Chabahar Port: US says sanctions possible after India-Iran port deal

WASHINGTON, May 14: The US has warned of potential sanctions for any country considering business deals with Iran, hours after India signed a 10-year contract to operate a port with Tehran.

India had entered an agreement to develop the strategically important Chabahar port, close to Iran's border with Pakistan, in 2016.

On Monday, it signed a long-term deal with Iran to develop it further.

India's shipping minister called it a "historic moment in India-Iran ties".

But the move may not go down well with the US, which has imposed more than 600 sanctions on Iranian-related entities over the past three years.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, the country's State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said, when asked about the deal, that the US sanctions on Iran are still in place and that Washington would continue to enforce them.

"Any entity, anyone considering business deals with Iran - they need to be aware of the potential risks that they are opening themselves up to and the potential risk of sanctions," he said.

India has not responded to the statement yet.

India took over operations of the port at the end of 2018. The port opened a transit route for Indian goods and products to Afghanistan and Central Asia, avoiding the land route through Pakistan - neighbours India and Pakistan share a tense relationship.

So far, 2.5 m tonnes of wheat and 2,000 tonnes of pulses have been shipped from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar port, officials say.

On Monday, India's shipping ministry said that the Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL) and the Port & Maritime Organisation of Iran signed a long-term deal for the development of the port.

Under the agreement, IPGL will invest about $120 million with an additional $250 million in financing, bringing the contract's value to $370 million, said Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash.

India's Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said the deal "will clear the pathway for bigger investments to be made in the port".

White House Halted Bomb Shipments To Israel Over Concerns About Rafah Invasion, Defense Secretary Says

WASHINGTON, May 8: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday the Biden administration paused a shipment of arms to Israel last week due to concerns about an imminent full-scale invasion of Rafah—the city in southern Gaza where more than 1.2 million civilians have taken refuge—despite strong international pushback.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed at a Senate subcommittee hearing Wednesday that the U.S. had paused one shipment of “high-payload munitions” to Israel, though he noted no “final determination” about the shipment has been made.

The U.S. will do what’s necessary to ensure Israel can defend itself, Austin said, but he added that the the U.S. is “reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah.”

Austin said the U.S. has been “very clear that Israel shouldn’t launch a major attack in Rafah without accounting for and protecting the civilians that are in that battle space.”

The affected shipment included 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, unnamed senior Biden administration officials previously told several outlets, including the New York Times, Associated Press and Axios.

The decision was made due to concerns about the large explosives being used to carry out strikes in the densely populated city of Rafah—where more than half of Gaza’s population is believed to be sheltering, the AP report said.

According to the Times, future shipments are also under review, including conversion kits that can be added to unguided bombs to convert them into precision-guided weapons.

The Biden administration began reviewing the shipment of arms to Israel in April, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government appeared to press forward with plans for an assault on Rafah and the decision to halt the bomb shipment was made last week.

Driver Dies After Ramming Car Into White House Gate, Probe Launched

WASHINGTON, May 5: A driver died after crashing a car into the exterior gate of the White House late Saturday, the US Secret Service said.

"Shortly before 10:30pm a vehicle traveling at a high speed collided with an outer perimeter gate on the White House complex," the service said in a statement on social media platform X, adding there was "no threat" to the White House itself.

Officers arriving at the scene "attempted to render aid to the driver who was discovered dead," the statement said.

The Secret Service, along with the police and fire departments of the District of Columbia, have launched an investigation into the fatal crash, according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

He added there was "no threat or public safety implications".

In January, authorities detained another person who crashed a vehicle into the exterior gate of the same complex.

The White House has seen a string of high-profile trespassing incidents in recent years, prompting the construction of a higher, tougher metal fence around the iconic mansion's perimeter in 2020.

Los Angeles shooting: 7 injured, 4 in critical condition; no 'clear motive' found yet

LOS ANGELES, May 5: A shooting in the Los Angeles vicinity on May 5 has resulted in seven individuals sustaining injuries, with four of them in critical condition.

The incident occurred around 11:15 p.m, Saturday, near South Street and Paramount Boulevard, as reported by the Long Beach Police Department, as per a report.

Emergency responders transported the victims to nearby hospitals, while some made their way for treatment, according to the report.

Apart from the four critically injured victims, three others sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The suspects fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement, and as of now, there is no clear motive for the shooting.

US Reinstates Open Internet Rules Quashed Under Trump Administration

WASHINGTON, April 25: The US Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to reinstate tougher rules to guarantee open access to the internet, reversing a decision made during the Trump administration.

"This agency, the nation's leading communications authority, believes every consumer deserves internet access that is fast, open and fair," said FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel ahead of the vote.

The rules bring back government oversight for internet providers by classifying broadband as a utility-like service, regulated like water and phone companies.

The commission voted 3-2 along party lines to reinstate the open internet rules that were originally adopted in 2015.

"These net neutrality policies ensure you can go where you want and do what you want online without your broadband provider making choices for you," Rosenworcel added.

"They make clear your broadband provider should not have the right to block websites, slow services, or censor online content," she said.

Under president Donald Trump, after a politically-charged debate, the FCC scrapped the order.

Backers of net neutrality argue the rules, which were challenged in court, prevented powerful internet providers like Comcast and AT&T from shutting out rival services and creating "fast" and "slow" lanes for online services.

But others worried that such rules were a heavy-handed effort to reclassify internet providers as utilities, which could discourage investment in the fast-evolving sector.

Under Trump, the FCC said the change in the approach to net neutrality taken by the FCC was part of a return to "a light-touch regulatory framework."

Biden Signs Bill To Provide Aid Package To Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

WASHINGTON, April 24: US President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed legislation authorizing desperately needed military aid for Ukraine, saying Washington would begin sending new assistance to Kyiv within hours.

The passage of the $95 billion package -- which also includes aid for Israel and Taiwan and a measure to potentially ban TikTok in the United States -- comes after months of delay that saw Ukrainian forces run short of ammunition and suffer battlefield setbacks.

"I just signed into law the national security package that was passed by the House of Representatives this weekend, and by the Senate yesterday," Biden told reports, saying he is "making sure the shipments start right away, in the next few hours."

"It's going to make America safer, it's going to make the world safter and it continues American leadership in the world and everyone knows it," Biden said of the legislation.

"It gives vital support to America's partners so they can defend themselves against threats to their sovereignty and to the lives and freedoms of their citizens."

The aid legislation only passed the House of Representatives after months of acrimonious debate among lawmakers over how or even whether to help Ukraine -- which Russia invaded in February 2022 -- defend itself.

A similar aid package passed the Senate in February, but had been stalled in the House while Republican Speaker Mike Johnson -- heeding calls from ex-president Donald Trump and his hardline allies -- demanded concessions from Biden on immigration policies, before a sudden reversal.

The United States has been a key military backer of Ukraine, but Congress had not approved large-scale funding for Kyiv for nearly a year and a half, and the financing of the war has become a point of contention ahead of a presidential election in November.

Ukraine's military is facing a severe shortage of weapons and recruits as Moscow exerts constant pressure from the east, with frontline circumstances are expected to worsen in the coming weeks.

Trump Accused Of 'Criminal Conspiracy' By Prosecutors In Historic Criminal Trial

NEW YORK, April 22: Prosecutors accused Donald Trump of engaging in "criminal conspiracy and a coverup" as opening arguments began Monday in the first-ever criminal trial of a former US president.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Colangelo said Trump falsified business records to pay $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels to "silence" her about a potentially politically embarrassing sexual encounter.

"This case is about a criminal conspiracy and a coverup," Colangelo told the jury of New Yorkers in a Manhattan courtroom. "He orchestrated a criminal scheme to corrupt the 2016 presidential election."

Trump, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, sat at the defense table, staring straight ahead as the prosecutor delivered his opening statement, shifting back and forth in his seat a little.

Before the court session began, Trump condemned the case as "election interference" designed to derail his 2024 White House bid.

"It's a very, very sad day in America," the 77-year-old Republican presidential candidate told reporters.

"I'm here instead of being able to be in Pennsylvania, in Georgia, and lots of other places campaigning," he said. "This is a witch hunt and it's a shame and it comes out of Washington."

Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges and the case poses substantial risks to him less than seven months before his election rematch with President Joe Biden.

Prosecution witnesses are expected to include Daniels and Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen.

