NEW DELHI, 20 May, 2021 (TON): 37 dead bodies have been recovered by Indian Navy from the coast of India's Mumbai city where a barge P305 with 261 people on board sank in Arabian Sea on Monday during a severe cyclone.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue operations continue. At least 53 people are still missing.

A navy warship returned to the city's harbour on Wednesday with some of the 186 survivors rescued so far.

Thirty-five people have also been rescued from another of the three other barges stranded due to cyclone Tauktae.

The cyclone weakened after it made landfall on Monday, but at least 19 people are confirmed as having died on land in the storm.

The barge was working on a project for India's Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). It was carrying personnel deployed for offshore drilling. When the storm struck, the barge's anchors gave way and it began drifting.

"We're still looking out for people in the area. We should be optimistic. Right now the conditions have improved. Hopefully, the worst is behind us," Captain Sachin Sequeira, commanding officer of the INS Kochi warship, said while talking to a news agency.

After receiving distress calls from the barge also called Papaa-305 (P305), the navy's ship sailed under difficult weather conditions.

The Indian military is continuing search and rescue operations for a third day after a deadly cyclone left scores missing and stranded at sea.

The navy had mounted a massive air and sea rescue mission for the missing oil workers, which has been hampered by huge waves.

About 200,000 people were evacuated across several states as the cyclone approached, bringing with it heavy rains and gusty winds.

Tropical Cyclone Tauktae made landfall as a category 3 cyclone on the southern coast of Gujarat on the night of 17 May. Before making landfall, Tauktae brushed India’s west coast over the weekend, causing damage in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.

ISLAMABAD, 20 May, 2021 (TON): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left for New York on Wednesday to bring the international community's attention towards Israeli atrocities in Palestine.

According to a statement by the Foreign Office, Qureshi is accompanied by the foreign ministers of Turkey, Palestine and Sudan.

Earlier, FM Qureshi visited Turkey, where he had a two-day stop.

Qureshi will participate in the emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to be held on May 20 in which he will represent Pakistan's stance on the Palestine issue and "raise [his] voice forcefully to call for an end to atrocities being committed against innocent Palestinians".

Foreign minister will also meet UNGA President Volkan Bozkir and other dignitaries.

He will meet media representatives to brief them regarding Pakistan's stance on local and international matters, the FO said.

Israel continued to impose institutionalized discrimination against Palestinians living under its rule in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

Pakistan remains a staunch supporter of the proposal for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and does not recognize the State of Israel.

COLOMBO, 20 May, 2021 (TON): PM of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa while speaking in Parliament on Wednesday said he appreciates the views of the people and respects the Supreme Court decision on the Colombo Port Commission Bill and hopes to add all the instructions and directives given by the Supreme Court at the second reading of the Bill.

The Premier added that he hopes to add more amendments to the Bill listening to the views of the people and the views of the fraternal parties.

Prime Minister said that the massive Port City project commenced in 2014 has been able to add 269 hectares of land to Sri Lanka today. The new land added to the Colombo District by the previous government in August 2019, and now known as the 'Port City of Colombo', has given a valuable opportunity to add enormous prospects to the Sri Lankan economy.

He said that in order to take full benefit from the new project, it is important essential that the legal and commercial framework required for the inflow of large investments into the country through the city complex be well established. “We must understand that the government now has a special responsibility to do so,” he said.

“Economists say that if we can set that framework properly, we will be able to attract around US $ 15 billion to our economy over the next five years. At the same time, the new city will be able to create about 200,000 jobs and livelihood opportunities for construction work in the first five years. Economists estimate that in the first five years, there will be about eighty-three thousand new permanent jobs.”

“The Port City of Colombo and its services must be managed by a competent commission that performs its functions and responsibilities efficiently. Also, a conducive business environment should be prepared for all investors who come to invest in this new city to be able to engage in their business activities without being hindered.”

Earlier, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has declared that certain provisions of the Chinese port city bill, which is opposed by the Opposition, are inconsistent with the Constitution.

