WASHINGTON, 27 May 2022, (TON): An official said “the United States will not invite representatives of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro or Nicaragua at the Summit of the Americas next month in Los Angeles.”

Kevin O'Reilly, the coordinator of the summit, told a Senate committee “Absolutely not” we don't recognise them as a sovereign government.”

The United States considers Maduro illegitimate and recognises opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president.

On participation at the summit of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who has been accused of increasing authoritarianism, O'Reilly also gave a definitive “no.”

KHARTOUM, 27 May 2022, (TON): The port’s director said “firefighters have contained a large blaze that erupted in a cargo area of the Sudanese Red Sea port of Suakin.”

The fire, which raged for hours, broke out in the cargo drop off area of the port sending plumes of acrid smoke into the sky.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze.

Port director Taha Ahmed Mokhtar said “the fire has been brought under control following the intervention of civil defense forces and port workers.”

He said “an investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the fire, and a commission set up to assess the scale of the losses.”

TOKYO, 27 May 2022, (TON): Diplomats from Islamic countries and regions took part in a Tokyo policy briefing and discussion meeting at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office.

Tokyo Gov. KOIKE Yuriko, who has strong ties with Arabic and Islamic countries, made the opening remarks.

“It is a great pleasure and honor to welcome you to the ‘Tokyo Networking’ I am very pleased to have you here in person this year after two years of cancelations.

Governor Koike said “these two years have been a long battle against the virus. Through regular communication with you, we have been able to keep it from spreading extensively. Thank you everyone for your enormous cooperation.”

“Japan and the followers of Islam have long enjoyed friendly relations in various fields.”

NEW YORK, 27 May 2022, (TON): Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations, told reporters “China would consider it useful to lift part of the United States unilateral sanctions against the DPRK, Zhang Jun.”

Zhang Jun said “we need to remain calm in order to avoid any pro-vocative actions.”

According to the permanent representative “now it is important to stick to the course for a political settlement and create conditions for dialogue.”

The diplomat said “in this sense, the United States should take significant practical steps to resume dialogue with the DPRK.”

Zhang Jun said “when asked if this meant lifting some of the US unilateral sanctions on North Korea.”

RIYADH, 27 May 2022, (TON): Kingdom’s official news agency reported “Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.”

During the call, they discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries and discussed opportunities for joint cooperation in a number of fields.

DHAKA, 27 May 2022, (TON): According to a recent report by Needs Assessment Working Group “more than 418,000 people in five districts of Bangladesh have been affected by flash floods.”

It said “the worst affected are those living in the low-lying areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj.”

The flood situation has created an acute crisis of pure water, sanitation, food, shelter and healthcare among the affected population, while also damaging the livelihoods of many.

Several areas have been left without power for days over the past weeks, and roads and communication have been disrupted due to floodwater.

Though floodwater has started to recede in many areas, new challenges have emerged with the risk of a waterborne disease outbreak among the affected population, in the aftermath of the floods.

NEW DELHI, 27 May 2022, (TON): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “Sri Lanka is passing through difficult times and as a close friend and neighbour, India is providing all possible support to Sri Lanka.”

Modi said “this includes financial support, support of fuel, food, medicines and other essential items. Many Indian organisations and individuals have sent assistance for their brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, including Tamils in the north, in the east and in the upcountry.”

The Prime Minister said India has also spoken strongly in international forum for extending economic support to Sri Lanka.

Modi said “India will continue to stand with the people of Sri Lanka and support democracy, stability and economic recovery in Sri Lanka.”

DHAKA, 27 May 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the country’s development partners to help implement the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 which seeks sustainable development for future generations.

She said while opening an international conference on the Delta Plan 2100 “cooperation or participation of all at home and abroad, our friendly countries or development partners, is absolutely necessary in every field of knowledge, technology and exchange of experiences, starting from financing.”

The premier said “the 100-year Delta Plan, approved by her government in 2018, is a techno-economic master plan based on information technology and knowledge.”

She added “its phased implementation will require about 2.5% of GDP by 2025.”

Sheikh Hasina said “her government has adopted the Delta Plan not for today, rather for making Bangladesh sustainable for the future generations of the next century.”

DHAKA, 27 May 2022, (TON): USAID-funded Feed the Future Bangladesh Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia- Mechanization and Extension Activity has signed an agreement with Bangladesh Industrial Technical Assistance Center to capacitate the light engineering sector of Bangladesh.

A press release said "light engineering workforce training program was inaugurated by BITAC on Thursday, at its regional office in Chittagong.”

This 48-hour residential training would train 20 agriculture-based light engineering workforce in the first batch and subsequently 100 workforces will be trained from Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, and Chittagong on basic machinist skills under this agreement between CSISA-MEA and BITAC.

BITAC Director General Anwar Hossain Chowdhury along with Additional Director Pabirtra Kumar Kabiraj inaugurated the training program.

DHAKA, 27 May 2022, (TON): the Inter-Services Public Relations said “ninth defence dialogue between Bangladesh and the United States was held in Honolulu, Hawaii on May 17-18.”

The ISPR in a statement said “the purpose of the dialogue this year was to facilitate a broad discussion on bilateral defence and military cooperation as a complement to the strategic dialogue.”

The ISPR said “during the dialogue, decisions were taken to take necessary steps to strengthen relations between the two countries.”

The ISPR in its statement said “defence cooperation between Bangladesh and the United States is warm and intense. It is clear that the United States will continue to support the Bangladesh Armed Forces in defence development and training.”

It added “this dialogue will enhance our defence and military cooperation in the areas of global and regional security, technology, defence equipment, disaster management, peacekeeping operations, training, visits, joint exercises and deployments workshops, among others.”