Blinken vows support for Central Asian nations' independence in bid to weaken Russia's influence
The US Secretary of State, visiting Kazakhstan, is targeting all the former Soviet republics who fear they will be future victims of Russian expansionism
At a time when China is expanding its influence in the Pacific region, the United States and Papua New Guinea have signed a new bilateral defence pact. This comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the capital Port Moresby on Monday and held a meeting with 14 Pacific Island leaders. During the signing ceremony, Blinken said that the defence cooperation was drafted by the United States and Papua New Guinea as equals and sovereign partners. With this new security agreement, the United States will be able to have more access to military and other facilities in PNG.
#PapuaNewGuinea #US #AntonyBlinken
~PR.151~GR.124~HT.96~
US Pushes for Extended , Cease-Fire Amid Escalating , Violence in Sudan.
On April 27, the United States and African nations
pushed to secure a ceasefire in Sudan as heavy
fighting continues in the capital of Khartoum.
Reuters reports that hundreds of people have been killed since the conflict between the Sudanese army and a rival paramilitary force began two weeks ago.
Reuters reports that hundreds of people have been killed since the conflict between the Sudanese army and a rival paramilitary force began two weeks ago.
Over 4,000 other people
have been injured since
the fighting began on April 15. .
According to witnesses and Reuters journalists,
air strikes and anti-aircraft fire are ongoing
in Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri.
According to witnesses and Reuters journalists,
air strikes and anti-aircraft fire are ongoing
in Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri.
Late on April 26, the army said its leader had given initial approval for a plan to extend the truce and meet in the South Sudan capital, Juba, for talks.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and African
Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat are
considering working together to broker an end to the conflict.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and African
Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat are
considering working together to broker an end to the conflict.
Reuters reports that the conflict has limited
the distribution of humanitarian aid in Sudan,
which millions of Sudanese people depend on for survival.
According to a United Nations update,
hospitals in Sudan are facing shortages
of medical supplies, power and water.
The Sudan Doctors' Union warns that 60 out of Sudan's
86 hospitals in conflict zones have been forced
to close down since the fighting began.
The Sudan Doctors' Union warns that 60 out of Sudan's
86 hospitals in conflict zones have been forced
to close down since the fighting began.
The crisis has also forced
an increasing number
of refugees to flee Sudan.
The U.N. estimates that 270,000 people could
seek refuge in South Sudan and Chad alone
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
WHO Warns of 'Biological Hazard', After Sudan Fighters , Take Control of Laboratory.
On April 25, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned
of a "high risk of biological hazard" after a central
public laboratory was seized in war-torn Sudan.
On April 25, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned
of a "high risk of biological hazard" after a central
public laboratory was seized in war-torn Sudan.
Fox News reports that the WHO's representative in Sudan
said the laboratory contains samples of measles
and polio, creating an "extremely dangerous" situation.
Fox News reports that the WHO's representative in Sudan
said the laboratory contains samples of measles
and polio, creating an "extremely dangerous" situation.
There is a huge biological risk associated with the occupation of the central public health lab... by one of the fighting parties, Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, WHO Sudan representative, via Fox News.
Reuters reports that at least 459 people have
already been killed since the fighting began in
Sudan, while another 4,072 have been injured.
On April 24, United States Secretary
of State Antony Blinken announced that
a 72-hour cease-fire had been brokered.
Fox News reports that the truce would
extend a nominal three-day holiday
cease-fire already agreed upon.
On April 25, both the Sudanese military
and its rival, the Rapid Support Forces,
will observe the cease-fire.
According to both warring factions,
Saudi Arabia also played a key role in
negotiating the temporary cease-fire.
This cease-fire aims to establish
humanitarian corridors, allowing citizens
and residents to access essential resources,
health care, and safe zones, while also
evacuating diplomatic missions, Rapid Support Forces, via statement.
This cease-fire aims to establish
humanitarian corridors, allowing citizens
and residents to access essential resources,
health care, and safe zones, while also
evacuating diplomatic missions, Rapid Support Forces, via statement.
However, the Associated Press reports
that fighting has continued in the capital
of Khartoum despite the cease-fire.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
After 10 days of intense fighting in Sudan, the two warring factions have agreed to a 72 hour truce that began from midnight of April 24th. This is the third ceasefire that has been agreed upon. The earlier ones had failed to materialize due to one factor or the another. The Sudan Armed Forces said that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia mediated the truce. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the 72-hour pause in fighting had been agreed between the army and the RSF after 48 hours of negotiations.
