy Economics of Japan is providing the technical support to prepare the master plan toward 2050.

Joining as a special guest, the Japanese ambassador said "some description of a recent report by TIB, which came out in May this year.”

He said "I hope that organisations like TIB publish reports with evidence-based arguments.”

RIYADH, 05 July 2022, (TON): Mobile nutrition clinics from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Yemen’s Hodeidah treated 8,426 people within a week.

The clinics received patients with various health conditions, and staff provided 3,194 people with medication and the necessary medical care.

KSrelief also provided medical services in the northwestern city of Hajjah, with 780 people treated in clinics and 390 given medication.

The work is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts toward providing necessities for the disadvantaged. It distributed 3,000 boxes of dates earlier this week to 21,000 residents in Abyan.

KSrelief was established in 2015, and it helps people and communities in 84 countries.

DHAKA, 05 July 2022, (TON): Bangladesh saw exports soar more than 34 per cent to $52.08 billion in the 2021-22 fiscal year, official data showed.

According to data released by the Export Promotion Bureau under the Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh achieved the highest export earnings in the 2021-22 fiscal year with the final months recording robust income growths.

The EPB said "in the 2021-22 fiscal year, exports reached $52,082.66 million, setting a new record.”

Xinhua news agency reported “with $4.91 billion in export earnings in June, up 37.19 per cent over the same period a year ago, the country's overall export earnings in the last fiscal year exceeded the target of $43.50 billion.”

Bangladesh's export income in the 2020-21 fiscal year was recorded at $38.76 billion.