President Biden has postponed plans to travel to Chicago on Wednesday so he can continue negotiating with lawmakers to get his multi-trillion spending plans across the finish line, a White House official said. Watch this report for more details.

United States president Joe Biden postpones Chicago trip

Within 10 months into his presidency, Joe Biden already seems to be taking a massive hit in the approval ratings. According to ABC News/Ipsos opinion poll, the public opinion of Biden has further declined compared to August.

The ratings were based on Biden’s handling of key issues —the pandemic, immigration and the situation at the US-Mexico border, gun violence and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure.

The poll states that the dissatisfaction among the Republicans and independents is fuelling the decline, but the president’s ratings are also being hampered by more “lacklustre approval among members of his own party than presidents typically enjoy”.

His overall rating now stands at 49 per cent disapprove and 45&nbsp;per cent approve, which has worsened since late August.

However, the opinion polls indicated that the US President’s approval ratings have differed according to specific issues.

For example, Biden’s performance on the Coronavirus response seems to have been welcomed by many with nearly 6 in 10 (57 per cent ) Americans approving of how he is handling it.

But&nbsp;compared to the ABC News/Ipsos poll in August, Biden’s approval on this issue is down seven points overall and among independents, and down 14 points among Republicans.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-us-strategy-crumbled-in-afghanistan-as-bidens-approval-ratings-dive-406470#pervasive-corruption-put-us-funds-at-risk-406452">How US strategy crumbled in Afghanistan as Biden's approval ratings dive</a>

It's also down 15 points from his late March record high on COVID-19 job performance in ABC News/Ipsos polling.

Handling of the US economy continues to be the biggest challenge for the Biden administration, as about equal shares of the public approve and disapprove of his handling of the economic recovery, 51% to 48%.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-approval-rating-declines-in-two-months-367962">US President Joe Biden approval rating declines in two months</a>

The percentage of Americans disapproving of Biden on the economy increased seven points since late August.

On the issue of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, the Americans approve of Biden’s handling of this issue, 55 per cent to 44 per cent, but disapproval has increased by nine points since late August

Among Republicans and independents, approval dropped 10 and nine points, respectively.

Black and Hispanic Americans overwhelmingly support the president's handling of the United States' infrastructure, with 71 per cent and 70 per cent respectively approving, while a majority of white Americans (54 per cent ) disapprove.

Apart from that, Biden’s approval among US adults overall falls below 40 per cent on all three of those issues —38 per cent on gun violence,&nbsp;38 per cent on Afghanistan and 33 per cent on immigration and the situation at the border, the ABC News/Ipsos poll found.

(With inputs from agencies)

Within 10 months into his presidency, Joe Biden already seems to be taking a massive hit in the approval ratings. According to ABC News/Ipsos opinion poll, the public opinion of Biden has further declined compared to August.

Within 10 months into his presidency, Joe Biden already seems to be taking a massive hit in the approval ratings. According to ABC News/Ipsos opinion poll, the public opinion of Biden has further declined compared to August. The ratings were based on Biden’s handling of key issues —the pandemic, immigration and the situation at the US-Mexico border, gun violence and rebuilding the nation's infrastructure. The poll states that the dissatisfaction among the Republicans and independents is fuelling the decline, but the president’s ratings are also being hampered by more “lacklustre approval among members of his own party than presidents typically enjoy”. His overall rating now stands at 49 per cent disapprove and 45 per cent approve, which has worsened since late August. However, the opinion polls indicated that the US President’s approval ratings have differed according to specific issues. For example, Biden’s performance on the Coronavirus response seems to have been welcomed by many with nearly 6 in 10 (57 per cent ) Americans approving of how he is handling it. But compared to the ABC News/Ipsos poll in August, Biden’s approval on this issue is down seven points overall and among independents, and down 14 points among Republicans. Also read | How US strategy crumbled in Afghanistan as Biden's approval ratings dive It's also down 15 points from his late March record high on COVID-19 job performance in ABC News/Ipsos polling. Handling of the US economy continues to be the biggest challenge for the Biden administration, as about equal shares of the public approve and disapprove of his handling of the economic recovery, 51% to 48%. Also read | US President Joe Biden approval rating declines in two months The percentage of Americans disapproving of Biden on the economy increased seven points since late August. On the issue of rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, the Americans approve of Biden’s handling of this issue, 55 per cent to 44 per cent, but disapproval has increased by nine points since late August Among Republicans and independents, approval dropped 10 and nine points, respectively. Black and Hispanic Americans overwhelmingly support the president's handling of the United States' infrastructure, with 71 per cent and 70 per cent respectively approving, while a majority of white Americans (54 per cent ) disapprove. Apart from that, Biden’s approval among US adults overall falls below 40 per cent on all three of those issues —38 per cent on gun violence, 38 per cent on Afghanistan and 33 per cent on immigration and the situation at the border, the ABC News/Ipsos poll found. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Biden’s approval ratings continue to fall, show opinion polls

Top generals of US military said on Tuesday that they had advised US President Joe Biden to keep some troop presence&nbsp;in Afghanistan. The statements, made to US Congress appear to go against Biden's&nbsp;claim that he did not recall receiving such an advice. General Mark Milley and General Frank McKenzie testified before US Congress. The generals, along with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, were questioned by Senate armed services committee.

McKenzie and Milley both testified that they had believed it would have been best to keep a minimum of 2,500 troops in the country. In an August interview, Biden denied his commanders had recommended keeping 2,500 troops in Afghanistan.

Taliban took power in a lightning offensive in August after all US troops withdrew from the country. This caused fall of former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government. This led to a frenzied evacuation effort of foreign diplomats and Afghan civilians.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/35-terror-attacks-52-deaths-in-august-taliban-victory-in-afghanistan-fuels-terrorism-in-pakistan-416639">35 terror attacks, 52 deaths in August: Taliban victory in Afghanistan fuels terrorism in Pakistan</a>

Milley, Austin, and General Frank McKenzie of U.S. Central Command all acknowledged being caught off-guard by the speed of the Taliban takeover following the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Kabul.

Republican lawmakers accused President Joe Biden of lying about recommendations from his military that some troops should be kept in the country. And even Biden's Democrats expressed frustration with the withdrawal that left U.S. troops dead and American citizens behind.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-brutally-kill-child-after-suspecting-father-belonged-to-afghan-resistance-forces-416664">Taliban brutally kill child after suspecting father belonged to Afghan resistance forces</a>

Milley refused to be drawn on whether Biden had lied when pressed by Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.

"I'm not going to categorise a statement of the President of the United States," Milley said.

Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that the US would have been at war with the Taliban had it maintained 2500 troops in Afghanistan.

He comments came as she tried to clarify apparent difference between the stance taken by US President Joe Biden and his military advisers.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ban-on-saloon-girls-education-return-of-public-executions-is-afghanistan-going-back-in-time-416682">Ban on saloon, girls’ education &amp; return of public executions: Is Afghanistan going back in time?</a>

US Secretary pf Defence Lloyd Austin praised US personnel who helped airlift 124,000 Afghans out of the country.

But Milley acknowledged that while the evacuation effort was a logistical accomplishment, the U.S. withdrawal was a "strategic defeat" that left the Taliban back in power.

(With inputs from agencies)

Top generals of US military said on Tuesday that they had advised US President Joe Biden to keep some troop presence in Afghanistan. The statements, made to US Congress appear to go against Biden's claim that he did not recall receiving such an advice.

Top generals of US military said on Tuesday that they had advised US President Joe Biden to keep some troop presence in Afghanistan. The statements, made to US Congress appear to go against Biden's claim that he did not recall receiving such an advice. General Mark Milley and General Frank McKenzie testified before US Congress. The generals, along with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, were questioned by Senate armed services committee. McKenzie and Milley both testified that they had believed it would have been best to keep a minimum of 2,500 troops in the country. In an August interview, Biden denied his commanders had recommended keeping 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. Taliban took power in a lightning offensive in August after all US troops withdrew from the country. This caused fall of former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's government. This led to a frenzied evacuation effort of foreign diplomats and Afghan civilians. Also Read | 35 terror attacks, 52 deaths in August: Taliban victory in Afghanistan fuels terrorism in Pakistan Milley, Austin, and General Frank McKenzie of U.S. Central Command all acknowledged being caught off-guard by the speed of the Taliban takeover following the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Kabul. Republican lawmakers accused President Joe Biden of lying about recommendations from his military that some troops should be kept in the country. And even Biden's Democrats expressed frustration with the withdrawal that left U.S. troops dead and American citizens behind. Also Read | Taliban brutally kill child after suspecting father belonged to Afghan resistance forces Milley refused to be drawn on whether Biden had lied when pressed by Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. "I'm not going to categorise a statement of the President of the United States," Milley said. Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that the US would have been at war with the Taliban had it maintained 2500 troops in Afghanistan. He comments came as she tried to clarify apparent difference between the stance taken by US President Joe Biden and his military advisers. Also Read | Ban on saloon, girls’ education & return of public executions: Is Afghanistan going back in time? US Secretary pf Defence Lloyd Austin praised US personnel who helped airlift 124,000 Afghans out of the country. But Milley acknowledged that while the evacuation effort was a logistical accomplishment, the U.S. withdrawal was a "strategic defeat" that left the Taliban back in power. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden was advised to keep 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, say top US generals

In July, as wildfires tore through the American West, President Joe Biden met with the region’s governors to find better ways to battle the flames. California Governor&nbsp;Gavin Newsom requested use of military satellites that are designed to warn of missile attacks, calling the orbital fleet “a game changer” for spotting and fighting wildfires.

Biden promised to help. “When this meeting is over,” he said, “I’ll be on the phone with the Department of Defense.”

His call wasn’t the first — or the 50th.

The issue of using secret military gear to aid civilian firefighters arose 35 years ago. It grew as the White House, CIA, U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies sought to establish a national system that warned of undetected wildfires and menacing flare-ups.

The Pentagon allowed tests and a short-lived prototype. But the arrangements were never permanent. The military, eager to safeguard its prerogatives and orbital fleets, was always glad to shut the pipeline down. As a result, officials such as Newsom now have to lobby for emergency access.

But record-setting fires are likely to grow worse and pose grave new dangers that warrant an urgent response, according to proponents of deeper cooperation between officials who combat wildfires and those managing the military spacecraft. The nation can no longer afford endless turf wars and bureaucratic foot-dragging. It’s a matter, they say, of public safety.

“Fighting disasters is like fighting wars,” said Darrell Herd, a retired senior research scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency who pioneered early orbital tests of wildfire detection. “You suffer if you don’t have adequate warning.”

The parts of the United States destroyed each year by wildfires have more than doubled over two decades. And California’s fires have recently grown rapidly in size. Deaths and diseases are linked not only to blistering flames, but also toxic smoke.

Even so, proponents of using the defence satellites note, the military has no established program that issues firefighting alerts to local, state and federal authorities. They also point out that the Pentagon’s spacecraft, when set against civilian and commercial ones, have repeatedly proven themselves to be superior at spotting blazes.

In an interview, Jeffrey Harris, a former director of the National Reconnaissance Office, which runs the country’s fleets of spy satellites, called for expanding civilian use of the attack-warning craft “as quickly as possible.” Scientists see the wildfires intensifying, he noted, “so why don’t we let firefighters take full advantage of the technology?”

California, Harris added, “is one of the largest economies in the world. And we’re not going to nip these fires in the bud?” The military craft, he stressed, “can save lives.”

In 2018, the U.S. Forest Service used the spacecraft as an experiment in California, quickly spotting four flare-ups. “I believe we are just beginning to unlock the possibilities,” Lt. Gen. John Thompson, then head of what was called the Air Force Space and Missiles Systems Center, said of the firefighting test. The Forest Service proceeded to ask that the military spinoffs go nationwide.

Satellite-sharing proponents often cite the military’s GPS as a role model. That fleet of satellites began life in 1978 as a highly classified system for transmitting precise location data to the U.S. armed forces. In the 1980s, civilians gained access. Today, commercial uses include tracking vehicles and sending position data to millions of smartphones.

In an interview, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who heads the House Intelligence Committee, said the nation needed to rethink the military’s overall role in protecting American society and decide either to shrink its budgets or expand its domestic responsibilities. The new roles, he added, should include the permanent sharing of the attack-warning satellites with the civilian authorities.

“Part of a strong America is having a strong infrastructure that protects our citizens not just from foreign attack, but natural disasters,” Schiff said. “We need to protect people from the growing intensity of these fires.”

Schiff cited a personal encounter. In 2009, a California wildfire grew into the largest in the modern history of Los Angeles County, killing two firefighters, destroying scores of homes and turning hundreds of square miles of green vegetation into blackened remains.

“I remember stepping outside my house one night,” Schiff said. “It looked like lava flowing down the canyons — like a scene out of a surreal horror film.”

The revitalized debate centres on an early generation of attack-warning satellites known as the Defense Support Program, a main participant in the fire experiments. First sent aloft in 1970, the spacecraft orbit 22,300 miles up, over the equator, in sync with Earth’s rotation. Hanging motionless relative to the ground lets them peer without interruption at the same regions.

One satellite can see roughly one-third of Earth’s surface, and three can scan the entirety of the planet. Their specialty is spotting the fiery plumes of attacking missiles. But their infrared sensors — sensitive to heat’s invisible rays — can see much more. Once, a spacecraft was able to pinpoint where an Air Force C-141 transport jet exploded over the South Atlantic.

The military has lofted 23 of the craft over the decades at an estimated cost of $15 billion. Their current numbers and orbital locations are classified secrets. By Washington standards, their operating costs are relatively low. A military contractor was recently awarded a renewal contract for $223 million over 10 years, or $22.3 million a year.

Military craft in geosynchronous orbit have an edge over civilian satellites at lower altitudes that move steadily over Earth’s surface. The spacecraft in lower orbits see particular sites infrequently, often leaving them blind to new fires, sudden flare-ups and shifting flames. The images of NASA’s firefighting program are up to 5 hours old. In contrast, the military craft scan planet Earth every 10 seconds.

In fire season, striking images from satellite companies and the space fleets of civilian agencies are often made public, but those spacecraft typically detect blazes only after they’re too large to contain.

In the mid-1980s, Herd, then at the U.S. Geological Survey, learned that the attack-warning satellites could spot wildfires. Interagency talks ensued. After the Cold War, the White House put the nation’s spy agencies and satellites onto the new job of environmental sleuthing, and the CIA funded a number of pioneering fire studies.

In 1993 and 1994, Herd organized a program of igniting test fires across the United States to see how well the military satellites did. The fuels included brush, trees and grasses. The trials showed that the spacecraft could easily spot blazes even when the flames were relatively small and easily suppressed.

In July 1996, the CIA director boasted in a public speech that his agency had recently helped the U.S. Forest Service battle a series of wildfires raging in Alaska.

Support grew in the Clinton administration and in Congress for a permanent setup. The National Reconnaissance Office took the lead. Three federal agencies that ran three kinds of satellites — for monitoring land use, adversaries and the weather — helped set up the prototype. It was known as the Hazard Support System.

The warning hub came to life in 1999 but died almost immediately because of lack of funds. In lamenting its demise, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, called it “a small program with a huge return.” Congressional investigators blamed poor interagency management.

