As a king tide swept through Tuvalu this month, flooding homes and disrupting local sea routes, changes in political currents were also buffeting the country. The wild weather delayed a key meeting between newly elected members of parliament to determine the successor to Tuvalu’s prime minister Kausea Natano, who lost his seat in January’s elections. The new prime minister will need to tackle pressing domestic issues and also wider regional concerns, namely its role in the geopolitical tussle for influence in the Pacific. Natano had been staunch in his government’s support of Taiwan for years. But the new leader could consider cutting ties with Taiwan in favour of establishing relations with China, as one prime ministerial candidate has already signalled. Tuvalu is one of a dwindling number of countries that maintain diplomatic ties with of Taiwan, in what Beijing views as an affront to its One China principle. Five years ago, Taiwan counted six allies in the Pacific region. Now, with Nauru severing its Taiwan ties in January, only three remain – Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Despite lobbying from Beijing and the promise of more economic and development aid, the three nations list democratic and cultural values among the reasons they have maintained ties with Taipei. The Pacific region, home to a quarter of Taiwan’s remaining allies, is seen as a continued target for China. Experts say the importance of the One China policy and, in particular, the location of Palau and the Marshall Islands mean Beijing may continue to apply pressure. “These countries in the second island chain are believed to have military and strategic influence not only for traditional powers, but also for China,” Australian National University research fellow Denghua Zhang says. Promise of ‘huge aid’ from China Palau, an archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean, has felt the pressure from Beijing to switch allegiances. Palau’s president, Surangel Whipps Jr, told the Guardian Chinese officials have made constant overtures to his government. “They say, ‘You understand economics. With China, the sky’s the limit. Join us and we can build all the hotels you need, you will be flushed’,” Whipps says, adding that such promises are followed with the demand for Palau to “stop recognising Taiwan”. In 2019, Tuvalu’s foreign minister, Simon Kofe, said Chinese companies had offered to build artificial islands in the country as it confronted rising sea levels, in an attempt to undermine its relations with Taiwan. “China uses economic opportunities as a card to win over Pacific Island countries,” Zhang says. Whipps also accuses Beijing of “economic coercion” by limiting the number of tourists allowed to travel to the Pacific country, cutting off a lucrative source of revenue for Palau’s vital tourism sector. The Guardian contacted China’s foreign ministry and nearby embassies for a response to comments made by Whipps and to lobbying claims, but did not receive replies. Zhang says those nations in the Pacific that have switched allegiances have been “attracted by those huge amounts of aid pledges made by China to them.” After Solomon Islands cut ties with Taipei in 2019, China doubled the amount of discretionary funds given to its MPs to use in their districts, and bankrolled a $53m sports stadium in its capital, Honiara, according to the Lowy Institute. Taiwan does not have the same economic might. Its development agency has focused on providing Pacific allies with modest health, agricultural and livestock projects – for example, establishing a piggery project in the Marshall Islands, and building a vegetable farm on an outer island of Tuvalu. “China just unquestionably can provide more than Taiwan can,” Jessica Marinaccio, assistant professor of Asian Pacific Studies at California State University, and a former technical adviser to Tuvalu’s government, says. Despite that, the three Pacific nations have chosen to side with Taipei. Whipps says the most important reasons for Palau and Taiwan’s continued partnership are “common values [of] freedom, democracy, and rule of law”, which he believes China does not share. The Marshall Islands’ newly elected president, Hilda Heine, similarly affirmed her government’s “rock solid” support for Taipei during her recent inauguration, with her foreign ministry calling Taiwan an “indispensable partner in promotion of democratic principles”. Tuvalu’s former leader Natano has celebrated his country’s common cultural values with Taiwan. Many Tuvaluans recognise Taiwan as one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Pacific nation after it gained independence from Britain in 1978. Allies secure ‘leverage’ with US Sticking with Taiwan may also offer another kind of power. China has sought to develop a region-wide security agreement with Pacific leaders and appointed a special envoy to handle Pacific diplomatic affairs. At the same time, the US has ramped up its engagement in the region, opening several new Pacific embassies while looking to boost regional funding. It also maintains several military bases in the Pacific, including in the Marshall Islands, and is planning to build a warning radar on Palau by 2026. For Pacific countries, competition between the US and China in the region has provided “a lot more leverage” when negotiating support from western allies, says Marinaccio. One example is the Compacts of Free Association, through which Washington provides funds to Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, in return for exclusive military access to large and strategic areas of the Pacific. In a recent letter to the US government, Palau’s president said a delay in approving funds to the country “plays into the hands of the [Chinese Communist party]”. “It’s just such an effective negotiating tool. It’s so threatening to the US, which has this really terrified image of China,” Marinaccio says. Whether Tuvalu’s new leader will continue to side with Taiwan, or review the relationship, is not yet clear. Still, China counsellor Wang Xuguang, who led the team re-establishing relations with Nauru, reportedly told Chinese media that he “believe[s] Nauru won’t be the last” Pacific country with which China re-establishes relations.

