LONDON, 27 August 2022, (TON): Mr Kouame will take up the appointment with effect from 1 September 2022.

Mr Kouame was formerly Chair of the Northern Ireland Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers and member of the Northern Ireland Race Equality Sub-Group and Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was created by the Northern Ireland Act 1998, as part of the Belfast Agreement.

The NIHRC was established in 1999 and operates as an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Northern Ireland Office.

DUBAI, 27 August 2022, (TON): Officials from the UAE and the US on Friday met to explore ways to further enhance military ties.

Rear Admiral Sheikh Saeed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al-Nahyan, commander of the Naval Forces, received Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command, and his delegation as both sides reiterated the friendly relations between both countries.

State news agency reported “during their meeting, the military officials reviewed UAE-US cooperation to ensure more coordination between the two sides.”

MOSCOW, 27 August 2022, (TON): Russian agencies reported “Russia forces based in Syria on Friday said four Israeli jets had launched a total of four cruise missiles and 16 guided aerial bombs against a research facility in the city of Masyaf.”

He said “Syrian troops using Russian-made anti-aircraft weapons shot down two missiles and seven guided bombs, Tass and RIA said, quoting a senior Russian officer. The attacks damaged equipment at the facility.”

Russian forces have remained in Syria since 2015 when they helped turn the tide in a civil war in favor of President Bashar Assad.

For several years, Israel has been mounting attacks on what it has described as Iranian-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran-backed forces, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah, have deployed to help Assad fight anti-government forces.

ANKARA, 27 August 2022, (TON): The Israeli charge d’affaires in Turkey said “ the re-appointment of an ambassador to Ankara could happen within weeks, while repeating Israel’s expectation that the Hamas office in Istanbul be closed down.”

In a roundtable meeting with journalists, Israel’s current top representative in Ankara Irit Lillian said the process of re-appointing an ambassador to Turkey was only a matter of when and not if.

Lillian said “it’s only because of elections in Israel that things might be delayed on the Israeli side but I hope it will be on time and it will be just a few more weeks and the process will be over.”

Israel will hold a general election on Nov. 1.

WASHINGTON, 27 August 2022, (TON): An Arctic region that is peaceful, stable, prosperous, and cooperative is of critical strategic importance to the United States and a priority for Secretary Blinken. 

As one of eight Arctic nations, the United States has long been committed to protecting our national security and economic interests in the region, combating climate change, fostering sustainable development and investment, and promoting cooperation with Arctic States, Allies, and partners.

To further American interests and cooperation with Allies and partners in the Arctic, and after extensive consultations with Members of Congress, local and federal government officials, and external stakeholders, the President plans to elevate the Arctic Coordinator position by appointing an Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.

The Ambassador-at-Large for the Arctic Region will advance U.S. policy in the Arctic, engage with counterparts in Arctic and non-Arctic nations as well as Indigenous groups, and work closely with domestic stakeholders, including state, local, and Tribal governments, businesses, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, other federal government agencies and Congress. 

TAIPEI, 27 August 2022, (TON): US senator Marsha Blackburn met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday, in the second visit by members of Congress since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip earlier this month sharply raised tensions with China.

In her remarks, Tsai pointed to the large-scale military exercises that China launched in response to Pelosi’s visit, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as posing challenges to democratic governments such as the US and Taiwan.

She said “these developments demonstrate how authoritarian countries are disrupting and threatening the world order.”

SEOUL, 27 August 2022, (TON): Pope Francis has asked Pyongyang to invite him to North Korea, saying in a televised interview on Friday that he would not turn down a chance to visit and work for peace.

A potential papal visit to the isolated, nuclear-armed country was previously floated in 2018 when Seoul’s former president Moon Jae-in embarked on a round of diplomacy with Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong Un.

Moon, who is Catholic, said during a summit that Kim told him the pontiff would be enthusiastically welcomed.

Pope Francis replied at the time that he would be willing to go if he received an official invitation.

COPENHAGEN, 27 August 2022, (TON): Norwegian media reported “Norwegian far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in 2011, is once again suing the Norway government in a bid to force an end to his isolation.”

Breivik has been in solitary confinement in prison ever since his 2012 conviction and has not had contact with other inmates during his sentenc.

The Aftenposten daily said “a notice was sent Thursday sent by Storrvik to the Justice Ministry.”

Earlier this year, Breivik was moved from one prison to another but Storrvikk said there has been no progress in terms of human contact, he told Norwegian news agency NTB.

Storrvik said “he has no contact with anyone other than prison guards.”

RIYADH, 27 August 2022, (TON): Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdul Rahman Al-Fadli met Malaysian Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries Ronald Kiandee in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they discussed cooperation in food security and ways of encouraging the private sector to benefit from investment opportunities available in the two countries, aiming to promote partnerships and business.

Each minister highlighted the investment opportunities of the preferential advantage available in his country.

The meeting was attended by a number of senior officials of the two sides.

DHAKA, 27 August 2022, (TON): Border Guard Bangladesh and Indian Border Security Force at a battalion commander-level flag meeting put emphasis on curbing cross-border crimes to maintain peace on common international borders.

Initiated by the BSF side, the event was held inside India near boundary pillar No 889/10S opposite to Barokhata border outpost of the BGB in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat under the jurisdiction of Rangpur Teesta-2 battalion (BGB-61).

BGB sources said the flag meeting was held among the officials of Rangpur Teesta-2 battalion (BGB-61) and BSF-157 battalion of Koochbehar in West Bengal of India.

Commanding Officer of Rangpur Teesta-2 battalion (BGB-61) Lieutenant colonel Mir Hasan Shahriar Mahmud led the 12-member BGB delegation.