Nonetheless, the idea of military aid for firefighters kept gaining support. In 2000, the Aerospace Corporation, which does research for the Pentagon, released a detailed study showing that the spacecraft could easily track grassland fires set intentionally across more than a million square miles of African savanna.

In 2010, an editorial in Space News, an industry publication, called on the military to set up a national system of wildfire alerts.

Experts proceeded to ask if civilian satellites — an increasing number of which have sensors that detect not only visible light but also heat rays — might be as good or even better than the military craft.

In 2012, Medea, the CIA’s environmental arm, compared the two approaches in a global test. The target was Brazil and its gargantuan forests, which farmers often set ablaze to clear land. The military’s attack-warning satellites came out on top. Their geostationary positions gave them continuous views, whereas the civilian satellites in lower orbits came and went over hours and days, often leaving them unable to detect new blazes.

On a temporary basis, California began using the military spacecraft to spot fires in 2018. Last year, Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, adjutant general of the California National Guard, told reporters that the state was “becoming pretty good at it.”

The main problem was the limited access. Most recently, use of the military asset was set to expire Thursday, at the end of the federal government’s fiscal year. So, over the summer, the state of California mounted a lobbying campaign.

In late July, Newsom made his pitch to Biden. “It’s hard,” Newsom said of the authorization process. “Every year, we fight to get a one-year extension.” The state’s congressional delegation, led by Schiff and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., sent a follow-up letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

When the request was approved, Schiff put out a statement saying the California delegation “will continue to push to make this program permanent.”

In an interview, Linda Zall, a former CIA official who for decades led the agency’s fire and environmental studies, said it was “a travesty” that civilian officials faced so much resistance to a modest step that promised to substantially enhance public safety.

The civilian authorities could soon get better options. Startups in Australia and Germany are planning to loft fire-spotting satellites in order to serve fast-growing international markets. And Planet, a U.S. company that built a fleet of nearly 200 imaging satellites, recently joined with a startup to assess forest-fire risks.

But on the military side, things could worsen. The Department of Defense is now facing budget pressures that could end the Defense Support Program and its firefighting aid. The problem arises principally from a new defensive strategy that the Pentagon is racing to put in place.

Starting in 2011, the Defense Support Program satellites were succeeded by a new generation that cost $1.7 billion per spacecraft. Six were scheduled for launch to geosynchronous orbit. By 2015, however, such giant craft were beginning to be judged as vulnerable to enemy attack. China, in particular, was seen as speeding ahead on a wide range of antisatellite arms.

Today, in response, the Pentagon is rushing to build smaller, cheaper, more numerous craft. It sees the vast numbers as greatly reducing the risk of attacks successful enough to knock out vital U.S. capabilities. By 2026, it wants to have in orbit roughly 1,000 satellites, many for attack warning. The issue is considered so urgent that the Pentagon in 2019 set up a new arm, the Space Development Agency, to carry out the sweeping plan.

Experts warn that the shift, and its budget repercussions, may turn the ageing spacecraft of the Defense Support Program into prime targets for termination.

One proffered solution is to transfer the satellites from the Pentagon to a civilian agency, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which runs the nation’s weather satellites. Or a civilian agency could simply pick up the military’s operating costs.

Harris, the former director of the National Reconnaissance Office, offered a more ambitious plan. He said the American military had tailored systems of declassification that, if applied, would let information from all its attack-warning satellites — whether old, new or middle age — be shared quickly with firefighters.

It’s a moment, he said, to expand the military’s support.

The wildfire situation “is going to get worse before it gets better,” Harris said. As a matter of public safety commensurate with the growing threat, he added, now is the time to “move the bureaucracy, to tell it what’s important. Let’s take advantage of these very capable resources.”

In July, as wildfires tore through the American West, President Joe Biden met with the region’s governors to find better ways to battle the flames. California Governor Gavin Newsom requested use of military satellites that are designed to warn of missile attacks, calling the orbital fleet “a game changer” for spotting and fighting wildfires.

In July, as wildfires tore through the American West, President Joe Biden met with the region’s governors to find better ways to battle the flames. California Governor Gavin Newsom requested use of military satellites that are designed to warn of missile attacks, calling the orbital fleet “a game changer” for spotting and fighting wildfires. Biden promised to help. “When this meeting is over,” he said, “I’ll be on the phone with the Department of Defense.” His call wasn’t the first — or the 50th. The issue of using secret military gear to aid civilian firefighters arose 35 years ago. It grew as the White House, CIA, U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies sought to establish a national system that warned of undetected wildfires and menacing flare-ups. The Pentagon allowed tests and a short-lived prototype. But the arrangements were never permanent. The military, eager to safeguard its prerogatives and orbital fleets, was always glad to shut the pipeline down. As a result, officials such as Newsom now have to lobby for emergency access. But record-setting fires are likely to grow worse and pose grave new dangers that warrant an urgent response, according to proponents of deeper cooperation between officials who combat wildfires and those managing the military spacecraft. The nation can no longer afford endless turf wars and bureaucratic foot-dragging. It’s a matter, they say, of public safety. “Fighting disasters is like fighting wars,” said Darrell Herd, a retired senior research scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency who pioneered early orbital tests of wildfire detection. “You suffer if you don’t have adequate warning.” The parts of the United States destroyed each year by wildfires have more than doubled over two decades. And California’s fires have recently grown rapidly in size. Deaths and diseases are linked not only to blistering flames, but also toxic smoke. Even so, proponents of using the defence satellites note, the military has no established program that issues firefighting alerts to local, state and federal authorities. They also point out that the Pentagon’s spacecraft, when set against civilian and commercial ones, have repeatedly proven themselves to be superior at spotting blazes. In an interview, Jeffrey Harris, a former director of the National Reconnaissance Office, which runs the country’s fleets of spy satellites, called for expanding civilian use of the attack-warning craft “as quickly as possible.” Scientists see the wildfires intensifying, he noted, “so why don’t we let firefighters take full advantage of the technology?” California, Harris added, “is one of the largest economies in the world. And we’re not going to nip these fires in the bud?” The military craft, he stressed, “can save lives.” In 2018, the U.S. Forest Service used the spacecraft as an experiment in California, quickly spotting four flare-ups. “I believe we are just beginning to unlock the possibilities,” Lt. Gen. John Thompson, then head of what was called the Air Force Space and Missiles Systems Center, said of the firefighting test. The Forest Service proceeded to ask that the military spinoffs go nationwide. Satellite-sharing proponents often cite the military’s GPS as a role model. That fleet of satellites began life in 1978 as a highly classified system for transmitting precise location data to the U.S. armed forces. In the 1980s, civilians gained access. Today, commercial uses include tracking vehicles and sending position data to millions of smartphones. In an interview, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who heads the House Intelligence Committee, said the nation needed to rethink the military’s overall role in protecting American society and decide either to shrink its budgets or expand its domestic responsibilities. The new roles, he added, should include the permanent sharing of the attack-warning satellites with the civilian authorities. “Part of a strong America is having a strong infrastructure that protects our citizens not just from foreign attack, but natural disasters,” Schiff said. “We need to protect people from the growing intensity of these fires.” Schiff cited a personal encounter. In 2009, a California wildfire grew into the largest in the modern history of Los Angeles County, killing two firefighters, destroying scores of homes and turning hundreds of square miles of green vegetation into blackened remains. “I remember stepping outside my house one night,” Schiff said. “It looked like lava flowing down the canyons — like a scene out of a surreal horror film.” The revitalized debate centres on an early generation of attack-warning satellites known as the Defense Support Program, a main participant in the fire experiments. First sent aloft in 1970, the spacecraft orbit 22,300 miles up, over the equator, in sync with Earth’s rotation. Hanging motionless relative to the ground lets them peer without interruption at the same regions. One satellite can see roughly one-third of Earth’s surface, and three can scan the entirety of the planet. Their specialty is spotting the fiery plumes of attacking missiles. But their infrared sensors — sensitive to heat’s invisible rays — can see much more. Once, a spacecraft was able to pinpoint where an Air Force C-141 transport jet exploded over the South Atlantic. The military has lofted 23 of the craft over the decades at an estimated cost of $15 billion. Their current numbers and orbital locations are classified secrets. By Washington standards, their operating costs are relatively low. A military contractor was recently awarded a renewal contract for $223 million over 10 years, or $22.3 million a year. Military craft in geosynchronous orbit have an edge over civilian satellites at lower altitudes that move steadily over Earth’s surface. The spacecraft in lower orbits see particular sites infrequently, often leaving them blind to new fires, sudden flare-ups and shifting flames. The images of NASA’s firefighting program are up to 5 hours old. In contrast, the military craft scan planet Earth every 10 seconds. In fire season, striking images from satellite companies and the space fleets of civilian agencies are often made public, but those spacecraft typically detect blazes only after they’re too large to contain. In the mid-1980s, Herd, then at the U.S. Geological Survey, learned that the attack-warning satellites could spot wildfires. Interagency talks ensued. After the Cold War, the White House put the nation’s spy agencies and satellites onto the new job of environmental sleuthing, and the CIA funded a number of pioneering fire studies. In 1993 and 1994, Herd organized a program of igniting test fires across the United States to see how well the military satellites did. The fuels included brush, trees and grasses. The trials showed that the spacecraft could easily spot blazes even when the flames were relatively small and easily suppressed. In July 1996, the CIA director boasted in a public speech that his agency had recently helped the U.S. Forest Service battle a series of wildfires raging in Alaska. Support grew in the Clinton administration and in Congress for a permanent setup. The National Reconnaissance Office took the lead. Three federal agencies that ran three kinds of satellites — for monitoring land use, adversaries and the weather — helped set up the prototype. It was known as the Hazard Support System. The warning hub came to life in 1999 but died almost immediately because of lack of funds. In lamenting its demise, Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, called it “a small program with a huge return.” Congressional investigators blamed poor interagency management. Nonetheless, the idea of military aid for firefighters kept gaining support. In 2000, the Aerospace Corporation, which does research for the Pentagon, released a detailed study showing that the spacecraft could easily track grassland fires set intentionally across more than a million square miles of African savanna. In 2010, an editorial in Space News, an industry publication, called on the military to set up a national system of wildfire alerts. Experts proceeded to ask if civilian satellites — an increasing number of which have sensors that detect not only visible light but also heat rays — might be as good or even better than the military craft. In 2012, Medea, the CIA’s environmental arm, compared the two approaches in a global test. The target was Brazil and its gargantuan forests, which farmers often set ablaze to clear land. The military’s attack-warning satellites came out on top. Their geostationary positions gave them continuous views, whereas the civilian satellites in lower orbits came and went over hours and days, often leaving them unable to detect new blazes. On a temporary basis, California began using the military spacecraft to spot fires in 2018. Last year, Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, adjutant general of the California National Guard, told reporters that the state was “becoming pretty good at it.” The main problem was the limited access. Most recently, use of the military asset was set to expire Thursday, at the end of the federal government’s fiscal year. So, over the summer, the state of California mounted a lobbying campaign. In late July, Newsom made his pitch to Biden. “It’s hard,” Newsom said of the authorization process. “Every year, we fight to get a one-year extension.” The state’s congressional delegation, led by Schiff and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., sent a follow-up letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. When the request was approved, Schiff put out a statement saying the California delegation “will continue to push to make this program permanent.” In an interview, Linda Zall, a former CIA official who for decades led the agency’s fire and environmental studies, said it was “a travesty” that civilian officials faced so much resistance to a modest step that promised to substantially enhance public safety. The civilian authorities could soon get better options. Startups in Australia and Germany are planning to loft fire-spotting satellites in order to serve fast-growing international markets. And Planet, a U.S. company that built a fleet of nearly 200 imaging satellites, recently joined with a startup to assess forest-fire risks. But on the military side, things could worsen. The Department of Defense is now facing budget pressures that could end the Defense Support Program and its firefighting aid. The problem arises principally from a new defensive strategy that the Pentagon is racing to put in place. Starting in 2011, the Defense Support Program satellites were succeeded by a new generation that cost $1.7 billion per spacecraft. Six were scheduled for launch to geosynchronous orbit. By 2015, however, such giant craft were beginning to be judged as vulnerable to enemy attack. China, in particular, was seen as speeding ahead on a wide range of antisatellite arms. Today, in response, the Pentagon is rushing to build smaller, cheaper, more numerous craft. It sees the vast numbers as greatly reducing the risk of attacks successful enough to knock out vital U.S. capabilities. By 2026, it wants to have in orbit roughly 1,000 satellites, many for attack warning. The issue is considered so urgent that the Pentagon in 2019 set up a new arm, the Space Development Agency, to carry out the sweeping plan. Experts warn that the shift, and its budget repercussions, may turn the ageing spacecraft of the Defense Support Program into prime targets for termination. One proffered solution is to transfer the satellites from the Pentagon to a civilian agency, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which runs the nation’s weather satellites. Or a civilian agency could simply pick up the military’s operating costs. Harris, the former director of the National Reconnaissance Office, offered a more ambitious plan. He said the American military had tailored systems of declassification that, if applied, would let information from all its attack-warning satellites — whether old, new or middle age — be shared quickly with firefighters. It’s a moment, he said, to expand the military’s support. The wildfire situation “is going to get worse before it gets better,” Harris said. As a matter of public safety commensurate with the growing threat, he added, now is the time to “move the bureaucracy, to tell it what’s important. Let’s take advantage of these very capable resources.”

The secret war over Pentagon aid in fighting wildfires

The White House on Monday said a near-simultaneous release of a top Huawei (HWT.UL) executive and two Canadians detained shortly after her arrest was not a prisoner swap, but that their cases came up in a call between the Chinese and American presidents weeks before. Watch this report for more details.

White House rebuts idea that Huawei's Meng was freed in prisoner swap

US President Joe Biden's statements slapping at US media for asking questions that aren't 'on topic' in front of a foreign head of state were defended by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who said his words weren't meant as a 'hard cut' on them.

Jen Psaki was grilled by the media on Monday about Biden's remarks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he advised his counterpart not to answer questions and appeared to attack US journalists.&nbsp; 
 
IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/indian-pm-modi-us-president-joe-biden-hold-first-in-person-meet-in-white-house-ahead-of-quad-leaders-summit-415651">PM Modi, US President Joe Biden hold first in person meet in White House</a>

"I think what he said is that they’re not always "on point." Now, I know that it isn’t something that anyone wants to hear here. But what I think he was conveying is, you know, today, he might want to talk about Covid vaccines; some of the questions were about that. He might want to talk about something else, and some of the questions are not always about the topic he’s talking about that day, " Psaki said.

"I don’t think it was meant to be a hard cut at the members of the media – people he has taken questions from today and on Friday as well," she said. 
 
What exactly happened:

While sitting in the Oval Office with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 24, President Biden took a jab at the American press.

"The Indian press is much better behaved than the American press.I think, with your permission, you could not answer questions because they won’t ask any questions on point," Biden began on Friday as they sat down. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-indian-pm-narendra-modi-receives-warm-welcome-by-joe-biden-video-wins-hearts-415646">Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by Joe Biden, video wins hearts</a>

According to Reporters Without Borders, India is ranked 142nd in the world when it comes to press freedom, and the US is ranked 44th in the world.

