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China calls for boosting ties with US

The spokesperson called on the two sides to uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation and manage differences, so as to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral ties…reports Asian Lite News

China on Tuesday called to boosting bilateral ties with the US after the American Electoral College officially certified President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the November 3 presidential election.

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a query on the Electoral College vote on Monday that certified Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s victory, reports Xinhua news agency.

“China has noticed the election results,” Wang said, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping had sent a congratulatory message to Biden on November 25.

The spokesperson called on the two sides to uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation and manage differences, so as to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral ties.

On Monday, electors from every US state gathered at Capitols across the country and voted 306 for Biden and 232 for President Donald Trump.

The former US Vice President has now officially surpassed 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the White House.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to Biden and congratulated the latter on his victory following the Electoral College vote.

This was the first congratulatory message by Russia to Biden since he was projected the winner just days after the November 3 election.

Members of US Congress are expected to certify the Electoral College vote on January 6, 2021, after which Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President on January 20.

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Putin congratulates Biden on win

JERUSALEM, Jan. 23, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the 5th World Holocaust Forum at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, on Jan. 23, 2020. Dozens of world leaders gathered on Thursday in Jerusalem to commemorate 75 years for the liberation of the Auschwitz camp and called on to combat the resurgence of modern-day anti-Semitism. (Yonatan Sindel/JINI via Xinhua/IANS)

Putin wished Biden a successful tenure and said he personally “was ready for cooperation and contacts” with the President-elect, the statement said…reports Asian Lite News

  • Moscow, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) — Russian President Vladimir Putin (Sputnik via Xinhua/IANS)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a telegram to US President-elect Joe Biden on his victory in the November 3 American presidential election, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a congratulatory telegram to Joe Biden on the occasion of his US presidential election victory,” TASS News Agency quoted the Kremlin as saying in a statement.

Putin wished Biden a successful tenure and said he personally “was ready for cooperation and contacts” with the President-elect, the statement said.

The message from the Russian President further said that despite differences, the US and Russia can help solve many world problems, RT News reported citing the Kremlin statement.

The congratulatory message came hours after after Biden won the US Electoral College vote that officially determines the presidency.

The members of the Electoral College officially sealed Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s election on Monday after they met in state legislatures.

They voted 306 for Biden and 232 for President Donald Trump.

This is the first congratulatory message by Russia to Biden since he was projected the winner just days after the November 3 election.

At that time, Russia had said that it was “proper to wait for the official results” referring to certification of the outcome by the US Electoral College, which voted on Monday in favour of Biden.

“The current President has announced certain legal procedures. This is what makes the situation different. Therefore, we believe it’s right to wait for the official results of the elections to be announced,” RT News quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskovas saying at the time.

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Also read:Russia sees record surge in daily Covid-19 cases

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Netanyahu undergoes self-quarantine

Jerusalem, Sept. 13, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a briefing on COVID-19 pandemic in Israel at his office in Jerusalem, on Sept. 13, 2020. Israel will reimpose a nationwide lockdown for three weeks, beginning on Friday, to slow a rapid resurgence of coronavirus infections, the government decided on Sunday. (Yoav Dudkevitch/JINI via Xinhua/IANS)

This is the third time the 71-year-old Prime Minister has entered a quarantine after coming into contact with people diagnosed positive for the virus….reports Asian Lite News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has self-quarantined after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, his office said.

“Following an epidemiological inquiry, the Prime Minister will enter isolation until Friday after meeting with a verified coronavirus patient,” Xinhua news agency quoted the office as saying in a statement on Monday.

Netanyahu underwent a Covid-19 test on Sunday and Monday and was found negative, the office added.

This is the third time the 71-year-old Prime Minister has entered a quarantine after coming into contact with people diagnosed positive for the virus.

In April, he had to enter isolation twice in the same week after being exposed to Covid-19 patients.

Israel has reported a resurgence of the virus outbreak, with a total of 358,293 diagnosed cases and 3,003 deaths, according to figures issued by the Health Ministry.

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US sanctions Turkey over S-400 purchase

The Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation, Christopher Ford, announced on Monday a series of sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) against NATO ally Turkey’s military procurement agency….reports Arul Louis

Imposing sanctions on Turkey for buying the Russian-made S400 Triumf anti-missile system, the US has reiterated its warning to India and other countries about acquiring equipment from Moscow.

The Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation, Christopher Ford, announced on Monday a series of sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) against NATO ally Turkey’s military procurement agency known by the Turkish acronym SSB and four senior Turkish officials.

“We hope that other countries around the world will also take note that the United States will fully implement CAATSA Section 231 sanctions and that they should avoid further acquisitions of Russian equipment, especially those that could trigger sections,” he said.

