MOSCOW, 26 August 2021, (TON): Russia has signed contracts with China, India, Uzbekistan and some other countries at the Army 2021 international military-technical forum, Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev.

Russia’s military cooperation chief specified “the result is as follows, contracts worth over $2 billion have been agreed, including contracts with China on seaborne hardware, with India on land forces’ equipment and also with Armenia, Uzbekistan, Myanmar and Belarus.”

Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport announced earlier on Wednesday it had inked export deals worth 2 billion euros at the Army 2021 international military-technical forum.

The Army 2021 international military-technical forum is running at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center outside Moscow on August 22-28.

NAYPYITAW, 26 August 2021, (TON): Myanmar’s army chief said that he is considering changing the country’s electoral system from the existing majoritarian model and toward a form of Proportional Representation (PR).

According to state-run media “Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the country’s elected civilian administration in a coup on February 1, made the remarks during a meeting in Naypyitaw with members of his military council.”

In accordance with the country’s military-drafted 2008 Constitution, Myanmar currently uses First Past the Post (FPTP), a system in which the candidate who receives the most votes is the winner of the parliamentary seat in question.

Min Aung Hlaing said that the PR system would be “all-inclusive” and allow for constituents’ voices to be better represented.

Min Aung Hlaing said during the meeting “it is necessary to consider the Proportional Representation—PR—system with all participants. It is necessary to amend the way representatives are elected and the election system. During its tenure, the government will make these amendments by coordinating with everyone.”

DHAKA, 26 August 2021, (TON):  Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed has met with General Musa Avsever, chief of Turkish Land Forces and General Yasar Guler, chief of Turkish general staff over the past two days during his ongoing official visit to Turkey.

An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release said that during the meeting, the army chief discussed issues of mutual interest between Turkey and the Bangladesh army.

The talks focused on possible areas of defence cooperation between the two countries including training exchanges, the release said.

Apart from meeting several important officials of the Turkish army, Army chief Shafiuddin had inspected the operation control room of Turkish Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Army Aviation Headquarters and Turkish Air Spaces Industry.

MALE, 26 August 2021, (TON): President’s former spokesperson Ibrahim Hood has been appointed as Secretary of Foreign Relations Office at the President’s Office.

Hood was appointed the Foreign Relations Secretary, a State Minister level position.

President’s Office said that Hood has been removed from his previous position as Chief Communications Strategist of the Communications Office at the President’s Office, but will also continue to serve as head of the Communications Office at the President's Office.

WASHINGTON, 26 August 2021, (TON): The United States warned crowds trying to access Kabul airport to leave the area, as Britain and Australia cited the “high threat” of a terrorist attack.

A flurry of near-identical travel warnings from London, Canberra and Washington late Wednesday urged people gathered in the area to vacate and move to a safe location.

For days thousands of fearful Afghans and foreigners have surrounded Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport, in the hope of fleeing Taliban rule.

The security warnings about the airport were unusually specific.

“Those at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,” said the US State Department, citing unspecified security threats.

Australia’s department of foreign affairs said there was an “ongoing and very high threat of terrorist attack.”

“Do not travel to Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport. If you’re in the area of the airport, move to a safe location and await further advice.”

London issued a similar warning, adding “if you can leave Afghanistan safely by other means, you should do so immediately.”

Washington and its allies have been flying thousands of Afghans out of the airport every day on hulking military transports, but it has become an increasingly difficult and desperate task.

DODOMA, 26 August 2021, (TON): President Samia Suluhu Hassan said that an attacker wielding an assault rifle was shot dead after killing three police officers and an employee of a private security company near the French embassy in the Tanzanian commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Hassan said on Twitter that the attacker had been neutralised and calm has returned.

Hassan said “I send my condolences to the police service and the families of three policemen, and one officer of the SGA security company, who lost their lives after an armed person attacked them in the Salenda area of Dar es Salaam.”

