BRUSSELS, 28 May 2022, (TON): A meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Defence Ministers will take place 15 June and Thursday 16 June at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

The meeting will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg.

This media advisory marks the opening of online registration for accreditation. The deadline for accreditation is Tuesday 07 June, at midnight.

Journalists with annual accreditation do not need to apply for separate accreditation for this event.

The meeting will start with a working dinner on 15 June, where partners Finland, Georgia, Sweden, Ukraine and the European Union are invited.

WASHINGTON, 28 May 2022, (TON): The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned one individual, two banks, and a trading company for their support to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs and to the US-designated DPRK national airline.

On May 24, 2022, the DPRK launched three missiles, one intercontinental ballistic missile and two shorter range ballistic missiles.

So far this year, the DPRK has launched 23 ballistic missiles, including six ICBMs all in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E said “today Treasury is targeting supporters of the DPRK’s WMD and ballistic missile programs, as well as foreign financial institutions that have knowingly provided significant financial services to the DPRK government.

“The United States will continue to implement and enforce existing sanctions while urging the DPRK to return to a diplomatic path and abandon its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.”

ANKARA, 28 May 2022, (TON): According to two sources “talks between Turkish officials and delegations from Sweden and Finland this week in Turkey made little headway overcoming Ankara’s objections to the Nordic countries joining NATO, and it is not yet clear when further discussions will take place.”

A senior Turkish official said “it is not an easy process.”

“They need to take concrete steps that will be difficult. Further negotiations will continue. But a date doesn’t seem very close.”

Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO last week to boost their security in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

All 30 NATO members must approve enlargement plans. But Turkey challenged the move saying the Nordic countries harbour people linked to what it calls terrorist groups, and because they have halted arms exports to Ankara.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said “his country expects Sweden and Finland to take concrete action and halt such support before it lifts its objections.”

BEIJING, 28 May 2022, (TON): Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, said “Beijing is ready to make every effort to peacefully reunite with Taiwan, but will by no means give up the possibility of using force and all necessary measures against external interference and pro-independence separatists.”

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in a speech on US policy towards China, said “the most serious long-term challenge” to the international order.”

 At the same time, he stressed that the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan, while opposing any unilateral change in the status quo, and continues to help Taiwan maintain a sufficient level of defensive capability.

Zhu Fenglian said “the corresponding speech by the US Secretary of State is replete with baseless accusations, exaggeration of the ‘China threat’, and erroneous statements regarding Taiwan, which once again exposed the nature of the US in supporting Taiwan and containing China.”

She stressed “the one China principle is the political foundation of the relationship between Washington and Beijing, and the US has made serious commitments on the Taiwan issue in the two countries’ three joint communiqués.”

TEHRAN, 28 May 2022, (TON): The foreign ministry said “Iran summoned the envoy of Switzerland, which represents US interests in Tehran, to protest against the US seizure of Iranian oil from a Russian-operated ship near Greece.”

The state news agency quoted “the ministry called for the immediate release of the ship and its cargo.”

The United States imposed sanctions on what it described as a Russian-backed oil smuggling and money laundering network for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force.

A spokesperson for the US Department of Justice declined to comment on the oil seizure.

The Islamic Republic expressed its deep concern over the US government’s continued violation of international laws and international maritime conventions.

WASHINGTON, 28 May 2022, (TON): The State Department said “US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and stressed the importance of concluding the probes into the killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.”

The State Department said “Secretary Blinken underscored the importance of concluding the investigations into the death of Palestinian-American Shireen Abu Akleh.”

The Palestinian Authority said “its investigation showed that Abu Akleh was shot by an Israeli soldier in a deliberate murder.”

BRUSSELS, 28 May 2022, (TON): The European Council will discuss Ukraine, defence, energy and food security on 30-31 May.

The European Council will discuss the latest developments in relation to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

EU leaders will discuss continued EU support to Ukraine, particularly huma-nitarian, financial, material and political support.

The European Council will discuss EU security and defence in the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, including how to strengthen resilience and increase its capacity through investments.

EU leaders will also take into account the analysis on defence investment gaps, put forward by the Euro-pean Commission in cooperation with the European Defence Agency, as well as the Commission’s proposal for strengthening the Euro-pean industrial and technological base.

The EC will review progress in phasing out the EU’s dependency on Russian fossil fuel, oil and coal imports as soon as possible.

LONDON, 28 May 2022, (TON): A Conservative lawmaker submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson and another quit a role as an assistant to Britain’s interior minister, putting new pressure on the prime minister over illegal parties at his Downing Street residence during lockdowns.