The identities of the jury's five women and seven men are being kept secret for their own protection.

Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying business records to pay "hush money" to Daniels to ensure an account of their alleged 2006 extramarital tryst did not get out ahead of the 2016 election.

The alleged crime is less significant than the indictments stemming from Trump's attack on the 2020 election -- which the Republican lost to Democrat Biden -- and his hoarding of secret documents.

Trump could face jail time in the current case, although a fine or probation is more likely, analysts say.

US House passes $61 billion Ukraine aid

WASHINGTON, April 21: In a rare instance of bipartisanship, the US House of Representatives passed four major national security bills, the most important of which was a $60.8 billion aid package for Ukraine, on Saturday.

The measure comes as a major boost for US President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and America’s European allies who have all expressed their concern about Russia’s growing advantage, both in terms of morale and battlefield momentum, against Kyiv in the absence of American support.

The House bill, once the Senate passes it and president signs it, will reinforce American support for Ukraine particularly in terms of artillery ammunition and air defence systems and interceptors, the two big gaps in Ukraine’s current military posture against Russia.

The legislative breakthrough came after Republican Speaker Mike Johnson decided to take on his own party’s ultra-right wing faction that had opposed any further aid to Kyiv and push through legislation broadly on the lines requested by the administration.

But to do so, Johnson decided to break down the national security assistance into four distinct bills. Along with the assistance package for Ukraine, the House also passed a $26.38 billion package for Israel (which also includes a $9 billion humanitarian package), an $8.12 billion package to strengthen US military posture and that of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific against China, and a “21st century peace through strength act” which incorporated a set of sanction measures against Russia, Iran and China.

This final bill includes a measure to force a change in the ownership structure of TikTok to divest it of what American lawmakers allege is China’s control.

The House has a total strength of 435 members but it currently has 431 members with 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats. There are four vacancies.

The Ukraine security legislation won the support of 311 members — Democrats waved Ukraine’s flag as soon as the results of the vote were displayed on the screen on the floor — while 112 members opposed it. This indicates that while a broad swathe of American political leadership is supportive of Ukraine, there remains a much smaller but still robust far-Right segment opposed to more aid to Kyiv. Three hundred and sixty six members supported the Israel security legislation while 58 opposed it.

This indicates that while an overwhelming segment of America’s political leadership is supportive of Israel, there is a smaller but robust and growing progressive opposition to further security assistance to Tel Aviv.

The Indo-Pacific security legislation garnered the supported of 385 members while only 34 members opposed it. And the final legislation that proposed sanctions against adversaries and the measure against TikTok saw the support of 360 members while 58 opposed it.

White House says US will impose new sanctions targeting Iran: ‘President Biden is coordinating with allies…’

WASHINGTON, April 17: The White House has said that president Joe Biden is set to impose new sanctions on Iran’s missile and drone programs after Tehran attacked Israel on April 13. In what can be called a vague announcement, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke about the penalties amid bipartisan pressure to act.

“Following Iran’s unprecedented air attack against Israel, President Biden is coordinating with allies and partners, including the G7, and with bipartisan leaders in Congress, on a comprehensive response. 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 said in a statement.

“We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon be following with their own sanctions. In addition, we continue to work through the Department of Defense and U.S. 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 added.

Sullivan went on to say that under the president, “over 600 individuals and entities connected to terrorism, terrorist financing and other forms of illicit trade, horrific human rights abuses, and support for proxy terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kataib Hezbollah.”

He added, “The pressure will continue. We will not hesitate to continue to take action, in coordination with allies and partners around the world, and with Congress, to hold the Iranian government accountable for its malicious and destabilizing actions.”

Some critics in Congress have called out Biden for easing up on Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure campaign.” The campaign aimed at starving Iran’s government of funds that could potentially be used for nuclear technology and armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon, the Palestinian territories, Syria and Yemen.

Who are the 7 jurors to be seated for Donald Trump's hush-money trial?

NEW YORK, April 17: Voir dire for the hush money trial of former US president Donald Trump has been set, and it is on track for the seven New Yorkers to sit as jurors.

The judge overseeing the criminal case projected that opening arguments would commence on Monday if the speed remained like that.