#Sudantruce#Sudanfighting#Sudan
~PR.153~ED.102~GR.123~
The focus of the upcoming China-Central Asia Summit summit in Xi'an is the promotion of Beijing's 'Belt and Road Initiative'. But according to analysts, the summit is less about the transit of goods and more about Russia's loss of influence in the region and whether China is ready to take over.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:54Published
Joe Biden’s administration's point person for South and Central Asia has said that the US President is looking forward to travelling to India in September. Biden’s office observed that 2023 is going to be a ‘big year’ for the India-US relationship.
#JoeBiden #India #G20
~PR.151~ED.99~ED.102~
The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that Russian troops have taken control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. It said that as a result of offensive actions by Wagner assault units, supported by artillery and aviation of the Southern Group of Forces, the liberation of Artyomovsk has been completed, referring to Bakhmut by its Soviet-era name. Earlier on Saturday, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had also reported the capture of Bakhmut. Bakhmut, which is located in Ukraine's Donetsk province, has been the site of fierce fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces for months. Russia controls around half of the province and claimed to have annexed it in the autumn of 2022. But Kyiv has disputed the Russian claims and has said that Bakhmut has not fallen into the hands of Russians.
#Bakhmut #Vladimirputin#Wagnergrup
~PR.153~HT.98~ED.102~
The Indian Air Force has decided to ground the entire fleet of its Mig 21s as as the investigations into the May 8 crash are still underway and the reason behind the crash is being probed. 3 civilians were killed after the wreckage of a MiG-21 fighter jet fell on a house on May 8 in Rajasthan while the pilot ejected safely, sustaining minor injuries. Air Force officials say that the grounding is a routine procedure that is undertaken after any such tragic incidents…and that the fleets would be back in action after the checks are done. The IAF has already constituted a Court of Inquiry to ascertain the cause of Rajasthan accident. Mig stands for Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau of the erstwhile Soviet Union and it is a supersonic fighter jet. Since its initial induction in 1963, India has inducted over 900 MiG-21s. Up until the first half of 2022, the IAF operated four squadrons of MiG-21 Bison fighters, each squadron comprising around 16 to 18 aircraft. This made the total strength of MiG-21 Bisons between 64 and 72. But on 30th September last year, the Indian Air Force retired the No. 51 ‘swordarms’ MiG-21 fighter Squadron based in Srinagar.
#Mig21 #Mig21grounded #mig21flyingcoffin
~PR.153~HT.98~ED.102~
![Papua New Guinea and US sign new defence cooperation agreement and maritime pact | Oneindia News [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230522/1353041740-Papua-New-Guinea-and-US-sign-new-defence.jpg)
![US Pushes for Extended Cease-Fire Amid Escalating Violence in Sudan [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230427/1351949572-US-Pushes-for-Extended-Cease-Fire-Amid-Escalating.jpg)
![WHO Warns of 'Biological Hazard' After Sudan Fighters Take Control of Laboratory [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230425/1351833210-WHO-Warns-of-Biological-Hazard-After-Sudan-Fighters.jpg)
![Sudan's Army, RSF agrees to 3-day truce as evacuations go on in full swing | Oneindia News [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230425/1351791680-Sudan-Army-RSF-agrees-to-day.jpg)
![Sudan fighting: Blinken says US is pressing leaders to expand ceasefire [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230424/1351761794-Sudan-fighting-Blinken-says-US-is-pressing-leaders.jpg)
![China's Xi unveils grand development plan for Central Asia [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230519/1352937203-China-Xi-unveils-grand-development-plan-for.jpg)
![China's president unveils development plan as Central Asia Summit concludes [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230519/1352929312-China-president-unveils-development-plan-as-Central.jpg)
![Is China ready to replace Russian influence in Central Asia? [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230518/1352895385-Is-China-ready-to-replace-Russian-influence-in.jpg)
![Xi Jinping hosts Central Asian leaders as Beijing seeks to strengthen regional influence [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230518/1352883831-Xi-Jinping-hosts-Central-Asian-leaders-as-Beijing.jpg)
![Joe Biden to visit India in September | US says 2024 a big year for India-US ties | Oneindia News [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230422/1351668903-Joe-Biden-to-visit-India-in-September.jpg)
![Russia-Ukraine war: Russia claims to have entirely taken control of Bakhmut city | Oneindia News [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230521/1352993885-Russia-Ukraine-war-Russia-claims-to-have-entirely.jpg)
![IAF decides to ground the entire fleet of Mig-21s until Rajasthan crash is probed | Oneindia News [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230521/1352992203-IAF-decides-to-ground-the-entire-fleet-of.jpg)
!['Mission accomplished': Romania says farewell to Soviet-era jet fighters [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230517/1352839887-Mission-accomplished-Romania-says-farewell-to-Soviet.jpg)
!["Soviet book syndrome": Why Russian propaganda works [Video]](https://video.newsserve.net/300/v/20230512/1352619041-Soviet-book-syndrome-Why-Russian-propaganda-works.jpg)
