ISLAMABAD, 29 March, 2021 (TON): In order to vaccinate millions of children against polio, Pakistan launched a new door-to-door polio campaign on Monday, an official said.

The campaign will last for 5 days and will target over 40 million children of ages below five.  

Around 285,000 frontline workers will span out across Pakistan's 156 districts to administer the oral drops while following Covid-19 safety protocols.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Faisal Sultan, said in a statement, "Covid-19 continues to challenge us but we are committed to ensuring continuity of the essential public health services during these difficult times."

The country came very close to eliminating polio, but recorded 147 cases, a five-year high, in 2019, amid vaccine boycotts and attacks on health workers, nevertheless, Pakistan and Afghanistan are among only a few countries in the world where polio is still endemic.

SAN FRANCISCO, 29 March, 2021 (TON): On Saturday night, a helicopter crash in the area of Knik Glacier, U.S. state of Alaska left five dead and one seriously injured, Alaska State Troopers stated on Sunday.

The helicopter was chartered by Soloy Helicopters, a Wasilla-based charter company.

According to the officials, a team from Alaska Rescue Coordination Center was dispatched to the crash site late that night.

Five dead and one survivors were found at the crash scene.

State troopers said, "The survivor remains in serious but stable condition, and is receiving medical care at an Anchorage area hospital."

The helicopter carried two ski guides, three lodge guests, and a pilot.

CAIRO, 29 March, 2021 (TON): The massive container ship has been re-floated that blocked the Suez Canal since 23 March, said the service provider Inchcape Shipping on Monday.

Ever Given, the Panama-flagged ship veered off its course in a single-lane stretch of the canal during a sandstorm.

"The MV Ever Given was successfully re-floated at 4.3 a.m.. She is being secured at the moment," Inchcape Shipping tweeted.

The service provider indicated that the high tide on Sunday night helped to free the ship.

According to the reports, the vital waterway is expected to be ready to resume traffic by 11 a.m. (local time), however, so far, there has been no official confirmation from the state Suez Canal Authority (SCA).

JAKARTA, 29 March, 2021 (TON): After Monday midnight, a massive blaze at an oil refinery in Indonesia's West Java province caused three people missing and 19 others injured.

Five of the wounded suffered serious injuries and nearly 1,000 residents living nearby were evacuated, officials said.

Hadi Rahmat, Head of the Disaster Management Agency's Emergency Unit in West Java province said that three people remain missing, five are seriously wounded and 14 others suffered minor injuries.

The five persons are being intensively treated at the Pertamina Hospital.

Nearly 1,000 people have been evacuated to two sports centers and an Islamic center, he said.

However, the cause of the fire is still unknown while during the accident heavy downpours with lightning happened.

DHAKA, 29 March, 2021 (TON): In connection with ties to clashes between anti-Modi protesters and law-enforcement personnel in Dhaka’s Baitul Mukarram area on Friday, the police have started a case against 500-600 unidentified individuals.

On Friday night, SI Shamim Hossain of Paltan police station filed the case. However, the political identities of the accused were not mentioned, Inspector Md Sentu Mia police station confirmed.

A fight broke out between two groups of worshippers at the end of a prayer session on Friday.

At one point, the groups exited the mosque and the clash turned violent. The police later fired shots and tear gas to bring the situation under control.

Witnesses said local Chhatra League and Awami League activists clashed with a group of worshippers after they came out of the mosque following the conclusion of Jummah prayers on Friday and started delivering anti-Modi slogans.  

On Monday, B’desh militants pulverized several districts of Bangladesh with a fresh wave of violence as supporters of the radical group clashed with security agencies and pro-government activists during a nationwide shutdown which was called over deaths during protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.

However, the home ministry vowed to go tough if religious fanaticism and violence would not stop. It said in a notice on Sunday evening.

MYAGDI, 29 March, 2021 (TON): More than 400 forest fires have been reported across the country; meanwhile, Myagdi wildfires have been raging in over two dozen community and national forests, wildlife reserves, and conservation areas for the past few days, said the Division Forest Office.

Officials at the forest office say wildfires have gone out of control, despite the preventive measures,

The Division Forest Office in Myagdi has allocated more than Rs. 1 million budget for wildfire control and prevention, as it does every year.

Thamsara Pun, chairperson of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality said, “Wildfires have been raging in almost all hills (forest areas) now. The rural municipality has been making efforts to control wildfires but we haven’t been able to do much.”

“Local residents themselves make bonfires in villages to generate new sprouts but are not careful about it. Poachers too are to blame for the wildfires. They start a fire in forests to trap wildlife in the highlands,” Pun said.

