NAYPYIDAW, 02 May, 2021(TON): Thousands of protestors marched out early on Sunday in Myanmar’s cities to oppose military rule more than three months after a coup that halted democratic reform and economic growth and sparked unrest.  

Despite a relentless crackdown in which at least 759 protesters have been killed, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) advocacy group, crowds come out day after day to reject the junta.  

The protests, which the military has been unable to stop with lethal suppression, were coordinated with expatriate communities around the world to mark what organizers called "the global Myanmar spring revolution". 

Organizers said in a statement, "Shake the world with the voice of Myanmar people's unity.  

Streams of protesters, in some case led by Buddhist monks, made their way through several cities and towns including the commercial hub of Yangon, the second city of Mandalay, the central town of Kale and Dawei in the south, media reported. 

The protests are only one of the problems the generals have brought on with their Feb. 1 ouster of an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. 

Wars with ethnic minority insurgents in remote frontier regions in the north and east have intensified significantly over the past three months and according to U.N. estimates, is displacing tens of thousands of civilians. 

Civilians with crude weapons have battled security forces in many places while in central areas military and government facilities that have been secure for generations have been hit by rocket attacks and a wave of small, unexplained blasts. 

The United Nations Development Program warned last week that the impact of the pandemic and political crisis could see as many as 25 million Burmese fall into poverty by 2022. 

KABUL, 02 May, 2021(TON): At least seven people were killed and 14 were injured in a fuel tanker explosion in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan Saturday night. 

A fire broke out after the fuel tanker exploded at the side of a highway connecting Kabul to northern provinces, where about 50 oil trucks were parked to enter Kabul. 

The initial explosion caused a chain of explosions in the area in Shakar Dara district on the northern outskirts of the city, affecting and destroying at least 50 fuel trucks. A fuel pump station, several shops and houses were also destroyed in the incident. 

Several firefighting units were working in the area to put out the fire and help the affected people. 

The power supply was suspended in parts of Kabul after the explosion damaged an electricity pole. 

NEW YORK, 02 May, 2021 (TON): UN Secretary-General welcomes the decision of the Lower House of the Federal Parliament to nullify the “Special Law on Federal Elections” and return to the electoral modalities outlined in the 17 September Electoral Agreement, said his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric. 

He said, “the Secretary-General reiterates his call to all Somali stakeholders to resume dialogue immediately and forge a consensual agreement on the holding of inclusive elections without further delay. He stresses the importance of a broad-based consensus for the country’s stability.” 

Somalia’s lower house of parliament voted unanimously on Saturday to cancel a controversial two-year presidential term extension it approved last month. 

President Mohamed Farmajo, who addressed the house before the vote, asked the lawmakers to revert to the Sept. 17, 2020, deal that was agreed between the federal government and five leaders of the federal member states. 

He said the deal was unanimously supported by the national consultative forum in order to save the country from political instability and to urgently head to commonly agreed elections. 

The April 12 bill plunged Somalia into a political crisis that later erupted into fighting between government forces and those backing the opposition. 

NORTH KOREA, 2 May 2021, (TON): North Korean Foreign Ministry said US President’s statements reflects his intent to keep enforcing the hostile policy toward the DPRK.

Last week, Biden, in his first address to Congress, called North Korea and Iran''s nuclear programmes “a serious threat to America''s security and world security,” and said he''ll work with allies to address those problems through diplomacy and stern deterrence.

Kwon Jong Gun, a senior North Korean Foreign Ministry official said in a statement, “His (Biden’s) statement clearly reflects his intent to keep enforcing the hostile policy toward the DPRK as it had been done by the US for over half a century,” He said, “It is certain that the US chief executive made a big blunder in the light of the present-day viewpoint,” He added, “Now that the keynote of the US new DPRK policy has become clear, we will be compelled to press for corresponding measures, and with time the US will find itself in a very grave situation.”

Meanwhile, the White House said Friday administration officials had completed a review of US policy toward North Korea, saying Biden plans to veer from the approaches of his two most recent predecessors as he tries to stop North Korea''s nuclear programme.

WEST BENGAL, 2 May 2021, (TON): The ruling TMC is leading the polls as it surged ahead of BJP in West Bengal, leading in 101 of the 156 seats as last reports came in. According to the Election Commission website, the BJP was leading in only 53 places.

Chief Minister and TMC Mamata Banerjee is positive of comfortable win. West Bengal has a 294-member assembly but elections could not be held for Shamsherganj and Jangipur seats due to the death of candidates.

ISLAMABAD, 2 May 2021 (TON): Coronavirus third wave continues to claim more lives in Pakistan as during last 24 hours as 146 new deaths were reported besides 4,696 people have been tested positive to pandemic, official report says.

