Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
“We sought their (diplomats) help so that Myanmar can’t take advantage of creating instability in the region,” said the acting foreign secretary.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Myanmar on Monday put blame on the Arakan Army (AA) and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa) while explaining its stance regarding the recent gunfights and mortar shelling along the border in Naikhongchhari of Bandarban.
Bangladesh has conveyed its concerns over possible instability in the region to diplomats stationed in Dhaka – briefing them over the current situation in bordering areas with Myanmar.
The diplomats have appreciated Bangladesh’s position of not stepping into Myanmar’s traps by maintaining peace.
The acting foreign secretary spoke to reporters at State guesthouse Padma, following the briefing with diplomats.
The briefing lasted for around 30 minutes.
The diplomats assured Bangladesh of conveying its concerns to their capitals.
On 19 September 2022, acting foreign secretary Rear Admiral (Rtd) Md Khorshed Alam briefed the heads of missions from Southeast Asian countries and apprised them of the prevailing situation at Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
The envoys took note of Bangladesh’s concerns and ensured of duly conveying those to their respective capitals.
The acting foreign secretary conveyed Bangladesh’s deep concerns on the recent incidents of mortar shells from Myanmar falling and exploding inside Bangladesh territory, indiscriminate aerial firings, human fatalities and serious injuries, damages to the properties and livelihood of the people in the bordering areas to the ASEAN envoys.
No diplomat representing Myanmar was at the briefing but diplomats from other ASEAN countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – were present.
Director General (South East Asia wing) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md Najmul Huda was also present.
News (2)
Bangladesh-Myanmar border tension: ASEAN envoys to relay Bangladesh's concerns
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) envoys stationed in Dhaka have said they will relay Bangladesh's concerns over the situation along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border to their capitals.
Acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral Md Khorshed Alam (retired) briefed the heads of missions from the southeast Asian countries in Dhaka Monday and informed them about the current situation in the bordering areas of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The acting foreign secretary conveyed the deep concerns of Bangladesh about the recent incidents as mortar shells from Myanmar fell and exploded inside Bangladesh territory. Also, there were indiscriminate aerial firings, human fatalities and serious injuries, damage to the properties and livelihood of the people in the bordering areas with Myanmar.
On Sunday, Myanmar Ambassador to Bangladesh Aung Kyaw Moe "acknowledged" the firing of multiple mortar shells into Bangladesh territory, but tried to deflect blame by asserting the insurgents they are engaged in the fighting were firing heavy artillery and mortars, some of which landed inside Bangladesh.
Bangladesh urged Myanmar to refrain from activities that inflict damage to the lives and livelihoods of people, noting that the ongoing situation is creating an atmosphere of "fear' among the innocent people living in the bordering areas with Myanmar.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday summoned the Myanmar envoy for the fourth time since August and lodged a strong protest against the incidents of shelling from Myanmar.
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Gunshots near Ukhiya border area
After mortar shelling, firing, and air space violations in Bangladesh's Tumbru border region from Myanmar, gunshots have now been heard in Cox's Bazar's Ukhiya border area.
Locals said the gunshots were heard from 7am to 10am in Anjumanpara area of Palongkhali union on Tuesday.
Gafur Chowdhury, chairman of Palongkhali union, said that after Tumbru in Bandarban, locals of Ukhiya border area heard several gunshots, and it has spread panic among the residents.
He also mentioned that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been informed of the matter, reports Bangla Tribune.
Besides, Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Imran Hossain Sajib said, "Locals reported hearing sounds of gunshots in the morning. About 100 families are living within 300 metres of the border.”
On the other hand, locals at the Tumbru border area of Ghumdhum union also reported hearing gunshots since 8 am again.
News (4)
12 mortar shells landed in Bangladesh
Acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khorshed Alam on Tuesday said the Myanmar side always makes the same claims by blaming Arakan Army and Arsa for mortar shells landing in Bangladesh.
“We sought their (diplomats) help so that Myanmar can’t take advantage of creating instability in the region,” said the acting foreign secretary.
On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar summoned Bangladesh Ambassador Manjurul Karim Chowdhury on Monday to explain its stance regarding the recent gunfights and mortar shelling along the border in Naikhongchhari of Bandarban.
During the meeting, the ministry director-general put blame on the Arakan Army (AA) and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa), adding that the Myanmar army had been trying to tackle armed attacks.