To this, Psaki said, "I would just say to you that having now worked for the President, serving in this role for nine months, having seen that he's taking questions from the press more than 140 times, that he certainly respects the role of the press, the freedom of the free press."

"We ensure that we have a press with us, of course, when we travel; that we have a press with us for sprays in foreign capitals; and we will continue to. And I think that should speak to his commitment to freedom of the press around the world, " she said. 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/5-ts-indian-pm-narendra-modi-redefines-contours-of-ties-at-summit-with-us-president-joe-biden-415677">'5 Ts': Indian PM Narendra Modi redefines contours of ties at summit with US president Joe Biden</a>

In the past, Biden has lauded the importance of reporters and journalism, but he has also expressed dissatisfaction with the coverage of him and his administration, as well as the questions he is asked while interacting with the press.

Biden was sitting in the Oval Office with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi in late July when NBC's Kelly O'Donnell questioned him about Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough's declaration that frontline VA personnel would have to undergo Covid-19 vaccines.

"You are such a pain in the neck," Biden replied, smiling, "but I'm going to answer your question because we've known each other for so long."&nbsp;

"It has nothing to do with Iraq … I’ll answer your question. Yes, Veteran Affairs is going to, in fact, require that all doctors working in their facilities are going to have to be vaccinated," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden's statements slapping at US media for asking questions that aren't 'on topic' in front of a foreign head of state were defended by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who said his words weren't meant as a 'hard cut' on them.

US President Joe Biden's statements slapping at US media for asking questions that aren't 'on topic' in front of a foreign head of state were defended by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who said his words weren't meant as a 'hard cut' on them. Jen Psaki was grilled by the media on Monday about Biden's remarks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he advised his counterpart not to answer questions and appeared to attack US journalists. IN PICS | PM Modi, US President Joe Biden hold first in person meet in White House "I think what he said is that they’re not always "on point." Now, I know that it isn’t something that anyone wants to hear here. But what I think he was conveying is, you know, today, he might want to talk about Covid vaccines; some of the questions were about that. He might want to talk about something else, and some of the questions are not always about the topic he’s talking about that day, " Psaki said. "I don’t think it was meant to be a hard cut at the members of the media – people he has taken questions from today and on Friday as well," she said. What exactly happened: While sitting in the Oval Office with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 24, President Biden took a jab at the American press. "The Indian press is much better behaved than the American press.I think, with your permission, you could not answer questions because they won’t ask any questions on point," Biden began on Friday as they sat down. Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by Joe Biden, video wins hearts According to Reporters Without Borders, India is ranked 142nd in the world when it comes to press freedom, and the US is ranked 44th in the world. To this, Psaki said, "I would just say to you that having now worked for the President, serving in this role for nine months, having seen that he's taking questions from the press more than 140 times, that he certainly respects the role of the press, the freedom of the free press." "We ensure that we have a press with us, of course, when we travel; that we have a press with us for sprays in foreign capitals; and we will continue to. And I think that should speak to his commitment to freedom of the press around the world, " she said. ALSO READ | '5 Ts': Indian PM Narendra Modi redefines contours of ties at summit with US president Joe Biden In the past, Biden has lauded the importance of reporters and journalism, but he has also expressed dissatisfaction with the coverage of him and his administration, as well as the questions he is asked while interacting with the press. Biden was sitting in the Oval Office with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi in late July when NBC's Kelly O'Donnell questioned him about Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough's declaration that frontline VA personnel would have to undergo Covid-19 vaccines. "You are such a pain in the neck," Biden replied, smiling, "but I'm going to answer your question because we've known each other for so long." "It has nothing to do with Iraq … I’ll answer your question. Yes, Veteran Affairs is going to, in fact, require that all doctors working in their facilities are going to have to be vaccinated," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

'Indian media is 'better behaved' than the US': White House defends Biden's statement

Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill strengthening the social safety net and climate programmes through the House Budget Committee on Saturday, but one Democrat voted "no," illustrating the challenges party leaders face in winning the near unanimity they’ll need to push the sprawling package through Congress.

The Democratic-dominated panel, meeting virtually, approved the measure on a near party-line vote, 20-17. Passage marked a necessary but minor checking of a procedural box for Democrats by edging it a step closer to debate by the full House. Under budget rules, the committee wasn’t allowed to significantly amend the 2,465-page measure, the product of 13 other House committees.

More important work has been happening in an opaque procession of mostly unannounced phone calls, meetings and other bargaining sessions among party leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers. President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have led a behind-the-scenes search for compromises to resolve internal divisions and, they hope, allow the massive bill to be approved soon.

Pelosi told fellow Democrats Saturday that they "must" pass the social and environment package this week, along with a separate infrastructure bill and a third measure preventing a government shutdown on Friday. Her letter to colleagues underscored the pile of crucial work Congress’ Democratic majority faces in coming days and seemed an effort to build urgency to resolve long-standing disputes quickly.

"The next few days will be a time of intensity," she wrote.

Moderate Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., joined all 16 Republicans on the Budget committee in opposing the legislation. His objections included one that troubles many Democrats: a reluctance to back a bill with provisions that would later be dropped by the Senate.

Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law. That preference for voting only on a social and environment bill that’s already a House-Senate compromise could complicate Pelosi’s effort for a House vote this week.

Peters was among three Democrats who earlier this month voted against a plan favored by most in his party to lower pharmaceutical costs by letting Medicare negotiate for the prescription drugs it buys.

Party leaders have tried for weeks to resolve differences among Democrats over the package’s final price tag, which seems sure to shrink. There are also disputes over which initiatives should be reshaped, among them expanded Medicare, tax breaks for children and health care, a push toward cleaner energy and higher levies on the rich and corporations.

Democrats’ wafer-thin majorities in the House and Senate mean compromise is mandatory. Before the measure the Budget panel approved Saturday even reaches the House floor, it is expected to be changed to reflect whatever House-Senate accords have been reached, and additional revisions are likely.

The overall bill embodies the crux of Biden’s top domestic goals. Budget panel chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., cited "decades of disinvestment" on needs like health care, education, child care and the environment as the rationale for the legislation.

"The futures of millions of Americans and their families are at stake. We can no longer afford the costs of neglect and inaction. The time to act is now," Yarmuth said.

Republicans say the proposal is unneeded, unaffordable amid accumulated federal debt exceeding $28 trillion and reflects Democrats’ drive to insert government into people’s lives. Its tax boosts will cost jobs and include credits for buying electric vehicles, purchases often made by people with comfortable incomes, they said.

"This bill is a disaster for working-class families," said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the committee’s top Republican. "It’s a big giveaway to the wealthy, it’s a laundry list of agenda items pulled right out of the Bernie Sanders socialist playbook."

The unusual weekend session occurred as top Democrats amp up efforts to end increasingly bitter disputes between the party’s centrist and progressive wings that threaten to undermine Biden’s agenda.

Biden conceded Friday that talks among Democrats were at a "stalemate," though Pelosi and Schumer have been more positive in an apparent effort to build momentum and soothe differences. A collapse of the measure at his own party’s hands would be a wounding preview to the coming election year, in which House and Senate control are at stake.

To nail down moderates’ support for an earlier budget blueprint, Pelosi promised to begin House consideration by Monday of another pillar of Biden’s domestic plans: a $1 trillion collection of roadway and other infrastructure projects. Pelosi reaffirmed this week that the infrastructure debate would begin Monday.

But many moderates who consider the infrastructure bill their top goal also want to cut the $3.5 trillion social and environment package and trim or reshape some programs. They include Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.

In response, progressives — their top priority is the $3.5 trillion measure — are threatening to vote against the infrastructure bill if it comes up for a vote first. Their opposition seems likely to be enough to scuttle it, and Pelosi hasn’t definitively said when a vote on final passage of the infrastructure measure will occur.

With each portion of the party threatening to upend the other’s most cherished goal — a political disaster in the making for Democrats — top Democrats are using the moment to accelerate talks on the massive social and climate legislation. The party can lose no votes in the Senate and a maximum of three in the House to succeed in the narrowly split Congress.

Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill strengthening the social safety net and climate programmes through the House Budget Committee on Saturday, but one Democrat voted "no," illustrating the challenges party leaders face in winning the near unanimity they’ll need to push the sprawling package through Congress.

Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill strengthening the social safety net and climate programmes through the House Budget Committee on Saturday, but one Democrat voted "no," illustrating the challenges party leaders face in winning the near unanimity they’ll need to push the sprawling package through Congress. The Democratic-dominated panel, meeting virtually, approved the measure on a near party-line vote, 20-17. Passage marked a necessary but minor checking of a procedural box for Democrats by edging it a step closer to debate by the full House. Under budget rules, the committee wasn’t allowed to significantly amend the 2,465-page measure, the product of 13 other House committees. More important work has been happening in an opaque procession of mostly unannounced phone calls, meetings and other bargaining sessions among party leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers. President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have led a behind-the-scenes search for compromises to resolve internal divisions and, they hope, allow the massive bill to be approved soon. Pelosi told fellow Democrats Saturday that they "must" pass the social and environment package this week, along with a separate infrastructure bill and a third measure preventing a government shutdown on Friday. Her letter to colleagues underscored the pile of crucial work Congress’ Democratic majority faces in coming days and seemed an effort to build urgency to resolve long-standing disputes quickly. "The next few days will be a time of intensity," she wrote. Moderate Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., joined all 16 Republicans on the Budget committee in opposing the legislation. His objections included one that troubles many Democrats: a reluctance to back a bill with provisions that would later be dropped by the Senate. Many Democrats don’t want to become politically vulnerable by backing language that might be controversial back home, only to see it not become law. That preference for voting only on a social and environment bill that’s already a House-Senate compromise could complicate Pelosi’s effort for a House vote this week. Peters was among three Democrats who earlier this month voted against a plan favored by most in his party to lower pharmaceutical costs by letting Medicare negotiate for the prescription drugs it buys. Party leaders have tried for weeks to resolve differences among Democrats over the package’s final price tag, which seems sure to shrink. There are also disputes over which initiatives should be reshaped, among them expanded Medicare, tax breaks for children and health care, a push toward cleaner energy and higher levies on the rich and corporations. Democrats’ wafer-thin majorities in the House and Senate mean compromise is mandatory. Before the measure the Budget panel approved Saturday even reaches the House floor, it is expected to be changed to reflect whatever House-Senate accords have been reached, and additional revisions are likely. The overall bill embodies the crux of Biden’s top domestic goals. Budget panel chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., cited "decades of disinvestment" on needs like health care, education, child care and the environment as the rationale for the legislation. "The futures of millions of Americans and their families are at stake. We can no longer afford the costs of neglect and inaction. The time to act is now," Yarmuth said. Republicans say the proposal is unneeded, unaffordable amid accumulated federal debt exceeding $28 trillion and reflects Democrats’ drive to insert government into people’s lives. Its tax boosts will cost jobs and include credits for buying electric vehicles, purchases often made by people with comfortable incomes, they said. "This bill is a disaster for working-class families," said Rep. Jason Smith of Missouri, the committee’s top Republican. "It’s a big giveaway to the wealthy, it’s a laundry list of agenda items pulled right out of the Bernie Sanders socialist playbook." The unusual weekend session occurred as top Democrats amp up efforts to end increasingly bitter disputes between the party’s centrist and progressive wings that threaten to undermine Biden’s agenda. Biden conceded Friday that talks among Democrats were at a "stalemate," though Pelosi and Schumer have been more positive in an apparent effort to build momentum and soothe differences. A collapse of the measure at his own party’s hands would be a wounding preview to the coming election year, in which House and Senate control are at stake. To nail down moderates’ support for an earlier budget blueprint, Pelosi promised to begin House consideration by Monday of another pillar of Biden’s domestic plans: a $1 trillion collection of roadway and other infrastructure projects. Pelosi reaffirmed this week that the infrastructure debate would begin Monday. But many moderates who consider the infrastructure bill their top goal also want to cut the $3.5 trillion social and environment package and trim or reshape some programs. They include Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. In response, progressives — their top priority is the $3.5 trillion measure — are threatening to vote against the infrastructure bill if it comes up for a vote first. Their opposition seems likely to be enough to scuttle it, and Pelosi hasn’t definitively said when a vote on final passage of the infrastructure measure will occur. With each portion of the party threatening to upend the other’s most cherished goal — a political disaster in the making for Democrats — top Democrats are using the moment to accelerate talks on the massive social and climate legislation. The party can lose no votes in the Senate and a maximum of three in the House to succeed in the narrowly split Congress.

Panel OKs Democrats’ $3.5 trillion bill, crunch time for Biden agenda

PM Narendra Modi ends US visit with a powerful speech at UNGA, here's look back at his significant tour

Since his historic loss in US election 2020, the former American president Donald Trump has been trying to prove that the sole reason behind his loss was voter fraud.<o:p></o:p>

The former reality TV star has time and again claimed that Joe Biden and his Democratic party manipulated votes. He has, without any proof, alleged his opponents of voter fraud.<o:p></o:p>

However, a Republican-funded review has claimed that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Trump’s</a> baseless claims may just be that, and Biden’s win was legally correct.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;W<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/with-last-us-military-flight-out-of-kabul-trump-slams-worst-withdrawal-from-war-in-history-409560">ith last US military flight out of Kabul, Trump slams worst withdrawal from war in history</a></o:p>

Cyber Ninjas, a Florida-based cybersecurity firm has claimed that after studying the data and a hand count, Biden won the Maricopa County by about 45,000 votes — which was the original number stated too.<o:p></o:p>

"This means the tabulation equipment counted the ballots as they were designed to do, and the results reflect the will of the voters," Republican board chairman Jack Sellers said in a statement.&nbsp;"That should be the end of the story. Everything else is just noise."<o:p></o:p>

However, the review was conducted by Cyber Ninjas who have no previous experience in election audits. Some believe Trump is bound to rubbish this review’s findings due to the lack of experience of the cybersecurity firm in election audits and reviews.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-gets-booed-on-advising-alabama-rally-supporters-to-take-covid-vaccine-shot-407760">Trump gets booed on advising Alabama rally supporters to take Covid vaccine shot</a></o:p>

Trump has not yet commented on this development.<o:p></o:p>

The Democratic National Committee, however, has labelled this review as a waste of public funds and have warned that this was a "dangerous attempt by extremist Republicans" to undermine democracy.<o:p></o:p>

"Every Republican peddling election misinformation will have to explain to their constituents why they spent their time undermining democracy on behalf of Donald Trump instead of delivering for their constituents," spokesman Ryan Thomas said<o:p></o:p>

Since his historic loss in US election 2020, the former American president Donald Trump has been trying to prove that the sole reason behind his loss was voter fraud.

