YAOUNDÉ, 1 May, 2021 (TON): Express train between Douala and Yaoundé back on the rails via a safety test run overseen by transport authorities.

Almost five years have passed since the Eséka railway accident in Cameroon that took 79 lives and left around 600 people injured.

The train has since been doubled in size with sixteen cars instead of the usual nine.

Cameroonian Minister Jean Ernest Ngale Bihehe said, "The Transcam 1 Douala Yaounde is in the process of being completely rehabilitated. The same is true for Transcam 2 between Yaoundé and Ngaoundéré. When you have recently installed equipment, the speed per kilometre must be reduced. This is what we have done today.”

However, following Thursday's successful test run, the first departures of the express train have been scheduled for the upcoming days.

ISLAMABAD, 1 May, 2021 (TON): Special Assistant to the PM on Political Information Dr. Shahbaz Gill alleged that the ex-DG Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Memon had misused his authority to set up three industries in tax-free tribal areas.

This allegation appeared a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan rejected the serious allegations leveled by former FIA director general Bashir Memon against him and his adviser concerning the Justice Qazi Faez Isa case.

On Friday, Gill questioned, “How have you established three mills in North Waziristan and imported oil without paying tax?”

Mr Gill alleged that the ex-DG tried to give a political color to his removal from the FIA, because he had found out that after other tax evaders, he too would be caught by the prime minister and penalized for tax evasion.

Gill said, “Memon knew that all his black deeds will be exposed.”

The PM claimed the ex-DG used to meet him to apprise him on proceedings of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed in Omni Group money laundering case.

He said Memon was removed from his office for not pursuing investigation into the allegations against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart Khawaja Asif regarding keeping a work-permit of the UAE despite being then defense and finance minister of Pakistan.

GUJRAT, 1 May, 2021 (TON): On Friday, at night at least 18 people were killed in a fire at a COVID-19 hospital in the western Indian state of Gujarat, officials said on Saturday.

The dead also include two healthcare workers.

The fire started around midnight in the intensive care ward of the Patel Welfare Hospital, a designated COVID-19 facility, in Bharuch city, 115 miles (185 km) north of state's main commercial city, Ahmedabad.

RV Chudasama, a superintendent of police in Bharuch said, "Sixteen patients and two staff members have died in the fire. Twelve of them died due to fire and smoke."

"Preliminary investigation shows the fire was caused because of a short circuit," he said.

However, the media reported that the hospital ward completely destroyed in the fire.

MALE, 1 May, 2021 (TON): On Saturday, he police said that foreign boats caught fishing illegally in Maldivian territorial waters last week were Sri Lankan.

On Thursday, five boats were found to the east of V. Atoll, 30 nautical miles inside the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone, by the Coastguard ship Huravee during patrol.

There were six people onboard each boat, and were taken to Hulhumale’ under the custody of Huravee and transferred over to the police, said Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) spokesperson Major Ibrahim Azim.

However, the case is under investigation by relevant government agencies.

KABUL, 1 May, 2021 (TON): Some Afghans who worked with U.S. forces as contractors worried on U.S. troop withdrawal as they say their lives will be in danger after the American troops leave the country within the next few months.  

At least 18,000 contractors will remain Afghanistan after the US forces leave the country, according to a media report.

The report said the Pentagon employs over seven contractors for every US service member in the country. 

Many contractors who worked with US military in various provinces told the media of their urging to the President Joe Biden’s administration to take them out of Afghanistan and provide the ground for their asylum in European countries or in the U.S. 

Some of the contractors said they have been repeatedly threatened by the Taliban and that they have lost their family members in this way. 

 “What will be our fate? Obviously, death,” Ahmadzai, a contractor said. “We will face tough conditions if we are not taken out of the country.”

The contractors, whose number was at least 50 and came together at a place in Kabul on Friday, said there is a need for the United States government to pay attention to the threats they are faced with or they will be faced going forward. 

“These individuals should be given safe shelter. They deserve special visa. It is their right,” said Shirin Agha Jafari, an Afghan national who has worked as an interpreter with US forces in Afghanistan. 

However, some of the contractors showed documents and claimed they are receiving warning letters from the Taliban. 

MOSCOW, 1 May, 2021 (TON): On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that as an act of retaliation, eight officials from the European Union (EU)'s bodies and member countries are banned from entering Russia. 

The sanctioned figures include President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, European Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova, chairman of Latvia's national electronic media council Ivars Abolins, director of the Latvian state language center Maris Baltins, member of the French delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Jacques Maire, Berlin's chief prosecutor Jorg Raupach, head of the CBRN protection and security division at the Swedish Defense Research Agency Asa Scott, and head of Estonia's language department Ilmar Tomusk.

The ministry said, "This practice (of sanctions) runs counter to the UN Charter and the fundamental norms of international law."

"All our proposals to resolve any problematic issues between Russia and the EU through direct professional dialogue are consistently ignored or rejected," it added.

However, Moscow’s black list appeared in response to the European Council's entry ban on six Russian officials on 2 and 22 March.

KATHMANDU, 1 May, 2021 (TON): Amidst the pandemic surge, on Friday, the Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre had decided to shut all the border points with India except 13 of the 35 entry points and develop holding centers at the entry points from where people enter Nepal.

Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi, a member of the Centre said, “We have decided to ensure that the restrictions are strictly followed.”

“Only 13 of the 35 entry points will remain open,” he added.

The entry points from where Nepalis can enter are Kakarvitta, Jogbani, Pashupatinagar, Bhittamod, Gaur, Birgunj, Belahiya, Krishnanagar, Jamunah, Jhulaghat, Kolughat, Gauriphanta and Gaddachauki.

Due to India’s rapid spread of the viral infection, the Nepalis working in India have been returning home.

However, the government has already decided to ban the entry of foreigners to Nepal via road but those coming from flights should stay in the hotel quarantine for 10 days.

COLOMBO, 1 May, 2021 (TON): The workers, especially the farmers will reap the benefits of the local economy that is being strengthened by the import restrictions imposed on 19 items, said Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Marking the International Workers’ Day, the President said, “We are aware that you have been strengthened and empowered by the move to remove barriers to sell farmers’ produce during the festive season.”

However, he noted that although the working community is most adversely affected groups in the world due to the pandemic, but the government is working with commitment to ensure better living standards for its citizens without imposing limitations that obstruct the economic activities of the working people.

BENGHAZI, 1 May, 2021 (TON): According to the UNHCR, around 340 illegal migrants returned to Tripoli on Saturday.

The agency tweeted, "Some 340 refugees and migrants have been returned today to Tripoli by Libyan Coast Guard."

It said, "UNHCR and IRC (International Rescue Committee) provided urgent medical and humanitarian assistance to all survivors before being taken to detention."

The media reported that Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of immigrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.

Rescued migrants end up in overcrowded reception centers across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those centers.

However, according to the International Organization for Migration’s (IMO) record, more than 6,000 illegal migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast so far this year that also include women and children.

COLOMBO, 30 April, 2021 (TON): Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Sultanate of Oman Ameer Ajwad met with Chief Executive Officer Saleh M. Al Shanfari of Oman Food Investment Holding Co. (S.A.O.C).

Ambassador Ameer Ajwad was accompanied by First Secretary of Sri Lanka Embassy in Oman Dilini Abeysekara.

The both officials had a productive discussion on the promotion of bilateral trade in food sector between the two countries.

Sri Lankan Embassy in Muscat said that the two also explored new areas for mutual cooperation in food sector and agreed to connect B2B links between Oman Food Investment Holding Co. (OFIC) and food sector companies in Sri Lanka.