Introduction Conflict over water has been predicted to be the next theatre of war. Note that the planet is covered with 70 per cent water, but only 2.5 per cent of this is freshwater. This is precisely why nations have begun to preserve fresh water and, in some cases, have gone beyond to become global water hegemons, as they grow and develop. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) provides the best example today, which is a water hegemon! The PRC, a water-stressed country, has made huge investments in water-based resources globally. Apart from the geo-political implications, the PRC’s water hegemony has had an adverse impact on the environment, well-being of local populations and pushed nations into debt traps due to resource intensive investments in dam/hydro-electric projects. The focus in this analysis is on the attitude of the PRC towards the lower riparian states and its impact. China and its global water ambitions China is said to have constructed a whopping 308 dams in 70 countries on various rivers (Tibet Policy Institute, September 23, 2016). Recent estimates of China’s dam construction worldwide shows that these dams generate a total of 81 GW of power. Such indiscriminate dam construction has adversely affected river courses, caused environmental degradation and resulted in floods and displacement of thousands of people living in the host nations and further downstream. China’s disregard for environmental conservation and consistent denials of the ecological fallouts of its mega projects on the Tibetan plateau have aggravated global concerns. China’s disregard in this regard was most telling in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Estimates show that between 1992 and 2008, over 1.5 million residents living in the floodplains of the Three Gorges Dam were displaced. China’s territory is the starting point for major rivers that flow into more than a dozen other countries, making it Asia’s “upstream controller” and giving it unmatched power to “weaponise water” against downstream countries. The development of overseas hydropower by China needs to be contextualised in these terms. Pertinently, six of Asia’s largest rivers, Brahmaputra, Indus, Salween, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and the Yangtse, have their origins in China. These rivers flow into as many as 18 countries, making China the upstream water hegemon! As an upper riparian state, China’s domestic demand has pushed it to dam its rivers with disastrous result for downstream nations. For instance, China’s eleven dams on the Mekong have disrupted aquatic life and flow sediment and has directly contributed to the collapse of river banks. The Mekong dams have also triggered recurring droughts and caused floods in countries like Thailand and Laos. China’s South East Asia Water Hegemony A 2019 study by the Stimson Centre in the US shows that even though upstream Mekong received excess rainfall, China blocked the water in its dams, resulting in downstream countries facing unprecedented droughts. Satellite imagery showed that lack of water in the lower Mekong was mainly due to blockage by dams in China (The International Prism, 22 January 2022). The lack of real coordination amongst countries in the region for operating dams has allowed China’s eleven Mekong dams to disrupt aquatic life and flow sediment and has directly contributed to the collapse of river banks and the destruction of communities. Additionally, China has consistently refused to engage in mutually beneficial and cooperative water-sharing arrangements across borders. Despite sharing over forty transboundary water sources, China has very few water governance treaties with its fourteen neighbours. China also shies away from entering into multilateral, basin-wide transboundary water agreements, lending credence to the assertion that China sees water resources as a sovereign rather than as a shared source. In sum, the PRC’s approach to waters is governed by outright unilateralism and a maximalist approach to water sovereignty enabled by its rapid hydro-engineering prowess. This is one of the reasons for China not showing any willingness to share hydro data and sedimentary load data, with either the Mekong basin states or India, the two regions where China has asserted its upper riparian status with full gusto.   Exploitation of Tibet’s Waters China has attempted to exploit the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), which contains a major portion of the world’s fresh water. Official figures reveal that by the end of 2017, installed hydropower capacity in China had reached 341 million kilowatts, while the installed hydropower capacity in the TAR was only 1.77 million kilowatts, accounting for only 1 per cent of the technically exploitable potential. (Hongzhou Zhang and Genevieve Donnellon-May, The Diplomat, 1 September 2021). The downstream impact of such development is only too obvious. The inclusion of the Medog Dam (near the border with Arunachal Pradesh) in the 14th FYP was driven in part, by the CPC’s push towards Carbon Emission reduction. (Jagannath Panda, China Brief, Jamestown Foundation, 7 June 2021). China aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. As China shifts away from coal, which supplies nearly 70 per cent of its energy use, to clean energy sources like hydroelectricity, more dams can be expected to be built. (The Diplomat, 1 September 2021). Impact on South Asia A growing source of tension in the Himalayas is China’s plans to dam key rivers before they reach India, leaving India and Bangladesh the losers. It is not just a question of damming a river; China has also taken recourse to blocking the flow of rivers. In June 2020, satellite imagery showed that China had used bulldozers to block the flow of the River Galwan, a tributary of the Indus River in Aksai Chin, thus preventing it from flowing into India. There could be no better instance of a water