World

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, in his opening remarks during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at New Delhi's Hyderabad House, said that he is looking forward and is confident of holding "open and productive discussions".

In his remarks, EAM Jaishankar said, "We have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which I think in plain language means that we have a very deep, very broad-based cooperation. And a relationship that impacts and influences other regions and the world."

"And that is because we have converging interests on many issues and in many parts of the world. So I look forward to our conversation today. These are complicated times, but as strong partners, I'm very confident we'll have very open and productive discussions. Once again, a very warm welcome," he added.

Both leaders will then hold a delegation-level meeting at the Hyderabad House, with discussions focusing on strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, technology, etc.

Earlier on Saturday, Rubio called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also extended an invitation on behalf of US President Donald Trump to visit the White House in the near future.

He briefed PM Modi on the "sustained progress" in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated on Saturday.

In a post on X, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, stated that, during the meeting, both sides had a "productive discussion" on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across various sectors.

He also mentioned that India remains a "vital partner" to the United States.

"Great to join Secretary Rubio for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across security, trade, and critical technologies - areas that strengthen both our nations and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. India is a vital partner to the United States!" Gor posted on X.

"News! Secretary Marco Rubio extended an invitation on behalf of President Donald Trump for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near future!" he added in another post.

--IANS

sd/

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong on Sunday expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of condolence following the loss of lives in the mining accident in Shanxi Province.

He said that the sympathy and support from India are "deeply valued" in the difficult time.

According to the officials on Saturday, a total of 82 people were confirmed dead, while two others remained missing after the coal mine gas explosion on Friday. The gas explosion hit the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County at 7:29 p.m. on Friday.

A total of 128 people are receiving treatment at hospitals, including two in critical condition and two in serious condition.

In a post on X, Chinese envoy Feihong said, "We appreciate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's kind message of condolence following the mining accident in Shanxi Province. The sympathy and support from the people of India are deeply valued at this difficult time."

"Our thoughts are with the victims, the missing, and their families. We are making every effort in the rescue and relief operations," he said.

Prime Minister Modi on Saturday had conveyed his condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the loss of lives in the accident.

"Saddened by the loss of lives in a mining accident in Shanxi Province, China. On behalf of the people of India, my condolences to President Xi Jinping and the people of China. May the bereaved families find strength in this tragic hour. Praying for the early and safe recovery of all remaining missing persons," PM Modi wrote on X.

Meanwhile, officials said that toxic and harmful gases under the mine shaft have exceeded safe limits for a long time, posing a risk of secondary disasters.

The company involved in the coal mine explosion was found with "serious violations of laws." Those responsible for the company have been placed under control. The company's coal mines have ceased production for a safety overhaul, said Chen Xiangyang, mayor of Changzhi City, which administers Qinyuan, according to Xinhua news agency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out rescue of the missing and treatment of the injured and demanded a thorough investigation into the cause, with accountability pursued in accordance with the law.

The investigation team said it will thoroughly ascertain the cause of the accident, clarify the responsibilities of local authorities, industry regulators and the enterprise involved, and mete out strict penalties in accordance with laws and regulations.

--IANS

sd/

Washington, May 24 (IANS) Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan and Canada Ajay Bisaria has said the India-US relationship is entering a “very positive phase” after months of strain under President Donald Trump’s second term, even as concerns remain over Washington’s handling of Pakistan and its rhetoric towards India.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, Bisaria described US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s India visit as both a reassurance exercise and a strategic reset after what he called the “bad dream” period of Trump-era tariffs.

“But the Rubio visit is partially also a damage control visit,” Bisaria said. “Because I think it was overdue in the sense of some signals of reassurance politically of reassurance from the US were required.”

Bisaria said the rollback of Trump tariffs earlier this year helped stabilise the bilateral relationship after months of economic uncertainty.

“The way I look at the 16 month Trump period is that we went through a bad dream from August till February of the Trump tariffs,” he said. “Once those tariffs were rolled back, things began to get better.”

He identified three major “irritants” in the relationship during Trump 2.0. The first was the tariff dispute. The second, he said, was Washington’s evolving relationship with Pakistan.

“Particularly after Operation Sindoor, this is a matter of concern in India,” Bisaria said, adding that New Delhi felt the US had become “insensitive to India’s concerns about the perpetrators of that terrorism.”

