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Houthi Missiles Hit UK Vessel in Red Sea

MV Andromeda Star, the vessel which sustained a “minor damage”, however, is continuing its voyage.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi fighters fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles at two vessels in the Red Sea, which resulted in ‘minor damage’ to the UK-owned vessel.

MV Andromeda Star, the vessel which sustained damage, however, is continuing its voyage.

“At 5:49 p.m. (Sanna time) on April 26, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea in the vicinity of MV MAISHA, an Antiqua/Barbados flagged, Liberia operated vessel and MV Andromeda Star, a UK owned and Panamanian flagged, Seychelles operated vessel. MV Andromeda Star reports minor damage, but is continuing its voyage,” the CENTCOM said in a post on X.

“There are no injuries or other damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships at this time,” it added.

CENTCOM, which is responsible for the US forces operating in the Middle East, said there were no reports of casualties from the Friday evening missile attacks on the MV Maisha, a ship sailing under the flag of Antiqua/Barbados, as per Al Jazeera.

In the Red Sea, US Marines are spearheading operations to defend shipping boats against Houthi strikes, which are purportedly directed at ships that use Israeli ports or have ties to Israel.

The Houthi attacks on commercial vessels on Red Sea trade routes started in mid-November, with the group linking the disruptions to its demand for an end to Israel’s offensive in Gaza and the delivery of aid to Palestinians ‘under siege’.

The Houthi rebels, who are an Iran-aligned group, have said that they will not stop attacking until Israel ends the hostilities in Gaza.

The US and UK had launched air and surface strikes, which also included fighter jets, against Houthi sites in Yemen. (ANI)

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White House ‘Appalled’ By Student Leader’s ‘Kill Zionists’ Comment

Student leader Khymani James was heard saying in a video in January this year that “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and that people should “be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists.”

At a time when varsities in the United States are rocked by pro-Palestinian protests, the White House has come in for strong criticism of the “appaling and dangerous” comments made by a student leader of the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, according to The Hill.

“These dangerous, appalling statements turn the stomach and should serve as a wakeup call. It is hideous to advocate for the murder of Jews,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement on Friday.

“President Biden has been clear that violent rhetoric, hate speech, and antisemitic remarks have no place in America whatsoever, and he will always stand against them,” he said.

“Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic, or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy,” the spokersperson said.

Student leader Khymani James was heard saying in a video in January this year that “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and that people should “be grateful that I’m not just going out and murdering Zionists,” according to The Hill.

In a social media post on Friday, Khymani expressed regret and said that his remarks were “wrong.”

James’ remarks coincided with a meeting he had with school administrators on a social media post he had made about battling a Zionist.

“I don’t fight to injure or for there to be a winner or a loser, I fight to kill,” James said at that time.

In a social media post on Friday, the student expressed regret and said that his remarks were “wrong.”

Earlier on Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson called for the resignation of Columbia University’s president amid ongoing demonstrations sparked by pro-Palestinian sentiments at major American universities, reported CNN.

However, protesters at Columbia University, where demonstrations ignited last week, demand the severance of ties with Israeli academic institutions and a complete divestment from entities linked to Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasised the need for order on campus, stating that if the university president cannot restore calm, she should resign. However, student reactions to this call for resignation are varied, with some expressing willingness to continue working with her. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Israel’s Ultimatum: Release 33 Hostages or Face Rafah Assault

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Israel’s Ultimatum: Release 33 Hostages or Face Rafah Assault

Israel, citing its internal report, has said that of the 129 Israeli hostages, there are 33 people who fall in the category of aged, women, and ill.

Israel has demanded the release of at least 33 hostages by Hamas to prevent the planned attack on the city of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

Sources in the Israeli Defence Ministry told IANS that the demand was put forward by Mossad chief David Barnea before the visiting Egyptian delegation headed by its intelligence chief Major General Abbas Kamel.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has already expressed his country’s concern over the planned attack on Rafah to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the latter’s recent visit to Cairo.

Egypt fears that an attack on the Rafah region would lead to civilian catastrophe as well as a huge refugee exodus to Egypt as Rafah borders the Sinai region of the country.

Israel, citing its internal report, has said that of the 129 Israeli hostages, there are 33 people who fall in the category of aged, women, and ill. According to Israel, many of the 129 hostages are dead.

Israel has also said that it would not allow any time buying tactics by Hamas led by Yahya Sinwar, its military commander and the “mastermind of the October 7, 2023 massacre”.

