The United States climate envoy John Kerry will hold talks with Indian leaders during an Asian tour starting on Thursday in an effort to narrow differences on climate change goals to slow global warming.

US climate envoy heads to India to lift 'climate ambition'

New Delhi: Ahead of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry's New Delhi visit, starting Monday (April 5), the US has said that India is a "critical part of the solution to the climate crisis".

Biden's special envoy John Kerry to visit India

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said the United States was hopeful it could work with China to tackle climate change, despite longstanding disagreements that have affected the bilateral relationship.&nbsp;

"Our hope is that we’re going to be able to deal with yes, China," Kerry told reporters during a visit to the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi on Saturday. "President Biden has made it clear and I’ve made it clear: none of the other issues we have with China -- and there are issues -- is held hostage to or is engaged in a trade for what we need to do on climate."

Sino-US relations have been strained in recent years by disagreements about trade, China’s treatment of its Uighur minority, as well as China’s actions in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

China has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060 while US President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to announce a new target for reducing emissions at a global climate summit on April 22.

Kerry will take part in a climate dialogue for the Middle East and North Africa hosted by Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The UAE said the dialogue would focus on national and regional preparations ahead of a United Nations climate summit to be held in Glasgow in November.

Kerry said the countries would discuss how to reduce a reliance on coal, as well as how to ‘raise ambitions’ on climate change ahead of November’s conference.

"I think the next generations are screaming at us to fulfill our promise," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said the United States was hopeful it could work with China to tackle climate change, despite longstanding disagreements that have affected the bilateral relationship.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said the United States was hopeful it could work with China to tackle climate change, despite longstanding disagreements that have affected the bilateral relationship. "Our hope is that we’re going to be able to deal with yes, China," Kerry told reporters during a visit to the United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi on Saturday. "President Biden has made it clear and I’ve made it clear: none of the other issues we have with China -- and there are issues -- is held hostage to or is engaged in a trade for what we need to do on climate." Sino-US relations have been strained in recent years by disagreements about trade, China’s treatment of its Uighur minority, as well as China’s actions in Taiwan and Hong Kong. China has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060 while US President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to announce a new target for reducing emissions at a global climate summit on April 22. Kerry will take part in a climate dialogue for the Middle East and North Africa hosted by Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The UAE said the dialogue would focus on national and regional preparations ahead of a United Nations climate summit to be held in Glasgow in November. Kerry said the countries would discuss how to reduce a reliance on coal, as well as how to ‘raise ambitions’ on climate change ahead of November’s conference. "I think the next generations are screaming at us to fulfill our promise," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Kerry: US 'hopeful' to work with China to tackle climate change

US&nbsp;Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will be visiting India on April 6, the second top Biden Administration official to visit India in the last one month. March saw the visit of US Defense secretary Lloyd Austin. The visit by top American officials comes even as both New Delhi and Washington increase engagement on several fronts, from cooperation against Covid to climate change.

During the visit, John Kerry will hold talks with India's Environment Prakash Javadekar and expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Climate has been a key priority area for the new US administration. On the first day of his office, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">President Biden </a>announced the US joining the Paris Climate Pact, from which previous US president Trump had withdrawn.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/russian-foreign-minister-sergey-lavrov-to-visit-india-next-week-374518">Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to visit India next week</a>

The visit comes even as US President Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a leader's summit on climate that he will host on April 22&nbsp;and 23. The summit will be virtual, and the invitation has also been extended to India's neighbours like Bhutan's Lotay Tshering, Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina.

According to the White House, the aim of the summit is, "galvanizing efforts by the world’s major economies to reduce emissions during this critical decade to keep a limit to warming of 1.5 degree Celsius within reach.". Summit will reconvene the U.S.-led Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, which brings together 17 countries responsible for approximately 80 per cent of global emissions and global GDP.

