DHAKA, 20 September 2021, (TON): UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Mia Seppo said that it is the “shared responsibility” of the international community to make sure that the Rohingya crisis is not forgotten as the world faces more crises.

The UN official said “making sure that the Rohingya crisis doesn’t become a forgotten crisis is a shared responsibility. Obviously, the government of Bangladesh through its foreign policy is doing a lot to make sure that the crisis is not forgotten.”

She recognized that Bangladesh has played a critical role in a defining tragedy of the times despite challenges of its own and mentioned that they are at the final stage to begin its operations at Bhasan Char to support the Rohingyas and the massive efforts of the government of Bangladesh.

The Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) arranged the DCAB Talk at the Foreign Service Academy. DCAB President Pantho Rahaman and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke.

Recognizing Bangladesh’s massive investment in Bhasan Char, Seppo said “there has been a lot of negative coverage of the island and it is important that they have somehow managed to move away from that.”

She said “they want to be partners in trying to create something so that everybody can live and the conversation that they are having now is important.”

KABUL, 19 September 2021, (TON): After nearly 20 days, the roads leading into Panjshir province have been reopened and telecom services have been restored, officials of the caretaker cabinet and residents of the province confirmed.

Local residents said that electricity has yet to be reconnected in the province.

Mohammad Wasi Almas, a local journalist, said “the telecom networks have been working since yesterday.

The serious challenge is the electricity cutoff, which has not been solved,” Some Panjshir residents said “90 percent” of locals left their homes and fled to the mountains following the clashes between the Taliban and the Resistance Front forces in the past weeks, and they face serious issues.

A resident said “an economic crisis has emerged, people are struggling with economic problems.”

A Panjshir resident said “from 100 percent, only 10 percent of people stayed, and the rest have left their houses.”

Local security officials in Panjshir, however, say the situation is normal in the province.

Mawlawi Sana Sangin Fatih, a local security official said “protecting women, children and people is our obligation. All the issues such as lack of electricity and food are lies.”

KIEV, 19 September 2021, (TON): Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), conducted special tactical exercises in the Chernihiv and Sumy regions, on the border with Russia. This was reported on Saturday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

“Subdivisions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have joined the large-scale exercises of the Security Service of Ukraine to neutralize enemy sabotage gro-ups near the northern border with the Russian Fede-ration,” the statement on the agency’s website says . It is specified that the trainings were held on the territory of the Chernihiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine.

“According to the plan of the SBU, on the territory of the Chernihiv region there is a conditional sabotage and reconnaissance group of the enemy, which plans to carry out terrorist acts in the border areas of the region at objects of important national economic and defense significance.”

The ministry added  that the conditional enemy planned to break through international checkpoint “Senkovka” on the border with Russia and Belarus. The ministry assured that the security officials as a result managed to neutralize the conditional saboteurs.

ISLAMABAD, 19 September 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday that he has initiated a dialogue with the Taliban for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan representing multiple ethnic groups.

The statement by the premier came in a tweet after the conclusion of the 20th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Heads of State (SCO-CHS) Summit, where regional leaders, including PM Imran, met to discuss the situation in Afghanistan following the US withdrawal from the war-torn country.

He tweeted "after meetings in Dushanbe with leaders of Afghanistan's neighbours and especially a lengthy discussion with Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon, I have initiated a dialogue with the Taliban for an inclusive Afghan government to include Tajiks, Hazaras and Uzbeks.”

In a subsequent tweet, he added "after 40 years of conflict, this inclusivity will ensure peace and a stable Afghanistan, which is in the interest not only of Afghanistan but the region as well."

Pakistan has been stressing the need for an inclusive government in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the country and announced an interim government.

The prime minister had reiterated the same during his address at the SCO-CHS summit.

"The Taliban must fulfil the pledges made, above all for an inclusive political structure where all ethnic groups are represented. This is vital for Afghanistan’s stability," he had said, adding that it was also important to ensure respect for the rights of all Afghans while making certain that the country will never again be made a safe haven for terrorists.

WASHINGTON, 19 September 2021, (TON): For the United States, Friday's apology for a drone strike that killed 10 innocent civilians in Afghanistan last month was a rare admission of a deadly and damaging mistake.

For the family still reeling from their loss, it was far from enough.

"No one has contacted with us to apologize” Emal Ahmadi, whose toddler Malika was among seven children killed in the August 29 blast, told media.

Ahmadi said “he was surprised to hear that the U.S. had offered publicly apologized for the incident, since he had yet to hear from a single official himself.”

However, he also said that an apology would not suffice. I lost ten members of our family and the U.S. should pay.

"U.S. should pay compensation for us and should transfer us from Kabul."

Emal Ahmadi, left, has been mourning in the weeks since an American drone strike targeted and hit a vehicle in his family's Kabul home.Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images file

Of course, said Ramin Yousuf, a cousin of Ahmadi who served as a military instructor with Afghan forces before the Taliban took control of Kabul, what the family really wants is their loved ones back.

"In one minute, we (lost) everything," said Yousuf, 31. "What pain does this apology cure?"

But, he added "we have no choice but this."

WASHINGTON, 19 September 2021, (TON): The U.S. plans to speed up its efforts to expel Haitian migrants on flights to their Caribbean homeland, officials said as agents poured into a Texas border city where thousands of Haitians have gathered after suddenly crossing into the U.S. from Mexico.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that it moved about 2,000 of the migrants who had gathered under and near a bridge in the border city of Del Rio to other locations on Friday for processing and possible removal from the United States. It also said it would have 400 agents and officers in the area by Monday morning and was prepared to send more if necessary.