Israeli intelligence has claimed that Sinwar is in Rafah in one of the Hamas tunnels with the Israeli hostages as human shields.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has already deployed its elite Nahal Brigade in Rafah ahead of the planned attack.

ALSO READ: UK slaps fresh sanctions on Iran after Israel attack

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UK slaps fresh sanctions on Iran after Israel attack

The package of sanctions has been announced in co-ordination with the US and Canada, and follows Iran’s missile and drone attack against Israel earlier this month…reports Asian Lite News

The UK has announced sanctions against individuals and companies linked to Iran’s drone and missile industry. Two people linked to the country’s network of drone production, Seyed Mohsen Vahabzadeh Moghadam and Abbas Abdi Asjerd, will be subject to a UK travel ban and asset freeze.

The pair are directors of a network of Iranian companies involved in producing drones.

They also have connections to a man named Abdollah Mehrabi, head of an aerospace force within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who was sanctioned in 2022 for providing drones to Russia. Four companies – Bonyan Danesh Shargh, Pishro Sanat Aseman Sharif Company, Alvand Motorbuilding Industries Company and Moj Gostar Aseman Parvaz Company – will also face a UK asset freeze.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said: “The Iranian regime’s dangerous attack on Israel risked thousands of civilian casualties and wider escalation in the region. Today the UK and our partners have sent a clear message – we will hold those responsible for Iran’s destabilising behaviour to account. Alongside our partners, we will continue to tighten the net on Iran’s ability to develop and export these deadly weapons.”

The package of sanctions has been announced in co-ordination with the US and Canada, and follows Iran’s missile and drone attack against Israel earlier this month.

A similar set of restrictions were announced on April 18, aimed at Iranian military top brass and defence organisations. G7 foreign ministers, including Lord Cameron, last week warned they were planning joint action in order to stifle Iran’s influence in the Middle East.

More than 400 sanctions have already been imposed on Iran by the UK, including on the entirety of the IRGC. The UK has further plans to expand trade sanctions against the Iranian regime by introducing a ban on exporting the component parts used in drone and missile production to Iran.

This is intended to deny Iran access to the parts it needs to make these weapons and limit its military capabilities.

Meanwhile, a Greek navy frigate fired on two drones approaching the ship in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday morning – one was shot down.

The second unmanned aerial vehicle then turned away, as reported by Greek radio (ERT), citing the Ministry of Defence in Athens. The frigate is continuing its mission, it added.

The frigate was escorting a merchant ship as part of the EU naval mission Aspides, which aims to protect merchant ships from attacks by the militant Islamist Houthi from Yemen.

The Gulf of Aden, off the Yemeni coast, links the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea.

Houthi militants have been attacking ships in the Red Sea region in what they say is retaliation for Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip.

Major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe and sailing the much longer journey around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia say they want to force an end to the Israeli attacks in Gaza, which followed the unprecedented massacre by the Palestinian Islamist organisation Hamas last October.

Several Western countries, including the United States and Britain, have launched operations to protect ships in the region in response to the Houthi attacks. The European Union has also deployed a military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea.

ALSO READ-US nudges Germany on long-range missiles for Ukraine

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Royal Navy shoots down missile for first time since Gulf War

Shapps said the latest Houthi attack was an example of how dangerous the world was becoming and how “non-state actors were now being supplied with very sophisticated weapons” from states such as Iran…reports Asian Lite News

A British Royal Navy destroyer shot down a ballistic missile on Wednesday for the first time since the first Gulf War in 1991, the UK’s defense secretary told The Times newspaper.

In a report published Thursday, Grant Shapps told the newspaper that HMS Diamond used its “Sea Viper” missile system to target the weapon, which Yemen’s Houthi militia said they used to target two American ships in the Gulf of Aden and an Israeli vessel in the Indian Ocean.

The Iran-backed group said its missiles targeted US ship Maersk Yorktown, an American destroyer in the Gulf of Aden and Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean, its military spokesman Yahya Sarea confirmed.

It is the first such attack from the Yemeni militia in two weeks in the region, where Royal Navy Type 45 destroyers have been deployed to protect commercial ships since the Houthis initiated strikes on global shipping in November last year in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

“The Yemeni armed forces confirm they will continue to prevent Israeli navigation or any navigation heading to the ports of occupied Palestine in the Red and Arabian Seas, as well as in the Indian Ocean,” Sarea said on Wednesday.

