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US, Philippines start drills in SCS

The U.S. military’s deployment of a missile system adds a new dimension, drawing attention to the exercise’s broader geopolitical implications…reports Asian Lite News

In the Philippines, nearly 17,000 Filipino and American troops commenced a three-week joint combat training exercise, including maritime drills in the contentious South China Sea. The involvement of France and Australia, bolstering defence ties with Manila amidst China’s assertiveness, underscores the strategic importance of the region.

Notably, this year’s Balikatan exercises mark a departure from tradition, with allies sailing beyond the Philippines’ baseline off western Palawan, challenging territorial boundaries in the South China Sea, according to Reuters report.

The U.S. military’s deployment of a missile system adds a new dimension, drawing attention to the exercise’s broader geopolitical implications.

While Philippine military officials emphasize the drills’ logistical nature, retired PLA researcher Cao Weidong interprets them as a signal of strategic intent, prompting considerations of potential responses from China. Maritime encounters between the Philippines and China underscore the tensions underlying the exercises, though officials stress their defensive nature.

Simulated scenarios, including sinking an “enemy ship” and retaking Philippine islands, demonstrate the exercise’s scope, aiming to enhance military interoperability and readiness. The involvement of air and missile defense systems underscores the exercise’s complexity and strategic relevance.

U.S. Lt. Gen. William Jurney emphasizes the exercises’ adherence to international law and norms, rejecting the notion of aggression. However, Beijing perceives them as provocative, exacerbating regional tensions and challenging its maritime claims.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling against China’s claims adds legal weight to the Philippines’ position, but China’s military build-up in the region continues unabated. As joint exercises simulate scenarios near Taiwan and in the South China Sea, they serve as a display of military prowess and a reaffirmation of commitment to regional stability.

Overall, the Balikatan exercises reflect the intricate dynamics of the South China Sea dispute, balancing military deterrence with diplomatic maneuvering amidst growing assertiveness from Beijing.

ALSO READ-US, Japan, Philippines, rebuke China over South China Sea moves

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-Top News Asia News USA

Philippines, US, Japan and Australia to hold joint drills in SCS

Set to be held in the South China Sea, where Beijing asserts extensive territorial claims, the exercises signify a unified response to regional security challenges…reports Asian Lite News

The Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia, are all set to conduct joint naval drills, reflecting a broader strategy to strengthen military alliances and counterbalance China’s expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Set to be held in the South China Sea, where Beijing asserts extensive territorial claims, the exercises signify a unified response to regional security challenges.

This collaborative effort comes just ahead of the inaugural trilateral summit involving US President Joe Biden, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, demonstrating a collective commitment to addressing shared concerns.

The significance of these drills lies not only in their timing but also in their symbolism. They serve as a visible manifestation of the growing cooperation among these nations and their resolve to uphold maritime security and stability.

While tensions in the region have escalated due to China’s assertiveness, particularly in disputed waters claimed by the Philippines, Japan, and others, this joint military exercise sends a clear message of deterrence and unity.

The Philippines’ strategic location and its status as a key ally of the United States in the region make it a focal point for regional security efforts. The visit of the Australian warship HMAS Warramunga to Palawan earlier in the week underscores the importance of enhancing military relations with partner nations.

These engagements not only bolster defense capabilities but also signal a commitment to upholding international norms and the rule of law in the face of growing challenges.

Furthermore, ongoing discussions between the Philippines and Japan regarding a defense pact that would enable troop deployments on each other’s territory highlight the evolving nature of security cooperation in the region.

With existing defense agreements in place with Australia and the United States, Manila is seeking to broaden its network of security partnerships to address emerging threats effectively.

ALSO READ-Thousands of Israeli protesters call for Netanyahu’s ouster

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Europe and US need each other, says Stoltenberg  

Lacking air superiority and faced with formidable Russian defences, Ukraine’s counter-offensive ground to a halt last year and is now at risk of being outgunned on the front line in the east…reports Asian Lite News

Europe and the US need each other and are “stronger together”, the secretary-general of Nato has said. Jens Stoltenberg was speaking at a ceremony marking the alliance’s 75th anniversary.

