Headline

7 Countries With No Railway Lines And Why

Published

1 year ago

October 15, 2024

Railways are often seen as symbols of progress as they connect places, people, and economies but even at that, a handful of countries don’t have any rail system at all.

To some countries, the challenge boils down to geography while to others, it is financial.

Here’s a look at seven countries that manage just fine without railways, opting instead for other alternatives.

Bhutan

Bhutan is hidden in the Himalayas and because of this county’s majestic mountains, it make building railways tricky and an expensive venture. Its landscape is dominated by steep valleys and high-altitude passes, leaving limited flat land for tracks.
Instead, Bhutan has a solid road network that allows for reliable road travel.

Cyprus

Cyprus once had a railway system operating from 1905 to 1951. However, economic issues led to its closure, and a second attempt at revival was also abandoned in the 1970s.

Adding to the challenge is Cyprus’s political divide, which complicates cross-country infrastructure projects. For now, buses and an extensive road network connect people and places across this Mediterranean island.

Iceland

Iceland has tried three different times to set up railway networks, but none have become a full public transit system. Many factors played a role, like the country’s small population, the popularity of cars, and the tough landscape and climate, which made it challenging to maintain a railway.

The idea of railways in Iceland dates back to the early 1900s, though these early plans eventually lost momentum. New discussions came up in the 2000s about a rail link around Reykjavik and nearby areas. However, that project faced similar obstacles and hasn’t moved forward yet.

Andorra

This small, landlocked country in the Pyrenees mountains has no railways as it relies mainly on road transport. The nearest rail station is in France, and regular bus services connect travellers from there to Andorra’s capital, Andorra la Vella. Given its small population and limited size, Andorra manages well without its own railway infrastructure.

Monaco

One of the world’s smallest countries, Monaco is densely urbanised and doesn’t need railways within its borders. Its location along the French Riviera allows for easy access to French trains, and the principality itself uses an efficient system of buses and taxis.

At just 2.1 square kilometers, Monaco can be easily navigated without rail transport.

Yemen

Yemen’s lack of a railway system is due to its long-standing political instability and economic difficulties. The country’s desert terrain and ongoing conflict make infrastructure projects nearly impossible.

Instead, Yemen uses a road network for most of its transportation, but even this is affected by the country’s economic struggles.

Malta

Malta’s small size and densely packed streets make rail systems impractical. Although it had a short-lived railway in the early 20th century, it closed down in 1931. Malta’s public transport system now relies on buses, which are well-suited to the island’s limited geography and urban layout.

Each of these countries has found ways to meet transportation needs without railways. Whether it’s air, road, or sea transport, these alternative modes show that connectivity and mobility can adapt to any terrain or challenge.

Headline

EU Fines Elon Musk’s X €120m For Violating Digital Content Rules

Published

6 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has been hit with a €120 million ($140 million) fine by European Union tech regulators for violating multiple provisions of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

This marks the first significant penalty imposed under this landmark legislation.

On Friday, the European Commission announced the fine, citing various violations by X, including misleading platform features and a lack of transparency in research practices.

Regulators pointed out that one of the violations involved the misleading design of the blue verification checkmark. This feature is now linked to subscription payments instead of identity validation, which the EU described as “deceptive and potentially harmful.”

The Commission also criticized X for not maintaining transparent advertising records and for restricting researchers’ access to publicly available data on the platform.

This ruling is likely to heighten diplomatic tensions between Brussels and Washington. U.S. officials from the Trump administration had previously condemned Europe’s regulatory approach toward major tech companies, claiming that EU policies unfairly target American firms and restrict free expression.

However, the European Commission defended its stance, stating that enforcement under the DSA is not influenced by nationality. They emphasized that the legislation is designed to promote online accountability, protect users, and ensure transparency in digital operations—standards that are increasingly becoming global benchmarks.

“The DSA does not discriminate by company origin,” the Commission argued, maintaining that the penalties reflect Europe’s commitment to protecting democratic values and responsible digital governance.

The fine marks a significant test case for the EU’s new regulatory regime and could set precedent for similar action against other platforms not in full compliance with the law.

Headline

Nigerian Ringleader Of Nationwide Bank Fraud, Money Laundering Jailed In US, Says FBI

Published

6 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced the sentencing of Nigerian national Oluwaseun Adekoya, the mastermind behind a sprawling bank fraud and money-laundering operation that targeted victims across the United States.

According to investigators, Adekoya, who operated under multiple aliases including “Ace G.,” “BRODA,” “Legendary,” “SANTA,” “SANTANA,” “Sammy LaBanco,” “Sean Maison,” and “Kiing_maison” led a sophisticated criminal network that stole and laundered more than $2 million by impersonating individuals nationwide.

The FBI said the long-running operation, internally code-named Operation Catch Me if You Can, relied on coordinated efforts across numerous law enforcement and banking agencies.

Headline

VIDEO: Nigerians In UK Lament Delayed Passport Capturing At ‘Crowded’ Birmingham Centre

Published

6 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

Nigerians in the United Kingdom (UK) have cried out to the Nigerian authorities over delays in renewing their international passports, describing the capturing experience as frustrating.

According to a video from the Nigerian Passport Intervention Centre in Birmingham, sighted by Tribune Online, hundreds of people are seen lurking around while waiting for officials to arrive for the exercise.

In the video, a lady narrated how the crowd had gathered since around 4am on Friday after their names had been taken down the previous day with the promise that the capturing would be done the next day.

“They promised they’re going to start at 9am and at 12pm when I was leaving, they’ve not even started attending to people. We heard that the officials were not even at the scene,” she said.

Continuing, the video showed the arrival of some of the officials, whom the lady said had asked the crowd to return the next day.

“While I was walking to my taxi, I saw some of the officials. I recognised them from yesterday when he addressed the people saying ‘Go and come back tomorrow’. The one driving that car was the one who was addressing us yesterday,” she added, referring to a vehicle in the viral clip.

The lady further criticised their attitude to the plight of Nigerians at the centre, saying many, including herself, came with babies.

“It’s so shameful that Nigeria will still happen to you even if you’re outside Nigeria. It’s the people, not only the government,” she added.

Reacting to the video, another user simply identified as OduduAbasi Umo-Odiong, posted two short clips showing people agitated at the centre.

“People are already getting agitated today. The frustration is rising and the situation is becoming tense,” he captioned.

However, an X user, identified as Williams Ibironke, disagreed with the information in the video, saying the officials work till midnight.

“The information she posted was purposely made as content to miss direct people. those pple are working til midnight everyday, they closed @3am so how can they resume early again. I did mine @12:33am this morning and I still left people there, meaning they may not close until 2am,” he posted.

Other X users reacting to the video called on the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to act swiftly on the issue, wondering how the positive reform he introduced is addressing the issue.

“Someone has fingered a working system to their benefit. Just a few weeks ago, you can start and finish your passport renewal process on your mobile phone without leaving your home.

“What happened to that positive change?,” a user asked.

All possible efforts to get Nigerian authorities’ reaction to the issue proved abortive as of the time of filing this report as neither the Minister nor the Interior Ministry responded to messages sent to them.

Watch video here

Source: Nigerian Tribune