Since his historic loss in US election 2020, the former American president Donald Trump has been trying to prove that the sole reason behind his loss was voter fraud. The former reality TV star has time and again claimed that Joe Biden and his Democratic party manipulated votes. He has, without any proof, alleged his opponents of voter fraud. However, a Republican-funded review has claimed that Trump’s baseless claims may just be that, and Biden’s win was legally correct. Also read | With last US military flight out of Kabul, Trump slams worst withdrawal from war in history Cyber Ninjas, a Florida-based cybersecurity firm has claimed that after studying the data and a hand count, Biden won the Maricopa County by about 45,000 votes — which was the original number stated too. "This means the tabulation equipment counted the ballots as they were designed to do, and the results reflect the will of the voters," Republican board chairman Jack Sellers said in a statement. "That should be the end of the story. Everything else is just noise." However, the review was conducted by Cyber Ninjas who have no previous experience in election audits. Some believe Trump is bound to rubbish this review’s findings due to the lack of experience of the cybersecurity firm in election audits and reviews. Also read | Trump gets booed on advising Alabama rally supporters to take Covid vaccine shot Trump has not yet commented on this development. The Democratic National Committee, however, has labelled this review as a waste of public funds and have warned that this was a "dangerous attempt by extremist Republicans" to undermine democracy. "Every Republican peddling election misinformation will have to explain to their constituents why they spent their time undermining democracy on behalf of Donald Trump instead of delivering for their constituents," spokesman Ryan Thomas said

'Biden won US election against Trump in fair ways,' Republican-funded review claims

President Joe&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;cut a beleaguered figure Thursday as he raced to extinguish political fires on the left and right, at home and abroad, in an attempt to save his hopes of transforming the United States.

Whether it's war, diplomatic incidents, economic shocks or an obstructionist Congress, all presidents feel the heat sooner or later.

Biden's feeling all those flames at once.

To the south, there is the human and national security drama of thousands of Haitian migrants abruptly appearing across the border from Mexico and camping under a Texas bridge.

To the east across the Atlantic there is a disgruntled ally in France, furious at losing a conventional submarines contract when Australia accepted an offer for US nuclear submarines.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-says-uks-boris-johnson-offered-to-re-establish-cooperation-415593">France says UK's Boris Johnson offered to 're-establish cooperation'</a>

All over the United States there is the fight against Covid, which&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;declared on the way to being defeated in July, only to see it roar back with the Delta variant.

And right in Washington, the 78-year-old president faces the mind-boggling task of juggling a Republican opposition eager to wreck his presidency and a Democratic Party flirting with self-destruction.

"I've been here for cliffs and crises and wars, and this is going to be the biggest mashup we've ever had since I've been here," Democratic congressman Peter DeFazio, from Oregon, told NBC News.

Debt default?

DeFazio was talking about the perfect storm brewing in Congress, where Republicans are fighting Democrats over&nbsp;Biden's agenda and Democrats are fighting themselves.

Put simply, Republicans and Democrats did agree earlier this year -- back when&nbsp;Biden's presidency seemed to be going far better -- to pass a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure bill.

This was good news for America's crumbling bridges -- and for&nbsp;Biden's promise that he could heal national divisions.

However, the real prize was&nbsp;Biden's push for a separate, mammoth $3.5 trillion social spending bill that he argues will redress gross inequalities by reforming taxes, reinforcing education and resisting climate change.

On this, he never had Republican support, yet with Democrats holding a narrow majority in Congress he didn't have to worry.

That was the theory.

Fast forward to this week and both the smaller and bigger packages are on life support, with conservative Democrats insisting on whittling down the $3.5 trillion figure and leftist Democrats threatening to reject the $1 trillion version if the bigger version isn't passed first in its entirety.

Gleefully watching the infighting, Republicans have upped the tension now by refusing to join Democrats in authorizing more government debt.

In previous years this has been a largely uncontroversial, bipartisan decision that simply allows the government to keep borrowing so it can pay its bills.

However, hardball Republicans used the debt extension to shake Barack Obama's administration a decade ago and they're doing it again, trying to force the Democrats to take the decision by themselves -- making&nbsp;Biden's party easier to portray as a bunch of irresponsible spendthrifts.

Democrats so far refuse to cave, insisting that Republicans join them and accusing opponents of holding the US economy hostage.

As each side waits for the other to blink, this is the worst case scenario:

Paralysis in Congress. Current debt limits max out some time in October. The borrowing spigot goes dry. The government shuts down. And the United States defaults on debts, sending global stock markets into a panic.

"I have no idea how it all works out," DeFazio said.

Biden&nbsp;remains sunny

The mess -- especially the Covid rebound and the ugly Afghanistan withdrawal -- has made&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;deeply unpopular.

His latest Gallup approval rating of 43 percent is at Donald Trump levels and marks a plummet from 56 percent in June.

Yet for now, the veteran Democrat has not lost his trademark sunny optimism -- or belief in his vaunted experience as a lifelong Washington insider.

On Wednesday, he got on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron to bury the hatchet in the submarine spat.

Then he spent hours in the White House with different Democratic factions to air out differences on the spending packages.

"He felt encouraged by how constructive the conversations were," Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday, brushing off doomsayers by describing the congressional impasse as "a messy sausage-making process."

"He's going to have his sleeves rolled up and he'll be very engaged."

But even Psaki, master of the half-glass-full narrative, acknowledges that her boss is up against it.

"Well, I think the country is going through a lot right now," she replied Wednesday when asked about&nbsp;Biden's plunge in the polls.

President Joe Biden cut a beleaguered figure Thursday as he raced to extinguish political fires on the left and right, at home and abroad, in an attempt to save his hopes of transforming the United States.

President Joe Biden cut a beleaguered figure Thursday as he raced to extinguish political fires on the left and right, at home and abroad, in an attempt to save his hopes of transforming the United States. Whether it's war, diplomatic incidents, economic shocks or an obstructionist Congress, all presidents feel the heat sooner or later. Biden's feeling all those flames at once. To the south, there is the human and national security drama of thousands of Haitian migrants abruptly appearing across the border from Mexico and camping under a Texas bridge. To the east across the Atlantic there is a disgruntled ally in France, furious at losing a conventional submarines contract when Australia accepted an offer for US nuclear submarines. ALSO READ | France says UK's Boris Johnson offered to 're-establish cooperation' All over the United States there is the fight against Covid, which Biden declared on the way to being defeated in July, only to see it roar back with the Delta variant. And right in Washington, the 78-year-old president faces the mind-boggling task of juggling a Republican opposition eager to wreck his presidency and a Democratic Party flirting with self-destruction. "I've been here for cliffs and crises and wars, and this is going to be the biggest mashup we've ever had since I've been here," Democratic congressman Peter DeFazio, from Oregon, told NBC News. Debt default? DeFazio was talking about the perfect storm brewing in Congress, where Republicans are fighting Democrats over Biden's agenda and Democrats are fighting themselves. Put simply, Republicans and Democrats did agree earlier this year -- back when Biden's presidency seemed to be going far better -- to pass a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure bill. This was good news for America's crumbling bridges -- and for Biden's promise that he could heal national divisions. However, the real prize was Biden's push for a separate, mammoth $3.5 trillion social spending bill that he argues will redress gross inequalities by reforming taxes, reinforcing education and resisting climate change. On this, he never had Republican support, yet with Democrats holding a narrow majority in Congress he didn't have to worry. That was the theory. Fast forward to this week and both the smaller and bigger packages are on life support, with conservative Democrats insisting on whittling down the $3.5 trillion figure and leftist Democrats threatening to reject the $1 trillion version if the bigger version isn't passed first in its entirety. Gleefully watching the infighting, Republicans have upped the tension now by refusing to join Democrats in authorizing more government debt. In previous years this has been a largely uncontroversial, bipartisan decision that simply allows the government to keep borrowing so it can pay its bills. However, hardball Republicans used the debt extension to shake Barack Obama's administration a decade ago and they're doing it again, trying to force the Democrats to take the decision by themselves -- making Biden's party easier to portray as a bunch of irresponsible spendthrifts. Democrats so far refuse to cave, insisting that Republicans join them and accusing opponents of holding the US economy hostage. As each side waits for the other to blink, this is the worst case scenario: Paralysis in Congress. Current debt limits max out some time in October. The borrowing spigot goes dry. The government shuts down. And the United States defaults on debts, sending global stock markets into a panic. "I have no idea how it all works out," DeFazio said. Biden remains sunny The mess -- especially the Covid rebound and the ugly Afghanistan withdrawal -- has made Biden deeply unpopular. His latest Gallup approval rating of 43 percent is at Donald Trump levels and marks a plummet from 56 percent in June. Yet for now, the veteran Democrat has not lost his trademark sunny optimism -- or belief in his vaunted experience as a lifelong Washington insider. On Wednesday, he got on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron to bury the hatchet in the submarine spat. Then he spent hours in the White House with different Democratic factions to air out differences on the spending packages. "He felt encouraged by how constructive the conversations were," Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday, brushing off doomsayers by describing the congressional impasse as "a messy sausage-making process." "He's going to have his sleeves rolled up and he'll be very engaged." But even Psaki, master of the half-glass-full narrative, acknowledges that her boss is up against it. "Well, I think the country is going through a lot right now," she replied Wednesday when asked about Biden's plunge in the polls.

Joe Biden scrambles between multiple political fires

Leaders of US, India, Japan and Australia gather for in-person Quad summit

From the first in-person QUAD summit to a high-stakes bilateral with Joe Biden, it was a busy 3 days for PM Modi in America. Palki Sharma brings you the key takeaways from the visit.

Gravitas US Edition: Key takeaways from PM Modi's US visit

US President Joe Biden has reiterated America's support for India's permanent membership on a reformed United Nations Security Council and its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group during his first in-person bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.

President Biden, in his talks with Prime Minister Modi, applauded India's "strong leadership"&nbsp;during its UN Security Council Presidency in August 2021, according to the US-India Joint Leaders' Statement issued after their meeting in the White House on Friday.

"In this context, President Biden also reiterated US support for India's permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council and for other countries who are important champions of multilateral cooperation and aspire to permanent seats on the UN Security Council,"&nbsp;it said.

President Biden's support provides a big boost to New Delhi's push for the reform of the powerful UN organ as India has been at the forefront of efforts at the United Nations to push for an urgent long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-narendra-modi-set-to-address-unga-heres-what-you-can-expect-415827">Indian PM Narendra Modi set to address UNGA. Here's what you can expect</a>

India in June asserted that the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on UN Security Council reforms can no longer be used as a smokescreen, as the General Assembly decided to roll over the IGN work to the next UNGA session and agreed to include an amendment proposed by the G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan.

At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quad-infra-partnership-independent-of-bri-indian-foreign-secretary-tells-wion-415770">Quad infra partnership independent of BRI, Indian foreign secretary tells Wion</a>

The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. There has been growing demand to increase the number of permanent members to reflect the contemporary global reality.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, President Biden also reaffirmed US support for India's entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the joint statement said.

The NSG is a 48-member grouping which regulates global nuclear commerce.

Watch

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Ever since India applied for the membership of the NSG in May 2016, China has been insisting that only those countries which have signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) should be allowed to enter the organisation.

India and Pakistan are not signatories of the NPT. After India's application, Pakistan too has applied for the NSG membership in 2016.

China maintains that there would be no discussion on India's entry into the NSG before reaching a specific plan on non-NPT members' participation in the elite grouping, as it declined to give a timeline to reach a consensus among member states on this issue.

President Biden's support to India's permanent seat in the UNSC assumes significance as last month, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference that the US values "working with India at the United Nations, including in the context this month of the Security Council."

Responding to a question on whether the Biden administration thinks that India should be a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Price said that the US supports building a consensus for a "modest" expansion of the Council for both permanent and non-permanent members, provided it does not diminish its effectiveness or its efficacy and does not alter or expand the veto.

"We believe that a reformed Security Council that is representative, that is effective, and that is relevant is in the best interest of the United States and all of the UN member states," Price had said.

In their talks on Friday, Prime Minister Modi and President Biden also welcomed the extension of the Statement of Guiding Principles on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development to leverage the combined capacities of India and the US to address global development challenges around the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Africa, the statement said.

They renewed their close relationship and charted a new course to advance the partnership between the world's largest democracies They also affirmed a clear vision that will guide the US-India relationship forward, the statement added.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden has reiterated America's support for India's permanent membership on a reformed United Nations Security Council and its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group during his first in-person bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House.

US President Joe Biden has reiterated America's support for India's permanent membership on a reformed United Nations Security Council and its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group during his first in-person bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. President Biden, in his talks with Prime Minister Modi, applauded India's "strong leadership" during its UN Security Council Presidency in August 2021, according to the US-India Joint Leaders' Statement issued after their meeting in the White House on Friday. "In this context, President Biden also reiterated US support for India's permanent membership on a reformed UN Security Council and for other countries who are important champions of multilateral cooperation and aspire to permanent seats on the UN Security Council," it said. President Biden's support provides a big boost to New Delhi's push for the reform of the powerful UN organ as India has been at the forefront of efforts at the United Nations to push for an urgent long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member. Also read | Indian PM Narendra Modi set to address UNGA. Here's what you can expect India in June asserted that the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on UN Security Council reforms can no longer be used as a smokescreen, as the General Assembly decided to roll over the IGN work to the next UNGA session and agreed to include an amendment proposed by the G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Also read | Quad infra partnership independent of BRI, Indian foreign secretary tells Wion The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. There has been growing demand to increase the number of permanent members to reflect the contemporary global reality. During his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, President Biden also reaffirmed US support for India's entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the joint statement said. The NSG is a 48-member grouping which regulates global nuclear commerce. Watch Ever since India applied for the membership of the NSG in May 2016, China has been insisting that only those countries which have signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) should be allowed to enter the organisation. India and Pakistan are not signatories of the NPT. After India's application, Pakistan too has applied for the NSG membership in 2016. China maintains that there would be no discussion on India's entry into the NSG before reaching a specific plan on non-NPT members' participation in the elite grouping, as it declined to give a timeline to reach a consensus among member states on this issue. President Biden's support to India's permanent seat in the UNSC assumes significance as last month, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference that the US values "working with India at the United Nations, including in the context this month of the Security Council." Responding to a question on whether the Biden administration thinks that India should be a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Price said that the US supports building a consensus for a "modest" expansion of the Council for both permanent and non-permanent members, provided it does not diminish its effectiveness or its efficacy and does not alter or expand the veto. "We believe that a reformed Security Council that is representative, that is effective, and that is relevant is in the best interest of the United States and all of the UN member states," Price had said. In their talks on Friday, Prime Minister Modi and President Biden also welcomed the extension of the Statement of Guiding Principles on Triangular Cooperation for Global Development to leverage the combined capacities of India and the US to address global development challenges around the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Africa, the statement said. They renewed their close relationship and charted a new course to advance the partnership between the world's largest democracies They also affirmed a clear vision that will guide the US-India relationship forward, the statement added.

Biden reiterates US support for India's permanent seat in UNSC, entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group

Indian Prime Minister Modi described Friday's bilateral summit with US President Joe Biden as important as they met at the start of the third decade of this century. Biden said the relationship between India and the US, the largest democracies in the world, is "destined to be stronger, closer and tighter.

India-US trade ties to improve this decade says Indian PM Modi

As the leaders of India, US, Japan and Australia gathered in White House in Washington DC for first in-person Quad Summit, the group announced a new fellowship for students of these countries.<o:p></o:p>

In his welcome note, the US President Joe Biden announced that the Quad leaders will soon launch a fellowship for masters and doctoral studies in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field.