Inspector General of Police Simon Sirro said “police were trying to identify the attacker in a short video published by Millard Ayo, a Tanzanian news website.

He said “the gunman’s motives remained unknown.”

Head of police operations Liberatus Sabas told reporters that six other people were injured in the incident.

According to witnesses “police on duty at the French mission and a nearby bank tried to stop the gunman, who was yelling that he wanted to kill police officers.”

NAYPYITAW, 26 August 2021, (TON): Resistance fighters from the Sagaing Region town of Tamu say they have killed at least 26 junta soldiers and police officers in three different attacks since Sunday.

In one ambush in the town, which sits at the Indian border, the local People’s Defence Force (PDF) chapter said “it killed seven and wounded eight at a police outpost where some 30 soldiers and police were stationed.”

A spokesperson for the group said “they had been stationed there for quite some time,”

 He said “they asked for money from people who passed through the area on motorbikes and looted food from local residents.”

The PDF fighters used AK-47s, traditional Tumi hunting rifles and grenades during the clash, he said. Junta forces returned fire but the PDF suffered no casualties and had the upper hand because they were familiar with the local territory, he added.

COLOMBO, 26 August 2021, (TON): Saudi Arabia is looking forward to more trading partners as it aims at increasing non-oil exports share in its gross domestic product (GDP) and is reportedly resuming free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with 11 countries including Sri Lanka.

The kingdom is reportedly resuming free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, China, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the Philippines and the United States as well.

Based on a direction of the General Authority for Foreign Trade (GAFT), the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) issued a circular regarding this to all domestic chambers of commerce, media outlets in the Gulf reported.

The country wants to export services, including transport, distribution, professional and financial services, communication services, postal services as well as express mail, media, hotel, construction and contracting, education and training, travel and tourism, environmental and entertainment.

The Saudi Exports Development Authority (SEDA) announced that the country will identify over 120 international tendering opportunities in a number of target countries.

ISLAMABAD, 26 August 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan has stressed that a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan was vitally important for Pakistan and regional stability.

Besides ensuring safety, security and protection of rights of Afghans, an inclusive political settlement was the best way forward in resolving the crisis, he was quoted by the PM's Office as saying during a telephonic conversation with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders exchanged views on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and bilateral relations, read the statement.

Premier Imran underscored that the international community must stay positively engaged in support of the people of Afghanistan, to help address humanitarian needs and ensure economic sustenance.

He also stressed on the importance of coordinated approaches in addressing the evolving situation and noted that Pakistan attached high importance of the role of the Troika Plus format.

Prime Minister Imran expressed satisfaction at the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations, with increased high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in diverse fields.

According to the statement “he reiterated his government’s resolve to strengthen trade relations as well as bilateral collaboration in energy sector, including early realisation of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline Project.”

The two leaders agreed to closely cooperate within the SCO for promoting regional peace and security.

The prime minister also reiterated his invitation to President Putin to visit Pakistan.

NAYPYITAW, 26 August 2021, (TON): According to an official from the local resistance group ”at least 30 troops from the junta’s armed forces were killed and 15 wounded when a military convoy leaving Gangaw in Magwe Region was hit by landmines set up by the Yaw Defence Force (YDF).”

The YDF official told media "the first of the eight cars was overturned. Everything was destroyed. The second car was unharmed. The third and fourth cars were also hit by the landmines.”

He added that a group of 16 YDF members fired homemade rocket launchers at the convoy, which was headed toward Kalay in Sagaing Region after the mines exploded, intensifying the attack.

The YDF official said that one of the unharmed military cars fired about 15 shots with an RPG, then we exchanged fire. Once we succeeded, we withdrew from the location. The fighting lasted for only 10 minutes. Then the junta’s army fired gunshots indiscriminately.

“The army gathered the injured soldiers and bodies and left.”

Though the junta’s army fired back on the local resistance fighters, the YDF reportedly suffered no casualties, but there was minor damage to nearby sesame fields.