While the US provided Europe with security, he said it also needed the militaries, intelligence and diplomatic leverage of its European allies.

“I don’t believe in America alone just as I don’t believe in Europe alone,” Stoltenberg said. “I believe in America and Europe together in Nato, because we are stronger and safer together.”

The Nato chief’s remarks came as the alliance considered a €100bn (£86bn) five-year fund to provide long-term military support for Ukraine, so aid to Kyiv is not jeopardised by political changes either in the US or other Nato states.

A US package worth $60bn (£47bn) has been stalled in Congress for months because of resistance from Republican lawmakers, as well as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has spoken of ending the war “in one day”.

During his speech, Stoltenberg said Nato must be “doing something right”, as it had grown from 12 countries at its inception to 32. Its newest members Sweden and Finland abandoned their neutrality and joined the alliance as a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to the speech that relations between Russia and Nato had “slid to the level of direct confrontation” as the alliance was already “involved” in the conflict around Ukraine.

Although Nato is a defensive alliance Peskov alleged it “was conceived, configured, created and controlled by the US as a tool of confrontation” and was now a “destabilising element”.

The 32-member alliance has agreed to initiate planning for long-term military support for Ukraine.

Several countries have only backed the initiative in theory. Hungary, which has kept close ties with Russia, has warned it will not back “any Nato proposals proposals that might draw the alliance closer to war or shift it from a defensive to an offensive coalition”.

The Hungarian government has long sought to distance itself from international initiatives to fund Ukraine’s fight against Russia, and for a period blocked a EU plan to provide a €50bn (£43bn) aid package for Ukraine.

Stoltenberg acknowledged the framework of support was yet to be decided, but said Nato foreign ministers had agreed on the principle: “Make no mistake, Ukraine can rely on Nato support now and for the long haul.”

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters support for Ukraine within the alliance is “rock solid” and that he believes Ukraine will eventually become a member of Nato, Reuters reported.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters at Nato headquarters that while he did not want to “spoil [Nato]’s birthday party”, his country needed help in improving its air defences – specifically Patriot missiles.

“Saving Ukrainian lives, saving the Ukrainian economy and saving Ukrainian cities depends on the availability of Patriots and other air defence systems,” Kuleba said.

Lacking air superiority and faced with formidable Russian defences, Ukraine’s counter-offensive ground to a halt last year and is now at risk of being outgunned on the front line in the east.

The US has given Ukraine more financial aid than any other Nato state- more than $44bn (£34bn) since the 2022 invasion, according to the White House in December. However, its aid has now become caught up in a political row months before the presidential election.

Republican candidate Donald Trump has often criticised the level of spending. He has also long complained that the US has shouldered a greater financial burden than the rest of the alliance.

Fewer than two-thirds of Nato members are on course to reach their 2% funding goal.

Highlighting the importance of Nato’s European allies to the US, Stoltenberg noted it was America’s allies that came to its help after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. That was the only occasion that a key principle of the alliance has been invoked, in which an attack on one ally is seen as an attack on all.

Nato allies closest to Russia have stepped up efforts to boost their armed forces.

Norway is increasing its number of conscripted soldiers, while Denmark says it intends to extend conscription to women and increase the duration of service. Latvia and Sweden recently restarted military service, while Lithuania brought it back after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Norway is increasing the number of conscripted soldiers, while Denmark says it intends to extend conscription to women and increase the duration of service. Latvia and Sweden recently restarted military service, while Lithuania brought it back after Russ

ALSO READ-Cameron calls for increased NATO spending amid Ukraine conflict

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-Top News China USA

US, EU Sanctions Extend to China Firms Supporting Ukraine War

US-China flag

While primarily targeting Russians and Russian entities, US and EU sanctions also included mainland Chinese individuals and firms, including those in Hong Kong, for aiding the Russian military.

The sanctions imposed by the US and the European Union on Friday, against several people and companies for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine also included several companies from China, the Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Although most of the sanctions were against Russians and Russian firms, the US and EU measures also included Chinese individuals and companies based in mainland Chinese cities as well as Hong Kong for supplying the Russian military.

