BEIJING, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo talked over phone.

The officials exchanged views on relative issues and concerns in a frank and practical way.

The two sides also agreed to maintain communication in their working relationship.

Moreover, the two stressed the importance of dialogue and communication between China and the United States in the business field.

Healthy development of pragmatic cooperation on trade and investment was also promoted during the talks.

BEIJING, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) opposed to the U.S. Senate's approval of "the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021."

The committee said, “The bill, full of ideological prejudice and driven by a Cold-War mentality, smears and slanders China's development path and foreign and domestic policies, interferes in China's internal affairs and attempts to contain China's development under the banner of "innovation and competition."

It attempts to maintain the U.S. global hegemony by fanning the so-called China threat, to interfere in China's internal affairs on the pretext of human rights and religion, and to take away China's legitimate right to development by means of "decoupling" in the scientific, technological and economic areas, the statement said.

"We resolutely oppose any official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan," the statement said. "Issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong are purely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference."

The statement stressed that China always pursues peaceful development, and the Chinese people's right to pursue a better life through work is sacred and inviolable.

However, China remains committed to building China-U.S. relations featuring non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

DHAKA, 10 June, 2021 (TON): Fifty model mosques haven been inaugurated by the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

This move is the government’s initiative to build 560 structures across the country to promote and disseminate the teachings of Islam.

On Thursday, the PM said in a video conference call from her official residence Ganabhabanl, “The Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman worked to publicise and disseminate Islam.”

“He founded the Islamic Foundation to advocate Islam, so that people can learn its main precepts, gain knowledge of the religion and promote it and we are continuing that work.”

The project will build a model mosque and an Islamic cultural centre in every district centre and upazila, she said.

The project is a way to preach the ‘true meaning’ of Islam, its brotherhood and its values and stand against extremism and militancy, the prime minister said.

She said, “These mosques will also play a role in fighting terrorism and raise public awareness about the prevention of violence against women.”

“We hope the construction of all 560 model mosques will be completed within the next two years.”

The government also allocated funds to build temples, churches and pagodas.

However, the government has allocated Tk 87.22 billion to the project, one of Hasina’s promises during the 2014 general election.

BAMAKO, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the ECOWAS delegation met with Mali's Prime Minister in the second of a two-day visit in Mali’s capital.

ECOWAS mediator, Goodluck Jonathan, Malian Prime Minister, Choguel Maiga, and the President of the ECOWAS commission, Jean-Claude Brou Kassi, attended the meeting.

Maiga said that the new government would within six weeks present the actions to be taken, adding that Mali's partners will hold our hand as they have always done when our country has gone through a storm.

"In a few weeks we will come back to the Malians and then to the international community, to indicate the firm determination to go through with the transition, which should be a successful transition, after having resolved or addressed all the issues and difficulties that were at the root of the change that we have experienced," he said.

The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, has been supporting mediation talks in Mali when Colonel Goita, who first grabbed power in August 2020 by overthrowing Mali's democratically elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and agreed to transitional government.

KHARTOUM, 10 June, 2021 (TON): Following the lifting of the fuel subsidies as part of economic reforms supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), fuel prices almost doubled in Sudan.

The move is likely to ignite unpopular discontent for a country facing deep economic crisis.

The price of a liter of gasoline has jumped from 150 to 290 Sudanese pounds (0.3 to 0.56 euros).

The price of a liter of diesel is up by almost 128%, from 125 to 285 Sudanese pounds (0.55 euros).

On Tuesday night, the new measure was approved by the Finance Ministry, the media reported.

In October, prices had already doubled. Several protests over high cost of living have taken place over the past year.

The IMF, which adopted a program for Sudan last year, has demanded that the Sudanese government implement several austerity measures. Those measures include the removal of state subsidies.

However, Sudan has been in a deep economic crisis since the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 after 30 years of rule marked by armed conflict, an ailing economy and heavy international sanctions.

