PARIS, 27 November 2021, (TON): France and Britain traded blame after 27 people died trying to cross the Channel in an inflatable dinghy, the worst accident of its kind on record in the waterway separating the two countries.

With relations fraught by years of tension over Brexit and immigration, much of the focus was on who should bear responsibility, even if both sides vowed to work together to find joint solutions.

“There is bad immigration management (in Britain)” French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told media, while calling on other European countries, which migrants cross on their way to French shores and then Britain, to do more to help.

Darmanin said “it’s an international problem.”

One smuggler arrested overnight had bought dinghies in Germany, he said “we tell our Belgian, German and British friends they should help us fight traffickers who work at an international level.”

His British counterpart Priti Patel said she would be having talks with Darmanin, hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the blame on France, saying “we have had difficulty persuading some of our partners, particularly the French, to do things in a way that we think the situation deserves.”

Meanwhile, rescue volunteers and rights groups said the catastrophic drowning was to be expected as smugglers and migrants take more risks to avoid a growing police presence.

The Auberge de Migrants NGO said “to accuse only the smugglers is to hide the responsibility of the French and British authorities.”

KABUL, 27 November 2021, (TON): Hundreds of Afghan girls took entrance exams for a Turkish foundation in Kabul that runs some of Afghanistan's most highly regarded schools, despite a delay by the Taliban in allowing the 13-year-olds to return to the classroom.

Reza Parsa, a school official, said “some 3,500 students sat the highly competitive exams for the Afghan-Turk school system, with girls making up almost 40% of candidates.”

The move came despite the Taliban government's delay in authorising girls above grade 7 - aged about 13 - to return to school following a ban imposed when the movement seized power in August.

The Educational Councillor at Kabul's Turkish Embassy, Changez Idmir, said "we want all girls to be educated. This is our president's and our government's wish and that of Afghans.”

Facing mounting global pressure, the Taliban have said “they will allow older girls to resume classes once arrangements are made to ensure they can do so in conformity with what the movement considers proper Islamic standards.”

ISLAMABAD, 27 November 2021, (TON): Pakistan hailed US representatives’ upcoming meeting with the Taliban officials as a “welcome development” that would help address challenges faced by the war-torn country.

At the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Asim Iftikhar said “it would be a welcome development.”

Recalling Pakistan’s consistent advocacy for the world’s engagement with the Taliban, who took control of Afghanistan in August after the fall of the Ghani government, Mr Iftikhar said “we have been saying, encouraging and advocating enhanced engagement of the international community with Afghanistan to help address its challenges.”

The US and Taliban officials are meeting in Doha next week.

US Special Representative for Afghanistan Tom West and Taliban Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi will lead their respective sides at the talks that would continue for two days.

It would be the second meeting between the two sides since completion of the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The two sides last met in Doha in October.

Spokesman for the Taliban foreign ministry Abdul Qahar Balkhi, said that Muttaqi’s delegation for the talks would include representatives of the education, health, finance, security and banking sectors of Afghanistan.

DHAKA, 27 November 2021, (TON): Police recovered 37 crude bombs from a village in Sharsha upazila of Jashore early today.

Badrul Alam Khan, officer-in-charge of the police station said “acting a tip-off, a team of Sharsha Police Station launched a drive at the house of Montu Munshi in Rudrapur village early in the morning and recovered the 37 bombs from a cowshed.”

OC said “the authorities concerned have been informed to defuse the bombs.”

He added that legal action will be taken against them involved in the bombs after an investigation, reports our Benapole correspondent.

NEW DELHI, 27 November 2021, (TON): Muslims offering namaz at a designated open site in Gurgaon's Sector 37 were interrupted once again by right-wing Hindu groups, with tensions mounting as they performed a 'prayer' that claimed to commemorate the 26/11 terror attacks.

The gathered Muslims initially had planned to leave without praying, but then around 25 decided to go ahead. They prayed to shouts of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' from less than 30 metres.

150 policemen were present scene but only 30 stood between the two groups.

The moment the 20-minute namaz ended, two men from the Hindu group crossed the distance to claim the space. The Muslim community members decided to leave the site peacefully.

Muslims will also not pray at gurdwaras in the city today.

