BEIJING, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Monday, the Chinese lawmakers held group discussions to deliberate a draft law on food waste prevention during an ongoing legislative session of the country's top legislature.

On Monday, the draft was submitted to the National People's Congress Standing Committee for the second reading.

According to the draft, catering service providers could charge customers who leave excessive amounts of food waste a disposal fee, but rates for the charge must be clearly advertised.

Lawmaker Han Mei said the minimum charge for private dining rooms set by some restaurants may lead to food waste as diners who eat in private rooms tend to order excessive amounts of food.

During the discussions, lawmakers praised the draft for laying down principles for food consumption and proposed more anti-waste measures to improve the draft.

However, Lawmaker Wang Shangdian said that in addition to fines, compulsory volunteer services as penalties for food wasters could also be imposed as per the law.

KABUL, 28 April 2021 (TON); With the aim to fight alongside the Afghan security forces against the Taliban, a number of residents in the Afghan province Takhar have taken up arms.

These local fighters are operating under the leadership of Dr. Gulistan, the former head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Takhar.

He said, “We have to show to these aliens (Taliban) that this is the center of resistance, this area has an owner and brave youth.”

Meanwhile, the political office of Ahmad Massoud, the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the National Hero of Afghanistan, has said that people in Takhar, Baghlan, Kunduz and Samangan provinces are ready to start the second resistance against the Taliban under his leadership.

Those who have taken up arms in Takhar have said that they are ready to fight under Massoud’s leadership.

Some of the armed men said that they were attacked by the Taliban on Monday after they gathered in the area to talk about the second resistance against the Taliban.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zia Saraj, the head of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) said, “We are in talks with them, our discussions will start with them soon…anyone within the structure of the government itself. As you know, we have some groups known as public uprising forces who operate within the framework of the government and based on the needs that we have in some areas they cooperate with us.”

However, the leaders believe that people all over the country are ready to defend the country against any hostile move.

GUWAHATI, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the Indian PM Modi assured all possible help to the people of quake hit Assam after a massive tremor measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale jolted the Northeastern state.

After speaking over phone with the Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Modi tweeted, "Spoke to Assam CM Shri Sarbananda Sonowal Ji regarding the earthquake in parts of the state. Assured all possible help from the Centre. I pray for the well-being of the people of Assam."

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) Minister Jitendra Singh also spoke to Sonowal and assured all kinds of help to deal with the situations.

Sonowal tweeted, "Union FM Smt Nirmala Sitharaman ji took stock of the situation arising due to the earthquake, over phone, and assured all support. My heartfelt thanks to the Honorable Finance Minister."

However, At least seven aftershocks were recorded in the hours after the first quake shook up Sonitpur bordering Arunachal Pradesh in northern Assam.

Moreover, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) the tremors were felt even in North Bengal and other parts of the northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh.

WASHINGTON, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that no one is interested in a civil war in Afghanistan.

Later he added that it might be a possible scenario once the U.S. military leaves the country.

 “Neither the Afghan government or the Taliban do, none of Afghanistan's neighbors do, neighbors and other countries in the region that have basically been free riders for the last 20 years, as we've been engaged there with our NATO allies and partners,” Blinken said.

Blinken said, “Countries in the region are now going to have to decide, given their interests in a relatively stable Afghanistan, given the influence that they have, whether they’re going to try to use that influence in a way that keeps things within the 40-yard lines.”

“So a lot of people are having their minds concentrated by the President's decision,” Blinken said.

However, he stressed that even as the U.S. is withdrawing its forces, it is not disengaging from Afghanistan; U.S. will remain deeply engaged in the diplomacy in support for the Afghan government and its people, development, economic assistance humanitarian assistance, support for the security forces.

COLOMBO, 28 April, 2021 (TON): Sri Lankan Embassy in Kuwait continues to facilitate repatriation of Sri Lankan migrant workers and other Sri Lankans who were severely affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

The move has been taken under the guidance of Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Foreign Secretary Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage.