The ministry said that the “terrorist groups” used the same weapons to attack on Border Guard Police (BGP) outposts on 16 to 17 September, causing the law enforcers to retaliate. During the period, at least 12 mortal shells landed inside Bangladesh territory.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry summoned the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka on Sunday, for the fourth time since August and lodged a strong protest against the incidents of mortar shelling.
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1 died, 5 injured in Rohingya Camp, Bangladesh
On Friday night, a 17-year-old-Rohingya boy named Mohammad Iqbal was killed and five others were injured when a mortar shell fired by the Myanmar army exploded at the Zero Point Rohingya Camp close to the international border in Tombru, Bandarban.
The deceased and injured were all residents of the Zero Point Rohingya Camp, known as the camp closest to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, on no-man's land.
The same day, a youth named Anganthowai Tanchangya was grievously injured in a landmine explosion along the border in Naikhongchhari. Due to the injuries, one of his legs had to be amputated.
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Malaysian Foreign Minister meets with Myanmar's parallel Civilian Government
Source : The Irrawaddy
Malaysia’s foreign minister met with representatives of Myanmar’s parallel National Unity Government (NUG) in New York on Monday ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
The meeting makes Malaysia the first country from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to publicly and personally receive delegates from the NUG, an umbrella organization for the resistance movement that has been trying to topple the military regime in Myanmar since 2021.
The minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, hosted the NUG’s deputy foreign minister, U Moe Zaw Oo, as well as U Aung Kyi Nyunt, who is chairperson of the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH)—the NUG’s parliamentary body—and a representative of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC), a body formed to bring together forces opposed to the regime. The meeting was joined by NUG-appointed Myanmar Ambassador to the UN U Kyaw Moe Tun and two other NUG ministers, U Aung Myo Min and U Htin Lin Aung.
In a tweet, Saifuddin Abdullah said the participants discussed the latest developments in Myanmar. He met with NUG Foreign Minister Daw Zin Mar Aung in May.
The Monday meeting in New York came shortly before the UNGA. The Myanmar issue will be the sole focus of a number of meetings, and will be discussed at some others, where Malaysia’s perspective on the country will be raised.
The specific meetings on Myanmar include those with the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs on Sept. 20; the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar on 21 September; and the Informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting on 22 September.
“Malaysia will listen to the updates on what is really happening in Myanmar from the representatives of the people of Myanmar, exchange notes, and discuss the next steps [led by the people of Myanmar], and how Malaysia can be of assistance,” the foreign minister said, Bernama News reported.
Myanmar has been socially and politically devastated by last year’s military coup. A vast majority of the country’s people have resisted military rule and the regime is unable to control the country due to widespread popular armed resistance. So far the junta has killed more than 2,000 people for opposing it.
Following the coup, the NUG was formed by elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) and their ethnic allies to challenge the regime at home and abroad, commanding the loyalty of the vast majority of Myanmar people. The regime has branded the NUG as a "terrorist" organization.
In the wake of the coup and subsequent violence, ASEAN adopted a five-point peace plan for Myanmar in April 2021 urging the junta to immediately end the violence in the country and to hold an inclusive political dialogue, among other steps. The regime has failed to implement the plan. As a result, relations between the regional grouping and the junta have turned sour, with the regime’s leadership barred from attending summits since last year.
Among ASEAN member states, Malaysia has been particularly critical of the regime.
In May, Saifuddin Abdullah attracted the regime’s ire by commenting that a move by ASEAN to informally engage the NUG “may be conceivable, especially on how humanitarian aid to the people of Myanmar who are still in their country can be delivered.”
On his meeting with the NUG foreign minister, he said it was “to express Malaysia’s support and solidarity with the people of Myanmar and stand ready to work towards restoring peace and democracy in Myanmar.”
ASEAN, meanwhile, has been criticized for its peace plan for Myanmar, as it has proved to be ineffective.
Saifuddin Abdullah said Malaysia will propose that ASEAN undertake a serious review of the plan to see whether it is still relevant and if it should be replaced with something better ahead of the bloc’s summit in November.
Chinese representative strongly condemns U.S. arbitrary detention at UN Human Rights Council
Editor : Guan Na / https://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/2022/09-21/9857057.shtml
The 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is being held in Geneva. The representative of CCP China spoke at an interactive dialogue with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on 19 September 2022, strongly condemning the long-standing problem of arbitrary detention in the United States.
