PARIS, 31 October 2021, (TON): French President Emmanuel Macron and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo on Saturday vowed to work toward a “true strategic partnership”, France’s presidency said, after Paris was locked out of a defence pact between the US, UK and Australia.

Since losing a major submarine deal with Canberra, which joined an AUKUS alliance to better counter China, France has sought solace in leading Southeast Asian nations for deeper strategic ties in the Pacific region.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome, Widodo and Macron met for half an hour discussing the growing economic clout of the region and the rivalry between the United States and China.

The French side said “they decided to work on a true strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific.”

The French presidency added “it would notably “cover the question of the ecological transition, of support for employment and growth in Indonesia.”

WASHINGTON, 31 October 2021, (TON): A US government watchdog on Friday accused the US State Department and Pentagon of suppressing information that lawmakers and the public need to understand the collapse of Afghanistan's former government and military and the chaotic US troop pullout.

John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR), said "the full picture of what happened in August and all the warning signs that could have predicted the outcome will only be revealed if the information that the departments of defence and state have already restricted from public release is made available.”

A US State Department spokesperson said “the department had requested some reports be temporarily removed to redact identifying information from public records and protect the identities of Afghans and Afghan partner organisations due to security concerns about the evacuation effort.”

The spokesperson said "the identifying information are the only details intended to be shielded."

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Addressing reporters, Sopko said that after the Taliban seized Kabul, the US State Department asked him to temporarily suspend online access to certain reports he issued to ensure the safety of US-affiliated Afghans.

The department "was never able to describe any specific threats to individuals that were supposedly contained in our reports", said Sopko, who added he "reluctantly" barred access to the documents.

SANAA, 31 October 2021, (TON): An explosion near the entrance to the international airport of Yemen's southern port city of Aden resulted in casualties, witnesses and security sources told media, but it was not clear whether the incident was an attack.

An airport official said “a small truck blew up at an outer gate to the airport, while a local official and two security sources said the vehicle was carrying petroleum products.”

The blast was strong and was heard across the city. Nearby residents' windows were smashed.

Aden is the temporary home of Yemen's internationally-recognised government, which has as part of a coalition backed by Saudi Arabia been fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi group for around seven years.

But tensions have also for years simmered within Aden itself between the government and southern separatist groups.

The government and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) are nominal allies under the Saudi-led coalition.

TEL AVIV, 31 October 2021, (TON): According to the mosque director “the Israeli army closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in the West Bank city of Hebron to Muslim worshippers.”

Sheikh Hefzy Abu Asinina told media that the Israeli army only allowed settlers to visit the site to mark the Chayei Sarah occasion.

He said "the mosque has been closed since 3 p.m. on Friday and will remain closed until 10 p.m. Saturday.”

During Jewish holidays, the Israeli army seals off the mosque to Muslims for up to ten days a year.

Revered by both Muslims and Jews, Hebron’s Ibrahimi Mosque complex is believed to be the burial site of the prophets Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

After the 1994 massacre of 29 Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque by a Jewish extremist settler, Baruch Goldstein, the Israeli authorities divided the mosque complex between Muslim and Jewish worshippers.

WASHINGTON, 31 October 2021, (TON): France is incensed that Britain and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey have not issued some French boats licences to fish in their waters post-Brexit

Britain said that it has not ruled out invoking a Brexit dispute tool with the EU for the first time, after France threatened trade reprisals in a row over fishing rights.

Boris Johnson told media "no of course not, I don't rule that out.”

He added "but what I think everybody wants to see is cooperation between the European allies and Emmanuel Macron,”

He said "and I share a common perspective (with them) which is that climate change is a disaster for humanity and that we have the tools to tackle it.”

France is incensed that Britain and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey have not issued some French boats licences to fish in their waters post-Brexit.

KABUL, 31 October 2021, (TON): The Taliban called on the United States and other countries on Saturday to recognise their government in Afghanistan, saying that a failure to do so and the continued freezing of Afghan funds abroad would lead to problems not only for the country but for the world.

