NEW DELHI, 19 April 2022, (TON): Union Home Minister Amit Shah dialled Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana today and called for strict action in the violence that hit northwest Delhi's Jahangirpuri two days ago on Hanuman Jayanti.

A senior official from the Home Ministry said "Home Minister was very categorical and asked them not to make any mistake while probing the matter.”

The police are in a tight corner over a petition filed in the High Court today, which claimed that one of the accused is a juvenile.

An officer said off the record "when he was arrested, he told police that he is 21 or 22 years old. When he was taken to doctor, he again said same thing. Now we have produced him before juvenile justice board.”

Investigations have also revealed that the Hanuman Jayanti procession during which trouble broke out on Saturday evening, was being held without permission.

NEW DELHI, 19 April 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Jammu and Kashmir on April 24, his first political visit to the region after its special status was scrapped in August 2019 and the former state was divided into two Union Territories.

PM Modi will be addressing a major rally in Samba near Jammu.

The rally will be attended by thousands of Panchayat members on the occasion of Panchayati Raj Day.

Ahead of the visit, there is a spurt in terrorist attacks and Panchayat members have increasingly become target of terrorists.

Four Panchayat members have been killed since last month.

J&K is under central rule since June 2018 - and Assembly elections are likely to be held later this year.

DHAKA, 19 April 2022, (TON): Bangladesh has strongly condemned the violence unleashed against innocent worshippers and civilians at the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound in occupied East Jerusalem by occupying Israeli forces.

A foreign ministry press release said “Bangladesh expressed deep concern over the violations of basic civil norms, international human rights laws and international accords by the Israeli forces which has invoked sympathy of millions of oppressed people around the world.” 

It added “Bangladesh believes that the freedom of religion is a fundamental human right which must be upheld and the right of practicing religious rituals particularly in the holy month of Ramadan must be ensured.” 

Bangladesh urges the international community to take sustained measures to end such kind of attacks, cease detaining and hindering the medical treatment to the wounded civilians and to end the heinous actions in the occupied territories.

DHAKA, 19 April 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and Singapore pledged to further deepen and expedite the bilateral ties while the two Asian nations marking the 50 years of establishing bilateral relations.

The pledge was made while Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen held a bilateral meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Dr Vivian Balakrishnan in Singapore city.

During the meeting, Dr Momen urged the Singapore government to keep international pressure on Myanmar to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

He also sought Singapore government's support to expedite the process of Bangladesh inclusion in the ASEAN forum as sectoral dialogue partner.

In reply, the Singaporean foreign minister reiterated his government support in these regards.

DHAKA, 19 April 2022, (TON): Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed left Dhaka on an official visit at the invitation of the US Army.

He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a graduate of the Near East South Asia, Centre at the National Defense University in the United States.

A press release said “during the visit, from April 20-22, the army chief will meet with senior military officials, including the chief of staff and chief of the National Guard, and senior civilian figures, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.”

He will also attend a roundtable discussion on the regional security situation in South Asia.

From April 25-26, the army chief will meet with the military adviser and police adviser in-charges of the UN Headquarters.

CAIRO, 18 April 2022, (TON): Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has detailed Egypt’s stance on the Palestinian issue to a visiting US delegation.

During a meeting with the US Congressional group, headed by Sen. Richard Shelby, El-Sisi stressed the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people according to international law, which would open up prospects for coexistence and cooperation among all the peoples of the region.

Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency Bassam Rady said “El-Sisi welcomed the US delegation” and stressed the importance that Egypt attaches to permanent communication with Congressional leaders within the framework of the established bilateral relations between Egypt and the US.”

El-Sisi urged “Egypt’s keenness to strengthen these relations in a framework of mutual respect and common interest, especially in light of the turbulence in the region and the escalating challenges it creates.”

SEOUL, 18 April 2022, (TON):  North’s KCNA state news agency reported “North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has observed the test firing of a new type of tactical guided weapon aimed at boosting the country’s nuclear capabilities."

The report comes amid signs North Korea could soon resume nuclear testing according to South Korean and US officials and after Kim broke a self-imposed moratorium on intercontinental ballistic missile testing with a launch last month.

South Korea’s military said “it had detected late on Saturday two projectiles launched from the North’s east coast toward the sea which flew about 110 kilometers with an apogee of 25 kilometers and maximum speed of under Mach 4.”

“The new-type tactical guided weapon system, is of great significance in drastically improving the firepower of the frontline long-range artillery units and enhancing the efficiency in the operation of tactical nukes.”

KCNA did not say when the test took place and gave no details of the missile involved.

ANKARA, 18 April 2022, (TON): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said “he had held telephone conversations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which he condemned the violent actions of the Israeli authorities against believers from the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.”

Erdogan wrote on his Twitter page “during our talks with Mr. Abbas, I stated that I strongly condemn Israel’s interference in the affairs of believers in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and that we will resist provocations and threats to the status and spirituality of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

He said “Turkey is always on the side of Palestine. These events remind us about the need for all Palestinian groups to strive for unity and reconciliation.”

The imam of the Al-Aqsa mosque, Sheikh Akram Sabri, told Al Jazeera that the reason for the clashes on the Temple Mount on April 15 was a provocation by Jewish settlers, who were supported by the Israeli security forces, who detained at least 400 people.

SYDNEY, 18 April 2022, (TON): Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said “Australia would continue to cooperate with Solomons Islands on matters of security even if the Pacific island nation signs a proposed security agreement with China that Australia opposes.”

Canberra is concerned the security deal, details of which have not been publicized, could foreshadow a Chinese military presence fewer than 2,000 km from Australia.

Despite a national election campaign putting the Australian government in caretaker mode, an Australian minister this week met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara and asked him not to sign the proposed agreement.

Queried over whether Australia would continue security cooperation with the Solomons Islands if the deal went ahead Payne told media “yes, that is absolutely my view and it is the view of Pacific partners.”

Payne said “but there is also a concern that there has been a lack of transparency in relation to this agreement.”

RIYADH, 18 April 2022, (TON): Yemen’s new leaders are ready for war should the latest push for peace with Houthis fail, but a senior official said “they genuinely want the years-long conflict to end soon.”

Abdullah Al-Alimi said in his first interview “our first option is peace, but we are ready for war.”

Al-Alimi said in Riyadh “we believe the council is in a position, with the coalition support, to score a decisive military victory.”

Hadi’s April 7 announcement handing power to the council came at the end of talks in Riyadh that brought together all anti-Houthi factions.

The developments followed the start of a renewable two-month truce.

Al-Alimi, formerly Hadi’s chief of staff said “we hope the dire situation in Yemen will make people have a desire to leave personal and partisan interests behind in pursuit of peace.”

He said “council leaders are due to meet in the coming days with UN special envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg.”