DHAKA, 24 May 2022, (TON): Prime minister Sheikh Hasina called for enhancing financial cooperation to improve regional crisis management as she placed five proposals to strengthen the regional  cooperation against the backdrop of the pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict.

She said “I would like to propose steps that ESCAP may take into account as the Russia-Ukraine war must be stopped immediately and joint actions are needed to tackle the situation.”

The prime minister said this in a video message broadcast in the seventy-eighth session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific of the United Nations.

The session is being held in a hybrid modality from 23 to 27 May at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok and online on 75th anniversary of ESCAP.

Sheikh Hasina spelled out her suggestions, calling for requesting for International Support Measures to the graduating countries in a more pragmatic way along with enhancing regional financial cooperation to improve regional crisis management capacity.

KABUL, 24 May 2022, (TON): Officials said “in two weeks, three million five-year passports will arrive in Kabul.”

The General Directorate of Passports says that talks have taken place with the UN mission in Kabul about transferring the passports to the country.

Shafiullah Tassal, press director of the General Directorate of Passports said “three million passports have been printed and we have paid the money too. Talks have finished in this regard. They have been printed in Lithuania and they are supposed to be transferred, and there has been talk of their transferring them, and in the coming days they will arrive in the country and this problem will be completely solved.”

The Passport Authority confirmed there is a lack of five-year passports and said the problem will be resolved in two weeks.

He said “passport administrations in the country will be reopened when new passports arrive.”

DHAKA, 24 May 2022, (TON): A two-day 4th edition of Bangladesh Navy-Indian Navy Coordinated Patrol began in the Northern Bay of Bengal.

Indian Defence ministry sources said “as part of the patrol, the two navies have been undertaking joint patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line.”

The last IN-BN CORPAT was conducted in October 2020. Bangladesh Navy Ships BNS Ali Haider and BNS Abu Ubaidah are participating in the exercise along with two indigenously built IN Ships, Kora, a guided-missile corvette and Sumedha, an offshore patrol vessel.

The statement added “in addition, Maritime Patrol Aircraft of both navies would also be participating in the Coordinated Patrol.

DHAKA, 24 May 2022, (TON): Unicef said “over 1.5 million children are at increased risk of waterborne diseases, drowning and malnutrition due to extensive flooding in north-eastern Bangladesh.”

The UN agency is on the ground with the government and non-government partners to respond to the urgent safety, health, nutrition and clean water needs of children and their families.

Over four million people in five districts of north-eastern Bangladesh, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrokona and Maulvibazar are affected by extensive flooding.

Sylhet and Sunamganj have been most affected, with water flowing above dangerous levels. Agricultural land and critical infrastructure, including power stations and schools, have been submerged.

Unicef said “cases of diarrhoea, respiratory infection, and skin diseases have already been reported. At least three children have died after being struck by lightning.”

DHAKA, 24 May 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her call to the international community to do much more to ensure the safe, sustainable and dignified return of over 1 million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh.

The prime minister said in 78th session of the UNESCAP “Bangladesh has been hosting 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. This humanitarian crisis poses a serious security threat.”

She told the session meeting “we expect enhanced focus and active support of the international community for safe, sustainable, and dignified return of these displaced people, a common agenda to advance sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.”

She said “when the world is struggling to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict came as a huge blow to the global economic and social stability.”

She said “the poor and developing countries are experiencing the brunt of the war. The war must be stopped immediately and joint actions are needed to tackle the situation.”

WASHINGTON, 23 May 2022, (TON): President Biden spoke with Australian Prime Minister-Designate Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his election as Australia’s 31st prime minister.

President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ steadfast commitment to the U.S-Australia alliance and his intent to work closely with the new government to make it stronger still.

President Biden expressed deep appreciation for the Prime Minister-Designate’s own early commitment to the alliance, reflected in his decision to travel almost immediately to Tokyo to attend the Quad Summit.

WASHINGTON, 23 May 2022, (TON): Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna to congratulate her on her appointment and discuss some of the pressing global issues the United States and France are confronting together.

The Secretary and Foreign Minister Colonna agreed on the importance of continuing steadfast support to Ukraine and maintaining significant costs to President Putin for his war of choice.

They discussed steps the United States and France could take together to support EU accession paths for countries that qualify for membership.

They touched upon the NATO Alliance, including how best to support Finland and Sweden’s bids to join NATO and key issues ahead of the Madrid summit.

RIYADH, 23 May 2022, (TON): Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received Tut Galwak, security affairs advisor of South Sudan President Salva Kiir, in Riyadh.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance, develop and advance them to broader horizons in various fields.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest.

The reception was attended by Saudi Assistant Minister of State for African Countries Affairs Dr. Sami Al-Saleh.

TOKYO, 23 May 2022, (TON): President Joe Biden landed in Japan for the second leg of a trip to reinforce US alliances in Asia.

Biden, making his first trip to Asia as president, arrived at Yokota Air Base outside Tokyo, and will meet with Japan’s prime minister and unveil a US-led trade initiative for the region, before joining a summit of the Quad regional grouping.

GENEVA, 23 May 2022, (TON): The United Nations said “Russia’s war in Ukraine has pushed the number of forcibly displaced people around the world above 100 million for the first time ever.”

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency said “the number of people forced to flee conflict, violence, human rights violations and persecution has now crossed the staggering milestone of 100 million for the first time on record, propelled by the war in Ukraine and other deadly conflicts.”

The UNHCR said in a statement “the alarming figure must shake the world into ending the conflicts forcing record numbers to flee their own homes.”

UNHCR said “the numbers of forcibly displaced people rose toward 90 million by the end of 2021, spurred by violence in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Nigeria, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”