April 22, 2022

*) Ukraine: Russia planning sham referendum in occupied regions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of planning to "falsify" an independence referendum in the partly occupied southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. In a video message, Zelenskyy urged residents of these areas not to provide any personal information, such as their passport numbers, to Russian forces. Zelenskyy has also said the devastated port city of Mariupol "continues to resist" despite Russian claims to have captured it. *) Korean leaders exchange friendly letters despite rising tensions North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has thanked the South's outgoing president Moon Jae-in for his efforts to improve inter-Korean relations. In a letter, Kim has said his "historic" summits with Moon gave the people "hope for the future", according to Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency. Moon told Kim that together they have made a "clear step" in "changing the fate of the Korean peninsula", Seoul's presidential Blue House has confirmed. They have agreed that ties would improve if both sides "make tireless efforts with hope", despite "the difficult situation so far". *) UK lawmakers back probe into PM Boris Johnson's alleged lies British lawmakers have ordered a parliamentary probe into Prime Minister Boris Johnson for allegedly lying about whether he flouted Covid-19 curbs by attending gatherings. The move means Parliament’s Committee of Privileges will investigate whether Johnson knowingly misled Parliament. Johnson was fined by police last week for attending his own birthday party in his office in June 2020, when people in Britain were barred from meeting up with friends and family. He has apologised, but denies knowingly breaking the rules. *) Deaths after Daesh-claimed blasts rock Afghan cities At least 16 people have been killed in bomb blasts in two Afghan cities. The attacks were claimed by the Daesh terror group. Twelve worshippers have been killed in a blast at a Shia mosque in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif