Month: September 2022

  • China’s Covid-19 mismanagement creates havoc in Tibet

    China’s Covid-19 mismanagement creates havoc in Tibet

    The world is being shown a country like China handling the outbreak in a harmonious way, but the reality apparently is far from that…reports Asian Lite News

    China’s COVID mismanagement and stringent measures under its so-called ‘Zero Covid policy’ has created havoc in Tibet Plateau, while CCP maintains a tight information blockade from the information of and from Tibet.

    There is an upsurge in COVID-19 cases in Tibet but China’s mishandling of the outbreak has outraged the Tibetans. Harsh lockdown conditions and repressive policies of the Beijing government have forced the locals to suffer, who are struggling to voice their concerns, reported Tibet Press.

    The situation in Tibet is frightening. While Chinese censors have tried to keep ground realities hidden from international knowledge, the leaked information showed that at least three have died of coronavirus infection in Tibet so far as the authorities failed to give them timely medical care, according to reports.

    The world is being shown a country like China handling the outbreak in a harmonious way, but the reality apparently is far from that. The measures being taken are too severe and not in the interest of the public at all.

    China was the centre of the COVID-19 outbreak in the world, the whole suffered millions of deaths in the past 2 years. But when entire China and many parts of the world were reeling under the coronavirus crisis, Tibet remained untouched except for one case at the beginning of the pandemic. Tibet did not see a Covid-19 case for over 900 days.

    While most of the world is free from coronavirus infections, many Chinese provinces are suffering from the viral disease. Now, Tibet has also come under its grip, for which people are blaming Chinese agencies, reported Tibet Press.

    Tibetans blame that they did not get proper medical care or sanitation services from the Chinese authorities despite rising Covid-19 cases. Tibetans also complained of overbearing treatment by government officials, who are forcing people to go into mandatory quarantine without verifying if they are Covid-10 positive or not.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping enforced similar stringent conditions in Tibet as they were in other parts of China earlier under the ‘Zero Covid’ policy.

    Tibetans are taken to quarantine facilities or forced to stay inside their homes. This has caused them to lose their jobs and source of livelihood, besides mental harassment.

    Amid this, China’s censorship of news and social media posts from Tibet has further raised concerns about the safety of Tibetans.

    Several videos of China’s repression of Tibet have circulated on Social media showing Tibetans talking about poor quarantine facilities with harsh quarantine rules and crowded testing sites with no social distancing rules followed, reported Tibet Press.

    The angered Tibetans are posting videos of mismanagement as well as the high-handedness of government agencies on social platforms. Videos show the unavailability of food and medicines, barely edible food, no potable water and unplanned lockdowns further raising concerns about the safety of Tibetans.

    However, the Communist government has not taken it as a concern but is only aiming for a COVID-free region by taking measures that don’t work in favour of the ill.

    The outbreak in Tibet began on August 7, 2022, and the lockdowns started happening right afterwards. The government was also in a state of shock due to the suddenness of the outbreak, according to reports.

    The human rights issue in Tibet has gotten much worse over the years and the Chinese government has never backed down from strengthening its torturous hold on the Tibetans. Surveillance of the Tibetans in Tibet by the communist party has been extreme and any suspicious act is dealt with unlawful arrests, detentions and false convictions.

    The conflict between Tibet and China has been a topic of debate for years, but the Tibetan freedom struggle has not received the attention or the justice that it deserves till now. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: SCO renews call for inclusive govt in Afghanistan

  • ‘Over 2 lakh people affected by natural disasters in Afghanistan’

    ‘Over 2 lakh people affected by natural disasters in Afghanistan’

    Floods have not only affected the residential buildings in Afghanistan but have also caused excessive financial losses to farmers in the country as their harvests were hit by the floods….reports Asian Lite News

    Occurrences of floods and earthquakes across several provinces of Afghanistan have affected more than 2,23,000 people over the past several months, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report.

    According to TOLOnews, more than 85,000 people in Afghanistan were severely affected by earthquakes in Paktika and Khost in June, whereas over 78,800 people were affected by heavy floods in the southern and eastern parts of the country in July and August.

