COLOMBO, 06 September 2021, (TON): The Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka Rita Giuliana Manella paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris at the Foreign Ministry.

The Ambassador extended her warm felicitations to Minister Peiris on his recent appointment as Foreign Minister. Minister Peiris appreciated the strong, friendly, mutually beneficial partnership existing between Sri Lanka and Italy spanning political, economic and cultural relations. The potential for further expansion of trade and investment ties, tourism and people-to-people contacts were discussed.

The Foreign Minister alluded to the positive contribution by the Sri Lankan community in Italy towards economic and cultural enrichment of both countries, as well as the recorded history of strong diplomatic ties that existed between Sri Lanka and Rome since 1st century AD.

COLOMBO, 06 September 2021, (TON): The Indian government on Sunday said “it has initiated a visit by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces to New Delhi aimed at strengthening defence cooperation with specific focus on industrial expertise.”

The Sri Lankan delegation to New Delhi will comprise 39 officers who will be exposed to the functioning of all three Service Headquarters while also getting familiarised with the routine of tri-service field formations.

According to an official statement “during the visit several interactions with top Indian Armed Forces officials and visits to various industries and cultural sites have also been scheduled.”

Ahead of the delegation's departure, India's Deputy High Commissioner here Vinod K. Jacob and Assistant Defence Adviser Lt Col Puneet Sushil visited the officers at Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Colombo.

During the interaction, Mr Jacob stressed that India and Sri Lanka have centuries old umbilical linkage underpinned by Buddhism and people to people ties.

Maj Gen Lalith Herath, Deputy Commandant, DSCSC appreciated India’s efforts and persistent support towards realisation of the visit. He also underlined that the visit would contribute towards developing greater understanding among the student officers about India’s culture, technical prowess and the structure of elite Indian Armed Forces.

CONAKRU, 06 September 2021, (TON): The leader of the rebels, who attempted a military coup in Guinea, announced the dissolution of the government, the closure of air and land borders and the abolition of the current constitution.

The video message from Colonel Mamadi Dumbui was published on Facebook by Africa Guinee.

According to local media reports “the putschists managed to arrest President Alfa Conde and some high-ranking officials.”

In turn, the Ministry of Defense of Guinea published a statement on Facebook, in which it emphasized that the protection of the head of state managed to repel the assault on the residence.

The department called the people to order against the background of the aggravation of the situation.

A shootout in the area of the presidential palace in the capital of Conakry between the special forces and the security of the head of state became known afternoon.

Forces loyal to Guinea’s President Alpha Conde have detained 25 soldiers who participated in the mutiny in the capital of Conakry, a local source told RIA Novosti.

The source said “forces loyal to the Guinean president detained 25 soldiers who participated in a military mutiny in the Guinean capital of Conakry.”

BERLIN, 06 September 2021, (TON): German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a dialogue with the Taliban as the hardline Islamists finalise a new government that will set the tone for their rule in Afghanistan.

Merkel told a press conference in North Rhine-Westphalia state “we simply have to talk to the Taliban about how we can get people who have worked for Germany out of the country and bring them to safety.”

Merkel said “they are the ones we have to talk to now. We want to get people out of the country who have worked for German development organisations in particular and who now feel threatened.”

The Taliban swooped into power in Afghanistan three weeks ago, prompting a hurried effort by Western states to evacuate their citizens and Afghans who had worked for their armies and aid organisations.

Facing the challenge of morphing from insurgents to rulers, the Taliban appear determined to snuff out fighting in the Panjshir valley before announcing who will lead the country in the aftermath of last week’s US troop withdrawal.

KATHMANDU, 06 September 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the civil administration would be made more systematic and sharp by bringing the Federal Civil Service Act at the earliest possible time.

Releasing a publication of Nepal Civil Servants’ Union on its establishment day on Saturday, the PM said “the government was serious to the welfare and security of civil servants.”

Saying that bureaucracy is the country’s permanent government, the PM called upon the civil personnel to serve the citizens by being service-friendly, honest, and impartial.

The PM also expressed the confidence that the Union would provide its organisational strength and assistance to provide services to the citizens, remaining under the legal framework.

On the occasion, PM Deuba honored retired Secretary Gopinath Mainali with a shawl and letter of appreciation.

BAGHDAD, 06 September 2021, (TON): A security official said that gunmen opened fire at a federal police checkpoint in rural northern Iraq, sparking clashes that killed 13 police.

