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In US, Jaishankar bats for global south

External Affairs Minister shared with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken the “deep anxieties” in the global South on fuel, food, and fertilizers…reports Asian Lite News

The Ukraine conflict and the prospect of instability in the Indo-Pacific dominated talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken when they met in Washington.

Jaishankar, who spent the last few days meeting “about half the delegations” on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, shared with Blinken the “deep anxieties” in the global South on fuel, food, and fertilizers.

“A common concern among them was the anxiety about global economic volatility, an anxiety about sharply increased energy prices, of food inflation and food availability, of fertilizers which will impact food next year, of disrupted trade, of shipping, of insurance, of air-land movements, of travel,” said the External Affairs Minister (EAM).

Blinken, in particular, mentioned the “today’s era is not of war” message that Prime Minister Modi delivered in Uzbekistan recently and also Jaishankar’s speech at the UNGA where he said that “We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles”.

“I really want to emphasize what Prime Minister Modi said, because I think he captured, as well as anyone I’ve heard, fundamentally what this moment is about. As he said, this is not an era, this is not a time for war. We could not agree more,” said the US Secretary of State.

Spotlighting the Indo-US commitment to address the global volatility which has arisen from the Covid, conflicts and climate events, Jaishankar stressed that both countries have a strong interest in encouraging more resilient and reliable supply chains. This, said the EAM, requires policy decisions as well as practical measures involving the business community.

“When it comes to critical and emerging technologies, we both see the value of expanding trusted research. Our national security, our economic security, our technology security are all enhanced by closer collaboration. It is also in our mutual interest to facilitate the development and mobility of talent,” he said.

All these issues and more, the minister revealed, were evaluated not just in the bilateral context, but also from the perspective of the Quad and the I2U2 as both New Delhi and Washington remained keen to move forward on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

Jaishankar emphasised that India values its close cooperation with the US which is visible across the length and breadth of the Indo-Pacific and beyond but has very stong convergences in the subcontinent.

“It is essential that democracy, pluralism, progress, development and prosperity are nurtured. Conversely, we must counter radicalization, extremism and fundamentalism. India is widening its international footprint and there are many more regions where we will be intersecting with American interests. It is to our mutual benefit that this be a complementary process,” he stated.

In Washington, Jaishankar has spent the past two days meeting US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.

Raimondo, while discussing the US-India commercial relationship, welcomed India’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). Both agreed that the CEO Forum and the India-US Commercial Dialogue are key opportunities to strengthen the commercial relationship and to advance progress on issues relevant to both economies.

At the Pentagon, Jaishankar and Austin reviewed “priority lines of effort” to deepen bilateral defence cooperation as both countries progress toward a more advanced stage in their partnership.

Besides discussing developments in East Asia, the Indian Ocean Region, and the global reverberations of the Ukraine crisis, they also discussed new opportunities for bilateral defence industrial cooperation in support of India’s contributions as a regional security provider.

“The two leaders underscored the value of the deepening collaboration between the United States, India, Australia, Japan, and European partners. In this context, the United States looks forward to working with India and like-minded partners to promote security, prosperity, and transparency throughout the region, including through the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder.

Last night at the White House, Jaishankar met US NSA Jake Sullivan to review progress in the India-US strategic partnership and exchange views on global and regional priorities, including the implications of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its impact on food and energy insecurity around the world.

US also said that it is looking forward to India’s G20 presidency and advancing a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

ALSO READ-Jaishankar backs Modi’s Putin remarks

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Leave Russia, US tells American nationals

The advisory came roughly a week after Russia announced a partial mobilization amid the conflict with Ukraine…reports Asian Lite News

The US embassy in Moscow has urged American nationals residing in Russia to depart the country immediately, citing what it claimed to be possibility that Russia could conscript dual nationals for military service.

“Russia may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals’ US citizenship, deny their access to US consular assistance, prevent their departure from Russia, and conscript dual nationals for military service,” read an alert posted on the embassy’s website, Xinhua news agency reported.

“US citizens should not travel to Russia and those residing or travelling in Russia should depart Russia immediately while limited commercial travel options remain,” it added.

The advisory came roughly a week after Russia announced a partial mobilization amid the conflict with Ukraine.

ALSO READ: US will operate undaunted in Taiwan Strait: VP Harris

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Kamala Harris due in South Korea

Harris is scheduled to meet President Yoon Suk-yeol shortly after her arrival in Seoul…reports Asian Lite Newsa

US Vice President Kamala Harris will arrive in South Korea on Thursday just a day after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles amid an escalation of Pyongyang’s continued nuke testing.

Harris, who is travelling to South Korea from Japan, will make her first visit to the country as Vice President, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The last time a US Vice President visited South Korea was in February 2018, when Mike Pence led a delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Harris is scheduled to meet President Yoon Suk-yeol shortly after her arrival in Seoul.

On Wednesday night, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea in apparent protest of an ongoing South Korea-US military exercise involving an American aircraft carrier.

The North had also conducted a similar short-range ballistic missile test on Sunday.

During her day-long trip, Harris will underscore Washington’s commitment to the defence of its ally, a senior administration official in Washington told reporters earlier.

“The key messaging that she’s talking about on this trip is how our defence commitments are ironclad,” the official said of the visit, which will include a stop in the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas.

Harris’ visit to the DMZ comes less than two months after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went there.

ALSO READ: US will operate undaunted in Taiwan Strait: VP Harris

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US will operate undaunted in Taiwan Strait: VP Harris

During the address, Harris accused China of “disturbing behaviour” in the East China Sea and South China Sea and “provocations across the Taiwan Strait”…reports Asian Lite News

Vice President Kamala Harris said the United States will operate “undaunted and unafraid” throughout Asia, including the Taiwan Strait.

The vice president was addressing American troops in Japan after attending Tuesday’s funeral for assassinated former Japanese leader Shinzo Abe.

During the address, Harris accused China of “disturbing behaviour” in the East China Sea and South China Sea and “provocations across the Taiwan Strait”, according to AFP report.

“The United States believes that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is an essential feature of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” she said, using Washington’s term for the Asia-Pacific region.

“We will continue to fly, sail and operate, undaunted and unafraid, wherever and whenever international law allows,” she added.

Amid the tensions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi last week and stressed for preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Blinken “stressed that preserving peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is critical to regional and global security and prosperity,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

Over an hour-long meeting, Blinken emphasized that the United States is committed to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, consistent with its longstanding one-China policy.

Both leaders discussed the need to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the US-PRC relationship.

Earlier also, the US had repeatedly raised their voice on China-Taiwan relations. On September 19, CBS released their interview with US President from its “60 minutes programme”, where Joe Biden said that American forces would defend Taiwan from a Chinese invasion.

U.S. guided-missile destroyer in S. Korea after Taiwan Strait transit (YONHAP_IANS)

Responding to a query over defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, Biden said the US would defend Taiwan “if in fact there was an unprecedented attack,” according to The Washington Post.

Scott Pelley, the interviewer in the 60-minute programme pressed Biden on whether the situation would be different in the event of an attack on Taiwan.

“So unlike Ukraine, to be clear, sir, U.S. forces — U.S. men and women — would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?” Pelley asked.

“Yes,” Biden replied.

The relations between China and US deteriorated after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. That trip angered China’s ruling Communist Party — which views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite never having governed it — and it responded by launching unprecedented military drills around the island, sending warplanes across the Taiwan Strait and firing missiles over the main island.

ALSO READ: 16 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships cross Taiwan Strait

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US defends arms sales to Pakistan after India’s criticism  

Blinken met with Jaishankar a day after he held separate talks with his counterpart from Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari…;reports Asian Lite News

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has defended US military sales to Pakistan amid criticism from India, which says it is the target of a $450m F-16 fighter jet deal between Washington and Islamabad.

During a news conference in the United States capital on Tuesday, Blinken said that the military package approved earlier this month was for maintenance of Pakistan’s existing fleet.

“These are not new planes, new systems, new weapons. It’s sustaining what they have,” said Blinken, who spoke alongside India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

“Pakistan’s programme bolsters its capability to deal with terrorist threats emanating from Pakistan or from the region. It’s in no one’s interests that those threats be able to go forward with impunity,” he said.

Blinken met with Jaishankar a day after he held separate talks with his counterpart from Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

“In our discussions … we talked about the importance of managing a responsible relationship with India,” Blinken said after that meeting on Monday, without elaborating.

The US has maintained strong ties to both India and Pakistan for decades, despite various points of tension between the nations.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said earlier this week that “the relationship we have with India stands on its own; the relationship we have with Pakistan stands on its own”.

While Jaishankar did not criticise Blinken publicly over the F-16 deal, the Indian foreign minister said during an event on Sunday that the US position was not “fooling anybody”.

“For someone to say, I’m doing this because it’s for counter-terrorism, when you’re talking of an aircraft like the capability of the F-16, everybody knows where they are deployed,” he said, referring to the fleet’s positioning against India.

“Very honestly, it’s a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well nor serving American interests well,” he added.

Pakistan’s military relies heavily on the US, but the relationship has strained in recent years, particularly during the war in Afghanistan.

For its part, India historically has bought military equipment from Moscow and has pressed the US to waive sanctions required under a 2017 law for any nation that buys “significant” military hardware from Russia.

ALSO READ: Russia claims victory in Ukraine referendums

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US unveils plan to end obesity, hunger by 2030

Because Congress is unlikely to fund major federal dietary programs, Biden finds his hands largely tied…reports Asian Lite news

US President Joe Biden is hosting the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to catalyse action for the millions of Americans struggling with food insecurity and diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

The Conference will lay out a transformational vision for ending hunger and reducing diet-related disease by 2030 – all while closing disparities among the communities that are impacted most.

The White House has announced billions of dollars in pledges from major corporations — including the likes of fast food behemoth Burger King — to craft a national strategy on ending the twin US challenges of hunger and obesity, Agence France-Presse reported.

Because Congress is unlikely to fund major federal dietary programs, Biden finds his hands largely tied. However, officials said he was using the power of the presidency to get major companies involved and that the response has been strong.

Officials briefing reporters said that $8 billion in public and private sector commitments already made include pledges from more than 100 organizations, ranging from hospitals to tech companies and food industry players, it was reported.

At least $2.5 billion will be invested in start-up companies that are pioneering solutions to hunger and food insecurity. Over $4 billion will be dedicated toward philanthropy that improves access to nutritious food, promotes healthy choices, and increases physical activity, the White House said in statement.

GE, the multinational energy, aerospace, and healthcare company, and food industry innovation specialists Food Systems for the Future are set to launch a $2.5 billion private investor coalition over the next three years.

The National Restaurant Association will expand a project aimed at getting children to eat healthier food at 45,000 more outlets, including at chains like Burger King.

IT and communications giant Cisco will contribute $500 million over five years for healthier meals and food production in areas where it does business, it was reported.

ALSO READ: Russia claims victory in Ukraine referendums

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New $1.1 bn arms package for Ukraine in process

The package will include HIMARS launcher systems, accompanying munitions, various types of counter drone systems and radar systems, along with spares..reports Asian Lite News

The United States is preparing a new $1.1 billion arms package for Ukraine’s battle with Russia that will be announced soon, officials said as Washington awaits the outcome of what it calls “sham” referendums in Ukraine.

The package will be the latest installment in weaponry for Ukraine as it fights Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. The officials said on condition of anonymity that the package will be announced in coming days.

It is expected to use funds from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) appropriated by Congress to allow the Biden administration to procure weapons from industry rather than from existing weapons stocks.

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.(Photo_Instagram)

The package will include HIMARS launcher systems, accompanying munitions, various types of counter drone systems and radar systems, along with spares, training and technical support, a source briefed on the plan said.

The United States is watching warily as pro-Russian forces conduct referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine, with the outcome expected to be announced soon.

