KABUL, 01 June 2021, (TON): A statement from the Presidential Palace said that United States Agency for International Development (USAID) officials during a meeting briefed President Ashraf Ghani on the agency’s future development projects and cooperation in Afghanistan.

USAID Officials briefed the president on future projects in Afghanistan that included anti-corruption schemes, strengthening democracy, good governance, health, education and support to women and girls.

The visiting officials said that our strategy regarding peace is developed according to the existing and future circumstances. We support enduring, just and Afghan owned peace process.

President Ghani hailed USAID for its cooperation and activities and added the government’s top priority was water management, development of agriculture sector, improving the processing of products and focusing on exports.

President further added that we should focus more on our domestic products and in terms of basic services your cooperation and activities should be result-oriented.

HAGUE, 01 June 2021, (TON): International Court of Justice (ICJ) announces the passing of H.E. Judge James Richard Crawford on 31 May 2021 in The Hague. Judge Crawford had been a Member of the Court since 6 February 2015. His term of office was due to expire in February 2024.

ife to international law and enjoyed a long and distinguished career. After obtaining undergraduate degrees from the University of Adelaide, he pursued his studies as a postgraduate at the University of Oxford. He later obtained further postgraduate qualifications from various universities across Europe. Judge Crawford was called to the Bar as Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Australia in 1977. He was called to the Bar as Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 6 November 1987 and was appointed Senior Counsel on 7 November 1997.

During his illustrious career, Judge Crawford held a number of key positions in his home country. Most notably he served as Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1982-1990) and as a member of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO (1984-1988). He was also a member of the Advisory Committee on the Australian Judicial System, Constitutional Commission (1985-1987) and a member of the Admiralty Rules Committee (1989-1992). At the international level, Judge Crawford’s positions included member of the United Nations International Law Commission (1992-2001) and Special Rapporteur on State Responsibility (1997-2001). Prior to his election to the International Court of Justice, he served as senior counsel, counsel or co-counsel in some 30 contentious and advisory proceedings before the Court. He also served as president, judge, arbitrator or counsel in a number of other proceedings before various national and international courts and tribunals.

COLOMBO, 31 May 2021, (TON): Head of the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva, during meeting session of medical experts in the NOCPCO Task Force at Rajagiriya explained the reasons that led to the prolonged imposition of the prevailing travel restrictions by HE the President up until 7th June, Ongoing Vaccination Procedures and the need to sustain this restriction for better achievements in future.

The experts’ discussion was presided by General Shavendra Silva, together with Dr Asela Gunawardena, Director General of Health Services and Medical experts and other Specialists. All of them re-visited the status quo, transmission patterns of the deadly virus and evaluated emergency arrangements, existing strategies and their repercussions, co-operation between those responsible authorities and new cases/inmates in hospitals, ICCs and the state of Quarantine Centres (QCs), etc.

The NOCPCO Head explained that only 1/3 troops of the Army, i.e. only about 60,000 only got vaccines as a percentage and the Navy, Air Force and the Police are also the same. Only the majority at frontlines were given the vaccine although they are contributing tirelessly at ground level for conduct of vaccination centres across the country as advised by HE the President

KABUL, 31 May 2021, (TON): According to a statement, Deputy and Acting Foreign Minister Mirwais Nab met with the Assistant Foreign Minister and General Director of Iran Foreign Ministry’s West Asia Department, Seyyed Rasoul Mousavi and discussed Afghan peace process, security and economic ties.

Mr. Nab highlighted the recent developments in the Afghan peace talks, security, and economic affairs with Mr. Mousavi. Deputy and Acting Foreign Minister added that Iran’s continued support to the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and government in the peace process as well as Iran’s efforts in establishing regional consensus thereof was important.

“Relations between Afghanistan and Iran historic and enduring. Emphasizing on the continuation of Iran’s support to the Afghan Peace Talks, a peaceful and stable Afghanistan, and the preservation of gains in last two decades are vital” Mr. Mousavi said in Kabul during his visit.

The two sides also discussed and exchanged views on the significance of signing the Afghanistan-Iran comprehensive cooperation agreement, expanding bilateral relations, enhanced cooperation between the two countries in health, education, border, and consular spheres, and Iran’s role in ensuring peace in Afghanistan.

DHAKA, 31 May 2021, (TON): Discovery recognized in Scientific Reports that at least five antibiotics can be produced from rare bacteria found on the seeds. A well-known journal recently recognized a team of Bangladeshi scientists for discovering new antibiotics from rare species of bacteria found on jute seeds.

According to genome sequencing by the research team, at least five antibiotics can be produced from the bacteria, providing a means to combat various kinds of bacterial infections.

The team comprises several professors of Dhaka University (DU), some students, and a member of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). They are Dr M Aftab Uddin, Shammi Akter, Mahbuba Ferdous, Badrul Haidar, Al Amin, AHM Shofiul Islam Molla, Dr Haseena Khan (senior member of the team and also a professor of the DU biochemistry and molecular biology department) and Dr Mohammad Riazul Islam (professor at the DU biochemistry and molecular biology department). The study ran for three years at the molecular biology laboratory of DU.

The findings were published in Scientific Reports, an online peer-reviewed journal by Nature Research, titled “A plant endophyte staphylococcus hominis strain (MBL_AB63) produces a novel lantibiotic, homicorcin and a position one variant”.

Dr Mohammad Riazul Islam said “These antibiotics have the potential to fight various drug resistant bacterial diseases.”

Dr Haseena Khan said “The aim was not fixed (when we began genome sequencing). Many microorganisms live on plants such as jute and we were not sure what we would find.

According to experts, the widespread use of antibiotics is leading many infections to develop resistances, and the discovery of new antibiotics is crucial to ensure that they can continue to be treated.