India has its own ambitious International Solar Alliance which aims to harness solar energy to fight climate change. As of January 15, 2021, 89 Countries have signed the Framework Agreement of the ISA. India is expected to talk about that during Kerry's India visit and also the upcoming Climate Meet led by the US.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will be visiting India on April 6, the second top Biden Administration official to visit India in the last one month.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will be visiting India on April 6, the second top Biden Administration official to visit India in the last one month. March saw the visit of US Defense secretary Lloyd Austin. The visit by top American officials comes even as both New Delhi and Washington increase engagement on several fronts, from cooperation against Covid to climate change. During the visit, John Kerry will hold talks with India's Environment Prakash Javadekar and expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Climate has been a key priority area for the new US administration. On the first day of his office, President Biden announced the US joining the Paris Climate Pact, from which previous US president Trump had withdrawn. Also read | Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to visit India next week The visit comes even as US President Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a leader's summit on climate that he will host on April 22 and 23. The summit will be virtual, and the invitation has also been extended to India's neighbours like Bhutan's Lotay Tshering, Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina. According to the White House, the aim of the summit is, "galvanizing efforts by the world’s major economies to reduce emissions during this critical decade to keep a limit to warming of 1.5 degree Celsius within reach.". Summit will reconvene the U.S.-led Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, which brings together 17 countries responsible for approximately 80 per cent of global emissions and global GDP. India has its own ambitious International Solar Alliance which aims to harness solar energy to fight climate change. As of January 15, 2021, 89 Countries have signed the Framework Agreement of the ISA. India is expected to talk about that during Kerry's India visit and also the upcoming Climate Meet led by the US.

John Kerry to visit India on April 6

From Antony Blinken to John Kerry - many of Biden's future cabinet members have a long history of working with India, and an understanding of Indian affairs. WION's Molly Gambhir brings you the details and also tells you how Biden's transition is finally begun.

Gravitas: Joe Biden's transition begins, finally

United States President-elect Joe Biden has announced his cabinet posts. Several members of Barack Obama administration have made a comeback as Biden shows his inner circle to lead his new team.

Biden Cabinet: Antony Blinken to become Secretary of State

US President-elect <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>on Monday announced the name of key leaders who will part of his cabinet, which included his longtime foreign policy advisor Anthony Blinken and John Kerry.

All the people whose name were announced were earlier seen in Obama-Biden administration.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-campaign-cuts-ties-with-lawyer-sidney-powell-who-made-voter-fraud-claims-344754">Trump campaign cuts ties with lawyer Sidney Powell who made voter fraud claims</a>

<h2>Here is the full list.&nbsp;</h2>

Biden made Blinken his secretary of state and former US chief diplomat John Kerry becomes special climate envoy.

He also nominated Cuba-born lawyer Alejandro Mayorkas, the first Latino ever to head the Department of Homeland Security that deals with immigration.&nbsp;

Avril Haines, the former deputy CIA director, was given charge as the director of national intelligence.&nbsp;

Biden has picked another longtime advisor Jake Sullivan to become US's national security advisor.&nbsp;

He also said former US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield will represent US in the UN.

"We have no time to lose when it comes to our national security and foreign policy," Biden in a statement said

"These individuals are equally as experienced and crisis-tested as they are innovative and imaginative."

Even though Biden has picked the key members, their confirmation needs to be approved by the Senate, whose control will be decided following the two January runoff races in Georgia.

US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced the name of key leaders who will part of his cabinet, which included his longtime foreign policy advisor Anthony Blinken and John Kerry.

US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday announced the name of key leaders who will part of his cabinet, which included his longtime foreign policy advisor Anthony Blinken and John Kerry. All the people whose name were announced were earlier seen in Obama-Biden administration. Also read | Trump campaign cuts ties with lawyer Sidney Powell who made voter fraud claims Here is the full list. Biden made Blinken his secretary of state and former US chief diplomat John Kerry becomes special climate envoy. He also nominated Cuba-born lawyer Alejandro Mayorkas, the first Latino ever to head the Department of Homeland Security that deals with immigration. Avril Haines, the former deputy CIA director, was given charge as the director of national intelligence. Biden has picked another longtime advisor Jake Sullivan to become US's national security advisor. He also said former US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield will represent US in the UN. "We have no time to lose when it comes to our national security and foreign policy," Biden in a statement said "These individuals are equally as experienced and crisis-tested as they are innovative and imaginative." Even though Biden has picked the key members, their confirmation needs to be approved by the Senate, whose control will be decided following the two January runoff races in Georgia.

Joe Biden announces Cabinet team: Check out who gets what here

Queen Elizabeth II&nbsp;was not informed in advance about the 1975 dismissal of Australia's prime minister by her representative in country, letters kept secret for decades and released Tuesday revealed.

The British monarch's representative in Australia, governor-general John Kerr, sparked a constitutional crisis when he abruptly fired Gough Whitlam, the democratically elected leader of the centre-left Labor party.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/queens-letters-on-australian-pms-sacking-to-be-released-in-full-311829">Queen's letters on Australian PM's sacking to be released in full</a>

In May the High Court ruled more than 200 letters between the&nbsp;queen's private secretary and Kerr, including many addressing the controversial affair, should be made public.

