Afghanistan
Cries of 'Allahu Akbar' in Support of ANDSF Spread Across Nation: Tolo News
Like millions of people across Kabul, Afghans in other provinces on Wednesday night chanted the slogan "Allahu Akbar" (God is the greatest), in a show of support for Afghan forces fighting the Taliban.The rallying cry began earlier in Herat city and has been reported in other areas across the nation as well. Click here to read
Marshal Dostum Calls For Leaders to Unite, Defend Country: Tolo News
Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum on Thursday called on Afghan political leaders to sideline their personal interests and unite for the defense of the country. Dostum said that the current crisis gripping the country is a major conspiracy, and that political leaders of the country will thwart all of the conspiracies of the enemies.“This conspiracy is not a small conspiracy, we can’t stop it through symbolic and small efforts, we need to make a major decision together with our political friends and our generals,” said Dostum. Click here to read
British media outlets ask for urgent visas for Afghan journalists: The Khaama Press
Several British media outlets in a joint letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked for the issuance of urgent visas for Afghan journalists who have worked for them in the past twenty years. Britain is currently functioning immigration visas for interpreters who have worked for the British army in Afghanistan.The rare move-joint letter by British media- asked PM Johnson to also include Afghan journalists in the immigration visa program to save themselves and their families from the threats of the Taliban. Click here to read
Afghanistan’s $1000 billion worth of natural assets in Taliban’s custody: The Khaama Press
Afghanistan is rich geography when it comes to mines and natural resources. Some of these mines are ready to be excavated while others are being mined illegally. So we can surely claim that this geography still possesses a vast amount of intact mines and natural resources which amount to nearly $3 trillion.Based on a geological investigation conducted ten years ago in the US, it has been estimated that the total worth of Afghanistan’s mines and natural resources is USD1000 billion. Click here to read
Bangladesh
Bangladesh shatters its own records; reports 264 single-day Covid deaths- Daily Sun
“Grappling with the worst coronavirus wave spurred by the highly contagious Delta variant, Bangladesh reported 264 more deaths in 24 hours till Thursday morning, shattering all the previous records. The country saw the highest-ever 258 Covid deaths on July 27 before that.” Click here to read
The government wants to buy 6 crore Chinese vaccines- Prothom Alo
(সরকার সাড়ে ৭ কোটি চীনা টিকা কিনতে চায়)
“Bangladesh wants to buy 75 million doses of synoform vaccine from China. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said the order had already been issued. An advance price of Rs 1.5 crore has also been paid. The vaccines will be purchased from the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, a Chinese company that manufactures synoform vaccines.” Click here to read
India sends 30 ambulances to Bangladesh- The Independent
“A total of 30 ambulances gifted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at India’s Petrapole check post on Thursday awaiting necessary clearance before entering Bangladesh. The ambulances will soon set out for Dhaka after getting clearance of relevant papers at Bangladesh’s Benapole customs check post, authorities said. The lot is out 109 ambulances the Indian Prime minister offered to donate to Bangladesh to boost its capabilities to fight Covid infections.” Click here to read
Government aims to inoculate 2.9 million people on Saturday- Dhaka Tribune
“The health authorities have primarily decided to administer the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine to 2.9 million people who possess NIDs during the nationwide mass vaccination program on Saturday.” Click here to read
Bhutan
UNICEF hails Bhutan’s successful completion of full COVID-19 vaccinations for 90% of eligible population- Business Bhutan
“UNICEF Bhutan congratulates the Royal Government of Bhutan for completing the second phase of a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign. As a result of exemplary efforts by the Government, 90 per cent of the eligible population in the country has been vaccinated. With home-based vaccination continuing until July 31, the coverage is likely to increase in the coming weeks.” Click here to read
Decongesting the capital city- Kuensel
“Thimphu city is crowded. Many knew, decades ago, that this was going to happen and called for planned growth of the city. In recent years, as the new local area plans (extended areas of the town) opened up for development, the call was that the core city area should be decongested. One way was moving offices and institutions, businesses and other establishments to the new areas.” Click here to read
Indian space scientists interact with Bhutanese students- Kuensel
“Students enjoyed the virtual session with Indian scientists. Sonam Jordan Tenzin, a student from Motithang Higher Secondary School, said that the session taught him lessons that were not in schools.” Click here to read
The death rituals and funeral rites in Bhutan- Daily Bhutan
“Most Bhutanese are Vajrayana Buddhist, which incline them to believe in reincarnation and colours their attitude towards death. Strictly speaking, reincarnation is a means to gain final salvation, or the opposite, depending on the deceased’s karma. Therefore, when someone dies, the community mourns for 49 days. Throughout, they practice a series of elaborate rituals to ensure the deceased has a smooth rebirth.” Click here to read
Maldives
Maldives to start administering Pfizer vaccines to children above 12 years: The Edition
Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC) has announced on Thursday that they will resume administering Pfizer vaccines to children between the ages of 12 and 17, and people that have major medical problems this month. In a media briefing by the center, HEOC’s spokesperson Dr. Nazla Rafeeq said they will administer the Pfizer vaccine to children above 12 and people with poor immune systems. This includes people fighting cancer, or people that have undergone organ transplants Click here to read
Nasheed assigns younger brother as his legal representative: The Edition
Younger brother of Former President and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed, Nazim Sattar, will be Nasheed's legal representative in the case involving the attempted assassination attack on Nasheed. An IED attached to a motorcycle outside Nasheed's residence exploded on May 6, injuring Nasheed and several others. He is currently in United Kingdom getting further medical treatment for injuries sustained then. Click here to read
Myanmar