Lawyers from the prosecution and defense are supervising jury selection
The initial seven jurors, who will decide whether the former President falsified records to conceal a scandal with the porn star Stormy Daniels, were selected after the lunch break.

The political views of the jurors and whether they were biased towards the previous president were all closely monitored by lawyers.

Trump’s legal team examined the digital footprints of the jury and cross-examined them individually about their previous social media posts that could be deemed as biased against the former President.

The process of the trial raised the crucial question of objectiveness in a city where Trump is a huge public figure and where he is running for the presidency as the presumptive Republican nominee.

The selection of the jury, consisting of 12 members and likely six alternates, can be the provoking factor for the result of the test case.

Who are the 7 jurors?

Four men and three women were always selected to work, including an Irishman who was the foreman and an oncology nurse, as well as a Puerto Rican man with a dozen grandchildren, a Harlem middle-school teacher, the two lawyers, and a Joseph who had an office in Disney software engineering.

While they came from different walks of life, they all took an oath to be impartial jurors, trying to give Trump a fair trial.

The 45th US President is charged with 34 felony counts, including directing hush money payments to the porn star, but has denied any wrongdoing.

While the defence claims the defendant withheld stories he deemed potentially harmful to affect the outcome of the 2016 election, the prosecutors suggest that the defendant faces four years in jail if he is convicted.

US will use sanctions to disrupt Iran’s ‘malign’ activity, Yellen says

WASHINGTON, April 16: U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday said Iran’s attack on Israel last weekend and its financing of militant groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq threatened stability in the Middle East and could cause economic spillovers.

Yellen began remarks prepared for a news conference by addressing what she called an unprecedented attack on Israel by Iran and its proxies, saying Treasury would use its sanctions authority and work with allies to “continue disrupting the Iranian regime’s malign and destabilizing activity.”

The United States is using financial sanctions to isolate Iran and disrupt its ability to fund proxy groups and support Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Treasury Department said.

Treasury has targeted more than 500 individuals and entities connected to terrorism and terrorist financing by the Iranian regime and its proxies since the start of the Biden administration in January 2021, Yellen said.

That has included targeting Iran’s drone and missile programs and its financing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen, Hizballah in Lebanon, and Iraqi militia groups, she said.

“From this weekend’s attack to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Iran’s actions threaten the region’s stability and could cause economic spillovers,” Yellen said, without giving details.

She spoke at a news conference during this week’s meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which bring top finance officials to Washington from around the world.

Iran on Saturday launched more than 300 drones and missiles against Israel, its first direct attack on the country, in retaliation for a suspected Israeli air strike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 11 killed elite military officers.

Israel’s military said that it shot down almost all the drones and missiles, and that the attack caused no deaths, but the situation has increased fears of open warfare between the longtime foes.

In Gaza, more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive launched against Hamas after the group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Yellen said Washington was continuing to use economic tools to pressure Hamas, but said Treasury was emphasizing that its sanctions should not impede life-saving aid.

She called for urgent action to end Palestinian suffering in the narrow enclave, noting that Gaza’s entire population of more than 2 million people was facing acute food insecurity and that most of the population had been displaced.

“It is incumbent on all of us here at these meetings to do everything in our power to end this suffering,” she said.

Yellen noted that Washington was also using sanctions to target extreme settler violence in the West Bank, while working to ensure a functioning banking system there and supporting IMF programs in Jordan and Egypt.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan postpones 2nd trip to India this year

WASHINGTON, Arpil 16: Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan has postponed his visit to India. Sullivan's trip to New Delhi, scheduled for this week, was intended for wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, in addition to holding Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) annual review meeting.

It was the second time this year that Sullivan has postponed his trip to India.

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.

"Due to ongoing events in the Middle East, NSA Sullivan has postponed his trip to India this week," a US embassy spokesperson said.

"NSA Sullivan looks forward to holding the iCET annual review at the next earliest possible date and remains personally committed to advancing our deeply consequential and multifaceted partnership with India," he said.

The spokesperson said US President Joe Biden too looks forward to the next meeting of Quad leaders.

"Similarly, 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," he said.

The Quad leaders' summit was planned in India in January.

However, it could not take place as Washington conveyed to India that Biden would not be able to travel.

