After a pomp-filled welcome in Ankara where his NATO allies were at pains to keep him onside, US President Donald Trump was to get down to the hard business of the summit on Wednesday. As he landed in the Turkish capital, Trump was effusive in his praise for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting their “chemistry” in remarks that contrasted sharply with his lingering bitterness with European allies over the war on Iran. “I was very disappointed with NATO,” Trump repeated, setting the tone for the summit’s main gathering where the alliance’s 31 other leaders will come face-to-face with the mercurial…
Author: diplomaticjourna_diplomaticjourna
Solomon Islands leader Matthew Wale said Tuesday he had lodged a “strong protest” with Chinese diplomats on behalf of Pacific nations concerned by Beijing’s recent missile test. A Chinese submarine on Monday test-fired what observers have described as a long range nuclear-capable missile that splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. The test was widely condemend by Australia, New Zealand and Japan — although smaller Pacific nations have so far avoided making any comments. “As chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, I have registered my strong protest with the ambassador,” said Wale, referring to the region’s top political bloc. “Solomon Islands…
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Zahir Uddin Swapon, MP today said all discourses of the experts on the challenges of country’s graduation from LDC and overall development of trade and commerce would ultimately remain confined to theoretical debates unless the country’s politics is brought within an economy-friendly framework. “Tangible initiatives by political leadership are required to transform theoretical dialogue into public benefit,” he said while addressing a workshop titled “LDC Graduation and Trade Competitiveness”, organised by Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) at Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of National Press Club in the capital. The information minister said trade-related…
Bangladesh has joined international maritime liability conventions to help protect the marine environment, safeguard coastal communities, and ensure sustainable maritime trade. The Ministry of Shipping has taken a significant step by acceding to three key international maritime liability conventions in London. Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam formally handed over the instruments of accession to International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez at IMO headquarters in London today, according to a press release received here. The move will further align Bangladesh’s maritime legal and institutional framework with internationally recognized standards and best practices. Bangladesh’s Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom…
Belgium dumped the United States out of their own World Cup Monday, as Charles De Ketelaere’s brace secured a 4-1 win that was eclipsed by the bitter row over Folarin Balogun’s ban. Victory means the Belgians face Spain in the quarter-finals, while the US follow co-hosts Canada and Mexico out of the tournament with elimination in the round of 16 after a thoroughly flat performance. All attention pre-game had been on Balogun’s place in the US starting lineup, after US President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review the striker’s one-game suspension for a red card, and the governing body controversially…
Mikel Merino scored an injury-time winner as Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Monday. Merino broke the deadlock in the first minute of time added on at the AT&T Stadium outside Dallas to send the Spaniards into a last-eight clash against either Belgium or the United States in Los Angeles on Friday.
Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its role and capabilities in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations during a bilateral meeting between Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and Atul Khare, UN Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Operational Support (DOS). The meeting was held at Room S-2729 at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday (New York time) in a cordial atmosphere, said a Home Ministry press release. During the discussions, the two sides exchanged views on operational support for Bangladeshi military and police contingents deployed in UN peacekeeping missions, expediting reimbursement processes, environmental sustainability, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS)…
Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas announced Monday the dissolution of the body that has governed the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades, clearing the way for a technocratic committee to administer the territory. The move marks a significant political shift by Hamas, which has run Gaza since its fighters seized control from rival Palestinian movement Fatah in 2007 after winning legislative elections the previous year. Since a ceasefire took effect in Gaza last October between Hamas and Israel, the group has repeatedly said it is prepared to step aside from day-to-day governance, but the thorny issue of its disarmament remains unresolved.…
NATO allies will showcase surging defence spending at a summit in Turkey’s capital Ankara on Tuesday as they hope to placate US President Donald Trump after his fury over Europe’s response to the war with Iran. The two-day gathering at Turkey’s sprawling presidential palace comes a year after NATO members pledged to ramp up security-related spending to five percent of GDP under pressure from the US leader. NATO chief Mark Rutte insists European countries are “delivering” on their promise by bolstering military budgets and moving to take more responsibility for the defence of their continent in the face of Russia.…
Biman Bangladesh Airlines today resumed its direct Dhaka-Sylhet-Manchester service under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive, with the government also pledging to address airfare disparities and further improve services for expatriate Bangladeshis. Welcoming arriving passengers at MAG Osmani International Airport this morning, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam Rita said the direct service resumed under the Prime Minister’s instruction, fulfilling a long-standing demand of Bangladeshi expatriates living in the United Kingdom (UK). “Today’s flight has arrived here under the instruction of the Prime Minister. He has a special soft corner for the people of Sylhet, and we are also working with that same commitment,” she said. A Biman Bangladesh…
