MANILA, 21 November 2022, (TON): US Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in the Philippines for a visit that experts said is aimed at strengthening the old alliance between Manila and Washington amid high geopolitical tensions in the region.

Harris is on a three-day trip to the Philippines, making her the highest-ranking American official to visit the Southeast Asian country since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office on June 30.

It follows a series of high-level engagements between the two countries, including Marcos’ inaugural talks with Biden in New York in September.

Harris’ trip comes as Washington appears to seek a revival of ties with Manila to counter China’s growing influence in the region, showcasing a sharp turnaround compared to the days of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who distanced the two nations and embraced a Beijing-friendly direction.

SEOUL, 21 November 2022, (TON): A statement in state-run outlet KCNA said “North Korea’s foreign minister expressed strong regret over UN chief Antonio Guterres’ condemnation of the country’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch.”

The North fired an intercontinental ballistic missile Friday in one of its most powerful tests yet, prompting Guterres to urge Pyongyang to halt any further “provocative actions.”

Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui responded by expressing my strong regret over the fact that the UN secretary-general has taken a very deplorable attitude.

The UN chief’s statement, Choe said, “was oblivious of the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and its proper mission which is to maintain impartiality, objectivity and equity in all matters.”

NEW YORK, 21 November 2022, (TON): According to Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN “Granting Palestine full state membership status at the UN would be a “practical” step that could preserve the two-state solution and help reinvigorate the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.”

Mansour initiated consultations this year with members of the UN Security Council to push for a resolution to elevate Palestine from its current status as an observer state at the global organization and recognize it as a full member.

In an exclusive interview, Mansour, whose official title is Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, said his initiative is anchored in Palestine’s natural and legal right to become a full member in UN system.

LONDON, 21 November 2022, (TON): European traders are rushing to fill tanks in the region with Russian diesel before an EU ban begins in February, as alternative sources remain limited.

The European Union will ban Russian oil product imports, on which it relies heavily for its diesel, by Feb. 5. That will follow a ban on Russian crude taking effect in December.

Senior market analyst at energy analytics firm Vortexa, said “Russian diesel loadings destined for the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) storage region rose to 215,000 bpd from Nov. 1 to Nov. 12, up by 126 percent from October, Pamela Munger.”

With few immediate cost-effective alternatives, diesel from Russia has made up 44 percent of Europe’s total imports of the road fuel so far in November, compared with 39 percent in October, Refinitiv data shows.

RIYADH, 21 November 2022, (TON): Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of thanks to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on Sunday after attending the World Cup opening ceremony.

As I leave your country, I am pleased to express my deep thanks and appreciation for the warm reception and hospitality that I and my accompanying delegation received. I congratulate you on the successful opening of the FIFA World Cup.

Prince Mohammed wished the emir good health and happiness, and the Qatari people further progress and prosperity.

DHAKA, 21 November 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and the United Nations discussed ways to further strengthen the national efforts of adaptation to and mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change, specially in the context of the recently concluded COP27 in Egypt.

UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed the issues of mutual interest.

The UNRC briefed the State Minister about her recent visit to Khagrachari and Rangamati districts of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, including on various projects the UN has undertaken there for socio-economic development.

KYIV, 21 November 2022, (TON): Powerful explosions from shelling shook Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, the site of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the global nuclear watchdog said, calling for urgent measures to help prevent a nuclear accident in the Russian-occupied facility.

A heavy barrage of Russian military strikes almost 400 alone also hit Ukraine’s eastern regions, and fierce ground battles shook the eastern Donetsk province, Ukraine’s president said in his evening update.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said multiple explosions near the plant and again abruptly ended a period of relative calm around the nuclear facility that has been the site of fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces since Russia invaded on Feb. 24.

WASHINGTON, 21 November 2022, (TON): Police said “a gunman opened fire inside a LGBTQ nightspot in Colorado Springs late, killing at least five people and injuring 25 others before being stopped by heroic clubgoers.”

Authorities said “they were investigating whether the attack was motivated by hate.”

According to officials “police identified the suspect as Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, and said he used a long rifle. He was taken into police custody shortly after the shooting began and was being treated for injuries.”

The shooting was reminiscent of the 2016 Pulse club massacre when a gunman killed 49 people at the gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, before he was fatally shot by police.

DHAKA, 21 November 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and the United States on Sunday launched a new five-year $18 million inclusive education project named “Shobai Miley Shikhi”.

US Agency for International Development Mission Director Kathryn D Stevens joined the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Farid Ahmed and Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education Shah Rezwan Hayat at the launching event.

USAID's new five-year project will improve learning opportunities for primary school children in hard-to-reach areas with a focus on those with disabilities or special needs.

With a goal of creating a more inclusive education system, the USAID Shobai Miley Shikhi project will train teachers to improve their skills in reaching students of all abilities in the classroom and provide specialized learning materials.

DHAKA, 21 November 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and the European Union will hold the first “political dialogue” in Dhaka on Thursday for providing strategic guidance and intensifying foreign and security policy cooperation to “elevate” the partnership.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam will lead the Bangladesh delegation at the dialogue while Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service Enrique Mora who is scheduled to arrive here on November 23, will lead the EU side.

Issues of shared interest such as peacebuilding, conflict prevention, Indo-Pacific, Ukraine issue, connectivity, climate change, security and counter-terrorism will be discussed at the dialogue, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley told UNB.