The Chinese representative said that the United States has detained more than 1.7 million immigrants in 2021, and up to 80% of immigrants are held in private detention facilities, including 45,000 children. The conditions of private detention facilities are poor, the physical and mental health of detainees have been greatly harmed, and human rights violations have occurred frequently. Nearly 5,000 children are detained in the Brisburg shelter alone.
The representative of China pointed out that for 20 years, the United States has arbitrarily detained some people in Guantanamo without trial. In January this year, the Special Mechanism's Group of Experts issued a statement calling Guantanamo "a stain on the U.S. government's commitment to the rule of law" and urged the U.S. to end "an ugly page of wanton violations of human rights."
The Chinese representative urged the U.S. to face up to its own human rights issues, stop the arbitrary detention of refugees and other human rights violations, and provide relief and compensation to the victims.
News (8)
Putin accepts the credentials presented by the ambassadors of 24 countries, emphasizing that "the world is developing towards multi-polarization"
Reporters : Tian Bing, Liu Jingyao / Editor : Fang Jialiang / https://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/2022/09-21/9856955.shtml
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the ceremony of accepting credentials from foreign ambassadors on 20 September 2022 that the world order is changing and the world is moving towards multi-polarization.
According to the Russian President's website, Putin received credentials from newly-arrived ambassadors to Russia from 24 countries and delivered a speech at the Alexander Hall of the Kremlin that day. He pointed out that the entire structure of international relations is undergoing a fundamental transformation at an accelerated pace, and a more democratic and fair multi-polar world order system is actively taking shape but this objective development of multi-polarity has been thwarted by countries trying to maintain a hegemonic position in international affairs and to control everything. This kind of world hegemony has existed for a long time but it cannot always exist, "it is impossible".
Putin said that the West is currently imposing sanctions on Russia but they will eventually suffer the consequences. In addition, the West restricts the supply of Russian energy, food and fertilizers to the world market, which affects some developing and poor countries.
Putin stressed that Russia will continue to adhere to the sovereign line. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Russia will further advance an international agenda aimed at unity, contribute to the quest for effective responses to today's many challenges and threats, and work to resolve serious regional conflicts. This will be Russia's main position expressed at the 77th UN General Assembly.
The TASS News Agency reported that this is the first time a Russian president has attended a ceremony for the presentation of credentials by a foreign ambassador since Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.
News (9) to (13) / Reporter : Lv Yixuan / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4064771
News (9)
At the General Debate of the General Assembly of the General Assembly of the United Nations, 3 Presidents support Taiwan's meaningful participation in UN affairs, express warm condolences to the earthquake victims
Image : Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez, speaking at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, supported the Republic of China (Taiwan) as an integral part of the UN system. He expressed condolences to the people of Taiwan who were affected by the earthquake. (Excerpted from United Nations video)
The general debate of the 77th UN General Assembly was held from 20 to 24 and 26 September 2022. This year, the physical meeting was resumed. Nearly 150 heads of state and foreign ministers gathered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to speak in turn at the general debate. On the first day, four Chinese allies made speeches, namely Paraguay, Honduras, Marshall Islands, and Guatemala. In addition to Honduras, the other three allies spoke up for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations system.
News (10)
Paraguay President supports the Republic of China's participation in UN affairs, expresses warm condolences to the earthquake victims
Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benítez said, "In the face of the current difficult situation, we must unite to solve global problems, and no one can be excluded. "Therefore, my country reiterates its support for the Republic of China (Taiwan) to become an integral part of the United Nations system; we are convinced that Taiwan's participation in the multilateral system will make a valuable contribution". Abdo also said that he would take this opportunity to express sympathy to the people of Taiwan who were recently affected by the earthquake.
News (11)
Marshall Islands President condemns CCP, calls for the UN to be truly universal and inclusive
Marshallese President David Kabua discussed Taiwan at length in his speech. Kabua condemned CCP China's recent military operations in the Taiwan Strait, which have threatened and undermined peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. He also called for the United Nations to be truly universal, inclusive and inclusive of all. "We must ensure that no country or people is shut out or left out. Today, we call on the United Nations to welcome Taiwan and its people into the global family. How long will the United Nations close the door of rejecting the people of Taiwan?" Taiwan is a dynamic and responsible democracy with global contributions, and the United Nations would not be complete without Taiwan and its people.