hegemon than this. China’s proposed Medog Dam, close to the border with Arunachal Pradesh, will eventually have an impact on lower riparian states, particularly India and Bangladesh. Further, ongoing diversion of substantial volumes of water from the Tibetan plateau watershed by China for northern China, could strain India’s agricultural needs in the North-Eastern states; conversely, Chinese mismanagement could lead to overflows and floods in India. The threat of a water bomb being unleashed on India from the proposed Medog dam cannot be overlooked. For example, a Tibetan dam burst (2000) resulted in massive flooding in India. (Jagannath Panda, Jamestown Foundation, 7 June 2021). In March 2021, a change in flow rate, turbidity and quality of the Yarlung Tsangpo River water was observed. This was attributed to the massive landslide and glacial surge near the Great Bend Region. Landslides in the Great Bend Area of the River in Jialacun Village, Tibet have the potential to cause flooding towards India (Arunachal Pradesh). China’s Motives China’s motives in investing in hydropower overseas is clearly a ‘neo-colonial’ drive to capture resources and materials, both as a part of the Belt and Road Initiative and otherwise to fund China’s GDP growth at the cost of other nations. Chinese investment in power projects globally in the past two decades is estimated to be US$ 114 billion, 44 per cent of which went to hydropower. Further, Chinese companies reportedly hold an estimated 70 per cent of the global hydropower market. (International Institute for Environment and Development News, 17 March 2022). This gives us a sense of China’s ambitions and its desire to control resources wherever possible. Brahma Chellaney, one of India’s foremost experts on water, aptly states: “China’s territorial aggrandizement in the South China Sea and the Himalayas…. has been accompanied by stealthier efforts to appropriate water resources in transnational river basins.” There is merit in reviewing the India’s position on water security from this perspective and planning for the future. The combination of territory grabbing and water resource hegemony by China is a threat that all countries in South & South East Asia face and their respective security environments. The writer is a freelance journalist Source: dailyasianage.com

The Russian Government has approved a list of more than 30 friendly and neutral countries, banks and brokers which will be allowed to trade on the Russian currency market as well as on the derivatives market.    Bangladesh is included in this list, Russian embassy disclosed it on its official facebook page.    The list of other countries included Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Qatar, China, Cuba, Malaysia, Morocco, Mongolia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has said the Johannesburg meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Chinese President Xi Jinping showcased for one more time to the world the example of relations between developing countries jointly set up by Bangladesh and China. “It was the first face-to-face meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since the latter’s formal visit to China four years ago. We have long been waiting for this meeting. It would definitely tide up new momentum for our bilateral relations,” he told UNB in his first interview since arrival in Dhaka, noting that it is his sacred mission to fully implement the consensus reached by the two leaders to push the “Strategic Partnership of Cooperation” between the two countries to a new level. As briefed by Ambassador Yao, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Xi Jinping spoke highly of the traditional friendship and good relations between Bangladesh and China “based on mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs”. “It is high on my agenda to facilitate more in-person visits and meetings of this kind in the days to come,” he added. Relations in Challenging Situation Ambassador Yao said China and Bangladesh share significant commonalities in terms of moral values, national dreams and development paths. “Since President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly upgraded our bilateral relations to Strategic Partnership of Cooperation in 2016, we have set a model of friendly ties between developing countries for the world at large,” he said. China now stands as the single largest trade partner and a key development partner of Bangladesh. “Wherever I go in Bangladesh, the local people would always give me thumbs-up for China-Bangladesh friendship,” the ambassador said. At international arenas, China and Bangladesh both stand for peace and development. “We share similar views on hotspot issues like the Ukraine crisis. China’s effort to help resume Saudi-Iran diplomatic relations was also welcomed in Bangladesh,” he said. “China is working with Bangladesh in meeting regional and global challenges, such as the repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State of Myanmar, tackling climate change, upholding the right to development, and supporting the UN peacekeeping efforts,” the envoy added. “Based on equal footing, mutual respect, joint development and common commitment to peace, relations between China and Bangladesh infuse the power of certainty and stability to an increasingly trembling world,” he said. Non-Intervention in Upcoming Election “China supports Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” President Xi said in the Johannesburg meeting, adding that China upholds Bangladesh’s efforts to fend off external interference and maintain domestic unity and stability, so as to ensure development and revitalization. Yao said the upcoming election is an internal affair of Bangladesh, and their policy is very consistent that China never intervenes in any country’s internal affairs. “The future of Bangladesh shall be determined by the Bangladeshi people,” said the ambassador