<o:p>"Today, we are also launching a new Quad fellowship for students from each of our Quad countries to pursue advanced degrees in leading stem programs here in the United States, representing an investment in the leaders, innovators and pioneers of tomorrow," Biden was quoted saying by local agencies.</o:p>

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-biden-morrison-suga-vow-free-open-indo-pacific-at-historic-first-quad-summit-415687">Modi, Biden, Morrison, Suga vow free, open Indo-Pacific at historic first Quad summit</a></o:p>

This fellowship will be open for students of all the four countries — the US, Australia, India and Japan.

Details about this fellowship will be released later when the four leaders release a joint statement about all matters discussed during their meeting.<o:p></o:p>

The meet was opened by Joe Biden who announced the fellowship and thanked his fellow leaders for coming to Washington for the first in-person Quad summit.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/india-news/5-ts-indian-pm-narendra-modi-redefines-contours-of-ties-at-summit-with-us-president-joe-biden-415677">5 Ts: PM Modi redefines contours of ties at summit with US president Joe Biden</a></o:p>

After Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the summit saying Quad is working for interest of humanity. "Our four nations met for the first time after the 2004 Tsunami to help the Indo-Pacific region. Today, when the world is fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, we have come here once again as Quad for the welfare of humanity," he said.

<o:p></o:p>

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison congratulated his fellow leaders for accomplishing a lot in the past six months. "We believe in a free and open Indo-pacific because we know that is what delivers a strong and prosperous region," Morrison said.<o:p></o:p>

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga acknowledged Quad’s ability to support each other and other countries in times of need. "Till today Quad has given support, be it Covid or climate. Together we will be able to battle climate change and other challenges,"&nbsp;he said.<o:p></o:p>

As the leaders of India, US, Japan and Australia gathered in White House in Washington DC for first in-person Quad Summit, the group announced a new fellowship for students of these countries.

As the leaders of India, US, Japan and Australia gathered in White House in Washington DC for first in-person Quad Summit, the group announced a new fellowship for students of these countries. In his welcome note, the US President Joe Biden announced that the Quad leaders will soon launch a fellowship for masters and doctoral studies in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field. "Today, we are also launching a new Quad fellowship for students from each of our Quad countries to pursue advanced degrees in leading stem programs here in the United States, representing an investment in the leaders, innovators and pioneers of tomorrow," Biden was quoted saying by local agencies. Also read | Modi, Biden, Morrison, Suga vow free, open Indo-Pacific at historic first Quad summit This fellowship will be open for students of all the four countries — the US, Australia, India and Japan. Details about this fellowship will be released later when the four leaders release a joint statement about all matters discussed during their meeting. The meet was opened by Joe Biden who announced the fellowship and thanked his fellow leaders for coming to Washington for the first in-person Quad summit. Also read | 5 Ts: PM Modi redefines contours of ties at summit with US president Joe Biden After Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the summit saying Quad is working for interest of humanity. "Our four nations met for the first time after the 2004 Tsunami to help the Indo-Pacific region. Today, when the world is fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic, we have come here once again as Quad for the welfare of humanity," he said. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison congratulated his fellow leaders for accomplishing a lot in the past six months. "We believe in a free and open Indo-pacific because we know that is what delivers a strong and prosperous region," Morrison said. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga acknowledged Quad’s ability to support each other and other countries in times of need. "Till today Quad has given support, be it Covid or climate. Together we will be able to battle climate change and other challenges," he said.

Quad summit: Leaders announce fellowship for STEM field

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Joe Biden on Friday (September 24) held their first bilateral in-person meeting since the latter assumed office.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Joe Biden on Friday (September 24) held their first bilateral in-person meeting since the latter assumed office. During the meeting, which took place at the Oval Office in the White House, both the leaders discussed progress in ties and issues related to trade, COVID-19, climate change and stability in the Indo-Pacific. WATCH | Indian PM Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by Joe Biden, video wins hearts PM Modi thanked the US President for a warm welcome to him and the Indian delegation. He said, "Earlier, we had an opportunity to hold discussions, & at that time you had laid out the vision for India-US bilateral relations. Today, you are taking initiatives to implement your vision for India-US relations." The two leaders have met earlier when Biden was the US vice president, this is for the first time that Biden is meeting Modi after he became the 46th president of the US. Here are the key takeaways from the Modi-Biden bilateral summit: A new chapter in India-US ties: The bilateral meet was crucial for India and equally vital for the US as Biden is looking forward to deepening his bid to cement US leadership of a "stable" Indo-Pacific in the face of a rising China. Biden recalled that in 2006, when he was US Vice President, he had said that India and the US will be among the closest nations in the world in 2020. "I have long believed that the US-India relationship can help us solve a lot of global challenges. In fact back in 2006 when I was the Vice President, I said that by 2020 India and the US will be among the closest nations in the world," Biden said. IN PICS | PM Modi, US President Joe Biden hold first in person meet in White House × "I think that the relationship between India and the United States, the largest democracies in the world, is destined to be stronger, closer and tighter, and I believe it can benefit the whole world," he added. Biden said they are launching a "new chapter" in the history of India US ties, "taking on some of the toughest challenges" and starting with a shared commitment. Technology PM Modi said this decade will be shaped by talent and people-to-people linkages and added that he is glad the Indian diaspora is making an active contribution towards the US' progress. He said that technology is becoming a driving force. "We have to utilise our talents to leverage technology for greater global good." ALSO READ | '5 Ts': Indian PM Narendra Modi redefines contours of ties at summit with US president Joe Biden Modi recalled his interactions with Biden in 2014 and 2016, saying "that time you had shared your vision for ties between India and US. I am glad to see you are working to realise this vision." During his US visit, PM Modi also met top American CEOs from key sectors and highlighted the vast economic opputunities, initing the companies to invest in India. Trade PM Modi said that trade holds importance on its own between India and the US. He said, "In this decade, we can be complementary to each other." "There are many things with the US, that are needed by India and many things with India that can be useful for the US. Trade will be a major sector in this decade," said Modi. COVID-19 and Climate Change: Biden said during the talks, he will talk about "what more we can do to fight COVID-19, take on the climate challenges that the world face, and ensure stability in the Indo Pacific, including with our partners".

From trade to technology: Key takeaways from Narendra Modi-Joe Biden bilateral talks

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met United States President Joe Biden for&nbsp;their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-pm-narendra-modi-us-president-joe-biden-hold-first-in-person-bilateral-summit-415630">first in-person bilateral summit</a> at the White House on Friday (September 24).&nbsp;

From trade to climate change to stronger Indo-US relations, the leaders addressed a range of issues and vowed to strengthen the ties further.

Modi said he sees the seeds have been sown for India-US relations to expand under Biden's leadership.&nbsp;

However, what won the hearts of Indians and Indian diaspora all over the world was the video of Biden welcoming Modi with open arms.

The footage was a proof of strong relations between two democracies, the oldest and largest, heralding a promising future.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-climate-change-on-agenda-as-pm-narendra-modi-prepares-to-attend-quad-415569">COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad</a>

Earlier in the day, Modi arrived at the White House and the Acting Chief of Protocol greeted him at the West Wing door. His hour-long meeting with Biden took place at the Oval Office.

When PM Modi entered the office,&nbsp;ecstatic Biden opened his hands as the Indian PM's hands were&nbsp;folded in a traditional&nbsp;namaste greeting.&nbsp;

PM Modi said, "I thank you for the warm welcome accorded to me and my delegation. Earlier, we had an opportunity to hold discussions and at that time you had laid out the vision for India-US bilateral relations. Today, you are taking initiatives to implement your vision for India-US relations."

Watch the video here:

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In opening remarks at the Oval Office, PM Modi said, "In 2016 and 2014, I had the opportunity to talk to you in detail on the vision of India US partnership. Your vision was very inspiring. And today as the President the initiative that you are taking to take it further, I welcome that."&nbsp;

Previously, Modi had said his visit would be an occasion to strengthen the Indo-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest with President Biden.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met United States President Joe Biden for their first in-person bilateral summit at the White House on Friday (September 24).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met United States President Joe Biden for their first in-person bilateral summit at the White House on Friday (September 24). From trade to climate change to stronger Indo-US relations, the leaders addressed a range of issues and vowed to strengthen the ties further. Modi said he sees the seeds have been sown for India-US relations to expand under Biden's leadership. However, what won the hearts of Indians and Indian diaspora all over the world was the video of Biden welcoming Modi with open arms. The footage was a proof of strong relations between two democracies, the oldest and largest, heralding a promising future. ALSO READ | COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad Earlier in the day, Modi arrived at the White House and the Acting Chief of Protocol greeted him at the West Wing door. His hour-long meeting with Biden took place at the Oval Office. When PM Modi entered the office, ecstatic Biden opened his hands as the Indian PM's hands were folded in a traditional namaste greeting. PM Modi said, "I thank you for the warm welcome accorded to me and my delegation. Earlier, we had an opportunity to hold discussions and at that time you had laid out the vision for India-US bilateral relations. Today, you are taking initiatives to implement your vision for India-US relations." Watch the video here: #WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives a warm welcome from US President Joe Biden at the White House pic.twitter.com/SEp29Rrl5g — ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021 × In opening remarks at the Oval Office, PM Modi said, "In 2016 and 2014, I had the opportunity to talk to you in detail on the vision of India US partnership. Your vision was very inspiring. And today as the President the initiative that you are taking to take it further, I welcome that." Previously, Modi had said his visit would be an occasion to strengthen the Indo-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest with President Biden.

Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by Joe Biden, video wins hearts

WION talks to the former United States National Security Advisor John Bolton on the various important issues, including the Afghanistan crisis. Watch this interview for more details.

WION Exclusive with former United States NSA John Bolton

The highly anticipated face-to-face bilateral meeting between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place on September 24, 2021, to discuss pressing global and regional issues ranging from Covid to Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised US President Joe Biden's commitment and vision for India-US relations and the globe at large on Friday.

Modi, who was seated alongside Biden in the Oval Office of the White House, told the president that they had the opportunity to discuss India-US relations in depth in 2016 and even before that in 2014.&nbsp;

In meeting with Biden, PM Modi redefines the contours of India-USA ties.

PM highlights the 5 T’s of: tradition, talent, technology, trade, and trusteeship.

Tradition: Modi stated that the seeds of Indo-US collaboration had been sowed. Modi predicted that the importance of both countries' traditions, as well as the democratic values to which they are dedicated, will only grow.&nbsp;

Talent: Modi praised 4 million-strong Indian-American talent and its contribution to the US economy, predicting that such people-to-people exchanges will continue to rise.&nbsp;

Technology: In today's world, technology will be the driving force — technology for the benefit of humanity. Trade would play a significant role in this scenario. According to Modi, commerce between the United States and India is complementary, with one country possessing items that the other requires.&nbsp;

Trade: In the ongoing decade, India and the US can also strengthen their trade relationship. Trade will remain a key area of cooperation between both countries.

Trusteeship: &nbsp;Gandhi Ji's Jayanti was mentioned by President Joe Biden. Gandhi Ji discussed Trusteeship, a concept that will be critical for our world in the future.

The highly anticipated face-to-face bilateral meeting between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place on September 24, 2021, to discuss pressing global and regional issues ranging from Covid to Afghanistan.

The highly anticipated face-to-face bilateral meeting between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place on September 24, 2021, to discuss pressing global and regional issues ranging from Covid to Afghanistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised US President Joe Biden's commitment and vision for India-US relations and the globe at large on Friday. Modi, who was seated alongside Biden in the Oval Office of the White House, told the president that they had the opportunity to discuss India-US relations in depth in 2016 and even before that in 2014. In meeting with Biden, PM Modi redefines the contours of India-USA ties. PM highlights the 5 T’s of: tradition, talent, technology, trade, and trusteeship. Tradition: Modi stated that the seeds of Indo-US collaboration had been sowed. Modi predicted that the importance of both countries' traditions, as well as the democratic values to which they are dedicated, will only grow. Talent: Modi praised 4 million-strong Indian-American talent and its contribution to the US economy, predicting that such people-to-people exchanges will continue to rise. Technology: In today's world, technology will be the driving force — technology for the benefit of humanity. Trade would play a significant role in this scenario. According to Modi, commerce between the United States and India is complementary, with one country possessing items that the other requires. Trade: In the ongoing decade, India and the US can also strengthen their trade relationship. Trade will remain a key area of cooperation between both countries. Trusteeship: Gandhi Ji's Jayanti was mentioned by President Joe Biden. Gandhi Ji discussed Trusteeship, a concept that will be critical for our world in the future.

'5 Ts': Indian PM Narendra Modi redefines contours of ties at summit with US president Joe Biden

During their first in-person summit, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a lighter moment, speaking about the former’s ancestral relations with India.

Prime Minister Modi said he had done “some hunting around” and brought along some documents related to the Biden surname, prompting smiles and laughter during the White House meeting.

While referring to Biden's ancestors, Modi said, “You have spoken in detail about the Biden surname in India, and you have mentioned that to me earlier too. And I hunted around for documents, and today I have brought along some documents to take it forward. And maybe they will be useful to you,” Modi said.

“The whole purpose of the (bilateral) meeting is to help track them down,” he added, prompting smiles and laughter among the officials gathered at the White House.

Watch

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Modi was referring to the time when Biden, during his visit to Mumbai in 2013, told an audience that his distant relatives lived in the west Indian city of Mumbai.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/beginning-new-chapter-joe-biden-tells-modi-india-us-ties-to-be-stronger-closer-tighter-415658">Beginning new chapter: Joe Biden tells Modi India-US ties to be stronger, closer, tighter</a>

Biden had reiterated his claim two years later at an event in Washington, saying there were five Bidens living in Mumbai.

“I find out that there was a Captain George Biden, a captain in an Indian tea company. The end result was that he apparently stayed and married an Indian woman,” said President Biden.

Decades after he received a letter from someone by the last name of Biden from Mumbai, soon after becoming a senator, Biden learned that his "great, great, great, great, great grandfather" had worked in the East India Company.

"There are five Bidens in Mumbai, India," Biden, then Vice President, told a Washington audience in 2015 at an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of India-US civil nuclear deal.

(With inputs from agencies)

During their first in-person summit, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a lighter moment, speaking about the former’s ancestral relations with India.

During their first in-person summit, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a lighter moment, speaking about the former’s ancestral relations with India. Prime Minister Modi said he had done “some hunting around” and brought along some documents related to the Biden surname, prompting smiles and laughter during the White House meeting. While referring to Biden's ancestors, Modi said, “You have spoken in detail about the Biden surname in India, and you have mentioned that to me earlier too. And I hunted around for documents, and today I have brought along some documents to take it forward. And maybe they will be useful to you,” Modi said. “The whole purpose of the (bilateral) meeting is to help track them down,” he added, prompting smiles and laughter among the officials gathered at the White House. Watch Modi was referring to the time when Biden, during his visit to Mumbai in 2013, told an audience that his distant relatives lived in the west Indian city of Mumbai. Also read | Beginning new chapter: Joe Biden tells Modi India-US ties to be stronger, closer, tighter Biden had reiterated his claim two years later at an event in Washington, saying there were five Bidens living in Mumbai. “I find out that there was a Captain George Biden, a captain in an Indian tea company. The end result was that he apparently stayed and married an Indian woman,” said President Biden. Decades after he received a letter from someone by the last name of Biden from Mumbai, soon after becoming a senator, Biden learned that his "great, great, great, great, great grandfather" had worked in the East India Company. "There are five Bidens in Mumbai, India," Biden, then Vice President, told a Washington audience in 2015 at an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of India-US civil nuclear deal. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden’s ancestors in India: PM Modi brings papers, US prez jokes ‘purpose of meeting was to track them’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminded US President Joe Biden on Friday that there is still much work to be done in the sphere of trade, emphasising the importance of the two nations' business connections.

