MALE, 09 August 2021, (TON): The newly appointed Mexican and German ambassadors to the Maldives have presented their credentials to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Mexico’s new Ambassador Federico Salas Lofte and Germany’s new Ambassador Holger Lothar Seubert presented their credentials to the President during two separate ceremonies held at the President’s Office this morning.

In separate meetings held following the ceremonies, both the Ambassadors held discussions with the President. The three also assured the commitment to enhance the existing filtration relationships between the countries.

During the President’s meeting with Germany’s new Ambassador Seubert, they both had also discussed ways to enhance existing relations between Maldives and Germany, with emphasis on areas relating to fisheries, economy, health, and education sectors.

Germany's Ambassador to the Maldives Holger Lothar Seubert (L) presented credentials to President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (R) at a ceremony held at the President's Office on August 8, 2021.

In the President’s meeting with Mexico’s new Ambassador Lofte, the President expressed hope for strengthening cooperation in the tourism sector between the Maldives and Mexico.

BRUSSELS, 08 August 2021, (TON): An EU official said that Iran is ready to resume talks reviving the nuclear deal with world powers under new president Ebrahim Raisi, and meetings could take place in Vienna from early September.

The senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “the EU’s negotiator on the file, Enrique Mora, attended Raisi’s swearing-in in Tehran last Thursday and spoke with the Iranian official designated to take charge of the nuclear talks, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.”

EU official said “Amir-Abdollahian “is supposed to be the new foreign minister” in Raisi’s cabinet, but that has not yet been announced.”

He added that it was unclear whether the nuclear talks would remain under the responsibility of the Iranian foreign ministry or be taken over by another body, such as Iran’s National Security Council.

Raisi is a hard-liner expected to consolidate the ultraconservatives’ power during his four-year term.

He succeeds the relatively moderate Hassan Rouhani whose landmark achievement during his own two-term presidency was the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers: the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

Former US president Donald Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions that have choked Iran’s oil-dependent economy. Iran responded by walking back measures it had agreed to abide by.

Talks have been happening since April in Vienna to find a way to bring both sides back into full compliance.

The last round took place on June 20 with no date set for when they would continue. The EU chairs the meetings.

THIMPHU, 08 August 2021, (TON): Should everything work out as planned, Bhutan will have its first MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) programme by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan.

The Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB) is currently in an advanced stage of planning phase to introduce the programme.

KGUMSB’s President, Dr Kinzang P Tshering, said that one of the main activities outlined in the 12th Plan for the university was starting a MBBS programme in the country. Following the proposal to introduce the programme, the university’s governing council had asked KGUMSB to prepare a detailed project report (DPR).

Dr Kinzang P Tshering said that works are ongoing and the DPR is expected to be ready by the end of the year. He said that the government was also supportive of the idea and the planning activities were in an advance stage.

According to the annual health bulletin 2021, there are 140 doctors as medical superintendent, chief medical officers, medical officers, and general duties medical officers in the country today. There are also 122 medical specialists.

Although the number of doctors per 1,000 population has slightly increased from 0.43 in 2019 to 0.46 in 2020, the overall doctor-population ratio is still lower than the ratio recommended by the World Health Organsiation (WHO).

SANA'A, 08 August 2021, (TON): Acclaimed as an experienced diplomat who has handled conflicts in the Middle East for two decades, the UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has received support from regional and international countries along with Yemeni factions to end the war in Yemen.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres named the Swedish diplomat Grundberg as his special envoy for Yemen, succeeding Martin Griffiths, a Briton.

The UN chief said “the new envoy would draw on more than 20 years of experience in international affairs to help resolve the war in Yemen. He cited his role in helping Yemenis broker the Stockholm Agreement that defused fighting in the western province of Hodeidah in late 2018.”

Shortly after the announcement, the Yemeni government, Saudi Arabia, the US and other countries congratulated the new envoy and expressed support for his mission to end the war in Yemen.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said “the Kingdom would stand by the new UN envoy and backed all peace efforts to end the war.”

Prince Faisal said “we wish him success in his new role and look forward to working with him. The Kingdom will continue to support all efforts to reach a political solution that helps bring peace and prosperity to Yemen.”

The internationally recognized government of Yemen also expressed support for the new UN envoy and repeated demands for resuming the peace process and reaching a political settlement that would end the Houthi takeover of power.

COLOMBO, 08 August 2021, (TON): Opposition MP Patali Champika Ranawaka said “Sri Lanka is facing the worst ever public finance crisis and time is ripe for evolution of sustainable solutions to the present ills instead of trying to muddle through them.”

