Category: WORLD NEWS

US President Donald Trump is pursuing a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to determine whether Moscow is willing to make progress in bilateral relationship, the White House has said.Trump and Putin will meet on July 16 in Finnish capital Helsinki to mend bilateral relations and discuss a range of national security issues, the White House and the Kremlin had announced yesterday.The announcement followed a meeting between President Putin and US National Security Adviser John Bolton, who was in Moscow this week to lay the groundwork for the summit.”We’re…

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London, Jun 28 (DIN NEWS) Britain tolerated the “inexcusable” mistreatment of detainees by US authorities during the war on terror and took part in planning extraordinary rendition operations, according to a British parliamentary report published today. “In our view the UK tolerated actions, and took others, that we regard as inexcusable,” according to the report by lawmakers from parliament’s intelligence and security committee. It said British officials became aware of mistreatment of US-held prisoners soon after the September 11, 2001 attacks. “There are at least 38 cases in 2002 alone…

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Beijing, Jun 28 (DIN NEWS) President Xi Jinping has told US Defence Secretary James Mattis that China will not concede “even an inch” of its territory passed down from ancestors, in an apparent reference to the disputed South China Sea. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea (SCS) and the East China Sea (ECS). Beijing claims almost all of the SCS. Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims over the vital transit route for world trade. The US views China’s…

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President Donald Trump today said he wants foreign workers to come in the US through a merit-based immigration system so as to meet the demands of companies that are moving into America in greater numbers.Indian-Americans, most of whom are highly skilled and came to the US mainly on H-1B work visas, are the worst sufferers of the current immigration system which imposes a seven per cent per country quota on allotment of green cards or permanent legal residency. “I want people to come into our country because our country is…

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US Defense Secretary James Mattis met his Chinese counterpart in Beijing today, aiming to find areas of cooperation despite a mounting military rivalry between the two superpowers.On his first ever visit to China, the Pentagon chief was greeted at the headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army by an honour guard and marching band playing the US and Chinese anthems.In opening remarks, Defence Minister Wei Fenghe called the visit critical “to increase the strategic trust between our countries.” He said Mattis’ words “carry weight in both the military and political circles…

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Washington, Jun 26 (DIN NEWS) Describing immigration reform as his top priority, US President Donald Trump today renewed his push for an immigration system which prevents people from entering America illegally. “One of the highest on the list is immigration. And we have to change our laws. We have to make them sensible,” Trump told reporters in a joint media appearance with King Abdullah II Bin al-Hussein of Jordan in the Oval Office of the White House. Trump said he wants a system in place where the foregone conclusion for…

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New York, Jun 26 (DIN NEWS) Nikki Haley is traveling to India for the first time as the US Ambassador to the UN on a two-day visit during which she will meet senior Indian officials, business leaders and students, underscoring America’s “strong alliance” with the country. Talks between Haley, the highest ranking Indian-American in the Donald Trump administration, and Indian officials could include a host of topics including India-US strategic ties and significant global developments. Haley will travel to New Delhi from June 26-28 during which she will meet with…

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El Paso, Jun 25 (DIN NEWS) A Texas charitable organisation says 32 immigrant parents separated from their children after crossing the US-Mexico border were freed into its care, but they don’t know where their kids are or when they might see them again despite government assurances that family reunification would be well organised. The release yesterday is believed to be the first, large one of its kind since President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday that preserved a “zero-tolerance” policy for entering the country illegally but ended the practice…

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Kuala Lumpur, Jun 25 (DIN NEWS) Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday he wants to renegotiate a “ridiculous” water supply agreement with Singapore, the latest sign of fraying ties between the neighbours since last month’s shock election. The 92-year-old returned for a second time as premier after his opposition alliance scored an unexpected victory at the polls, toppling a long-ruling coalition that Mahathir himself once headed. During his first stint in charge of the country from 1981-2003, Malaysia had famously stormy ties with Singapore – and Mahathir has wasted…

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Beijing, Jun 24 (DIN NEWS) US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, who has accused China of “intimidation and coercion” in the South China Sea, visits Beijing this week as the countries increasingly spar over US arms sales to Taiwan and Beijing’s expanding military presence overseas. Mattis will be the first defence secretary in President Donald Trump’s administration to visit China. His trip highlights the need for the US and its chief rival in East Asia to engage each other despite increasingly stark differences and mutual suspicion. Mattis’ mission comes at a…

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