JEDDAH, 25 March, 2021 (TON): While greeting Pakistani expatriates on the National Day, Khalid Majid, consul general of Pakistan in Jeddah said, Pakistan fully supports the Kingdom’s structural reform policy through the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and society.

“Since its inception, Pakistan has made significant socio-economic development and progress as the effective role of Pakistani expats cannot be neglected in this progress,” Majid said.

“Our community has served both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia alike with loyalty, commitment and dedication. It is, in fact, the most remarkable link between our two countries.”

He called the relationship between the two countries unique and deep-rooted and also, they share common political, strategic, and socio-economic objectives.

He further pledged to enhance efforts to further deepen the existing time-tested relationship between the two brotherly countries.

HULHUMALE, 25 March, 2021 (TON): A state run children’s shelter home in the suburbs of Hulhumale, Fiyavathi’s renovation has been completed.

The project’s renovation was financed through grant assistance of MVR 1.9 million from India.

Under the USD 6.9 million (MVR 106 million), grant approved by India to Maldives for socioeconomic projects in 2019.

Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid, Indian High Commissioner Sunjay Sudhir, State Ministers of Gender, Family and Social Services, Aishath Rasheed and Zifleena Hassan, and senior officials from Fiyavathi attended the virtual ceremony on Wednesday evening to mark the completion of the project.

The renovation of Fiyavathi included the development of the welcoming area in the building, developing the security, building a porch for a play area, painting the walls to make them more child-friendly, building common rooms with computer systems and PlayStations, installing more benches in the garden, planting trees in the garden, procurement of furniture, and improving the efficiency of daily expenses.

“The renovation of Fiyavathi aims to address this responsibility, by providing the children with a safe and pleasant atmosphere, with well-established amenities,” FM said.

Altogether thirty projects have been approved under grant assistance from India and one third of the projects have been successfully completed, said the Indian High Commission.

Shahid extended gratitude towards the Indian government for its continuous support for the local communities of Maldives and facilitating multiple socially impactful projects across the country.

LONDON, 25 March, 2021 (TON): Cooperation between the country and the European Union (EU) is "very important" to fight the pandemic, said the UK PM Boris Johnson on Wednesday.

These remarks were made amid the risen tensions between the U.K. and the EU over higher immunization supplies during the Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister said he doesn't believe blockades "are sensible", adding that the long-term damage done by blockades can be "very considerable".

Anyone considering a blockade may want to think about how companies would view a country where such things are imposed, he said.

On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed tougher controls on vaccine exports.

According to the plan, any shipment would be assessed on the destination country's rate of vaccinations and vaccine exports.

Therefore, the PM said "we will do everything that is necessary" to make sure that Britain gets the jabs, when asked if the UK government would consider a careful and proportionate retaliation if the EU decides to ban the export of vaccines to the country,

KABUL, 25 March, 2021 (TON): Afghanistan is committed to give Iran its due share of water under a decades-long bilateral treaty but Tehran will have to pay for any additional requirements, said the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday.

After inaugurating a newly built Kamal Khan Dam in southwestern Nimroz border province, he said in an interview, “We will honor our commitments. However, anything beyond the stipulated quota would require discussions.”

“If you give us oil you can then ask for (more) water, or give us something in return,” Ghani said.

And, insisted that from now on, Afghanistan will not give free water to anyone.

Iran, a lower riparian country, has long objected to the structure of the Kamal Khal Dam, arguing it would severely restrict water flow from the Helmand River into the Iranian border province of Sistan-Baluchistan and will destabilize it.

However, here was no immediate comment from Tehran to the assertions made by the Afghan leader.

SEOUL, 25 March, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, the Foreign Ministers of South Korea and Russia Chung Eui-yong and Sergey Lavrov, held talks to discuss the Korean Peninsula and on ways to enhance the bilateral ties.

Since 2019, it was the first dialogue between the top diplomats of the two countries.

According to Seoul Foreign Ministry, both officials have agreed to continue working together, and to arrange an early visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to South Korea as soon as the pandemic situation is stabilized.

They agreed to continue cooperation in the areas of "nine bridges" agreed upon by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Putin in 2017 as a framework for substantive cooperation between the two countries.

