NEW DELHI, 16 May 2022, (TON): The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has stated “the purpose of his visit is to deepen the relations with Nepal. In a departure statement from New Delhi on the eve of his visit to Lumbini” he said “India's relations with Nepal were incomparable.”

He said in a statement "the purpose of my visit is to celebrate and deepen the deep and documented relationship that has existed for centuries.”

Stating that he was looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Deuba again after fruitful discussions during his visit to India last month, Prime Minister Modi said in a statement that common understanding would be continued to enhance cooperation in various fields including hydropower and development.

NEW DELHI, 16 May 2022, (TON): A consignment of 40,000 metric tonnes of diesel from India reached Sri Lanka, the fourth such assistance from New Delhi, to mitigate the spike in power cuts in the island nation, which is facing an unprecedented economic and energy crisis caused due to shortage of foreign exchange.

Power cuts lasting over 13 hours were imposed, the longest cut since 1996 when a strike by the state power entity employees caused a 72-hour black out.

Officials of the state fuel entity, Ceylon Electricity Board, said “the Indian diesel supplies would ease the ongoing power cuts.”

The power cuts effective Saturday are over 8.5 hours.

Indian High Commission here tweeted "more fuel supplies delivered by #India to #SriLanka! A consignment of 40,000 MT of diesel under #Indian assistance through Line of Credit of $500 mn was handed over by High Commissioner to Hon'ble Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge in Colombo.”

DHAKA, 16 May 2022, (TON): Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan left here for Turkey on a five-day official visit.

A press release said “at the invitation of Commander of Turkish Air Force General Hasan Kuçukakyüz, the BAF Chief went on this visit.”

During the visit, the Chief would pay homage to the founder of Turkey Mostafa Kamal Ataturk through visiting his tomb and laying a wreath at his tomb.

He would also pay a courtesy call on Commander of the Turkish Air Force General Hasan Kuçukakyüz and exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

DHAKA, 16 May 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen paid deep homage to late President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

The foreign minister conveyed condolence to new UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on behalf of President, Prime Minister and the peoples of Bangladesh following the death of his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa, who died on Friday. 

A foreign ministry press release said “during the meeting, Dr Momen also congratulated the new UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”   

By Osman Khan

After a series of bloody skirmishes in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan military was deployed to the streets of Colombo to enforce a curfew with orders to shoot wrongdoers. Sri Lankan President has said he will appoint a new prime minister and cabinet this week, after his elder brother and former resigned following deadly violence in the country.

The new prime minister and cabinet will command a majority in the 225-seat parliament and will bring constitutional reforms to grant more power to the parliament.

The Sri Lankan president is taking steps to form a new government to control the current situation, to prevent the country from falling into anarchy as well as to maintain the affairs of the government that have been halted.

The move followed comments earlier in the day from Sri Lanka’s central bank governor, who said he would quit within weeks unless political stability was restored. The appointed chief of central bank last month vowed to help the island nation of 22 million people find a way out of its worst-ever economic crisis in a bid to stop the turmoil.

He told the president and other political party leaders that unless political stability is established in the without political stability, it doesn’t matter who runs the central bank .There will be no way to stop the economic deterioration.

The ordinary Sri Lankans blame the government of incumbent president and his family for the growing crisis on the island with down to just about $50m, and massive shortages of essentials including cooking gas, fuel and medicine.

After more than a month of mostly peaceful demonstrations, public anger exploded into violence this week, after ruling party supporters stormed an anti-government protest camp, triggering clashes nationwide and after which the prime minister’s resigned.

The ruling party politicians targeted by mobs the prime minster once hugely popular and a former president, was whisked away to a military base in the country’s northeast may flee from the country .

He will remain there for the next couple of days and when the situation is normalized, he can be moved to a location of his choice.

On Wednesday, police and soldiers patrolled the streets of Weeraketiya, the Rajapaksa family’s home town, where shops and businesses were shut amid a curfew that will remain in force until Thursday morning.

The police and armed forces ordered to shoot anyone damaging public property or threatening lives, soldiers in armored vehicles patrolled the streets of the commercial capital Colombo. Many people have been killed in violence across the country, which has also left more than 200 people wounded and 136 houses damaged.

This is the time for all Sri Lankans to join hands as one, to overcome the economic, social and political challenges. The president urged all Sri Lankans to reject the subversive attempts which pushed you towards racial and religious disharmony.

It was not immediately clear what prompted his warning but Sri Lanka has a long and bloody history of ethnic tension. However, the government to “listen to the hopes of the people” and respect human rights and civil liberties.