The city's Gurdwara Singh Sabha Committee said space would not be offered because Muslims had "not sought space for namaz", but underlined its resolve to stand with the minority community.

However, anti-Muslim posters outside one gurdwara have raised questions about pressure from right-wing groups, some of whom had earlier spread cow dung over a namaz site.

ISLAMABAD, 27 November 2021, (TON): An official statement said “in a major development, Pakistan and Russia agreed on “discussion draft” of the shareholders' agreement for the Special Purpose Company (SPC) for construction of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline (PSGP) project and resolved to sign the agreement by February 15, 2022.”

The above mentioned and several other agreements were signed as protocol in the seventh meeting of the Russian-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation being held in Yekaterinburg, Russia on November 24-26, 2021.

The Pakistani delegation was headed by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omer Ayub Khan. Other members of the delegation included Secretary Economic Affairs Division Mian Asad Hayauddin, Pakistan Ambassador to Russia Shafqat Ali Khan, Pakistan Embassy Trade Wing and representatives of Ministries of Energy, FBR, Commerce and other relevant ministries.

The Russian side was headed by Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Nikolai Shulginov and included representatives of energy, trade, economy, agriculture, railways and others.

Pakistan and Russia further agreed to develop and sign the facilitation agreement for the PSGP by February 15, 2022, and to sign statutory documents of the SPC for the construction of the pipeline by January 31, 2022.

The 1,100-kilometre-long project, formerly known as the North-South Pipeline, plans to carry 12.4 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually. The project name was changed to 'Pakistan Stream' along with its partnership structure against the risk of US sanctions on Russian companies.

ISLAMABAD, 27 November 2021, (TON): President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev made a telephone call to Prime Minister Imran Khan and both expressed satisfaction over the pace and momentum of the bilateral relations.

The prime minister underscored the need for enhancing bilateral economic relations through early conclusion of a Preferential Trade Agreement.

He also reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to timely completion of Trans-Afghan railway project.

Prime Minister Imran Khan hoped that peace and stability in Afghanistan would help advance connectivity agenda leading to regional prosperity.

DHAKA, 27 November 2021, (TON): Shae said “Bangladesh aspires to become a regional connectivity hub, with potential benefits for its neighbours.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought investment from the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) partners in Bangladesh's long-term climate projects such as Delta Plan.

She said in a video message aired on the last day of the two-day 13th virtual ASEM Summit "I invite all interested ASEM partners to invest in projects under our long-term Bangladesh Delta Plan and Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan.”

She also called upon Asia and Europe to work in unison to mobilize finances and technology to effectively fight climate change.

Marking ASEM's 25th anniversary, the summit brought together the leaders of the European and Asian member countries, the EU and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Sheikh Hasina said “Asia and Europe must join hands for mobilizing finances and technology to combat climate change.”

She added that we need multilateral cooperation now more than ever for our shared and sustainable development.

DHAKA, 27 November 2021, (TON): Law enforcement agencies yesterday detained 23 Rohingyas in Noakhali's Hatiya Ashrayan project for fleeing a refugee camp at Bhasan Char in the district.

They were detained from different areas of Bhasan Char after conducting a day long operation.”

According to police, members of APBn and Coast Guard detained five male Rohingya brokers, four male, six women and eight children and they were handed over to Bhasan Char Police Station.

OC Rafiqul Islam said the detained five Rohingya brokers were sued in Foreign Citizen Act with the police facility.

NEW DELHI, 26 November 2021, (TON): India-Russia- China or commonly known as RIC reviving its leadership level meet after 12 years called for strengthening multilateralism and reforming multilateral institutions including UN and WTO and underscored open global economy amid current geo-economic tensions.

Prime Minister Modi, President Vladimir V Putin of Russian Federation and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China, held a Trilateral Meeting in Buenos Aires and agreed to also promote global stability.

The Foreign leaders of RIC meet annually and their next meeting is expected in China next year.

The three leaders exchanged views on expanding mutual cooperation in international forums, and to encourage greater interaction among the three countries.

They agreed on the importance of reform and strengthening of multilateral institutions which have benefitted the world, including the United Nations, WTO and well-established as well as new global financial institutions.

They underscored the benefits of a multilateral trading system and an open world economy for global growth and prosperity.