The iCET is an initiative jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden in 2022 to elevate and expand the strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments.

It is spearheaded by the National Security Councils of both countries. It focuses on strengthening the US-India partnership on technologies.

Trump's first day of hush money trial ends with stern ‘jail’ warning to him, no jurors picked

NEW YORK, April 16: The historic hush-money trial of Donald Trump got underway Monday with the arduous process of selecting a jury to hear the case charging the former president with falsifying business records in order to stifle stories about his sex life.

The day ended without any jurors being seated. The selection process was scheduled to resume Tuesday.

However, Judge Juan M. Merchan warned Trump that he would go to jail if he meddles with the proceedings. He informed Trump trial’s proceedings would continue even in his absence.

Merchan issued the similar warning to each defendant at the beginning of the trial.

The first criminal trial of any former U.S. president began as Trump vies to reclaim the White House, creating a remarkable split-screen spectacle of the presumptive Republican nominee spending his days as a criminal defendant while simultaneously campaigning for office. He's blended those roles over the last year by presenting himself to supporters, on the campaign trail and on social media, as a target of politically motivated prosecutions designed to derail his candidacy.

After a norm-shattering presidency shadowed by years of investigations, the trial amounts to a courtroom reckoning for Trump, who faces four indictments charging him with crimes ranging from hoarding classified documents to plotting to overturn an election. Yet the political stakes are less clear because a conviction would not preclude him from becoming president and because the allegations in this case date back years and are seen as less grievous than the conduct behind the three other indictments.

The day began with hours of pretrial arguments — including over a potential fine for Trump — before moving into the start of jury selection. The first members of the jury pool — 96 in all — were summoned into the courtroom, where the parties will decide who among them might be picked to decide the legal fate of the former, and potentially future, American president.

Indian-American politician Nikki Haley joins Hudson Institute think tank

WASHINGTON, April 15: Prominent Indian-American politician and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has joined the prestigious Hudson Institute, the think tank announced on Monday.

“Nikki is a proven, effective leader on both foreign and domestic policy,” Hudson President and CEO John P Walters said in a press release.

“In an era of worldwide political upheaval, she has remained a steadfast defender of freedom and an effective advocate for American security and prosperity. We are honoured to have her join the Hudson team,” he said.

The 52-year-old former governor of South Carolina and US ambassador to the United Nations will be the next Walter P Stern Chair, the release said.

“When our policymakers fail to call out our enemies or acknowledge the importance of our alliances, the world is less safe. That is why Hudson’s work is so critical,” Haley said.

“They believe the American people should have the facts and policymakers should have the solutions to support a secure, free, and prosperous future. I look forward to partnering with them to defend the principles that make America the greatest country in the world,” she said.

Haley, a Republican, suspended her presidential campaign last month after being defeated in 15 states across the US on Super Tuesday, paving the way for a rematch between her rival Donald Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden in the November elections.

Hudson inaugurated the Walter P Stern Chair in 2020 to commemorate the achievements of former Chairman Walter “Wally” Stern, who was instrumental in making Hudson one of Washington’s most respected research organisations.

“It is fitting that Nikki has taken on this title,” Sarah May Stern, chair of Hudson’s Board of Trustees, said. “She is a courageous and insightful policymaker and these qualities are vital in making Hudson the powerhouse policy organisation it is today, and I am extremely proud that she has joined the Institute,” she said.

Haley received Hudson’s Global Leadership Award in 2018.

During her presidential campaign, Haley scripted history by becoming the first woman ever to win a Republican presidential primary. She is also the first Indian-American to have won either the Democratic or the Republican primaries. The three other previous Indian American presidential aspirants – Bobby Jindal in 2016, Kamala Harris in 2020 and Vivek Ramaswamy in 2024 – had failed to win even one primary.

Haley, whose parents moved to the United States in the 1960s, was born Nimarata Nikki Randhawa. She has long used her middle name Nikki and adopted the surname Haley after her marriage in 1996.

US' Blinken dials Turkish, Chinese, Saudi counterparts as Iran-Israel tension rise

WASHINGTON, April 12: In the last 24 hours, United States secretary of state Antony Blinken has spoken with his Turkish, Chinese, and Saudi counterparts, emphasising that escalation in the Middle East is not in anyone's interest.