This is their first meeting since Biden took office as President of the United States in January of this year.

PM Modi emphasised the importance of the bilateral summit, noting that the seeds had been laid for a deeper partnership between India and the United States.

"There is much to be done in trade. Trade will be an important factor in India-USA ties in the coming decade, PM Modi said in his first bilateral meeting with the US President. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/beginning-new-chapter-joe-biden-tells-modi-india-us-ties-to-be-stronger-closer-tighter-415658">Also read | Beginning new chapter: Joe Biden tells Modi India-US ties to be stronger, closer, tighter</a> 
 
PM Modi stated that President Joe Biden is taking steps to put his vision for bilateral relations into action.

He went on to say that talent and people-to-people connections will determine this decade.

The following are PM Modi's important White House quotes:&nbsp;

<ol>
	<li>I'd like to express my gratitude to President Joe Biden for his kind greeting. I remember our encounters in 2014 and 2016. You had outlined your vision for India-US relations at the time. I'm delighted to see you're working to make this idea a reality.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>There is much to be done in trade. Trade will be an important factor in India-USA ties in the coming decade. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Today's bilateral summit is important. We are meeting at the start of the third decade of this century. Your leadership will certainly play an important role in how this decade is shaped. The seeds have been sown for an even stronger friendship between India and the US. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>I am glad the Indian diaspora is making an active contribution to the USA's progress. 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Gandhi Ji's Jayanti was mentioned by President Joe Biden. Gandhi Ji discussed Trusteeship, a concept that will be critical for our world in the future.&nbsp; 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Each of the issues raised by President Joe Biden is critical to the alliance between India and the United States. His contributions to COVID-19, climate change mitigation, and the Quad are important. 
	 
	<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-indian-pm-narendra-modi-receives-warm-welcome-by-joe-biden-video-wins-hearts-415646">Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by Joe Biden, video wins hearts</a> 
	 
	ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-climate-change-on-agenda-as-pm-narendra-modi-prepares-to-attend-quad-415569">COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad</a></li>
</ol>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminded US President Joe Biden on Friday that there is still much work to be done in the sphere of trade, emphasising the importance of the two nations' business connections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminded US President Joe Biden on Friday that there is still much work to be done in the sphere of trade, emphasising the importance of the two nations' business connections. This is their first meeting since Biden took office as President of the United States in January of this year. PM Modi emphasised the importance of the bilateral summit, noting that the seeds had been laid for a deeper partnership between India and the United States. "There is much to be done in trade. Trade will be an important factor in India-USA ties in the coming decade, PM Modi said in his first bilateral meeting with the US President. Also read | Beginning new chapter: Joe Biden tells Modi India-US ties to be stronger, closer, tighter PM Modi stated that President Joe Biden is taking steps to put his vision for bilateral relations into action. He went on to say that talent and people-to-people connections will determine this decade. The following are PM Modi's important White House quotes: I'd like to express my gratitude to President Joe Biden for his kind greeting. I remember our encounters in 2014 and 2016. You had outlined your vision for India-US relations at the time. I'm delighted to see you're working to make this idea a reality. There is much to be done in trade. Trade will be an important factor in India-USA ties in the coming decade. Today's bilateral summit is important. We are meeting at the start of the third decade of this century. Your leadership will certainly play an important role in how this decade is shaped. The seeds have been sown for an even stronger friendship between India and the US. I am glad the Indian diaspora is making an active contribution to the USA's progress. Gandhi Ji's Jayanti was mentioned by President Joe Biden. Gandhi Ji discussed Trusteeship, a concept that will be critical for our world in the future. Each of the issues raised by President Joe Biden is critical to the alliance between India and the United States. His contributions to COVID-19, climate change mitigation, and the Quad are important. Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by Joe Biden, video wins hearts ALSO READ | COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad

Trade is an important factor in India-US ties, PM Modi tells US President Biden

The relationship between India and the United States, the world's two greatest democracies, is destined to become stronger, closer, and tighter, US President Joe Biden said on Friday as he hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their first in-person bilateral summit.

"Every day, four million Indian-Americans strengthen the United States," Biden told Modi.&nbsp;

He stated the two countries were beginning a new chapter in India-United States relations.

"I have known you for a long time. I am glad that you have come back to the White House… You are well aware of our history… Our relationship has always been good," Biden told Modi. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-indian-pm-narendra-modi-receives-warm-welcome-by-joe-biden-video-wins-hearts-415646">Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by Joe Biden, video wins hearts</a>

The two leaders met&nbsp;at the Oval Office and discussed a wide variety of issues, including COVID-19, climate change and economic cooperation. 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-climate-change-on-agenda-as-pm-narendra-modi-prepares-to-attend-quad-415569">COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad</a>

They have met before when Biden was vice president, but this is the first time Biden is hosting Modi since becoming the 46th US president in January.&nbsp;

Here are some quotes from US President Joe Biden's remarks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi:&nbsp;

"Welcome. I want to welcome my friend, who I've known for some time, back to the White House. And Mr Prime Minister, we're going to continue to build on our strong partnership."

"When I showed the Prime Minister to his seat, I pointed out that seat is occupied almost every day by an Indian American."

"The Vice President's mother was from India, a scientist and a remarkable woman,&nbsp;" he said, referring to&nbsp;Shyamala Gopalan Harris, the mother of his deputy Kamala Harris.

"As I think you know, Mr Prime Minister, I've long believed that the US-India relationship can help us solve an awful lot of global challenges."

"In fact, back in 2006, I sent that hope out where I said that by 2020... India and the United States would be among the closest nations in the world to one another."

"And maybe I shouldn't – these are not part of my prepared remarks, but when I was in Mumbai as vice president, I finished meeting with the equivalent of the chamber of commerce. And afterwards, the Indian press asked me, "Do I have any relatives in India?"

"And I said I'm not sure but, when I was elected as a 29-year-old in kid in 1972, before I was sworn in, I got a letter from a person named Biden – last name – in Mumbai, from Mumbai. And I said, but I was never able to follow up." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/5-bidens-in-mumbai-when-joe-biden-spoke-of-distant-relatives-in-india-341725">Also read | ‘5 Bidens in Mumbai’: When Joe Biden spoke of distant relatives in India&nbsp;</a>

"The next morning, I had a press conference going away, and the Indian press, some of these folks, said you have five Bidens in India. And although we never admitted it – jokingly – I've found out that there was a Captain George Biden who was a captain in the East India Tea Company in India."

Biden turned to Modi and quipped: "That's hard for an Irishman to admit."

Biden then said to the press: "I shouldn't be so casual with you all. I hope you understand the humour in it. The end result was, he apparently stayed and married an Indian woman and I've never been able to track it down, so the whole purpose of this meeting is for him to help me figure out."

The US President smiled and there was laughter from the people in the room.

The relationship between India and the United States, the world's two greatest democracies, is destined to become stronger, closer, and tighter, US President Joe Biden said on Friday as he hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their first in-person bilateral summit.

The relationship between India and the United States, the world's two greatest democracies, is destined to become stronger, closer, and tighter, US President Joe Biden said on Friday as he hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their first in-person bilateral summit. "Every day, four million Indian-Americans strengthen the United States," Biden told Modi. He stated the two countries were beginning a new chapter in India-United States relations. "I have known you for a long time. I am glad that you have come back to the White House… You are well aware of our history… Our relationship has always been good," Biden told Modi. Watch: Indian PM Narendra Modi receives warm welcome by Joe Biden, video wins hearts The two leaders met at the Oval Office and discussed a wide variety of issues, including COVID-19, climate change and economic cooperation. ALSO READ | COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad They have met before when Biden was vice president, but this is the first time Biden is hosting Modi since becoming the 46th US president in January. Here are some quotes from US President Joe Biden's remarks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: "Welcome. I want to welcome my friend, who I've known for some time, back to the White House. And Mr Prime Minister, we're going to continue to build on our strong partnership." "When I showed the Prime Minister to his seat, I pointed out that seat is occupied almost every day by an Indian American." "The Vice President's mother was from India, a scientist and a remarkable woman, " he said, referring to Shyamala Gopalan Harris, the mother of his deputy Kamala Harris. "As I think you know, Mr Prime Minister, I've long believed that the US-India relationship can help us solve an awful lot of global challenges." "In fact, back in 2006, I sent that hope out where I said that by 2020... India and the United States would be among the closest nations in the world to one another." "And maybe I shouldn't – these are not part of my prepared remarks, but when I was in Mumbai as vice president, I finished meeting with the equivalent of the chamber of commerce. And afterwards, the Indian press asked me, "Do I have any relatives in India?" "And I said I'm not sure but, when I was elected as a 29-year-old in kid in 1972, before I was sworn in, I got a letter from a person named Biden – last name – in Mumbai, from Mumbai. And I said, but I was never able to follow up." Also read | ‘5 Bidens in Mumbai’: When Joe Biden spoke of distant relatives in India "The next morning, I had a press conference going away, and the Indian press, some of these folks, said you have five Bidens in India. And although we never admitted it – jokingly – I've found out that there was a Captain George Biden who was a captain in the East India Tea Company in India." Biden turned to Modi and quipped: "That's hard for an Irishman to admit." Biden then said to the press: "I shouldn't be so casual with you all. I hope you understand the humour in it. The end result was, he apparently stayed and married an Indian woman and I've never been able to track it down, so the whole purpose of this meeting is for him to help me figure out." The US President smiled and there was laughter from the people in the room.

Beginning a new chapter: Joe Biden tells Modi India-US ties to be stronger, closer, tighter

Indian PM Modi, US President Joe Biden hold first in person meet in White House ahead of Quad leaders summit

Anti-China banners were seen outside the White House on Friday morning during a bilateral in-person summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden.

“Chinese communist maliciously released Coronavirus…The four-country summit (a reference to Quad members) must decide to destroy the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) with armed forces,” read one banner outside the White House.

<img alt="Anti-China banners seen outside White House on Friday morning (US time)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e5df9ee-935f-4d8e-adf6-574b2523cd40" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WhatsApp%20Image%202021-09-24%20at%209.07.09%20PM%20%281%29_0.jpeg" />

The Biden-Modi meet comes&nbsp;ahead of the Quad leaders' summit, which will be hosted by President Biden and will the see the attendance of Japanese PM Yoshide Suga and Australian PM Scott Morrison, apart from Modi.

<img alt="Anti-China banners seen outside White House on Friday morning (US time)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd3526a4-e71b-483e-ad51-86ac7f2ee353" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/WhatsApp%20Image%202021-09-24%20at%209.07.10%20PM.jpeg" />

Even though there has been no indication on the official level that China will be on the agenda, political analysts have suggested that the Quad leaders might address Beijing's aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea, free Indo-Pacific and freedom of navigation.

India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvrings in the region.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/furious-china-slams-quad-ahead-of-groupings-first-in-person-summit-in-us-415618">Furious China slams Quad ahead of grouping's first in-person summit in US</a>

China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

Earlier today, China criticised the Quad grouping, with its foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian saying that the quadrilateral group should not target any third country and its interests.&nbsp;

“China always believes that any regional cooperation mechanism should not target a third party or harm its interests. Seeking exclusive closed cliques against a third country runs against the trend of the times and aspirations of countries in the region. It will find no support,” he said.&nbsp;

In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.

(With inputs from agencies)

Anti-China banners were seen outside the White House on Friday morning during a bilateral in-person summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden.

Anti-China banners were seen outside the White House on Friday morning during a bilateral in-person summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden. “Chinese communist maliciously released Coronavirus…The four-country summit (a reference to Quad members) must decide to destroy the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) with armed forces,” read one banner outside the White House. The Biden-Modi meet comes ahead of the Quad leaders' summit, which will be hosted by President Biden and will the see the attendance of Japanese PM Yoshide Suga and Australian PM Scott Morrison, apart from Modi. Even though there has been no indication on the official level that China will be on the agenda, political analysts have suggested that the Quad leaders might address Beijing's aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea, free Indo-Pacific and freedom of navigation. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvrings in the region. Also read | Furious China slams Quad ahead of grouping's first in-person summit in US China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. Earlier today, China criticised the Quad grouping, with its foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian saying that the quadrilateral group should not target any third country and its interests. “China always believes that any regional cooperation mechanism should not target a third party or harm its interests. Seeking exclusive closed cliques against a third country runs against the trend of the times and aspirations of countries in the region. It will find no support,” he said. In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence. (With inputs from agencies)

Anti-China posters seen outside White House during Modi, Biden bilateral meet

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Indo-US ties during his first, historic in-person bilateral summit with US President at the White House on Friday (September 24).&nbsp;

In opening remarks at the Oval Office, PM Modi said, "In 2016 and 2014, I had the opportunity to talk to you in detail on the vision of India US partnership. Your vision was very inspiring. And today as the president, the initiative that you are taking to take it further, I welcome that."&nbsp;

"I thank you for the warm welcome accorded to me and my delegation. Earlier, we had an opportunity to hold discussions and at that time you had laid out the vision for India-US bilateral relations. Today, you are taking initiatives to implement &nbsp;your vision for India-US relations," PM Modi added.

PM Modi added, "This decade will be shaped by talent and people-to-people linkages. I am glad the Indian diaspora is making an active contribution towards USA’s progress."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-climate-change-on-agenda-as-pm-narendra-modi-prepares-to-attend-quad-415569">COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad</a>

While the two leaders have met earlier when Biden was the US vice president, this is for the first time that Biden is meeting Modi after he became the 46th president of the US.&nbsp;

Biden said that it is is a beginning of a new chapter in India-US relationship. He also pointed out that&nbsp;"four million Indian Americans every day are making America stronger".

Ahead of the meet, President Biden tweeted, "This morning I'm hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House for a bilateral meeting."

"I look forward to strengthening the deep ties between our two nations, working to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific, and tackling everything from COVID-19 to climate change."

Watch the video here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Today we begin a new chapter in Indo - US relationships. Four Million Indian Americans everyday making America stronger : US President Joe Biden 
 
Report: Souvagya Kar<a href="https://t.co/gwlAnnyXvP">pic.twitter.com/gwlAnnyXvP</a>
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/airnewsalerts/status/1441424893245943813?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Earlier,&nbsp;Modi arrived at the White House and&nbsp;Acting Chief of Protocol greeted him at the West Wing door.&nbsp;

Watch the video here:

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Washington DC: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the White House to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. <a href="https://t.co/f4v129fLbG">pic.twitter.com/f4v129fLbG</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1441418902605418497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Both leaders have spoken over the phone multiple times and attended a few virtual summits, including that of the Quad grouping in March, hosted by the US president.