On a November&nbsp;11, 1975 dispatch, Governor-General John Kerr told the Queen’s private secretary he took the unprecedented step to sack Prime Minister Gough Whitlam as Whitlam prepared to end a months-long budget standoff by calling a partial Senate election.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-court-orders-release-of-queens-letters-over-former-pm-whitlams-sacking-301879">Australian court orders release of Queen's letters over former PM Whitlam's sacking</a>

''I decided to take this step ... without informing the Palace in advance,''&nbsp;Kerr wrote to former private secretary Martin Charteris on the day of Whitlam’s dismissal.

''It was better for Her Majesty not to know in advance, though it is ... my duty to tell her immediately,''&nbsp;Kerr added, according to the documents.

Suspicion the palace played a direct role in Whitlam's ouster has long been cited by Australian Republicans arguing the country should break with the monarchy.

The decision capped a protracted political stalemate after the opposition-controlled Senate refused to pass the government's budget, severely weakening Whitlam's position.

The release of 211 so-called ''palace letters''&nbsp;pulls the veil from one of the great mysteries of Australian politics, and may reignite a conversation about whether the country should cut ties with Britain and become a republic.

The letters confirm the palace knew Kerr had been considering the options available to him under his Constitutional "reserve powers", which included dismissing Australia's leader, an action no other governor-general has taken before or since.

Whitlam’s firing remains one of the country’s most polarising political events because it represented an unprecedented level of intervention by the Commonwealth.

Historians say the country was never told the full story, and in 2016 a historian sued the National Archives of Australia for access to letters between Kerr and the queen. The lawsuit failed on grounds that the letters were private, but the High Court overturned the ruling in May.

The letters show Kerr and Buckingham Palace discussed the political crisis gripping the country, and Kerr’s role in it, for two months before Whitlam’s sacking as the prime minister tried to get parliament to approve his Budget.

Queen Elizabeth II was not informed in advance about the 1975 dismissal of Australia's prime minister by her representative in country, letters kept secret for decades and released Tuesday revealed.

Queen Elizabeth II was not informed in advance about the 1975 dismissal of Australia's prime minister by her representative in country, letters kept secret for decades and released Tuesday revealed. The British monarch's representative in Australia, governor-general John Kerr, sparked a constitutional crisis when he abruptly fired Gough Whitlam, the democratically elected leader of the centre-left Labor party. Also read: Queen's letters on Australian PM's sacking to be released in full In May the High Court ruled more than 200 letters between the queen's private secretary and Kerr, including many addressing the controversial affair, should be made public. On a November 11, 1975 dispatch, Governor-General John Kerr told the Queen’s private secretary he took the unprecedented step to sack Prime Minister Gough Whitlam as Whitlam prepared to end a months-long budget standoff by calling a partial Senate election. Also read: Australian court orders release of Queen's letters over former PM Whitlam's sacking ''I decided to take this step ... without informing the Palace in advance,'' Kerr wrote to former private secretary Martin Charteris on the day of Whitlam’s dismissal. ''It was better for Her Majesty not to know in advance, though it is ... my duty to tell her immediately,'' Kerr added, according to the documents. Suspicion the palace played a direct role in Whitlam's ouster has long been cited by Australian Republicans arguing the country should break with the monarchy. The decision capped a protracted political stalemate after the opposition-controlled Senate refused to pass the government's budget, severely weakening Whitlam's position. The release of 211 so-called ''palace letters'' pulls the veil from one of the great mysteries of Australian politics, and may reignite a conversation about whether the country should cut ties with Britain and become a republic. The letters confirm the palace knew Kerr had been considering the options available to him under his Constitutional "reserve powers", which included dismissing Australia's leader, an action no other governor-general has taken before or since. Whitlam’s firing remains one of the country’s most polarising political events because it represented an unprecedented level of intervention by the Commonwealth. Historians say the country was never told the full story, and in 2016 a historian sued the National Archives of Australia for access to letters between Kerr and the queen. The lawsuit failed on grounds that the letters were private, but the High Court overturned the ruling in May. The letters show Kerr and Buckingham Palace discussed the political crisis gripping the country, and Kerr’s role in it, for two months before Whitlam’s sacking as the prime minister tried to get parliament to approve his Budget.