The Foreign Ministry said, the Embassy has repatriated over 6000 Sri Lankans out of 9000 persons registered with the Embassy.

This repatriation process is facilitated by the Embassy in coordination with the Presidential Secretariat, the Foreign Ministry, National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak, Ministry of Labor, State Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Market Diversification, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), SriLankan Airlines and relevant Kuwait authorities.

The returnees included Sri Lankan migrant workers held at the Kuwait Government Deportation Centre, the Kuwait Government Shelter and the Safe House maintained by the Embassy.

However, with the support of Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa and Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, free government quarantine facilities were arranged for the returnees from the Kuwait Government Deportation Centre and for migrant workers, accommodated at the Embassy Safe House.

RIYADH, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Tuesday evening, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman briefed the Cabinet on the many achievements of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program at a virtual session.

The initiative was launched on 25 April, 2016.

Prince Salman outlined the most important achievements of the 2016 initiative.

King Salman chaired the session from NEOM, praised government agencies and partners of Vision 2030, which aims to build a better future for the country and citizens.

The numerous reforms under the program include infrastructure building, developing the institutional and legislative structures of the Kingdom as well as improvements in public policies.

However, the program also aims to improve the health services, boost home ownership and diversify the national economy with an aim to increase non-oil GDP growth.

MOGADISHU, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the President of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed called for elections and a return to dialogue after the extension of his mandate by two years sparked the country's worst political violence in years.

Around 1:00 am local time (2200 GMT), the president addressed the nation at around 1:00 am local time (2200 GMT) after hours of anticipation, with Mogadishu on a knife's edge as government troops and pro-opposition soldiers beefed up their positions and civilians fled their homes.

On Sunday, the rival sides exchanged gunfire in an eruption of long-simmering tensions sparked by the delay of February elections and Farmajo's extension of his mandate earlier this month.

However, tensions have been rising in Somalia since Farmajo's four-year term lapsed in February, as he and leaders of Puntland and Jubaland, two of Somalia's five semi-autonomous states, failed to agree on how to conduct elections.

MALE, 28 April, 2021 (TON): Three people have been arrested over the robberies of the Road Development Corporation (RDC) offices. 

After breaking into the RDC offices in Male’ City, more than MVR 100,000 have been stolen.

The cases were reported to police on 17 April. 

Police said that three people were arrested in relation to the RDC robberies on 25 April 25, under a court order.

“Those arrested are a 25 year old male, 31-year old male and a 33-year old male,” said Police. 

However, when the detainees were presented before the court, the three were remanded to custody for a period of ten days.

DHAKA, 28 April, 2021 (TON): On Wednesday, the miscreants blazed nine buses parked at the Bandura Bazar bus counter in Dhaka's Nawabganj and set afire five shops.
The incident took place around 11 am, the locals said.

Md Raihan, Director of the media team of Fire Service affirmed that the fire has been distinguished and the situation is under control by the four units of fire service and civil defense team,

However, no casualties were reported immediately.

LAHORE, 28 April, 2021 (TON): Despite ban and police crackdown on the kite manufacturers, the kite business is thriving in Pakistan’s populous Punjab province, as most sellers have moved online, industry insiders and authorities said.

On 10 April, the kite seller was detained in Lahore for online selling kites despite of the ban imposed in 2005 on celebrating the festival of Basant.

After being released on bail the next day, the retailer was cited by the investigators, “I receive orders online, sometimes on the phone, from many circles, and the business keeps on thriving despite the ban on kite-flying. My customers range from shopkeepers to elite people.”

However, kite-flying has long been a passion in South Asia, and for decades the Basant celebration would transform Pakistan’s skies with hundreds of thousands of kites to commemorate the advent of spring.

But in 2005, the Supreme Court banned the celebration after 19 people died from injuries caused by stray strings.