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Kabua: Taiwan with widely-accepted passport can contribute to bring about world change
Kabua also mentioned that the UN Secretariat too often relies on the political interpretation of UNGA Resolution 2758 in its response to Taiwan's meaningful participation in international institutions and the UN system. "Today, with rising tensions on our island and surrounding areas, we cannot remain silent as a member of the world." Taiwan has the ability to meaningfully participate in the UN system and make a greater contribution to bring about change together with everyone . The United Nations system should return to its old policy of allowing the general public with widely accepted passports to enter the United Nations, in order to achieve the goals of wider United Nations participation, including civil society admissions procedures. No one, let alone an important partner, should be left out in achieving the SDGs.
News (13)
Guatemala President urges UN to push for reforms, ensures the Republic of China's right to re-join the UN
Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei Falla also spoke out on behalf of Taiwan, urging the United Nations to push for reforms, to ensure Taiwan's right to join, and to recognize Taiwan as a country, because Taiwan's rights are "restricted by the veto power one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council." Honduras President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento spoke at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly for the first time this year, without mentioning Taiwan. Honduras has not expressed solidarity with Taiwan at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly for many years, but has expressed its support through letters and other means of support.
News (14) to (15) / Reporter : Lin Cuiyi / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/4065061, https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/4065005
News (14)
Japan-UK PM talks, Truss condemns 'China's provocation against Taiwan'
Image : Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (left) talks with British Prime Minister Liz Truss. (Associated Press)
According to comprehensive Japanese media reports, after arriving in New York, Kishida held a lunch meeting with Truss for 65 minutes. This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two. Focusing on CCP China, the two expressed "serious concern" about changing the status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea by force. Kishida also mentioned the situation in Ukraine and Taiwan, and "the security guarantees of Europe and the Indo-Pacific are inseparable."
The Japanese media quoted a press release issued by the British Prime Minister's Residence stating that Truss mentioned that the People's Liberation Army conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan in early August, and several missiles fell into Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). She condemned CCP's recent action is a "provocation against Taiwan", which also has great implications for Japan.
During the talks, the two sides also confirmed that they would speed up the negotiations on the joint development of the next-generation fighter jets by Japan and the UK, and exchanged views on the UK's application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Kishida also expressed his condolences for the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, while Truss expressed his gratitude to the Emperor and Empress of Japan for attending the state funeral.
News (15)
Fumio Kishida's UN speech names and condemns Russia's aggression against Ukraine
Image : Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made a speech at the UN General Assembly condemning Russia's aggression against Ukraine. (Bloomberg)
The general discussion speeches of the United Nations General Assembly are held face-to-face three years apart, and Kishida is also the Prime Minister of Japan following Shinzo Abe’s speech at the meeting in 2019. The situation in Ukraine became the biggest focus at this year's General Assembly. Kishida pointed out that the credibility of the United Nations was in crisis due to the aggression against Ukraine by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council. To restore the Council's trust, UN member states must act.
Kishida stressed that maintaining an international order rooted in the rule of law is crucial. Regarding the reform of the Security Council, he noted that "it is time to start negotiating on the basis of words", calling on countries to negotiate the resolutions needed for reform. Japan, India, Germany and other countries proposed relevant resolutions in 2005 but they did not receive widespread attention. He also mentioned the "future summit" in 2024 as an excellent opportunity to make a wider change in the shape of the United Nations.
Japan will become a non-permanent member of the Security Council in January 2023. Kishida said that no matter the voices, big or small, Japan will listen carefully and take actions to strengthen the rule of law in the international community. He also mentioned that under the strengthening of the rule of law based on international law, Japan will work together with other countries to play an active role in various fields starting from the realization of a "free and open Indo-Pacific".
In addition, Kishida expressed "deep regret" that the review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in August failed to pass the final document due to Russia's opposition. Regarding Russia's nuclear threat, he stressed that "it is absolutely unacceptable" . He also mentioned the G7 summit to be held in Hiroshima, the site of the atomic bombing, in May 2023, and called on the international community to restart nuclear disarmament.
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News (17)
Trump estate raid special chief holds first hearing
Reporter : Daphra / Editor: Ye Ziwei / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/9/20/n13829219.htm / Image : Special Principal Judge Raymond Dearie holds a hearing in federal court in New York on September 20, 2022, to discuss documents confiscated by the FBI during the August 8 raid on Trump's estate, open to the public . Trump's legal team, led by M. Evan Corcoran, arrives at federal court in Brooklyn, New York. (Alex Kent/Getty Images)
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon gave Derie until 30 November 2022 to complete a review of thousands of files seized by the FBI from Mar-a-Lago.