The announcement marks a swift response to the sudden arrival of Haitians in Del Rio, a city of about 35,000 people that's roughly 145 miles (233 kilometers) west of San Antonio and sits on a relatively remote stretch of border that lacks capacity to hold and process such large numbers of people.

A U.S. official told “the Associated Press on Friday that operational capacity and Haiti’s willingness to accept flights will determine how many there will be. The official said progress was being made on negotiations with Haitian authorities.”

The official said “the U.S would likely fly five to eight planes a day, starting Sunday, while another official expected no more than two a day.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection closed traffic to vehicles and pedestrians in both directions Friday at the only border crossing between Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña, Mexico, “to respond to urgent safety and security needs.” Travelers were being directed indefinitely to a crossing in Eagle Pass, 57 miles (91 kilometers) away.

Crowd estimates varied, but Val Verde County Sheriff Frank Joe Martinez said Friday that there were about 13,700 new arrivals in Del Rio. Migrants pitched tents and built makeshift shelters from giant reeds known as carrizo cane. Many bathed and washed clothing in the river.

LONDON, 19 September 2021, (TON): British Foreign Minister Liz Truss discussed with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken the US- Australia – UK Defense and Security Partnership (AUKUS), Truss said.

Trusse wrote on Twitter “the UK and the US are close friends and allies. It was great to discuss a number of issues with Secretary of State Blinken, including our new partnership with AUKUS, continuing to work together on Afghanistan , deepening trade and security partnerships with our allies.”

Australia previously partnered with the United Kingdom and the United States on defense and security AUKUS and announced its withdrawal from the submarine agreement with the French company Naval Group.

The A $ 90 billion (€ 56 billion) deal, dubbed the “Contract of the Century”, called for the production of 12 Barracuda-class attack submarines. Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Le Drian said the decision by Australia to break the agreement “stab in the back”, stressing that trust is undermined. According to him, he is angry about the termination of this contract.

ISLAMABAD, 19 September 2021, (TON): Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar said security threats had increased in the country because of opposition by international powers to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the latest situation in Afghanistan.

“Security threat is elevated,” he said in response to a question at a hurriedly called news conference, adding that no doubt development on CPEC was looked upon with aversion by big global powers who wanted to sow dissension in the country. The challenges are also there because of the uncertain Afghan situation. “So there are not only security challenges, but these are at an elevated level,” he said.

However, Mr Umar said “the entire leadership led by the prime minister and also including the army chief and other security high-ups had taken effective steps that had also been shared with the Chinese leadership who had expressed confidence in the additional security arrangements.”

Minister asks politicians to be careful while commenting on corridor projects

He said “in such situations politicians ought to be careful while commenting on CPEC.”

He said that there was no bar on criticism and recommendations but it should not be described like “closed down, finished or destroyed”.

The minister was referring to the observations by chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning Salim Mandviwala who recently said the Chinese ambassador and companies had complained about slow pace of work on CPEC projects.

PARIS, 19 September 2021, (TON): France’s ambassador to Australia has described as a “huge mistake” Australia’s surprise cancelation of a major submarine contract in favor of a US deal, as the diplomat prepared to leave the country in an unprecedented show of anger among the allies.

French envoy Jean-Pierre Thebault delivered his comments Saturday as he left his residence in the capital of Canberra.

“This has been a huge mistake, a very, very bad handling of the partnership,” Thebault said, explaining that the arms agreement between Paris and Canberra was supposed to be based “on trust, mutual understanding and sincerity.”

Paris recalled its ambassadors to Australia and the United States on Friday to protest a deal among the United States, Australia and Britain to supply Australia with a fleet of at least eight nuclear-power submarines.

The deal scraps a 90 billion Australian dollar ($66 billion) contract with French majority state-owned Naval Group, signed in 2016, to build 12 conventional diesel-electric submarines.

The French ambassador added “I would like to be able to run into a time machine and be in a situation where we don’t end up in such an incredible, clumsy, inadequate, un-Australian situation.”

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s office earlier had issued a statement responding to the diplomat’s recall and noting Canberra’s “regret” over its ally’s withdrawal of its representative.

The statement said “Australia understands France’s deep disappointment with our decision, which was taken in accordance with our clear and communicated national security interests.”

It added that Australia values its relationship with France and looked forward to future engagements together.

Payne and Defense Minister Peter Dutton are currently in the United States for annual talks with their US counterparts and their first with President Joe Biden’s administration.

Before he was recalled, French envoy Thebault said on Friday he found out about the US submarine deal: “Like everybody, thanks to the Australian press.”

Thebault said “we never were informed about any substantial changes.”

“There were many opportunities and many channels. Never was such a change mentioned.”

TUNIS, 19 September 2021, (TON): Several hundred demonstrators gathered in Tunis to protest against Tunisian President Kais Saied's seizure of governing powers in July, which triggered a constitutional crisis and prompted accusations of a coup.

The protesters gathered in the centre of the capital chanting "shut down the coup" and "we want a return to legitimacy", while a few dozen Saied supporters held a counter demonstration chanting "the people want to dissolve parliament.”

The protest, accompanied by a heavy police presence, was the first since Saied declared on July 25 he was sacking the prime minister, suspending parliament and assuming executive authority.

Saturday's protests may provide an indication of how the security services, many of whose leadership are newly appointed by Saied, will handle public opposition to him.

Police appeared to be treating both sets of protesters equally, standing between the two camps outside the ornate belle epoque theatre on Habib Bourguiba avenue.