Jaishankar to meet US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin
ANI
27 May 2021, 07:18 GMT+10
Washington DC [US], May 27 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently on a visit to United States, is scheduled to meet US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon on Friday, the Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said on Wednesday (local time).
Jaishankar arrived in the US on May 24, and is slated to visit many senior officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during his stay till May 28.
India is engaged in talks with various US entities involved in Covid vaccines production and is looking forward to procuring and subsequently producing these vaccines. The issue of vaccine procurement is expected to be a key agenda item during Jaishankar s interaction with US leadership and other stakeholders.
Australia to close Kabul embassy amid troops pull-out
ANI
25 May 2021, 13:18 GMT+10
Canberra [Australia], May 25 (ANI): Australia will close its Kabul embassy in three days, ahead of the withdrawal of its final contingent of troops from Afghanistan, informed Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday. Our residential representation in Afghanistan and the Australian Embassy in Kabul will be closed at this time , Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a joint statement. In light of the imminent international military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Australia will, as an interim measure revert to the model of visiting accreditation for our diplomatic representation to Afghanistan, which we used from the opening of diplomatic relations in 1969 until 2006, added the statement.
China conducts live-fire exercise in S China Sea
ANI
25 May 2021, 23:03 GMT+10
Beijing [China], May 25 (ANI): As Beijing s assertiveness continues to grow in the South China Sea despite international pressure, the People s Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday announced that it recently conducted a live-fire exercise in the sea, where warplanes rained down thousands of munitions at maritime targets, days after a US ship sailed through the waters.
During the exercise, the pilots sought to enhance their sea assault and precision strike capabilities. A brigade attached to the PLA Southern Theater Command Naval Aviation Force organised JH-7 fighter bombers for a live-fire shooting exercise at a maritime target range in the South China Sea, Global Times reported citing China Central Television (CCTV).
Philippines FM issues expletive-laced warning to China
ANI
04 May 2021, 20:55 GMT+10
Manila [Philippine], May 4 (ANI): In a further escalation of the war of words with Beijing, Philippine foreign minister Teodoro Locsin had issued an expletive-laced warning to China, asking it to get out of disputed waters, where over 200 Chinese vessels have remained moored since last month.
The blunt warning came as Chinese maritime militia vessels have repeatedly refused to withdraw the ships from Manila s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Coast Guard has revealed that despite repeated demands by Manila that Chinese ships leave Whitsun Reef, at least 240 Chinese vessels remained in the area and surrounding waters as recently as Wednesday.
The United States most senior General Mark Milley and the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is comprised of the heads of each military branch, issued a state