Derie met with Trump's lawyers and government attorneys for the first time in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday, and said he had "very little time to get things done" as special principal before the court-imposed deadline.
"We have a lot of work to do in a relatively short period of time," Derie said, noting that he was aware of 11,000 documents that needed to be reviewed.
Last week, Judge Cannon appointed Derie as special commissioner to conduct an independent review of documents from Trump's private residence. Some of these included classified dossiers, some were personal, and some were covered by what the former president's legal team claimed was administrative or attorney-client privilege.
Derie told Trump's lawyers that they needed to prove that documents held at Mar-a-Lago that were later confiscated by the FBI had been declassified. Trump's lawyers have argued that they should have had more time to determine the classification of the seized documents.
However, Derie said the Justice Department provided him with "prime evidence that the documents were classified."
As for the declassification of the files, Trump's lawyer James Trusty believes that Trump can declassify any files he wants during his tenure as president of the United States.
"The Presidential Records Act replaces the traditional issue of classification," Trusty said, adding that the president "does have unrestricted access and unrestricted authority."
During the hearing, Derie asked government attorneys what they would do with the classified files if the 11th Circuit did not grant their stay request and intervened.
The Justice Department asked the 11th Circuit to allow it to continue its criminal investigation of the former president using classified documents seized from Mar-a-Lago.
Justice Department attorney and deputy director of the Department of Justice's National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Division, Julie Edelstein, said the administration will consider other appeal options.
During the nearly 45-minute hearing, Derie gave Trump's team a Friday deadline to agree on a government-approved vendor that would scan all seized files and enable lawyers for both parties to start a discussion about whether certain documents have administrative or attorney-client privilege.
As of late Tuesday, no next meeting had been scheduled.
News (18)
Florida governor: Immigrants came to Martha's Vineyard voluntarily
Reporter : Li Xin / Editor : Ye Ziwei / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/9/20/n13829236.htm / Image : The Florida governor said the undocumented immigrants who landed on Martha's Vineyard by air traveled to Massachusetts voluntarily. The picture shows Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at an event to award bonuses to first responders in Surfside, Miami-Dade County, Florida, on 10 August 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that those who arrived by plane in Martha's Vineyard (Martha's Vineyard) Illegal immigrants come to Massachusetts voluntarily.
"It's obviously voluntary, and all the other gibberish you hear is not true," DeSantis told Fox News host Sean Hannity Monday night (September 19). said in an interview.
"Given their situation, why don't they want to go?" he asked rhetorically.
Last Wednesday night, DeSantis used two planes to send about 50 illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, a popular resort in Massachusetts, to protest the troubles the Biden administration's open border policy has caused to the border but the move sparked a backlash from Democrats.
DeSantis told Hannity that all immigrants who flew to Martha's Vineyard signed a consent form and were given a map of the area and contact details for various services.
He also dismissed Democrats' accusations of the Martha's Vineyard incident.
“Millions of people have crossed the southern border illegally since Biden was president. Are they crazy about it? No,” he told Hannity.
"You've got immigrants dying in the Rio Grande. You've got 50 people dying in trailers in Texas because they were being ignored. Is anyone crazy about this? No, no," he continued. said. He was referring to the smothering of 53 illegal immigrants in an abandoned truck in Bexar County, Texas, in June.
"It was only when 50 people were put into Martha's Vineyard...they not only didn't welcome them, but they drove them out with the National Guard the next day. Just spare me," DeSantis added.
Beale County Sheriff Javier Salazar, a Democrat, said at a news conference Monday that his office is investigating and accusing the immigrants of being lured to Florida and then making false promises to travel to Martha's Vineyard.
DeSantis' office issued a statement Tuesday morning supporting the decision to send immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, noting that the homeless immigrants were more than willing to leave Beale County to find better places to stay.
Amid the bipartisan conflict over the incident, several immigrants currently in the Massachusetts jurisdiction have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that the state and its officials, including the governor, "designed and executed a premeditated, fraudulent, illegal plan”, which was designed to advance his “personal, financial and political interests”.
News (19)
Putin's mobilisation and nuclear threats are a "worrying escalation" that must be taken seriously
Reporters : Jack Newman etal., Daily Mail / https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11234093/Foreign-Office-warns-Putins-threats-worrying-escalation-taken-seriously.html
Britain's Foreign Office has warned that Vladimir Putin's troop mobilisation and his dire nuclear threats are a "worrying escalation" that must be "taken very seriously".
