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Austin lauds India ties, calls jet engine deal revolutionary

The landmark jet engine deal was revealed in June of last year, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic official state visit to the US….reports Asian Lite News

Lauding the partnership with India, the United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, has said that the deal between the two nations to produce jet weapons in collaboration is revolutionary.

Underscoring that India and the US are also co-producing an armoured vehicle, Austin said that such joint ventures will provide great capabilities.

The landmark jet engine deal was revealed in June of last year, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic official state visit to the US. To produce fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force, General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics signed a memorandum of understanding.

Austin’s remarks came as he testified before the Senate panel on the 2025 budget on Wednesday (local time).

“We have a great relationship with India. We recently have enabled India to produce jet weapons in India. That is kind of revolutionary. That will provide great capabilities to them. We are also co-producing an armoured vehicle. All of these things when you add them up, are probably more than what we have seen in half of that region in a very long time,” Austin told lawmakers.

He stated that all of this “promotes interoperability.”

“They all promote helping increase our ability to respond to a number of different things. Again, these are meaningful things that most of us are not aware of. We have made tremendous progress, and we will continue to do so,” he added.

Earlier in 2023, US General Electric (US GE) announced that it had inked an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the government’s aerospace and defence manufacturing firm, to jointly manufacture engines in India to power fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.

Moreover, the Biden Administration notified the US Congress in February this year, of its intent to sell nearly 4 billion dollars worth of arms, comprising mainly of the MQ 9 B Drones armed with Hellfire missiles.

The Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which is an agency within the US Department of Defence, said in a press release that the sale helps strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship.

It added that New Delhi continues to be an “important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.”ment includes the potential joint production of GE Aerospace’s F414 engines in India.

Support UN reforms: US on Musk’s India remark

The US has offered support for reforms to United Nations institutions, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

When asked about Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s statement regarding India’s lack of a permanent seat at the UNSC, Vedant Patel said, “The President has spoken about this before in his remarks to the UN General Assembly, and the Secretary has alluded to this as well. We certainly support reforms to the UN institution, including the Security Council, to make it reflective of the 21st-century world that we live in. I don’t have any specifics to offer on what those steps are, but certainly, we recognise that there is a need for reform, but I will leave it at that for now.”

In January, Elon Musk called India not having a permanent seat in the UNSC as ‘absurd.’ He said that nations with excess power don’t want to relinquish it.

In a post on X, Musk said, “At some point, there needs to be a revision of the UN bodies. Problem is that those with excess power don’t want to give it up. India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd. Africa collectively should also have a permanent seat imo.”

India has long sought a permanent seat on the Security Council to better represent the interests of the developing world. The nation’s quest has gained momentum with support from the international community.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is composed of 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

The five permanent members of the UNSC include China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States. The non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are elected for 2-year terms by the UNGA.

Ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in its election manifesto titled ‘Sankalp Patra’, vowed to pursue permanent membership for the country in the United Nations Security Council.

In its manifesto released on April 14, the BJP stated, “We are committed to seeking permanent membership in the UN Security Council to elevate Bharat’s position in global decision-making.”

Earlier in January, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stressed growing global support for India’s permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council and said that sometimes things are not given generously, and one has to seize them.

“With each passing year, the feeling in the world is that India should be there, and I can feel that support…The world does not give things easily and generously; sometimes you have to take them,” the EAM said while responding to a question about a permanent seat for India at the UNSC. He made the remarks at ‘Manthan’: Townhall meeting in Maharashtra’s Nagpur. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Austin Urges Gaza Aid Boost, Hostage Release

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Biden backs Johnson’s bill for Israel & Ukraine

Biden urged the passage of the bill this week….reports Asian Lite News

US President Joe Biden has offered support to US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson’s proposal for three separate bills providing US aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific, The Hill reported.

Biden also urged the passage of the bill this week.