India signed a deal valued at $5.43 billion in 2018 for five units of the S-400 anti-missile system defying the US.

US has repeatedly tried to dissuade India from by the Russian system, while dangling the threat of sanctions under CAATSA and the incentive of an alternative anti-missile system.

The US has refused to give a blanket exemption for India from the CAATSA, but it has continued selling arms to India.

During President Donald Trump’s visit to India last year, he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $3.5 billion arms deal that would include 24 Sikorsky MH-60R Sea Hawk multi-role helicopters six Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters.

Washington also signed an advanced defence pact, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Geospatial Cooperation, or BECA, in October, giving New Delhi access to intelligence through satellite imagery and data for civilian and military use.

Changing policy under President-Elect Joe Biden on countries buying Russian arms may be complicated because CAATSA has also the support of Democrats, who are more antagonistic towards Moscow because of their claims it helped Trump win in 2016.

The latest sanctions against Turkey come on top of the banning of Ankara from getting the advanced F-35 fighter jets.

Ford said that the sanctions would stop SSB from getting export licenses for weapons and from receiving loans and that the US would also oppose loans from other sources to the company.

In addition, four Turkish officials will face visa and financial restrictions, he said.

At the same time, Ford said, “Turkey is a NATO ally, of course, (and) it is going to be close security partner of ours and we remain committed to that relationship.”

The US is at loggerheads with Turkey also on regional issues like Anakara’s involvement in Syria and Iraq and elsewhere.

Asked for the timing of the announcement of sanctions, which come 37 days before the end of Trump’s term, even though Turkey had signed the deal with Russia in 2017 and began testing it in October, Ford said that as Turkey was a NATO ally and had contributed to NATO, Washington took time to carefully consider the action against Ankara.

Also read:US begins vaccination to stem Covid-19

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As Kashmir Votes

Kashmiris vote in the local elections..

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‘UAE Keen To Enhance Cooperation With Afghanistan’

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence with Ambassador of Afghanistan to the UAE Javid Ahmad

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and the Afghan ambassador discussed the distinguished relations between the UAE and Afghanistan and stressed the importance of boosting cooperation between the two friendly countries in all fields to mirror the overall strategic partnership.

The Meeting was held on Sunday at Sheikh Nahyan’s palace where he received the Ambassador of Afghanistan to the UAE Javid Ahmad.

Sheikh Nahyan said that the UAE, led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is keen to develop cooperation and ties with countries throughout the world to boost tolerance, coexistence and solidarity, as well as expand the principles of human fraternity, which are the values that the UAE adopts in its relations with all countries.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence with Ambassador of Afghanistan to the UAE Javid Ahmad

Sheikh Nahyan added that the relations between the UAE and Afghanistan are well-established and witnessing ongoing development, thanks to the support of the leaderships of the two friendly countries, in order to achieve the aspirations of their peoples.

In turn, Ahmad emphasised his country’s keenness to enhance cooperation with the UAE in the interests of the two friendly countries, praising the role of the UAE and its global pioneering efforts in laying the foundations for peace, tolerance and coexistence by launching initiatives aimed at promoting stability and prosperity worldwide.

The Afghan ambassador praised the UAE’s humanitarian and development efforts worldwide, especially those provided for the Afghan people, which reflects the Emirati principles of human solidarity and the spread of goodness throughout the world, which remains an inspiring role model for global giving.

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PDM to stage final power show in Lahore

The power show, dubbed as ‘first phase’ of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s anti-government campaign, will take place at the city’s Minar-i-Pakistan…reports Asian Lite News

Despite the Pakistan government’s ban on holding public rallies in the wake of the unabated Covid-19 pandemic, the PDM opposition alliance is all set to stage its final power show in Lahore on Sunday.

The power show, dubbed as ‘first phase’ of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s anti-government campaign, will take place at the city’s Minar-i-Pakistan, reports The Express Tribune.

The alliance is expected to announce the second phase of its campaign at today’s rally, which will be addressed by its convener and Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples’ Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, among other opposition leaders.

Sunday’s rally comes despite PDM leaders being issued security threat alerts as well as being requested by the federal government to not hold public gatherings as the country was amidst an intensifying second wave of the pandemic.

  • Pakistan Democratic Party (PDM) rally

Addressing reporters on Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar warned the opposition of necessary action being taken if laws were violated.

Crowds of PDM supporters started gathering at the historic venue since Saturday night night, while many coming in from other cities had begun assembling at the various interchanges leading to Lahore early Sunday morning, said The Express Tribune report.

