LUSAKA, 15 August 2021, (TON): Zambia President Edgar Lungu don release statement wia im tok say di general election no dey free and fair.

President Lungu claim say dem chase party agents of di governing Patriotic Front from polling stations and therefore dem no fit protect dia votes.

Im allege say serious violence happen for three provinces wia im party lose votes.

Early results from Zambia put opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema for di lead

How di winner of Zambia election go emerge.

Oga Lungu also allege say di killing of Patriotic Front chariman for di north western province on di day of di elections render di elections not free and fair.

Anxiety levels dey extremely high for Zambia as pipo don dey patiently wait to find out who their next president go be.

Di electoral commission dey slowly announce election results as dem dey come in following Thursday elections wey dey declared to be relatively peaceful by African and European observer missions.

But di incumbent President Edgar Lungu wey dey behind di opposition for di votes wey dem don count so far say three provinces wia im party lose votes bin dey characterized by violence and im claim say make dem cancel di elections.

President Edgar Lungu dey look for second term and Hakainde Hichilema na di main opposition candidate.

Meanwhile opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema accuse di incumbent of trying to throw out di electoral process as part of effort to hold onto power.

Early results from Zambia presidential election show say na di opposition candidate, Hakainde Hichilema, dey lead over di incumbent Edgar Lungu, according to di first results from di electoral commission early.

NAYPYITAW, 15 August 2021, (TON): Four unidentified men stabbed and killed the chair of the junta-allied National Democratic Force’s (NDF) Kayah (Karenni) State chapter at his home in the capital of Loikaw.

According to a member of a local charity team that helped his family bring his body to the Loikaw public hospital “seventy-year-old Han Thar died on the spot after being stabbed three times in the neck and once in the chest.”

According to a woman who lives in the same neighbourhood, the men who stabbed Han Thar came to his home, where he ran a small electronics shop, looking to repair a television set. 

She told media “there were police in front of his house and I saw blood on the ground.”

Han Thar ran as an NDF regional candidate for Loikaw Constituency (1) in the 2020 general election but lost.

The motive behind the murder was not known at the time of reporting, and the perpetrators were still at large. His death is believed to be the latest in a series of killings and bomb attacks in recent months that target military authorities and those perceived to be their collaborators.

COLOMBO, 15 August 2021, (TON):  The newly-appointed New Zealand’s first resident High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Michael Appleton August(13) paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff, Commander of the Army.

On his arrival at the Army Headquarters, he was warmly received by the Military Secretary at the Army HQ, Major General Ajith Kolambathanthri before he was ushered to the Commander's office.

At the Commander’s Office, General Shavendra Silva warmly welcomed the visiting new New Zealand’s first resident High Commissioner to Sri Lanka HE Michael Appleton and greeted him.

Discussions that ensued largely focused on sound bilateral relations that prevail between both countries, military organizations and possibilities for further improvement with varying training modules for tri servicemen in Sri Lanka.

General Silva gratefully acknowledged the understanding and the cooperation, being extended by New Zealand counterparts to the Army throughout last couples of years and expressed his desire to further promote such ties in future.

COLOMBO, 15 August 2021, (TON): The Consul General of Sri Lanka in the Republic of Cyprus M.H.M.N Bandara called on the newly appointed President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou

The Consul General handed over the felicitation message issued by the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to the newly appointed President of the House of Representatives, on her assumption of duties.

During the official discussion, the President of the House of Representatives highlighted the excellent bilateral relations maintained by both countries and emphasized that this was the time to explore more economic orientated activities between Cyprus and Sri Lanka in addition to strengthening the political relationship.

She recalled that the former President of the House of Representatives had extended an invitation to the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament to visit Cyprus and expressed hope that the visit would be arranged in due course.

During the discussion, the President of the House of Representatives stated that she has decided to re-activate the Cyprus- Sri Lanka Parliament Friendship group and was also willing to work with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in which both countries have been members.

MALE, 15 August 2021, (TON): The Pakistan High Commission in Male’ held a flag-hoisting ceremony on Saturday to celebrate Pakistan’s 75th Independence Day.

The ceremony was held at the Pakistan High Commission in Male’ on Saturday, and was attended by Pakistan High Commissioner Vice Admiral (Retired) Ather Mukhtar and Pakistani nationals living in Maldives.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mukhtar congratulated all Pakistanis on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day.

"The day is an occasion to pay tribute to all those sons of the soil who laid lives while defending and protecting territorial as well as ideological frontiers of the mother land,” he said.

Mukhtar, in his speech, highlighted on importance of the independence. He spoke of how Muslims of the subcontinent, under the leadership of Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, strived for a separate homeland, and of how Pakistan emerged on the world map as the first ideological Muslim state on August 14, 1947.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, 15 August 2021, (TON): At least 304 people have been killed after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southwest Haiti, reducing buildings to rubble and sending terrified residents running out of their homes in search of safety.