In a statement, Biden said, “The House must pass the package this week and the Senate should quickly follow. I will sign this into law immediately to send a message to the world: We stand with our friends, and we won’t let Iran or Russia succeed,” The Hill reported.

Biden said that he strongly supports this package to offer critical support to Israel as well as Ukraine, provide desperately needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and bolster security in the Indo-Pacific.

In the statement, he stated, “I strongly support this package to get critical support to Israel and Ukraine, provide desperately needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, and bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Israel is facing unprecedented attacks from Iran, and Ukraine is facing continued bombardment from Russia that has intensified dramatically in the last month.”

The US President’s support for the bills gave a green signal to Democratic lawmakers to join Republicans in voting in favour of the foreign aid bills. On Wednesday, Mike Johnson unveiled the text for three bills that would combine military assistance to Ukraine, Israel and allies in the Indo-Pacific with humanitarian aid for Gaza and other global hot spots.

The three bills are part of his plan for moving foreign aid through the House, a process that has been delayed for months amid other pressing priorities and stalled this week as his initial proposal faced criticism from the right flank. However, Mike Johnson vowed to move forward with his proposal, rejecting the outrage from his right flank.

In a text message to GOP lawmakers on Wednesday morning, Johnson said that he also plans to unveil text for a fourth bill that includes other national security priorities, according to The Hill report. That proposal will include a ban on TikTok, a provision to help pay for aid by using seized Russian assets, sanctions and other steps to combat Russia, China and Iran.

Johnson noted that these four measures will move under one procedural rule that will allow for an amendment process. However, in Johnson’s initial plan, the outline of which he unveiled on Monday, the US House Speaker said he would move a border security measure separate from the foreign aid bills, a move meant to appease conservatives who were up in arms that the priority was at first excluded.

That legislation will include “core components” from H.R. 2, the border security bill House Republicans approved in 2023. Johnson said he is eyeing a Saturday evening vote on the foreign aid legislation, The Hill reported.

In a text message sent to lawmakers before the legislation was made public, Mike Johnson wrote, “By posting text of these bills as soon as they are completed, we will ensure time for a robust amendment process. We expect the vote on final passage of these bills to be on Saturday evening. Thank you all for your feedback and support. I value every member of this conference and look forward to continuing our work together.”

In his remarks in a press gaggle on Tuesday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that the Biden administration will look at the Speaker’s proposal before deciding whether to support the bills or not.

On being asked whether the Biden administration will support four bills which are being suggested by US House Speaker Mike Johnson, Kirby said, “We’re going to wait and pass judgement after we’ve had a chance to take a look closer at the Speaker’s proposal. The important thing is that our allies, like Ukraine and Israel, who are under the gun, literally, under the gun, get the security assistance they need as quickly as possible. So, we want them to move this week.” (ANI)

ALSO READ: Biden renews Ukraine aid plea as Czech PM visits

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Biden wants to triple tariffs on Chinese metals

President Joe Biden accused the Chinese government of funnelling state funds into Chinese steel companies and pushing them to increase steel production subsidised by the government….reports Asian Lite News

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he would urge US Trade Representative Katherine Tai to consider tripling the tariff rates for steel and aluminium imports from China if the investigation into the Chinese government’s trade practices confirms ‘anti-competitive practices.’

During his address at the United Steelworkers Headquarters in Pittsburgh, Biden said, “Look, right now, my US Trade Representative is investigating trade practices by the Chinese government regarding steel and aluminium. If that investigation confirms these anti-competitive trade practices, then I’m calling on her to consider tripling the tariff rates for both steel imports and aluminium imports from China.”

He accused the Chinese government of funnelling state funds into Chinese steel companies and pushing them to increase steel production subsidised by the government. He described how Chinese steel companies were dumping surplus steel into global markets at low prices because they needed not to worry about profit.

“American steelworkers can outwork, outcompete as long as they have fair competition. But for too long, the Chinese government has poured state money into Chinese steel companies, pushing them to make so much steel, as much as possible subsidized by the Chinese government,” Biden said.