Their&nbsp;last telephone conversation between them took place on April 26.

Previously, Modi had said his visit would be an occasion to strengthen the Indo-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest with President Biden.

After this,&nbsp;Modi will attend&nbsp;the first-ever in-person Quad summit with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Indo-US ties during his first, historic in-person bilateral summit with US President at the White House on Friday (September 24).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Indo-US ties during his first, historic in-person bilateral summit with US President at the White House on Friday (September 24). In opening remarks at the Oval Office, PM Modi said, "In 2016 and 2014, I had the opportunity to talk to you in detail on the vision of India US partnership. Your vision was very inspiring. And today as the president, the initiative that you are taking to take it further, I welcome that." "I thank you for the warm welcome accorded to me and my delegation. Earlier, we had an opportunity to hold discussions and at that time you had laid out the vision for India-US bilateral relations. Today, you are taking initiatives to implement your vision for India-US relations," PM Modi added. PM Modi added, "This decade will be shaped by talent and people-to-people linkages. I am glad the Indian diaspora is making an active contribution towards USA’s progress." ALSO READ | COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad While the two leaders have met earlier when Biden was the US vice president, this is for the first time that Biden is meeting Modi after he became the 46th president of the US. Biden said that it is is a beginning of a new chapter in India-US relationship. He also pointed out that "four million Indian Americans every day are making America stronger". Ahead of the meet, President Biden tweeted, "This morning I'm hosting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House for a bilateral meeting." "I look forward to strengthening the deep ties between our two nations, working to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific, and tackling everything from COVID-19 to climate change." Watch the video here: Today we begin a new chapter in Indo - US relationships. Four Million Indian Americans everyday making America stronger : US President Joe Biden Report: Souvagya Karpic.twitter.com/gwlAnnyXvP — All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) September 24, 2021 × Earlier, Modi arrived at the White House and Acting Chief of Protocol greeted him at the West Wing door. Watch the video here: #WATCH | Washington DC: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the White House to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. pic.twitter.com/f4v129fLbG — ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2021 × Both leaders have spoken over the phone multiple times and attended a few virtual summits, including that of the Quad grouping in March, hosted by the US president. Their last telephone conversation between them took place on April 26. Previously, Modi had said his visit would be an occasion to strengthen the Indo-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest with President Biden. After this, Modi will attend the first-ever in-person Quad summit with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan.

Indian PM Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden hold first in-person bilateral summit

US President Joe Biden Joe Biden detailed his COVID-19 plan and talked about his aim to vaccinate the unvaccinated. He said that those who have been inoculated with Pfizer shots are eligible for booster shots.

US President Joe Biden details his COVID plan

The Indian PM Narendra Modi is arriving at the White House to conduct a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. Modi will also be addressing the UNGA session and the QUAD summit.

Indian PM Narendra Modi arrives at White House to conduct a bilateral meet with US President Biden

Leaders of Quad countries —Australia, India, Japan and the US —would announce a new working group on space, a supply chain initiative and a 5G deployment and diversification effort apart from discussing issues like challenges in the Indo Pacific, climate change and COVID-19 pandemic during their historic meeting here on Friday, the White House has said.

At the invitation of President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterparts Scott Morrison from Australia and Yoshihide Suga from Japan have gathered in the American capital for the first-ever in-person Quad summit at the White House.

Quad leaders are also planning to roll out vaccine deliverables and announce a series of measures in the field of healthcare and infrastructure sector, officials here said.

"The leaders are hopeful for an opportunity in an intimate setting to sit down and talk about issues of mutual interest and concern. They'll have discussions on critical issues that are confronting the Indo Pacific; issues associated with climate change, with matters relating to COVID-19. They will also talk about how to advance infrastructure,"&nbsp;a senior administration official said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official noted that the Quad has been all about advancing areas of mutual interests.

"You will also see that the leaders are determined to pool our unique capabilities, our resources and our expertise to make common challenges,"&nbsp;the official said.

The White House official underscored that the Quad is an unofficial gathering.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/furious-china-slams-quad-ahead-of-groupings-first-in-person-summit-in-us-415618">Furious China slams Quad ahead of grouping's first in-person summit in US</a>

"Although we have a number of working groups, and we are deepening cooperation on a very daily basis, it is also the case that it is not a regional security organisation. We are going to address particular issues associated with the challenges confronting the Indo Pacific in the current environment,"&nbsp;the official said, adding that that's what the leaders want to focus on.

India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region.

China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.

"President Biden believes that too often these kinds of discussions are scripted and he really wants to be able to sit down and have a deeper conversation with all leaders in an environment where they can really share perspectives on what's important to each of them as they go forward,"&nbsp;the official said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-referred-to-pakistans-role-in-terrorism-during-meeting-with-pm-modi-shringla-415387?UTM_SRC=breakingnews">US Vice President Kamala Harris referred to Pakistan's role in terrorism during meeting with PM Modi: Shringla</a>

The White House official underscored this is a clear and emblematic indication of the strategy of diplomacy.

"It also indicates that the Biden administration understands that the challenges of the 21st century will largely play out in the Indo-Pacific and we are doubling down on our efforts. This quad is part of a larger fabric of engagement that you will see,"&nbsp;the official said.

In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence.

Watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-modis-first-formal-meeting-with-us-vp-kamala-harris-415405/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"You have already seen evidence of, with very high level, bilateral engagements with security partners, other steps that we've taken and we believe that the Quad will be a key and critical format and forum for discussion and joint purpose as we head into a challenging period ahead,"&nbsp;the official said.

On the deliverables, the White House official said that the Quad leaders will be announcing a supply chain initiative.

"The effort is really a detailed joint initiative to map overall capacity, identify the respective vulnerabilities, and to take critical steps to bolster supply chain security, particularly for semiconductors and all their vital components,"&nbsp;the official said.

The goal is to ensure Quad partners take their steps to support a somewhat diverse and competitive market that produces secure critical technologies that are essential for digital economies globally.

"We're also going to announce a 5G deployment and diversification effort. This is to support the quite a critical role of Quad governments in fostering and promoting a diverse resilient secure intelligent telecommunications ecosystem,"&nbsp;said the senior administration official.

They would also announce a STEM -science, technology, engineering and mathematics - scholarship programme.

"We will also announce a major fellowship that will bring students from India, from Japan, from Australia and the United States 100 in total, over the course of the next year and a half to study in elite universities in the United States, in areas related to science and technology as a clear signal of the importance of these issues to all of our country's futures,"&nbsp;said the senior administration official.

The Quad fellowship, the official said, is sponsored by private donors which will bring 100 students per year 25 from each quad country to pursue either a master's or doctoral degree at a leading STEM graduate university in the United States.

"That's a big deal for us and that's a signature initiative designed to indicate that we want and encourage Quad countries to send their best students to work with us and to build those lines of communication, coordination with young people,"&nbsp;the official said.

The Quad leaders, the official said, would be announcing new working groups on space.

"We will have an initiative on space. I think all four countries are determined to work on joint efforts. We are going to share information on illegal fishing and issues associated with maritime domain awareness. We are also taking steps to help monitor climate change and promote a variety of issues associated with estuaries and fishing more generally,? the official said. 
Quad countries already have a robust cybersecurity effort underway and it is going to be enhanced at the leader level.

"We're going to try to take steps to bolster critical, critical inner infrastructure resilience against cyber threats, something that's plagued all four of our countries. We are advancing a very high-level group on specific capabilities and technologies,"&nbsp;the official said.

"We have got some specific steps that we're taking in the climate, green shipping network, and this has to do with how to decarbonise, what we call the shipping value chain. We are also taking specific steps to work with ports in each of our countries, to ensure that best practices are followed with respect to decarbonising efforts there as well,"&nbsp;said the official.

Responding to a question, the official underscored that Quad and AUKUS are two completely separate initiatives; they really have nothing to do with one another, even though there is some overlap with Australia.

AUKUS (Australia, the UK and the US) security partnership was unveiled last week by President Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Morrison.

"The Quad is a discussion and engagement effort around a number of practical matters like COVID and issues associated with climate change. There is not a military dimension to it or a security dimension to it. And it is an informal grouping,"&nbsp;the official said.

Leaders of Quad countries —Australia, India, Japan and the US —would announce a new working group on space, a supply chain initiative and a 5G deployment and diversification effort apart from discussing issues like challenges in the Indo Pacific, climate change and COVID-19 pandemic during their historic meeting here on Friday, the White House has said.

Leaders of Quad countries —Australia, India, Japan and the US —would announce a new working group on space, a supply chain initiative and a 5G deployment and diversification effort apart from discussing issues like challenges in the Indo Pacific, climate change and COVID-19 pandemic during their historic meeting here on Friday, the White House has said. At the invitation of President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterparts Scott Morrison from Australia and Yoshihide Suga from Japan have gathered in the American capital for the first-ever in-person Quad summit at the White House. Quad leaders are also planning to roll out vaccine deliverables and announce a series of measures in the field of healthcare and infrastructure sector, officials here said. "The leaders are hopeful for an opportunity in an intimate setting to sit down and talk about issues of mutual interest and concern. They'll have discussions on critical issues that are confronting the Indo Pacific; issues associated with climate change, with matters relating to COVID-19. They will also talk about how to advance infrastructure," a senior administration official said. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official noted that the Quad has been all about advancing areas of mutual interests. "You will also see that the leaders are determined to pool our unique capabilities, our resources and our expertise to make common challenges," the official said. The White House official underscored that the Quad is an unofficial gathering. Also read | Furious China slams Quad ahead of grouping's first in-person summit in US "Although we have a number of working groups, and we are deepening cooperation on a very daily basis, it is also the case that it is not a regional security organisation. We are going to address particular issues associated with the challenges confronting the Indo Pacific in the current environment," the official said, adding that that's what the leaders want to focus on. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. "President Biden believes that too often these kinds of discussions are scripted and he really wants to be able to sit down and have a deeper conversation with all leaders in an environment where they can really share perspectives on what's important to each of them as they go forward," the official said. Also read | US Vice President Kamala Harris referred to Pakistan's role in terrorism during meeting with PM Modi: Shringla The White House official underscored this is a clear and emblematic indication of the strategy of diplomacy. "It also indicates that the Biden administration understands that the challenges of the 21st century will largely play out in the Indo-Pacific and we are doubling down on our efforts. This quad is part of a larger fabric of engagement that you will see," the official said. In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence. Watch "You have already seen evidence of, with very high level, bilateral engagements with security partners, other steps that we've taken and we believe that the Quad will be a key and critical format and forum for discussion and joint purpose as we head into a challenging period ahead," the official said. On the deliverables, the White House official said that the Quad leaders will be announcing a supply chain initiative. "The effort is really a detailed joint initiative to map overall capacity, identify the respective vulnerabilities, and to take critical steps to bolster supply chain security, particularly for semiconductors and all their vital components," the official said. The goal is to ensure Quad partners take their steps to support a somewhat diverse and competitive market that produces secure critical technologies that are essential for digital economies globally. "We're also going to announce a 5G deployment and diversification effort. This is to support the quite a critical role of Quad governments in fostering and promoting a diverse resilient secure intelligent telecommunications ecosystem," said the senior administration official. They would also announce a STEM -science, technology, engineering and mathematics - scholarship programme. "We will also announce a major fellowship that will bring students from India, from Japan, from Australia and the United States 100 in total, over the course of the next year and a half to study in elite universities in the United States, in areas related to science and technology as a clear signal of the importance of these issues to all of our country's futures," said the senior administration official. The Quad fellowship, the official said, is sponsored by private donors which will bring 100 students per year 25 from each quad country to pursue either a master's or doctoral degree at a leading STEM graduate university in the United States. "That's a big deal for us and that's a signature initiative designed to indicate that we want and encourage Quad countries to send their best students to work with us and to build those lines of communication, coordination with young people," the official said. The Quad leaders, the official said, would be announcing new working groups on space. "We will have an initiative on space. I think all four countries are determined to work on joint efforts. We are going to share information on illegal fishing and issues associated with maritime domain awareness. We are also taking steps to help monitor climate change and promote a variety of issues associated with estuaries and fishing more generally,? the official said. Quad countries already have a robust cybersecurity effort underway and it is going to be enhanced at the leader level. "We're going to try to take steps to bolster critical, critical inner infrastructure resilience against cyber threats, something that's plagued all four of our countries. We are advancing a very high-level group on specific capabilities and technologies," the official said. "We have got some specific steps that we're taking in the climate, green shipping network, and this has to do with how to decarbonise, what we call the shipping value chain. We are also taking specific steps to work with ports in each of our countries, to ensure that best practices are followed with respect to decarbonising efforts there as well," said the official. Responding to a question, the official underscored that Quad and AUKUS are two completely separate initiatives; they really have nothing to do with one another, even though there is some overlap with Australia. AUKUS (Australia, the UK and the US) security partnership was unveiled last week by President Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Morrison. "The Quad is a discussion and engagement effort around a number of practical matters like COVID and issues associated with climate change. There is not a military dimension to it or a security dimension to it. And it is an informal grouping," the official said.

Quad leaders to announce working group on space, supply chain initiative and 5G deployment diversification effort: White House

India, Australia, Japan and the United States preparing to participate in the first in-person Quad leaders' summit in Washington on Friday (September 24), however, furious China has criticised the grouping.

India, Australia, Japan and the United States preparing to participate in the first in-person Quad leaders' summit in Washington on Friday (September 24), however, furious China has criticised the grouping. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterparts Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan arrived in the American capital at the invitation of US President Joe Biden to discuss the Coronavirus pandemic, climate change, economic cooperation and other global issues. Although China is not officially on the agenda, but political analysts have suggested that leaders might address Beijing's aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea, free Indo-Pacific freedom of navigation, etc. ALSO READ | COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad On being asked for China's reaction on the Quad summit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told the media that the quadrilateral grouping should not target any third country and its interests. "China always believes that any regional cooperation mechanism should not target a third party or harm its interests. Seeking exclusive closed cliques against a third country runs against the trend of the times and aspiration of countries in the region. It will find no support," he said. On China's claims in the South China Sea, Zhao said: "China is a builder of world peace, contributor of global development and upholder of world order". "The growth of China means the growth for peace and stability in the world and China's contribution to peace, stability and development in Asia Pacific is therefore all to see." "Relevant countries should do more that is conducive to solidarity and cooperation with the four countries in the region," he added. ALSO READ | US Vice President Kamala Harris referred to Pakistan's role in terrorism during meeting with PM Modi: Shringla × Earlier in March, President Biden hosted the first-ever summit of the Quad leaders in the virtual format that vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, sending a subtle message to China. Beijing claims almost all of the 1.3 million square miles of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. (With inputs from agencies)

Furious China slams Quad ahead of grouping's first in-person summit in US

Now American President and then (1992) Senator from Delaware, Joseph R Biden played a crucial role in denying India the Cryogenic engine technology that powers India's GSLV series of heavy-lift rockets. The GSLV series of rockets are meant to launch payloads between 2 and 4 tons to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit(GTO), it is the heaviest rocket of this class, which will also launch India's Human Spaceflight mission Gaganyaan. "This is no minor sale; this is dangerous" he described the then Indo-Russian deal for the Russian 'KVD-1' Cryogenic engines, which are among the best in the world. Back then, America tried every dirty trick to scuttle India's rapidly progressing space programme. It is widely regarded that the Americans did succeed in eventually delaying India’s march into Space. Joseph R Biden was among the overt contributors in this act, which India (to its own peril) refused to resist effectively or immediately overcome.&nbsp;

Barely 35 years after having established the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in a ramshackle church-turned-laboratory in Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, on India’s Southern Coast, the country was able to launch its PSLV rocket in 1994. This was a significant feat for a country that had been launching experiments ‘sounding rockets’ akin to fireworks until the late 1960s, when America landed Man on the Moon.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-referred-to-pakistans-role-in-terrorism-during-meeting-with-pm-modi-shringla-415387">VP Kamala Harris referred to Pak's role in terrorism during meeting with PM Modi</a>

A large part of the PSLV rocket’s success and reliability is owed to its Vikas Engine, that was co-developed by ISRO and French SEP Engineers. It was Princeton-postgraduate ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan(now regarded as the Father of Liquid Propulsion engine technology in India) who led an ISRO team in co-developing the engine (which the French call Viking-3 and India calls Vikas). Notably, this engine powers the PSLV and GSLV rockets, even today.

Buoyed by the success in co-developing the Vikas Engine, India struck a deal, in 1991, with its all-weather ally Russia to procure a handful of KVD-1 engines and the technological know-why, hands-on training for producing the engines within India. Such a deal was India’s best and fastest shot at entering the global league of heavy-lift rockets. Valued at Rs.235crore, this Russian deal was barely 1/4th the price that the American company General Dynamics had quoted for selling India inferior American Cryogenic engines. However, the American intelligence apparatus caught wind of the Russian deal and tried every trick in the bag to scuttle it and eventually delay the Indian Space programme.&nbsp;

Among the methods used by the Americans included sanctions on the Indian and Russian Space Agencies, besides invoking an irrelevant ‘Missile Technology Control Regime’(MTCR) pact, that prevented the proliferation of long-range missiles. Ironically, Americans themselves had offered India the same Cryogenic technology for a higher price(which was then not objected under the MTCR). Also, it was well known to all military-powers that Cryogenic Engines found no use in missiles(which are powered by solid and not super-cooled fuels). When the sanctions did not impact the Indian or Russian space agencies, both of which did not do business in the US, the Americans started trying even harder to trash the deal.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/risk-of-another-911-style-attack-on-us-very-real-former-nsa-john-bolton-to-wion-415498">Risk of another 9/11-style attack on US very real, says ex-NSA Bolton to WION</a>

The disintegration of the erstwhile Soviet Union had made matters easy for America to arm-twist and threaten Russia, by denying financial aid to the crumbling superpower. “I am confident that the Russian leaders will recognize the wisdom of stopping this sale once they see the risk of losing their economic aid. This is no minor sale; this is dangerous.” LA Times quotes Biden from 1992. The then Senate committee(of which Senator Joseph Biden was a member) threatened to block $24billion in aid to Russia, if Russians went ahead with the rocket deal with India. Despite all these threats, Russia and India went ahead with their deal and devised workarounds to circumnavigate American dirty tricks.&nbsp;

However, all of these efforts by India and Russia came crashing when compromised personnel of the Kerala Police and senior officials the Indian Intelligence Bureau, fabricated the famed ‘ISRO Spy Case’. The main victims of the case were those linked with India’s cryogenic engine project, specifically - Nambi Narayanan, Cryogenic Project Director at ISRO, who had also played a crucial role in developing India’s Vikas Engine. While Nambi Narayanan languished in jail and was tortured brutally by the IB and Kerala Police, the political fallout of this case in Kerala helped one faction of the then Kerala Congress to topple their own incumbent Chief Minister and install a new one.

After India’s Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) took over the case, it was established that the ‘ISRO Spy Case’ was a conspiracy fabricated by officials of IB and Kerala Police. However, given India’s excruciatingly slow Judicial system and labyrinthine processes, those who conspired against the National Space Programme are still scot-free(Court proceedings and probe ongoing).&nbsp;

The involvement of criminal elements in IB and Kerala Police might give rise to the question of how Joseph Biden or America are connected to this conspiracy. The answer is simple - the Americans were successful in delaying India’s Cryogenic engine project, to the advantage of their own Space Industry and global launch market dominance.&nbsp;

If all went as planned, had India developed its Cryogenic engine and deployed it on a GSLV rocket by the end of the millennium, India would possibly have had a significant share of the pie, in the US-dominated (then $330billion) global space economy. This would have enabled India to progress throughout the decades of the 21st century and grow into a significant space player. While India eventually did develop its Cryogenic engine, it is noteworthy that - as of 2021, India’s share of the $447bn global space economy is less than 2%.&nbsp;

In the last three decades, the India-US bilateral relationship has improved so much so that, ISRO and NASA will be launching a joint mission NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) in 2022. These days, the US Government dubs India as a “strategic partner”. What remains to be seen is, if the US will mean this in earnest and compensate the Indian Space Research Organization for the precious years lost and the significant damage done. Would the US, under Biden-Harris be open to involving India in high-end projects pertaining to the International Space Station, Space Force or advanced exploration missions, technological collaborations that could enable a quantum leap for India. Or will these projects remain open only to allies?&nbsp;

Whichever way it heads, it wont be an excuse to forget the bygone chapters of American evils perpetrated on India and also India’s own pathetically lackadaisical and sluggish responses to these historical injustices.&nbsp;

Now American President and then (1992) Senator from Delaware, Joseph R Biden played a crucial role in denying India the Cryogenic engine technology that powers India's GSLV series of heavy-lift rockets.

Now American President and then (1992) Senator from Delaware, Joseph R Biden played a crucial role in denying India the Cryogenic engine technology that powers India's GSLV series of heavy-lift rockets. The GSLV series of rockets are meant to launch payloads between 2 and 4 tons to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit(GTO), it is the heaviest rocket of this class, which will also launch India's Human Spaceflight mission Gaganyaan. "This is no minor sale; this is dangerous" he described the then Indo-Russian deal for the Russian 'KVD-1' Cryogenic engines, which are among the best in the world. Back then, America tried every dirty trick to scuttle India's rapidly progressing space programme. It is widely regarded that the Americans did succeed in eventually delaying India’s march into Space. Joseph R Biden was among the overt contributors in this act, which India (to its own peril) refused to resist effectively or immediately overcome. Barely 35 years after having established the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in a ramshackle church-turned-laboratory in Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, on India’s Southern Coast, the country was able to launch its PSLV rocket in 1994. This was a significant feat for a country that had been launching experiments ‘sounding rockets’ akin to fireworks until the late 1960s, when America landed Man on the Moon. ALSO READ | VP Kamala Harris referred to Pak's role in terrorism during meeting with PM Modi A large part of the PSLV rocket’s success and reliability is owed to its Vikas Engine, that was co-developed by ISRO and French SEP Engineers. It was Princeton-postgraduate ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan(now regarded as the Father of Liquid Propulsion engine technology in India) who led an ISRO team in co-developing the engine (which the French call Viking-3 and India calls Vikas). Notably, this engine powers the PSLV and GSLV rockets, even today. Buoyed by the success in co-developing the Vikas Engine, India struck a deal, in 1991, with its all-weather ally Russia to procure a handful of KVD-1 engines and the technological know-why, hands-on training for producing the engines within India. Such a deal was India’s best and fastest shot at entering the global league of heavy-lift rockets. Valued at Rs.235crore, this Russian deal was barely 1/4th the price that the American company General Dynamics had quoted for selling India inferior American Cryogenic engines. However, the American intelligence apparatus caught wind of the Russian deal and tried every trick in the bag to scuttle it and eventually delay the Indian Space programme. Among the methods used by the Americans included sanctions on the Indian and Russian Space Agencies, besides invoking an irrelevant ‘Missile Technology Control Regime’(MTCR) pact, that prevented the proliferation of long-range missiles. Ironically, Americans themselves had offered India the same Cryogenic technology for a higher price(which was then not objected under the MTCR). Also, it was well known to all military-powers that Cryogenic Engines found no use in missiles(which are powered by solid and not super-cooled fuels). When the sanctions did not impact the Indian or Russian space agencies, both of which did not do business in the US, the Americans started trying even harder to trash the deal. ALSO READ | Risk of another 9/11-style attack on US very real, says ex-NSA Bolton to WION The disintegration of the erstwhile Soviet Union had made matters easy for America to arm-twist and threaten Russia, by denying financial aid to the crumbling superpower. “I am confident that the Russian leaders will recognize the wisdom of stopping this sale once they see the risk of losing their economic aid. This is no minor sale; this is dangerous.” LA Times quotes Biden from 1992. The then Senate committee(of which Senator Joseph Biden was a member) threatened to block $24billion in aid to Russia, if Russians went ahead with the rocket deal with India. Despite all these threats, Russia and India went ahead with their deal and devised workarounds to circumnavigate American dirty tricks. However, all of these efforts by India and Russia came crashing when compromised personnel of the Kerala Police and senior officials the Indian Intelligence Bureau, fabricated the famed ‘ISRO Spy Case’. The main victims of the case were those linked with India’s cryogenic engine project, specifically - Nambi Narayanan, Cryogenic Project Director at ISRO, who had also played a crucial role in developing India’s Vikas Engine. While Nambi Narayanan languished in jail and was tortured brutally by the IB and Kerala Police, the political fallout of this case in Kerala helped one faction of the then Kerala Congress to topple their own incumbent Chief Minister and install a new one. After India’s Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) took over the case, it was established that the ‘ISRO Spy Case’ was a conspiracy fabricated by officials of IB and Kerala Police. However, given India’s excruciatingly slow Judicial system and labyrinthine processes, those who conspired against the National Space Programme are still scot-free(Court proceedings and probe ongoing). The involvement of criminal elements in IB and Kerala Police might give rise to the question of how Joseph Biden or America are connected to this conspiracy. The answer is simple - the Americans were successful in delaying India’s Cryogenic engine project, to the advantage of their own Space Industry and global launch market dominance. If all went as planned, had India developed its Cryogenic engine and deployed it on a GSLV rocket by the end of the millennium, India would possibly have had a significant share of the pie, in the US-dominated (then $330billion) global space economy. This would have enabled India to progress throughout the decades of the 21st century and grow into a significant space player. While India eventually did develop its Cryogenic engine, it is noteworthy that - as of 2021, India’s share of the $447bn global space economy is less than 2%. In the last three decades, the India-US bilateral relationship has improved so much so that, ISRO and NASA will be launching a joint mission NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) in 2022. These days, the US Government dubs India as a “strategic partner”. What remains to be seen is, if the US will mean this in earnest and compensate the Indian Space Research Organization for the precious years lost and the significant damage done. Would the US, under Biden-Harris be open to involving India in high-end projects pertaining to the International Space Station, Space Force or advanced exploration missions, technological collaborations that could enable a quantum leap for India. Or will these projects remain open only to allies? Whichever way it heads, it wont be an excuse to forget the bygone chapters of American evils perpetrated on India and also India’s own pathetically lackadaisical and sluggish responses to these historical injustices.

When Joe Biden denied India space tech, called it 'dangerous', US delayed India's space programme

Coronavirus pandemic, climate change, economic cooperation and Afghanistan are on agenda as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to participate in the first in-person Quad leaders' summit in Washington on Friday (September 24), hosted by US President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

The Quad consists of four countries: the United States, Australia, India, and Japan; and their respective leaders Joe Biden, Scott Morrison, Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga will discuss issues pertaining to security, economy, health and other global matters.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-referred-to-pakistans-role-in-terrorism-during-meeting-with-pm-modi-shringla-415387">US Vice President Kamala Harris referred to Pakistan's role in terrorism during meeting with PM Modi: Shringla</a>

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<meta name="uuid" content="uuid1CIVr0ItVHOr" /><meta charset="utf-8" />

What's on the agenda?

During the crucial meeting, it is expected that the leaders will review the Quad Covid vaccine initiative and will review progress made since their first virtual summit on March 12, 2021, and discuss regional issues of shared interest.&nbsp;

The leaders are expected to exchange views on contemporary global issues such as critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, climate change and education.&nbsp;

Although China is not officially on the agenda, the leaders might address the free and open Indo-Pacific trade and freedom of navigation.&nbsp;

For the US, the Quad meeting marks another step to reviving an American focus on diplomatic efforts, following its dramatic exit from the 20-year Afghanistan war.&nbsp;

A US official has said that hosting the Quad fundamentally is a demonstration of the priority of engaging in the Indo-Pacific, including through new multilateral configurations designed to focus on 21st-century challenges.&nbsp;

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Ahead of the&nbsp;Quad summit, PM Modi met his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

The Indian prime minister also held meetings with five global CEOs for potential investment in India.

Biden is scheduled to host PM Modi at the White House on September 24. This is going to be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after Biden took over as the US President on January 20.

PM Modi's US visit will conclude on September 25 with an address at the United Nations General Assembly focusing on the pressing global challenges including the Covid&nbsp; pandemic, the need to combat terrorism, climate change, and other important issues.

(With inputs from agencies)

Coronavirus pandemic, climate change, economic cooperation and Afghanistan are on agenda as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to participate in the first in-person Quad leaders' summit in Washington on Friday (September 24), hosted by US President Joe Biden.

Coronavirus pandemic, climate change, economic cooperation and Afghanistan are on agenda as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to participate in the first in-person Quad leaders' summit in Washington on Friday (September 24), hosted by US President Joe Biden. The Quad consists of four countries: the United States, Australia, India, and Japan; and their respective leaders Joe Biden, Scott Morrison, Narendra Modi and Yoshihide Suga will discuss issues pertaining to security, economy, health and other global matters. ALSO READ | US Vice President Kamala Harris referred to Pakistan's role in terrorism during meeting with PM Modi: Shringla What's on the agenda? During the crucial meeting, it is expected that the leaders will review the Quad Covid vaccine initiative and will review progress made since their first virtual summit on March 12, 2021, and discuss regional issues of shared interest. The leaders are expected to exchange views on contemporary global issues such as critical and emerging technologies, connectivity and infrastructure, cyber security, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, climate change and education. Although China is not officially on the agenda, the leaders might address the free and open Indo-Pacific trade and freedom of navigation. For the US, the Quad meeting marks another step to reviving an American focus on diplomatic efforts, following its dramatic exit from the 20-year Afghanistan war. A US official has said that hosting the Quad fundamentally is a demonstration of the priority of engaging in the Indo-Pacific, including through new multilateral configurations designed to focus on 21st-century challenges. × Ahead of the Quad summit, PM Modi met his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, US Vice President Kamala Harris and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. The Indian prime minister also held meetings with five global CEOs for potential investment in India. Biden is scheduled to host PM Modi at the White House on September 24. This is going to be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders after Biden took over as the US President on January 20. PM Modi's US visit will conclude on September 25 with an address at the United Nations General Assembly focusing on the pressing global challenges including the Covid pandemic, the need to combat terrorism, climate change, and other important issues. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19, climate change on agenda as PM Narendra Modi prepares to attend Quad

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