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Raisi demands lifting of all ‘unjust’ US sanctions

Regarding the European partners in the nuclear agreement, Raisi said they should not succumb to the “pressures and foreign policies” of Washington but instead fulfil their commitments under the deal….reports Asian Lite News

Iran’s President-elect Ebrahim Raisi said that the US must lift “all unjust sanctions” on Tehran and abide by their commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement.

“What I am saying to the US is that according to the nuclear deal, you were obliged to lift all sanctions and you did not. Go back and fulfil your commitments,” Raisi said on Monday while addressing his first press conference as President-elect.

Regarding the European partners in the nuclear agreement, Raisi said they should not succumb to the “pressures and foreign policies” of Washington but instead fulfil their commitments under the deal.

Iran, he noted, will negotiate neither its regional policies nor its national defense with foreign parties.

When asked whether he is ready to meet US President Joe Biden in case all American sanctions on Iran were cancelled and Tehran’s demands were met, Raisi replied “no”.

Raisi, the incumbent Chief Justice of Iran, won the presidential election held on June 18 by a landslide.

He won 61.95 per cent of the ballots on a voter turnout of 48.8 per cent, defeating the other candidates — Mohsen Rezaei, Abdolnasswer Hemmati and Amir Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi.

Seen as a hardliner by the West, he will assume office in August by replacing moderate outgoing President Hassan Rouhani, who was not allowed by the constitution to run for a third consecutive term.

Raisi has become the first Iranian President to be sanctioned by the US even before assuming office as he was designated in 2019.

The US blacklisted him for his role in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988 and his involvement in the crackdown on the 2009 Green Movement protests.

ALSO READ: US NSA downplays impact of Iranian Prez-elect on n-deal

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-Top News USA

Envoy to return to Moscow this week

John Sullivan

President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in Geneva last week that their respective ambassadors would return to their posts soon….reports Asian Lite News

US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan will return to Moscow this week, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Monday.

“We remain committed to open channels of communication with the Russian government,” Price told reporters in a phone brief. “Both as a means to advance US interests but also to reduce the risk of miscalculation between our two countries.”

He also said Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov had returned to Washington DC, Xinhua reported.

Tensions escalated between Washington and Moscow earlier this year. The Russian Foreign Ministry recalled Antonov in March to conduct high-level consultations in Moscow. Sullivan left Russia for similar reasons in April.

President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in Geneva last week that their respective ambassadors would return to their posts soon.

US-Russia relations are at their lowest point in years. The two sides have sharp differences over Ukraine, cybersecurity, human rights, and US election interference.

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the Biden administration is preparing additional sanctions against Russia over the alleged poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The US intelligence community assessed that officers of Russia’s Federal Security Service used a nerve agent known as Novichok to poison Navalny on August 20, 2020.

Russia has repeatedly denied such accusations, saying the Navalny case is a purely domestic affair and foreign intervention is not allowed.

ALSO READ: US mulls fresh sanctions against Russia over Navalny

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India to get its share of vaccine from US through COVAX

The White House did not say exactly how many will go to India when it made the announcement about the latest donation of 55 million vaccine doses, reports Arul Louis

India will get a share of the 16 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccines that President Joe Biden has earmarked for Asia in the latest donations to COVAX, the international outfit for jab distribution to developing countries, according to the White House.

The White House did not say exactly how many will go to India when it made the announcement about the latest donation of 55 million vaccine doses.

While the announcement of the 55 million doses completes Biden administration’s pledge to allocate 80 million doses by the end of this month, it is struggling to get the vaccines to the countries receiving them because of regulatory and logistical problems, the President’s spokesperson Jen Psaki has acknowledged.

“What we found to be the biggest challenge is not actually the supply, we have plenty of doses to share with the world, but this is a herculean logistical challenge. And we’ve seen that as we’ve begun to implement,” she said.

Vaccine (ANI)

Psaki said that among the issues were sharing safety and regulatory information and ensuring proper temperature control for the vaccines.

India has not yet approved the three main vaccines in use in the US — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Pfizer and Moderna have to be kept at extremely cold temperatures before readying for distribution.

The vaccines coming to India in the tranche announced on Monday would be on top of the two sets of donations announced for it on June 3.

Vice President Kamala Harris had told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that India would get a share of the six million doses that Biden was releasing directly to New Delhi and other countries facing a Covid surge.

