PYONGYANG, 27 April 2022, (TON): Kim Jong Un said while overseeing a vast military parade “North Korea will rapidly accelerate development of its nuclear arsenal.”

Despite biting sanctions, North Korea has doubled down on Kim’s military modernisation drive, test-firing a slew of banned weapons this year while ignoring US offers of talks, as analysts warn of a likely resumption of nuclear tests.

State media reported “dressed in white military uniform trimmed with gold brocade, Kim watched as tanks, rocket launchers and his largest ICBMs were paraded through Pyongyang late Monday for the founding anniversary of North Korea’s armed forces.”

According to a transcript of his speech at the event “Kim vowed to “strengthen and develop our nation’s nuclear capabilities at the fastest pace.”

Repeated negotiations aimed at convincing Kim to give up his nuclear weapons programmes have come to nothing, and he warned “he could use his atomic arsenal if North Korea’s “fundamental interests” were threatened.”

KABUL, 27 April 2022, (TON): UN independent experts said “United States, as well as the Islamic Emirate authorities, is contributing to the suffering of women in Afghanistan through asset freezes.”

The United Nations and foreign governments, including Washington, have condemned moves by the Islamic Emirate to backtrack on women’s rights commitments such as on girls’ education in the months following their takeover in Aug. 2021.

However, the statement by 14 UN independent rights experts also blamed the US government for making life worse for Afghan women through blocking billions of dollars of central bank assets made up in part of aid money for the country accumulated over decades.

The statement, without giving specific details said “while gender-based violence has been a long-standing and severe threat to women and girls, it has been exacerbated by the measures imposed by the US.”

A US State Department spokesperson said the statement contained serious mistakes and denied that US actions had increased hardships faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule.

The statement also said “the Islamic Emirate’s widening gender-based discrimination was responsible for reducing women’s rights.”

KABUL, 27 April 2022, (TON): Families of victims of the mosque blast in northern Mazar-e-Sharif city gained cash assistance from the Iranian Consulate General in Mazar-e-Sharif.

The twenty-three families who lost their loved ones received $500 dollars, and 63 families whose members were injured received $300 dollars.

This follows an explosion that targeted worshippers offering prayers in the She-Dokan Mosque in Mazar-e-Sharif.

More than 30 worshippers were killed, and 87 others were injured in the blast.

The consulate general said that the families would receive food, medicine and clothes packages in addition to cash assistance.

Sayed Hussain Yahyawe, head of the Consulate General said “today, a military aircraft is landing in Mazar-e-Sharif from Iran to bring humanitarian aid including food, medicine and clothes and we hope these will be distributed very correctly between families of the victims and needy people.”

DHAKA, 27 April 2022, (TON): India's Electronics and Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underlined the need for further strengthening cooperation in IT sector between Bangladesh and India to cope with the present technology-based modern world.

He said "both the neighbouring countries can further bolster cooperation and collaboration in reaping mutual gains of emerging technologies and digital economy.”

Palak, who is now on an official visit to New Delhi to attend the 7th round of Raisina Dialogue, a multilateral flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics began here yesterday.

He will attend the event as a panellist tomorrow.   

During the meeting, the Indian IT minister Vaishnaw lauded Bangladesh's outstanding achievements in ICT sector made under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh State Minister for ICT highlighted the success of the Digital Bangladesh initiative, a brainchild of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

NEW DELHI, 27 April 2022, (TON): Seven Indian sailors, who were recently rescued from Houthi rebels in Yemen, expressed their gratitude to the Narendra Modi government for safely bringing them back to India.

The Indians were among 14 foreigners who were taken captive when the Houthi rebels seized the UAE-flagged merchant vessel Rwabee in the Red Sea on January 2.

The External Affairs Ministry said “the sailors were freed with Oman assistance from the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital of Sanaa and reached India from the Omani capital Muscat where they were transferred on a plane belonging to the Royal Air Force of Oman."

Mohammed Munwar Sameer Shaikh, one of the rescued sailors told media "we were stuck there for almost three and half months.”

He said “Indian government, our Prime Minister, and the Indian embassy rescued us after tough negotiations. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts."

Shaikh added "people from four other countries were also rescued along with us by the Indian government.”

DHAKA, 27 April 2022, (TON): Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen said “the government would bring back Bangladeshis who were detained by Libyan security forces off the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.”

He said “this while responding to a question at his office at the ministry of foreign affairs.”

Momen, however, did not tell the number though media reported that over 500 Bangladeshis have been detained.

They were detained while preparing to cross over to Europe from Libya's capital Tripoli.

Bangladesh ambassador to Libya Major General SM Shamim Uz Zaman and his team are in touch with the Libyan authorities to rescue all of them.

DHAKA, 27 April 2022, (TON): PM Sheikh Hasina greeted Emmanuel Macron on his re-election as the president of the French Republic.

In a message to Macron, she said “It is indeed an immense pleasure to convey my warmest congratulations on your victory in the recently held Presidential Elections.”

Bangladesh prime minister said “your re-election manifests the trust and confidence of the great French people that bare reposed in you and your initiatives and commitments to ensure their welfare and prosperity.”

She added “election, as you said, was a referendum for the European Union, secularism, and fraternity.”

Sheikh Hasina told “Macron that she firmly believes the French people have given him the mandate to carry on with his values and vision.”

NEW DELHI, 27 April 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam on April 28 where he will lay the foundation stone for several projects.

As per the Prime Minister's Office, PM Modi will address the rally at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district.

The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone of Veterinary College, Degree College and Agricultural College.

These projects, worth more than ₹ 500 crore, will bring new opportunities for skilling and employment in the region.

During the programme, as per the release, the Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for more than 2,950 Amrit Sarovar projects.

The state will develop these Amrit Sarovars at a cumulative cost of around ₹ 1,150 crore.

US panel says India religious freedom worsens 'significantly'

WASHINGTON, 26 April 2022, (TON): A US commission said “religious freedom has deteriorated significantly in India under the Hindu nationalist government as it again recommended targeted sanctions over abuses.”

It was the third straight year that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom asked that India be placed on a list of countries of particular concern, a recommendation that has angered New Delhi and is virtually certain to be dismissed by the State Department.

In an annual report, the panel which is appointed to offer recommendations but does not set US policy voiced wide concern about South Asia and also backed the State Department's inclusion of Pakistan on the blacklist.

In India, the commission pointed to numerous attacks on religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, in 2021 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government promoted its ideological vision of a Hindu state through policies hostile to minorities.

The report said “religious freedom conditions in India significantly worsened.”

TEHRAN, 26 April 2022, (TON): Iran said “the latest round of talks with its regional rival Saudi Arabia was positive and serious and voiced hope for further progress soon.”

Tehran and Riyadh, which severed diplomatic ties in 2016, held four rounds of talks in Iraq between April and September last year, with a fifth meeting.

Foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters "fifth round of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in Baghdad was positive and serious and saw progress.”

Iran and Saudi Arabia support rival sides in several conflicts, including in Yemen, where Tehran backs the Houthi rebels and Riyadh leads a military coalition supporting the government.