WASHINGTON, 15 August 2021, (TON): The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has welcomed the celebration of religious minorities day in Pakistan, hoping that the government would uphold the vision of inclusiveness and religious freedom advocated by its founding father, Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

In a message on Pakistan’s National Minority Day, USCRIF also posted one of Mr Jinnah’s quotes on its official Twitter site, declaring “you are free: you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the state.”

USCIRF is a federal commission whose commissioners are appointed by the US president and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives. It publishes an annual report on international religious freedom.

In its 2021 annual report, USCIRF recommended the US government work with the Pakistani government to encourage substantial steps to address extremist rhetoric often preceding attacks on minorities, while protecting freedom of expression.

KATHMANDU, 15 August 2021, (TON): On the occasion of the 75th Independence Day of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba have sent separate messages of felicitations to their Pakistani counterparts Arif Alvi and Imran Khan respectively.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said issuing a press release on Saturday “in their messages, President Bhandari and Prime Minister Deuba extended best wishes for peace, progress and prosperity of Pakistan, and also expressed confidence that the friendly relations existing between Nepal and Pakistan would continue to grow in the days ahead.”

DHAKA, 15 August 2021, (TON): At least 20 Rohingyas went missing after a boat, carrying 30 of the community, capsized in the Bay of Bengal.

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard said “the Rohingyas were fleeing Bhasan Char at midnight.”

Captain Kazi Shah Alam, zonal commander of Coast Guard (East), said “the boat capsized in the middle of the sea, around 10 to 15 kilometres off Bhasan Char.”

He added “our rescue vessels have already reached the spot and our team conducting a rescue mission there to find the missing Rohingyas."

According to sources in Bangladesh Coast Guard, around 30 Rohingyas fled Bhasan Char that night by boat. Travelling for around two and a half hours at the Bay, the boat capsized.

LONDON, 14 August 2021, (TON):  A young man who killed five people, including his mother, and then himself in Britain’s first mass shooting in over a decade had complained online about difficulties meeting women and being beaten down by life.

Police said “the motive for the shootings was unclear but there were no immediate signs that the crime was an act of terrorism or the 22-year-old gunman had connections to extremist groups.”

They identified the shooter as Jake Davison, 22, and said he had a gun license, but revealed few other details. Witnesses reported that he used a pump-action shotgun, police said, though they wouldn’t confirm what type of weapon it was and whether it was the one Davison was licensed to use.

Gun crimes are rare in Britain, which has strict firearm control rules.

According to police accounts, Davison left the house and immediately shot and killed a 3-year-old girl, Sophie Martyn, and her father, Lee Martyn, 43. He then shot and wounded two other people down the street whom police haven’t identified.

KABUL, 14 August 2021, (TON): The Taliban conquered the second and third largest cities in Afghanistan, Kandahar and Herat, on Friday as part of a major offensive on the heels of the U.S. withdrawal.

The assault on Kandahar carried symbolic weight because it is the birthplace of the Taliban, from where founder Mullah Omar began conquering Afghanistan in the 1990s.

Taliban now control over half of Afghanistan’s territory, according to the Foundation for Defense of Democracy’s Long War Journal.

The U.S.-backed Afghan military has been no match for Taliban fighters who are taking advantage of the vacuum left by the U.S. troop withdrawal.

Tens of thousands of Afghans have fled to Kabul, sleeping in city parks and mosques, while commercial flights out of the country are fully booked, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced on Thursday that it would send 3,000 American troops to facilitate a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

KATHMANDU, 14 August 2021, (TON): Indian ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra has met with Acting Chief of Nepali Army Prabhuram Sharma at latter’s office Bhadrakali.

According to Army Public Relations Directorate, they held discussions on matters of bilateral relations and mutual benefit.

NA believes that the meeting is expected to further harmonise the bilateral relations.

TEL AVIV, 14 August 2021, (TON): The Israeli military said that Israel downed a Hezbollah drone earlier this week that crossed into its airspace.

The military said in a statement “our troops monitored and successfully downed the drone.”

“We will continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty.”

According to Israeli media reports, the drone was unarmed and likely on a reconnaissance mission.

Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel reached a boiling point last week, leading to rocket attacks from the militant group that drew Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire.

Despite the animosity, both sides targeted open ground to avoid any casualties and potential escalation.

TUNIS, 14 August 2021, (TON): Tunisian President Kais Saied on Friday received an official US delegation headed by deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer, who carried a written message from President Joe Biden, the Tunisian presidency posted on Facebook.

During the meeting Saied said “the measures he had taken, dismissing the prime minister, freezing Parliament and assuming executive authority were within the framework of implementing the constitution and responding to a popular will in light of the political, economic and social crises, and rampant corruption and bribery.

 COLOMBO, 14 August 2021, (TON): In his virtual discussion with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena lauded the bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia and highlighted the potential that existed for further advancement of cooperation.

The Foreign Minister Gunawardena noting the progressive steps taken by both countries to strengthen diplomatic relations since 1974, recalled the contributions made by the Saudi Royalty to deepen and expand the relationship into varied areas of development cooperation and joint collaboration.

The Minister Gunawardena conveyed the greetings from the Head of State of Sri Lanka and himself to the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud -and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The Minister Gunawardena extended Sri Lanka's appreciation to Saudi Arabia for hosting Sri Lankan migrant workers, emphasizing that employment opportunities for Sri Lankans helped both countries in their economic advancement. He encouraged Saudi Arabia to provide increased opportunities for Sri Lankans in skilled and professional categories.

 MALE, 14 August 2021, (TON): Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have exceeded 50,000 within the first 11 days of August. 

The latest statistics publicized by the Tourism Ministry indicates that a total of 52,792 tourists have arrived in the Maldives within the first 11 days of this month, recording a daily average of 4,799.

With these new developments, Maldives has recorded a total of 665,159 tourist arrivals this year – as of August 11.

A total of 33 international airlines operate to the Maldives at present.

As of August 11, 781 tourist establishments are in operation – that is 156 resorts, 484 hotels and guesthouses, and 141 sea vessels.