ALSO READ: New US envoy offers to meet N Korea anywhere, anytime

In addition to that, India was also allocated a share of the seven million doses to be distributed in Asia through the COVAX facility led by the World Health Organization and two other groups to promote the availability of vaccines and other Covid-fighting material.

Those were a part of a distribution of a total of 25 million doses announced at that time.

Other South Asian countries are also sharing in the US vaccine largesse.

Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan are among the 18 Asian countries that will share the 16 million doses allocated through COVAX in the Monday announcement.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan will, in addition, get a share of another 14 million being sent directly to several countries based on “regional priorities” to help deal with surges, according to the White House.

COVAX will be getting a total of 41 million doses with 14 million earmarked for Latin America and the Caribbean and 10 million for Africa.

In the allocations through the COVAX announced on June 3, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Maldives also shared in the seven million earmarked for Asia.

Biden also announced earlier this month that the US will be buying 500,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for distribution around the world and got a pledge from the G7 group of Western industrialised powers to donatee one billion vaccine doses to developing nations.

ALSO READ: Jaishankar discusses BIMSTEC, IORA with SL counterpart

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US NSA downplays impact of Iranian Prez-elect on n-deal

Raisi, the incumbent Chief Justice of Iran, won the presidential election held on June 18 by a landslide…reports Asian Lite News

 US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has downplayed the impact of Iran’s President-elect Ebrahim Raisi on Tehran’s decision over the 2015 nuclear deal.

Raisi, the incumbent Chief Justice of Iran, won the presidential election held on June 18 by a landslide. Seen as a hardliner by the West, he will assume office in August.

“Whether the President is person A or person B is less relevant than whether their entire system is prepared to make verifiable commitments to constrain their nuclear program,” Xinhua news agency quoted Sullivan as saying in an interview with ABC News on Sunday when asked about the implication of Raisi’s election.

“What I would say is that the ultimate decision for whether or not to go back into the deal lies with Iran’s Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei),” he added.

“He was the same person before this election as he is after the election.”

Sullivan noted that Washington and Tehran remain divided over how to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The US and Iran have had six rounds of indirect negotiations in Austria’s capital Vienna since April 6 aimed at restoring the nuclear deal.

“What I would say is that there is still a fair distance to travel on some of the key issues, including on sanctions and on the nuclear commitments that Iran has to make,” he said.

“But the arrow has been pointed in the right direction in terms of the work that’s getting done in Vienna,” he continued.

“We will see if the Iranian negotiators come to the next round of talks, prepared to make the hard choices.”

The US government under former President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and unilaterally re-imposed sanctions on Iran.

In response, Iran gradually stopped implementing parts of its JCPOA commitments from May 2019.

ALSO READ: China will face isolation if it doesn’t cooperate: NSA Sullivan

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MQM protestors seek US intervention in Mohajirs genocide

MQM stages protest in Washington DC against Pakistan atrocities on Mohajirs(ANI)

The protest was organised to seek interference from the US administration to end the human rights violations in Pakistan against Mohajirs….reports Asian Lite News

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) US Chapter staged a protest at the US State Department and White House in Washington DC against atrocities on Mohajirs by the state of Pakistan.

According to a press release, the Pakistani authorities have been inflicting injustices and state oppression on Mohajirs. Their property is continuously being demolished at the behest of the Pakistan military.

The protest was staged on June 19 to inform the US authorities about the continued injustices, atrocities, and human rights violations in Pakistan against Mohajirs. “The Pakistani military is continuing to eliminate Mohajirs through extrajudicial executions in big numbers. Their homes and businesses are destroyed and Mohajirs are rendered homeless,” the release said.

The law enforcers in Karachi supervised and controlled by the Pakistan military extra-judicially killed one mote MQM activist, Shahid Aziz in custody two days ago.

The protest was meant to seek interference from the State Department and Biden administration to stop the genocide of Mohajirs.

The Army and other security forces in Pakistan are continuing with a brutal crackdown on MQM since June 19, 1992. Serious human rights violations in Sindh and injustices against Mohajirs are escalating every day.

MQM stages protest in Washington DC against Pakistan atrocities on Mohajirs(ANI)

MQM activists and their families first gathered at Dupont Circle and settled at Lageytte Park for staging a protest. The protest rally was led by MQM US Central Organizer Matloob Zaidi and members of the Central Organizing Committee.It consisted of MQM activists, and a large number of men, women, and children participated.