Queen Elizabeth II was not informed about Australian PM Whitlam's historic sacking

Australia's top court has ordered the release of Queen Elizabeth II's correspondence about the 1975 sacking of democratically elected Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, which palace allies had battled to keep secret.

The country's high court said letters between the British monarch and her Australian representative, governor-general John Kerr, over the affair were public record.

<img alt="Queen Elizabeth II and Australian governor general Sir John Kerr in 1977. " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="be0f316b-6339-4f73-9069-01188a73de33" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/download%20%283%29.jpg" /> 
Queen Elizabeth II and Australian governor general Sir John Kerr in 1977

Kerr had sacked Whitlam, the popular leader of the centre-left labor party, three years after his election, causing a deep constitutional crisis that still scars Australian politics.

The reasons for his dismissal are still fiercely argued, with allegations of british and even american efforts to smother Whitlam's reformist agenda.

The historian Jenny Hocking, who won the landmark case,&nbsp;s now calling on the National Archives of Australia to immediately release the 211 letters, saying the public deserves to know the full history of the greatest political and constitutional crisis in Australia’s history.

Australia's top court has ordered the release of Queen Elizabeth II's correspondence about the 1975 sacking of democratically elected Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, which palace allies had battled to keep secret.

Australia's top court has ordered the release of Queen Elizabeth II's correspondence about the 1975 sacking of democratically elected Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, which palace allies had battled to keep secret. The country's high court said letters between the British monarch and her Australian representative, governor-general John Kerr, over the affair were public record. Queen Elizabeth II and Australian governor general Sir John Kerr in 1977 Kerr had sacked Whitlam, the popular leader of the centre-left labor party, three years after his election, causing a deep constitutional crisis that still scars Australian politics. The reasons for his dismissal are still fiercely argued, with allegations of british and even american efforts to smother Whitlam's reformist agenda. The historian Jenny Hocking, who won the landmark case, s now calling on the National Archives of Australia to immediately release the 211 letters, saying the public deserves to know the full history of the greatest political and constitutional crisis in Australia’s history.

Australian court orders release of Queen's letters over former PM Whitlam's sacking

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry recently noted the significance of the Iran nuclear deal expressing that it is &quot;absolutely critical&quot; that the deal survives although the Trump administration is highly sceptical about the 2015 deal.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump extended sanctions waivers in January. He later stated that he would not do the same at the time of the renewal in May unless his concerns are addressed.

Kerry, who is also one of the leading negotiators on the deal, spoke at the Munich Security Conference today and called the White House&#39;s stance on the nuke deal as &quot;untenable&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;It is not good diplomacy,&quot; Kerry noted.&nbsp;

Kerry noted the deal to be of the utmost importance for the world. He stated that going backwards on the agreement is not an option. &quot;Without the Iran nuclear agreement the world is not a better place,&quot; Kerry added.&nbsp;

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, on his three-day visit to India, also talked about the nuclear deal and agreements with the United States.&nbsp;

He noted that the Iranian government will adhere to any agreement that is signed with the United States.&nbsp;

&quot;If the US violates this agreement, you will see that America will regret its decision. Not only US administration, but also US people would voice their opposition immediately and will object to the violators,&quot; Rouhani added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kerry noted the deal to be of the utmost importance for the world

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry recently noted the significance of the Iran nuclear deal expressing that it is "absolutely critical" that the deal survives although the Trump administration is highly sceptical about the 2015 deal. US President Donald Trump extended sanctions waivers in January. He later stated that he would not do the same at the time of the renewal in May unless his concerns are addressed. Kerry, who is also one of the leading negotiators on the deal, spoke at the Munich Security Conference today and called the White House's stance on the nuke deal as "untenable". "It is not good diplomacy," Kerry noted. Kerry noted the deal to be of the utmost importance for the world. He stated that going backwards on the agreement is not an option. "Without the Iran nuclear agreement the world is not a better place," Kerry added. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, on his three-day visit to India, also talked about the nuclear deal and agreements with the United States. He noted that the Iranian government will adhere to any agreement that is signed with the United States. "If the US violates this agreement, you will see that America will regret its decision. Not only US administration, but also US people would voice their opposition immediately and will object to the violators," Rouhani added.

Iran nuclear deal must survive: Former US Secretary of State John Kerry

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that the United States is encouraging Syria peace talks being prepared by Russia later this month in the Kazakhstan capital Astana.

The US hopes that the talks succeed in building peace in Syria, he said.

