Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud suggested on Thursday that PM Sheikh Hasina could visit India after the upcoming general elections. Speculated to take place in June, it would be Hasina’s first official visit to India since her victory in the 7 January elections.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that the country’s oil supplies to India continue to be maintained at a “steadily high level.” Zakharova highlighted that there were no problems in determining the mode of payment for the oil exports, and the two nations were prioritising dealings in national currencies. She added that this ensures that the trade does not depend on the “rules of the game” imposed by the West when bank transactions are made.
Militant attacks in southeastern Iran near the Pakistan border on Thursday killed 11 Iranian security personnel. Additionally, 16 members of the militant group Jaish al-Adl, which claimed responsibility for the attacks, were also killed in the attack. The attack took place in the towns of Chabahar and Rask in Sistan-Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced on Thursday that it has resumed operations at its construction sites in the earthquake-hit region after a one-day pause for inspections. Given TSMC's significant role in producing cutting-edge semiconductors, concerns have emerged regarding potential disruptions to chip supply chains as a result of the earthquake. TSMC stated that initial assessments indicated normal operation of safety systems at its chip fabrication facilities in Taiwan. While some facilities were evacuated briefly, all personnel returned to work safely following the earthquake.
Due to the threat of secondary sanctions, Chinese banks are hesitant to engage in trade with Russia, Reuters reported on Thursday. Consequently, businesses are increasingly relying on VTB Bank, the sole Russian bank with a presence in China. However, they are experiencing significant delays of up to six months, as reported by five sources familiar with the matter. Last month, Reuters reported that Russian oil companies are experiencing several-month payment delays for crude oil and fuel exports as banks in China, Turkey, and the UAE exercise greater caution in light of potential US secondary sanctions.
On Thursday, Myanmar’s primary pro-democracy resistance group — the National Unity Government — announced that its armed wing had initiated drone assaults on the airport and a military headquarters in the capital, Naypyitaw. However, the country’s governing military asserted that it had neutralised or confiscated over a dozen drones employed in the assaults.