adding “China is full of confidence for the better future of Bangladesh as well as China-Bangladesh relations.” For the time being, over 600 Chinese enterprises are functioning in Bangladesh, and tens of thousands of Chinese citizens are living and working here. According to Ambassador Yao, the Chinese companies proactively undertake social responsibilities on boosting local economy, protecting the environment, providing social services to host communities, help create job opportunities, build capacity for manpower and promote charity. “With their contribution and efforts, the hearts of the two peoples are brought together ever closer,” he said. When asked whether he is concerned about the interests of Chinese companies and citizens in the context of heated political air, Yao replied that the Chinese people are here for friendship and joint development with Bangladeshi people. “Their safety and security should surely be guaranteed, and their lawful interests should be protected,” he opined. Priorities Ahead Bangladesh and China will celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025. “It would be a perfect occasion to review achievements in the past and map forward for the future,” the ambassador said. He promised that China would do its part to help Bangladesh to graduate from the LDCs by 2026, and fuel up joint development to achieve respective national dreams which are “well-connected”. “Practical cooperation is the cornerstone of China-Bangladesh relations. While implementing projects agreed during high-level visits back in 2016 and 2019, we will take the initiative with Bangladesh to figure out more under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) on connectivity infrastructure, renewable power section, blue economy, digital empowerment, so on and so forth,” said the Chinese envoy. In terms of trade, he said, local exporters are encouraged to fully leverage China’s 98% zero-tariff treatment for Bangladeshi products and showcase the brand of “Made in Bangladesh” on expositions held in China, such as China International Import Expo, China-South Asia Expo and Canton Fair. The Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Chittagong should eye on high-end and high-value industries to serve the Smart Bangladesh development strategy as well as the high-quality development paradigm of China, he said. “We’d encourage Chinese entrepreneurs to increase investment in promising fields like new energy, ICT, advanced manufacturing, and agri-product processing,” Ambassador Yao said, adding that he would also push forward the cooperation on disaster management and relief, military exchanges, law enforcement coordination and maritime cooperation during his tenure in Dhaka. “Of course, as the Chinese ambassador, I’d play my role in mediating between Bangladesh and Myanmar to facilitate the early and sustainable repatriation of displaced people from Rakhine State,” he underscored. BRI Project “The Belt and Road Initiative has brought about tangible benefit for the Bangladeshi people,” Ambassador Yao said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina described BRI a ‘trailblazer’ for Bangladesh’s development.” This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launching of BRI and the 7th anniversary of Bangladesh’s participation in the initiative. “In recent years, we’ve witnessed completion of a good number of projects built under the BRI that have significantly changed the development landscape of Bangladesh, such as the Info-Sarker phase 3 project, the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center, the Payra Thermal Power Plant, the Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant, among others,” he said. “Connectivity will be further improved between the Southwestern part and the rest of the country when the Banglabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuri River and the First Section of the Padma Bridge Railway Link open for traffic by the end of this year,” he noted. Asked about the latest status of on-going development projects, he said that projects like Modernization of Telecommunication Network for Digital Connectivity and the Installation of Single Point Mooring with Double Pipeline Project will be completed soon. “The Rajshahi WASA Surface Water Treatment Plant will start its construction, and the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project is also under discussion between authorities of the two sides,” he added. Global Development Initiative The Global Development Initiative (GDI), a twin sister of BRI, is said to be aimed at supporting the timely achievement of all 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by revitalizing global development partnership and promoting stronger, greener and healthier global development. Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward GDI at the United Nations in 2021. It promotes international cooperation in eight priority areas, namely poverty alleviation, food security, pandemic response and vaccines, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity in the digital-era. “All these are also the focus of Bangladesh in its Vision 2041 perspective plan,” said the ambassador. According to the United Nations, over 100 countries and international organizations have expressed their support to the initiative and 68 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI at the UN. This July, the first high-level meeting of the Global Action Forum for Shared Development was held in Beijing, with more than 800 guests from 158 countries and international organizations attending online and offline. Minister of Planning M.A. Mannan took part in the event on behalf of Bangladesh. “It is hoped that Bangladesh would make good use of China’s aid, preferential loans and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to actively carry out policy dialogue, experience sharing, capacity building and practical cooperation,” said the