“Because Chinese steel companies produce a lot more steel than China needs, it ends up dumping the extra steel into the global markets at unfairly low prices. And the prices are unfairly low because Chinese steel companies don’t need to worry about making a profit, because the Chinese government is subsidising them so heavily. They’re not competing. They’re cheating. And we’ve seen the damage here in America,” he added.

Reflecting on the impact of Chinese steel imports on American workers, Biden recalled the loss of over 14,000 jobs in steel towns across Pennsylvania and Ohio between 2000 and 2010. He vowed to prevent a recurrence of such losses.

US-China flag

Biden noted that Chinese steel and aluminium were being imported into the US through Mexico, which avoids the tariff. He announced that he has sent a delegation to Mexico to hold a meeting with AMLO, the Mexican president, to address this issue. He stated that Mexico and the US are going to work together to address the issue.

“My administration is also taking a real hard look at the Chinese government’s industrial practices when it comes to global shipbuilding, which is critical to our economy. We depend on a fleet of commercial shipping vessels that carry American products around the world,” he said.

“Shipbuilding is critical to our national security, including the strength of the United States Navy. That’s why my administration takes it very seriously that US steelworkers, along with four other unions, have asked us to investigate whether the Chinese government is using anticompetitive practices to artificially lower prices in the shipbuilding industry,” he added.

He stressed that the US government will take action if the Chinese government is using unfair tactics to undermine free and fair trade competition in the shipping industry.

“And if the Chinese government is doing that and the unfair tactics to undermine free and fair trade competition in the shipping industry, I will take action. That investigation is going on. Taken together, these are strategic and targeted actions that are going to protect American workers and ensure fair competition,” he said.

Biden said that US Steel should remain totally American-owned and American-operated. He noted, “US Steel has been an iconic American company for more than a century. And it should remain a totally American company–American owned, American operated, by American union steelworkers–the best in the world. And that’s going to happen. I promise you.” (ANI)

ALSO READ: Biden renews Ukraine aid plea as Czech PM visits

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‘Helping farmers’: US hails India’s tariff removal on US products

Seoul: This EPA photo shows U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai speaking at the Geneva Graduate Institute on the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the global economy, in Switzerland on Oct. 14, 2021.(Yonhap/IANS)

The announcement came as US President Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 8 in New Delhi ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit….reports Asian Lite News

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said on Tuesday that India’s decision to remove retaliatory tariffs on several US products has improved access to chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, and apples and is benefiting farmers across the country.

In her testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on the President’s 2024 Trade Policy Agenda, Tai mentioned that India and the US resolved the final outstanding WTO dispute in September last year, and India agreed to reduce tariffs on several US products.

“Last June, India and the United States terminated six WTO disputes, and India agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs on several US products. This means improved access for chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, and apples, benefiting farmers across the country, including in Michigan, Oregon, and Washington,” Katherine Tai said.

“Additionally, in September, India and the United States resolved our final outstanding WTO dispute, and India agreed to reduce tariffs on several US products. This means more market access for turkey, duck, blueberries, and cranberries, benefiting farmers in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin,” she added.

Earlier in September, Katherine Tai announced that India and the US had agreed to resolve their last outstanding dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and lower tariffs on certain US agricultural products, including frozen turkey, frozen duck, fresh blueberries, and cranberries, frozen blueberries, and cranberries, dried blueberries, and cranberries, and processed blueberries and cranberries.

The announcement came as US President Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 8 in New Delhi ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The joint statement released by India and the US after the meeting between the two leaders said, “The leaders lauded the settlement of the seventh and last outstanding World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute between India and the United States.”