    “Many natural disaster-affected households lost homes, assets, and livestock, with worst-affected poor households likely in need of emergency humanitarian food assistance to prevent food consumption gaps and Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes,” OCHA said in a report.

    Floods have not only affected the residential buildings in Afghanistan but have also caused excessive financial losses to farmers in the country as their harvests were hit by the floods.

    “The floods that flowed hit the residences and agriculture lands,” TOLOnews reported quoting Salam Jan, a farmer.

    In an earlier report, OCHA said that more than 24 million people are facing food shortages in Afghanistan.

    The total number of flood-related fatalities was 147 the previous year, however, a significant increase of 75 per cent in the flood death toll was recorded this year, TOLOnews reported.

    Almost 23 million Afghan people benefitting from at least one form of humanitarian aid delivered as the UN office’s Humanitarian Response Plan for Afghanistan seek to provide relief aid to at least 22.1 million people this year.

    The heavy rains damaged or destroyed around 2,900 houses, a tenfold increase since the last reporting period, and also disrupted livelihoods. Critical civilian infrastructure such as roads and bridges have also been impacted.

    OCHA said that it continues to coordinate the emergency response on behalf of humanitarian partners in all four regions affected – central, eastern, southern, and south-eastern regions.

    Over the past month, about 400 people reportedly lost their lives due to monsoon rains and flooding in Afghanistan. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: China’s ‘New Great Game’ in Afghanistan

  • Germany concerned with Britain’s tax cuts

    Germany concerned with Britain’s tax cuts

    Speaking at an event hosted by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on Monday, Lindner suggested that it wouldn’t end well…reports Asian Lite News

    The German government is concerned that Britain is conducting a “major experiment” by cutting taxes and boosting borrowing just as the central bank is raising interest rates, a media reports said.

    Germany’s Finance Minister Christian Lindner raised doubts about British government’s plans to accelerate spending while the central bank tightens policy to rein inflation, The Guardian reported.

    In another sign of rising international concern, Lindner warned: “In the UK, a major experiment is starting as the state simultaneously puts its foot on the gas while the central bank steps on the brakes.”

    Speaking at an event hosted by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper on Monday, Lindner suggested that it wouldn’t end well.

    “I would say we wait for the results of this attempt and then draw the lessons,” he said, The Guardian reported.

    Larry Summers, a former US Treasury secretary, has warned that the UK government’s ‘utterly irresponsible’ plans could drag the pound below parity against the euro, as well as the dollar.

    Summers has heavily criticised Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng for undermining credibility by saying ‘incredible things’ about planning more tax cuts — those weekend comments pushed the pound to a record low of $1.0327 on Monday.

    Summers said he was “very pessimistic about the consequences of utterly irresponsible UK policy on Friday”, but didn’t expect the markets to get so bad so quickly.

    Summers also suggested the Bank of England should have taken more decisive action, rather than its timid statement on Monday.

    Summers said, “The first step in regaining credibility is not saying incredible things. I was surprised when the new chancellor spoke over the weekend of the need for even more tax cuts. I cannot see how the BOE, knowing the government’s plans, decided to move so timidly.”

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  • UN envoy sees need for engagement with Taliban

    UN envoy sees need for engagement with Taliban

    Further fragmentation, isolation, poverty, and internal conflict are among the likely scenarios, leading to potential mass migration and a domestic environment conducive to terrorist organisations, UN envoy warned…reports Asian Lite News

    A UN envoy has stressed the need for the international community to engage with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

    Markus Potzel, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, on Tuesday saw international engagement as the most realistic approach, Xinhua news agency reported.

    If the Taliban do not respond to the needs of all elements of Afghan society and constructively engage within the very limited window of opportunity with the international community, it is unclear what would come next, he told the Security Council in a briefing.

    Further fragmentation, isolation, poverty, and internal conflict are among the likely scenarios, leading to potential mass migration and a domestic environment conducive to terrorist organisations, as well as greater misery for the Afghan population, he warned.

