KYIV, 07 April 2022, (TON): Ukraine urged its citizens in the east of the country to flee their homes before Russia began a major new offensive in the region.

Russian forces in northern Ukraine have been driven back after failing to capture the capital, Kyiv, but are now thought to be regrouping before a redeployment in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk.

She said “Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk urged people there to leave immediately and seek refuge in safer areas to the west. “It has to be done now because later people will be under fire and face the threat of death.”

It said “Ukraine’s military said Russian forces were continuing preparations for an eastern offensive to take full control of Donetsk and Luhansk. The main focus was Donetsk, where Russian troops were still trying to seize all of Mariupol.”

British military intelligence said “tens of thousands of people remain trapped in the southern port city without food, water or power. The humanitarian situation in the city is worsening.”

The Red Cross said its team had led a convoy of buses and private cars with more than 500 Mariupol residents to nearby Zaporizhzhia after the civilians fled on their own.

KABUL, 07 April 2022, (TON): A security official said “at least six people were wounded in a blast on Wednesday afternoon at the Pul-e-Khishti mosque in the capital city of Kabul.” 

The explosion happed in PD 1 of Kabul city. 

A spokesman for the Kabul security department, Khalid Zadran, said the blast was due to a hand grenade.

He said “this afternoon during prayers an individual threw a grenade. Unfortunately six people were injured. One of them is in critical condition.”

He added that a suspect has been detained in connection with the case. 

Meanwhile, witnesses said that many people suffered injuries in the blast. 

Painda, a witness said “when we finished the prayer and I was at the gate, the blast happened, it was a huge blast.” 

KABUL, 07 April 2022, (TON): At least 3,000 Afghan refugees return to Afghanistan from Iran every day, many of whom are forcibly returned, Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan officials have reported.

Investigations by the Ministry of Refugees found that 7,500 people entered Afghanistan from the Iranian border in the past two days.

According to the ministry “of these people, 5,500 were forcibly returned to Afghanistan by the Iranian government. People who went to Iran due to political developments or poverty and hunger, now have bitter narratives of forced deportation from Iran.”

One of the forced returnees said “when you leave Afghanistan, extortion and looting begin. They [Iranians] are very annoyed.”

“On the way back home, if you get caught by them, they will take money from you, in short, they will do whatever they want,” said another forced returnee. Questions have been raised however as to why Iranian forces have become heavy handed in their treatment of Afghan refugees lately.

Asifa Stanikzai, an immigration rights activist in Iran said “issues such as the influx of immigrants into Iran, the lack of capacity to accept new immigrants, and diplomatic issues have led to an increase in forced returns.”

DHAKA, 07 April 2022, (TON): Bangladesh has welcomed the UN-brokered two-month-long ceasefire between the parties of the Yemen conflict which came into effect from April 2 at the advent of Holy month of Ramadan.

Bangladesh also appreciated the efforts of the Joint Forces Command of the Arab coalition to support legitimacy in Yemen and appreciated the efforts of all the parties in Yemen for agreeing to this ceasefire.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “Bangladesh hopes that the stakeholders will take this opportunity to continue the political process to reach a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict in Yemen.”

Bangladesh also noted the recent initiative by the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf for urging all stakeholders to enter into dialogue and for promoting Yemeni-Yemeni consultations for reaching a lasting and sustainable solution to the crisis.

DHAKA, 07 April 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told “the parliament that there is no possibility of economic crisis like that in Sri Lanka as the economic base of Bangladesh is very strong.”

As Deputy Opposition leader GM Quader apprehended a Sri Lanka-like situation while delivering his speech in parliament, she said "we're very much aware.”

The Prime Minister responded to this point while giving the valedictory speech of the 17th session in the 11th parliament with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

She said “her government used to repay the debt taken for the country's development purpose in due time since the Awami League assumed office.”

NEW DELHI, 07 April 2022, (TON): Ukraine has requested India for supply of more medicines and their delivery would begin soon, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed Lok Sabha.

Responding to a discussion on the situation in Ukraine, Mr Jaishankar said the ground situation in that country calls for urgent humanitarian relief and pointed out that India has already provided 90 tonnes of relief material.

Mr Jaishankar said "I was glad to see that many members yesterday noted it and appreciated it. We did it even while we were in the middle of an evacuation.”

He said "Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called me a few days ago to request for supply of more medicines. The House will be glad to know that this is underway and delivery should start very soon.”

He said “India will work with the international community and partner countries to mitigate the economic hardships that are resulting from this conflict.”

He said "obviously, our focus is to soften its impact on our own economy. But equally, there are partners who are going through very tough times. Coordinating on lowering energy prices is one collective initiative. In the case of a neighbour like Sri Lanka, we are even supplying fuel and food on credit.”

NEW DELHI, 07 April 2022, (TON): India’s government on said “it has banned 22 YouTube channels, including four of Pakistani origin, for disinformation on subjects concerning national security and public order, the latest such federal crackdown in the country.”

The country’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting said the blocked YouTube channels had a combined total of 2.6 billion viewers.

The government, which invoked emergency powers under India’s IT laws, said “it had for the first time blocked 18 Indian YouTube channels, with previous actions focusing on accounts it has said operated from neighboring Pakistan.”

Indian government said in a statement “multiple YouTube channels were used to post fake news on various subjects such as the Indian Armed Forces.”

In December and January, the information ministry used similar emergency powers to block 55 channels on Alphabet Inc’s YouTube, and some Twitter and Facebook accounts.

NEW DELHI, 07 April 2022, (TON): Talking about the Rupee-Rouble transaction arrangement between India and Russia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said “the government's effort is to stabilize economic transactions between the two countries in light of close partnership.”

Mr Jaishankar made the remarks while replying to a question from Congress's leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary on India's transactions with Russia, in light of sanctions on the latter, during a Rule 193 discussion on the situation in Ukraine.

Mr Jaishankar said "Our effort today is to stabilize economic transactions between India and Russia because this is very important for us. Russia is a very important partner in a variety of areas and I think all honourable members (of Parliament) understand that.”

he said "at the moment there is an inter-ministerial group, which is led by the finance ministry, which is seeing how the payments issue can be best addressed. There are experiences from the past which are relevant in this regard."

He added "but I think this is quite honestly an issue where the Finance Minister would finally have to take the call.”

WASHINGTON, 06 April 2022, (TON): The United States intends to provide Taiwan with all the promised weapons and military equipment necessary, from the point of view of the American side, for its self-defense.

This was announced by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Pentagon chief said “for me, this is a point of focus, ensuring that we do everything we promised in terms of providing Taiwan with the ability to defend itself.”

Austin was also asked whether the application of sanctions against Russia by the West after the start of a special operation in Ukraine would be a deterrent for Beijing and whether Chinese President Xi Jinping would consider it that way.

The head of the US military department said “of course, I would. And I would, of course, believe that he also highly appreciates the economically favorable opportunities available in Western Europe.”

RIYADH, 06 April 2022, (TON): The Saudi Cabinet, meeting, expressed hope the cessation of military actions would contribute to a political solution in the war-ravaged country.

Yemenis have been invited for a national dialogue through a Gulf Cooperation Council initiative to find a solution to the seven-year war.

The Iran-backed Houthi group has refused to attend the talks in Riyadh.

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen announced last Wednesday it would stop all military operations in Yemen.

The Houthis announced a unilateral ceasefire on March 26.

The two-month truce has been welcomed by the international community.

The UAE it supports all efforts made by the UN envoy to enhance prospects for peace and stability in Yemen and the region.

Bahrain praised the response of the leadership of the coalition and said it hopes that it will constitute an important step as an opportunity to stop the war in Yemen.