BERLIN, 23 April 2022, (TON): United Nations’ human rights office pointed to what it said is growing evidence of war crimes since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, declaring that humanitarian law appears to have been tossed aside.”

Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, said “our work to date has detailed a horror story of violations perpetrated against civilians.”

Her office’s mission in Ukraine so far has verified 5,264 civilian casualties, including 2,345 deaths, since the war began on Feb. 24.

It said “92.3% of those were recorded in Ukrainian government-controlled territory.”

The office uses strict methodology and has long acknowledged that its confirmed figures are far short of the real numbers.

She added “over these eight weeks, international humanitarian law has not merely been ignored but seemingly tossed aside.”

WASHINGTON, 23 April 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to strengthen the protection of the country’s old-growth forests in a push to combat the climate crisis that has worsened wildfires and other environmental disasters.

The plan, announced on Earth Day, would create the first inventory of old-growth forests on federal lands.

It also calls for expanding reforestation efforts and forging partnerships to grow forests outside of US government-owned lands.

Biden said “our forests are our planet’s lungs. They literally are recycling and cycling CO2 out of the atmosphere; that’s what they do.”

Biden also announced a plan to plant 1.2 billion trees across the country, a move he said would “begin the vital work of reforesting in America”.

Biden said “it makes sense, and it also makes a big difference, including in our cities, and on our city streets.”

KABUL, 23 April 2022, (TON): Ministry of Interior said “it has donated 2 million Afghanis to the families of the victims of Tuesday's blasts in the Dasht-e-Barchi, PD13 area of ​​Kabul.”

A delegation from the ministry met with members of the victims' families and pledged they would ensure the security of the country's citizens.

Mohammad Mohsen Hashemi, deputy minister of Interior said “Islamic system provides and guarantees the overall security of Afghanistan. That is why we are by your side today and we promise you that your schools, your councils and your people will be protected by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.”

Abdul Rahim Saqib, the deputy interior minister said “it is our responsibility to stand together and resist these savage criminals.”

Victims' relatives said “thank you for coming and taking care of the martyrs' families and sharing your condolences.”

However, analysts asked the Islamic Emirate to pay serious attention to providing security in the country.

KABUL, 23 April 2022, (TON): The Islamic Emirate said “it is ready to discuss the issues related to the Helmand river treaty between Kabul and Teheran and that it remains committed to the treaty.”

Earlier, the first Vice President of Iran, Mohammad Mokhber, called on the Islamic Emirate to resolve the issue of the water treaty between Afghanistan and Iran.

The deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Inamullah Samangani, said “Afghanistan is facing a lack of water.”

He said “the Islamic Emirate is ready to solve the concerns of Iran through negotiations.”

The Iranian first vice president insisted Afghanistan's foreign ministry pursue the issue of the water treaty between Afghanistan and Iran.

DHAKA, 23 April 2022, (TON): Officials said “Bangladesh commerce minister Tipu Munshi arrived in Aizawl on a three day visit to the northeastern state.”

The officials said “munshi along with 8 Bangladeshi officials were received by state commerce and industries minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana and other officials at the lone Lengpui airport.”

They said “during his visit, Munshi would have a joint inspection of a few possible sites for a border trade `haat' between Mizoram and Bangladesh along the Indo- Bangladesh border.”

It said “would visit the proposed border haat at Silsury village in western Mizoram's Mamit district as well as an integrated check post at Kawrpuichhuah in Lunglei district in the southern part of the state on the Indo-Bangladesh border along with Lalthangliana.”

DHAKA, 23 April 2022, (TON): US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas has met Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud and discussed the importance of a free and independent media as the bedrock of democracy.

The US Embassy in Dhaka said “ambassador and the information minister also discussed international concerns about provisions of the Digital Security Act and the proposed regulations for digital, social media, and streaming platforms.”

According to a message “in the next 50 years and beyond, the United States looks forward to working with Bangladesh to advance common interests in freedom, prosperity, peace, and dignity.”

NEW DELHI, 23 April 2022, (TON): Britain and India agreed a new and expanded defence and security partnership, under-fire British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on a visit to New Delhi.

Johnson travelled to India as he faces criticism at home and the embarrassing prospect of a probe into whether he lied to parliament over the lockdown-breaking Partygate scandal.

India is part of the Quad grouping with the United States, Japan and Australia that is seen as a bulwark against an increasingly assertive China.

But New Delhi also has a long Cold War history of cooperation with Moscow, still its biggest military supplier, and has refused to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

Johnson said “the threats of autocratic coercion have grown even further.”

SRINAGAR, 23 April 2022, (TON): Six Kashmiris and an Indian paramilitary officer were killed in two separate clashes in Indian-controlled Kashmir, days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to the disputed region.

A gunfight broke out on the outskirts of southern Jammu city early Friday after police and soldiers spotted a group of people, a garrison town.

Two fighters and a paramilitary officer were killed, and at least two soldiers and two police officers were wounded in the ensuing gun battle.

Troops were searching the area that saw an attack in 2018 that killed five soldiers and one civilian.

Dilbag Singh, director-general of police, said “the slain gunmen were planning a major attack.”

NEW DELHI, 23 April 2022, (TON): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday hold his first public event in occupied Jammu and Kashmir since New Delhi imposed a sweeping security clampdown.

Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government has sought to quell a long-running insurgency in Indian-occupied Kashmir and buttress its hold over the Muslim-majority region.

New Delhi nullified the area's limited autonomy in 2019, when authorities arrested thousands and imposed the world's longest internet shutdown, seeking to forestall local opposition to the move.

It is the most militarised part of India, with more than half a million soldiers and paramilitaries deployed across the region.

WASHINGTON, 22 April 2022, (TON): President Biden met with Prime Minister Shmyhal of Ukraine.

The leaders discussed recent developments in Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.

President Biden conveyed the continued commitment of the United States to support the people of Ukraine.

He also previewed his announcement today of an additional $800 million in security assistance and $500 million in economic support.