Moreover, they also included sanctions against Russian prison officials over the suspicious death of opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

Russia’s foreign ministry denounced the sanctions as “illegal” and said it would respond by banning some EU citizens who provided military assistance to Ukraine from entering Russia, according to VOA.

Chinese officials did not issue an immediate response to the sanctions.

However, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, commented on the expected sanctions on Tuesday at a regular briefing and said China follows an “objective and impartial position on the Ukraine crisis” and has “worked actively to promote peace talks.”

She further said that they “have not sat idly by, still less exploited the situation for selfish gains.”

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning (Screengrab from X)

Moreover, Ukrainian officials and media reports have also accused Chinese companies of supplying key electronics and dual-use technologies, including drone components, to Russia’s military since its invasion of Ukraine two years ago. However, Beijing has denied their claim, according to VOA.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen preempted Friday’s official announcement on social media, stating, “I welcome the agreement on our 13th sanctions package against Russia. We must keep degrading Putin’s war machine. With 2000 listings in total, we keep the pressure high on the Kremlin. We are also further cutting Russia’s access to drones.”

Reportedly, the sanctioned individuals and companies are banned from doing business with US or European firms.

However, legal and political analysts disagreed on the effectiveness of the sanctions.

Lawyer Mark Handley, a partner at the Philadelphia-headquartered law firm Duane Morris LLP, said being sanctioned will certainly affect their international business. “Things like international insurance companies or shipping could get very complicated once they are on the sanctions list.”

However, Pieter Cleppe, editor-in-chief for BrusselsReport.eu, told VOA, “Historical research has shown that sanctions mostly fail, especially when prolonged, as is the case with Russia. The targeted country learns to cope with them.”

He added, “While sanctions may impoverish ordinary Russians, they have failed to halt the Russian offensive, which should be the goal.”

The Yermak-McFaul International Working Group on Russian Sanctions and the Ukrainian think tank KSE Institute published a report in January, showing that sanctioned technology has still been reaching Russia’s military through third-country intermediaries, which the EU and the US hope the fresh measures will stop.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.(photo;twitter.com/vonderleyen)

Junhua Zhang, senior assistant researcher at the Brussels-based European Institute for Asian Studies, said the EU’s highest expectation “is for China to align with the EU in resisting Russia’s aggression, which is unrealistic. The EU’s minimum expectation is for Chinese companies not to work for Russia, but strictly speaking, only fools would have such an expectation.”

“Just consider (Chinese President) Xi Jinping sees Putin as his best friend, and those below him will act accordingly, a point that Europeans also recognize,” Zhang added, as reported by VOA.

However, others argued that sanctions on Chinese firms could push Beijing to reconsider.

Aliona Hlivco, a former Ukrainian lawmaker and managing director at the London-based think tank the Henry Jackson Society, said that sanctions against Chinese companies could prove useful in deterring Russia’s war on Ukraine.

“China is currently attempting to improve relations with the West, so reinforcing China’s compliance with international norms could be opportune,” Hlivco said.

It is pertinent to mention that the EU is China’s second-largest trading bloc partner after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In 2023, while Russia lost most of its European market owing to the sanctions, the bilateral trade between China and Russia hit a record high of USD 240 billion, a year-on-year increase of 26.3 per cent, VOA reported.

However, trade between the US and China in 2023 fell for the first time since 2019 by 11 per cent to USD 664 billion, according to customs data.

According to the Commerce Department, the US imported more goods from Mexico than China for the first time in 20 years. (ANI)

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-Top News India News USA

Indian Mission ‘Strongly’ Raises Jaahnavi Kandula Death With US Authorities

The Prosecutor’s Office is not pressing charges against Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave, who ran over and killed Jaahnavi Kandula, last year due to “lack of sufficient evidence”

The Indian consulate in Seattle said that it has “strongly” raised the issue of Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula’s killing in the US with the city police and the case is now being referred to Seattle City Attorney’s office for review.

The move comes after the King’s County Prosecutor’s Office said on Wednesday that they will not be pressing charges against Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave, who ran over and killed Kandula, last year due to “lack of sufficient evidence”.

