DHAKA, 26 March 2022, (TON): MJ Akbar, a former state minister for external affairs, said in Dhaka “India and Bangladesh should work together to maintain stability in the region and integrity of the borders as a new world ‘is in the making’ from the Ukrain crisis.”

The two countries should now put emphasis on mutually beneficial economic growth through entrepreneurship of the youth and building social harmony, Akbar, also a member of the parliament in the Rajya Sabha, said.

The journalist-turned-political said “Investment in the human being, health, education, culture, media and sports would be crucial for maintaining stability with abolition of the poverty across the region.”

Bhorer Kagoj organised the lecture for celebrating the 30th founding anniversary of the Bangla daily.

Amir Hossain Amu, a veteran leader of the ruling Awami League,  said that prime minister Sheikh Hasina was successful in maintaining economic  growth due to stability in the government and India’s sympathetic cooperation.

DHAKA, 26 March 2022, (TON): Newly appointed non-resident ambassadors and high commissioners to Bangladesh from 12 countries called on Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at Foreign Service Academy here.

A foreign ministry press release said “during the meeting, took place, the foreign minister expressed hope that the newly appointed envoys, during their tenure, will work to enhance cooperation with Bangladesh both bilaterally and multilaterally.”

The foreign minister urged the envoys to pursue their respective governments to mount more pressure on Myanmar for commencing early repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their land of origin in Rakhine. 

He also called for investment from their respective countries to assist Bangladesh in generating renewable electricity.

The ambassadors and high commissioners assured of standing beside Bangladesh at all times for its continuous development and welfare.

CAIRO, 25 March 2022, (TON): Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevin Gamea said “the work of the Egyptian-Saudi Joint Committee has helped to boost the value of trade exchange between the two countries, which rose during 2021 to a record high of $8.02 billion.”

During a meeting in Riyadh yesterday with her Saudi counterpart, Maged Al-Qasabi, and a working group tasked with following up on the implementation of recommendations made by a ministerial-level meeting of the joint committee in Cairo last June, Gamea stressed the importance of putting those recommendations into practice.

She added “Egypt has adopted a modern system of legislative rules and infrastructure to support global, commercial, industrial and investment development, and noted that her country appreciates the status, components and economic potential of its relationship with Saudi Arabia.”

She further added that the location of both countries on key international shipping routes gives them the opportunity to expand commercial and economic partnerships and open up new markets in countries around the world.

The joint committee also emphasized the importance of facilitating trade exchange and increasing joint investment and industrial projects. Gamea pointed out that contracts for an electricity interconnection project that will allow Egypt and the Kingdom to share power had been agreed and awarded on schedule.

SEOUL, 25 March 2022, (TON): Militaries in South Korea and Japan said “North Korea conducted what is thought to be its largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test ever, marking a dramatic end to a self-imposed moratorium on long-range testing.”

It would be the first full-capability launch of the nuclear-armed state’s largest missiles since 2017, and represents a major step in the North’s development of weapons that might be able to deliver nuclear warheads anywhere in the United States.

The Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) said in a statement “US condemns North Korea’s latest missile launch.”

INDOPACOM said “the launch did not pose an immediate threat to US territory or personnel, or its allies, but called on North Korea to refrain from further destabilizing acts.”

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also condemned North Korea’s launch of a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile that landed in his country’s exclusive economic zone as an “outrageous, unforgivable” act.

RIYADH, 25 March 2022, (TON): Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir received Nuno Matias, the newly appointed ambassador of Portugal to the Kingdom, at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh. 

Al-Jubeir also received Mohammed Ali Boughazi, Algeria’s ambassador to the Kingdom.

The Saudi minister wished Matias and Boughazi success in their new duties.

Both meetings were attended by Khaled bin Musaed Al-Anqari, director general of the office of the minister of state for foreign affairs.

The two reviewed bilateral relations between the countries and discussed issues of common interest.

WASHINGTON, 25 March 2022, (TON): The United States is concerned about what China believes is military activity in the Arctic under the guise of scientific rese-arch in recent years.

This was stated at a hearing in the Senate of the US Congress by the head of the Northern Command of the US Armed Forces, General Glen Van Herk.

He said “the Chinese are active in the Arctic. Every year for the past five years, they have sent a ship to the Arctic under the guise of research activities for military purposes. Of course, we appreciate this.”

According to the general, China is the country that is trying to influence the established world order, and the Arctic is a strategic region for the US.

WASHINGTON, 25 March 2022, (TON): US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Israel, the West Bank, Morocco, and Algeria March 26-30 to consult with partners on a range of regional and global priorities, including the Russian government’s war on Ukraine, Iran’s destabilizing activities, the Abraham Accords and normalization agreements with Israel.

The Secretary will start his trip in Israel and the West Bank.

There, he will meet with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Foreign Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The Secretary will underscore the unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel’s security, engage on Israeli-Palestinian issues, and discuss regional and global challenges with his counterparts in the Israeli government.

The Secretary will also meet with President Mahm-oud Abbas in Ramallah as well as with representatives of Palestinian civil society.

In these meetings, the Secretary will emphasize the importance of strengthening U.S.-Palestinian relations, and advancing freedom, security and prosperity for the Palestinian people.

LONDON: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomatic solutions to the ongoing Ukraine crisis, during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.

During the call, Zelensky briefed El-Sisi on the latest developments in the crisis and in the course of the negotiations, where the Egyptian leader affirmed his country’s support for all endeavors that would speed up a political settlement to the conflict through discussions and negotiations.

Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency Bassam Rady said El-Sisi said “Egypt was following with great concern and concern the developments on the ground and the resulting deterioration of the humanitarian situation, expressing appreciation for the measures taken by the Ukrainian side to facilitate the exit of Egyptian citizens from the Ukrainian ports, and to ensure their safety and security.”

Zelensky expressed his appreciation and gratitude for Egyptian efforts to continue hosting Ukrainian tourists in tourist resorts in Egypt.

RAMALLAH, 25 March 2022, (TON): A senior EU official has reaffirmed Europe’s commitment to Palestinians following a partial suspension of its support last year.

The comments were made by Oliver Varhelyi, EU commissioner for neighborhood and enlargement, during a meeting with senior Palestinian officials in Ramallah.

The two sides also discussed the implementation of the new EU Agenda for the Mediterranean and its accompanying economic and investment plan.

Varhelyi alsomet Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyieh and representatives of the Christian community in East Jerusalem.

Shtayyieh said “Europe has been and remains a partner and friend of the Palestinian people and an essential supporter for decades.”

He stressed the importance of European financial support at a time when Palestine is being affected by global changes and their impact on prices, and the unjust Israeli cuts from our funds.

MOGADISHU, 25 March 2022, (TON): The police chief in Beledweyne district told media “the death toll from twin attacks in central Somalia on Wednesday night has climbed above 30.”

Colonel Isak Ali Abdulle said “we are still trying to establish the overall number of casualties, but so far we have confirmed that more than 30 people were killed in the second blast alone, which was caused by a car bomb.”

He said “the terrorists carried out the first attack using a suicide bomber and readied a car loaded with explosives in front of a hospital to cause more casualties.”

“These were devastating simultaneous attacks which damaged property as well as causing mass civilian casualties.”

The first attack in Beledweyne killed two local lawmakers, including Amina Mohamed Abdi and several of her guards as she campaigned for re-election.