Bisaria said successive US presidents since Bill Clinton had largely “de-hyphenated” India and Pakistan. However, he argued that the White House’s recent engagement with Pakistan’s military establishment had raised fresh concerns in New Delhi.

“It was being insensitive to India’s concerns about the perpetrators of that terrorism and whatever transactional deal due to critical minerals, crypto and counter-terrorism,” he said.

According to Bisaria, the Trump administration’s Pakistan outreach was driven more by transactional considerations than by any larger strategic shift.

“This particular administration has been framing not just Pakistan, but other relationships, very transactionally,” he said.

He cited three factors behind the renewed warmth between Washington and Islamabad: crypto-linked business interests, critical minerals cooperation and counter-terrorism coordination.

“The Pakistanis have been good at helping in the counter-terrorism in the sense they periodically deliver some high value terrorists to the Americans,” Bisaria said.

Despite the friction, Bisaria said the broader India-US relationship remained on a positive trajectory because of strong cooperation in defence and technology.

“Overall the sense is that the relationship is still headed in a positive direction because defence technology and a very positive ambassador that the US has, Sergio Gor, all these are positive drivers of the relationship as well,” he said.

Responding to a question, Bisaria pointed to a dramatic improvement in India-Canada ties under Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney after years of tensions during Justin Trudeau’s tenure.

“That turnaround really started last year in Cannes when soon after being elected, Mark Carney invited PM Modi for the meeting,” he said.

He said both countries had moved sensitive security issues into a “professional security dialogue” led by national security advisers, allowing political ties and trade discussions to move forward.

“What both sides have done is depoliticised the security dialogue,” Bisaria said. “And said, you guys manage it and the politicians will stay out of it.”

Bisaria, a former diplomat and author, served as India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan from 2017 to 2020 and later as High Commissioner to Canada. His comments come at a time when India is recalibrating ties with major global powers amid ongoing geopolitical tensions involving China, Iran and the Indo-Pacific region.

India and the US have steadily expanded cooperation over the past two decades through initiatives covering defence, technology, energy and strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad grouping involving India, the US, Japan and Australia has also emerged as a major pillar of regional cooperation.

--IANS

lkj/rs

Seoul, May 24 (IANS) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung vowed Sunday to build a government that "saves people's lives" and to uphold the teaching that all people are equally worthy, as he attended a ceremony marking Buddha's Birthday.

Lee made the remarks during a ceremony hosted by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, as he has increasingly prioritised policies aimed at protecting public safety and addressing issues that directly affect people's daily lives, such as stalking crimes and other safety-related incidents.

"We will build a country that looks after the lives of each and every citizen more carefully and listens to the voices of those at the lowest levels of society," he said in his speech at Jogye Temple.

"Above all, I will do my utmost to build a government that saves people's lives and put into practice the teaching that all people are equally worthy and equal," he said.

Lee said the Buddha's teachings have shared both hardship and joy over the years, helping people heal pain and embrace marginalised neighbours whenever the country experienced crises and sorrow, reports Yonhap news agency.

"Even at times of war, poverty, disasters and social conflict, the lanterns at Buddhist temples never went out," he said. "(They) allowed people to take a moment to pause and find peace of mind whenever they grew weary of life,"

"Our society today also urgently needs a spirit of consideration and understanding that embraces different views, as well as a warm-hearted pursuit of co-existence and shared prosperity, rather than every person fending for themselves," he said.

--IANS

sd/

Geneva, May 24 (IANS) The six-day 79th World Health Assembly has concluded in Geneva, during which member states adopted multiple resolutions to advance multilateral cooperation in safeguarding human health.

Held under the theme "Reshaping global health: a shared responsibility," the assembly adopted more than 20 decisions and 13 resolutions on issues including stroke, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, emergency care, haemophilia, precision medicine and radiation, reports Xinhua news agency.

In his closing remarks on Saturday (local time), President of the Assembly Victor Atallah Lajam said that amid intensifying geopolitical conflicts, frequent public health emergencies and severe challenges to the multilateral system, the assembly successfully completed its agenda, once again demonstrating the power of multilateralism.

Atallah, also minister of health of the Dominican Republic, said the assembly focused on its core mission of protecting human health and adopted a series of major decisions and future guidance with direct impact, noting that these outcomes will benefit millions or even more people, with emphasis on strengthening emergency preparedness and response, curbing antimicrobial resistance, promoting innovation in indigenous peoples' health, regulating ethical organ transplantation, and enhancing the protection and support for health workers.