    “That’s why we have to engage. The objective of our engagement is to promote governance in Afghanistan that works to the benefit of the Afghan people and respects the norms of the global community, he said.

    “While success is not certain, continued qualified engagement remains the most realistic chance of achieving these objectives.”

    Since taking over Kabul, the Taliban’s self-identified emirate has not been recognised by any state. At the same time, the international community also did not want to see the country collapse, Potzel added.

    Afghanistan’s neighbours, in particular, adopted a pragmatic approach and sought to deepen economic and trade ties and build stability, he said.

    The July 26 Tashkent conference, which for the first time brought together representatives of the Taliban, members of the region, and traditional donors, provided a platform for engagement and an opportunity for the international community to express its united position on what it expects from the de-facto authorities. It was regrettable that the Taliban delegation did not take the opportunity to constructively address these expectations, noted Potzel.



    “Nonetheless, we believe that the Tashkent format is useful and should be continued,” he said.

    Initially, the de-facto authorities made commitments regarding the security and independence of humanitarian assistance. These commitments have also gradually been eroded, he added.

    “We viewed with great concern the detaining by the de-facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and the General Directorate of Intelligence of three women working for UN agencies in Kandahar three weeks ago, as well as increasing pressures on our staff and premises and those of other agencies.”

    In general, the de-facto authorities are creating operational obstacles that make the work of the UN and its humanitarian partners increasingly difficult, and in some cases contravene global and well-established humanitarian principles, he said.

    “I am afraid that patience is running out by many in the international community regarding a strategy of engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities,” Potzel warned.

    There have been some positive developments in the past few months. But they have been too few and too slow and are outweighed by the negatives. In particular, the ongoing ban on secondary education for girls — unique in the world — and growing restrictions on women’s rights are signals that the Taliban are indifferent to more than 50 per cent of the population and are willing to risk international isolation, he added.

    The relegation of women and girls to the home not only deprives them of their rights, but also denies Afghanistan as a whole the benefit of the significant contributions that women and girls have to offer, Potzel said.

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  • Tourism plays vital role in economic development: Pak Prez

    Tourism plays vital role in economic development: Pak Prez

    Alvi said that the country must come up with long-term strategic planning to boost the tourism industry on a sustainable basis and set new boundaries for securing its future…reports Asian Lite News

    Pakistani President Arif Alvi has said that the tourism sector played a vital role in the country’s economic development and is an integral source of income for the people as well as relevant to the improvement of civic facilities in the far-flung areas of Pakistan.

    “Tourism is a source of earning foreign exchange, a tool for job creation and poverty alleviation. It also creates harmony among people from different parts of the country,” the President added in his message on World Tourism Day on Tuesday.

    Pakistan is a country that has attractive and wonderful tourist sites with its remarkable landscape, diversity and rich history of ancient civilisations, he said, adding that there is a need to set priorities in considering the potential of the tourism sector in order to advance economic prosperity and progress, Xinhua news agency reported.

    Noting that the sector has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic first and now by the super floods, Alvi said that the country must come up with long-term strategic planning to boost the tourism industry on a sustainable basis and set new boundaries for securing its future.

    “The government will utilise all its resources to turn the challenges into opportunities by restarting the industry from grassroot level and ensuring the cooperation and collaboration of allied government agencies to come out of the crisis and rebuild better,” the President added.

    Flood rehabilitation plan

    Pakistan has devised a plan to rebuild and restructure flood-hit areas of the country, which will be implemented during a period of six months to 10 years, an official statement said.

    Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal held a meeting with economists and development stakeholders on Monday to devise the rehabilitation plan, the statement from his office said.

    Iqbal said that the country has suffered losses of $30 billion in the devastating floods which badly damaged agriculture and infrastructure besides resulting in heavy casualties across the country, reports Xinhua news agency.

    The participants of the meeting proposed the government to adopt the owner-driven reconstruction approach to rebuild the damaged houses of the flood-affected people who should be provided assistance and subsidy to rebuild houses on their own.

    The participants also suggested focusing on agricultural land of the Sindh province which was badly affected by the flood.

    According to the latest report from the country’s National Disaster Management Authority, the death toll in Pakistan from this season’s monsoon rains and floods since mid-June has risen to around 1,638, along with 12,865 injured.

    ALSO READ: World Bank cuts economic outlook for East Asia & Pacific

  • UN concerned over disease outbreak in flood-hit Pakistan

    UN concerned over disease outbreak in flood-hit Pakistan

    Nearly 600,000 people are living in relief camps, and more than 7,000 schools across Pakistan are being used as temporary relief camps…reports Asian Lite News

    The UN has voiced concern over the outbreak of vector-borne and water-borne diseases in flood-hit Pakistan.

    The outbreak of vector-borne and water-borne diseases is a growing concern in Sindh and Balochistan provinces, where many districts remain inundated by floodwaters, said Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

    The floods have also damaged nearly 1,500 health facilities across the country, including more than 300 refrigerators and solar power systems, which is disrupting vaccine cold chains, he added.

    Assessments are continuing. But an estimated 7.9 million people remain displaced by the catastrophic floods. Nearly 600,000 people are living in relief camps, and more than 7,000 schools across Pakistan are being used as temporary relief camps, said the Spokesman.

    More than 2 million houses have been damaged by the heavy rains and floods. More than 25,000 schools and 13,000 km of roads have also reportedly been damaged, he added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

    The UN and humanitarian partners are continuing to scale up response and have reached more than 1.6 million people in different areas who have been impacted by the floods, said the Spokesman.

    Currency falls

    Despite the inflow of International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans, Pakistan’s currency continues to fall.

    The government’s error of judgment in paying the import bills unnecessarily on the advice of a coalition partner has depleted the foreign currency reserves, reported The News International.

    The move caused a massive rupee devaluation in September despite approval of the IMF loan, claims a source in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N).

    However, sources close to Pakistan’s outgoing finance minister, Miftah Ismail believe that the import bill payments were not the reasons for rupee devaluation.

    Credit default risk perception, devastating floods and the Afghan factor were the major reasons that contributed to the rupee devaluation, believe the sources, reported The News International.

    Notably, the depreciation of the Pakistani rupee comes in the wake up of change in the Finance Ministry. PML-N leader Ishaq Dar is ready to take charge as the new finance minister of the country replacing Miftah Ismail.

    Sources close to the new finance minister Ishaq Dar claim that he has done his homework to control devaluation.

    Within the first three months, he will bring the rupee value against the US dollar to Rs 200, the sources further claimed, reported The News International.

    To a question about what different will Ishaq Dar do that his predecessor Miftah Ismail failed to do, the sources claim Dar has plans to reduce the power tariff, reactivate the National Price Committees to bring down inflation and ensure a strict policy toward foreign exchange currency market.

    According to the sources, Pakistan’s export industry relies on imported goods (65 per cent) which contributes to a huge import bill.

    There is a need to review the export policy. If necessary, Dar will focus on the targeted subsidy to the export sector. In the past, Dar committed the targeted subsidy to the export sector and he fulfilled his commitment in this regard, reported The News International. (IANS/ANI)

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  • Rajnath sets ambitious defence production target for 2025

    Rajnath sets ambitious defence production target for 2025

    Singh said that the government fully recognises the value of a foolproof security system and is continually trying to strengthen all aspects of national security in order to advance the nation…reports Asian Lite News

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has set an ambitious goal for the country’s defence industry – produce Rs. 1.75 lakh crores worth of goods by the year 2025.

    Speaking at the 5th Annual Session of the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturers in New Delhi on Tuesday, he said this would include exports of Rs 35,000 crore.

    “Seven-eight years ago, our defence exports were not even Rs 1,000 crore. They have now crossed Rs 13,000 crore. We have set a target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore of defence production by 2025, which includes export of Rs 35,000 crore,” he pointed out in his address.

    He also urged the Indian defence sector to find and produce cutting-edge, cost-effective products and technologies in order to accomplish Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “New India” that not only satisfies domestic demands but also meets those of other countries.