CARACAS, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza stated that the U.S. sanctions against Venezuela are part of a "comprehensive assault" against the country.

He said in a statement, "It's not just the sanctions, the unilateral coercive measures. Let's see this as a comprehensive assault, a political and diplomatic assault, definitely an economic assault, communicational and ideological assault. It is a real assault with operations by mercenaries."

"There is no doubt" that the measures applied by Washington "have hurt the Venezuelan economy and the Venezuelan people, and constitute crimes against humanity," said Arreaza.

He added, from every perspective, unilateral coercive measures are illegal under international law and that is clearly established by the United Nations General Assembly itself, in different debates and resolutions.

He spoke at the opening of a virtual academic conference called, "Unilateral coercive measures: disrespect for international law and serious human consequences."

The conference gathered experts in the field and diplomatic envoys accredited to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

NEW YORK, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, UNICEF voiced concern about UK government’s decision to reduce funding to the agency.

The agency said in a statement, "We depend on these resources to sustain our humanitarian and development programs for millions of children around the world, helping us to reach them before, during and after crises."

"Any cuts to these vital funds will have serious consequences for the most vulnerable children, especially now that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a global spike in the number of those in need of essential education, protection, health and water services.

"We estimate that 150 million additional children are living in multidimensional poverty because of the pandemic," the statement added.

The UK government has announced a 60 per cent reduction in funding to the UNICEF..

Moreover, in addition, it has also announced pauses and reductions to earmarked contributions for UNICEF programming at the local, regional and global levels.

NAYPYITAW, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, Myanmar’s state run media reported that new corruption cases have been opened against Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other former officials from her government.

In a series of corruption charges, the media cited the Anti-Corruption Commission that the accusations related to the misuse of land for the charitable Daw Khin Kyi Foundation that she chaired, as well as earlier accusations of accepting money and gold.

It said, "She was found guilty of committing corruption using her rank. So she was charged under Anti-Corruption Law section 55."

Section 55 provides for up to 15 years in prison for those found guilty.

LONDON, 10 June, 2021 (TON): BRITISH Airways and Ryanair Holdings Plc face an investigation for breaking UK consumer rules.

The airlines failed to offer refunds to customers for flights they couldn't take.

It has opened enforcement cases against both airlines on Wednesday, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority said.

Andrea Coscelli, chief executive officer at the CMA, said in a statement, "While we understand that airlines have had a tough time during the pandemic, people should not be left unfairly out of pocket for following the law,"

"Customers booked these flights in good faith and were legally unable to take them due to circumstances entirely outside of their control."

The watchdog last year opened a probe into the airline sector, following concerns that during the Covid-19 pandemic, customers were denied refunds while unable to fly and instead were offered vouchers or the option to rebook flights.

The refund issue caused a backlash last year when flights were grounded and customers were forced to cancel trips.

It proved contentious from the start of the pandemic when the airlines steered passengers toward rebooking or accepting credits for future flights.

Washington, 10 June, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Britain.

This is the President’s first foreign trip as US President, during which he is scheduled to visit several European countries.

The White House said, "This trip will highlight America's commitment to rallying the world's democracies, coming together to shape the rules of the road for the 21st century, defend our values, and tackle the world's biggest challenges."

The media cited that in East England, the president arrived at an air base of the Royal Air Force.

The president and First Lady Jill Biden are scheduled to meet US soldiers in the English county of Suffolk to kick off their first foreign trip since taking office in January.

On Thursday, Biden is due to meet British Prime Minister Boris Johnson near Cornwall, where the G7 summit takes place from Friday to Sunday, on the fringes of which Biden is expected to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel, among other G7 leaders.

At the end of their visit to Britain, the US president and the first lady are to be received by Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle near London on Sunday.

On Monday, Biden plans to attend the NATO summit in Brussels.

On Wednesday of next week, Biden is expected to hold an eagerly awaited summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva.