The US imposed sanctions on Turkey over the S-400s, targeting the Turkish defence procurement agency and its officials…reports Asian Lite News
Turkey and the US have agreed to continue talks on Ankara’s demand to acquire F-16 fighter jets after a meeting between the two sides was conducted in a “positive and constructive atmosphere”, the Defence Ministry here said.
During the meeting in Washington on Wednesday, delegations from the two sides exchanged views on bilateral and regional defence and security issues, and the agreed to hold their next talks in Ankara, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.
Turkey, US agree to continue F-16 talks
The Turkish delegation was visiting Washington for discussions on the country’s proposal to acquire more F-16 jets and for modernisation of its current fleet with the money paid to the US for the F-35 fighter jet program, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said while addressing a parliament budget meeting on Tuesday.
Turkey’s procurement of the Russian S-400 missile defence systems prompted the US administration to suspend Ankara’s participation in the F-35 joint program in 2019.
Tensions between the US and Turkey have escalated ever since over the deal, as Washington claimed that the S-400 systems would be incompatible with the NATO system and risk to expose its confidential military information to Russia.
Abbas discusses Israeli-Palestinian conflict with US envoy to UN
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield…reports Asian Lite News
During their meeting at his office here on Wednesday, Abbas warned that Israel’s practices in the Palestinian territories “would undermine the vision of the two-state solution”, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying.
The President informed the envoy that the leadership in Ramallah rejects the Israeli government’s decision to classify six Palestinian non-government organisations as terrorist groups.
Abbas discusses Israeli-Palestinian conflict with US envoy to UN
The statement also said that he told Thomas-Greenfield that the Palestinians reject the Israeli policies against the Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
Abbas reaffirmed the Palestinian side’s commitment to peace and to holding an international peace conference under the auspices of the international Quartet, which consists of the UN, the US, the European Union and Russia.
Following the meeting, the Ambassador tweeted: “Today I met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. We discussed rebuilding the US-Palestinian relationship, ensuring UNRWA lives up to its commitments, the importance of respecting human rights, and our shared commitment to a two-state solution.”
The last direct peace talks between Israel and Palestine, which were sponsored by the US and lasted for nine months, stopped in 2014 following deep disagreements on issues related to Jewish settlements, borders and security.
Blinken in Kenya as part of 3-nation tour in Africa
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi as part of his three-nation tour in Africa, which will also take him to Nigeria and Senegal…reports Asian Lite News
Following his arrival on Wednesday, the Secretary of State held talks with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta during which they discussed regional peace and security, reports Xinhua news agency.
Blinken in Kenya as part of 3-nation tour in Africa
After the meeting, Blinken tweeted: “Our commitment to the US-Kenya Strategic Partnership is stronger than ever. From Covid-19 to climate change, to fostering an inclusive, growing economy, meeting global goals is not possible without partners like Kenya.”
According to the State Department, US and Kenya are are currently working together to address regional priorities, particularly ending the crisis in Ethiopia, fighting terrorism in Somalia, and restoring the civilian-led transition in Sudan.
This may be the “Asian century”, but pitfalls still abound for the region, among which contested geopolitics are the most prominent, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) said in a report…writes Sanjeev Sharma
In fact, the Asia region is now looking similar to late 19th-century Europe (not a good sign), with territorial disputes among neighbouring countries; intensifying competition between a rising power (China) and an established one that is reluctant to cede influence (the US); and the lack of a recognised arbitration framework with which to manage this conflict, the report said.
A geopolitical split in Asia, driven by the US-China rivalry, would derail Asia’s economic prospects, the EIU said.
Most countries are desperate to avoid taking sides, as they balance economic ties to China with support for the security role played in the region by the US. Their ability to be neutral, however, will be tested as superpower competition deepens and is dictated more by ideology. Any conflict in the South China Sea or a Chinese attempt to annex Taiwan, for instance, would force the issue.
If obliged to choose sides, Asia’s democracies, led by security allies such as Australia, Japan and South Korea, will lean towards the US. China only has one formal ally to call upon, and a weak one at that, in North Korea but, in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has developed a recognised economic bloc while simultaneously cultivating closer security ties with Russia. This makes it challenging to predict the side that many Asian countries would choose.
The emergence of competing cold war-type blocs in Asia would have far-ranging consequences. First of all, it would unwind the connections and supply chains that have been at the core of the region’s economic success. Fiscal priorities in the region would shift from development needs to those of national defence, fuelling poverty and delaying economic convergence. The broader policy agenda, including climate change, would also be sidelined. It is an outcome that nobody wants, but one that all must prepare for, EIU said.