    Singh said that the government fully recognises the value of a foolproof security system and is continually trying to strengthen all aspects of national security in order to advance the nation.

    Additionally, he outlined the actions taken to support the private sector and mentioned how the need for military equipment has increased due to countries’ increased attention to strengthening their security systems and the ever-changing nature of the global environment.

    Later, he also felicitated the winners of the 2nd edition of the SIDM Champions Award.

    According to the Ministry of Defense, the 5th Annual Session of SIDM was held under the theme “India@75: Shaping for India@100” with the objective of elevating India to a leading position in the global defence manufacturing market. The senior brass of the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Armed Forces, industry, and foreign defence attachés headquartered in India all participated in the event.

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  • Gandhinagar to host biggest-ever DefExpo

    Gandhinagar to host biggest-ever DefExpo

    This will be the first time the event has just been for Indian businesses…reports Asian Lite News

    The 12th edition of DefExpo, which will take place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat between October 18 and 22, is set to be the biggest ever. A record 1,136 firms have registered for the event as of Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence said.

    DefExpo 2022 is being planned across the biggest overall area of more than 100,000 square meters, the ministry added.

    Additionally, the 12th DefExpo’s theme, “Path to Pride,” is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of making India a powerful and independent country by promoting, showcasing, and creating partnerships for the country’s aerospace and defense manufacturing industries with domestic as well as international clients.

    According to the defence ministry, the event will demonstrate the strength of the local defense sector, which is now fueling the government’s and the country’s overall commitment to the slogan “Make in India, Make for the World.”

    This will be the first time the event has just been for Indian businesses. Indian participation will include Indian firms, Indian subsidiaries of foreign OEMs, divisions of corporations established in India, and exhibitors with joint ventures with Indian companies.

    The seven new defence businesses, which were formed from the former Ordnance Factory Board, will also celebrate one year of existence during DefExpo 2022. These companies are all attending DefExpo for the first time.

    DefExpo 2022 will also commemorate the first anniversary of the creation of the seven new defence businesses, which were separated from the former Ordnance Factory Board. At DefExpo, each of these businesses will be attending for the first time.

    The 12th DefExpo will be a five-day event featuring business days from October 18–20 and public viewing days from October 21–22.

    At a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also went through the DefExpo 2022 preparations. During the meeting, he received a briefing from authorities on the tremendous preparations being made for the event by several stakeholders. While pushing the officials to make DefExpo 2022 the finest defense expo ever, he expressed satisfaction with the preparations.

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  • Kharge tops list of emerging candidates for Congress President

    Kharge tops list of emerging candidates for Congress President

    Congress treasurer Pawan Kumar Bansal has taken a nomination form from the Central Election Authority, but sources said however it’s not clear whether he will file a nomination or not….reports Asian Lite News

    Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is said to have emerged top choice for the party President’s post but the game is still on and Congress sources on Tuesday said that leaders have been called for the nomination on Thursday.

    Congress sources said that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is not yet ruled out from the race and Kumari Selja’s name is also under consideration while Rahul Gandhi’s choice is said to be K.C. Venugopal.

    Congress treasurer Pawan Kumar Bansal has taken a nomination form from the Central Election Authority, but sources said however it’s not clear whether he will file a nomination or not. On his part, Bansal said he is only a proposer, not the candidate.

    CEA Chairman Madhusudan Mistry said: “Till now (Shashi) Tharoor and Pawan Bansal has taken nomination forms from the CEA.”

    Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath, whose name had also come up and had met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday said that he doesn’t want to become the party chief and wants to continue to work for the party in Madhya Pradesh.

    The escalating drama in Rajasthan has made the Congress leadership think about a plan B for the top party post, for which Gehlot was being seen as a contender. However, the open defiance by his loyal MLAs had brought him under a cloud.

    The time is running out as the election process has started and September 30 is the last day of nomination.