The attack late on the checkpoint in Satiha village in Kirkuk province also wounded five police.

The security official said “the clashes with the rebels lasted for nearly an hour. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to reporters.

Meanwhile, police sources said “the attackers clashed for two hours with police stationed at the village in the town of Rashad, 30 kilometres southwest of the northern city of Kirkuk.

Police sources said that the attackers used roadside bombs to prevent police reinforcements from reaching the post, destroying three police vehicles.

KABUL, 06 September 2021, (TON): A key member of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and head of the Haqqani network, Khalilurahman Haqqani asked the investors and businessmen to further increase their business activities in Afghanistan.

Haqqani said that the situation now is the most secure and suitable than ever in Afghanistan when it comes to investment and business.

He had arranged a gathering with the tribal elders of different ethnic groups in Kabul to ask for their support to the IEA.

Officials of the IEA also said that they have halved the tax on food ingredients and have also dramatically decreased the tax on other exports and imports of the Afghan traders.

They fully assured the Afghan businessmen and investors of their security and asked them to invest inside the country to help the economy of Afghanistan grow.

Meanwhile, the de facto leader of IEA Mullah Baradar has said that they will pave the ground for major economic projects so that they work for the betterment of the lives of people.

ISLAMABAD, 06 September 2021, (TON): Four people were martyred and 20 injured on Sunday in a suicide attack near a Frontier Corps (FC) checkpost on Mastung Road in Quetta, Deputy Inspector General of Quetta police Azhar Akram confirmed.

He said that 18 of the injured were security officials while two were bystanders, adding that the number of casualties could rise.

A suicide bomber on a motorcycle packed with six kilogrammes of explosives rammed one of the vehicles in an FC convoy, Akram was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned the attack, saying in a tweet "my condolences go to the families of the martyrs & prayers for the recovery of the injured. Salute our security forces & their sacrifices to keep us safe by thwarting foreign-backed terrorists' designs."

Opposition leader and PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif said “he was grieved to learn about the martyrdom of 3 FC personnel in the attack.”

Condemning the attack and offering condolences to the families of those martyred, Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari said the "brave security forces continue to thwart the designs of terrorists [especially] the RAW- (Indian intelligence agency) funded TTP."

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove too strongly condemned the attack and asked authorities to submit a report in this regard.

KABUL, 06 September 2021, (TON): Domestic flights from Hamid Karzai International Airport HKIA based in Kabul resumed over twenty days after the Taliban takeover which halted both the domestic and international flights.

The first domestic flight was conducted from Kabul to the northern Mazar-e-sharif city.

A domestic airlines-De Arian Afghan Airlines- said that two other domestic flights from Kabul were conducted to Herat and Kandahar provinces.

In the meantime, three international flights from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain carrying technical personnel and humanitarian aid have also landed in HKIA over the past four days.

The efforts for activating the HKIA intensified after the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan asked Qatar and Turkey to send their technical team to prepare the airport for domestic and international flights.

Technical personnel from Qatar have arrived but Turkey has set conditions for sending their civil personnel to Kabul.

ISLAMABAD, 06 September 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan held telephonic conversations with the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi and the emir of Qatar to discuss bilateral relations and exchange views on the latest situation in Afghanistan.

In all three conversations, the premier highlighted the importance of a peaceful and stable Afghanistan for Pakistan and the region, and stressed that an "inclusive political settlement" was the best course to adopt in the war-ravaged country, where the Taliban are preparing to unveil their new government amid an economic turmoil nearly three weeks after they captured Kabul.

According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office “during his call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister Imran underscored that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan was vital for Pakistan and regional stability.”

the statement said that during the conversation, Prime Minister Imran and the Saudi crown prince agreed to work together to further augment and diversify bilateral ties in all spheres.

The prime minister and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed also exchanged views on issues of bilateral interest as well as regional developments.

On the situation in Afghanistan, the premier again highlighted the importance of peace and stability in Afghanistan

The two leaders agreed to work together to enhance collaboration in all areas of common interest, the press release said.

In Prime Minister Imran's conversation with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, bilateral relations and the evolving situation in Afghanistan were discussed.

The premier underlined that after 40 years of conflict and instability, there was an opportunity to establish lasting peace in Afghanistan.

According to Prime Minister Office "the two leaders agreed to remain in close contact on bilateral matters as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.”