US, China Rivalry Casts Shadows Over Asia
In a related report, EIU said around 15 years ago, even close observers of Chinese politics would have struggled to predict that Xi Jinping would become not only the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but also that he would reshape domestic politics and China’s international relations. A low-profile regional leader at that time, the party elders that signed off on Mr Xi’s appointment as CCP leader in 2012 did so thinking he would be a consensus-builder and a safe pair of hands.
EIU: “On the contrary, Xi has proven ruthlessly ambitious and a consistent risk-taker. He has centralised power, dismantling the idea of collective leadership; backed an anti-corruption campaign that has affected all levels of society; attempted to defuse the debt problems that pose the greatest risk to China’s economic trajectory; launched hardline security and ideology drives in Hong Kong and Xinjiang; and gone toe to toe with three US presidents in what has become an all-encompassing US-China rivalry.”
The recent crackdown by the Chinese government to curb the country’s technology giants suggests Xi has no intention of letting up. The individual’s role in shaping history can be difficult to discern against broader, structural forces, but it is difficult to imagine Xi’s predecessors or rival candidates for CCP leadership charting a similar course.
Debate over the wisdom of the direction in which he has taken China at home and internationally will last for many years, but there can be little doubt over the force or permanence of his impact, the EIU said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian has called for a “serious” approach of the negotiating sides in the upcoming nuclear talks for a “good deal”…reports Asian Lite News
“I believe that if the opposite sides enter the Vienna talks with a serious and positive approach, it will be possible to achieve a good agreement in a short time,” Amir Abdollahian was quoted as saying.
The Islamic Republic and the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), are set to meet in the Austrian capital of Vienna on November 29 to resume the negotiations which were paused in June due to Iran’s presidential election and the subsequent alteration in the administration.
NUKE ROW Iran Is Ready For Good Deal
“The Islamic Republic has no intention to be locked in the stalemate remaining from the previous negotiations,” he said, urging for “effective and verifiable removal of (US) sanctions and the return of the opposite sides to their full obligations” as the necessary steps for the progress of the talks.
Washington’s behaviour in imposing new sanctions against Iran has made providing “objective guarantees” an unavoidable necessity, he said, referring to the Iranian officials’ persistence for the guarantees that the next US administrations will not repeat the legacy of former President Donald Trump by withdrawing from the deal and re-imposing sanctions against Tehran.
Amir Abdollahian also pointed to the recent European tour of Iran’s nuclear negotiator Ali Baqheri Kani, saying that he has had “explicit and useful” talks in a number of European capitals ahead of the scheduled reconvene of the talks.
The JCPOA Joint Commission is scheduled to reconvene in Vienna with the participation of delegates from China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and Iran.
The US, which terminated its participation in the agreement in May 2018, is expected to engage in the talks indirectly.
When Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett triumphantly secured an annual budget last week, he tweeted “now we begin!”…reports Asian Lite News
After three years’ political instability in Israel, the passing of the budget is thought to guarantee the longevity of the government. However, for the government led by Bennett, a very heterogeneous coalition, there is indeed more major work ahead.
Bennett leads a razor-thin majority in the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament. From right-wing nationalists to the first Arab party to join a government, disagreement rather than consensus is more likely to dominate possible issues, Xinhua news agency reported.
Post-budget Woes Threaten Israeli Coalition
“The budget was used as an excuse to delay discussions on all other matters,” said Gayle Tal Shir from the department of Political Science at the Hebrew University. “The government will now have a very difficult time. There will not be quiet from any direction.”
Underlying tensions are ever-present in the current coalition and an array of issues could bring them to the surface. However, with many of the partners being wary of their political future, it is hard to see any of them leave the coalition.
Settlement Construction
The construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank could test the delicate coalition. The majority of the international community considers Jewish settlements in those areas illegal and does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem, not to mention that the Palestinians see these areas as part of their future independent state.
Since its swearing-in in June, the Israeli government has quietly advanced building projects in contentious areas in Jerusalem. Plans for building hundreds of housing units in the West Bank have also been laid. The plans were submitted by the housing minister, a member of the New Hope right-wing party.
“We have reached the limit of our ability to stay silent,” tweeted Mossi Raz, a Meretz Parliament member, in response to the minister’s plans.