DHAKA, 31 May 2021, (TON): Azharul Islam was stabbed to death inside Sardarbari Jame Mosque at Dhaka’s Dakkhinkhan on 25 May. The wife of a man killed inside Sardarbari Jame Mosque in Dakkhinkhan of the capital and the imam of the mosque have given confessional statements in the court.

The investigative officer (IO) of the case produced the duo in the court during remand when they voluntarily agreed to give confessional statements.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Abdur Rahman from the mosque and Asma Akter from Abdullahpur on 25 May.

On 28 May, another Dhaka court granted the IO five days to grill them.

According to the case details, Azhar’s son was a student of the mosque’s Maktab while the father used to learn to read the Quran from imam Abdur Rahman.

In this connection, the imam used to frequent Azhar’s house. Meanwhile, Abdur Rahman engaged in an extramarital affair with Azhar’s wife. When Azhar found out about the affair and confronted imam Abdur Rahman, he became enraged and stabbed Azhar to death in his room inside the mosque on 19 May.

He later dismembered the body and hid in a septic tank of the mosque.

Later, Azhar’s younger brother Hasan filed the case in Dakkhinkhan police station.

KATHMANDU, 31 May 2021, (TON): On the occasion of Republic Day President Bidhya Devi Bhandari granted amnesty to 430 convicts.

“Eligible jailbirds, were pardoned as per Section 12 of the Senior Citizens Act, Section 37 of the Criminal Offences, Act, Section 45 of the Children’s Act, Rule 3 of the Criminal Offences Rules, and the Supreme Court mandamous order of 3 August 2020, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers” a press statement issued by the Office of the President.

The convicts were also relieved of fine and principal amount to be paid to the state for the crimes they committed, in addition to the jail sentence handed down to them by various courts.

Nepal has a tradition of granting amnesty to eligible prisoners to mark major festivals such as Dashain, Tihar, Republic Day, National Democracy Day and Constitution Day. The government may recommend to the president to waive off the remaining 60 percent jail term of prisoners, who have been convicted of petty crimes and have already served at least 40 per cent of the sentencing, provided that they have demonstrated good conduct in prison. Similarly, up to 75 per cent the remaining term of jailbirds, who are above 65 years, and have demonstrated good conduct, may be commuted.

NEW DELHI, 31 May 2021, (TON):  The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed the construction work of the Central Vista project to continue, saying it was a “vital and essential” national project.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh dismissed a plea seeking to halt the project during the coronavirus pandemic, saying the petition was “motivated” and “not a genuine PIL”. It imposed a cost of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioners.

The court said under the contract awarded to the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, work had to be completed by November 2021 and, therefore, it should to be allowed to continue.

It said the legality of the project was already upheld by the Supreme Court.

BAMAKO, 31 May, 2021, (TON): West African leaders suspended Mali from their regional bloc ECOWAS in response to last week's coup and said authorities must stick to a timetable for a return to democracy, but stopped short of imposing new sanctions.

The leaders of 15-member Economic community of West African States (ECOWAS) held an emergency meeting in Ghana’s capital, Accra on Sunday in response to the Malian military’s toppling of a President and Prime minister in nine months for the second time.

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Shirley Ayorkor Botchway told reporters that the suspension will remain in force until the country returns to constitutional rule.

Mali's neighbours and international powers fear the latest revolt will jeopardise a commitment to hold a presidential election next February.

In a communique after the summit, ECOWAS said Mali's membership in the bloc was suspended with immediate effect.

However it did not announce sanctions like those it imposed after the coup last August, which saw members temporarily close their borders with landlocked Mali and halt financial transactions.

It also did not call for new interim President Assimi Goita to step down. The army colonel, who led the August coup and last week's revolt, was declared president on Friday. 

ECOWAS said a new civilian prime minister should be nominated and a new inclusive government formed to proceed with the transition programme.

"The date of 27th February 2022 already announced for the presidential election should be absolutely maintained," the leaders' communique said. 

For the second time in nine months, Col Assimi Goïta has seized power in Mali, detaining transitional President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane after accusing them of failing in their duties and trying to sabotage the West African state's transition to democracy.
He also led the coup which deposed the elected head of state, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, on 18 August last year.

DHAKA, 31 May, 2021, (TON): Hundred and thousands of Rohingya’s on Monday staged "unruly" protests against the conditions of cyclone-prone island off Bangladesh where they were moved from vast camps on the mainland, said police.

Starting from December, 18,000 Rohingya shifted out of a planned 100,000 refugees to the low-lying silt island of Bhashan Char from the Cox's Bazar region, where some 850,000 people live in squalid and cramped conditions.

Most of them had fled a brutal military offensive in neighbouring Myanmar in 2017 that UN investigators concluded was executed with "genocidal intent".

About 4,000 people were involved in Monday's protest, police said, and coincided with an inspection visit by officials from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

"The Rohingya who are there became unruly the moment the UNHCR representatives landed (on the island) by helicopter today," local police chief Alamgir Hossain told AFP news agency.

"They broke the glass on warehouses by throwing rocks. They came at the police... Their demand is they don't want to live here."

After the first transfer on December 4 to the flood-prone island in the Bay of Bengal, several Rohingya says that they were beaten and intimidated into agreeing to be relocated.

However, Bangladesh government has rejected the allegations, saying the island was safe and its facilities far better than those in the Cox's Bazar camps.

Bangladesh has transferred Rohingya refugees to a remote island, despite opposition from international aid agencies. The island, named "Bhasan Char" or floating island, first emerged just 20 years ago as a sandbar in the Bay of Bengal.

About 750,000 Rohingya Muslims had to flee from Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh in 2017 after Myanmar's military launched a counterinsurgency operation, involving mass rape, murders and the torching of villages.