The Protesters have also called on the president to go. Analysts say Rajapaksa can be impeached if he refuses to step down, although the opposition, which has rejected his calls for a unity government, lacks the necessary two-thirds majority in parliament.

No president has ever been successfully impeached and removed from office in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has sought urgent loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following financial and other support from neighbor India as well as China, as the violence has further dented a tourism-dependent economy hammered by COVID-19.

The IMF expressed concern about the violence, but said it would continue technical talks begun on Monday with Sri Lankan officials “so as to be fully prepared for policy discussions once a new government has been formed”.

The president plans to meet opposition politicians within days in hopes of forming a new government. The central bank chief, said the lack of foreign exchange could lead to acute fuel shortages and power cuts lasting up to 12 hours, which may worsen public anger and escalate protests.

It appears that even with political stability, it will take at least three months for IMF talks and at least six months for debt restructuring and for stable government Promoting moderation, toleration and coexistence which is vital and essential for Sri Lanka solidarity. However, the picture is still gloomy and uncertainty prevails. 

New York, 15 May 2022, (TON): Law enforcement officials said “at least 10 people were killed Saturday afternoon in a shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.”

Details on the number of additional people shot at the Tops Friendly Market and their conditions weren’t immediately available. Buffalo police said earlier Saturday afternoon that the alleged shooter, who was not identified, was in custody.

The two officials were not permitted to speak publicly on the matter and did so on the condition of anonymity.

Police officials and a spokesperson for the supermarket chain did not immediately respond to messages from the AP seeking comment.

The official said “gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire, one of the officials said. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online.”

PARIS, 15 May 2022, (TON): French President Emmanuel Macron formally begins his second term in office, maintaining suspense about his new government ahead of parliamentary elections next month that will shape his next five years in power.

The 44-year-old scored a solid victory in April 24 presidential polls against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, but still needs a majority in parliament to be able to push through his domestic reform agenda.

The identity of Macron’s new government is expected to set the tone for campaigning, with the president suggesting he intends to name only the second woman prime minister in modern French history.

Speculation has been rife in the French media, with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and current Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne seen as possible candidates, but Macron has taken his time to name a replacement for outgoing Premier Jean Castex.

WASHINGTON, 15 May 2022, (TON): President Joe Biden promised a long-term commitment to Southeast Asia in the face of China’s growing clout as he met regional leaders for a first summit in Washington.

Biden laid out $150 million in new initiatives and announced plans for the first full US ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in more than five years.

Biden told ASEAN leaders “a region that is free and open, stable and prosperous, and resilient and secure is what we’re all seeking.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, meeting ASEAN leaders for a working lunch, said the administration “recognizes the vital strategic importance of your region.”

She said “as an Indo-Pacific nation, the United States will be present and continue to be engaged in Southeast Asia for generations to come.”

Biden said “he would nominate Yohannes Abraham, the chief of staff of the National Security Council and a key aide during the presidential transition, as ambassador to ASEAN’s secretariat in Jakarta.”

ANKARA, 15 May 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden’s administration has asked Congress to green light a proposed sale of missiles and equipment upgrades to Turkey, the Wall Street Journal reported this week.

The deal, said to be worth about $300 million, is expected to further deepen defense ties between the NATO allies.

However, the proposed deal is not part of a $6 billion agreement that Turkey has been seeking since last year to buy 40 Lockheed Martin F-16 jets and 80 kits to upgrade its existing fleet.

The US administration’s informal notification process allows members of Congress to review the transaction and provide feedback before the deal is finalized.

Turkey’s purchase and deployment of Russian-made S-400 defense missile systems in 2017 resulted in the country’s removal from the US F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 over concerns that the Russian radar system would spy on the aircraft.

ANKARA, 15 May 2022, (TON): Ankara does not close the door to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, but insists that other members of the all-iance take into account Turkey’s national security concerns.

This was announced by the official representative of the P-resident of Turkey, Ibrahim Kalin.

Media quoted as saying “we are not closing the doors. However, we are essentially raising this issue as a matter of Turkey’s national security. What is clear is that they must do it: th-ey must stop allowing representatives of the PKK their activities, put an end to the existence of organizations, individuals and other forms of presence in these countries.”

He said “Kalin at the same time announced Turkey’s readiness to hold talks on this topic with Sweden. “NATO membership is always a process. Let’s see how things go. But this is the first point to which we want to draw the attention of all allies, as well as the Swedish authorities. Of course, we want to have a discussion, negotiations with our Swedish colleagues.”

“If Finland and Sweden have a public concerned about their own national security, then we have a public that is equally concerned about our own security. We need to see it from a common perspective.”