While Bennett himself is a vocal opponent of the two-state solution, his coalition partners from the left are champions of it.
“We will oppose any step that prevents a political settlement in the future,” said the head of the Labor party and Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli, at the Knesset earlier this week.
“There will be an ideological fight. We will see feistiness from the left, and there is potential to rock the boat,” Tal Shir noted.
US Consulate in Jerusalem
The reopening of a US consulate for Palestinians in East Jerusalem is also a cause for strain within the coalition. While both Bennett and Alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid have voiced their opposition to the US intention, the more dovish members of the government are not as keen to butt heads with the White House.
Up until 2018, the United States had two consulates in Jerusalem, one for Palestinians and one for Israelis. After former U.S. President Donald Trump recognized the city as the capital of Israel, the two consulates were merged and housed in the new embassy.
“The sovereignty in Jerusalem is held by one country alone — the state of Israel,” said Lapid at a press conference over the weekend after the passing of the budget.
The US is looking to improve relations with the Palestinians that deteriorated under the Trump administration. Israeli media have reported that Lapid told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the US insistence on re-opening the consulate could risk the government’s stability.
“The Americans wanted to see a stable government, and they understand this will put the government in a bind,” said Eran Vigoda-Gadot, a professor of political science and governance at the University of Haifa.
Benjamin-Netanyahu
Anti-Netanyahu Legislation
Having coined “The Change government,” Bennett formed the coalition together with Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party. The unlikely agreement was based on the common desire to oust Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his seat.
The passing of the budget is a major dent in Netanyahu’s plans to make a political comeback. In addition, there are also attempts to prevent him from even taking part in any future campaign.
Netanyahu is currently on trial for various corruption charges. Led by Justice Minister Gideon Saar, members of the coalition are promoting a law to bar lawmakers faced with serious charges from becoming a prime minister. Should the law pass, it would take effect in the next election, essentially barring Netanyahu from running.
The main opponents of the legislation come from within Bennett’s party, with Bennett himself ambiguous on the proposal. They oppose the law which they say gives too much power to the attorney general, who will de-facto be able to determine who runs for premiership and who does not. Members of the Arab party have also not promised their support.
Legislation to limit the tenure of a prime minister and supreme court judge appointments could also lead to similar disagreements within the coalition.
Despite the many outstanding issues and mixed opinions within the government, the alternative is not appealing to any of its members.
“The government will be likely to survive, as none of the partners have any interest in heading to elections at this point,” Tal Shir concluded.
China, US & EU to occupy more than 90% carbon space by 2050 Study
China, the US, and the European Union (EU) are likely to occupy more than 90 per cent of the available 1.5 degrees Celsius carbon space by 2050…reports Asian Lite News
China, the US, and the European Union (EU) are likely to occupy more than 90 per cent of the available 1.5 degrees Celsius carbon space by 2050, according to an independent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).
China, US & EU to occupy more than 90% carbon space by 2050 Study
“This would leave little room for developing nations like India to grow their economies in the coming decades. Also, the three big emitters would consume 45 per cent of the available carbon space by 2030. India, on the other hand, would emit 59 per cent less than China, 58 per cent less than the US, and 49 per cent less than the EU, from 1850 to 2100, on a cumulative basis, despite turning net-zero two decades later than the US and the EU and a decade later than China,” the CEEW analysis that took into account the existing net-zero pledges of these countries, said.
This assumes significance as net-zero targets and goals are much talked about at the on-going COP26 at Glasgow. India announced to achieve net-zero by 2070 even as the COP President has been aiming for 2050 as a global net-zero target. Developing countries continue to demand for the delivery of climate justice, ramping up of climate finance, and additional financial support for loss and damage during the ongoing climate negotiations while rich nations have not been forthcoming with either enough ambition or finance.
The study ‘The Carbon Space Implications of Net Negative Targets’, released on Tuesday, also estimates that the net-zero commitments made by the 10 big emitters are inadequate and would surpass the 1.5 degrees Celsius carbon space by 33 per cent by 2050. “Therefore, the US, China and the EU should consider advancing their respective net-zero years by a decade and aim to turn net negative by 2050. This would help contain the warming of the planet within the 1.5-degree Celsius carbon budget threshold suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s recently released report,” the CEEW said.
