KYIV, 20 April 2022, (TON): United Nations said “sounding alarm at the rapid exodus and voicing concern that the situation may worsen. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said 4,980,589 Ukrainians had left since Russia invaded on February 24, a figure up 46,174 on total.”

The UN’s International Organization for Migration says nearly 215,000 third-country nationals, largely students and migrant workers, have also escaped to neighbouring countries, meaning around 5.2 million people in all have fled Ukraine since the war began.

Officials call it the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

“The key is that the borders remain open, people can access safety and when they get to the neighbouring countries they have access to assistance,” UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo told reporters in Geneva.

Russia’s defence minister said “Moscow was seeking to liberate east Ukraine and the ministry” said “Moscow launched dozens of air strikes across eastern Ukraine overnight.”

Kyiv accuses Russian forces of unleashing a major new offensive in the Donbas region.

“We’re watching with concern to see what will happen but it’s quite alarming that within the space of a Mantoo said “few weeks, we are approaching five million refugees from Ukraine.”

RIYADH, 20 April 2022, (TON): The International Monetary Fund expects Saudi economy to grow by more than double in 2022 as oil prices are hitting multi-year high.

The Fund, known as IMF, has raised its forecast for the growth of the Saudi GDP by 2.8 percent from last time to 7.6 percent this year.

In its World Economic Outlook "the IMF expects the GDP to fall to 3.6 percent in 2023, after raising this up from an earlier estimate of 2.8 percent."

the report pointed out “we raised our estimates of the growth rate of the Saudi economy by 2.8 percentage points, which reflects the increase in oil production in accordance with the OPEC+ agreement, in conjunction with the more non-oil output growth exceeding expectations."

KABUL, 20 April 2022, (TON): The deputy head of the intelligence forces of the Islamic Emirate, Najibullah Wassiq, said “the lack of recognition of the current Afghan government by the international community is an obvious act of oppression against the people of Afghanistan.”

He made the remarks at a gathering held in Kabul titled, a “Gathering of the People." 

Wassiq said “this is an oppressive act that the international community doesn’t recognize the Islamic Emirate. If they seize the funds of the Islamic Emirate and the people of Afghanistan, it is oppression.” 

The participants attending the gathering called on the Islamic Emirate to be supportive of the people and to eliminate corruption in the government.  

The meeting was attended by dozens of people from across the country. 

DHAKA, 20 April 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and the World Bank have signed a $250 million financing agreement to support the country’s reform efforts to sustain growth and to enhance resilience to future shocks, including climate change.

The World Bank said in a release “Bangladesh First Recovery and Resilience Development Policy Credit the first in a series of two credits will help Bangladesh build a stronger fiscal and financial sector to sustain growth.”

The credit is from the World Bank’s International Development Association, which provides concessional financing, and has a 30-year term, including a five-year grace period.

It will help streamline the bank recovery framework with all scheduled banks to update recovery plans annually.

The program supports the legislative framework on payments, which will contribute to a more efficient financial system.

NEW DELHI, 20 April 2022, (TON): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said “the US-India relationship is at its best and will strengthen the global order in these challenging times.”

She said “this is one of those times when these two large democracies have found their space and they are comfortable working with each other.”

She noted that the US-India relationship is in for very good times and this is only going to strengthen the global order.

"Although the global order itself is something which we'll have to look at fresh, considering that multilateral institutions are not really as strong, as nimble, as output oriented, as they were once upon a time.

She said "so these are changing times. I would think, this kind of relationship between the United States and India are signs of positive development.”

NEW DELHI, 20 April 2022, (TON): Russia is seeking more medical equipment from India after sanctions and logistical logjams following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine have sharply reduced imports from Europe and China.

According to Rajiv Nath, a forum coordinator for the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry “Medical equipment companies from India and Russia will discuss ways to boost supplies during a virtual meeting on April 22.”

The event was confirmed by Business Russia, a business group that promotes bilateral ties.

India is hoping to boost exports to Russia as the two nations work out a payment system in local currencies similar to one used during the Cold War to maintain bilateral trade as Moscow faces sweeping international sanctions.

New Delhi has been criticized by the U.S. and its allies for buying more Russian oil after they sought to isolate Russia due to its war in Ukraine.

KABUL, 20 April 2022, (TON): Iran's foreign ministry said that Tehran will not accept political representatives of the Islamic Emirate until the Islamic Emirate is recognized by the world.

Saeed Khatibzadeh, a spokesman of Iran's foreign ministry, called on the current Afghan government to identify the perpetrators of an attack on the political representatives of Iran in Afghanistan.

Saeed Khatibzadeh, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “new government and the new political system in Afghanistan must be recognized so that the Islamic Emirate will be able to send new representatives.”

Meanwhile, Kabul said “a delegation of the Islamic Emirate is scheduled to travel to Tehran in the near future to address current challenges.”

A delegation of Islamic Emirate will travel to Iran to assess the situation of Afghan refugees.

Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate said “exact date of this trip is still unknown.”

KABUL, 20 April 2022, (TON): Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for Kabul security department said “initial findings show that at least six people were killed and 11 more were wounded in Tuesday morning's blasts near a school in the west of Kabul.”

Eyewitnesses said the first blast happened near Mumtaz Tuition Center and was followed by two back-to-back explosions close to Abdul Raheem Shaheed High School in the same area.

The Ministry of Interior confirmed the blasts near Abdul Raheem Shaheed High School, saying an investigation has started into the incident and details will be shared later.

Eyewitnesses said “blasts in front of Abdul Rahim Shaheed High School happened while the students were leaving their classes.”

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the blasts.

DHAKA, 20 April 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen called on Singaporean President Halima Yacob at the Istana, the Singapore's presidential palace.

During the meeting, they discussed different issues, including the opportunities for enhancing trade and investment between the two countries.

Singaporean president wrote in her official facebook page after the meeting "we had a good discussion on bilateral cooperation.”

NEW YORK, 19 April 2022, (TON): Stephane Dujarric added that the Houthis have committed to identify and release children from their ranks within six months.

He said “as of today, the main parties to the conflict have all signed commitments to end and prevent grave violations against children.”

Nearly 1,500 children recruited by the Iran-backed militia died in combat in 2020, and over 500 hundred more the following year, a UN report revealed in January. More than 10,000 children have been killed in the war that began in 2015.

UN experts have repeatedly said the Houthis were recruiting children, using summer camps and mosques to indoctrinate them and teach them how to handle weapons.

Virginia Gamba, UN special representative for children in armed conflict, signed the action plan as a witness from New York and welcomed the measure to protect children in Yemen.

She called on all parties to the conflict to use the opportunity of the current truce to prioritize the rights of children and their needs.