New Delhi, 04 October 2021, (TON): Six people were killed when violence broke out in India's Uttar Pradesh state, after a car linked to a federal minister ran over two farmers taking part in a protest against controversial farm laws.

They said “farmers alleged the car was owned by the son of Ajay Mishra, who serves as India's junior home minister. The two farmers who were hit were killed.”

Mishra said “his son was not present at the incident, but that a car driven by "our driver" had lost control and hit the farmers after "miscreants" pelted stones at the car and attacked it with sticks and sword.”

"If my son would've been there, he wouldn't have come out alive," told media.

In subsequent clashes, three members of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, a driver and two other farmers were killed, according to party and police officials. The violence broke out in the Lakhimpur Kheri district, about 130 km (81 miles) north of the state's capital Lucknow.

DHAKA, 04 October 2021, (TON): Bangladesh Naval Ship "Somudra Avijan" reached the southern Indian port of Visakhapatnam today on a five-day visit to the eastern Naval Command to commemorate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of Liberation of Bangladesh.

An Indian Defense Ministry statement said, according to our New Delhi correspondent “the officers and crew of "Somudra Avijan" were accorded a traditional welcome by the representatives of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet with the navy band in attendance.”

A series of activities are scheduled between the naval forces of the two countries including professional interactions, cross-deck visits, visit to Indian navy ship Vishwakarma and Dega.

In addition, the screening of special documentary on the Bangladesh Navy and interaction with 1971 war veterans will be the major highlights of the visit.

DHAKA, 04 October 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press conference tomorrow to brief the media about her recently-concluded visit to the United States to attend the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told media "the press meet will begin at 4pm tomorrow at her official Gono Bhaban residence."

The Prime Minister paid an official visit to New York in USA during September 19-24 to attend the 76th UNGA sessions and other high level events.

BRUSSELS, 03 October 2021, (TON): A long-planned round of Australia-EU free trade talks have been postponed, a European official confirmed yesterday, after fury over Canberra's decision to cancel a major French submarine contract.

"The FTA trade round has been postponed for a month until November," an EU official in Canberra told media, throwing the future of the far-reaching pact into doubt.

Australia last month abruptly cancelled a multibillion-dollar contract for 12 French submarines, opting to buy nuclear-powered US-designed vessels instead.

The decision prompted a major diplomatic spat with one of the European Union's largest members and now appears to have hit ties with the entire bloc.

France has publicly said it can no longer trust Australia's government, accusing officials of lying and questioning whether the trade agreement can go ahead.

Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan, who was scheduled to travel to Europe for the talks, played down the decision.

He said in a statement to media "we understand the French reaction to our submarine decision but ultimately any nation must act in its national interest, which is what Australia has done.”

KABUL, 03 October 2021, (TON): A Taliban official said “gunmen shot and killed two Taliban fighters and two civilians in the eastern city of Jalalabad.”

Two other civilians were wounded in the attack, said Mohammad Hanif, a cultural official for the city's surrounding province, Nangarhar.

No one claimed responsibility for the shooting, but the Islamic State group, which has a strong presence in Nangarhar and considers the Taliban an enemy, has previously claimed several attacks against them, including several killings in Jalalabad.

The two civilians killed were Sayed Maroof Sadat, a former spokesman for the Nangarhar department of agriculture, and his cousin, Sharif Sadat told the AP. Sadat’s son was among the two wounded.

PARIS, 03 October 2021, (TON): Macron's Elysee department said “French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the political situation in Tunisia with President Kais Saied, and Saied told Macron that a new government would be formed in the coming days.”

Tunisia's parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi declared the assembly in session and urged lawmakers to resume work, defying Saied's suspension of the assembly in a new escalation of the country's political crisis.

Saied has been under domestic and international pressure to name a government after his intervention in July, when he dismissed the prime minister, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority.

KABUL, 03 October 2021, (TON): The organisation’s head said “the Turkish Red Crescent is sending aid to Afghanistan to feed internally displaced people in need amid turmoil following the Taliban’s takeover.”