Shapps said the latest Houthi attack was an example of how dangerous the world was becoming and how “non-state actors were now being supplied with very sophisticated weapons” from states such as Iran.

His comments came after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week pledged to increase spending on British defense to 2.5 percent of national income, something Shapps said was “so vital” given continued tensions in the Middle East.

US-led coalition forces shot down four drones and an anti-ship missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, American authorities said Thursday, as the Iran-backed group announced strikes against US and Israeli ships.

A Greek vessel deployed in the Gulf of Aden as part of an EU naval coalition also shot down a drone off Yemen’s coast early on Thursday, the Greece general staff said in a statement.

The incidents follow a lull in attacks by the Houthis, who launched dozens of missile and drone strikes targeting shipping since November, saying they were acting in solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war.

Despite the drop in attacks in recent weeks, late on Wednesday the Houthis said they “are continuing to take further military actions against all hostile targets in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean.”

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that just before noon Yemen time (0900 GMT) on Wednesday a coalition vessel “successfully engaged one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM)” launched from Houthi-controlled areas of the country.

ALSO READ-Royal Navy deployed to deliver supplies to Gaza

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UAE, Austria vow to deepen ties

During the ceremony, the two sides praised the progress made in their bilateral relations, stressing the need to continue strengthening joint work…reports Asian Lite News

UAE Minister of Industry Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber has met with Karl Nehammer, Chancellor of Austria Alexander Schallenberg, Austria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Magnus Brunner, Austria’s Minister of Finance, and a number of Austrian government and private sector officials in Vienna.

Dr. Al Jaber conveyed the greetings of the UAE leadership, emphasising their keenness to bolster UAE-Austria cooperation. He also praised the strong Emirati-Austrian relationship, spanning 50 years, which continues to grow and thrive, highlighting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2021 as a recent example. Dr. Al Jaber stressed the importance of further expanding existing ties through the pursuit of new collaborations that drive mutually beneficial and sustainable economic yields, and joint investments that drive economic diversification efforts, strengthen cooperation, and deliver benefits for both countries in vital sectors.

Dr. Al Jaber also commended Austria’s positive and active participation in COP28, where it announced an increase in its contribution to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to €160 million per annum, its support for initiatives to boost renewable energy production capacity threefold and double energy efficiency by 2030, as well as its announcements and commitments related to agriculture, food systems and health.

The Austrian side praised the strategic ties and affirmed the desire to advance them across all sectors within the strategic partnership, which includes political, economic, trade, financial, cultural, advanced technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) fields, as well as infrastructure, energy, and renewable energy. They also congratulated the UAE on its presidency and organization of COP28, during which it succeeded in delivering the UAE Consensus to transition away from fossil fuels in energy, and other strategic initiatives and commitments set to turbocharge global climate action. The two sides stressed the importance of building on the outputs of the conference and working to implement them.

First Ministerial Meeting

Chaired by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and Alexander Schallenberg, the first ministerial meeting of the UAE- Austria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership took place during the visit. The meeting included deliberations on the latest developments in bilateral relations related to all facets of the partnership, which includes political, diplomatic, and international cooperation areas, including strengthening diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving global crises that threaten international peace and security. It also discussed cooperation across economic, energy, trade, industry, and advanced technology fields, including AI and data centers, as well as cross-sectoral partnerships and collaboration in arts, culture, and heritage.

Half a Century of Bilateral Ties

The Austrian Chancellor hosted the UAE delegation at a private meeting in which both sides celebrated the golden jubilee of the establishment of the bilateral relations between their countries, which developed into a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2021, aimed at ushering in an ambitious phase of cooperation to achieve their shared aspirations for further development and prosperity. During the ceremony, the two sides praised the progress made in their bilateral relations, stressing the need to continue strengthening joint work and uncovering new cooperation prospects to reach the ambitions of the leaderships of the two countries and the objectives of the UAE-Austria Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

ADNOC-OMV @ 30

“It is our honor to celebrate two significant anniversaries during the visit of His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. This year marks 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries and 30 years of a strong partnership between OMV and Abu Dhabi. As the Finance Minister of the Republic of Austria, I am pleased that amidst the diplomatic visit, there is also time and space to highlight the economic partnership. Economic cooperation is not only beneficial for the positive development of companies but also a success story for taxpayers,” stated Finance Minister Dr. Magnus Brunner.