Notably, the six disputes in the WTO were resolved during PM Modi’s state visit to the US in June. India also agreed to reduce tariffs on certain US products, including chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, apples, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents. (ANI)

ALSO READ: New York court rejects Trump’s plea to delay hush-money trial

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Seven jurors selected in Trump’s NY criminal trial

A total of 12 jurors and six alternates are required before the trial can proceed to opening arguments….reports Asian Lite News

A swift pace of jury selection marked the second day of former President Donald Trump’s trial in New York, with seven jurors seated, bringing anticipation for the trial’s progression, Al Jazeera reported.

Amidst discussions on jury selection, which had initially hinted at potential weeks-long deliberations, Tuesday saw significant progress, with over a third of the needed jurors already chosen.

A total of 12 jurors and six alternates are required before the trial can proceed to opening arguments.

Trump faces 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records concerning hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, setting the stage for the jurors to assess and deliver a verdict, as reported by Al Jazeera.

However, Tuesday’s proceedings were underscored by reminders about the critical values of fairness, impartiality, and respect in the courtroom, directed towards both potential jurors and Trump himself.

This trial marks a historic moment as Trump becomes the first former US president to face criminal charges, amidst a series of indictments both at the state and federal levels.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg initially unveiled the New York charges in March 2023, with the trial commencing in earnest only on Monday, following months of preliminary procedures and delays.

Central to the prosecution’s argument is whether the hush money payments to Daniels constitute violations of state and federal election laws, revolving around allegations of an affair between Daniels and Trump, which he denies.

The jury selection process kicked off on Monday, with input from prosecutors, defence attorneys, and presiding Judge Juan Merchan on the potential jurors’ ability to impartially evaluate the case.

However, challenges emerged on the first day, with over half of the initial 96 jurors dismissed due to indications of bias towards the former president.

The subsequent day, Judge Merchan streamlined the process by inviting prospective jurors to voice any concerns about their suitability before completing a comprehensive questionnaire.

While some candidates were excused, others underwent scrutiny from both sides regarding their political affiliations and social media activity, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass emphasised the need for jurors to separate their personal views from their duty, acknowledging the significance of Trump’s status but urging impartiality.

Defence attorney Todd Blanche probed prospective jurors about their political leanings, highlighting the necessity of objectivity in a criminal case.

“Let’s talk about the obvious: The defendant in this case is both the former president and a candidate for that office. No one is suggesting that you can’t be a fair juror because you’ve heard of Donald Trump,” Steinglass said.

“We don’t expect you to have been living under a rock for the last eight years or the last 30 years.”

The courtroom witnessed moments of tension as Trump reacted visibly to certain jurors’ responses, prompting a rebuke from Judge Merchan over potential intimidation tactics.

Concerns about juror intimidation led to measures such as withholding prospective jurors’ identities from the public to safeguard against interference or reprisal, according to Al Jazeera.

By the end of Tuesday, seven jurors, each with their unique backgrounds and perspectives, were selected and sworn in, marking a significant step towards the trial’s progression.

Their diverse profiles included individuals from various professions and regions, each bringing a distinct perspective to the jury box.

With the rapid pace of jury selection, anticipation mounts for the trial to potentially commence arguments as early as next week, despite earlier estimates suggesting a six-week duration.

As 96 more prospective jurors await their turn, the courtroom braces for further deliberations in the days ahead, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Trump’s historic trial raises election questions

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US NSA pushes back India visit over Middle East tensions

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan (Rear) addresses a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Aug. 17, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua/IANS)

Earlier, President Biden’s top national security aide was said to be in New Delhi on April 17…reports Asian Lite News

The National Security Advisor of the United States, Jake Sullivan, postponed his trip to India this week amid ongoing events in the Middle East.

NSA Sullivan looks forward to holding the Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) annual review at the next earliest possible date, the US Embassy spokesperson said.

“Due to ongoing events in the Middle East, NSA Sullivan has postponed his trip to India this week. NSA Sullivan looks forward to holding the Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) annual review at the next earliest possible date and remains personally committed to advancing our deeply consequential and multifaceted partnership with India,” the spokesperson stated.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden also looks forward to the next meeting of the Quad leaders.’