In a statement posted on X on Friday, the Indian Consulate said that they are awaiting the “completion of Seattle Police’s administrative investigation and will continue to monitor progress in the case”.

“We have also raised the matter strongly with local authorities, including Seattle Police for appropriate redress. The case has now been referred to Seattle City Attorney’s office for review,” the Consulate said.

In addition, the Consulate said that it is in “regular touch with the designated family representatives and will continue to extend all possible support in ensuring justice for Jaahnavi and her family”.

Kandula, a student of the Northeastern University in South Lake Union, died after she was hit by a Seattle Police vehicle driven by officer Kevin Dave at a pedestrian crossing on the night of January 23 last year.

Dave, who was responding to a “high priority” call that day at 8 pm, had reportedly chirped his siren, but did not have it running consistently, as he plowed into Kandula.

“After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt,” the King County Prosecuting Attorney said in its statement on Wednesday.

Attorney Leesa Manion, however, noted, “Kandula’s death is heartbreaking and impacted communities in King County and across the world.”

Meanwhile, the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), a US-based Hindu advocacy group, said on Friday that it is “shocking” and “disheartening” to see that the investigation into the killing of Kandula is dismissed with no charges against those who struck her.

“It is shocking and disheartening to see the investigation into the killing of #JaahnaviKandula be dismissed with no charges against those who struck her. Where is #justice for the family of this young international student, run over in a #Seattle sidewalk by a police car?” CoHNA said in a post on X.

Kandula was thrown 100 feet when she was struck by the speeding police patrol vehicle and died on the spot.

“I f–ked up,” Dave was heard saying after the accident at the intersection where he accelerated up to 74 miles per hour at one point, much higher than the prescribed limits of 25 and 20 mph respectively.

According to the footage, moments after reaching the top speed, he slowed down the car before striking Kandula at the intersection.

The bodycam video also showed Dave performing CPR on Kandula after the collision.

Kandula came to the US in 2021 and was pursuing a Master of Science in Information Systems at the College of Engineering, Northeastern University. She was set to graduate in December 2023.

She was the daughter of a single mother, who earned less than $200 a month and had taken an education loan to send Kandula to study abroad.

ALSO READ: South Asian Community Demand Justice For Kandula

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-Top News UK News USA

US, British defense chiefs discuss Middle East threats

US and British forces have launched joint strikes aimed at reducing the Houthis’ ability to target vessels transiting the key Red Sea trade route…reports Asian Lite News

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his British counterpart Grant Shapps at the Pentagon Wednesday for talks on security threats in the Middle East, the Pentagon said.

They discussed issues including “the escalating attacks by Iran-aligned militia groups on US troops in the Middle East” and “the illegal Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea,” as well as humanitarian assistance for Gaza and support for Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said in a statement.

“Secretary Austin thanked Secretary Shapps for the United Kingdom’s steadfast support and leadership in coalition efforts to stave off further Houthi aggression, while defending naval and international commercial vessels exercising navigational rights and freedoms,” Ryder said, referring to attacks on shipping by the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels.

US and British forces have launched joint strikes aimed at reducing the Houthis’ ability to target vessels transiting the key Red Sea trade route — attacks the rebels say are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with Hamas.

US and allied forces in Iraq, Syria and Jordan have been attacked more than 165 times since mid-October, many of them claimed by a loose alliance of Iran-linked armed groups that opposes American support for Israel in the Gaza conflict and the presence of Washington’s troops in the region.

On Sunday, a drone struck a military base in northeastern Jordan, killing three US soldiers and wounding more than 40 — the first American military deaths in an attack in the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in early October.

Washington blamed Iran-backed militants for the attack, vowing a decisive response.

Earlier, US and UK imposed sanctions on a network of people who targeted Iranian opposition activists for assassination under Iran’s orders, the US Treasury Department had said.

The US Treasury said the network was directed by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security and put sanctions on 11 people connected to it, including Iranian narcotics trafficker Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti.

“The Iranian regime’s continued efforts to target dissidents and activists demonstrate the regime’s deep insecurity and attempt to expand Iran’s domestic repression internationally,” said Brian Nelson, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. There was no immediate comment from Iran.