&quot;We&#39;re encouraging a meeting in Astana. We hope that could produce a step forward,&quot; Kerry told reporters during his final news conference at the State Department.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 26 that Russia, Iran, Turkey and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had all agreed to hold the talks in Astana although no date has been set.

Kerry said he had talked to UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the objective remained &quot;to get to Geneva where the real meat of the talks is going to take place.&quot;

But Kerry said a December 30 ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey had run into difficulties with numerous violations.

&quot;The fighting is continuing, it`s difficult and the Assad regime seems to be playing the same card that it was playing previously,&quot; he said.

After several failed ceasefire attempts brokered by Kerry and Lavrov, the United States remained out of the latest Syrian talks. It is unclear whether the United States will attend the Astana talks.

Russia and Iran both back Assad, but Turkey, a NATO member, has long made clear it would prefer that Assad step down.&nbsp;

Ankara, however, has moderated its rhetoric on Assad in recent months and Lavrov said all three countries agreed the priority was to fight terrorism rather than to remove the Syrian leader.

(Reuters)

Russian President Putin had said that Russia, Iran, Turkey and the Syrian President Assad had all agreed to hold talks in Astana

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that the United States is encouraging Syria peace talks being prepared by Russia later this month in the Kazakhstan capital Astana. The US hopes that the talks succeed in building peace in Syria, he said. "We're encouraging a meeting in Astana. We hope that could produce a step forward," Kerry told reporters during his final news conference at the State Department. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 26 that Russia, Iran, Turkey and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had all agreed to hold the talks in Astana although no date has been set. Kerry said he had talked to UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and the objective remained "to get to Geneva where the real meat of the talks is going to take place." But Kerry said a December 30 ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey had run into difficulties with numerous violations. "The fighting is continuing, it`s difficult and the Assad regime seems to be playing the same card that it was playing previously," he said. After several failed ceasefire attempts brokered by Kerry and Lavrov, the United States remained out of the latest Syrian talks. It is unclear whether the United States will attend the Astana talks. Russia and Iran both back Assad, but Turkey, a NATO member, has long made clear it would prefer that Assad step down. Ankara, however, has moderated its rhetoric on Assad in recent months and Lavrov said all three countries agreed the priority was to fight terrorism rather than to remove the Syrian leader. (Reuters)

Secretary of State Kerry: US encouraging Russia-sponsored Astana peace talks

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that the only way to secure a lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians is to negotiate a two-state solution to their conflict.

&quot;Today, there are a similar number of Jews and Palestinians living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. They have a choice. They can choose to live together in one state, or they can separate into two states,&quot; he told an audience of diplomats in Washington.

&quot;But here is a fundamental reality: if the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic -&ndash; it cannot be both -&ndash;and it won&#39;t ever really be at peace.&quot;

Kerry was explaining the US witholding its UN Security Council veto in the 14-0 vote that called for a halt to Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories.&nbsp;

&quot;The vote in the UN was about preserving the two-state solution.

&quot;That&#39;s what we were standing up for: Israel&#39;s future as a Jewish and democratic state, living side by side in peace and security with its neighbors,&quot; he said.

The US secretary of state explained the US vision for a solution to the conflict and warned Israel was on a course leading to a &quot;perpetual occupation&quot; of Palestinian-owned land.

&quot;The two-state solution is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,&quot; Kerry said, but warned that solution was in &quot;serious jeopardy.&quot;

&nbsp;He also warned that Israel&#39;s &quot;settler agenda&quot; was determining its policy in the West Bank and imperiling peace with the Palestinians.

&quot;The settler agenda is defining the future in Israel. And their stated purpose is clear: They believe in one state: greater Israel.&quot; 
 
However, it is not clear whether the obama administration&#39;s roadmap for a solution to the conflict will taken forward by US President-elect Donald Trump. 
 
Trump made his pro-Israel stand clear on Twitter on Wednesday morning ahead of Kerry&#39;s speech, saying the US could not continue to treat Israel with &quot;such total disdain and disrespect.&quot;&nbsp;He promised Israel he would improve ties between the two nations after taking charge on January 20.

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We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but.......
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/814113616110751744">December 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
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not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/814114980983427073">December 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Israel meanwhile asked Jerusalem&#39;s city hall to delay a vote on new settlements for Israelis in East Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the decision the same day that Kerry was to make his speech.