“The President looks forward to the next meeting of the Quad leaders and continuing our efforts with India to deliver results for the American and Indian people, as well as our partners, in support of our shared vision for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” the US Embassy spokersperson said.

Earlier, President Biden’s top national security aide was said to be in New Delhi on April 17.

Sullivan was to travel to India earlier this year in February but because of the global crisis in Ukraine and West Asia, the annual review meeting on iCET was rescheduled.

In May 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden launched iCET to facilitate outcome-oriented cooperation in new and emerging technologies. iCET is co-led by the NSCS in India and the US National Security Council (NSC).

In February this year, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, while speaking at the second edition of INDUS-X Summit in New Delhi, highlighted robust defence partnership between India and the US, rooted in mutual respect and strategic convergence.

Aramane mentioned Initiatives on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), launched jointly by PM Modi and President Joe Biden in the year 2022.

He talked about the Defence Innovation Bridge, a significant outcome of iCET, serving as a catalyst for collaboration between US and Indian startups in the defence sector.

Meanwhile, in a regular state department briefing, the official spokesperson of the US State department, Matthew Miller reaffirmed America’s relations with India and said that the latter country is an important strategic partner of the US.

“So India is the world’s largest democracy, it is an important strategic partner of the United States, and I expect that to remain true,” Miller said in a daily press briefing on Monday. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Assange extradition moves closer as US provides assurances

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Assange extradition moves closer as US provides assurances

The document says that a sentence of death will neither be sought nor imposed….reports Asian Lite News

The US has provided assurances requested by the High Court in London which could finally pave the way for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be extradited from Britain.

Last month, the High Court ruled that, without certain US guarantees, Assange, 52, would be allowed to launch a new appeal against being extradited to face 18 charges, all bar one under the Espionage Act, over WikiLeaks’ release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables.

Those assurances — that in a US trial he could seek a First Amendment right to free speech and that there was no prospect of new charges which could see the death penalty being imposed — have now been submitted by a deadline which fell on Tuesday.

The document, seen by Reuters, states that Assange “will have the ability to raise and seek to rely upon at trial the rights and protections given under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.” However it adds that a decision on the “applicability of the First Amendment is exclusively within the purview of the US courts.”

The document also says that a sentence of death will neither be sought nor imposed.

“These assurances are binding on any and all present or subsequent individuals to whom authority has been delegated to decide the matters,” it said.

There will now be a further court hearing in London on May 20, but his lawyers have previously described US assurances given in other cases as not “worth the paper they’re written on,” echoing similar criticism from human rights group Amnesty International.

Assange’s wife Stella, whom he married while in prison in London, said the guarantees did not satisfy their concerns, describing them as “blatant weasel words.”

“The United States has issued a non-assurance in relation to the First Amendment, and a standard assurance in relation to the death penalty,” she said in a statement.

“The diplomatic note does nothing to relieve our family’s extreme distress about his future — his grim expectation of spending the rest of his life in isolation in US prison for publishing award-winning journalism.”

There was no immediate comment from the US Department of Justice or a High Court spokesperson.

Last week, US President Joe Biden said he was considering a request from Australia to drop the prosecution, which Assange’s US lawyer described as “encouraging.”

It was not clear what influence, if any, Biden could exert on a criminal case, but the Wall Street Journal has also reported that discussions are underway about a potential plea bargaining deal.

Assange, who is an Australian citizen, has spent more than 13 years in various legal battles in the English courts since he was first arrested in November 2010.

To his many supporters, he is an anti-establishment hero who is being persecuted for exposing US wrongdoing and details of alleged war crimes in secret, classified files.

