Yangon, July 1 (Xinhua) Nearly 2,000 households in northern Myanmar’s Kachin State have been evacuated as the Ayeyarwady River overflowed above the danger mark due to heavy rains, according to the Kachin state government on Monday.

There have been no reported fatalities and ongoing rescue operations, a member from the Kachin stated government, reported Xinhua news agency.

The affected residents have been moved to temporary shelters in 30 schools, churches, and monasteries across the region, he said.

According to local media reports, more than 1,000 people are trapped in Myitkyina and Waingmaw townships due to heavy rains.

According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology on Monday, the Ayeyarwady River overflowed about five feet above the danger mark in Myitkyina Township.

The river is expected to rise by another two feet in the next two days and remains above the Myitkyina Township’s danger mark.

–IANS

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Ulaanbaatar, July 1 (IANS) Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh on Monday urged political parties and a coalition that won seats in parliamentary elections to forget disputes and divisions arising during the elections and to unite and work together for the national interests of the country.

Four parties, the ruling Mongolian People’s Party, the Democratic Party, the Hun Party and the Civil Will-Green Party, and a coalition, the National Coalition, consisting of the Mongolian National Democratic Party and the Mongolian Green Party, won seats in the State Great Khural, the country’s parliament, reports Xinhua news agency.

Khurelsukh made this call during a meeting with leaders of the parties and the coalition.

“You all should prioritise mutual understanding and look ahead to ensure and protect Mongolia’s independence, security and national unity,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Mongolian President issued a decree to schedule the first session of the new parliament on Tuesday.

–IANS

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Nouakchott, July 1 (IANS) Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani won reelection in the country’s June 29 presidential poll, capturing 56.12 percent of the votes, according to provisional results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI).

Biram Dah Abeid, the main opposition candidate, came in second with 22.10 per cent of the votes, and Hamadi Mohamed Abdi, from the Tawassoul party, was third with 12.76 per cent, the CENI announced Sunday night, reported Xinhua news agency.

The CENI said 55.39 per cent of the more than 1.9 million registered voters cast their ballots last Saturday.

El Ghazouani was first elected president in 2019.

–IANS

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Ulaanbaatar, July 1 (IANS) Mongolia’s General Election Commission (GEC) handed over identification cards to newly elected members of parliament at the State House here on Monday.

Voting in Mongolia’s parliamentary elections took place on Friday across approximately 2,200 polling stations nationwide. A total of 1,341 candidates from 19 political parties, two coalitions, and 42 independents competed in the elections, reported Xinhua news agency.

The ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) secured a narrow majority in parliament, capturing 68 out of 126 seats. Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party secured 42 seats. The Hun Party, meaning “person” in Mongolian, obtained eight seats. Additionally, the Civil Will-Green Party and the National Coalition, consisting of the Mongolian National Democratic Party and the Mongolian Green Party, each secured four seats.

Voter turnout in the ninth parliamentary elections of the Asian country was estimated to be around 70 per cent, slightly lower than the 73.65 per cent recorded in the previous elections in 2020, according to the GEC.

The first session of the new parliament is expected to convene on Tuesday.

In May 2023, the State Great Khural passed amendments increasing the number of legislators from 76 to 126. The elections were conducted under a mixed electoral system, with 78 legislators elected through majority representation and 48 through proportional representation.

Mongolia’s parliament operates under a unicameral system with a four-year term.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) India on Monday called for an early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners, including fishermen along with their boats, and missing Indian defence personnel from Pakistan’s custody.

As both countries exchanged – through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad – the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in each other’s custody, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Pakistan has been asked to expedite the release and repatriation of 185 Indian fishermen and civilian prisoners who have completed their sentence,

India has shared the names of 366 civilian prisoners and 86 fishermen in its custody, who are Pakistani or are believed-to-be-Pakistani. Similarly, Pakistan has shared the names of 43 civilian prisoners and 211 fishermen in its custody, who are Indian or are believed-to-be-Indian.

Under the provisions of the bilateral Agreement on Consular Access 2008, such lists are exchanged every year on January 1 and on July 1.

“In addition, Pakistan has been asked to provide immediate consular access to the 47 civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistan’s custody, who are believed-to-be-Indian and have not been provided consular access so far. Pakistan has been requested to ensure the safety, security and welfare of all Indian and believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen, pending their release and repatriation to India,” mentioned a MEA statement.

“India remains committed to addressing, on priority, all humanitarian matters, including those pertaining to prisoners and fishermen in each other’s country. In this context, India has urged Pakistan to expedite the nationality verification process of 75 believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in India’s custody, whose repatriation is pending for want of nationality confirmation from Pakistan,” it added.

The MEA detailed that, as a result of sustained efforts by the government, as many as 2,639 Indian fishermen and 71 Indian civilian prisoners have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2014. This includes 478 Indian fishermen and 13 Indian civilian prisoners who have been repatriated from Pakistan since 2023 till date.

–IANS

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