KATHMANDU, 22 August 2021, (TON): The United Nations World Food Programme has welcomed an additional contribution of £788,000 (Rs 130 million) from the Government of the United Kingdom towards its nutrition support for vulnerable families in Nepal.

The UK-aid contribution, through the British Embassy Kathmandu, comes at a time when monsoon floods is disrupting livelihoods and exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition for many Nepalis. This funding is in addition to the £4.49 million (Rs 678 million) WFP received from the UK Government in December 2020.

Nathanael Bevan, Development Director, British Embassy Kathmandu said “protecting the health of the Nepali people is a top UK priority. The UK is glad to be supporting WFP's efforts to make sure vulnerable, Nepalis, especially mothers and children, receive proper food and nutrition."

KATHMANDU, 22 August 2021, (TON): Minister of State for Health and Population Umesh Shrestha has announced to establish national cancer institute in Bharatpur. The institute would be based on the premises of the BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital because the hospital owns enough lands for the project, he said at a welcome programme organised here.

On the occasion, he said that he had directed Health Secretary Dr Roshan Pokharel to halt the decision of the previous government to open a study and research institute that would look after the hospital, Bharatpur Cancer Hospital and Sushil Koirala Prakhar Cancer Hospital in Banke, at Bharatpur Cancer Hospital following protests being poured in from all quarters.

He said that BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital would be developed as a study and research center relating to cancer, adding that the government would do its part at the maximum level for the project.

The Minister of State also pledged to increase a grant given to a cancer patient for treatment from the existing Rs 100,000 to Rs 300,000.

KAMPALA, 22 August 2021, (TON): Authorities in Uganda have suspended more than 50 civic groups for allegedly not complying with regulations, dealing a blow to hundreds of thousands of people who directly benefit from the organisations’ activities.

The suspensions, which target agencies ranging from rights watchdogs to women’s groups, were announced by the government’s Non-Governmental Organization Bureau.

The bureau’s Chairman Steve Okello said “we have halted their operations.”

The suspensions take “immediate effect” and will be enforced, the NGO Bureau said in a statement.

It said that the measures were taken in response to the groups’ violation of myriad regulations, including operating with expired permits, failing to file accounts, or failing to register with the authorities.

Prominent rights group Chapter Four Uganda and election observer group CCEDU are among 15 facing indefinite suspensions.

The government’s action will renew fears of an assault on civil society that grew before a charged presidential election earlier this year.

WASHINGTON, 22 August 2021, (TON): The Saudi Press Agency reported that Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, met his Bulgarian counterpart Lachezara Stoeva.

Issues of common concern were discussed during the meeting, which was held at the Saudi’s mission in New York, in addition discussions about the most important issues at the international level.

The meeting was attended by the director of the Kingdom’s representative office at the UN, Faisal Al-Haqbani.

Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Lesotho as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and expand the scope of cooperation between the two countries at all levels.

The agreement was signed by Al-Mouallimi and Nukoban Racing Munyani, Lesotho’s permanent representative to the UN.

GAZA, 22 August 2021, (TON):  Israeli troops fired at Palestinian protesters who hurled firebombs and burned tires from behind the Gaza Strip’s border fence Saturday, with the Gaza health ministry reporting 24 injuries.

The ministry said in a statement “twenty-four civilians were injured, including 10 children.”

“Two of the injuries are critical, one of whom is a 13-year-old boy, who was hit in the head east of Gaza City.”

Tear gas shot by Israeli security forces from across the Gaza border fence billows as Palestinian protesters watch amid clashes following a demonstration east of Gaza City, denouncing the Israeli siege of the Palestinian territory.

The Israeli army told media “hundreds of rioters and demonstrators” had gathered along the border fence.

The army said “troops are prepared in the area and are using riot dispersal means, and if necessary, .22 calibre rounds.”

The Hamas Islamic movement that rules Gaza had called a protest Saturday to mark the burning 52 years ago of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam.

The movement said in a statement “Al-Aqsa Mosque is a red line, and any attack on it will be met with valiant resistance from our people.”

The protest came exactly three months since Israel and Hamas reached a truce following their deadliest fighting in years.

KATHMANDU, 22 August 2021, (TON): Thirty-six more Nepalis who were stranded in Afghanistan have been rescued and brought back home. Similarly, some others rescued are scheduled to land in Kathmandu on Saturday night.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said “so far, 558 Nepalis have been rescued and safely repatriated to home since Afghanistan was recently taken under control by the Taliban. Other 317 have registered themselves for rescue.”

The rescued Nepalis boarded regular and chartered flights to arrive in Nepal.

Arrangements have been made for the rescued Nepalis to reach them home.

There are two holding centers- at Samakhusi and Ichangunarayan- set up for the rescued Nepalis by the Nepali Army.

COLOMBO, 22 August 2021, (TON): A German official said that Germany has stepped in to support Sri Lankan exporters of organic products to obtain broader market access to European Union by providing key information on required certifications and standards, labelling and packaging rules, and distribution channels.

Chief Delegate German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) Andreas Hergenroether said “this while delivering remarks during a conference “Organic Food Products Made in Sri Lanka on August 18, 2021”

During the upcoming days the participants of the virtual business delegation will be individually matched according to their individual specific requirements with Sri Lankan exporters of organic products.

Every single B2b-meeting has been thoroughly prepared and will be individually accompanied by my colleagues. During the preparation of the B2b-meetings the importance of standards and certification became evident.apart from the legally required certifications in the EU there are specific standards that are required by importers when it comes to quality, food security as well as sustainability.

Today, it is not sufficient to obtain a European-organic certification, but industry and consumer-driven certifications such as IFS, BRC, ISO 22000 or BSCI, SA 8000, SMETA etc. must be obtained to get a broader market access to the EU.

MALE, 22 August 2021, (TON): Maldives has recorded over 700,000 tourist arrivals so far this year.

According to records released by Tourism Ministry, 705,024 tourists visited the island destination by August 19. It marks an 81.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year when Maldives saw just 389,187 visitors.

Average daily arrivals to Maldives this August stands at 4,877.

The top source market for tourist arrivals to Maldives so far this year is Russia, which contributed to 22 percent of total arrivals. 

Neighboring India contributed to 18.9 percent of total arrivals, followed by Germany which contributed to 5.7 percent of total arrivals, United States contributed to 4.1 percent of total arrivals, and Ukraine, which contributed to 3.8 percent of arrivals.

NEW DELHI, 22 August 2021, (TON): Police said that fourteen people were arrested in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam for alleged social media posts supporting Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan.

A senior police officer said “the arrests were made since Friday night and they have been booked under different sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, IT Act and Criminal Procedure Code.”

The officer said "we were on alert and monitoring social media for inflammatory posts.”

Deputy Inspector General Violet Baruah said that Assam Police is taking stern legal action against pro-Taliban comments on social media, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

DHAKA, 22 August 2021, (TON): Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, who is on an official visit to Turkey, met Turkey's President of Defense Industries Ismail Demer and Deputy Minister of National Defense Muhsin Dere.

During the meeting, the army chief said “there have been long-standing strategic friendships and cultural ties between the armed forces of Bangladesh and Turkey”

He also hoped that these relations would reach new heights in the future.

General Ahmed said his official visit to Turkey on the occasion of the International Defence Fair-2021 would open new opportunities of cooperation between the military forces of the two countries.

The army chief thanked both the President of the Turkish Defense Industries, and the Deputy Minister of National Defence for inviting him.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Muhsin Dere expressed his country's commitment to further cooperation and assistance to Bangladesh in the field of military equipment as well as training of military personnel and technology exchange.