Half a million people have been displaced in Afghanistan in recent months, according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, a number which would grow if health services, schools and the economy break down.

Turkish Red Crescent President Kerem Kinik said “the shipment of food would be sent from Pakistan towards Kabul on Saturday and provide for 16,000 people for a month.”

“There is a serious food crisis right now. Public order needs to be provided for local production,” he told Reuters by telephone, citing a halt in international trade, drought and a decline in international aid as reasons for the problem.

He said “the Turkish Red Crescent had provided support to areas under Taliban control before US troops pulled out and there had been no problem in providing aid after the withdrawal. “The Taliban appointed an authority to the head of the Afghan Red Crescent for the transition process,” he said, adding that they were cooperating to bring humanitarian aid to Afghans.

The Turkish Red Crescent had provided some $250,000 since 2018 to Afghans who established their own businesses after returning to the country and would increase the amount, he said. Turkey hosts some 300,000 Afghans as well as 3.6 million Syrian refugees, the largest refugee population in the world.

KABUL, 03 October 2021, (TON): The organisation’s head said “the Turkish Red Crescent is sending aid to Afghanistan to feed internally displaced people in need amid turmoil following the Taliban’s takeover.”

Half a million people have been displaced in Afghanistan in recent months, according to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, a number which would grow if health services, schools and the economy break down.

Turkish Red Crescent President Kerem Kinik said “the shipment of food would be sent from Pakistan towards Kabul on Saturday and provide for 16,000 people for a month.”

“There is a serious food crisis right now. Public order needs to be provided for local production,” he told Reuters by telephone, citing a halt in international trade, drought and a decline in international aid as reasons for the problem.

He said “the Turkish Red Crescent had provided support to areas under Taliban control before US troops pulled out and there had been no problem in providing aid after the withdrawal. “The Taliban appointed an authority to the head of the Afghan Red Crescent for the transition process,” he said, adding that they were cooperating to bring humanitarian aid to Afghans.

The Turkish Red Crescent had provided some $250,000 since 2018 to Afghans who established their own businesses after returning to the country and would increase the amount, he said. Turkey hosts some 300,000 Afghans as well as 3.6 million Syrian refugees, the largest refugee population in the world.

ISLAMABAD, 03 October 2021, (TON): The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said “Four Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers and a Levies sub-inspector were martyred after terrorists attacked a security forces' vehicle in Spinwam area of North Waziristan.”

In a statement, the military's media affairs wing said that a clearance operation was in progress to eliminate any terrorists found in the area.

The deceased security officials were identified as 35-year-old Havaldar Zahid from Charsadda, 37-year-old Havaldar Ishaq from Kurram, 28-year-old Lance Naik Wali from Khyber, 28-year-old Lance Naik Abdul Majeed from Kurram and 38-year-old Sub-inspector Javed from Spinwam.

In a statement, the ISPR said that security forces conducted an operation after receiving information about the presence of terrorists in the area.

TAIPEI CITY, 03 October 2021, (TON): Taiwan condemned China on Saturday for sending 38 warplanes into its airspace the day before, the largest ever incursion reported.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said 25 Chinese warplanes, including 18 J-16 fighter jets, four Su-30 fighters and two H-6 bombers and one Yun-8 aircraft – first entered Taiwan’s airspace on China’s National Day, which was celebrated on Friday.

A further 13, including 10 J-16 fighters, two H-6 bombers, and one KJ-500 airborne, were spotted during the evening.

Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters on Saturday China “has been desperately building up its military power and has undermined regional peace.”

Friday’s intrusion marked the highest number of Chinese aircraft in Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) since the Defence Ministry began to release such reports on its official web site in September 2020.

The ministry said the Taiwan Air Force issued radio warnings and its air defence missile systems were activated to monitor the activity.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Saturday expressed his serious concerns over the largest number of daily sorties by Chinese warplanes on record.