The Russian leader lashed out on 21 September 2022, facing increasing pressure for his botched invasion of Ukraine, and said he is 'not bluffing' about the use of nuclear weapons.
In an address to the nation, Putin said, "If there is a threat to the territorial integrity of our country, and in protecting our people we will certainly use all means to us - and I'm not bluffing.
"Those trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the tables can turn on them."
Gillian Keegan, a Foreign Office minister, admitted the West is "not in control" of the tyrant but tried to urge for calm despite the terrifying threats.
She told Sky News, "Some of the language there was quite concerning at the end and obviously we would urge for calm."
The Chichester MP also said, "'It's something that we should take very seriously because, you know, we're not in control.
"I'm not sure he's in control either really. I mean, this is obviously an escalation and, of course, for the Russian people now they will be conscripted into this war."
Putin also announced the partial mobilisation of his military reserves today and referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine to make them part of Russia itself.
Western leaders - who are gathered at a UN summit in New York - have already said they will not recognise the results the referendums, and Ukraine has vowed that it will continue fighting to liberate its occupied territories.
Keegan added, "These are Putin's lies and he's continuing to completely misrepresent what's happened in Ukraine.
"It's an illegal war in Ukraine. It's Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. Of course, we will still stand by Ukraine, as will all of our Nato allies.
"'The people of Ukraine, you know, it's the same message. We're there, we're by your side, we will help us as much as we possibly can."
She stressed that the UK "will absolutely continue to support Ukraine", a message that will be conveyed by Liz Truss at a UN summit in New York.
The Prime Minister will pledge that the UK will next year match or exceed the £2.3billion in military aid to Ukraine given in 2022.
Melinda Simmons, Britain's ambassador to Ukraine, wrote on Twitter, "Watched Putin's speech. He still refuses to understand Ukraine. Partial mobilisation and sham referenda don't change that essential weakness."
Backed into a corner and facing with the possible collapse of his so-called "special military operation", Putin opted to threaten the free world.
The speech was delayed for 13 hours overnight that sparked rumours of a coup inside the Kremlin but the Russian leader finally appeared in the early hours of Wednesday - very much alive and in charge - to deliver his message.
The speech was typically Putin. In it, he attempted to rewrite history to paint the West and NATO as the aggressor - saying they had pushed Ukraine into a war with Russia, despite ordering an invasion of the country himself just seven months ago.
Russia, he argued, had no choice but to launch a 'pre-emptive war' to 'protect' the people of Ukraine - despite plentiful evidence of Russian massacres of civilians, torture, indiscriminate shelling and other atrocities on the battlefield.
Moscow's aim, he insisted, remains the full liberation of the Donbass region and its people who he said had been made into 'hostages of the Kyiv regime'.
In order to ensure victory, he announced that Russia's military reserves and veterans will start being conscripted into the army from today.
He then added, 'Our country also has various means of defence, and in some components more advanced than those of NATO countries.
"'When the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will use all the means at our disposal to defend Russia and our people, this is not a bluff.
"Russian citizens can be sure that the territorial integrity of our homeland, our independence and our freedom will be secured by all the means at our disposal.
"Those who are trying to blackmail us with nuclear weapons should know that the winds may blow in their direction."
He warned,"'This is not a bluff."
He claimed he was responding to threats from unnamed high NATO officials "about the possibility of using weapons of mass destruction - nuclear weapons - against Russia".
Putin made clear that by Russian territory he means invaded areas of Ukraine where he is holding sham referendums in the coming days on joining the Kremlin empire.
"I find it necessary to take the following decision," he told Russians in a pre-recorded message.
'It is completely adequate to the level of threats we are facing, namely - To protect our Motherland, its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
"To ensure safety of our people, and people at the liberated territories.
"I find it necessary to support the suggestion of the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff about declaring partial mobilisation in Russia.
"I repeat: We are speaking about partial mobilisation.
'So it would only be current reservists, called to join the military service.
"First of all it would be those who served in the army, have relevant army specialty and experience.
"Those called to join the army will go through mandatory military training."
Putin said that 'only citizens who are currently in the reserve and above all those who have served in the Armed Forces, have certain military professions and relevant experience, will be called up for military service.
'Those called up for military service will undergo additional military training before being dispatched to their units, taking into account the experience of a special military operation.'