ISLAMABAD, 20 May, 2021 (TON): At least 13 killed and more than 30 passengers after a bus turned turtle in Sukkur district of Pakistan's southern Sindh province on Thursday morning.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police in Sukkur Irfan Samo the bus was on its way to the country's southern port city of Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, from Multan city of the eastern Punjab province.

Investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, whereas according to media reports the bus driver lost control over the over-speeding vehicle while negotiating a sharp turn.

The injured passengers have been shifted to a hospital in Rohri area of the district and the medical superintendent of the hospital Pervaiz Akhtar told the media that six people died on the spot while others succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital or in the hospital.

Akhtar added that six of the injured are in critical condition and the hospital is providing the best possible medical treatment to them. Some of them will be shifted to other hospitals of the district.

All of the killed and injured came from Multan and were on their way back to work in Karachi after spending the Eid al-Fitr holiday at home.

The National Command and Operation Centre on Saturday announced that public transport between provinces, cities and within cities will resume functioning from Sunday, after lifting a week-long ban on traveling during Eid holidays amid COVID-19.

NEW DELHI, 20 May 2020, (TON): The Indian Ministry of Defence is likely to declare second negative import list within a few weeks to protect and boost indigenisation of defence production including defence weapon systems.
According to Ministry of Defences sources, the second list includes bigger weapon systems such as tanks and aircraft and others, which would be banned for import.

Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, over one hundred defence items would be banned for import to develop defence industry in India.

Last year, the formulation of a negative list was proposed in the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.The negative list included sniper rifles, short-range surface-to-air missiles, ultra-light Howitzers.

There are many countries including USA, Israel and France which intend to establish their defence industry in India for a joint venture to export locally made weapons to smaller countries in Asia.

COLOMBO, 19 May 2021, (TON): The central Bank reported that Sri Lanka’s external sector showed a mixed performance in March 2021 with a widened trade deficit.

The deficit in the trade account widened in March 2021, for the first time since April 2020.  Exports and imports in March 2021 were significantly higher, compared to March 2020 as well as February 2021.

The trade deficit increased to US$ 832 million in March 2021 compared to the deficit of US$ 549 million recorded in March 2020.

Meanwhile, the cumulative deficit in the trade account during January - March 2021 widened to US$ 2.059 billion from US$ 1.853 billion recorded over the same period in 2020.

Earnings from merchandise exports in March 2021 increased by 66.7 percent to US$ 1.094 billion, compared to March 2020. Earnings from exports improved considerably in March 2021 compared to February 2021 also raising export earnings towards pre-pandemic export levels.

The exchange rate came under severe pressure during March 2021, partly reflecting the seasonal demand for imports. Accordingly, the Sri Lankan rupee depreciated by 2.5 percent against the US dollar during the month of March. Overall, the rupee recorded a depreciation of 6.7 percent against the US dollar in 2021 up to 18 May 2021.

COLOMBO, 19 May 2021, (TON): Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retired) Dr Sarath Weerasekara told Parliament on 19 May, “There are delays in filing cases against those involved in terrorism as investigations must take place strategically ensuring those accountable don’t use loopholes to evade the law.”

He said about terrorists, “If cases were filed against the suspect immediately, their talented counsel will use loopholes to secure their release. That is why there is a delay in investigations in order to cover all bases.”  

He said, “Legal action was instituted against 32 people with regard to the 21 April 2019 Attacks” and added that in Kegalle High Court cases were filed against 16 people for damaging statues in Mawanella adding that cases were filed against 16 people at the Kegalle High Court with regard to damaging statues in Mawanella. He said, in addition, cases were filed against 06 people at the Puttlam High Court with regard to the explosives dump in Wanathawilluwa, he told the house. Cases were also filed against 03 people at the Kegalle High Court for shooting a person known as Mohamed Thaslim from Mawanella, in the head, and a case was filed against a person known as Mohamed Iqsan Ahamed at the Kandy High Court for weapons training while a case was filed against another suspect at the Gampaha High Court for assisting in acts of terror.