ALSO READ: Pakistan expanding its nuclear arsenal

Demonstrators had held MQM flags and banners, portraits of MQM Supremo Altaf Hussain. They held placards against human rights violations and demanded to immediately stop state injustices and crimes against Mohajirs. They demanded the United States administration’s intervention. They condemned the Pakistani government and military on rights violations, capturing resources unlawfully.

Zaidi, Ibadat and other MQM officials also presented a memorandum to the authorities concerned at the State Department in which they appealed to the Biden Administration and the State Department to take immediate notice of serious human rights violations in Pakistan against Mohajirs and use influence to stop these injustices and genocide of Mohajirs.They demanded the right of self-determination under the charter of the United Nations Human rights. MQM appealed in their petition to the US authorities to send the United Nations team on the ground to speak with Mohajir and oppressed Sindhis to get the true sense of ground reality.

MQM stages protest in Washington DC against Pakistan atrocities on Mohajirs(ANI)

Zaidi, Ibadat and other MQM officials later talked to the media. They said that unannounced martial law is in force in Pakistan. Three provinces of Pakistan, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal belt have been converted into colonies of Punjab.

Mohajir settlements in Karachi are continuously destroyed as part of genocide of Mohajirs both physically and economically. Pakistan military is continuing with a crackdown against Mohajirs for decades. The law enforcers murdered an MQM activist Shahid Aziz who was in custody since 2017.

Punjabi establishment is applying all tricks, forces, and powers for capturing resources of Sindh. MQM appealed to the Biden Administration to exercise influence to end this ongoing genocide of Mohajirs.

The protest was part of a 3-day annual convention of MQM USA. The protest rally and demonstration was broadcast live on the online web channel “Meri Awaaz Suno”. (ANI)

ALSO READ: SGPC Seeks Preservation of Sikh Shrines in Pakistan

ALSO READ: US puts pressure on Pakistan for military base access

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-Top News China USA

China will face isolation if it doesn’t cooperate: NSA Sullivan

In an interview , Sullivan praised President Biden for inducing his fellow G-7 leaders to put pressure on China…reports Asian Lite News

China will face ‘isolation in the international community’ if Beijing does not cooperate with a further probe into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic, said US national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday.

In an interview with Fox News, Sullivan praised President Biden for inducing his fellow G-7 leaders to put pressure on China to allow a transparent investigation of the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What Joe Biden did in Europe this week was rally the democratic world to speak with a common voice on this issue for the first time since Covid broke out. President Trump wasn’t able to do it. President Biden was. He got the G7 to endorse a statement saying in unison that China must allow an investigation to proceed within its territory,” Sullivan said.

XI CHINA

“It is that diplomatic spadework – rallying the nations of the world, imposing political and diplomatic pressure on China, that is a core part of the effort we are undertaking to ultimately face China with a stark choice: Either they will allow, in a responsible way, investigators in to do the real work of figuring out where this came from, or they will face isolation in the international community,” he added.

He further said that the US will not rely solely on China and indicated that America will use the efforts of its intelligence community and allies to press the matter on every front until a result is found.

In a press conference on Wednesday, President Joe Biden said: “China’s trying very hard to project itself as a responsible and very, very forthcoming nation. They are trying very, very hard to talk about how they’re helping the world in terms of COVID-19 and vaccines and they’re trying very hard.”

ALSO READ: Israel president set to meet Biden before retiring

“One thing we did discuss, as I told you in the EU and at the G7 and with NATO: what we should be doing and what I’m going to try to make an effort to do is rally the world to work on what is going to be the physical mechanism available to detect early on the next pandemic and have a mechanism by which we can respond to it and respond to it early… It’s going to happen and we need to do that,” Fox News quoted him as saying.

This comes after the G7 leaders earlier this month called for a “timely, transparent, expert-led, and science-based WHO-convened” investigation into the origins of COVID-19, including, as recommended by the experts’ report, in China.

“Strengthening transparency and accountability, including reiterating our commitment to the full implementation of, and improved compliance with, the International Health Regulations 2005. This includes investigating, reporting and responding to outbreaks of unknown origin. We also call for a timely, transparent, expert-led, and science-based WHO-convened Phase 2 COVID-19 Origins study including, as recommended by the experts’ report, in China,” said the leaders in a joint communique.

The origin of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has remained a mystery even after over 1.5 years the first case of infection was reported in the Wuhan city of China.