In a news conference on Saturday evening, the head of the country’s civil protection agency, Jerry Chandler, said 304 people had been confirmed dead, up from an initial toll of 29, while at least 1,800 others were injured.

Chandler told reporters 160 of the deaths were reported in Haiti’s southern department; 42 were in Nippes; 100 were in Grand Anse, and two were in the country’s northwest.

The agency also said on Twitter “the first interventions, carried out both by professional rescuers and members of the population, made it possible to extract several people from the rubble. Hospitals continue to receive the wounded.”

The earthquake struck on Saturday morning 12km (7.4 miles) northeast of Saint-Louis du Sud, on Haiti’s southern Tiburon Peninsula, at a shallow depth of 10km (6.2 miles), the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

It is the latest crisis to befall the Caribbean nation, which is struggling amid widespread gang violence and ongoing political instability in the aftermath of the assassination of President Jovenel Moise last month.

“I saw bodies being pulled out of the rubble, injured and perhaps dead people,” said Les Cayes resident Jean Marie Simon, 38, who was at the market when the earthquake struck and ran home to see if his family was safe. “I heard cries of pain everywhere I passed through.”

Haiti’s new prime minister, Ariel Henry, declared a one-month state of emergency after what he described on Twitter as a “violent quake” and said he would mobilise all available government resources to help victims.

“We will make the necessary arrangements to assist those affected by the earthquake,” Henry tweeted.

ISLAMABAD, 15 August 2021, (TON): Twelve members of an extended family, all women and young boys, lost their lives and several others suffered burn injuries in a grenade attack on a mini-truck on the outskirts of the city on Saturday night.

A senior police officer, who didn’t want not to be named, told media that it was an act of terrorism.

He said “personnel from the Bomb Disposal Squad had found the lever of the grenade [at the crime scene] and confirmed that a Russian-made device had been used in the attack.”

The incident occurred in the Baldia area within the limits of the Madina Colony police station.

The official said “we are investigating the incident from different angles to ascertain whether the perpetrators were terrorists from some ethnic group or an extremist group.”

Police term it an act of terrorism.

ISLAMABAD, 15 August 2021, (TON): Pakistan on Saturday called out Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "distorting history" after he announced that August 14, Pakistan's Independence Day will be observed as "Partition Horrors Remembrance Day" in India.

As Pakistan celebrated its 75th day of independence, the Indian prime minister took to Twitter to make the controversial announcement.

He tweeted "millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence. In memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, August 14 will be observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day."

Modi added "may [this day] keep reminding us of the need to remove the poison of social divisions, disharmony and further strengthen the spirit of oneness, social harmony and human empowerment."

In a statemen t, Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri dubbed Modi's move "a political and publicity stunt", and said that "no modern state is so much in contradiction with itself as the Indian state - the so-called 'largest democracy'."

"It is shameful that the practitioners of 'Hindutva' ideology, and purveyors of hate and violence, would so hypocritically and one-sidedly invoke the tragic events and mass migration that occurred in the wake of Independence in 1947.

He said that distorting history and stoking communalism is the special forte of the RSS-BJP regime. Far from doing anything to heal old wounds, they would go to any extent to sow further dissensions for electoral gains.

NEW DELHI, 15 August 2021, (TON): Pakistani and Indian forces on Saturday exchanged sweets at the Wagah Border on the occasion of Pakistan's 75th Independence Day.

The goodwill gesture was made by officials from the Punjab Rangers and India's Border Security Force (BSF).

It is a tradition for Indian and Pakistani soldiers to exchange sweets on days of national importance for the two countries and on the occasion of major festivals every year.

The practice is a confidence-building measure and an attempt to establish peace between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Ceremony witnessed the exchange of greetings by the two forces whereas the BSF officials congratulated Pakistan Rangers and wished them well.

Previously, sweets were exchanged between the two forces on the occasion of Eidul Azha.

KABUL, 15 August 2021, (TON): Taliban forces captured a major city in northern Afghanistan on Saturday, sending Afghan forces fleeing, and drew closer to Kabul, where Western countries scrambled to evacuate their citizens from the capital.

The fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, confirmed by a provincial council official, was another major capture for the Taliban, who have swept through the country in recent weeks as US-led forces withdrew.

The United States and Britain are now rushing several thousand troops back into the country to evacuate citizens amid concern Kabul could soon be overrun.

Security forces from Mazar-i-Sharif were escaping towards the border, Afzal Hadid, head of the Balkh provincial council, told Reuters.

He said "the Taliban have taken control of Mazar-I-Sharif," he said. "All security forces have left Mazar city."

Earlier in the day, the rebels seized a town south of Kabul that is one of the gateways to the capital.

Many Afghans have fled from the provinces to the capital, driven out by fighting and fearful of a return to Taliban’s rule, as resistance from Afghan government forces crumbles.

He said “as night fell on Saturday, hundreds of people were huddled in tents or in the open in the city, by roadsides or in carparks, a resident said. "You can see the fear in their faces.”