DR. ARUNABHA GHOSH, CEO, CEEW: CEO, CEEW: “CEEW’s analysis highlights that the current net-zero pledges of China, the US and the EU are highly insufficient to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius target alive while meeting climate justice goal. These countries, in particular, need to bend their emissions curves faster and announce more ambitious 2030 goals along with achieving net-negative emissions by 2050. This would ensure that planetary boundaries are not breached and emerging economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are given time to pursue a just and sustainable low-carbon transition.”
The CEEW report also highlights that 81GtCO2 of carbon space could be available for developing nations if China were to advance its net-zero year to 2050 and peak by 2025. If the US and the EU were to reach net-zero emissions ten years sooner than their current targets, then carbon space freed up would be 14.5 GtCO2 and 18.4 GtCO2, respectively. A further 202 GtCO2 of carbon space could be available for developing countries if these three nations also succeed in sequestering their carbon dioxide emissions between 2050 and 2100.
Fellow, CEEW, Dr Vaibhav Chaturvedi said, “The world cannot avoid historical emissions now, but the future course of action has to change. The US, EU and China all have to do much more. The massiveness of China’s future emissions needs to sink in. There is nothing in China’s net-zero pledge that could be celebrated, as its post-2020 emissions would by itself increase the global temperature by almost 0.33 degrees Celsius.”
Sheikh Saud hailed ties binding the UAE and the U.S. which would contribute to achieving further progress and prosperity of the two peoples…reports Asian Lite News
H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, received today at the Saqr bin Mohammed City, Meghan Gregonis, the United States Consul General in Dubai, who paid him a courtesy visit on the occasion of assuming her new assignment.
RAK Ruler receives U.S. Consul-General
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Public Services Department in Ras Al Khaimah.
RAK Ruler welcomed the U.S. Consul-General and wished her success and good luck while performing her missions to enhance friendship ties between the two countries in various aspects.
RAK Ruler receives U.S. Consul-General
Sheikh Saud hailed ties binding the UAE and the U.S. which would contribute to achieving further progress and prosperity of the two peoples.
In turn, Gregonis extended her thanks and appreciation to RAK Ruler for warm welcome and hospitality, hailing the strong and strategic ties between the two countries. (WAM)
The US must “altogether and effectively” lift the “illegal” sanctions it imposed against Iran after leaving the 2015 nuclear deal, the Foreign Ministry in Tehran said…reports Asian Lite News
“The US must in the first place accept, as the culprit in the current situation, to come back from the path that it has engaged in,” Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a press briefing on Monday.
Iran FM
Currently, the US is not a member of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and it cannot attribute its own statements to actual JCPOA members or make demands from Iran as a JCPOA member, Khatibzadeh added.
The US administration must give guarantees that it will not “mock the world and international law” by repeating former President Donald Trump’s behaviour of unilaterally abandoning the agreement in May 2018, and reimposed sanctions that Washington had committed to lift, he noted.
On Sunday, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview on CNN that Iran has not shown willingness to fully comply with the JCPOA “despite us working closely with our allies and partners to create the negotiating circumstances for that happening”.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani will travel this week to France, Germany, the UK, and possibly Spain to discuss both regional and the JCPOA matters, after he contacts with Chinese, Russian, and EU officials before the resumption of the Vienna talks, Khatibzadeh said.
Some five months after the pause of the talks over the restoration of the nuclear deal, Iran and the European Union on November 3 announced to resume the negotiations on November 29.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye has called on the US Congress to recognise an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital…reports Asian Lite News
In a statement issued at the end of a meeting with a delegation of US Congress members headed by Senator Ben Cardin, Ishtaye on Monday called on the Congressmen to work on amending the American laws which link both the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization to terrorism, reports Xinhua news agency.
US Congress urged to recognise Palestinian state
The statement said Ishtaye discussed with the delegation the future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process amid the Israeli government’s attempts to undermine the two-state solution by maintaining Israeli occupation and violating the Palestinians rights.
He also asked the US to implement the pledges it made to the Palestinians, mainly reopening the US Consulate in East Jerusalem.
He also urged his visitors to help curb Israel’s settlement policy.
“How can we continue to talk about the two-state solution when there are 720,000 settlers on the lands of the Palestinian state, and the settlement program is continuing?” he asked.
“There are 62 per cent of the Palestinian lands under the direct control of Israel, and it deals with it as a geographical reservoir for settlement expansion,” he added.
Ishtaye also requested the delegation to pressure Israel to allow the PNA to hold general elections in all the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians, in the 1967 Middle East war, and has controlled them ever since.
The Palestinians have been seeking to establish a Palestinian state on these territories together with the Gaza Strip.
