KYIV, 02 April 2022, (TON): Russia threatened Thursday to turn off its gas taps to Europe, opening up a new front in its war in Ukraine amid growing scepticism over Moscow s claim it is scaling back its onslaught.

Over a month into Russia s invasion of its neighbour, Vladimir Putin s troops have devastated cities like Mariupol with shelling, killing at least 5,000 people in the port city alone.

But they have struggled to take any significant territory.

Moscow insisted things were going to plan as it said this week it would scale back attacks on capital Kyiv and the northern city of Chernigiv.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the promise as a red herring, and US President Joe Biden said he was sceptical.

WASHINGTON, 02 April 2022, (TON): The U.S.-Kazakhstan Air Transport Agreement signed on December 30, 2019, has entered into force.

This bilateral Agreement establishes a modern civil aviation relationship with Kazakhstan consistent with U.S. Open Skies international aviation policy and with U.S. commitments to high standards of aviation safety and security.

The Agreement includes provisions that allow for unrestricted capacity and frequency of services, open route rights, a liberal charter regime, and open code-sharing opportunities.

This Agreement between the United States and Kazakhstan is also a step forward in liberalizing the international civil aviation sector in Central Asia.

It will further expand our strong economic and commercial partnership; promote people-to-people ties; and create new opportunities for airlines, travel companies, and customers.

TEL AVIV, 02 April 2022, (TON): After five months of negotiations, Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed on Friday a free trade agreement between the two countries, hailed as a significant and historic milestone.

Economy Minister Orna Barbivai met in Jerusalem with Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Fore-ign Trade, for the fourth and final round of talks.

The two signed the agreement at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem on Friday.

Barbivai said “since the establishment of the Abraham Accords, the Economy and Industry Ministry has been working to expand economic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and to realize its economic potential.”

She added “the finalization of the negotiations is a significant and historic milestone in the relationship between the countries and we will continue to assist the Israeli business community in establishing trade relations in the United Arab Emirates.”

TOKYO, 02 April 2022, (TON): Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said “Japan decided to extend emergency grant aid of $3.35 million (¥400 million) to the Gaza Strip, “where the humanitarian situation is significantly deteriorating due to the pandemic and floods.”

The humanitarian assistance for vulnerable Palestinians includes supporting patients with pandemic and providing healthcare services. Hayashi said it will be extended through the E-Health system, including primary healthcare, through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

The foreign minister pledged Japan will continue to play an active role in improving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

LONDON, 02 April 2022, (TON): UN special envoy for Yemen announced “both sides in the Yemeni conflict have agreed to a two-month ceasefire starting this weekend.”

They agreed to a two-month cease-fire starting Saturday to allow fuel ships to enter the Houthi-held Hodeidah port and select flights from Sanaa airport, the UN special envoy for Yemen confirmed.

Yemen's legitimate government also said on Friday it would take steps to arrange for the release of prisoners, open the airport in Sanaa and facilitate the release of oil ships via the port of Hodeidah.

The foreign minister announced the moves in a tweet and said they came in support of calls for a truce during the holy month of Ramadan.

MOSCOW, 02 April 2022, (TON): A negotiator said “Russia and Ukraine resumed peace talks by video conference, after Moscow reported a Ukrainian strike on a fuel depot in western Russia.”

“We are continuing talks by video conference,” Moscow’s chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said on Telegram.

He said “our positions on Crimea and Donbass have not changed.”

LONDON, 02 April 2022, (TON): Hundreds of nuclear professionals gathered at the 14th UK Nuclear Skills Awards at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.

Sponsored by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the event was organised on behalf of the nuclear industry and Cogent Skills.

The NDA group was heavily represented with six finalists from Sellafield, Magnox and Energus.

Winners of the night included Megan Robertson from Sellafield, who was named ‘Intermediate Apprentice of the Year’.

In addition, the five other finalists were named runner up, including, Ellie Rosewell, Magnox – Intermediate Apprentice of the Year

Luke Doran, Sellafield – Higher & Degree Apprentice of the Year

Luke Crampton, Sellafield – Graduate of the Year

We are celebrating the younger members of our sector tonight and all the fantastic work they do, it is a good opportunity to think to the future and how we set ourselves up as an industry of choice for long term opportunities, exciting challenges and plenty of personal and professional development.

WASHINGTON, 02 April 2022, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss.

Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Truss emphasized the continued importance of Transatlantic unity to support Ukraine and coordinate further swift, consequential actions against those who support President Putin’s war of choice on Ukraine.

The two discussed the upcoming NATO Foreign Ministerial meeting and developing additional possible actions to ratchet up our response to Putin’s continued assault on the Ukrainian people.

WASHINGTON, 02 April 2022, (TON): The following statement, jointly by the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The U.S. Government is moving forward in the spirit of partnership with four countries and a regional grouping of countries to implement the ten-year U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability.

This represents an important milestone and next step in the realization of the goals of the landmark Global Fragility Act, which continues to enjoy strong bipartisan Congressional support for innovative efforts to foster a more peaceful and stable world.

In light of the horrific events unfolding in Ukraine caused by Putin’s unprovoked and brutal war, the United States reaffirms its commitment to strengthen global resiliency and democratic renewal, and promote peaceful, self-reliant nations that become U.S. economic and security partners.

Our partner countries under the Strategy include Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and a grouping of Coastal West African countries comprised of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Togo.

NEW YORK, 02 April 2022, (TON): Russia will circulate to the UN new data on the work carried out in Ukraine in the military-biological sphere.

This was stated to journalists by Dmitry Polyansky, First Deputy Permanent Repres-entative of the Russian Federation to the UN.

He said “we have distributed documentary evidence received by our Department of Defense as official documents of the Security Council and the UN General Assembly. The letters were distributed on March 11, 18 and 29. Today we will send a new letter.”

Polyansky “that Russia will hold an informal meeting of the UN Security Council on April 6 to discuss military biological activity in various parts of the world.”