Sunday’s rally comes five days after the PDM announced on December 8 that all parliamentarians belonging to its constituent parties would submit their resignations from the national and provincial assemblies December 31 in a last-ditch attempt against the incumbent Imran Khan-led government.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also announced that by-elections would be held if the National Assembly speaker accepted the resignations of the opposition lawmakers from the lower house of parliament.

The PDM has been holding public rallies across Pakistan without permission from district authorities to hold them in the wake of the current Covid-19 situation.

The five earlier PDM rallies were held on October 16 in Gujranwala, October 19 in Karachi, October 25 in Quetta, November 22 in Peshawar and November 30 in Multan.

Also read:Pakistan ‘under pressure’ to recognise Israel

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PLO slams Israel for extension of West Bank settlements

The Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is a significant factor behind the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and one of the main reasons for the breakdown of the last peace talks between the two sides in 2014….reports Asian Lite News

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) has accused Israel of expanding the settlements in the West Bank by constructing new roads.

“Constructing new roads is a clear indication that Israel carries on with its plan to annex large parts of the West Bank,” Xinhua news agency quoted the PLO’s National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements as saying in an official report on Saturday.

The Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is a significant factor behind the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and one of the main reasons for the breakdown of the last peace talks between the two sides in 2014.

“The (Israeli) projects include building dozens of roads between settlements through a master plan, the first of its kind in years, to establish a transportation network in the settlements,” the PLO report noted.

Israeli media reported last week that the goal of building up new roads is to expand settlements to increase the number of settlers in the West Bank to 1 million.

According to the PLO, about 124 Israeli settlement outposts have been built in the West Bank since the 1990s without any official Israeli approval.

Palestinian rights groups said about 700,000 settlers have been living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967.

The Israeli settlements built on the Palestinian territories are regarded as illegal by the international community.

However in 2019, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Washington no longer considered Israeli settlements as inconsistent with international law.

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Japan approves $3.7bn to combat Covid-19

Using an allocation of 311.93 billion yen, the government will extend the “Go To Travel” campaign which was set to end in January for another five months to purportedly bolster the nation’s ailing tourism sector and help boost the broader economy…reports Asian Lite News

Japan’s cabinet on Friday approved an additional emergency spending package worth 385.62 billion yen ($3.70 billion) in reserve funds to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Using an allocation of 311.93 billion yen, the government will extend the “Go To Travel” campaign which was set to end in January for another five months to purportedly bolster the nation’s ailing tourism sector and help boost the broader economy, reports Xinhua news agency.

The move, however, has drawn flak from a number of quarters, with some experts believing the subsidized domestic travel program to be directly responsible for the recent spike in Covid-19 cases to hit the country, particularly in urbanized locations.

The government will also use 73.69 billion yen to provide low-income single parents with more financial support.

A total of 11.5 trillion yen has been set aside in reserve funds under its two extra budgets for fiscal 2020 through next March to focus directly on the downside economic effects caused by the pandemic.

Friday’s development comes after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday said the government has compiled an additional stimulus package worth over $700 billion to tackle the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

Measures will include support for hospitals and nursing homes, as well as financial aid for businesses.

The package ramps up investment in green technologies as Japan tries to shift to a net zero carbon footprint by 2050.

The announcement comes as Japan’s coronavirus caseload and death toll have increased to 174,115 and 2,419, respectively.

Also read:HK media mogul Jimmy Lai charged under security law

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US to return 12 military sites to S.Korea

A virtual joint committee session of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was held earlier in the day, agreeing on the return of the US military sites, including six in central Seoul…reports Asian Lite News

The South Korean Foreign Ministry on Friday announced that the US has agreed to return 12 military sites here to Seoul.

A virtual joint committee session of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was held earlier in the day, agreeing on the return of the US military sites, including six in central Seoul, reports Xinhua news agency.

SOFA governs the legal status of about 28,500 American soldiers stationed in South Korea.

The agreement was reached on condition that Seoul and Washington will continue discussions on responsibility for decontamination of the American military bases, ways to strengthen environmental management of installations currently under the US Forces Korea (USFK) control and the revision of SOFA documents proposed by South Korea.

Among six US military bases in Seoul to be returned to South Korea are two plots inside the Yongsan Garrison, and Camp Kim and Niblo Barracks both in Yongsan district.

It marked the first time that the Yongsan complex sites, or the former US military headquarters, were placed under the control of South Korea.

The country plans to develop the sites as national parks.

Other military sites to be returned include Camp Walker heliport in Daegu; Camp Jackson and part of Camp Mobile in Uijeongbu and Dongducheon each in Gyeonggi province; Commander Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) Detachment in Pohang; and part of the Pilsung Air Range in Taebaek.

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