South Korea and Russia agreed to continue close communication and cooperation at various levels to advance the Korean Peninsula peace process.

UTTAR PRADESH, 25 March, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh Minister Anand Swarup Shukla called the Burqa an evil custom and said, Muslim women will be freed from 'burqa' like triple talaq.

This comes a day after the minister wrote to the Ballia district magistrate, complaining that he is facing difficulties in discharge of his duties due to loudspeakers at mosques and said their volume should be fixed according to the court orders.

Shukla said without elaborating his claims, “Muslim women will be freed from ‘burqa’ like triple talaq. There will come a time when they will get rid of it. There are many Muslim countries where ‘burqa’ is banned.”

Shukla, the Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs minister, said ‘burqa’ is “inhuman and evil custom” and added that those with progressive thinking are shunning it and not pressing for its use.

On his letter to the DM in which he raised objection and said that those having problems should dial ‘112’ and inform police about it, adding if proper steps are not taken, he will decide further course of action.

COLOMBO, 25 March, 2021 (TON): The only proper development is the solution to the problems that have plagued the people for a long time and the government has presented the necessary policy framework and program for it, said the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa.

As President, he visited from village to village to identify the real problems of the people to address them.

Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage, North Central Province Governor Mahipala Herath, Ministers GL. Peiris, S.M. Chandrasena, Gamini Lokuge, Basil Rajapaksa, State Ministers DV Chanaka, Kanaka Herath, Piyal Nishantha, Members of Parliament Lalith Ellawala, Sagara Kariyawasam, Udayana Kirindigoda and Jayantha Ketagoda were also present at the occasion.

President Rajapaksa emphasized that no matter what obstacles or criticisms come his way, he will not let the people be deceived by false propaganda.

The President expressed his views while addressing a meeting of representatives of affiliated organizations of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna held at the Weli Park in Nugegoda on Wednesday.

THIMPHU, 25 March, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, New Health Secretary and Ambassadors to Kuwait and Thailand have been appointed by the King, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, granted promotion to 11 officers from the Royal Bhutan Army and the Royal Body Guards. 

Dr Pandup Tshering appointed as the new Health Secretary, who had been serving as the Director General of Medical Services at the health ministry.

The secretaries to the government are appointed in accordance with Article 2.19 of the Constitution, on the recommendation of the prime minister, who shall obtain nominations from the Royal Civil Service Commission on the basis of merit and seniority and in accordance with other relevant rules and regulations.

New Ambassador to Kuwait has been designated to Chitem Tenzin, who was serving as Zimpon Wogma at the Office of the Gyalpo Zimpon.

Kinzang Dorji, the former Haa Dzongdag has been appointed as the new Ambassador to Thailand. 

In accordance with Article 2.19 of the Constitution, His Majesty The King appoints Ambassadors on the recommendation of the prime minister who obtains nominations from the Royal Civil Service Commission and granted promotions nine officers from the Royal Bhutan Army and two officers from the Royal Body Guards.  

GOBINDAGANJ, 25 March, 2021 (TON): At least three died in a bomb explosion at a home in Gaibandha’s Gobindaganj Upazila..

On Wednesday afternoon, three others were injured in the incident at Abul Kashem Pradhan’s house in Mekurai Nayapara village of Kamardaha union.

According to the Gobindaganj police station OC Mehedi Hasan, “Nothing can be said specifically until CID team and explosives experts arrive here.”

He confirmed the casualties, but could not provide more details.

The locals said that three to four unidentified people came to Kashem’s house immediately before the incident. After a while, some noise and gunshots were heard from the house. The roof of Kashem’s house was blown away by the blast, according to witnesses.

However, the OC confirmed that the CID is probing the incident and the security has been tight at the area.

KATHMANDU, 25 March, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, a government official affirmed that the government of Nepal has initiated preparations of the 12th National Population Census.

According to the vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, this census is crucial since it is the first one under the 2015 Constitution and new federal system.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) conducts National Population Census Program every ten years and the first one took place in 1911.

In order to ensure the success of the national census, the CBS has been conducting a sample census program.

According to information made public on the CBS website, the sample census program will be conducted in 55 wards across 14 districts from January 14 to 12 April.

Full details of the census will be made public in around five years, while the CBS office predicts the census would cost more than 35 million U. S. dollars.