ISLAMABAD, 07 September 2021, (TON): Pakistan commemorated the 56th Defence Day on Monday to pay homage to the martyrs of the 1965 war against India.

On September 6, 1965, the people of Pakistan and the country’s armed forces thwarted nefarious designs of the enemy after India attacked across the international border and a full-scale war broke out, which concluded with a ceasefire on September 22.

During the war, 1,617 square miles of territory was occupied by Pakistan as compared to 446 square miles of Pakistan’s open and undefended territory occupied by India.

The Pakistan Army had captured 20 Indian officers, 19 junior Indian commissioned officers and 569 other ranks.

Commemorating the heroes of the war who sacrificed their lives for their motherland and fought the enemy with valour, this year's theme for Defence Day is "Our martyrs our pride, salute to all the relatives belonging to ghazis and shaheeds”.

The day began with a 31-gun salute was in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes in the provincial capitals, reported Radio Pakistan.

KATHMANDU, 07 September 2021, (TON): Two persons have died when a landslide buried their house at Bamla, Dhawang of Rolpa Municipality, Rolpa district.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Naresh Raj Subedi, said “Gausari Thapa (70) and Himal Roka (5) were killed when a landslide buried the house of Purna Bahadur Thapa last night.”

Man Bahadur Roka (35) and Bhim Kumar Roka (33) have sustained injuries in the incident. A house has been completely damaged while two others have suffered partial damage at the place due to torrential rain.

A team from the District Police Office, the Armed Police Force personnel, and locals had rescued the injured persons.

Meanwhile, the flooded Phagamkhola River has swept away a school bus belonging to the Sunlight Boarding School at Sulichaur of Sunil Smriti Rural Municipality-4 in the district.

RIYADH, 07 September 2021, (TON): In a phone call Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed have discussed relations, and the latest regional and international developments.

They discussed mutual relations between the Kingdom and the UAE and other issues of common interest.

LONDON, 07 September 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address lawmakers about Britain’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, amid criticism of the handling of the evacuation and failure to predict how quickly the Taliban would sweep through the country.

The United States and Britain withdrew from Afghanistan last month, and Johnson’s foreign minister Dominic Raab has admitted that both countries misjudged the Taliban’s capacity to seize control. The Taliban took Kabul on Aug. 15. read more

Johnson has faced stinging criticism from lawmakers for intelligence and leadership failures over the fall of Kabul, and he has admitted that the decision by the United States to withdraw left Britain with little choice but to pull its own forces.

Some who served in Afghanistan have spoken of their anger and grief about what has happened, and Johnson will say that, despite the Taliban’s rapid return, the efforts of a 20-year campaign were not in vain.

Johnson’s office said that he would announce an additional 5 million pounds ($6.93 million) in funding for charities that offer support to veterans.

MALE, 07 September 2021, (TON): High Commission of Pakistan in the Maldives has celebrated Pakistan’s Defense and Martyrs Day in the Maldives.

A special ceremony was held to commemorate the day at the High Commission of Pakistan situated in Male’ City.

The ceremony was attended by High Commissioner of Pakistan to the Maldives Vice Admiral (Retired) Ather Mukhtar and Deputy Head of Mission Zulqurnain Ahmad.

Pakistan’s observes the ‘Defense and Martyrs Day’ every September 6th in remembrance of the martyrs who laid down their lives to guard the sovereignty of the country.

Speaking at today’s ceremony, High Commissioner Ather paid tribute to the martyrs that laid down their lives to guard the sovereignty of Pakistan in the 1965 War.

MALE, 07 September 2021, (TON): The newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives has presented her Letter of Credence to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Wang Lixin, the newly appointed Ambassador of China to the Maldives, presented her credentials to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during a special ceremony held at the President’s Office this morning.

A meeting between the two was held following the credentials ceremony at which President Solih congratulated Wang on her appointment and the commencement of her tenure.

He also expressed his confidence that Wang would continue to further solidify the existing bilateral ties between China and the Maldives during her tenure.

The President also noted the exemplary work performed by Wang’s predecessor, former Ambassador Zhang Lizhong, in enhancing bilateral relations.

Taking note that the next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties between Maldives and China, President Solih pointed to the excellent relations between both countries. He also recalled a telephone conversation he held with the Chinese President Xi Jinping back in July, where they reaffirmed their commitment to solidify the existing bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest.

NAYPYITAW, 07 September 2021, (TON): The rebel group has said in a statement “Junta troops killed, beat and robbed civilians as the coup regime suffered heavy losses during fighting against the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU) last month.”

There were 166 deaths and 101 injuries on the junta’s side during 217 clashes in KNU territory, the group said last week.

A KNU central officer said that there were very few casualties on his side. “We employed guerilla techniques, If the enemy is trespassing our territory, there is definitely going to be some resistance.”

Most of the fighting last month took place in territory controlled by the KNU’s Brigade 5.

The KNU said “Junta troops also used civilians as porters. Tun Lin Aung, the deputy commander of the 704th Light Infantry Battalion (LIB), forced locals from Kaw Thay Der village, Taungu district, to transport military equipment to the village of Klee Soe Kee.” 

ATHENS, 07 September 2021, (TON): NATO’s highest Military Authority, the Military Committee, will meet from 17-19 September 2021, in Athens, Greece. General Konstantinos Floros, Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff will host the Conference.

The NATO Military Committee Conference enables the Chiefs of Defence to meet and discuss issues of strategic importance to the Alliance. 

The Allied Chiefs will discuss NATO’s Operations, Missions and Activities, the Alliance’s Deterrence and Defence posture, and the implementation of two concepts Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area and NATO’s War fighting Capstone Concept.

The Military Committee will also discuss the NATO 2030 initiative, along with its military implications and opportunities.

Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, leads the Military Committee Conference.  He will be supported in each session by General Tod Wolters, (Supreme Allied Commander Europe – SACEUR) and General André Lanata (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation – SACT).

DHAKA, 07 September 2021, (TON): Information minister inaugurates Bangabandhu Media Centre in New Delhi. Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud laid emphasis on strengthening people-to-people contact between Bangladesh and India.

While inaugurating the Bangabandhu Media Centre at the Press Club of India (PCI) in New Delhi, he said “the centre would facilitate efforts to boost ties among people of the two countries, especially the journalists.”

He added that the relationship between Bangladesh and India had reached a new height under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her counterpart Narendra Modi.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Muhammad Imran, Jatiya Press Club (JPC) President Farida Yasmin and former PCI president Gautam Lahiri spoke at the inaugural ceremony chaired by PCI President Umakant Lakhera.

The Media Centre, established with support from Bangladesh Mission in New Delhi, is an effort to pay tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bangladesh High Commission, New Delhi and the Press Club of India.

NAYPYITAW, 07 September 2021, (TON): A witness told media that two junta soldiers were injured when attackers threw a bomb at a military vehicle in Mandalay.”

According to the witness “the explosion happened in an area of Amarapura west of the Taung Thaman lake, which is where the famous U Bein Bridge is situated. The area was crowded with people going to a festival held at the local Yadana cave when the incident happened.”

The witness said that the bomb was thrown towards the military vehicle while it was moving. We don’t know what kind of bomb it was. All of us nearby either ran away or went inside houses when we heard the explosion.”

The military vehicle did not catch fire, they added, but they saw a motorcycle on fire near the scene of the attack.

Junta soldiers arrived at the scene shortly after the explosion, blocked the roads and took the two injured soldiers away in an ambulance. No one has been arrested in relation to the attack and no one has claimed responsibility.