ambassador. Producing Green Energy Responding to a question, the envoy said China, a key contributor to the Paris Agreement, pledged to peak its carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, and to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. “By 2035, China will broadly establish eco-friendly ways of work and life, lower carbon emissions after reaching a peak, improve the environment and largely accomplish the goal of building a ‘Beautiful China’,” he added. Bangladesh also faces critical challenges of environmental degradation and climate change. “Fortunately, the country has become well aware of the gravity of these issues, and has taken plausible actions,” the Chinese envoy said, noting that the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP) adopted in 2020 plays a key role in guiding the country’s development paradigm into the track of green transition by 2030. “As Bangladesh and China converge on environmental goals, there heralds significant potentials for the two countries to synergize on green development strategies, thereby building a shared human community in harmony with nature,” said Ambassador Yao. “In fact, we’ve already kicked start cooperation in this regard. When I visited Cox’s Bazar a few months ago, I saw photovoltaic panels of Chinese brand on top of many roofs. A wind farm project is also being built there by Chinese contractors,” he added. Next Generation of Green Traffic It was reported that Bangladesh had its first electric vehicle (EV) charging station installed in Dhaka earlier this month. “I read it from newspaper. But there are only 35 EV registered in Bangladesh for the time being. That is a negligible amount compared to the 170 million population of Bangladesh,” he said. China is a key designer and manufacturer of EV. There are over 16 million EV and mixed-fuel vehicles running on the road of China, and the number is still soaring up. “We would encourage more Chinese EV manufacturers to come to Bangladesh, explore the local market, and meet the demand of Bangladeshi people, thereby helping Bangladesh transit towards the next generation of green traffic,” said the ambassador. People-to-People Exchanges In the interview, Ambassador Yao said people-to-people exchanges lay the foundation for Bangladesh-China friendship. Earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied a touching letter to Alifa Chin, a Bangladeshi teenager born with the help of Chinese navy hospital ship “Peace Ark” and named after China by her father. Expressing his hope that Chin would make best use of her youthful years and study hard to make her dream come true, President Xi encouraged her to give back to her family, contribute to the society, and serve her own country. “President Xi Jinping’s reply letter to Alifa Chin ushers in a new chapter for the intimate relations between the two peoples. From this start, we’d further enhance people-to-people exchanges between us,” said the ambassador. As of now, there are more than 12,000 Bangladeshi students studying in China. Three Confucius Institutes and classrooms are functioning in Bangladesh. The Chinese envoy sees them as “seed and hope” for enhanced mutual understandings. “The local media also play a unique role in influencing public opinion and bridging recognition gaps. It is my sincere hope that prominent media houses like UNB would keep producing objective and fair reports about China and China-Bangladesh cooperation, thereby contribute to the betterment of friendly ties between our two countries and peoples,” he said.

Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, M.P. received a business delegation from Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) from India today in the afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka. Dr. Momen, during his interaction with the delegation, expressed his satisfaction over the excellent bilateral relation between Bangladesh and India.  He noted that both Bangladesh and India have made remarkable growth in trade and investment in the recent years. He urged that the two countries should work together to complement each other’s economies, especially, when the world is experiencing economic recession due to Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical crisis. Dr. Momen noted, due to the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, regional stability has been ensured, which has benefited both the countries to augment economic growth. Dr. Momen stressed on working for the promotion of bilateral trade and commerce in a balanced manner and emphasized to remove all kinds of trade barriers, especially, tariff and non-tariff barriers for enhancement of trade volume between Bangladesh and India.  He invited the business delegation to invest in Bangladesh and take advantage of the congenial investment regime of the country. He stressed on developing the two Special Economic Zones (SEZs) located at Mirsarai and Mongla dedicated for India at an expeditious manner, so that, more investment can be accommodated. The Indian delegation appreciated the recent remarkable socio-economic growth achieved under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They expressed their readiness to engage with various business bodies for promoting trade and commerce with a view to achieving economic development in both the countries.  They also expressed their keen interest in investing in Bangladesh especially in health, education and power sector. They also proposed to launch BIMSTEC Chamber of Commerce to promote trade and commerce amongst the BIMSTEC member states.  Foreign Minister appreciated the idea and assured of extending necessary support in this regard. Indian Chamber of Commerce which was set up in 1925, has a special focus on promoting trade and commerce in the South Asian and South East Asian countries. They are visiting Dhaka from 6-8 August 2023 and meeting various Chambers and business houses in Bangladesh.