This comes amid speculation of Iran's retaliation to the alleged Israeli strike on its embassy in Syria.

Iran blames Israel for the April 1 strike on its consulate in Damascus, which killed senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian government has since vowed a strong response.

British foreign secretary David Cameron warned Iran against escalating tensions in the Middle East, urging to avoid wider conflict.

"Today I made clear to Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian that Iran must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict. I am deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks," the British Foreign Minister posted from his X handle.

US president Joe Biden reaffirmed steadfast support for Israel's security amid Iranian threat.

"As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel's security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again: ironclad. We're going to do all we can to protect Israel's security," Biden said at a White House press conference alongside visiting Japanese prime minister Kishida Fumio on Wednesday.

Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant asserted a firm response to potential Iranian attacks as he discussed preparedness with US defence secretary Lloyd Austin.

United States' defence commitments to Japan, Philippines 'ironclad': Biden

WASHINGTON, April 12: The United States' defence commitments to Japan and the Philippines are "ironclad", US President Joe Biden said as he launched a new trilateral partnership in the Indo-Pacific among the nations.

In a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida here on Thursday, Biden also asserted that any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels or its armed forces in the South China Sea would invoke "our mutual defence treaty".

The US-Japan-Philippines trilateral comes after the creation of groupings in the Indo-Pacific, starting with the Quad, comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan, and the AUKUS consisting of Australia, the US and the UK, amid increasing concerns over China's military muscle-flexing in the region.

The US president said that "a great deal of history in our world will be written in the Indo-Pacific over the coming years".

"Today we commit to writing that story in the future together to build an Indo-Pacific that is free, open, prosperous and secure for all," Biden said as he described the US, Japan and the Philippines as "three allies, three steadfast partners and three proud democracies". Biden said among the key areas where the countries are deepening ties are "first, technology and clean energy for securing our semiconductor supply chain".

"From securing our semiconductor supply chain to expanding trusted telecommunications in the Philippines, to building a clean energy workforce, to expanding our cooperation across the entire board," the US president said.

"Second, we are deepening our maritime and security ties. I want to be clear, the United States defence commitments to Japan and to the Philippines are ironclad. They're ironclad. As I've said before, any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels or armed forces in the South China Sea would invoke our mutual defence treaty," he said.

Biden also announced launching an economic corridor in the Philippines as part of the G-7's partnership for global infrastructure and investment.

"This is the first corridor in the Indo-Pacific. It means more jobs for people across the entire region. It means more investment and sectors critical to our future clean energy, ports, railroads, agriculture, and much more," he said.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida said in the midst of the compound crisis faced by the global community, multi-layered cooperation between allies and like-minded countries is essential if they are to maintain and bolster a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

"Today's meeting will make history as an occasion that significantly pushed forward such an initiative. Japan, the US, and the Philippines are maritime nations connected by the Pacific Ocean and our natural partners. We share fundamental values and principles, and have supported regional economic development," he said.

In his remarks, Philippine President Marcos said, "We meet today as friends and partners bound by a shared vision and pursuit of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific." It is a partnership born not out of convenience, nor of expediency, but as a natural progression of a deepening relation and robust cooperation amongst the three countries, linked by a profound respect for democracy, good governance and the rule of law, he said.

"Today's historic summit is a culmination of several preparatory engagements between our foreign ministries, our national security advisors, and our vice ministers, as well as the conduct of trilateral maritime exercises and joint development cooperation. But this meeting can be just a beginning," he said.

Facing the complex challenges of the present-time requires concerted efforts on everyone's part, a dedication to a common purpose and an unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order, Marcos said.

"This is a meeting that looks ahead as we deepen our ties and enhance our coordination. We seek to identify ways of growing our economies and making them more resilient, climate-proofing our cities and our societies, sustaining our development progress and forging a peaceful world for the next generation," he said.

The leaders in a joint statement issued later said the "historic" summit is the culmination of decades of partnership and builds on the recent momentum of the three governments' trilateral efforts.

"Our three nations share a firm commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, inclusive and resilient. We welcome coordination and cooperation with a wide range of partners who share these goals. In that spirit, we affirm our unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity, and the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific," the joint statement said.

