LONDON, 03 August 2021, (TON): A government statement read “Britain summoned Iran’s ambassador to London in response to what it called the unlawful attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman last week.”

“Iran must immediately cease actions that risk international peace and security,”

It added, saying that “vessels must be allowed to navigate freely in accordance with international law.”

State news agency reported “Iran’s foreign ministry also summoned the British charge d’affaires to “protest remarks” made by the UK’s foreign secretary.”

He was told that “these hasty, contradictory, and baseless remarks are rejected and strongly condemned.”

Earlier, Iran said “it will respond promptly to any threat against its security, a foreign ministry spokesman said, as the United States, Israel and Britain blamed Tehran for an attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman.

State television quoted Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying “the Islamic Republic of Iran has no hesitation in protecting its security and national interests and will respond promptly and strongly to any possible adventure.”

NAYPYITAW, 03 August 2021, (TON): Anti-regime guerilla fighters have said that over 1,000 people have fled a village in Magway Region’s Pauk Township after junta forces burnt down two homes there and raided or destroyed several others on Saturday when the administrator of a neighbouring village was killed.

A spokesperson for the guerilla group told media :members of the military-controlled Pyu Saw Htee group helped soldiers torch the houses in Wun Chone during a rampage through the village.”  

He said “they rampaged through the village and destroyed many shops as well as motorbikes,” referring to testimony from five witnesses.

There is a group of soldiers stationed at Pin Taung village, which sits two miles northeast of Wun Chone. The military arrived in Wun Chone immediately after the administrator of Pin Taung was assassinated at around 7am.

The soldiers clashed with guerilla fighters near Wun Chone before beginning their rampage. The guerillas’ spokesperson said none of the group’s fighters were killed in the clash and could not confirm if any of the junta’s forces were killed.

KABUL, 03 August 2021, (TON): The Afghan president blamed the American troops’ speedy pullout for the worsening violence in his country and said that his administration would now focus on protecting provincial capitals and major urban areas in the face of the rapidly advancing Taliban.

Ashraf Ghani also urged lawmakers to back a national mobilization drive against the Taliban amid an intensifying war between the Taliban and Afghan government forces over the past few months as US and NATO troops complete their pullout from the war-torn country.

Ghani said in his address to Parliament “an imported, hasty peace process, a reference to Washington’s push for negotiations between Kabul and the Taliban, not only failed to bring peace but created doubt and ambiguity among Afghans.”

The Afghan president arrived by helicopter for the extraordinary session of the house, called because of the dire situation on the ground. Ghani touched down at the Darul Aman Palace in Kabul and inspected an honor guard before heading inside. The Taliban are now trying to seize provincial capitals after already taking large swaths of land and scores of districts in more rural areas, as well as several key border crossings with neighboring countries.

NAYPYITAW, 03 August 2021, (TON): A dozen bodies were discovered near a village in Sagaing Region’s Kani Township, offering further evidence of atrocity killings by regime forces operating in the area.

Local sources said “the 12 bodies, including one of a 14-year-old boy, were found in a wooded area near the village of Taung Pauk on the afternoon of July 30.”

Days earlier, military forces entered Taung Pauk and other nearby villages and began arresting male residents suspected of involvement in the anti-coup resistance movement.

A search party was later formed to locate the detained villagers, all of whom appear to have been tortured and murdered on the day of their arrest.

A local activist who spoke to members of the search party, said “the bodies were very badly bruised. They had also started to decompose, to the point that you couldn’t pick them up. They were killed on the 26th or 27th, so that was understandable.”

He added “some of the bodies had been kept under a burned hut and were covered by a sheet, he added.”

All 12 of the victims have been identified as villagers who were in the custody of the military at the time of their death.

KABUL, 02 August 2021, (TON): Taliban fighters struck Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan with at least three rockets overnight, the aim was to thwart air strikes conducted by Afghan government forces, says group’s spokesman.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson said “Kandahar airport was targeted by us because the enemy was using it as a centre to conduct air strikes against us.”

Afghan government officials said “the rocket attacks forced authorities to suspend all flights and that the runway was partially damaged. There were no immediate reports of casualties.”

Officials said “the Taliban see Kandahar as a major strategic point, which they seem to be using as a control centre for gaining complete dominance over five other provinces.”

Clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters have intensified in the cities of Kandahar and neighbouring Helmand province.

In the west, Afghan officials said “Taliban commanders were swiftly gaining control of strategic buildings around Herat city, forcing civilians to remain in their homes.