Santosh Khanal, acting division forest officer said, “Fire incidents are low in community forests as of now. But the national forest is at risk.”

“Fire incidents are low in community forests as of now. But the national forest is at risk,” said Santosh Khanal, acting division forest officer.

“The Division Forest Office has been organizing various programs to prevent and control wildfires. But such programs have not been implemented successfully,” said Khanal.

However, despite the efforts in fulfilling the preventive measures for the cause, Human settlements in Dhaulagiri and Malika rural municipalities have been greatly affected since wildfires in nearby forests are inching closer by the day, the reports said.

BISHKEK, 29 March, 2021, (TON): The Kyrgyz Olympic team played an amicable match with Tribhuwan Army Club from Nepal.

Kyrgyzstanis made risky minutes during the match, yet couldn't utilize them. In the first half, Ernaz Abilov hit the crossbar of the opponents. In the second half, he did not succeed in one-on-one. In the middle of the second half, Erzhan Tokotaev saved his team after a one-on-one with the opponent.

As a result, the match ended in a draw.

The Olympic team of Kyrgyzstan, consisting of players under 23 years old, took part in the Three Nations Cup from March 22 to March 30. The national teams of Bangladesh and Nepal also participated in the tournament.

PATNA, 29 March, 2021 (TON): A notice issued to 25 candidates by High Court Patna, including the winning candidate, Deepak Sharma after a petitioner Rahbar Adbin filed a plea against the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Deepak Sharma for hiding criminal cases in an affidavit while filing nomination.

Sharma contested the Bihar 2020 Assembly elections from the Arwal constituency.

Abdin said, "I had filed a complaint against the BJP candidate but the court issued notice to all candidates including Mahanand Singh of CPI (ML) who won from the Arwal constituency in 2020."

While quoting the High Court notice, he said, "Patna High Court has asked all the candidates that why the elections shouldn't be canceled."

"The notice has been issued on the basis of Supreme Court guidelines pertaining to the cancellation of elections in case of mischief by candidates. All the candidates have the right to defend themselves," Abdin said.

However many analysts believe that such a situation arose due to the callous attitude of the Returning Officer (RO) who did not check the criminal background of the particular candidate.

COLOMBO, 29 March, 2021, (TON): Sri Lanka tea production for the month of February 2021 totaled 22.38 million kgs showing an increase of 4.17 million kgs compared 18.21 million kgs of February 2020, according to figures released for the month by the Tea Exporters Association.

High Growns have remained static, whilst the Mid Growns have shown a marginal increase. Meanwhile, Low Growns have recorded a fairly significant increase compared to the corresponding month of 2020.

January-February 2021 cumulative production totaled 45.50 million kgs recording a gain of 5.35 million kgs against the volume of 40.15 million kgs of January-February 2020. On a cumulative basis, High Growns have shown a marginal decrease, whilst the Mid and Low Growns have shown an increase, with Low Growns showing the highest gain.

CTC Cumulative production, January-February 2021 totaled 4.12 million kgs, recording a 0.26 million kgs increase compared to 3.87 million kgs of January-February 2020. When analyzing the main categories of exports, Bulk Tea and Tea Bags show a marginal growth, whilst Packeted Tea has shown a decrease compared to the corresponding period of 2020.

January-February 2021 cumulative exports totaled 43.99 million kgs, showing a deficit of 1.76 million kgs compared to 45.75 million kgs of January-February 2020. Again, Bulk Tea and Tea Bags show a marginal growth, whilst Packeted Tea has shown a fairly significant decrease (2.82 million kgs) compared to the corresponding period of 2020.

Meanwhile, the revenue of Rs. 41.02 billion has been recorded, an increase of Rs. 3.36 billion vis-à-vis Rs. 37.66 billion of January-February 2020. The average FOB value Rs. 932.47 (USD 4.87) shows a gain of Rs. 109.21 per kg when compared to Rs. 823.26 (USD 4.58) of January-December 2020.

TRIPOLI, 29 March, 2021 (TON): Altogether 438 illegal migrants have been rescued in two separate operations by the Libyan Coast Guard off the Libyan western coast, International Organization for Migration stated on Sunday.

The agency said, "While IOM teams were there to provide emergency assistance, including medical support; we maintain that Libya is not a safe port."

It estimated that more than 4,500 illegal migrants were intercepted or rescued so far this year off the Libyan coast and ended up in arbitrary detention.

In 2020, a total of 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, the agency estimated, the rescued end up in overcrowded reception centers in Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those centers.

However, in order to escape insecurity and chaos in Libya caused by the fall of the former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, thousands of immigrants attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.