Bob Neill, the chair of parliament’s justice committee, said an official report on the parties issued showed a pattern of unacceptable behavior over months during Britain’s coronavirus crisis, and said “he did not find Johnson’s explanations to be credible.”

Neill said in a statement “trust is the most important commodity in politics, but these events have undermined trust in not just the office of the prime minister, but in the political process itself.”

He said “to rebuild that trust and move on, a change in leadership is required.”

Johnson said “after the report was issued that he took responsibility for the events but refused to quit.”

Another Conservative lawmaker, Paul Holmes, said earlier on Friday he was resigning from his government role as parliamentary private secretary at the Home Office to focus on representing his constituents.

BY DWAIPAYAN REGMI, TON, NEPAL

Several important roles are being played by International Monetary Fund (IMF). It has been stated time and again that IMF has been playing a kind of important role in the stability of exchange rates, promotion of international trade, checking multiple exchange rates, and broadening of credit structure to multilateral payment systems. Apart, IMF has been believed to be the agent that has been working to provide consultation along with guidance there itself too, with the level of consciousness raising among member countries.

Only if International Monetary Fund manages to achieve its goals like reduction of global poverty, promotion of financial stability, and economic growth - it will benefit one large bunch of developing economies helping them to uplift their standard in any possible way ever. In being able to oversee economic development, there will be certain lending along with capacity development tasks made possible for any activities at any time.

Sri Lanka has been a member of the IMF since August 29, 1950, For all the economic disturbances that occurred, what would matter there is not about membership, but how IMF played a role. Recently, the International Monetary Fund has granted assurance to debt driving Sri Lanka to present its efforts for mitigating the current economic crisis which is termed for initial discussion through a delegation led by the country's Finance Minister calling it all 'fruitful' measures. It is grappling with unprecedented economic turmoil for independence through Britain as well.

It has been estimated that Sri Lanka requires at least USD 4 billion to tide over such mounting economic woes where Sabry has been holding some crucial set of talks with the World Bank and countries like China and Japan for some portion of financial assistance too.

During IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C, the Sri Lankan delegation along with the IMF team did have a fruitful technical discussion with the authorities requesting IMF-supported programs. There had been several layers of discussions covered through recent economic along with financial developments in Sri Lanka looking for implementing credible along with a coherent set of strategies for restoring macroeconomic stability. This team did welcome authorities planning to engage in some collaborative dialogue for their creditors there. It has been expected that the IMF team will then support Sri Lanka's effort for overcoming the current economic program through engagement with another version of stakeholders for supporting some timely resolution to the crisis basis.

Sri Lankan economy has a huge belief that the IMF will support their upliftment, to overcome the current set of economic crisis by working closely with the authorities for their economic set of programs through the engagement of all stakeholders who lies within the support of timely resolution of the crisis there itself. They certainly have ample layers which have to be played with the phase there itself. So, this team welcomed various authorities who would be planning for engagement within the collaborative dialogue with their creditors too.

What so happened to the country there, what so ever had been the reason for today's downfall - it is no doubt that they should have been properly managed and well kept. But now since, the losses are already been borne by the nation and citizens living in it, it is a waste to cry over the spilled milk. Even IMF should bear liability there itself for the loss that has been incurred there. But, things don’t end there and there is some kind of acceptance there itself.

International Monetary Fund should at least be accountable and prove that its existence would be a boon for any nation's economy, not just for their upliftment but with the parental role too. Because, when in crisis, there has to be some sort of resemblance through which the major impacts would be accounted for. What would be the major things that such associations and their objective would cover - if they won't be able to contribute to the Sri Lankan stand – has to be well answered through this case. Because, being a member of such an association, there should be an assurance that there is someone to look after upon necessity and when required too. Only then, the value of IMF would be realized and felt by the nation as a whole.

DHAKA, 28 May 2022, (TON): Portugal has attributed Bangladesh's success in dynamic development and remarkable economic growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the existing political stability prevailing in the country.

A foreign ministry press release said “this remark was made by Portuguese Minister of Economy and Sea Dr. Antonio Costa Silva while Bangladesh state minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam paid a call on him in Lisbon.”

During the meeting, the state minister briefed the Portuguese Minister on Bangladesh's rapid rise in economic and social sectors in recent times.

The Economic Minister lauded Bangladesh's remarkable economic growth and continued regional cooperation in its neighbourhood.

He reiterated “Portugal stands ready to expand collaboration in the diverse areas spanning renewable energy, green transition, marine technology, ocean economy and so on.”