In his monthly economic analysis, Mr. Ranawaka said  the country's debt burden had increased beyond means due to the absence of fiscal discipline over the years.

He said that raising high interest short term loans and sometimes investing them in economically unviable projects had compounded to the situation.

He said the tax relief package announced in the recent times was the most irresponsible act ever done by any government in the post independence era.

Mr. Ranawaka said “state revenue dropped by 30% due to it in 2020. He said state revenue accounted for only 9.2% of  the GDP and 70% of it was spent for interest payment last year.”

ABUJA, 08 August 2021, (TON): The Nigerian authorities have raised concerns over the recent escalation of both terror and gang-related activities orchestrated by both the Islamic State jihadists and the bandits in the northeastern and northwestern regions.

The recent increase in kidnappings in the two regions is creating a worrying trend in terms of security.

They warned that this may further complicate the task of Nigeria's security forces, who are running an extensive operation against both the jihadists in Borno state and against the criminal gangs also known as the bandits.

A memo from Nigeria's immigration chief Muhammad Babandede warned of a major movement of bandits from Zamfara in the northwest towards Borno region who are seeking intensive training by Boko Haram.

The air force said “Nigerian forces killed 78 gunmen, known locally as bandits, during military operations including airstrikes in northwestern Zamfara state.”

Heavily armed bandits have wracked northwest and central Nigeria for years, but the groups have recently stepped up attacks on schools, kidnapping hundreds of students for ransom and prompting a military response.

KATHMANDU, 08 August 2021, (TON): Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal reached Manang for the onsite inspection of damages caused by floods and landslides.

Flood and landslide triggered by incessant rain on June 15 caused heavy damage to the physical infrastructures in this Himalayan district.

It is said “the former prime minister and minister have arrived in Manang to observe the damage to physical properties caused by the disaster at various places of the district and to provide necessary support in terms of relief and reconstruction of the damaged infrastructures.

Former ministers Dev Gurung and Tek Bahadur Gurung, the energy Ministry Secretary and the Chief of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) are also accompanying former PM Dahal and Minister Bhusal.

Chief District Officer Bishnu Lamichhane said “the team is scheduled to observe the areas damaged by the landslide and flood. It will inspect the Timang of Ngisyang rural municipality, Chame of Chame rural municipality, and Danakyu, Tilchetaal, and other areas of Nasaon rural municipality.”

The team is scheduled to hold discussions with the bodies concerned regarding the repair and maintenance of the physical infrastructures destroyed by the disaster.

WASHINGTON, 08 August 2021, (TON): On August 9, the administration of US President Joe Biden will announce the introduction of new sanctions against Belarus.

The media notes that the announcement of the restrictions will coincide with the anniversary of the last elections in Belarus.

According to the CEC, he gained 80.1% of the vote “strikes and protest actions engulfed Belarus on August 9, 2020, immediately after the presidential elections, which were won by the incumbent head of state Alexander Lukashenko.

MALE, 08 August 2021, (TON): Maldives, India and Sri Lanka have agreed to increase collaboration on four key areas to strengthen security in the Indian Ocean region.

The agreement was reached at a virtual meeting attended by top security officials from the three countries last Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Secretary of National Security Advisor’s Office of the Maldivian President’s Office, Aishath Nooshin Waheed; Chief of Defense Staff and Commander of Army of Sri Lanka, General LHSC Silva, and Security National Security Advisor of India Pankaj Saran.

Citing a statement released by the Indian High Commission in Colombo, The Hindu reported that the three countries agreed to increase collaboration in marine safety and security, terrorism and radicalization, trafficking and organized crime, and cyber security.

The officials discussed specific proposals for cooperation in each area, including joint exercises and training.

The meeting on Wednesday comes nine months after Maldivian Defense Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Secretary to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense, Kamal Gunaratne met in Colombo and agreed to expand the scope of intelligence sharing between the three countries.

NEW YORK, 08 August 2021, (TON): The top UN official in Afghanistan appealed to the Security Council to act now to avert a catastrophe in the war-torn country.

Pakistan, while acknowledging the growing concern over Afghanistan, warned the world body not to allow India to project a distorted picture during its presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC). India called Friday’s special session to consider the situation in Afghanistan. India took over the council’s presidency this week for the month of August.

UN Special Representative Deborah Lyons pointed out that Taliban militants were now targeting major cities and the situation in the country was reminiscent of the Syrian and Balkan wars.

“Afghanistan is now at a dangerous turning point,” Ms Lyons, who heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told the council.

She warned “Ahead lies either a genuine peace negotiation or a tragically intertwined set of crises: an increasingly brutal conflict combined with an acute humanitarian situation and multiplying human rights abuses.”