About 190 Migrants Rescued in English Channel over Weekend

French Gendarme officers look on as migrants are evacuated from a makeshift camp to reception centers during a sheltering operation by the local prefecture in Loon-Plage, northern France on November 30, 2023. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
French Gendarme officers look on as migrants are evacuated from a makeshift camp to reception centers during a sheltering operation by the local prefecture in Loon-Plage, northern France on November 30, 2023. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
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About 190 Migrants Rescued in English Channel over Weekend

French Gendarme officers look on as migrants are evacuated from a makeshift camp to reception centers during a sheltering operation by the local prefecture in Loon-Plage, northern France on November 30, 2023. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)
French Gendarme officers look on as migrants are evacuated from a makeshift camp to reception centers during a sheltering operation by the local prefecture in Loon-Plage, northern France on November 30, 2023. (Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP)

Some 190 migrants have been rescued off the Calais coast in northern France since Friday night while trying to cross the English Channel on dinghies to reach Britain, local French authorities said on Saturday, without specifying from where those migrants had come.

The Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and currents are strong. Human traffickers typically overload the dinghies, leaving them barely afloat and at the mercy of waves as they try to reach British shores.



Taliban Say India Is a ‘Significant Regional Partner’ after Meeting

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
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Taliban Say India Is a ‘Significant Regional Partner’ after Meeting

Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP

The Taliban's foreign office said they saw India as a "significant regional and economic partner" after meeting with its most senior foreign ministry official, the highest level talks with Delhi since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.
India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met acting Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai on Wednesday.
Afghanistan's foreign ministry said in a statement that they had discussed expanding relations with Afghanistan and to boost trade through Chabahar Port in Iran, which India has been developing for goods to bypass the ports of Karachi and Gwadar in its rival Pakistan, Reuters reported.
"In line with Afghanistan's balanced and economy-focused foreign policy, the Islamic Emirate aims to strengthen political and economic ties with India as a significant regional and economic partner," the statement from Afghanistan's foreign ministry said late on Wednesday.
India's foreign ministry said after the Delhi meeting that India was considering engaging in development projects in Afghanistan and looking to boost trade ties.
No foreign government, including India, officially recognizes the Taliban administration.
However, India is one of several countries with a small mission in Kabul to facilitate trade, aid and medical support and has sent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan under the Taliban.
Regional players including China and Russia have signaled they are willing to boost trade and investment in Afghanistan.
The Delhi meeting could ruffle Pakistan, which borders both countries and has fought three wars in the past against India.
Pakistan and Afghanistan also have a strained relationship, with Pakistan saying that several militant attacks that have occurred in its country have been launched from Afghan soil - a charge the Afghan Taliban denies.
Earlier this week India's foreign office told journalists they condemned airstrikes conducted late last year by Pakistan on Afghan soil.