PARIS, 11 November 2022, (TON): A deal for Europe to jointly help asylum-seekers was breaking apart in a French-Italian feud over a ship floating in the Mediterranean with its passengers and crew desperate for land.

The crew of the Ocean Viking had been trying to dock since Italy’s right-wing government refused to take in people aboard last month.

The centrist government of France said “it will take them but withdraw from a broader European Union mechanism for distributing migrants more evenly.”

The announcement fueled a broader rise in tensions between the otherwise-friendly neighbors.

“France will take measures in coming hours to tighten border security with Italy,” and adjust bilateral relations accordingly, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

PARIS, 11 November 2022, (TON): A deal for Europe to jointly help asylum-seekers was breaking apart in a French-Italian feud over a ship floating in the Mediterranean with its passengers and crew desperate for land.

The crew of the Ocean Viking had been trying to dock since Italy’s right-wing government refused to take in people aboard last month.

The centrist government of France said “it will take them but withdraw from a broader European Union mechanism for distributing migrants more evenly.”

The announcement fueled a broader rise in tensions between the otherwise-friendly neighbors.

“France will take measures in coming hours to tighten border security with Italy,” and adjust bilateral relations accordingly, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

WASHINGTON, 11 November 2022, (TON): The US will send $400 million more in military aid to Ukraine, several US officials said, amid concerns that financial assistance for the war against Russia could decline a bit if Republicans take control of Congress.

An announcement is expected Thursday, as the vote counting from Tuesday’s election continues, with Republicans inching closer to a narrow House majority and with control of the Senate hinging on tight races in Arizona, Nevada and Georgia.

According to officials, the aid package will contain large amounts of ammunition and, for the first time, highly mobile Avenger Air Defense Systems.

DUBAI, 11 November 2022, (TON): The president of the UAE and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed ways to achieve peace in the region during a phone call.

Emirates News Agency reported “Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Netanyahu, who is on track to regain top office after last week’s election, also discussed bilateral relations.”

Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Netanyahu on his victory in parliamentary elections and stressed the UAE’s keenness to strengthen means for obtaining peace, cooperation, and positive partnerships in the region for the benefit of all.

GENEVA, 11 November 2022, (TON): The United Kingdom faced a barrage of questions and criticism of its migration and poverty policies in a United Nations review of its human rights record amid allegations that it is backsliding on freedoms.

While criticism is part of the normal UN process that takes place every few years, analysts said the level of scrutiny of one of the world’s most prominent democracies from such a broad range of countries, including allies, was notable.

Among the issues raised at the UN meeting in Geneva was London’s plan to send asylum seekers who arrive in Britain to Rwanda to counter an influx of refugees and migrants on its southern coast.

WASHINGTON, 11 November 2022, (TON): US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he intends to run for reelection and would likely make a final decision by early next year, after declaring the results of midterm elections good for democracy.

White House officials expressed a sense of vindication that Biden’s fellow Democrats did better than expected.

Biden, who turns 80 this month, has faced questions on whether he will seek a second term. A Biden adviser said preparatory discussions for a 2024 campaign were underway.

Biden told reporters at the White House “our intention is to run again, that’s been our intention.”

He added “this is ultimately a family decision.”

WASHINGTON, 11 November 2022, (TON): A federal judge in Texas ruled that President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt was unlawful and must be vacated, delivering a victory to conservative opponents of the program.

US District Judge Mark Pittman, an appointee of former Republican President Donald Trump in Fort Worth, ruled in a lawsuit backed by the Job Creators Network Foundation on behalf of two borrowers.

The debt relief plan had already been temporarily blocked by the St. Louis-based 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals while it considers a request by six Republican-led states to enjoin it while they appealed the dismissal of their own lawsuit.

Biden’s plan has been the subject of several lawsuits by conservative state attorneys general and legal groups, though plaintiffs before Thursday had struggled to convince courts they were harmed by it in such a way that they have standing to sue.

DHAKA, 11 November 2022, (TON): The European Union has announced additional €3 million support for the Rohingyas in Bhasan Char.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs YIva Johansson announced the assistance at an event at the EU Embassy in the capital's Gulshan area.

Ylva Johansson arrived in Dhaka in the morning on a two-day official visit to discuss the issues of mutual interest with special focus on security matters.

DHAKA, 11 November 2022, (TON): State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said Bangladesh wants to import petroleum from Saudi Arabia at a relatively lower price.

He conveyed Dhaka's interest when Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa Bin Youssef Al-Dahilan met him at his office in the ministry.

He told the Saudi envoy “we are also interested in purchasing the fuel on deferred payment.”

They also discussed various issues related to mutual interest.

Welcoming the Saudi ambassador, Nasrul said “Bangladesh wants to strengthen trade relations with the brotherly nation.”

NEW DELHI, 11 November 2022, (TON): India's approach to Afghanistan will be guided by historical friendship and the special relationship with the Afghan people even though it is deeply concerned at the unfolding humanitarian situation in that country, said Indian Envoy R Ravindra at the UN.

Deputy Permanent Representative R Ravindra at the UN General Assembly said "as a contiguous neighbour of Afghanistan with strong historical and cultural links, India's approach to Afghanistan will be guided by our historical friendship and special relationship with the Afghan people.”