The Treasury said that the network, led by Sharifi-Zindashti, had carried out assassinations and kidnappings across several jurisdictions to silence perceived critics of Tehran.

The Treasury action freezes any US assets of those targeted and generally bans Americans from dealing with them. The Treasury said that in 2021 the network had recruited a Canadian national and British Columbia-based Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Group member, Damion Patrick John Ryan, to assassinate individuals in the US who fled Iran.

Ryan also allegedly recruited Canadian national and Hells Angels affiliate Adam Richard Pearson to carry out the murders, the Treasury said. Both are currently imprisoned abroad on unrelated charges.

The sanctions come amid soaring tensions in the Middle East. The US and UK accused Iran-backed groups earlier on Monday of a drone attack in Jordan near the border with Syria that killed three US military personnel.

Britain imposed sanctions on Iranian officials it said were involved in threats to kill journalists on British soil and others it said were part of international criminal gangs linked to Tehran.

The UK Foreign Office said it would “sanction seven individuals and one organisation, including senior Iranian officials and members of organised criminal gangs who collaborate with the regime.”

“The Iranian regime and the criminal gangs who operate on its behalf pose an unacceptable threat to the UK’s security,” British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said in a statement. “The UK and US have sent a clear message – we will not tolerate this threat,” he added.

Earlier, American forces destroyed a missile belonging to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on Wednesday that posed an “imminent threat” to US aircraft, the military said.

The United States has carried out strikes on the Houthis both unilaterally and jointly with Britain, but previous air raids were focused on reducing the rebels’ ability to target international shipping rather than addressing a danger to aircraft.

US forces “struck and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was prepared to launch” after determining that it “presented an imminent threat to US aircraft,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.

CENTCOM did not identify the type of aircraft that were threatened or the exact location of the strike, only saying that it took place in “Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.”

Houthi-run Al-Masirah television had earlier said US and UK aircraft had targeted the northern city of Saada, but did not identify the specific target or provide information on damage or casualties.

The rebels began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israeli-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war.

US and UK forces have responded with strikes on the Houthis, who have since declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.

Some of the US strikes have been carried out against missiles that CENTCOM has said posed an imminent threat to ships, indicating a robust surveillance effort focused on Houthi-controlled territory that likely involves military aircraft.

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Houthis Launch New Missile Attack on British Oil Tanker

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said two missiles exploded near a vessel, adding that the US-UK maritime coalition had responded to the attack.

Yemen’s Houthi armed group has said it has launched a new missile attack on a British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, setting it on fire.

“Our forces today (Friday) targeted the British oil vessel Marlin Luanda in the Gulf of Aden with several naval missiles. The hit was accurate and caused a fire on the ship,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the group’s al-Masirah TV.

Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime observer agency, said it received a report of an attack on a vessel 60 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Aden. It said two missiles exploded near a vessel, adding that the US-UK maritime coalition had responded to the attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

In an updated report, the UKMTO said the vessel was struck and caught on fire, adding that the vessel had asked for urgent help.

In the meantime, the U.S. Central Command said earlier on Friday that the Houthi group fired one anti-ship ballistic missile toward the US destroyer USS Carney in the Gulf of Aden.

“The missile was successfully shot down by USS Carney. There were no injuries or damage reported,” the Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said in a post on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.

Tensions have been rising in the Red Sea, where the Houthis say their attacks on commercial vessels are in solidarity with the Palestinians, while the US and the UK, since January 12, have been launching airstrikes on Houthi targets to deter the militant group from disrupting maritime traffic.

ALSO READ: UK, US sanction senior Houthis  

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-Top News USA

US, UK Target Houthis In Red Sea

US accuses Russia of downing drone over Black Sea

The group claims to be targeting ships linked to Israel – saying the attacks are in response to Israel’s campaign in the Gaza Strip…reports Asian Lite News

US and UK naval forces in the Red Sea have launched air strikes against Houthi rebel targets across Yemen. US officials say warship-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles and fighter jets hit 16 sites, including in the capital, Sanaa, and Hudaydah, the Houthi Red Sea port stronghold.

The strikes are in response to repeated attacks by the Iran-backed group on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis, who back Hamas, said at least five of their number were killed.

