DHAKA, 12 November 2022, (TON): Australia will provide $135 million in 2022-23 for life-saving food, water and shelter in Bangladesh and Myanmar through partner organizations.

The package of support builds on $480 million provided since 2017 to people across Myanmar, forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, Rohingya, and host communities in Bangladesh.

The Australian foreign ministry said in a statement “it will also deliver essential protection, education and health services for those most in need, including women, girls and people with disabilities.”

Since the military coup in February 2021, the number of people in humanitarian need in Myanmar has surged from 1 million to an estimated 14.4 million.

DHAKA, 12 November 2022, (TON): Bangladesh has secured a loan deal worth $4.5 billion from the International Monetary Fund but according to economists it alone cannot help overcome the current economic crises.

Stopping capital flight, containing revenue leakage, shunning unnecessary development projects and closing down costly rental power plants are necessary to tackle the current pressure on macro-economy, economists said while talking to New Age, one day after the preliminary loan agreement between the two sides.

The economists, however, stated that the IMF loan to be disbursed in seven tranches over the period of next three years would give some assistance to the country’s balance of payments now under pressure due to shortage of foreign currencies, mainly the US dollar.

WASHINGTON, 12 November 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he intends to run for reelection and would likely make a final decision by early next year, after declaring the results of Tuesday’s midterm elections good for democracy.

White House officials expressed a sense of vindication that Biden’s fellow Democrats did better than expected.

Biden, who turns 80 this month, has faced questions on whether he will seek a second term. A Biden adviser said preparatory discussions for a 2024 campaign were underway.

Biden told reporters “our intention is to run again, that’s been our intention.”

“This is ultimately a family decision.”

JAKARTA, 12 November 2022, (TON): Indonesia has introduced tight security arrangements in Bali, as it prepares to welcome world leaders and thousands of international delegates for the G20 Summit next week.

The world’s largest Muslim-majority nation this year holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 largest economies, which will culminate in a meeting of the heads of state and government on Nov. 15 and 16.

The summit will take place on the island of Bali, one of the planet’s most popular holiday destinations, where Indonesia has previously hosted other major international events, including the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund annual meeting in 2018.

DHAKA, 12 November 2022, (TON): The World Bank vice-president for the South Asia region, Martin Raiser, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka.

A WB press release said “during his three-day visit, Raiser will meet prime minister Sheikh Hasina , finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and other senior government officials and visit a WB-supported project.”

Raiser said “I am glad to be back in Bangladesh and to continue discussing with the government the important reforms that can help the country stay on the resilient and inclusive growth path and create opportunities for the people.”

Raiser will also introduce Abdoulaye Seck, who will assume the position of the WB country director for Bangladesh and Bhutan on January 1, 2023.

DHAKA, 12 November 2022, (TON): State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said “Bangladesh wants to import petroleum from Saudi Arabia at a relatively lower price.”

He conveyed such interest when Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa Bin Youssef Al-Dahilan met him at his office in the ministry.

He told the Saudi envoy "we are also interested in purchasing the fuel on deferred payment.”

 By Usman Khan

On Wednesday Nov 9, 2022, Key agreements Signed were a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Economic Cooperation, a MoU on Higher Education and a MoU which solidified Maldives-Hungary bilateral relations This is the first official visit from a Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary which shows important breakthrough in the 47-year-long bilateral relationship between the two countries

 His visit came upon the official invitation of the Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Many Key agreements have been signed between the governments of Maldives and Hungary to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries. The agreements were signed after the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary official recent visit to the Maldives.

His visit came upon the official invitation of the Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is the first official visit from a Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary which in turn marks a significant milestone in the long mutual association between the two countries.

The first MoU on Economic Cooperation reflects the prominence of increasing trade and investment between the two countries and will encourage business linkages, exchange of expertise and convene seminars between Maldives and Hungary. A Joint Economic Commission consisting of officials and experts from both the countries will also be established to guide the development of projects, activities and programmes connected to the agreement.

Further, the second MoU on Higher Education was signed on cooperation in the field of higher education, between the Minister of Higher Education of the Maldives, Dr. Ibrahim Hassan, and Minister Szijjártó. This is an additional protocol to the MoU concluded between the Maldives and Hungary in 2021 regarding the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship programme. The additional protocol to the existing MoU will provide a total of 25 scholarships annually which is an increase of 10 scholarships from the previous 15, to Maldivian students to study bachelors, masters and doctoral level courses from Universities in Hungary.

The third MoU, on Sports Diplomacy was signed between the Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment of the Maldives, Ahmed Mahloof and Minister Szijjártó with an interest to establish and develop close cooperation in the sports sector. The MoU will facilitate organization of sports events, exchange of expertise in sports infrastructure and provide training opportunities.

Further, during the signing ceremony, the Hungarian minister declared that the Hungarian government’s decision to join the VFS Visa facilitation Centre in Malé City and to begin processes in November 2022. Expressing appreciation for this decision, the Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs echoed the Maldivian government’s interest to obtain visa-free status for Maldivian nationals traveling to European Union member states.

During the visit to Maldives, the Hungarian Minister was escorted by an official delegation from the Hungarian government. He paid a courtesy call on President and held official talks with his Maldivian counterpart. He also met with the Minister of Economic Development, and the Minister of Higher Education.

During the official talks with the Maldivian minister, both ministers discussed new avenues to enhance cooperation chiefly in the fields of trade, health, education, youth and sports, fisheries, tourism, environment, and climate change. The official talks also saw the Maldivian FM expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Government of Hungary during his presidency at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs also reiterated the support of the Maldivian government to Hungarian Ambassador Csaba Kőrösi as the President of the 77th UNGA session. The Hungarian minister in turn congratulated the Maldives on being elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the new term. He expressed commitment to augment engagement within the multifaceted sphere to fight global challenges of shared interest.

Throwing light on regional and international issues of mutual importance, the Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to the Hungarian government for their aid in facilitating safe passage for Maldivian students in Ukraine in March 2022 and commended the Hungarian government for their crucial role in providing the essential humanitarian assistance regarding the ongoing conflict in Europe.

JEDDAH, 11 November 2022, (TON): The UN nuclear watchdog rang alarm bells after Iran claimed to have developed a hypersonic super missile capable of penetrating any country’s defense systems.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said “all these announcements increase the attention, increase the concerns, increase the public attention to the Iranian nuclear program.”

Hypersonic missiles can deliver nuclear weapons in the same way as traditional ballistic missiles, but they can fly at more than five times the speed of sound and are highly maneuverable, making them impossible to track and defend against.

ISTANBUL, 11 November 2022, (TON): Nebahat Akkoc says her life began afresh after the European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2000 that she had suffered torture while in Turkish custody, emboldening her and others to carry on their fight for women’s rights.

Now she fears Turks could lose such protections as Turkiye faces removal from the Council of Europe, a leading human rights body, after it failed to implement a 2019 court ruling to release jailed businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala.

The CoE’s Committee of Ministers has launched infringement proceedings against Ankara that have so far stressed dialogue but could eventually see Turkiye’s removal or its membership suspended, experts say.

KYIV, 11 November 2022, (TON): Kyiv forces have recaptured over 40 towns and villages in southern Ukraine, President Zelensky said “as Moscow signaled its army had begun retreating from the strategic city of Kherson.”

The United States meanwhile announced a new $400 million security assistance package for Kyiv, which will include defense systems and surface-to-air missiles as Ukraine is reeling from massive recent Russian airstrikes targeting key infrastructure.

Zelensky said in his daily address to the nation “today we have good news from the south.”

He added “the number of Ukrainian flags returning to their rightful place as part of the ongoing defense operation is already dozens.”