"We underscore our support for Pacific Island countries and intend to transparently and effectively work in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to support the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent," it said. The leaders welcomed efforts to support a peaceful and stable, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, including from the Quad, the AUKUS and the US-Japan-Republic of Korea trilateral framework, according to the statement.

Biden announces another huge deal with Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacture

WASHINGTON, April 8: Amid escalating tension between China and the US, President Joe Biden announced a multi-million-dollar deal with a Taiwan-based semiconductor manufacturer to bolster America's chip manufacturing.

Taiwan chip giant, which is headquartered in Hsinchu, will support the construction of facilities across the United States, including one in Arizona.

The preliminary agreement between the TMSC and the US Commerce Department is based on a crucial investment law called the Chips and Science Act.

TSMC has decided to construct a third semiconductor plant in Arizona, bringing its total investment in the country to $65 billion. TMSC will get up to $6.6 billion in direct funding from the US under the new deal and it may receive another $5 billion as loans.

In addition to allowing a third chip facility in Phoenix, the investment will "support the manufacturing of leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing facilities right here in the United States," according to a statement from Biden.

Recalling his visit to TSMC’s first new fab in Phoenix around 1.5 year ago, Biden said the agreement also includes $50 million for workforce development and training,

“TSMC’s renewed commitment to the United States, and its investment in Arizona represent a broader story for semiconductor manufacturing that’s made in America and with the strong support of America’s leading technology firms to build the products we rely on every day.”

By 2030, the United States will be able to generate 20 percent of the world's highly advanced semiconductors with the help of these facilities.

Meanwhile, Biden's chief economic adviser Lael Brainard hailed the deal as "a new chapter for America's semiconductor industry."

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that it will be the first time ever that the US will be producing the most advanced semiconductor chips on the Earth.

“These are the chips that underpin all artificial intelligence,” Raimondo said.

She also disclosed that TSMC would be able to generate around 6,000 direct high-tech jobs, as well as, it has planned to offer tens of thousands of indirect employment and 20,000 positions in the establishment of the factories.

Speaking about the remarkable deal, TSMC chairman Mark Liu said that their US operations enable them to provide excellent customer service to their US clientele.

TSMC is known for generating more than half of the world's semiconductor and the company also intends to produce chips in Germany and Japan.

The Congress approved the CHIPS law in 2022 with bipartisan support, and the arrangement with the Taiwanese corporation represents the latest investment made through this legislation.

Biden is an ardent supporter of the CHIPS and Science Act as he has often pointed out how common microchips are in devices like phones, automobiles, home appliances, and more. According to officials, the bill is essential to increasing local chip production and reducing America's dependence on foreign supply chains.

Ahead of the presidential elections and Biden's second bid for the White House, this law is a cornerstone of his government's efforts to preserve and bolster the industrial strength of the United States.

US on high alert as Iran vows revenge for Israel strike on Tehran's Syria Embassy

WASHINGTON, April 7: In response to the Israeli strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria, the United States has been put on high alert as it is gearing up for a potential attack by Iran targeting Israeli and American assets in the region, said a US official.

Although US and Israeli officials believe that an attack by Iran is "inevitable," both the countries remain uncertain about Iran's way of responding to the strikes.

"We're definitely at a high state of vigilance," the official told CNN, adding that a strike could take place next week.

Iran's senior military commanders was killed when Israeli war planes targeted Iran's embassy in Damascus on Monday, signaling a significant escalation in Israel's conflict with its neighbours in the Middle East region.

Seven Iranian military advisors were also perished in the attack, according to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. The deceased include the senior commander of the Quds Force, Mohammad Reza Zahedi.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed the looming threat of a retaliatory attack by Iran.

Following the talks between the two leaders, the US and Israel have been in continuous touch, a top administration official told NBC News.

According to CBS News, the United States intelligence data revealed that Iran is preparing a counterattack that would use a large number of Shahed loitering drones and cruise missiles.

"Officials say the timing and target are unknown, but a proportional response to the Damascus attack would be to hit an Israeli diplomatic facility. The attack is likely to come between now and the end of Ramadan next week," it reported.

Meanwhile, two representatives from Biden's cabinet have voiced concerns about Iranian retaliation with Israel, stating that they will attack military and intelligence targets rather than civilians.

