NEW DELHI, 04 May 2022, (TON): Muslims across India marked Eid al-Fitr by offering prayers outside mosques, with the celebrations this year following a series of attacks against the religious minority during the month of Ramadan.

This year, Mohammad Habeeb ur Rehman, a civil engineer in India’s financial capital, Mumbai said “we will not have the same kind of festivity.”

“This is the most painful Eid with the worst memories for Indian Muslims.”

Anti-Muslim sentiment and attacks have surged across the country in the last month, including stone throwing between Hindu and Muslim groups during religious processions and subsequent demolitions by authorities of a number of properties belonging mostly to Muslims.

Afghanistan: On World Press Freedom Day, Afghan Media Voices Concerns

KABUL, 04 May 2022, (TON): On World Press Freedom Day, the Afghan media community expressed concerns over the lack of access to information and the lack of a Commission of Media Violation.

General concerns over the uncertain fate of the media in Afghanistan were also raised.

Mirwais, a journalist said “the Afghan journalists are facing problems in access to information.” 

This comes as media watchdogs said around 40 percent of media outlets have halted operations over the past several months and many journalists and media workers have become jobless.

Hujatullah Mujadidi said “we are celebrating May 3 as more than 40 percent of our media outlets have been closed. Around 80 percent of women journalists and 60 percent of male journalists lost their jobs. The situation has also affected the content of our media organization.”

Idrees Faroqi, head of 1TV channel said “we hope that these challenges be solved so journalists can be in a better situation.” 

NEW DELHI, 04 May 2022, (TON): According to a report by a global media “India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has fallen down to 150th position from last year's 142nd rank out of 180 countries.”

The report released by Reporters Without Borders said “ranking of India's neighbours, except that of Nepal, have also slid down, with the index placing Pakistan at 157th position, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Maynmar at 176th position.”

Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories ranked by the Reporters Without Borders.

Russia was placed at 155th position, down from 150th last year, while China climbed up by two positions with the Reporters Without Borders placing it at 175th position. Last year, China was placed at 177th position.

NEW DELHI, 04 May 2022, (TON): Addressing in Denmark Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “it is the inclusiveness and cultural diversity that powers the Indian community to feel alive in every moment and these values have developed within Indians for thousands of years.”

He added that that all Indians must stand together for the defense of the nation and join hands in nation-building.

PM Modi said during his address "Inclusiveness and cultural diversity is the power of the Indian community, which makes us all feel alive every moment. Thousands of years of time have developed these values within us.”

He said "Prime Minister Frederickson being here today is a testament to the love and respect she has for Indians.”

PM Modi "many times when I meet world leaders, they proudly tell me about the achievements of the Indian community settled in their countries."

He added “while noting that the number of Indians settled abroad was higher than the entire population of some countries.”

BRUSSELS, 02 May 2022, (TON): European Union countries are split on how soon they wind down dependence on Russian energy supplies.

While sanctions have been applied to other areas of business, the EU remains heavily reliant on Russian oil and gas.

Germany's economic minister said the country would be able to weather a Russian oil ban by the end of 2022, as he appeared to back tougher sanctions.

However, Hungary has said it opposes such a move, stating it would not back measures that could endanger supplies.

EU ministers met to discuss how to manage the situation, under intense pressure to reduce the revenue stream supporting President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

MOSCOW, 02 May 2022, (TON): Russia’s budget revenues from the sale of oil and gas will reach $260 billion this year, significantly exceeding the results of the previous two years due to a sharp increase in energy prices, Rystad Energy analysts say.

The company said in a statement “despite the expected serious reduction in oil production in Russia this year, tax revenues due to a sharp increase in oil prices will increase significantly to more than $ 180 billion.

Extremely high gas prices in Europe, as well as liquefied natural gas in Asia will generate approximately $80 billion in tax revenue for Russia in 2022.”

Thus, it is noted that the expected income from Russia’s oil exports this year will be 45% and 181% higher than in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

As for gas, analysts believe that the shutdown of supplies to Poland and Bulgaria will not have a significant impact on revenues.

Such results will be driven by price dynamics. In addition, after the start of the military operation in Ukraine on February 24, European buyers really began to avoid Russian oil due to sanctions fears.

KABUL, 03 May 2022, (TON): Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underlined the need for the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the Afghan people.

At the end of a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Sharif issued the call at a meeting with Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha in Makkah.

The Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad said Sharif affirmed his government’s commitment to promoting the interests of the Muslim ummah.

NEW DELHI, 03 May 2022, (TON): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to Europe with New Delhi's refusal to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine set to be a key talking point in meetings with regional leaders.

India, which imports much of its military hardware from Russia, has long walked a diplomatic tightrope between the West and Moscow, and has called only for an immediate end to hostilities.

Modi said in a statement “my visit to Europe comes at a time when the region faces many challenges and choices."

The statement added “premier intended to “strengthen the spirit of cooperation with European partners who are important companions in India's quest for peace and prosperity.”

Modi was due to hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin before heading to Copenhagen to join the prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway at a two-day India-Nordic Summit from May 3.

KABUL, 03 May 2022, (TON): As Afghanistan plunged into economic crisis after the United States withdrew troops and the Taliban seized power, the 960-kilometer (572-mile) long border with Iran became a lifeline for Afghans who piled into smugglers’ pickups in desperate search of money and work.

But in recent weeks the desert crossing, long a dangerous corner of the world, has become a growing source of tension as an estimated 5,000 Afghans traverse it each day and the neighbours, erstwhile enemies that trade fuel, share water and have a tortured history , navigate an increasingly charged relationship.

In past weeks, skirmishes erupted between Taliban and Iranian border guards. Afghans in three cities rallied against Iran.

Demonstrators hurled stones and set fires outside an Iranian Consulate. A fatal stabbing spree, allegedly by an Afghan migrant, at Iran’s holiest shrine sent shockwaves through the country.

KABUL, 03 May 2022, (TON): The country's central bank informed “Afghanistan has received over USD 760 million in cash as humanitarian assistance from the international community.”

The bank added that the money donated is beneficial in maintaining the value of the Afghan currency.

Saber Momand, Da Afghanistan Bank's (Central Bank of Afghanistan) spokesperson "in total, USD 761.6 million has been delivered. This aid preserves the value of the Afghani.”

The aim of the international aid has been to prevent widespread poverty and food shortages in the country hit by a devastating humanitarian crisis since the Taliban takeover in August last year.

However, some locals allege that the aid is not being donated in a fair manner.