On emerging issues such as digital health, interoperability, artificial intelligence and digital governance, in-depth discussions were held, and the need for ethical and inclusive frameworks was reaffirmed to advance people-centred, interoperable and diverse medical cooperation in precision medicine and diagnostic imaging, the president added.

The assembly also addressed a range of political and administrative issues, including an agreement to reform the global health architecture through a member state-led joint process hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

In his closing remarks, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged member states to translate resolutions into action without delay, stressing that achieving global health goals "will require political commitment, sustained financing, and continued cooperation between member states, partners and communities."

--IANS

sd/

Seoul, May 24 (IANS) South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung called on Sunday for a public debate on introducing tougher measures against those who post hateful and derogatory content online or engage in such behaviour.

Lee made the remarks in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, sharing a report that young people believed to be linked to a far-right online forum had engaged in provocative acts mocking former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun near the site of a memorial ceremony held on the anniversary of his death.

"There are differing views on whether expressions that incite social division and conflict through mockery and insults, such as (those seen on) Ilbe, should be protected under freedom of expression or (face) sanctions, including punishment," Lee said in the post.

Ilbe refers to "Ilbe Storehouse," a South Korean internet community known for extreme political views, misogyny, racism and hate speech.

Lee raised the need for "stricter conditions" and measures such as punishment, or even punitive damages, for mocking and hateful expressions.

He also mentioned how there has been a debate over shutting down those online forums, reports Yonhap news agency.

"What do you think? ... I will also raise the matter at a Cabinet meeting," he said.

Lee's remarks came a day after he criticised Starbucks Korea over its 2024 promotional material that critics said evoked the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

Starbucks Korea introduced its "Siren Classic Mug Collection" on April 16, 2024, the anniversary of the ferry sinking that killed more than 300 people, mostly students on a school trip. Critics said the use of "Siren" was inappropriate because sirens in Greek mythology are associated with luring sailors to shipwrecks.

The coffee chain has come under fire for launching a "Tank Day" event on the anniversary of a 1980 pro-democracy movement that was violently suppressed by the military.

--IANS

sd/

Beijing, May 24 (IANS) More than 10 people were unaccounted for after heavy rain battered Yongchuan District in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, said local authorities.

According to the meteorological department, torrential rains struck parts of central and western Chongqing between 11 p.m. on Saturday and 12 a.m. on Sunday. Guankouwan and Hanjiagou Village in the district logged 296.7 mm and 256.9 mm of extraordinary rainstorms, respectively.

Given the short interval between the current and previous rounds of heavy rainfall, the continuous precipitation poses a higher risk of inducing geological disasters, including landslides, collapses, and debris flows, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the meteorological authorities.

Chongqing has activated a Level-III emergency response for geological disasters in the Yongchuan District at 7 a.m. on Sunday. The local relevant departments are carrying out emergency rescue work.

Meanwhile, the death toll from heavy rainfall in Shimen County, central China's Hunan Province, rose to seven, with 14 others still missing, local authorities said.

Among the missing, five were added following further investigation, according to the county's emergency management and production safety committee. Search and rescue operations are underway.

The severe downpour started at 7 a.m. on May 17. It is the first round of torrential rain to hit the county this year. A total of 23 townships and districts have been affected, according to the municipal emergency management bureau of Changde City, which administers Shimen.

Search and rescue operations are underway, alongside efforts to repair damaged infrastructure and guarantee daily necessities for affected residents.

The National Development and Reform Commission said on Wednesday that it has urgently allocated 50 million yuan (about 7.31 million US dollars) from the central government's investment budget to support post-flood emergency recovery efforts in Hunan Province.

Some areas in Hunan have been hit by severe flooding, resulting in heavy casualties and property losses. Continuous heavy rainfall has lashed the province's Shimen County, leaving five people dead and 11 others missing, according to local authorities.

--IANS

sd/

Abuja, May 24 (IANS) At least 12 suspected terrorists were killed in a gunfight with Nigerian troops after they attempted to attack a military facility in the northeastern state of Borno, the army has said.

In a statement on Saturday (local time), Nigerian Army spokesperson Sani Uba said the suspected terrorists tried to infiltrate a military position in Kirawa town along the Nigeria-Cameroon border early Friday, but were repelled by troops of the 153 Task Force Battalion and allied forces.

According to Uba, government troops responded with heavy fire, forcing the attackers to retreat toward the Cameroon border area.