LUSAKA, 02 August 2021, (TON): President Edgar Lungu said “Zambia deployed the military to curb escalating political violence ahead of elections on August 12.”

Pockets of violence have been reported in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, as well as northern, southern and Muchinga provinces where supporters of the governing Patriotic Front (PF) and the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) have clashed using machetes, axes, slashers, catapults and other objects.

Police said that two supporters of the governing party were hacked to death with machetes on Friday by attackers suspected to be members of the main opposition party. Four people were arrested in connection with the killings.

Lungu said “in order to curb the political violence we have witnessed in the past two days, I have allowed the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force and Zambia National Service to help the Zambia police in dealing with the security situation.”

Even though the Electoral Commission has banned rallies because of the coronavirus, clashes between opposing political parties have overwhelmed the police.

Lungu further added “maintaining law and order is a daily chore of the police but sometimes they need help from other security wings.”

Lungu said the military would also ensure that the work of the Electoral Commission, which would conduct the polls, was not interfered with.

ISLAMABAD, 02 August 2021, (TON): The Foreign Office expressed the hope that India would act fairly during its month-long tenure as the president of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

FO spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, said Pakistan hopes that “India will abide by the relevant rules and norms governing the conduct of the Security Council Presidency.”

India, which is currently a non-permanent member of UNSC for a two-year term, would be holding the presidency of the powerful 15-nation body for the month of August beginning Sunday.

The presidency of UNSC rotates on a monthly basis following the English alphabetical order of the names of the member states. India, which entered UNSC on Jan 1, 2021, will twice get the presidency during its term ending on Dec 31, 2022.

Calls for abiding by rules and norms governing conduct of Security Council

The spokesman further said “as India assumes this role, we would also like to once again remind it of its legal obligation to implement the UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir.”

He said India must realise that it cannot ignore the international community’s continuing calls to end its grave and systematic human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir.

CAIRO, 02 August 2021, (TON): Arab Parliament Speaker Adel Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for a five-day visit to boost bilateral cooperation.

The parliament is the Arab League’s legislative body, with Al-Asoumi leading a high-profile delegation that will meet President Arif Ali, Prime Minister Imran Khan, Senate Chairman Muhammed Sadiq Sanjrani and other senior political leaders.

The Senate said “Several memorandum of understanding and agreements will be signed between the Arab Parliament and the Upper House of Pakistan (senate) to promote institutional cooperation.”

Senator Sana Jamali welcomed the delegation on its arrival and described the Arab Parliament as a very important forum.

Jamali told media “The common goal is to pave the way for the development of bilateral cooperation and mutual relations.”

“Their first engagement is at the House of Federation (Senate), where the chairman will welcome them. After meeting with (the) chairman, MOUs and agreements will be signed there.”

Jamali added that the group would hold talks with Alvi and Khan later in the day.

NEW DELHI, 02 August 2021, (TON): India took over from France to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August. This is the first presidency for India during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in a tweet "India has just assumed the presidency of The UN Security Council on 1st August. India and France enjoy historical and close relations. I thank France for all the support which they've given us during our stint in the Security Council."

Ambassador Tirumurti said "during our presidency, India is organising three high-level signature meetings focussing on our priority areas--maritime security, peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism. India will also be organising a solemn event in memory of peacekeeper.,"

The first working day of India’s Presidency was Monday, August 2 when Tirumurti will hold a hybrid press briefing in the UN headquarters on the Council’s programme of work for the month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the UNSC on August 9.

Former permanent representative of India to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said "our Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first Indian PM who has decided to preside over a meeting of UNSC."

ATHENS, 02 August 2021, (TON): Authorities said that about a dozen homes burned and five people were hospitalised with breathing problems as firefighters fought a forest fire near Patras, Greece’s third-largest city.

Some 145 firefighters, 50 trucks, eight firefighting planes and helicopters have been mobilised to extinguish the fire in the Zeria region in the Peloponnese, about 210km (124 miles) west of Athens, the firefighting service said on Saturday.

The authorities evacuated people from four villages in the region as well as from the tourist resort of Loggos on the coast.

The civil protection authority said “about a dozen homes burned and five people experiencing breathing problems were transported to hospitals in the region.”

Firefighters told that the Associated Press news agency that the fire was large and advancing on multiple fronts, although winds had abated somewhat.

Greece is hit by forest fires every summer, but experts have warned that global warming increases their frequency and intensity.