The New York Times cited two individuals as claiming that Iran had placed its military troops on "full high alert".

The officials stated that Iran's decision to "directly attack Israel" was made "in order to create deterrence" and as payback for the Syrian airstrike.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Ukraine ‘will become member of NATO’

BRUSSELS, April 5: Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the United States' support for Ukraine on Thursday. During his meeting with foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels, Blinken told reporters that “Ukraine will become a member of NATO.”

The 61-year-old diplomat also expressed his confidence in US-Ukraine ties and the support for the embattled country and its President Volodymyr Zelensky as “rock solid.”

During the press conference, Blinken also addressed the upcoming alliance's annual summit, which is set to be held in Washington in July. “Our purpose of the summit is to help build a bridge to that membership and to create a clear pathway for Ukraine moving forward,” he said.

Blinken continued, “We have done a lot of work on that over the last couple of days here in Brussels, a lot more work to be done between now and the summit.” “But we will see, I think, in the summit, very strong support for Ukraine going forward in this relationship with NATO,” he added.

The US diplomat further said, “But we're equally focused, as I said, on the immediate and on Ukraine's needs today, tomorrow, and the day after, to help it withstand this ongoing aggression from Russia.”

Blinken's statement comes as the NATO alliance is marking its 75th anniversary. Meanwhile, Kremlin recently declared that Russia is now in “direct confrontation” with NATO. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Kremlin told reporters in Moscow, “Relations have now slipped to the level of direct confrontation,” per the Daily Mail.

Peskov added that NATO was “already involved in the conflict surrounding Ukraine (and) continues to move towards our borders and expand its military infrastructure towards our borders,” per the outlet.

Blinken held back on exactly what commitments the US would declare as part of its support for Ukraine at the summit. During the 2023 summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, NATO allies agreed that Ukraine could join NATO when certain conditions are met, per The Hill.

5.5 Earthquake Hits US's New Jersey, Tremors In New York City

NEW YORK, April 5: New York City was shaken by a small earthquake on Friday with a 4.8 magnitude and an epicenter in neighboring New Jersey state, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

There were no initial reports of injuries or damage.

In Brooklyn buildings shook, rattling cupboard doors and fixtures, a correspondent reported.

At the United Nations, which has its headquarters in New York, a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza was temporarily paused after the tremor.

"Is that an earthquake?" said Save the Children representative Janti Soeripto who was speaking at the time.

Social media users reported feeling the earthquake from Philadelphia up to New York and eastward along Long Island.

The iconic Empire State Building reported on its X account: "I AM FINE."

Biden, Xi discuss US-China bilateral ties, Taiwan during phone call

WASHINGTON, April 2: US President Joe Biden and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held a telephonic conversation Tuesday amid a veneer of diplomatic stability between the two countries despite a range of thorny issues from trade to tech to investment.

While the White House's version of the talks suggests that Biden rejected Xi's request to lift a sweeping ban on shipments of advanced chips, the Chinese president, according to state media, told his US counterpart that Beijing "will not sit idly by" if the United States continues to suppress "China's high-tech development".

“The two leaders held a candid and constructive discussion on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including areas of cooperation and areas of difference,” the White House readout said.

“They reviewed and encouraged progress on key issues discussed at the Woodside Summit, including counternarcotics cooperation, ongoing military-to-military communication, talks to address AI-related risks, and continuing efforts on climate change and people-to-people exchanges,” it added.

The call comes as the US weighs a final decision on its review of tariffs on China, which is expected to include some new levies.

Biden underscored the paramount importance of upholding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as advocating for the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, according to the White House.

Xi, on the other hand, told Biden that the issue of Taiwan was an "uncrossable red line", state media said.

"Xi Jinping emphasised that the Taiwan issue is the first uncrossable red line in China-US relations," a readout from state news agency Xinhua said, adding: "We will not allow separatist activities and external conniving in support of 'Taiwan independence' forces to go unchecked."

Biden also expressed concerns regarding China's support for Russia's defence industry and its potential impact on European and transatlantic security.

Both leaders welcomed the ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and to manage the relationship through high-level diplomacy and working-level consultations in the coming weeks and months.