Authorities at Federal and Provincial level are asking people to follow the COVID-19 SOPs as hospitals have reached to their capacity and there is only option left that people follow SOPs strictly. Government is planning to impose curfew, authorities has warned.

Army personnel are deployed throughout the country to ensure strict implementation on Coronavirus SOPs but still the situation is out of control.

According to latest figures displayed on National Coronavirus Dashboard of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the NCOC confirmed the death of 146 more people during last 24 hours besides reported that 4,696 persons tested positive for COVID-19. The authorities on Saturday have reported tally to 825,519 cases with new reported deaths toll of fatalities reaches to 17,957.

NCOC report says, the new cases have taken the national tally of positive cases to 825,519 with 303,182 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Punjab, 283,560 in Sindh, 118,413 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22,369 in Balochistan, 75,498 in Islamabad, 17,187 in Azad Kashmir and 5,310 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

ISLAMABAD, 2 May 2021 (TON): Amid surging coronavirus cases in the country, the federal government has imposed lock-downs. However, the authorities decided on Saturday to allow Majalis and processions to observe Youm-e-Ali, keeping due consideration to precautionary measures, already in place for Ramadan.

The high level meeting at the National Command and Operation Centre was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar. Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed, Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan were also present. The provincial secretaries and representatives of law enforcement agencies attended the session through video link.

The statement issued by National Command and Operation Centre said, “Keeping in view the risk factor due to the ongoing surge in COVID spread across the country and particularly in major urban centres, it was decided to ban all sort of processions while holding of Majalis has been permitted under strict COVID SOPs which are already in place for Ramazan ul Mubarik.”

Pakistan has seen record deaths in recent days from the coronavirus, and stricter restrictions on movement and gathering in public are planned after successful conclusion of Youm-e-Ali processions during upcoming Eid holiday.

DHAKA, 2 May 2021 (TON): Missing since 3rd April, wife of Hefajat-e-Islam’s Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque did not return home.

Identified as Jannatul Ferdous alias Lipi, her younger brother, Shahjahan filed the an General Diary (GD) Sunday with Mohammadpur Police Station in the Dhaka. Earlier, Abdur Rahman, elder son of Mamunul’s second wife Jannat Ara Jharna, filed a GD at Dhaka’s Paltan police station.Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge Mohammadpur Police Station, confirmed the filing of GD.

According to the GD, Jharna’s son went to his mother’s Dhanmondi house on Saturday and did not find her.

When he inquired about his mother, someone told him that she went out of the house on 3 April and since then she did not return home. Witnesses also claims that Abdur Rahman was pressurized to act according to the dictates of authorities, as he shared three diaries of his mother at the police station to give a different touch.

Hefajat-e-Islam’s Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque,has been trapped in a number of controversies, which his organization members claim to be conspiracy against him as he is vocal against non-Muslim community with Bangladesh, who claims to be Muslims. Police in a latest incident alledge that they detained Mamunul Haque with a woman he claims as his second wife from a resort in Sonargaon on 3 April.

DHAKA, 2 May 2021, (TON): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Bangladesh Police arrested Hefazat-e-Islam leader Junaid Al Quasemi from Brahmanbaria on Saturday morning.

Junaid Al Quasemi , who is son of Allama Nur Hossain Quasemi, who was the secretary general of the dissolved committee of Hefazat, was arrested after Indian agencies pressurized Dhaka for action against the trouble creaters who caused embarrasment for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh in March this year,

Senior Assistant Superintendent CID Jisanul Haque confirmed the arrest on Saturday and claimed that over 400 persons have been arrested in connection with the case. He said, those arrested included Niazul Karim had led a mob on 26 March to Radhika Bazar in Sadar Upazila which set fire to tree trunks and tyres on the streets.

Niazul Karim is the Women and Family Welfare Secretary of the Brahmanbaria District Islamic Movement and the Madrasa Secretary of the Central Committee of the National Teachers Forum. During the anti-Modi 26 – 28 protests, groups from educational institutions including teachers and students of different Madrasas protested but were countered by pro-India groups who also set on fire different government and non-government establishments and houses in the district.

GHAZNI, 1 May, 2021 (TON): On Saturday, a member of the provincial council, Abdul Jamih Jami said, Taliban seized an army base in eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni province.

Jami told the media, "The insurgents captured an army base in Arzo village outside provincial capital Ghazni last night."

The official also said 25 security personnel had gone missing.

In the meantime, Afghanistan's Acting Defense Minister Mohammad Yasin Zia described the fallen army base as a small one, saying they would verify the report.

However, the police and the army have yet to make comments on the situation.