Myanmar’s UN Envoy Threatened in New York: The Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s ambassador to the United Nations, U Kyaw Moe Tun, says the US authorities have stepped up his security after he received a threat. Since the coup in February, U Kyaw Moe Tun has represented Myanmar’s National Unity Government formed by lawmakers from the ousted government and ethnic minority representatives. Click here to read
Nepal
UAE allows conditional entry to Nepalis- Kathmandu Post
“The UAE government, on Tuesday, decided that it would allow Nepalis and other expats from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Uganda from where inbound flights were banned.” Click here to read
The business of politics in Nepal: Shekhar Kharel – Nepali Times
“The cause of prolonged political paralysis in Nepal is cronyism, and the only way to uproot it is by tackling its source: vote-buying and campaigns funded by big business. The criminalisation of politics and the politicisation of crime means that it is becoming more and more difficult to separate business and politics. None of the parties are free of this cronyism which fuels corruption, and the business of politics.” Click here to read
Covid-19: Nepal records 3,938 new cases and 37 deaths; recovery rate decreases to 93.7 percent – Nepal Lives Today
“Nepal on Thursday recorded 3,938 fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. Active cases have crossed 34,000-mark following a steady increase in new cases for the past few days.” Click here to read
Ignored for three years, EPG report is losing its relevance- Kathmandu Post
“In the first week of July 2018, the eight-member Eminent Persons’ Group on Nepal-India relations finalised a joint report with various recommendations aimed at redefining the bilateral ties between the two countries. The group consisted of four members each from Nepal and India. The group, now defunct, has not been able to present its report to the prime ministers of both countries. The group was mandated to review various aspects of bilateral relations, including the 1950 Treaty of Friendship between Nepal and India.” Click here to read
Pakistan
PM seeks world intervention for resolution of Kashmir issue: Dawn
Reaffirming Pakistan’s abiding commitment to the Kashmir cause, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday again urged the international community, including the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), human rights organisations and the global media, to hold India accountable for killing innocent Kashmiris and denying their right to self-determination. Click here to read
Two soldiers martyred in separate attacks in Khyber, South Waziristan: Dawn
Two security personnel were martyred and four others, including an officer, injured in gun and bomb attacks in Khyber and South Waziristan tribal districts on Thursday. Officials said the two soldiers of Frontier Constabulary martyred by some unidentified gunmen in Tirah valley of Khyber district.Police in Bara said the two members of Khalil-Mohmand Platoon, who were posted at Durbi Khel-Ziyarat hillock overlooking parts of Tirah valley both on Khyber and Orakzai sides, went to a nearby spring to fetch water for their trench when the gunmen opened fire, killing both on the spot. Click here to read
British govt rejects Nawaz Sharif's visa extension plea: The Express Tribune
In a major blow to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the British government rejected a visa extension request of the party's supreme leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The UK Home Office has informed Nawaz Sharif of its decision. However, the former premier has the right to appeal against the decision. Click here to read
Pakistan won’t accept forceful takeover in Afghanistan: NSA: The Express Tribune
National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf has said that Pakistan would not accept 'forceful takeover' in Afghanistan and instead support political solution to the conflict. "We will not accept a forceful takeover," he told the media at a news conference held at the Pakistan embassy in Washington DC late Wednesday, wrapping up a week of talks with the US administration.The NSA stressed that the only solution for peace in Afghanistan was a "political one". Click here to read
Sri Lanka
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka calls on Foreign Minister - News.lk
High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 03 August 2021. Minister Gunawardena thanked the government and the people of India for extending assistance to Sri Lanka in combating the COVID 19 pandemic and appraised the opening of the country for economic activities. The High Commissioner Baglay also appreciated Sri Lanka for lifting entry restrictions imposed on Indians if they are fully vaccinated as lifting such restrictions would provide immense benefits for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and the economy as a whole. Click here to read
Committee on Parliamentary Business decides to not take the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill for debate - News.lk
The Committee on Parliamentary Business chaired by the Hon. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena held August (05), decided to not take the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill for debate which was scheduled to be taken up today (06). Click here to read
UAE removes travel ban on transit passengers; allows entry from Sri Lanka and several other countries - Ceylon Today
Entry to the UAE will be allowed as of 05 August for some categories of passengers from countries where inbound flights to the Emirates have been banned. The National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA) said on Twitter that this exemption is applicable to certain categories of passengers from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda. Click here to read
COVID stats from 25th July: 591 Deaths & 21,000+ infections, says Health Minister - News First
Sri Lankan Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told Parliament on Thursday (05) that the number of COVID-19 cases reported daily over the past week was between 2000 – 2500. The Health Minister said 21,344 COVID-19 cases were reported in Sri Lanka from the 25th of July 2021. During that same period 591 COVID-19 deaths were reported in the country she said. A total of 134,179 PCR tests were carried out over the past 10 days, she said adding that there was a considerable increase in the number of people being COVID-19 in hospitals. Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told Parliament that the 23, 804 Covid patients were treated in hospitals as of 23rd July, and this figure increased to 30,017 as of the 01st of August. Click here to read
Cruise ship ‘Navigator of the Seas’ calls at Hambantota Port
The cruise ship “Navigator of the Seas”, under the agency of Prudential Shipping, called at the Hambantota International Port (HIP) for the purposes of receiving bunkers, marking another significant milestone in the diversity of the vessels calling HIP for bunkering. Click here to read