The military said several attackers escaped with possible gunshot wounds.

Troops also recovered weapons and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a machine gun, the statement said.

Earlier on May 19, the military announced that a total of 175 Islamic State fighters and top commanders had been killed by Nigerian troops and US forces in recent combined counter-terrorism operations in the northeastern part of Nigeria.

In a statement, military spokesman Samaila Uba said the coordinated air and ground strikes, which commenced over the weekend, had delivered a major blow to the terrorist group's operational capacity, destroying multiple IS checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs, military equipment and financial networks sustaining their activities.

Uba said several high-profile IS commanders were among those killed, including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the group's second-in-command globally.

According to him, al-Minuki played a central role in IS external operations, including coordination of terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics and attack planning targeting civilians. His elimination is expected to severely disrupt the terrorist group's command structure, operational coordination and external attack networks, Uba explained.

He identified other key terrorist figures killed during the operations, including Abd-al Wahhab, described as a senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province responsible for coordinating attacks and propaganda; Abu Musa al-Mangawi, another senior member; and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir, a senior media production operative.

The military spokesman said the successes further underscored the sustained efforts of the armed forces of Nigeria in tracking and eliminating terrorist elements across the country, adding that the joint operations would be continued to dismantle all terrorist networks threatening national and regional security.

The recent operations were conducted under a recently established counter-terrorism and intelligence-sharing partnership between Nigeria and the United States aimed at dismantling terrorist networks operating in the region.

--IANS

sd/

Tehran, May 24 (IANS) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have said that his country seeks to safeguard national interests and remains highly cautious in negotiations with the United States.

During a meeting with visiting Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir, Pezeshkian cited Washington's repeated breach of commitments, attacks on Iran amid talks, and targeted killings of its officials as the basis for widespread public mistrust, according to a presidency statement on Saturday (local time).

Under such circumstances, Iran has pursued negotiations relying on its "brotherly relations" with friendly countries, "but our main goal is to solely safeguard the Iranian nation's interests through appropriate solutions," Pezeshkian said.

"We merely seek to safeguard our people's legal and legitimate rights, but our history and experience of negotiating with the United States urge us to exercise utmost caution," he said.

War has never been in anyone's interest and will only bring losses to the region and the world, he added.

Munir, who arrived in Tehran Friday night, reaffirmed in the meeting his commitment to regional stability, welcomed the progress made in the negotiations, and voiced hope that they would yield favourable results for Iran and regional states, reports Xinhua news agency.

Separately, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported Saturday that if Washington does not show flexibility, peace talks with Tehran will be doomed to failure.

Iran insists on not discussing its nuclear program at this stage, releasing its frozen assets prior to negotiations, and continuing its control and management over the Strait of Hormuz, Fars reported, citing an informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team.

No negotiation will take place if the three remaining serious issues of disagreement are not resolved, it reported.

Iran, the United States and Israel reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting that started with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

Following the truce, Iranian and US delegations held one round of peace talks in Pakistan's Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to yield an agreement.

Over the past weeks, the two sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict.

--IANS

sd/

Los Angeles, May 24 (IANS) There is no tsunami threat to the US state of Hawaii after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted 12 km south of Honaunau-Napoopoo on Hawaii's Big Island, authorities have said.

The earthquake struck at 9:46 p.m. local time on Friday, and the epicentre, with a depth of 22.4 kilometres, was initially determined to be at 19.34 degrees north latitude and 155.84 degrees west longitude, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

"The earthquake was widely felt across the Hawaiian Islands ... There are no apparent impacts to Mauna Loa or Kilauea volcanoes," said the USGS in a statement.

Several small aftershocks have occurred and may continue in the coming days, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the US Geological Survey.

Moderate earthquakes are common in Hawaii. Over the past 50 years, 36 other earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater have struck within 100 kilometres of Friday's quake.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre did not issue a tsunami warning following the earthquake. In a statement, Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said the earthquake was not large enough to cause a tsunami for the Island of Hawaii.

In the United States, the tsunami alert has four types, including a tsunami information statement, a watch, an advisory, and a warning.

A tsunami advisory means that a tsunami with the potential to generate strong currents or waves to those in or near the water is imminent, expected, or occurring. During this alert, the public should stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways.

A tsunami warning is issued when a tsunami with the potential to generate widespread inundation is imminent, expected, or occurring. During this alert, the public should move to high ground or inland.

--IANS

sd/