Western leaders had pre-empted Putin's remarks at the UN last night, saying they would not recognise the results of any "sham" referendums in Ukraine.
"The Russians can do whatever they want. It will not change anything," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday as world leaders were arriving for the United Nations Ceneral Assembly meeting.
He later doubled down on the issue, tweeting: "Sham 'referendums' will not change anything. Neither will any hybrid 'mobilization'."
"Russia has been and remains an aggressor illegally occupying parts of Ukrainian land. Ukraine has every right to liberate its territories and will keep liberating them whatever Russia has to say."
French President Emmanuel Macron said that if the referendum plan "wasn't so tragic it would be funny.'"
He described Russia's invasion as "a return to a new age of imperialism and colonies" and warned that inaction risked 'tearing down the global order without which peace is not possible.'
'It's not a matter of choosing one side between East and West, or North or South. It's a matter of responsibility' to the UN Charter, he said.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the world was 'facing a new fragmentation' after years of hope following the end of the Cold War and his own nation's reunification.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the world was "facing a new fragmentation" after years of hope following the end of the Cold War and his own nation's reunification.
Scholz said that President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in February, will "only give up his war and his imperialist ambitions if he realizes he cannot win."
"We stand firmly at the side of those under attack — for the protection of the lives and the freedom of the Ukrainians, and for the protection of our international order," he said.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the assembly the U.N.'s credibility was in danger because of the invasion by Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council.
"Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a conduct that tramples the philosophy and principles of the U.N. charter ... It should never be tolerated," Kishida said.
See also: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11234219/Doctors-called-Putin-suffered-coughing-fit-amid-chaotic-scenes-TV-address.html, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11234233/Screaming-former-Putin-advisor-warns-president-ready-NUKE-Britain-BBC-Today-Programme.html
News (20)
Rohingyas plead for UN protection, Bandarban DC assures quick measures
Reporters : S Bashu Das and Abdul Aziz, Dhaka Tribune / Image of Rohingyas on 25 April 2018 : AFP
Around 4,500 Rohingyas sheltering on the no-man’s land between Bangladesh and Myanmar have appealed to the United Nations (UN) for protection from shelling by the Myanmar army.
“We (Rohingyas) are genocide survivors and have been taking refuge at the no-man’s land (zero line) of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border since 2017 to escape the Myanmar army’s mass atrocities,” reads the statement sent to the UN headquarters in New York.
“On September 16, around 8pm, the Burmese genocidal army randomly fired mortar shells intentionally on our camp for displaced people on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. As a result, a boy named Mohammad Ekbal, 17, was killed and five others were critically injured,” it added.
The statement further said the residents of the Rohingya camp were frequently threatened by gunshots and heavy shelling from the Taung Pyo right camp of the Myanmar army on the pretext of clashes with the Arakan Army.
It concluded with an urgent call to the UN for protection and arrangements for the dignified return of the Rohingyas to their land of origin in Rakhine.
The local administration will take immediate measures to ensure the safety of families living near the no-man’s land in Ghumdhum along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Yasmin Parveen Tibriji said on 18 September 2022.
Inspecting the situation on the ground, she said that the moment the administration locates a risk along the border, it will not waste any time and take necessary steps.
“We will look into possible security threats along the border to make sure our people are safe,” she said.
While talking about the solution to the ongoing tension along the border, she said that development may not come overnight. It is a continuous process.
Later, the DC inspected some educational institutions in the area and spoke to local representatives.
Following the tension along the border, Ghumdhum High School center for the SSC examinations was shifted to Kutupalong High School in Ukhiya upazila, from where 499 candidates took part in the examination on Saturday.
On the issue, the DC said the examinees will continue sitting for the exams at Kutupalong High School until the situation improves in Ghumdhum. She also spoke to some of the examinees there.
The DC assured the local people that the administration is well aware of the risks they are currently living under and that the authorities are making preparations to ensure their safety.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam said that they are currently focusing on ensuring safety for the people living near the border.
“The overall security in the border area has been strengthened, and intelligence surveillance has also been increased,” he added.
Meanwhile, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Shamsud Douza told UNB that there is no scope for the commissioner to do anything for the people or groups at the zero point of the border. Many are cooperating locally and international organizations working along the border are engaged in providing emergency services.
“If the Rohingyas take shelter outside the zero point and in various camps in Ukhiya of Teknaf upazila, it is possible to cooperate with them in various ways,” he added.
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