US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "They support everyone’s right to freely exercise their role in a democratic society. We oppose any restrictions on human rights." on July 24, US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters during a regular media briefing. In that briefing, He added, "They (US) do not take a position with respect to any political party in Bangladesh or in other countries.But we believe that Bangladesh and all countries throughout the world should have free and fair elections."  "Visa restrictions would apply to anyone who undermines the democratic election process in Bangladesh", He also added this.   

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Wednesday asked the G20 countries to “rise above differences” and address the global challenges confronting the world and also act as G20 member responsive for global well-being in the spirit of one family, informed the Ministry of Science and Technology. In his inaugural address at the G20 Science Ministers meeting here, Jitendra Singh said, India recognises the significance of global collaboration and knowledge sharing in addressing the complex challenges of our times and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been repeatedly reiterating this from time to time at every international forum. The Minister called upon to leverage the collective wisdom, expertise, and resources to foster a culture of innovation, promote sustainable development, and ensure a prosperous future for all. The Minister urged the G20 nations to move ahead with a profound agenda to excel in inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth. Referring to the fact that a number of Member States are represented at the highest level in their national science hierarchy, Jitendra Singh said, this group has potential to address major global challenges, as we did recently while combating Covid pandemic. He emphasized that during India’s G20 Presidency, we stand committed to advancing global research and innovation for a better tomorrow, as per an official release. Singh said, in recent times, Scientists and Researchers have been at the forefront of cutting-edge discoveries and advancements across multiple disciplines like space exploration to artificial intelligence, from biotechnology to nanotechnology and have pushed the boundaries of scientific understanding and have fostered innovation that benefits humanity as a whole. He said, as the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and depleting natural resources, it becomes imperative to harness renewable energy sources efficiently. He emphasized that G20 members should remain committed to our Net Zero goals and continue to work on sustainable development and renewable energy and expressed satisfaction that the world has witnessed substantial growth in solar and wind power installations in recent years. Our scientists have been working tirelessly to discover and create materials that can revolutionise the energy sector, making it cleaner, more affordable, and accessible for all, the Minister added. Singh underscored that G20 nations must harness the power of technology and innovation to drive the transition towards cleaner energy sources and promote eco-innovations, such as smart grids, energy-efficient buildings, and sustainable transportation systems, as these initiatives not only mitigate environmental impact but also foster economic growth and create new avenues for job creation, the release said. The Union Minister also pointed out that G20 community has advanced space technologies to predict and monitor various natural hazards, like cyclone, tsunami, landslides, forest fire, space technologies also help a lot in communication. He underlined the need to share products of these technologies to countries, outside G20 also, so that they can better prepare themselves against such calamities. India’s Science Minister told the delegates that developing quantum technologies, exploring quantum communication, cryptography, and quantum algorithms are our next level of G20 research agenda. We aim to scale up scientific and industrial R&D, for accelerating Quantum Technology-led economic growth and leverage several economies into a leading nation supporting sustainable development, he added. Singh said, Scientists have made significant contributions to genetic research and biotechnology and researchers focused on studying the genetic basis of diseases, developing personalized medicine approaches, and advancing genetic engineering techniques. He said, these efforts hold immense potential for improving healthcare outcomes and addressing genetic disorders. The Minister also pointed out that as immunity is directly linked to our health and food, several systems encourage us to develop immunity through food we eat instead of medication. He highlighted that FinTech ecosystems of the world have grown in a tremendous way. Few economies have adopted virtual currencies, whereas few others are using virtual transactions to a large extent. He said, as the world is witnessing rapid digital transformation, cyber-security has become a critical focus and called upon the scientific community to develop algorithms which are difficult for hackers to break. We need to strengthen our cyber-security infrastructure, developing advanced systems to protect critical digital assets and data, he added. Singh said, during these testing times, the world also witnessed rise of several technologies-based startups and these companies excelled in developing AI-based solutions for various sectors, including healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education. He added that the integration of AI and data analytics has helped improve decision-making processes, enhance productivity, and drive innovation in diverse industries, as per the release. Jitendra Singh drew the attention of G20 delegates towards the immense potential of our oceans and seas, in terms of mineral resources, energy solutions and marine food and asserted that all are committed to promoting