COLOMBO, 22 July 2021, (TON): Rear Admiral Bandula Senarathne assumed duties as Commander North Central Naval Area at the Command Headquarters on 20th July 2021.

The incoming Area Commander was received to the North Central Naval Command according him a Guard of Honour in compliance with naval traditions.

Subsequently, the former Area Commander, Rear Admiral Sanjeewa Dias officially handed over the duties and responsibilities to his successor at the Command Headquarters.

Rear Admiral Senarathne held office as Commander Northwestern Naval Command prior being appointed as Commander North Central Naval Area.

WASHINGTON, 21 July 2021, (TON): The United States and Germany are expected to announce in coming days a deal resolving their long-standing dispute over Russia’s $11 billion Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline.

Sources familiar with the matter said “President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel failed to settle their differences over the undersea pipeline when they met last week, but agreed Moscow must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon against its neighbors.”

A deal is now in sight after discussions among U.S. and German officials about U.S. concerns that the pipeline, which is 98% complete, will increase Europe’s dependence on Russian gas, and could rob Ukraine of the transit fees it now collects on gas pumped through an existing pipeline.

An agreement would avert the resumption of currently waived U.S. sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG, the company behind the pipeline, and its chief executive.

Details were not immediately available, but the sources said the deal would include commitments by both sides to ensure increased investment in Ukraine’s energy sector to offset any negative fallout from the new pipeline, which will bring gas from the Arctic to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

NAYPYITAW, 21 July 2021, (TON): According to sources in the area “international aid that arrived in the Chin State town of Mindat did not reach many in need due to restrictions imposed by the military.”

Local sources told media that the aid, which was provided by the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, was only distributed in camps under the control of the military.

A member of a local team involved in negotiations with the military “the distribution started today. A colonel gave instructions that only families staying at camps should receive aid, so we could only distribute to them.”

A ceasefire has been in place in Mindat since June 23, when the military and the People’s Defence Force (PDF) operating in the area agreed to stop fighting so that some 20,000 civilians displaced by months of fighting could return to the town.

Allowing international aid into the area, which was one of the earliest battle zones in the conflict between the military and anti-coup resistance fighters, was also part of the agreement. 

WASHINGTON, 21 July 2021, (TON): Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman met with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori Takeo on Tuesday in Tokyo. 

Deputy Secretary Sherman and Vice Foreign Minister Mori reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Japan Alliance, which remains the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the rules-based international order, as well as to our shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Deputy Secretary Sherman reiterated the U.S. commitment to the immediate resolution of the abduction issue.  Deputy Secretary Sherman and Vice Foreign Minister Mori discussed efforts to support the people of Burma in promoting a return to democracy.

KATHMANDU, 21 July 2021, (TON): Nepal has become the second largest troops-contributing country in the United Nations Peacekeeping mission.

Nepal rose to the 2nd position having sent 5,571 troops including 294 female peacekeepers. Prior to this, it was in the fourth position with 5,681 Nepali peacekeepers engaged in various missions, during which 84 fatalities and hundreds of injuries were reported.

Bangladesh is the top contributor with 6,554 troops while Nepal is followed by India in third place with 5,525 troops. Meanwhile, Pakistan is the sixth largest troop contributor to the UN peacekeeping mission.

Nepal has been a consistent contributor to UN peacekeeping since 1958, three years after Nepal Joined the UN.

NAYPYITAW, 21 July 2021, (TON): The junta has repeatedly targeted villages and civilians in conflict areas in acts of collective punishment after meeting with armed resistance over the past week, witnesses of such attacks across the country.  

Following battles with ethnic armed groups and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs), junta troops have shelled villages and burned homes.

Last week soldiers shelled Seng Hpra village in Kachin’s Hpakant Township, injuring six residents, following a battle nearby with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

A local from Hpakant told media “three days later, junta officials summoned administrators from Seng Hpra and several other nearby villages to give them a message.”

If residents didn’t inform the military when the KIA entered their villages, their homes would be burned down.

BRUSSELS, 21 July 2021, (TON): The EU said “it will set up a stand-alone agency to crack down on money laundering across Europe where major banks have been hit by a wave of dirty money scandals.”

Many cases have involved northern countries such as Denmark, Sweden and Finland with a reputation for playing by the rules, but criminal gangs and terrorism are also a central concern.

Revelations often involve bank subsidiaries based in the EU’s Baltic states, through which rich Russians evading taxes and sanctions have allegedly illegally funnelled money.

The European Commission said “the patchwork of regulation by national authorities was no longer effective and called for the creation of a new central entity, the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA).

“It’s no longer enough for member states to do separately what they are doing (to fight money laundering). We need active supervision and coordination,” said Mairead McGuinness, the EU commissioner for financial services.

KABUL, 21 July 2021, (TON):  President Ashraf Ghani in a speech on Eid said “recent deeds by the Taliban showed the group has “no will” for peace and going forward, decisions by the government will be made based on that.

Ghani said “the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s decision to send a high-ranking delegation to Doha for negotiations was an ultimatum.”

Ghani said “Taliban made clear many things. Mr. Abdullah told me some minutes ago that there is no will for peace in Taliban. We sent the delegation to do the ultimatum and to show that we have the will for peace and we are ready for sacrifice for it, but they (Taliban) have no will for peace and we should make decisions based on this.”

Ghani said that this Eid has been named after Afghan forces to honor their sacrifices and courage, especially in the last three months.

He added that he has spent the last week working on an urgent and practical plan to overcome the current situation. President Ghani says Afghans should prove in action that they are united.

KABUL, 21 July 2021, (TON): Rockets hit the Afghan capital, landing near the presidential palace during prayers for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, but President Ashraf Ghani and many others calmly continued praying at an outdoor gathering.

Three rockets landed outside the palace, said interior ministry spokesperson Mirwais Stanekzai, adding that there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Taliban insurgents denied they were involved in the attack on the heavily fortified palace. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters in a voice message the fighters were in a "state of defence" during the Eid religious holiday. Unlike some previous years, the Taliban have not officially declared a ceasefire for Eid this week.

Mujahid did not immediately reply when asked if the Taliban's defensive stance constituted a ceasefire.

Ghani and dozens of others kneeling for prayer as the first explosion was heard. Most continued to pray as security guards could be seen in the background hurrying toward the sound of the blasts.

ISLAMABAD, 21 July 2021, (TON): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa extended heartfelt sympathies and deepest condolences to the government and the people of the People’s Republic of China, particularly the bereaved families of Dasu incident victims.

An ISPR news release said “Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong called on Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at General Headquarters (GHQ) here.”

In wake of the recent Dasu bus incident involving Chinese citizens, the COAS expressed sincere condolences to the government and the people of the People’s Republic of China.

The COAS said “Pakistan Army greatly values its brotherly relations with the time-tested friend and also assured full support and cooperation and security of Chinese citizens working in Pakistan.

He said “while we work for peace, we need to stay strong to thwart designs of all inimical forces challenging our resolve particularly those threatening China-Pakistan strategic cooperation.”

Both agreed on need for continuous engagement and coordination for peace and stability in the region.