KABUL, 11 April 2022, (TON): As the delivery of cash by the United Nations to Afghanistan continues, the country’s central bank-Da Afghanistan Bank- receives another batch of $32 million in cash.

Package of $32 million is the third in the last six days as the first was delivered to the country on Tuesday and the second.

Da Afghanistan Bank in a press release said that the money was delivered to Afghanistan International Bank.

In the press release, the central bank expressed gratitude for the humanitarian aid from the International Community.

It urged to send aid through Banking System.

NEW DELHI, 11 April 2022, (TON): White House said “President Joe Biden will meet virtually with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a time when the United States has made clear it does not want to see an uptick in Russian energy imports by India.”

Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement "President Biden will continue our close consultations on the consequences of Russia's brutal war against Ukraine and mitigating its destabilizing impact on global food supply and commodity markets."

US Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics Daleep Singh, who visited India recently, said “the United States will not set any red line for India on its energy imports from Russia but does not want to see a rapid acceleration in purchases.”

Lured by steep discounts following Western sanctions on Russian entities, India has bought at least 13 million barrels of Russian crude oil since the country invaded Ukraine.

That compared with some 16 million barrels for the whole of last year, data compiled by Reuters shows.

KABUL, 11 April 2022, (TON): Tajikistan President’s official website has said “president Emamoli Rahman met with the EU special representative for Afghanistan Tomas Niklasson and emphasized that an increase in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan is needed.”

Emamoli Rahman and Tomas Niklasson met in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe. Niklasson was in the country on a working visit.

The website reads that both discussed Afghanistan’s current political, military, and socioeconomic situation which directly affects the situation in the region.

Tajikistan’s president reportedly expressed concern over the growing threat of international terrorism, extremism, transnational organized crimes, trafficking in narcotics and weapons, and cybercrimes.

The call on the rising need for Afghanistan comes as over half of the Afghan population needs life-saving assistance while 95 percent are under the poverty line.

DHAKA, 11 April 2022, (TON): Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said “the work of erecting barbed wire fences at 80 percent areas around the Rohingya camps was completed.”

He said "we have asked the law enforcement agencies alongside Bangladesh Army to strengthen patrol and vigilance activities around the Rohingya camps to main law and order strictly.”

Kamal made the remarks after the fourth meeting of the National Committee on Coordination, Management and Law Enforcement of Displaced Myanmar Citizens at his ministry conference room here.

He said “the Army, BGB and RAB will patrol outside the camps.”

He added "If necessary, law enforcement agencies will work in coordination with the army. If the operation is needed, the army will also take part in it."

Kamal said "Illegal shops are being evicted inside the Rohingya camps in Ukhia and Teknaf and eviction drives will be continued.”

DHAKA, 11 April 2022, (TON): Bangladesh and the United States discussed updating the Digital Security Act (DSA) so that it prevents cybercrime without curtailing the freedom of speech or independence of the press.

UNB reports “US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas met Law Minister Anisul Huq to discuss areas of mutual cooperation and the importance of ensuring freedom of expression.”

The envoy said “the US was looking forward to the amendments to the DSA, and to partnering with Bangladesh to advance human rights, labour freedom, and democracy.”

Bangladesh and the United States celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.

Earlier, the minister on several occasions said that the government was considering a revision of the DSA to avoid misuse.

TEHRAN, 10 April 2022, (TON): Iran has added 24 United States officials and people to its blacklist of sanctioned individuals over charges of terrorism and violations of human rights of the Iranian people.

Iranian foreign ministry announced it has targeted nine individuals for their involvement in terrorist acts.

These, among others, include George W Casey Jr, former Chief of Staff of the US Army and Commanding General of Multi-National Forces in Iraq, Joseph Votel, former commander of the United States Central Command, former attorney to Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and several current and former American diplomats in Palestine and Lebanon.

The foreign ministry also blacklisted 15 individuals for gross violations of human rights.

This list mainly includes people who helped impose and expand punishing US sanctions on Iran during the Trump and Obama administrations.

Several former treasury department officials and several top executives at Kharon, a data analysis and consultancy firm, were also blacklisted.

TEHRAN, 10 April 2022, (TON): President Ebrahim Raisi said “Iran will continue nuclear development activities as talks to revive Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers remain stalled, state media reported.”

Speaking in a ceremony marking Iran’s national day of nuclear technology, the hard-line president said his administration will support an acceleration in research of peaceful nuclear technology.

Raisi, who came to power in August said “our knowledge and technology in the nuclear field is not reversible. Iran’s (continuation of) research in peaceful nuclear fields will not depend on others’ demands or viewpoints.”

Raisi’s comments came as talks between Iran and world powers in Vienna to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have stalled.

There is concern that Iran could be closer to being able to construct an atomic weapon if it chose to pursue one.

The nuclear deal collapsed four years ago when former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States and imposed crushing sanctions on Iran. In the meantime, Iran has vastly expanded its nuclear work.

TOKYO, 10 April 2022, (TON): Japan and the Philippines agreed on Saturday to consider further expanding defense cooperation against a backdrop of regional tensions and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The meeting in Tokyo of the two Asian nations’ foreign and defense ministers was the first in the 2+2 format between the key US allies.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said “the two countries will look at potentially enhancing cooperative activity and sharing supplies.”

Tokyo and Manila have been at odds with China over its conduct in the East and South China Seas, while Russia’s actions in Ukraine and North Korea’s missile tests also of mutual concern.

Japan and the Philippines signed an agreement to forge closer defense ties in January 2015 and have since conducted nearly 20 joint naval drills. In 2021 they also held joint air force exercises.

Japan has also transferred defense and technology equipment that could help the Philippines boost patrols in the South China Sea, where it has territorial disputes with China.

BRUSSELS, 10 April 2022, (TON): European Commission said “the EU is to discuss its support for war crimes probes in Ukraine in meetings over the next two days with the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor.”

Karim Khan, of The Hague-based court, is to meet EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Luxembourg, then take part in a meeting of EU foreign ministers in the city.

The meetings underline the European Union’s strong support, also voiced in a G7 statement, for investigations into atrocities in Ukraine, spurred on notably by killings in the town of Bucha, near Kyiv.

Ukraine’s government and some neighboring EU countries have said Russia, whose troops occupied Bucha before the discovery of the corpses, was responsible and guilty of war crimes. Moscow denies that.

Top EU officials have been more prudent, observing due process and preferring to await the results of war crimes investigations conducted by Ukraine’s prosecution service with help from the ICC, the EU, the UN human rights commissioner and the OSCE.

LONDON, 10 April 2022, (TON): British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on a visit to Kyiv, vowed UK armored vehicles and anti-ship missiles for Ukraine as he acclaimed its military for the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century.

He said after meeting Zelensky “it is because of President (Volodymyr) Zelensky’s resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that (Vladimir) Putin’s monstrous aims are being thwarted.”

The statement said “Johnson set out extra military aid of 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems, to support Ukraine in this crucial phase while Russia’s illegal assault continues.”

That is on top of UK aid announced Friday of additional Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles and another 800 anti-tank missiles, along with “loitering” drones for “precision strikes” against the Russians.

As world powers held a fundraising round for Ukraine, Johnson also promised an extra $500 million via the World Bank, taking its total loan guarantee to $1 billion, and would liberalize tariffs on most imports from Ukraine and take other measures to free up trade.