After the conclusion of the meeting in the UK, US President Joe Biden on Sunday called on China to act more responsibly in terms of international norms on human rights and transparency concerning the origins of COVID-19.

Speaking to reporters, Biden said: “I think China has to start to act more responsibly in terms of international norms on human rights and transparency. Transparency matters across the board.”

The lab leak theory of COVID-19 origins has recently become the subject of renewed public debate after several prominent scientists called for a full investigation into the origins of the virus. (ANI)

ALSO READ: China forced to change strategy amid CPEC delay

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-Top News USA

US cancelling NATO flag-lowering ceremony creates confusion

Senior allied officers planned to lower their nations’ flags at the headquarters building as a recognition for their countries’ contributions in Afghanistan, said officials…reports Asian Lite News

The US on Friday cancelled North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) flag-lowering ceremony at the last moment amid questions over what the ceremony was meant to signify, according to three US Defence officials.

Citing NBC News, The Frontier Post reported that the cancellation reflected a wider sense of confusion and uncertainty surrounding the U.S. troop withdrawal, with defence contractors appealing for more guidance from Washington, former Afghan interpreters pleading for protection from the Taliban and the US embassy hit by a major COVID-19 outbreak.

The flag-lowering ceremony at the Kabul headquarters for NATO’s “Resolute Support” mission, which trains and advises Afghan security forces, was called off only hours before it was due to begin, the Defence officials said.

The ceremony was not intended to convey the end of the mission or closure of the headquarters, the officials said, but was an opportunity to gather 13 NATO partners together before coalition troops depart.

Senior allied officers planned to lower their nations’ flags at the headquarters building as a recognition for their countries’ contributions in Afghanistan, the officials said.

“It was causing confusion among allies and partners,” one Defense official said, adding that it was perceived by some as a closure of the Resolute Support headquarters, reported The Frontier Post.

The ceremony likely would be held at another date, two Defense officials said, and would only include officers and officials already working at the headquarters due to concerns over COVID-19.

As of August last year, the Resolute Support mission included 36 NATO member states and partners and about 10,000 troops.

President Joe Biden announced in April that all US troops would leave Afghanistan by September 11, but the pull-out is moving faster than scheduled.

Pentagon officials say the US military withdrawal is on track to be wrapped up about two months earlier, by the middle of July or even by early July.

A number of factors could affect the exit timeline, including weather conditions and the tenuous security situation in Kabul, as Taliban forces continue to gain ground across the country, reported The Frontier Post.

US troops already have handed over several bases and airfields to Afghan security forces and C-17 cargo planes are continuously flying out equipment.

The United States promised to remove all its troops from Afghanistan in an agreement with the Taliban signed last year during former President Donald Trump’s administration.

As the US troop exit gathers pace, the Biden administration has come under criticism over the fate of Afghans who worked for the US government.

Lawmakers from both parties have accused the White House of failing to make adequate plans to protect former Afghan partners who face threats of retaliation from the Taliban.

Members of Congress and veterans’ groups have urged an emergency evacuation of thousands of Afghans who risked their lives working with the United States, but the administration has yet to announce any plans for such an operation.

Roughly 18,000 US-funded contractors who maintain the Afghan government’s fleet of military aircraft and ground vehicles also have been ordered to withdraw from the country, reported Frontier Post.

But the contractors say they had no advance warning about Biden’s decision and that it’s unclear how their companies will continue to support the Afghan security forces once American troops leave. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Ghani, Abdullah to meet Biden at White House

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Ghani, Abdullah to meet Biden at White House

This meet comes amid a dramatic surge in violence in Afghanistan amid the withdrawal of US troops….reports Asian Lite News

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and chairman of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah are set to visit the United States next week to meet President Joe Biden.

“President Biden looks forward to welcoming Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, to the White House on June 25, 2021,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Sunday.

The visit by President Ghani and Dr Abdullah will highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues, the statement added.

This meet comes amid a dramatic surge in violence in Afghanistan amid the withdrawal of US troops. Taliban has increased its spring offensive and attempted to siege more areas.

The United States said that it is committed to supporting the Afghan people by providing diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian assistance to support the Afghan people, including Afghan women, girls and minorities.

“The US will remain deeply engaged with the government of Afghanistan to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for terrorist groups who pose a threat to the US homeland,” the statement said.

The US continues to fully support the ongoing peace process and encourages all Afghan parties to participate meaningfully in negotiations to bring an end to the conflict, it added.