    Cong serves show-cause notice

    The Congress on Tuesday served show-cause notices to Rajasthan Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal, party chief whip Mahesh Joshi and RTDC chairman Dharmendra Rathore for holding a parallel meeting of party legislators in Jaipur.

    The notice issued to Dhariwal said that he, being Parliamentary Affairs Minister, has committed “grave indiscipline” by hosting a parallel MLAs meeting at his residence and thus “pressuring MLAs not to attend the official meeting”.

    “As Parliamentary Affairs Minister, hosting the unofficial meeting confused the Congress MLAs as to which one was convened officially,” the notice reads.

    The notice that has sought response within 10 days also noted that Dhariwal’s action (parallel meeting) came even when senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Rajasthan in-charge Ajay Maken repeatedly clarify that they have come to speak to each MLA “individually and impartially” report to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

    Similarly, the notice addressed to Joshi stated that he, as Chief Whip, has conducted a “grave indiscipline” by boycotting the official CLP (Congress Legislature Party) meeting and by participating and convening parallel meeting of the MLAs at the time when officially appointed observers were waiting for the official meeting to start.

    “As Chief Whip your presence at the unofficial and illegal meeting confused the MLAs as to which one was convened officially,” added the notice.

    In show cause notice to Rathore, he was accused of making all logistical arrangements and was held responsible for being behind the entire planning of the unofficial meeting of the MLAs.

    Meanwhile, Maken has recommended disciplinary action against Dhariwal, Joshi and Rathore whom he blamed for holding the parallel meet.

    Maken, in his report to the party president, has reported “grave indiscipline” on part of them.

    Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, sources said, has been exonerated in the report submitted to party chief Sonia Gandhi.

    The official meeting of the Congress Legislature Party was to be held at 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Chief Minister’s residence in Jaipur, but before that Gehlot’s loyalists gathered at Dhariwal’s residence. From where, they went to Speaker C.P. Joshi’s residence and collectively submitted their resignation to him.

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  • Jaishankar flags concerns on US visa

    Jaishankar flags concerns on US visa

    Jaishankar flagged concerns and challenges that Indians have been facing in receiving visas to work and live in the United States…reports Reena Bhardwaj

    US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday assured that the US is “building back” on the backlog of visa applications from Indian nationals and said the Biden administration has a plan that will play out in the coming months.

    “We had constraints from COVID about the number of people we could have in our embassies at any one time etc. We are now building back very determined really from that surging resources. We have a plan when it comes to India to address the backlog of visas that have built up I think you’ll see that play out in the coming months,” Blinken said in a press briefing.

    The remarks came as he met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Washington.

    Jaishankar flagged concerns and challenges that Indians have been facing in receiving visas to work and live in the United States.

    “There have been some challenges of late, and I flagged it to Secretary Blinken and his team, and I have every confidence that they will look at some of these problems seriously and positively,” Jaishankar said in his opening remarks.

    The waiting period for Indians looking to secure a visitor visa to the US has gone up to 800 days, according to the website of the US State Department. The waiting period is nearly 400 days for student/exchange visitor visas and other non-immigrant visas.

    “I’m extremely sensitive to this,” said Blinken as he blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for the backlog.

    “Our ability to issue visas dropped dramatically during COVID. And the last thing we want to do is make that any more difficult. On the contrary, we want to facilitate it. So bear with us. This will play out over the next few months but we’re very focused on it,” Blinken added.

    Moreover, Blinken also noted that the partnership between India and United States is one of the most consequential in the world during the joint press conference.

    “The partnership between India and US is simply one of the most consequential in the world. It is to address any global challenge that our people face – health security, climate change, food security and upholding the free and open international order. Over the past years, we have made real progress in elevating that partnership bilaterally — through institutions like QUAD and G20 and international organisations at the United Nations,” Blinken said here.

    India will take over the presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) in December.

    Speaking over the presidency, Blinken said: “With India holding the presidency at the UNSC in December and taking over the presidency at G20 next year, we will be able to drive more global cooperation and action together.”

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Blinken earlier at the Quad meeting which saw participation from foreign ministers from India, the US, Australia, and Japan. (ANI)

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