The Former Inspector General of Police and the Former Defence Secretary are facing charges at the Colombo High Court for Criminal Negligence.

The investigations are continuing with the assistance of the Attorney General’s Department and when shortcomings are identified, measures are taken to address them, said the Public Security Minister.

Sri Lanka’s Attorney General Dappula De Livera weekend made a public announcement noting that he is not in a position to present charges or indictments against the conspirators and abettors of the 2019 April 21st Attacks during his tenure in office as the investigations carried out by the Criminal Investigations Department are incomplete.

The announcement made by State Counsel Nishara Jayaratne, the Coordinating Officer to the Attorney General on Saturday (15) said, “The CID is yet to conclude all investigations into all suspects connected to the 2019 April 21st Attacks.”

Sri Lanka was rocked by a series of deadly blasts on April 21, 2019. As many as eight blasts occurred in and around the capital Colombo, as large groups gathered at churches for Easter.

704 people were arrested over the 2019 April 21st Attacks and 203 of them are in remand custody while 84 are held on a detention order.204 suspects were enlarged on bail and 168 people were released while Indictments were prepared against 32 suspects.

COLOMBO, 18 May 2021, (TON): Sri Lankan Speaker said today, the Supreme Court has determined that certain sections of the Port City Economic Commission Bill is inconsistent with the Constitution.

He said, according to the SC determination, certain clauses of the Bill could be approved with a special majority in Parliament and by the people at a referendum.

The cabinet of ministers will gather for a special meeting today evening to discuss the Supreme Court recommendations on the legality and constitutionality of the Port City Economic Commission Bill, the Daily Mirror learns.

The ministers will gather for the meeting at 6 p.m. chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa where the Supreme Court recommendations will be discussed following which a further announcement will be made.

The Government decided to debate the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill on May 19 and 20 in Parliament, disregarding objections from the Opposition at a Party Leaders’ meeting held recently who have alleged that the Bill would pave way for the Port City to be used as a money laundering hub.

The ministers will gather for the meeting at 6 p.m. chaired by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa where the Supreme Court recommendations will be discussed following which a further announcement will be made. The Government decided to debate the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill on May 19 and 20 in Parliament, disregarding objections from the Opposition at a Party Leaders’ meeting held recently who have alleged that the Bill would pave way for the Port City to be used as a money laundering hub.

DHAKA, 18 May 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has extended her warmest congratulations to Kim Boo-Kyum, newly elected Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, saying she looks forward to working together to take the partnership between the two countries to a new height.
Prime Minister Hasina reiterated that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and South Korea are strengthened by shared values of mutual trust and respect, commonalities of history, conviction to peace, security, and prosperity for all.
She is encouraged by the increased Korean investment in the infrastructure and socio-economic development programmes of Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Hasina wished that Kim will lead his country successfully towards greater peace and prosperity with his political acumen and stewardship and extended an invitation to Kim to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.
Prime Minister Hasina reiterated that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and South Korea are strengthened by shared values of mutual trust and respect, commonalities of history, conviction to peace, security, and prosperity for all.
She is encouraged by the increased Korean investment in the infrastructure and socio-economic development programmes of Bangladesh.
She expressed the willingness of her government to continue to work closely with South Korea on regional and global issues. In this regard, she underscored the importance of early, safe and sustained repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar which is vital for the peace, stability and security of the region.

ISLAMABAD, 19 May 2021, (TON): Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has left for New York City to attend an emergency UN General Assembly (UNGA) session on the ongoing Israeli terrorism in the Gaza Strip.
Besides attending the session, Pakistani Foreign Minister will hold important meetings with various dignitaries on the sidelines of UNGA session. The ongoing conflict, the worst form of state sponsored violence between Israel and Palestinian in the besieged Gaza enclave where Israelis have killed innocent Palestinians men, women and children and destroyed the homes of Palestinians.