Earlier, Biden announced that the US will start its final withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan on May 1 and complete its pullout ahead of the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Taliban wants ‘genuine Islamic system’

Amid the unrelenting violence in Afghanistan, the Taliban has said it remains committed to peace talks and wants a “genuine Islamic system” that would make provisions for women’s rights in line with cultural traditions and religious rules, in the war-torn country.

The statement amid a dramatic surge in violence around the country ahead of the withdrawal of US troops by the September 11 deadline, Turkish public broadcaster (TRT) reported. Taliban has increased its spring offensive and attempted to siege more areas.

“We understand that the world and Afghans have queries and questions about the form of the system to be established following the withdrawal of foreign troops,” said Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the head of the Taliban’s political office, in the statement.

“A genuine Islamic system is the best means for solution of all issues of the Afghans,” he said. “Our very participation in the negotiations and its support on our part indicates openly that we believe in resolving issues through (mutual) understanding.”

Ghani added that women and minorities would be protected under the religion of Islam and traditions of the Afghan society.

“We take it on ourselves as a commitment to accommodate all rights of citizens of our country, whether they are male or female, in the light of the rules of the glorious religion of Islam and the noble traditions of the Afghan society,” he said.

On Saturday, Abdul Ghani and his delegation met with Tomas Niklasson, EU Special Envoy and his delegation in Doha. They discussed the ongoing situation of Afghanistan and the peace process. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Top ministers replaced in Afghanistan as violence rises

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Israel president set to meet Biden before retiring

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and US President Joe Biden. (Photo: twitter.com/PresidentRuvi

Rivlin is due to retire next month after the end of his seven-year term…reports Asian Lite News

US President Joe Biden will host his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin at the White House on June 28, Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced here.

“President Rivlin’s visit will highlight the enduring partnership between the US and Israel and the deep ties between our governments and our people,” Psaki said in a statement issued on Saturday.

“As President Rivlin approaches the end of his term, this visit will honour the dedication he has shown to strengthening the friendship between the two countries over the course of many years,” she added.

Rivlin is due to retire next month after the end of his seven-year term.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin

Israel’s former Labor chairman and opposition leader Isaac Herzog was chosen by Parliament earlier this month to be the next president.

He would be sworn in at an official ceremony in July.

The role of the President in Israel is mainly ceremonial with little executive power.

The President of Israel is elected for seven years and cannot serve more than a single term.

ALSO READ: 300 mn jabs in 150 days: Biden’s new milestone

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-Top News COVID-19 USA

300 mn jabs in 150 days: Biden’s new milestone

Biden said US is heading into a “very different summer compared to last year” after 300 million Covid-19 jabs in arms in the 150 days since he took office, reports Nikhila Natarajan

In the run up to Americas Independence Day weekend, US President Joe Biden struck a sunny note Friday declaring that the US is heading into a “very different summer compared to last year” after 300 million Covid-19 vaccines in arms in the 150 days since he took office.

“We’re heading into a very different summer compared to last year,” Biden said. “A bright summer. Prayerfully, a summer of joy.”

The White House announced plans to host more than a 1,000 guests – mainly frontline workers and their families – on the South Lawn for a cookout on July Fourth. This is tipped to be one of the biggest in-person events of Biden’s presidency so far.

Biden was aiming to have 70 per cent of Americans at least partially vaccinated against Covid-19 by July 4. With the pace of vaccinations now dropping sharply off the highs in April, the current number stands at 65 per cent. Among adults alone, 55 per cent are fully vaccinated. Across America’s 50 states, 26 states and Washington D.C. have fully vaccinated 50 per cent or more of adults, according to White House data.

Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data, 42.6 per cent of the US population is now fully vaccinated. Covid caseloads, hospitalisations and deaths in the US are down to their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic last year.

Despite the upside of strong vaccination numbers, the CDC is warning that the Delta variant of the coronavirus, first detected in India, is surging and will become the dominant strain in the US.

The CDC is telling Americans that those who get their shots will be “protected against this Delta variant.”

jabs

Three characteristics of the latest variant have doctors hitting the alarm bells again. It’s more contagious, more deadly and causing more breakout infections even among those who are partially vaccinated, according to Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.

“If you’re fully vaccinated, you’re actually pretty well protected. But even if you’re just partly vaccinated, we’re seeing a lot of breakthrough infections. So, this is possibly the worst variant we have seen, the most challenging variant throughout the entire pandemic,” Jha told NBC.