No country has formally recognised the Taliban government since the group took over the country in August, while billions of dollars in Afghan assets and funds abroad have also been frozen, even as the country faces severe economic and humanitarian crises.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told journalists at a news conference "our message to America is, if unrecognition continues, Afghan problems continue, it is the problem of the region and could turn into a problem for the world.”

He said that the reason the Taliban and the United States went to war last time was also because the two did not have formal diplomatic ties.

The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the Sept. 11, 2001, attack after the then-Taliban government refused to hand over al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

ISLAMABAD, 31 October 2021, (TON): The military said in a statement “senior officers of Pakistan Army visited the families of martyred cops and paid tribute to their sacrifices rendered in the line of duty.”

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) identified shuhada [martyrs] as ASI Muhammad Akbar resident of Pattoki, constables Ghulam Rasool of Kasur, Muhammad Ayub of Narang Mandi and Khalid Javed of Pasrur.

The military wing said “officers visited the homes of Shuhada to pay homage for their sacrifices, offered Fateha and also rendered financial assistance, on behalf of Pak Army, to the bereaved families.”

The army officers also visited injured police officials and inquired about their well-being.

On August 4, Police Martyrs' Day was observed across Pakistan to pay tribute to the sacrifices of police officers and personnel who laid down their lives for the protection of the country.

Special ceremonies were held in this regard and floral wreaths laid on the graves and monuments of police martyrs.

ISLAMABAD, 31 October 2021, (TON): Nong Rong, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan highlighted that over the past 70 years, China-Pakistan relations have developed into an outstanding model of relations between countries with different social systems, histories and cultures.

China is willing to work with Pakistan to implement the consensus of the leaders of both countries, carry forward the traditions of China-Pakistan relations, deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance pragmatic cooperation and continue to inject new impetus into China-Pakistan friendship for another seven decades.

According to Gwadar Pro, the Ambassador gave the above remarks at a conference with the theme of 70 Years China-Pakistan Friendship “All-Weather Strategic Partnership in the New Era” held by the National Institute of International Strategy (NIIS), CASS and Understanding China Forum, Pakistan (UCF).

The conference includes two sessions 70 years of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations and the current situation in Afghanistan and its impact on Pakistan and China.

The ambassador pointed out that “As President Xi Jinping told Prime Minister Imran Khan during the recent phone call, the world is undergoing profound changes and unseen in a century with more sources of turbulence and risks around the world.

NEW DELHI, 31 October 2021, (TON): A top official said that India is all set to build its first deep sea, hi-tech research vessel at a cost of about Rs. 1,200 crore for purposes including exploration and it would also be used for efforts aimed at securing for the nation its rightful additional continental shelf.

It is the first time that such a deep sea vessel, with advanced capabilities like a feature to send seismic signals into deep ocean depths would be built in India.

He said “the new ship, under the Make in India initiative and the Deep Ocean Mission, is expected to be completed by three years from the date of placing the order.”

The ship building yard is yet to be finalised but it is expected to be done by next March, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, M Ravichandran said on board ORV (Ocean Research Vessel) Sagar Nidhi.

Union Minister of State, Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh on Saturday sailed in Sagar Nidhi from Chennai Port and interacted with scientists on various projects. On Friday, he launched India's first manned ocean mission 'Samudrayan.'

NEW DELHI, 31 October 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, exchanging pleasantries and showcasing a spirit of camaraderie.

In a series of photos tweeted by the PMO India, Prime Minister Modi is seen meeting Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The PMO said in the tweet "on the sidelines of the Rome Summit, PM @narendramodi interacts with various leaders.”

In the pictures, PM Modi is seen walking with Joe Biden in a half embrace, apparently sharing a light chitchat. The two leaders are seen happy to be in each other's company.

Joe Biden hosted PM Modi at the White House on September 24 for their first in-person meeting.