The group claims to be targeting ships linked to Israel – saying the attacks are in response to Israel’s campaign in the Gaza Strip – and have also launched a series of drones and missiles towards Israel.

The Houthi targets in Yemen early on Friday included logistical hubs, air defence systems and arms depots, US officials said.

US President Joe Biden said the US and UK military had successfully launched strikes against Houthi targets with support from countries including Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.

“These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation,” Biden said.

He added that he “will not hesitate” to order further military action if necessary.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam said in response that there was “absolutely no justification” for the attacks and that the group would continue to target Israeli ships. Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah – both Houthi allies – have also condemned the strikes.

These are the first such actions by the US military in the Red Sea since the Houthi drone and missile attacks on shipping began in November.

The Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen, have been targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones – putting lives at risk, threatening the global economy and destabilising the region.

Four RAF Typhoon jets flying from Akrotiri in Cyprus also conducted air strikes on two Houthi targets in Yemen using Paveway bombs, BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale reports.

Rishi Sunak confirmed the strikes in a statement on Friday morning, calling them “limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence”. Sunak denounced the “reckless actions” of the Houthi militia, who he said had carried out a series of “dangerous and destabilising attacks” against commercial shipping in the Red Sea despite repeated warnings from the international community.

He added that the UK would “always stand up for freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade”.

On 9 January, HMS Diamond, along with US warships, successfully repelled the largest attack from the Houthis in the Red Sea to date. On the same day, the Houthis said they targeted a US ship providing support to Israel – the 26th attack on commercial shipping in the Red Sea since 19 November.

Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have increased 500% between November and December. The threat has become so great that major shipping companies have ceased sailing in the region and insurance costs have risen 10-fold since early December.

The International Chamber of Shipping says 20% of the world’s container ships are now avoiding the Red Sea and using the much longer route around the southern tip of Africa instead.

In order to prevent the Houthis from firing into international trade lanes in the Red Sea, the US and UK attacked 28 different Houthi locations on Thursday, as per CNN. Australia, Bahrain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Australia also supported the two countries.

The official stated that the United States launched its most recent strike on its own initiative. Meanwhile, the US has vowed to take further military action, if the Houthis continue to attack the commercial vessels in the Red Sea with drones and missiles.

“We will make sure we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behaviour along with our allies,” US President Joe Biden said Friday while in Pennsylvania, as the attacks by Houthis have been escalating recently, reported CNN.

However, the Iran-backed rebel group fired another anti-ship ballistic missile on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden, south of Yemen, following the US-led strikes.

After the US was able to assess the combat damage and determine which targets remained, it was initially unclear if the subsequent US strikes were a response to the anti-ship ballistic missile launch or a continuation of the earlier attacks.

The Thursday attacks were carried out by the US, along with UK and support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

“Today, at my direction, US military forces–together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands–successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways,” the US President said in a statement on Thursday.

In his statement, Biden said that Houthis “launched their largest attack to date–directly targeting American ships” on January 9.

“These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea–including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history. These attacks have endangered US personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation,” Biden said.

The Houthi rebels, who are an Iran-aligned group, started the strikes in retaliation for Israel’s Gaza conflict. The Houthis have said that they will not stop attacking until Israel ends the hostilities in Gaza.

Yemen’s Houthis have launched several drone and missile attacks at Israel, with most intercepted, since the war started.

The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, after thousands of Hamas terrorists crossed the border and killed scores of Israelis.

ALSO READ-Biden Taps Indian-American for Illinois District Court

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-Top News PAKISTAN USA

Baloch Activist Seeks Justice During Pakistani Army Chief’s US Visit

The Pakistan Army Chief on Wednesday (US local time) met US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon…reports Asian Lite News

President of the Baloch Voice Association Munir Mengal has said that Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir should be questioned in the US about enforced disappearances, military operations, extrajudicial killings and systematic abuse of rights in Balochistan.

He said Pakistan should be asked to end its occupation of Balochistan.
“Pakistani Army Chief should be questioned in America about #enforceddisappearances , #militaryoperations, #extrajudicialkillings and systematic abuse of rights in #Balochistan. #Pakistan should be asked to end occupation of #Balochistan,” the Baloch Voice Association President wrote on ‘X’.

