KABUL, 17 April 2022, (TON): The Ministry of Education said “in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a literacy program is being planned for citizens.”

Officials said “the negotiations over the finalization of the plan are underway.”

Aziz Ahmad Riyan, a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate said “we are planning to discuss its educational mechanism in the near future.”

Karima Rahimyar was working as a home teacher around 22 years ago, in the first era of the Islamic Emirate’s government in 1990s. Rahimyar said that she had female students.

The girls were not allowed to go to school in the Islamic Emirate’s first government.

Rahimyar said “teachers were struggling with severe challenges then.”

NEW DELHI, 17 April 2022, (TON): BRO Director General Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhary said “Border Roads Organisation will construct the world's highest tunnel at Shinku La Pass at 16,580 feet to connect Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh.”

He stated this while opening the strategically important Himachal to Zanskar Road at Shinku La Pass from where over half a dozen vehicles crossed the Shinku La Pass from Zanskar side towards Manali.

Lieutenant General Rajeev Chaudhary told PTI that the Border Roads Organisation will start the construction of the tunnel connecting Himachal Pradesh to Zanskar Valley in Ladakh by July this year.

He said “the Centre has already made 'Project Yojak' of BRO to execute this ambitious project.”

NEW DELHI, 17 April 2022, (TON): India’s External Minister S Jaishankar has held detailed discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the current situation in Afghanistan.

Jaishankar and the UN chief also exchanged views on the global impact of the conflict in Ukraine.

Indian foreign minister tweeted “a wide-ranging discussion with UNSG Antonio Guterres. Exchanged views on the global impact of the Ukraine conflict.”

Spoke about latest developments in respect of Afghanistan and Myanmar. Appreciate his interest in working with India to effectively address important contemporary challenges.

Earlier in the week, Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III for the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

NEW DELHI, 17 April 2022, (TON): Clashes broke out during a Hindu religious procession in the Indian capital, New Delhi, that left several people and police officers injured.

Eye witnesses said “violence erupted between Muslims and Hindus during the procession in Jahangirpuri, a suburb of New Delhi.”

Police said “they were still investigating the source of the disturbances.”

Deependra Pathak, a police official in Jahangirpuri said “we are still assessing how many people are injured some policemen have also been hurt.”

The violence broke out during a procession to mark the Hindu festival of Hanuman Jayanti, police said without giving further details.

Protesters in New Delhi shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government saying Muslims had been violently targeted by authorities last week in the aftermath of Hindu-Muslim clashes in parts of three states ruled by Modi’s Hindu nationalist party.

DHAKA, 17 April 2022, (TON): Referring to a World Bank report revealing further poverty reduction in Bangladesh, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said “this report has proved that some so-called research and social organisations have published fictitious and motivated reports of increasing poverty in the country during pandemic to create confusion among the people.”

He said "I hope that the propaganda will stop now.”

The minister said "Bangladesh Development Update- Recovery and Resilience amid Global Uncertainty of the WB at his official residence at Mintu Road in the capital.”

Hasan said “the report has stated that the poverty in Bangladesh has reduced 0.6 percent in 2021 than 2020 and the poverty now stands at 11.9 percent which was 12.5 percent.”

He added “WB report has proved that poverty has reduced in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid the pandemic.”

He said “the premier has run the country maintaining the economic advancement and combating coronavirus. And the country has been benefited, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.”

DHAKA, 17 April 2022, (TON): Russia said “they stand together with their long-term partners while proudly observing Bangladesh's incredible leap in socio-economic development.”

Russian Embassy in Dhaka said “we cherish the golden pages of our common history and appreciate the similar sentiments from the Bangladeshis.”

The seaport's functioning was disrupted during the Liberation War, and the nascent country was experiencing serious difficulties in receiving humanitarian aid and food.

RIYADH, 16 April 2022, (TON): Saudi Press Agency reported “Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met his Bahraini counterpart Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani in Riyadh.”

During the meeting, Prince Faisal and Al-Zayani reviewed Saudi-Bahraini cooperation and discussed the latest regional and international developments, as well as issues of common interest.

The meeting was attended by Prince Sultan bin Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Bahrain and Undersecretary of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

BEIJING, 16 April 2022, (TON): China said it conducted military drills around Taiwan, as a US Congressional delegation visited the island, in a move the People’s Liberation Army said was intended to target the wrong signals sent by the United States.

According to China’s state broadcaster “China’s military sent frigates, bombers and fighter planes to the East China Sea and the area around Taiwan, People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command spokesman Shi Yilu said.”

Shi said, without mentioning the visiting US lawmakers “this operation is in response to the recent frequent release of wrong signals by the United States on the Taiwan issue.”

He said “the US bad actions and tricks are completely futile and very dangerous. Those who play with fire will burn themselves.”

During a Friday meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ingwen, US Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the technology hub is a country of global significance and its security has implications for the world.

TOKYO, 16 April 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa chaired the 8th foreign ministers’ meeting of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue held virtually with the participation of his counterparts from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

In the meeting, the ministers exchanged views regarding efforts toward strengthening cooperation between Central Asian countries and Japan and situations in the region, including Ukraine and Afghanistan.

Minister Hayashi expressed Japan’s will to continue cooperation with Central Asian countries as a major and reliable partner.

In response, the representatives from the Central Asian countries expressed their support.

Japan provided cooperation to those countries in healthcare, environment, border control, agriculture, and human resource development.

TBILISI, 16 April 2022, (TON): The Georgian government on Friday published a questionnaire sent by the European Union, which will start a discussion on the start of negotiations on the republic’s accession to the EU.

The document contains issues related to the constitutional system of the republic, the principle of separation of branches of power and the rule of law.

In a document published in English on the website of the Georgian government, the EU asks how balanced the executive, legislative and judicial powers are.

The European Union is also interested in the work of the Constitutional Court, the principles for appointing judges and the level of its independence.

Separate sections are devoted to the principles of the work of the parliament, government and the judiciary as a whole. The republic’s authorities will also have to answer questions related to civil society and the openness of state institutions.

The European Union also expects from Georgia a description of the anti-corruption policy pursued in the country.