ALSO READ: Trump’s historic trial raises election questions

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New testimony links pvt contractor to Abu Ghraib abuses


Retired general Antonio Taguba informed jurors that contractor Steven Stefanowicz attempted to intimidate him during his investigation of the Abu Ghraib abuses….reports Asian Lite News

An Army general who investigated the abuse of prisoners 20 years ago at Iraq’s infamous Abu Ghraib prison testified Tuesday that a civilian contractor instructed prison guards to “soften up” detainees for interrogations.

The retired general, Antonio Taguba, told jurors that the contractor, Steven Stefanowicz, even tried to intimidate the general as he investigated the Abu Ghraib abuses.

“He would lean on the table staring me down. He did not answer questions directly,” Taguba said. “He was trying to intimidate me.”

Taguba’s testimony was the strongest evidence yet that civilian employees of the Virginia-based military contractor CACI played a role in the abuse of Abu Ghraib inmates.

Three former inmates at the prison are suing CACI in federal court in Alexandria, alleging that the company contributed to the tortuous treatment they suffered. The trial, delayed by more than 15 years of legal wrangling, is the first time that Abu Ghraib inmates have been able to bring a civil case in front of a US jury.

The lawsuit alleges that CACI is liable for the three plaintiffs’ mistreatment because the company provided civilian interrogators to the Army who were assigned to Abu Ghraib and conspired with the military police who were serving as prison guards to torture the inmates.

In a report Taguba completed in 2004, he recommended that Stefanowicz be fired, reprimanded and lose his security clearance for “allowing and/or instructing” military police to engage in illegal and abusive tactics.

“He clearly knew his instructions equated to physical abuse,” Taguba’s report concluded.

In testimony Tuesday, Taguba said he personally questioned Stefanowicz for about an hour as part of his investigation.

“He was a very coy type of personality,” Taguba said of Stefanowicz, often referred to as “Big Steve” by Abu Ghraib personnel.

Taguba said his investigation was focused on military police, and his probe of civilian interrogators’ role was limited. But he felt obligated to delve into it, he said, because he received credible testimony from the military police that the civilians were playing an important role in what occurred.

The MPs told Taguba that they weren’t getting clear instructions from within their own military chain of command, and that Stefanowicz and other civilian personnel ended up filling the void. Taguba said the military chain of command was unclear, and that various commanders were not cooperating with each other, all of which contributed to a chaotic atmosphere at the prison.

Taguba said he was several weeks into his investigation before he even understood that civilians were carrying out interrogations at Abu Ghraib. He said he and his staff heard multiple references to CACI but initially misunderstood them, believing that people were saying “khaki” instead.

On cross-examination, Taguba acknowledged the limits of his investigation. A second report, completed by Maj. Gen. George Fay, looked more directly at the role of military intelligence and civilian contractors at Abu Ghraib.

Taguba also acknowledged that his report contained several errors, including misidentifying a CACI employee as an employee of another contractor, and another civilian contractor as a CACI employee.

CACI’s lawyers emphasized that Stefanowicz was never assigned to interrogate any of the three plaintiffs in the case.

ALSO READ: Trump’s historic trial raises election questions

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US Plans Sanctions on Iran After Attacks on Israel

India must urgently make efforts to be an honest broker in US-Iran relations

On Saturday, Iran directly attacked Israel for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic…reports Asian Lite News

The US is planning new sanctions against Iran following Tehran’s missile and drone attacks on Israel, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said.

Sullivan said on Tuesday that US President Joe Biden was “coordinating with allies and partners, including the G7, and with bipartisan leaders in Congress, on a comprehensive response” to Iran’s “unprecedented air attack against Israel”.

“In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry,” Sullivan added.

Seoul : U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is seen answering questions in a forum hosted by the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations think tank on Dec. 17, 2021.(Yonhap/IANS)

“In addition, we continue to work through the Department of Defense and US Central Command to further strengthen and expand the successful integration of air and missile defense and early warning systems across the Middle East to further erode the effectiveness of Iran’s missile and UAV capabilities,” he said.