The partners also celebrated the occasion of nearly three decades of the cooperation between ADNOC and OMV, based on a shareholder´s agreement with ÖBAG, the state holding company, which has greatly contributed to building strategic partnerships in the energy and chemicals sectors, creating value, driving growth, and supporting the priorities of the two countries in achieving and maintaining energy security, and exploring new opportunities in the fields of clean and renewable energy, including hydrogen

Trade and Direct Investments

The UAE is Austria’s top investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and sixth globally, with Emirati investments amounting to approximately $8.2 billion (4% of total foreign investment flows in Austria) in 2023, while Austria stands at 10th among the UAE’s trading partners at the European Union level. The UAE also ranks first as Austria’s largest trading partner among the GCC countries (43% of Austria’s total trade with GCC countries) and second among Arab countries (16% of Austria’s total trade exchange with Arab countries). The volume of UAE-Austria non-oil trade in the first nine months of 2023 recorded a growth of 18% year-on-year reaching around $1 billion.

ALSO READ-Austrian Activist Freed From Taliban Custody

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US sanctions over dozen entities for trading with Iran

Sahara Thunder has been identified as the key front company for MODAFL’s illicit financing and a central player in Iran’s design, development, manufacture, and sale of thousands of UAVs…reports Asian Lite News

The United States has imposed sanctions on over a dozen entities, eight individuals and vessels that have facilitated illicit trade and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) transfer on behalf of the Iranian military.

“The United States is today imposing sanctions on 16 entities and eight individuals, as well as identifying as blocked property five vessels and one aircraft, that have facilitated illicit trade and the sale of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in support of Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL) and the regime’s UAV development and procurement,” the US State Department said in a release.

Moreover, the UK and Canada are imposing sanctions targeting several entities and individuals involved in Iran’s UAV procurement and other military-related activities, respectively.

Sahara Thunder has been identified as the key front company for MODAFL’s illicit financing and a central player in Iran’s design, development, manufacture, and sale of thousands of UAVs.

Many of these designs and UAVs have ultimately been transferred to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.

“The United States will continue to hold Iran accountable for its transfer of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to Russia and to regional proxies,” the statement added.

Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson, said, “Iran’s Ministry of Defence continues to destabilise the region and world with its support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, unprecedented attack on Israel, and proliferation of UAVs and other dangerous military hardware to terrorist proxies.”

“The United States, in close coordination with our British and Canadian partners, will continue to use all means available to combat those who would finance Iran’s destabilising activities,” Nelson added.

Sahara Thunder has also played an instrumental role in the Iranian military’s sale of UAVs.

“MODAFL has cooperated with Russia to finance and produce Iranian-designed one-way attack UAVs at the US-sanctioned Joint Stock Company Special Economic Zone of Industrial Production Alabuga (SEZ Alabuga) facility in Russia under a USD 1.75 billion contract,” the US Department of Treasury said.

As of late 2022, Russian officials were negotiating a deal for Sahara Thunder to deliver and produce thousands of UAVs per year at this facility.

The Russian military have been using these UAVs in Ukraine against critical infrastructure and civilian targets, the statement added. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Iran to Reimpose Stadium Ban on Women

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Emirati Field Hospital in Gaza scores medical feat

This success story further underscores the invaluable role the integrated field hospital is playing in providing critical medical services to Gazans…reports Asian Lite News

In a further testament to their ongoing commitment to supporting Palestinian healthcare, the Emirati integrated field hospital in Gaza has achieved a remarkable medical feat by removing a massive 5-kilogramme tumour from a patient’s abdomen. The hospital is deployed as part of the ‘Operation Chivalrous Knight 3’.

The patient had endured years of severe pain and debilitating health complications due to the tumour. The Emirati medical team, comprised of specialists from various specialities, collaborated seamlessly to perform this complex surgery.

This success story further underscores the invaluable role the integrated field hospital is playing in providing critical medical services to Gazans.

The removed tumour will now undergo thorough laboratory analysis to determine the most effective treatment plan for the patient’s complete recovery. The dedicated medical team will now continue to closely monitor the patient’s condition through consultations and provide all necessary care.