The Baloch Voice Association is an NGO registered in France.
This comes as Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir is currently on a visit to the US. The Pakistan Army Chief on Wednesday (US local time) met US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon.

A brief statement was issued by the Pentagon after the meeting, saying: “Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III hosted Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir at the Pentagon today, where the two officials discussed recent regional security developments and potential areas for bilateral defence cooperation.”

General Munir left Islamabad on Sunday, reached the US capital on Tuesday afternoon after spending two days in Britain. Details of his engagements in the UK have not been made public, as it was apparently a private visit, according to Pakistan-based Dawn newspaper.
The army chief’s visit was also discussed at a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday, where a journalist reminded press secretary Major General Patrick Ryder that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin would have his first face-to-face meeting with Pakistan’s new army chief and asked what the US defence chief was looking for in this meeting.
“Will they be talking about the deportation of Afghans from Pakistan or potentially buying munitions to go to Ukraine?” the journalist asked.
General Ryder replied, “I don’t have any meetings to read out from the podium. Certainly, as you know, when the secretary meets with foreign counterparts and leaders, we provide a readout. So if we have a readout to put out, we’ll certainly do that.”

Another journalist asked, “How would you assess US-Pakistan military relations at this point?” “Pakistan continues to be an important partner in the region. And so obviously, through Centcom, we continue to stay in close contact with them, particularly when it comes to issues like counter-terrorism,” General Ryder said, as per Dawn. As per Dawn, during his visit, General Munir is also expected to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
He may also meet senior members of the US House and the Senate. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Massive Turnout in Baloch March Against Genocide

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-Top News India News USA

India, US, Taiwan collaborate on cybersecurity

During the meeting, Taiwan’s Representative to India, Baushuan Ger, highlighted GCTF’s importance as a platform to utilise Taiwan’s strengths and expertise to address issues of global concern…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the growing challenges in the field of cybersecurity, a joint workshop was convened under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) on Monday, said the US embassy in India in an official press statement on Monday.

During the workshop, representatives from the United States, India, and Taiwan are meeting on December 11-12 to deepen operational expertise and share best practises on cybersecurity issues.

The event has been co-hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, Taiwan’s Representative to India Baushuan Ger, former National Cyber Security Coordinator of India Lt. Gen Rajesh Pant, and the United Service Institution of India, which represented the first in-person GCTF programme held in India under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF).

Ambassador Eric Garcetti said, “The United States is committed to working closely with partners like India and Taiwan to enhance cybersecurity and protect our shared interests in the digital space. When we connect, protect, and detect with technology, instead of fearing what it can do to divide or oppress us, we can take full advantage of the nearly limitless potential that these advances will bring.”

During the meeting, Taiwan’s Representative to India, Baushuan Ger, highlighted GCTF’s importance as a platform to utilise Taiwan’s strengths and expertise to address issues of global concern.

Moreover, India’s former National Cyber Security Coordinator Lt. Gen. Rajesh Pant, said for India, with over 800 million internet users and 1.2 billion smart phones, cybersecurity is a major part of national security.

As per the US Embassy press statement, since its launch in 2015, the GCTF has held 70 international workshops with participation from over 120 countries to strengthen connections among experts on such topics as public health, supply chains, humanitarian assistance, digital health and other regional issues.

The United States, Taiwan, the Australian Office, Taipei, and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association jointly administer the GCTF, which serves as a platform for Taiwan to share its expertise with partners around the world.

The United States looks forward to continued collaboration with India, Taiwan, and like-minded partners to tackle shared challenges.

The embassy said, “Taiwan has world-class experts in a wide variety of fields, including public health, law enforcement, disaster relief, energy cooperation, women’s empowerment, digital economy and cyber security, media literacy, and good governance.”

However, because many international institutions do not allow Taiwan to participate, Taiwan’s experts are not able to share their knowledge. The GCTF allows practitioners from around the world to learn what Taiwan has to offer and to strengthen connections between experts in different countries as they tackle 21st-century problems that do not respect borders, embassy said. (ANI)

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