LONDON, 22 May 2022, (TON): The Russian military said “it had destroyed a major consignment of Western arms in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, west of Kyiv, using sea-launched Kalibr cruise missiles.”

The defense ministry said in a statement the strike took out “a large batch of weapons and military equipment delivered from the USA and European countries and intended for Ukrainian troops in the eastern Donbas region where the fighting is concentrated.”

Reuters could not independently verify the report, which also said Russian missiles had struck fuel storage facilities near Odesa on the Black Sea coast and shot down two Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft and 14 drones.

In its latest update on the war, which Russia calls a special military operation, the defense ministry also said “Russia had struck numerous Ukrainian command posts.”

DUBAI, 22 May 2022, (TON): A report by Dubai-based TV said “Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has seized an Iranian ship carrying 240 tons of smuggled diesel.”

The ministry said “it has seized the ship in territorial waters and has arrested its crew members, who were Iranian.”

It said “the Iranian ship crew were buying fuel from smaller ships at certain prices.”

ANKARA, 22 May 2022, (TON): A price hike for foreigners seeking citizenship through real estate investment is the latest attempt by the Turkish government to ease the country’s financial woes.

The move is estimated to help Turkey overcome its current account deficit and change the profile of foreign investors.

A popular advertisement reads “only up to June 3 you can apply for Turkish citizenship by investing $250,000. Obtain a Turkish passport and citizenship in the most prestigious projects in Istanbul.”

Amid widespread criticism of skyrocketing house prices in the country, which has hit Turkish nationals the most, the government recently raised the amount that foreigners must invest in property in order to become eligible for citizenship.

Amid widespread criticism of skyrocketing house prices in the country, which has hit Turkish nationals the most, the government recently raised the amount that foreigners must invest in property in order to become eligible for citizenship.

LONDON, 22 May 2022, (TON): Russia said “it was banning entry to 963 Americans including US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA chief William Burns.”

The travel bans have only symbolic impact but form part of a constant downward spiral in Russia’s relations with the United States and its allies since its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.

SYDNEY, 22 May 2022, (TON): Anthony Albanese, Australia’s newly elected prime minister, was rushed to hospital last year after a four-wheel-drive slammed into his car.

He told a local radio station “I thought that was it.”

At the time, his Labour Party trailed behind the conservative government in opinion polls, struggling to cut through during the pandemic.

But the near-death experience changed his life, Albanese told media.

In its wake, the opposition leader, 59, recovered on all fronts: overcoming serious injury, shrugging off rumblings of a party leadership coup and shedding 18 kilograms an image revamp that raised some eyebrows.

His suits went from baggy to tailored, his bookish wire-framed glasses switched for “Mad Men“-style black full-rims.

RIYADH, 22 May 2022, (TON): Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Defense met the US Special Envoy for Yemen in Washington to discuss the conflict in Taiz and the need for UN-backed peace proposals to pose pressure on the Houthi militant group.

Prince Khalid bin Salman said “he affirmed to Timothy Lenderking the Saudi-led Coalition’s backing of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council.”

The statement added “although the momentum of the truce remains high, I reaffirmed the need for the United Nations and the international community to pressure the Houthis into reopening the roads of Taiz, deposit revenues of the Hodeidah port, and engage with peace proposals.”

Prince Khalid also said “he reiterated Saudi Arabia’s aspirations for reaching a comprehensive political resolution to the crisis that will lead Yemen into peace and prosperity.”

NEW DELHI, 22 May 2022, (TON): A government bulletin said “four more people died in the deluge in Assam taking the toll to 18 while floodwaters entered new areas pushing the number of affected districts to 31.”

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said “however, the number of people hit by the calamity decreased marginally to 6,80,118 lakh.”

The number of the affected population was 7,11,905 and that of the district was 29.

Nagaon remained the worst-hit district with 3.39 lakh people affected, followed by Cachar (1.77 lakh) and Hojai (70,233), as per the ASDMA bulletin.

As many as 74,907 flood-hit people have taken shelter in 282 relief camps, while another 214 relief distribution centres are operational.

DHAKA, 22 May 2022, (TON): Bangladesh has called for increased investments and targeted technology support from developed countries, while promoting global solidarity to keep critical food delivery infrastructure out of harm's way during conflicts.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam made the call at the UN Security Council Open Debate on "Conflict and Food Security".

He underscored the importance of enhancing productivity and ensuring effective food storage and distribution systems.

DHAKA, 22 May 2022, (TON): Federal Bureau of Investigation will help the Anti-Corruption Commission in bringing back the money laundered to USA and Canada.

FBI officials said this at a three-day-long training on "Protecting Public Integrity: Investigating and Prosecuting Complex Corruption Cases" organised by the US Embassy to increase skill of the ACC investigators in dealing with money laundering.

An ACC official who participated in the training programme, told media "they told us that ACC can form joint investigation team with the FBI in dealing with the complex graft cases."

He said "in such case, FBI will help recover and freeze money laundered to USA and Canada illegally or via hundi and send related documents to ACC.”

He added "upon the Mutual Legal Assistance Request, they will help ACC from there and send the information quickly.”

DHAKA, 22 May 2022, (TON): The UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi arrived here for a five-day visit.

An UNHCR press release said “he will meet with representatives of the Government of Bangladesh to discuss the ongoing response for Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.”

Grandi will also highlight the need for sustained international support when meeting with key donors and partners who support the humanitarian response in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char.

During his visit to the camps in Cox's Bazar and Bhasan Char, Grandi will meet with Rohingya refugees to discuss their needs, challenges and hopes for the future.

He is accompanied on his visit by Indrika Ratwatte and Senior Advisor to the High Commissioner Herve de Villeroche.