ALSO READ-Qatar reviews achievements of Emiratisation in UAE

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Columbia Uni: Tensions mount as campus protests escalate

Protesters demand the severance of ties with Israeli academic institutions…reports Asian Lite News

Tensions escalate amidst college protests as House Speaker Mike Johnson called for the resignation of Columbia University’s president amid ongoing demonstrations sparked by pro-Palestinian sentiments at major American universities, CNN reported.

Protesters at Columbia University, where demonstrations ignited last week, demand the severance of ties with Israeli academic institutions and complete divestment from entities linked to Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasised the need for order on campus, stating that if the university president cannot restore calm, she should resign. However, student reactions to this call for resignation are varied, with some expressing willingness to continue working with her, as reported by CNN.

At the University of Texas in Austin, over 30 arrests were made during protests, while around 50 protesters were arrested at the University of Southern California following a dispersal order from the police.

Negotiations between Columbia University officials and protesters regarding the clearance of encampments on campus have been described as “unstable” by Esha Karam, managing director of Columbia Daily Spectator, citing student organisers. Talks have been extended for 48 hours, but the outcome remains uncertain.

“We’re about halfway through that extended deadline of 48 hours and we heard from organizers on the student front earlier today in a press conference who told us that the negotiations are ongoing so unstable at the moment,” Karam told CNN.

There’s still around another 24 hours to go until the extended deadline “but really after that, we don’t really know where things are going,” Karam added.

The California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt campus, faces continued closure as protesters, including unidentified non-students, occupy two buildings. School officials have expressed concerns over safety hazards and property damage, with plans to keep the campus closed for an extended period.

Amid clashes between protesters and law enforcement at the University of Texas at Austin, a photographer from Fox 7 was detained and arrested. The Texas Department of Public Safety reported 34 arrests on campus as of 9 pm, as reported by CNN.

Despite mounting pressure, the Columbia University Board of Trustees released a statement affirming their support for President Minouche Shafik, praising her handling of the unrest and commitment to resolving conflicts while upholding campus values.

The board assured their collaboration with President Shafik to address the campus turmoil and rebuild community bonds amidst the ongoing protests, CNN reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Blinken calls for US, China to manage differences

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Biden says Israel must allow aid to Palestinians

US-Israel relations have been strained by Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza…reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden on Wednesday demanded that new humanitarian aid be allowed to immediately reach Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as key US ally Israel fights Hamas there.

“We’re going to immediately secure that aid and surge it… including food, medical supplies, clean water,” Biden said after signing a massive military aid bill for Israel and Ukraine, which also included $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza.

“Israel must make sure all this aid reaches the Palestinians in Gaza without delay,” he said.

US-Israel relations have been strained by Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to send troops into the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where 1.5 million people are sheltering, many in makeshift encampments.

“This bill significantly — significantly — increases humanitarian assistance we’re sending to the innocent people of Gaza who are suffering badly,” Biden said.

“They’re suffering the consequences of this war that Hamas started, and we’ve been working intently for months to get as much aid to Gaza as possible.”

Meanwhile, Israel’s military is poised to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and assault Hamas hold-outs in the southern Gaza Strip city, a senior Israeli defense official said on Wednesday, despite international warnings of humanitarian catastrophe.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said Israel was “moving ahead” with a ground operation, but gave no timeline.

The defense official said Israel’s Defense Ministry had bought 40,000 tents, each with the capacity for 10 to 12 people, to house Palestinians relocated from Rafah in advance of an assault.

Video circulating online appeared to show rows of square white tents going up in Khan Younis, a city some 5 km (3 miles) from Rafah. Reuters could not verify the video but reviewed images from satellite company Maxar Technologies which showed tent camps on Khan Younis land that had been vacant weeks ago.

An Israeli government source said Netanyahu’s war cabinet planned to meet in the coming two weeks to authorize civilian evacuations, expected to take around a month.

The defense official, who requested anonymity, told Reuters that the military could go into action immediately but was awaiting a green light from Netanyahu.

Rafah, which abuts the Egyptian border, is sheltering more than a million Palestinians who fled the half-year-old Israeli offensive through the rest of Gaza, and say the prospect of fleeing yet again is terrifying.

“I have to make a decision whether to leave Rafah because my mother and I are afraid an invasion could happen suddenly and we won’t get time to escape,” said Aya, 30, who has been living temporarily in the city with her family in a school.

She said that some families recently moved to a refugee camp in coastal Al-Mawasi, but their tents caught fire when tank shells landed nearby. “Where do we go?“

ALSO READ: Blinken calls for US, China to manage differences