sustainable practices in fisheries, marine research, coastal tourism, and renewable energy generation. He said, by harnessing the potential of the Blue Economy, we can ensure the well-being of our oceans while driving economic development in a sustainable and responsible manner. We are also concerned about increased plastics and microplastics in our oceans, another important area to focus as it enters into our food chain as several marine organisms consume them. Jitendra Singh expressed concern that while some of the G20 members are facing water scarcity and challenge of water quality, some others are moving in that direction. He said, Precision irrigation, Innovative clean water technologies, such as water purification systems, desalination techniques, and wastewater treatment technologies are to be further augmented and implemented. The Minister added that as we move towards a more sustainable future, it is crucial to explore innovative approaches that minimise waste generation and maximise resource efficiency. We recognize the importance of adopting circular economy principles in the bio sector, which focuses on reducing waste, recycling valuable materials, and promoting a sustainable and regenerative approach to economic growth. He said, we also recognize the role of research and innovation in the adoption of Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) as accelerators that can advance the progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and commit to support actions in promoting the same. In his concluding remarks at G20 Research Ministers Meeting, the union minister expressed satisfaction that during the RIIG meetings, member states discussed various topics including, challenges related to energy materials & devices, solar energy utilisation and photovoltaic technology and materials and processes for green energy; and policy issues like role of research, development & innovation in creating new resource-efficient, sustainable and more circular bio-based technologies, products and services; understanding the blue economy science & services; blue economy sectors and opportunities; observation data and information services; marine ecosystems & pollution; blue economy management and perspectives; coastal and marine spatial planning; marine living resources and biodiversity; deep sea ocean technology; and blue economy policy perspectives, the ministry’s official release state. Singh thanked G20 delegates for their constructive and fruitful deliberations, which marked the end of series of RIIG meetings and conferences which India hosted during last 5-6 months, starting from Kolkata to Ranchi to Dibrugarh to Dharamshala to Diu and now to Mumbai under India’s G20 main theme of Vasudhaiva-Kutumbakam or One-Earth One-Family One-Future. We identified Research and Innovation for an Equitable Society, as the main theme of RIIG-2023, he informed. The Minister thanked the members for their active participation and supporting India’s RIIG agenda with valuable inputs and comments on our priority areas. India is fully committed to contribute in attaining the UN SDG-2023 by way of Research and Innovation through International collaboration and partnerships. India hosted a total of 5 meetings and conferences across India under priority topics of i) Materials for sustainable energy; ii) Circular bio-economy; iii) Eco-innovations for energy transition; and iv) Scientific challenges and opportunities towards achieving sustainable blue-economy, which signifies the importance of Research and Innovation for inclusive societal development and growth, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. 

A series of Islamic countries have criticized the burning of pages of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm as part of an authorized protest. Turkish President Erdogan was among them, amid NATO talks with Sweden. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan led a chorus of criticism from the Muslim world aimed at Sweden on Thursday, a day after an Iraqi man burned pages of a Quran outside a Stockholm mosque.  Erdogan said in televised remarks that he condemnded Wednesday's incident in Stockholm. "We will eventually teach the arrogant Westerners that insulting Muslims is not freedom of thought," Erdogan said, paying little heed to the protester's own non-Western identity. "We will show our reaction in the strongest possible terms, until a determined victory against terrorist organizations and Islamophobia is achieved."  Erdogan's comments seemed to hint at him looking to use the incident to continue to stifle Sweden's bid to join NATO, submitted in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. More talks between the two sides are scheduled for next week. Erdogan accuses Sweden of harboring what he calls "terrorists," usually either Kurdish activists or supporters of a former ally turned rival of Erdogan's, Fethullah Gulen. The president has also criticized comparable past demonstrations in Sweden that he deemed to be either anti-Turkey or anti-Islam or both.  Although the protest's impact on Erdogan and his government might be the most pressing concern for Stockholm, given its current political efforts, Turkey's criticism was just one voice among many from the Islamic world on Thursday.  Chorus of criticism, ambassadors summoned A host of Islamic governments voiced their disapproval of the action, while in Iraq, protesters tried to breach the Swedish Embassy building in Baghdad.  This followed Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr calling for a demonstration outside the embassy seeking the ambassador's removal, charging that Sweden was "hostile to Islam."  The US Census Bureau put Sweden's Muslim population at 8.1% in 2022. Swedish government figures are often lower as they only count those who are registered with a mosque and regularly attend. The country also hosts many people from Islamic countries who have since renounced their faith, like Wednesday's protester, many of whom do not feel safe in their homelands after doing so. The United Arab Emirates and Jordan summoned Sweden's ambassador on Thursday, as Morocco had late on Wednesday.  Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, Egypt, and Kuwait all issued criticial comments.  The government in Baghdad said such actions "inflame the feelings of Muslims around the world and represent a dangerous provocation for them."  Iran called the demo "provocative, ill-considered and unacceptable," while saying it was Sweden's obligation to prevent "the repetition of insulting holy sanctities."  Saudi Arabia noted how the act coincided with the Eid al-Adha religious festival and the end of the Hajj pilgrimage: "These hateful and repeated acts cannot be accepted with any justification," the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.  Swedish PM: Protest was legal but not 'appropriate' Sweden rarely bans protests, even ones that might be deemed incitement in other countries, and a court approved the demonstration on Wednesday. However, after it, police said they would investigate potential "agitation" that might have been committed amid the protest by an Iraqi refugee who would like the book banned.  Sweden's prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, said at a press conference that the decision on whether the protest should go ahead had not been his to make.  "It is legal but not appropriate," Kristersson said of the protest, saying such individual decisions rested with Swedish law enforcement, not politicians.  Representatives of the mosque outside which the protest took place had said on Wednesday that they were disappointed police permitted the protest. They had suggested police could at least divert the demonstration to a less sensitive location — one step that could have been within their powers.  The protest was watched by a crowd of people, including supporters and counterprotesters; police cordoned the protester off from the crowd, apparently for his own protection. In January, a similar protest took place in Sweden conducted by the leader of a Danish far-right political party who set light to a copy of the Quran after a long diatribe about Muslim migration into Sweden. This also prompted stern criticism from Turkey and other countries.  NATO has appealed to Turkey, however, to consider that its stance on Sweden joining NATO might be contributing to protests in Sweden which Ankara and Erdogan then find objectionable. Kristersson said at Thursday's EU leaders' summit that he would hold talks with the other NATO holdout, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Hungary's government on Thursday confirmed that it would delay a parliamentary vote on ratifying Swedish NATO membership by another week, but said the decision was unrelated to Turkey's renewed displeasure — a claim disputed by the opposition in Budapest.

UK’s landmark Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) is coming into effect today. The scheme simplifies trading rules and cuts tariffs on products entering the UK from 65 developing countries, including Bangladesh. The DCTS will help grow trade, boost jobs, and drive sustained economic growth. This new scheme demonstrates the UK’s commitment to a modern and mutually beneficial partnership with Bangladesh. Bangladesh is due to graduate from Least Developed Country status in 2026. Changes made to the DCTS mean Bangladesh will retain duty-free access for 98% of exports, including readymade garments. It is more generous than the European Union’s scheme the UK was previously a member of.  The scheme will contribute to developing countries’ integration into the global economy, creating stronger trade and investment partners for the future, and strengthening supply chains.  The DCTS makes it easier to produce goods using components from other countries without losing duty free status. Under the new scheme, Bangladesh will be able to participate in global value chains involving raw materials from 95 countries to export their final products to the UK duty-free, provided they meet certain requirements. The DCTS promotes free and fair trade, human rights, and good governance. Retention of DCTS preferences is based on respect for human and labour rights and compliance with relevant international conventions, including those on civil and political rights, anti-corruption, climate change and the environment. The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, said, “The DCTS will support Bangladesh’s manufacturing capacity, increase long term economic growth and resilience, and allow it to access global supply chains. It benefits the UK through greater consumer choice and competitive prices. This announcement underscores our commitment to a modern and mutually beneficial partnership with Bangladesh, based on deeper, economic and trade ties and global standards”.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized on strengthening business for socio-economic development of Commonwealth countries.  Prime Minister made this statement while a delegation led by Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) Deputy Chair Lord Hugo George William Swire went to meet the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday evening at her official residence, Ganabhaban. Prime Minister said, "Commonwealth countries should strengthen trade among themselves for socio-economic development purpose." Apart from Commonwealth countries, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also emphasized on developing strong business ties with non-Commonwealth countries, especially oil-rich Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Prime Minister's speech writer Md. Nazrul Islam quoting her as she saying. Mr. Nazrul Islam said that the Prime Minister has been informed about the first 'Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum' to be held in Dhaka on September 13-14. Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) will organize this forum to uplift trade and investment among Commonwealth countries including Bangladesh.  Prime Minister welcomed CWEIC to organize the forum.