Washington is preparing a new round of sanctions against Russia should Moscow annex these areas after the referendum results are announced.

President Joe Biden has condemned the referendums and vowed the United States would never recognize the results.

The United States has provided more than $15 billion in military aid to Ukraine for its conflict with Russia.

ALSO READ: Russia claims victory in Ukraine referendums

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US govt welcomes Russians seeking asylum

The US would “welcome” any Russian citizens seeking asylum in this country after fleeing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military draft, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said…reports Asian Lite News

The US welcomes Russians seeking asylum from President Vladimir Putin’s “unpopular” war, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.

“We believe that regardless of their nationality, they may apply for asylum in the United States and have their claim educated on a case-by-case basis,” she said.

Earlier in the day, an ally of President Putin issued a stark new nuclear warning to Ukraine and the West as Russia began releasing results of referendums it bills as a prelude to it annexing four Ukrainian regions.

The US would “welcome” any Russian citizens seeking asylum in this country after fleeing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military draft, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday.

Jean-Pierre made the comments during a White House Press briefing, even as tens of thousands of Russian citizens have surged into neighboring Eastern European countries. A reporter pressed Jean-Pierre about reports of military-age men fleeing across borders or even injuring themselves to avoid conscription.

“I know the White House has drawn a distinction between the Russian government and the people of Russia. Does the president have a message for some of these men who are desperately trying to flee the country?” a reporter asked.

“We are seeing protests in the streets of Russia, we are seeing people sign petitions, and I think the message they are sending to us very clearly is that this war that Putin started … is unpopular,” Jean-Pierre said. “There are people out there in Russia who do not want to fight Putin’s war or die for it.”

“We believe that, regardless of nationality, they may apply for asylum in the United States and have their claim adjudicated on a case-by-case basis,” she added. “We welcome any folks who are seeking asylum, and they should do that.”

ALSO READ: Biden to host Macron at White House

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Biden keeps refugee admissions target at 125,000

The largest number of slots — 40,000 — was set aside for refugees from Africa, followed by 35,000 from South Asia and 15,000 each from East Asia, Europe and Latin America…reports Asian Lite News

President Joe Biden on Tuesday kept the nation’s cap on refugee admissions at 125,000 for the 2023 budget year, despite pressure from advocates to raise it even higher to meet the need after falling far short of that target this year.

Refugees advocates have been pushing the Biden administration to do more to restore the US Refugee Admissions Program. The more than four-decade-old program suffered deep cuts under the Trump administration, which slashed admissions to a record low of 15,000.

Biden raised the cap to four times that amount, but so far fewer than 20,000 refugees have been admitted this budget year, which ends Sept. 30.

That number excludes the roughly 180,000 Ukrainians and Afghans who came to the United States via a legal process called humanitarian parole that got them into the country more quickly than the traditional refugee program but only allows for stays of up to two years.

Refugees are provided a path to permanent residency. Their admissions are determined by the president each year, and federal funding for resettlement agencies is based on the number of people they resettle in a given year.

The 125,000 target “is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest,” Biden stated in his presidential determination. Historically, the average has been 95,000 under both Republican and Democratic administrations.

Biden earmarked 5,000 more slots for people from Europe and Central Asia for the 2023 budget year, making room to accommodate those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

The largest number of slots — 40,000 — was set aside for refugees from Africa, followed by 35,000 from South Asia and 15,000 each from East Asia, Europe and Latin America.

Biden has struggled to restore the US Refugee Program despite raising the numbers and removing bureaucratic barriers put in place by his predecessor, which slowed the process and led to a massive backlog.

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, head of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, said the Biden administration must act now to improve the refugee program with the United Nations reporting a record 100 million people being displaced from their homes.

“It must ramp up and streamline overseas processing of refugee applications if this lifesaving program is to remain relevant amid an unprecedented global displacement crisis,” she said in a statement.

ALSO READ: GOP planning impeachment move against Biden

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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.

ALSO READ: Taliban make fresh bid to revive TAPI