On Saturday, Iran directly attacked Israel for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic.

Tehran said it was retaliation for the killing of high-ranking Iranian officers in Syria at the start of the month

ALSO READ: Iran’s President Warns Israel Against Military Retaliation

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Trump’s historic trial raises election questions

In a trial watched with interest around the world, Trump faces the possibility of criminal conviction and a prison term ..writes Arul Louis

The historic trial of Donald Trump started on Monday, making him the first former President in US history to face a criminal case, throwing several questions over the November elections.

In a trial watched with interest around the world, Trump faces the possibility of criminal conviction and a prison term on charges of falsifying business records of his company to hide hush money payments to a porn actor to silence her allegations that they had sex.

Besides the cloud of conviction, the ability of Republican Trump, who has a slender lead in polls over Democrat President Joe Biden, to campaign will be seriously crimped by tying him down in the Manhattan courtroom four days a week over more than a month with less than seven months before the election.

Even if he is convicted, he may not be disqualified from running in the presidential election and being elected because the Constitution is silent on criminal conviction.

The Manhattan case will likely be the only criminal case to come to trial before the election as the other case alleging election interference in Georgia that appeared to be on a fast track has run aground because of allegations that the prosecutor had hired a boyfriend at a cost of $650,000 to taxpayers to help prosecute Trump creating a conflict of interest.

The federal criminal case against him alleging election interference as a fallout of the January 6, 2021 riots when his supporters broke into the Capitol to stop Congress from ratifying his election is also pending, with the Supreme Court likely having to decide on his claims of presidential immunity.

Another pending federal criminal case against him is over his handling of classified documents.

Before entering the courtroom, Trump said: “This is political persecution, this is a persecution like never before, nobody has ever seen anything like it”.

Prosecutors have said that the prosecution only shows that in a democracy, no one is above the law.

Outside, people supporting him and opposing him rallied with signs and shouts as he arrived in a sports utility vehicle with personal Secret Service guards, a privilege he gets as a former President.

Inside the courtroom, Trump sat at a table with his lawyers as they made a last-minute futile attempt to delay the trial by asking Judge Juan Merchan to recuse himself alleging he was biased.

Merchan, with whom Trump has had several skirmishes and was slapped with a gag order, turned down the demand and proceeded with the trial.

Manhattan Deputy Public Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass began recounting the case against Trump which has 34 charges. He parried with defence lawyers on what evidence could be introduced in the trial with Merchan ruling on the disputes.

The beginning phase of the trial under state procedures is the selection of 12 jurors – ordinary citizens who will make up the panel that will give the verdict – is set to begin. The prosecutors and the defence lawyers will closely examine the potential jurors looking for biases that could hurt their case and try to stop those they consider biased from sitting on the jury.

Manhattan is heavily Democratic so most potential jurors will be of that persuasion and the defence will try to winnow them down. The case brought by Manhattan Public Prosecutor Alvin Bragg, a Democrat elected to the position, centres on $130,000 that was paid to porn star Stormy Daniels through his former lawyer Michael Cohen during the 2016 election campaign to silence her and avoid another sex scandal.

The prosecution alleges that the payments were camouflaged as corporate legal expenses, a violation of state law that would make it a crime. Trump is also ensnared in civil cases.

New York State Attorney General, Letitia James, another Democrat elected to the office, successfully sued him in a civil fraud case over him overstating the value of his properties in applying for loans. He was ordered to pay a $454 million penalty, which the billionaire, whose assets are tied up in real estate, could not readily come up with. While his appeal against the judgment is on, he was required to post a bond to cover the amount, which he finally did with a lot of difficulty, aided in part by a windfall of billions from an online portal that he had invested in going public on a stock exchange.

In another civil case in a federal court, he was ordered to pay $83 million in damages for defaming a woman who accused him of molesting her by repeatedly denying her statements and criticising her.

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