Indian Sub-continent

COLOMBO, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka said on Saturday it has agreed that the Chinese survey vessel Yuan Wang 5 can dock at its southernmost port, the Chinese-run Hambantota on August 16, despite security concerns raised by neighbouring India and the United States.

Foreign security analysts describe the Yuan Wang 5 as one of China's latest generation space-tracking ships, used to monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches.

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday strongly condemned the recent terrorist incident in Saudi Arabia's port city of Jeddah, which wounded several people including a Pakistani national.

In a statement, it added, "We pray for the speediest recovery of those injured."

A man wanted by Saudi state security detonated an explosive belt, killing himself and wounding a Pakistani citizen and three security officials in Jeddah, the Saudi Presidency of the State Security said Friday.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 12 (APP): The United States government on Friday has announced a new $1 million grant in support of Pakistan’s ability to address natural disasters, such as the ongoing flooding.

Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), this humanitarian assistance will build the resilience of agricultural communities and would support Pakistan’s disaster management authorities in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan provinces to better respond to future disasters, said a news release.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13 (APP): Pakistan Friday called upon the international community to build pressure on India for implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions for granting Kashmiris the right to self-determination.

Speaking at a weekly press conference, he said, “Pressure needs to be built upon India in order to have the Security Council resolutions implemented which provided for the right to self- determination of the Kashmiri people.”

NEW DELHI, Aug 12 (Reuters) - India said on Friday it opposed any unilateral change to the status quo over Taiwan but that its stance on the 'one-China' policy remained consistent, days after Beijing said it hoped New Delhi would continue to recognise its claim to self-governing Taiwan.

China launched ballistic missiles and deployed multiple aircraft and warships around Taiwan in recent days, angered by last week's visit to the island by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — For most teenage girls in Afghanistan, it’s been a year since they set foot in a classroom. With no sign the ruling Taliban will allow them back to school, some are trying to find ways to keep education from stalling for a generation of young women.

At a house in Kabul, dozens gathered on a recent day for classes in an informal school set up by Sodaba Nazhand. She and her sister teach English, science and math to girls who should be in secondary school.

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — A large row boat taking villagers to a festival capsized in a flooded river in northern India on Thursday, leaving at least three people dead and 16 others missing, police said.

A strong wind rocked the boat, which was carrying about 30 people, police officer Mohammed Nisar said. Some passengers were able to swim to safety, he said.

Rescuers recovered three bodies. Hopes of finding the missing alive were fading as darkness approached, he said.

Kanpur: Due to the lack of monsoon rains, there is strong sunshine here. The humidity is increasing day by day.

Though people are confident that Hindi month of Bhadrapud continues so the possibility of the rain is not ceased.

 Humidity and electric failures go side by side, although in the evening the moist air conveyed relief.

The maximum temperature was 36 degrees Celsius and the minimum was 27 degrees Celsius. Breezy this morning; clouds giving way to some sun with a shower

NEW DELHI, Aug 10 (NNN-PTI) – India recorded 16,047 new cases of COVID-19 this morning, taking the total tally to 44,190,697, according to data from the country’s health ministry.

With the fresh cases, India’s active caseload currently stands at 128,261. The country logged 54 more COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the overall death toll to 526,826, since the beginning of the pandemic, the ministry said.

ISLAMABAD, Aug 10 (Reuters) - More than 70 economists and experts, including Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, called for Washington and other nations to release Afghanistan's central bank assets in a letter sent to U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

The letter said foreign capitals needed to return the roughly $9 billion in Afghan central bank assets to Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) to allow the economy to function, despite criticism of behaviour by the ruling Taliban towards women and minorities.