MALE, 29 April, 2021 (TON): The President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the amendment to the anti-human trafficking laws of the nation.

The move has been taken so that any wealth or goods obtained from human trafficking can be seized by the government. 

On 14 April, the bill for the amendments was passed by the parliament and detailed what constitutes as human trafficking and what constitutes as child human trafficking as well.

This includes exploitation of children and bringing a child from a foreign nation or sending a child to another nation for the purpose of exploitation.

Recruiting children for work is also deemed as child human trafficking under the law.

However, the President ratified the bill as it has now been inserted into the government gazette and is now implemented in the Maldives. 

ISLAMABAD, 29 April, 2021 (TON): Two new schemes for the overseas Pakistanis who have Roshan Digital Accounts (RDA) have been announced by the Pakistani PM Imran Khan.

The prime minister thanked Governor State Bank Reza Baqir for his role in bringing about the two schemes; Roshan Apni Car and Roshan Samaji Khidmat.

PM Imran Khan instructed the government to seek Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen’s help, saying that the minister was an expert in marketing products and assets. 

He urged his economic team for thinking of out-of-the-box solutions to support Pakistan’s economy till its exports does not come at par with its imports.

He appreciated the record-breaking rise in remittances from overseas Pakistanis over the years, adding that this was just the “tip of the iceberg”.

The PM said, “Overseas Pakistanis have, over the years, kept our economy afloat,” he said.

He added, he was in touch with overseas Pakistanis for the past 50 years during his cricketing days.

Earlier today Senator Faisal Javed said aid two new initiatives ‘Roshan Apni Car and Roshan Samaaji Khidmat’ are being launched today for Roshan Digital Account holders.

However, under Roshan Apni Car, the Roshan Digital Card Holders can avail financing at very attractive terms to purchase a car for their loved ones in Pakistan. While, Roshan Samaaji Khidmat, the Roshan Digital Account holders can give donations and Zakat very conveniently.

MALE, 29 April, 2021 (TON): During a parliamentary sitting on Thursday, Speaker Nasheed said that he has been invited to address Palestinian parliament - Palestinian National Council, and Israeli parliament.

Parliament Speaker, former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed said that though he has received a letter of invitation to address the parliaments, he has yet to make a decision.

He stated, “The thought entered my mind, the very first thought upon receiving such an opportunity is that I will choose to share information with as many people as possible. The people will decide the path they want to take.”

He further said, he firmly believes in the independence of the Palestinian people and that they are entitled to a sovereign state, and that no Maldivian parliamentarian would dispute that.

However, he said that the Maldivian people wish to assist the Palestinian people in any way they can.

Besides, after taking opinion of as many people as possible, Nasheed will make his decision to the invitation.

MALE, 29 April, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, five foreign boats got caught by the Maldivian authorities for illegally fishing in the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone.

The boats were seen and sighted by the Coastguard ship Huravee during patrol, said Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF).

The boats have been captured and are now under the custody of Huravee.

The boats were found to the east of V. Atoll, 30 nautical miles inside the Maldives Exclusive Economic Zone.

However, the identity of the fishermen on board remains unclear.

CAIRO, 29 April, 2021 (TON): The latest updates in Palestine and Israel had been discussed between the Egyptian foreign minister and the United Nations’ special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process.

According to the foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez, Sameh Shoukry and Tor Wenneslad talked about ways to revive the peace talks between Israel and Palestine and the latest developments in East Jerusalem.

Shoukry also mentioned the efforts of Egypt, Jordan, Germany, and France, to revive the peace negotiations, and Cairo’s concerns regarding the escalations in East Jerusalem.

He called for efforts to put an end to the violations of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian identity.

Meanwhile, Wennesland praised Egypt’s efforts to resume the peace talks.

However, a few days earlier, Egypt and Jordan called for renewed international efforts to break the deadlock in peace efforts between Palestine and Israel.

DHAKA, 29 April, 2021 (TON): Accused of helping a young woman suicide, the High Court did not hear a bail appeal from Bashundhara Group MD Sayem Sobhan Anvir.

On Thursday, due to the ongoing pandemic crisis, the court has suspended all anticipatory bail hearings until further notice, it said in a notice.

The panel of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman was expected to hear Sayem’s petition. 

However, the woman’s sister, Nusrat Jahan Tania, filed a case against Sayem, accusing him of abetting the suicide as she alleged that Sayem promised to marry Muniya, but later threatened her and asked her to part, instigated her to take her own life.

JEHLUM, 29 April, 2021 (TON): Pakistan’s local rock salt of Khewra is set to be registered with international trade bodies.

The federal cabinet recently approved that Pakistan Minerals Development Corporation (PMDC) will be the registrant agency for rock salt produced in the country.

PMDC Managing Director retired Brig M. Iqbal Malik said, “Currently, rock salt was neither a lucrative commodity for exports nor was Pakistan selling the rock salt as a commercial and industrial product. Soon after the GI tagging at international markets, Pakistan will be in a position to sign long term sale contracts with buyers abroad.”

However, the requirements for registration of rock salt have been final between the PMDC and the Geographical Indications (GI) registry, under the management and control of Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan).

And after registration with IPO-Pakistan, the country will file for registration at foreign markets.

GENEVA, 29 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the United Nations and NGOs said that a record 29 million people need humanitarian assistance in the Sahel, noting un-paralleled insecurity and hunger across six countries in the war-torn African region.

According to the statement, in Burkina Faso, northern Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger and north-eastern Nigeria, five million more people than last year are in need of aid.

Much of the semi-arid Sahel stretches along the southern rim of the Sahara from the Atlantic to the Red Sea has been plagued by violence for years.

A record 29 million people across the region need humanitarian assistance, the UN said in a statement, which was also signed by NGOs Norwegian Refugee Council and Plan International.

However, some 5.3 million people have been displaced by Sahel-wide insecurity, noting that thousands of schools had closed and 1.6 million children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition.

JALALABAD, 29 April, 2021 (TON): On Thursday, a vehicle targeted bomb blast injured three persons in the Jalalabad city of Afghanistan, capital of eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

It was a target attack on government employees’ vehicle, the local official said.

The employees in the vehicle belonged to the national power company, official added.

The blast took place in the morning rush hour in Police District 4 of Jalalabad city, injuring three persons, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Gulzada Sangar, the spokesman for the provincial health department, said six injured persons had been taken to the hospital from the blast site.

However, so far, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet.

KATHMANDU, 29 April, 2021 (TON): The government of Nepal is to welcome the visit of Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of the Defense Staff (CoDS) to the country in his favorable time.

 A formal invitation will be sent to him through diplomatic and military channels, said Nepali officials.

A Cabinet meeting this week has decided to clear Rawat's visit.

Parbat Gurung, Nepal's Information and Communication Minister said, the concerned diplomatic and military channels will fix and arrange the visit.

Since Covid pandemic has hit Nepal and restrictions have been imposed in several cities, it is difficult to say when the visit will happen, said officials.

 Nepal Army through its appropriate channel will fix the date of Rawat's visit, said Gurung.

Rawat had expressed interest to visit Nepal once again as he visited Nepal in February 2018 and May 2017. Besides,  he also wants to visit and worship some revered Hindu shrines like Pashupatinath and Muktinath.

However, General Rawat is the first sitting Chief of Army Staff (CDS) to be appointed to the top post.