But while a Jerusalem planning committee postponed the request for building permits for nearly 500 homes, it did grant approval for a highly controversial settler building in east Jerusalem, AFP quoted an NGO as saying. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

 
&nbsp;

'They have a choice. They can choose to live together in one state, or they can separate into two states,' he said

US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday that the only way to secure a lasting peace between Israel and Palestinians is to negotiate a two-state solution to their conflict. "Today, there are a similar number of Jews and Palestinians living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. They have a choice. They can choose to live together in one state, or they can separate into two states," he told an audience of diplomats in Washington. "But here is a fundamental reality: if the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic -– it cannot be both -–and it won't ever really be at peace." Kerry was explaining the US witholding its UN Security Council veto in the 14-0 vote that called for a halt to Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories. "The vote in the UN was about preserving the two-state solution. "That's what we were standing up for: Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state, living side by side in peace and security with its neighbors," he said. The US secretary of state explained the US vision for a solution to the conflict and warned Israel was on a course leading to a "perpetual occupation" of Palestinian-owned land. "The two-state solution is the only way to achieve a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," Kerry said, but warned that solution was in "serious jeopardy." He also warned that Israel's "settler agenda" was determining its policy in the West Bank and imperiling peace with the Palestinians. "The settler agenda is defining the future in Israel. And their stated purpose is clear: They believe in one state: greater Israel." However, it is not clear whether the obama administration's roadmap for a solution to the conflict will taken forward by US President-elect Donald Trump. Trump made his pro-Israel stand clear on Twitter on Wednesday morning ahead of Kerry's speech, saying the US could not continue to treat Israel with "such total disdain and disrespect." He promised Israel he would improve ties between the two nations after taking charge on January 20. We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but....... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 × not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 × Israel meanwhile asked Jerusalem's city hall to delay a vote on new settlements for Israelis in East Jerusalem. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the decision the same day that Kerry was to make his speech. But while a Jerusalem planning committee postponed the request for building permits for nearly 500 homes, it did grant approval for a highly controversial settler building in east Jerusalem, AFP quoted an NGO as saying. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Two states only way to secure Israeli-Palestinian peace: Kerry

Even as Russia-backed Syrian forces pummelled rebel-held Aleppo with air strikes on Saturday, US called the &quot;indiscriminate bombing&quot; crimes against humanity, AFP reported.

Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have overrun around 85 per cent of rebel-held east Aleppo in the last month, displacing tens of thousands of civilians and triggering international outrage.

Western powers met in Paris on Saturday, calling for the resumption of peace talks and for civilians to be allowed to leave Aleppo, AFP reported.&nbsp;

&quot;The indiscriminate bombing by the regime violates rules of law, or in many cases, crimes against humanity, and war crimes,&quot; Kerry said in Paris, urging Russia to do its &quot;utmost to bring it to a close&quot;.

The UN&#39;s Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said the world is watching &quot;the last steps&quot; in the Aleppo battle and evacuating civilians must be a priority.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called for a diplomatic solution to the nearly six-year-old conflict.

&quot;We need to tie down the conditions for a genuine political transition, and negotiations must resume on a clear basis within the framework of the UN resolution 2254,&quot; he said.

Both Moscow and Damascus have rejected talk of a ceasefire without a rebel withdrawal from the city -- a demand that opposition groups have refused.

US and Russian officials will gather in Geneva on Sunday for what Kerry described as a bid to stop the city from &quot;being absolutely, completely, destroyed.&quot;

Kerry was not upbeat about the chances of success ahead of the meetings in Paris and Geneva, AFP reported.

&quot;I know people are tired of these meetings, I&#39;m tired of these meetings,&quot; he said. &quot;But what am I supposed to do? Go home and have a nice weekend... while people are dying? Sit there in Washington and do nothing?&quot;

Aleppo, once a thriving commercial city, has witnessed some of the most brutal violence in the country&#39;s nearly six-year war.

The diplomatic flurry came even as a US-backed alliance announced it would launch the second phase of its assault against the Islamic State in the de facto Syrian capital Raqa.

Nine civilians were killed on Saturday in a barrage of rebel rocket fire on government-controlled neighbourhoods, AFP said citing the Syrian Observatory For Human Rights.

The fresh attacks brought to 129 people, including 39 children, the number of people killed by rebel fire on regime-held west Aleppo since November 15.&nbsp;

Another 413 civilians, among them 45 children, have been killed in east Aleppo in the same period.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP)

Western powers meeting in Paris called for the resumption of peace talks and for civilians to be allowed to leave Aleppo

Even as Russia-backed Syrian forces pummelled rebel-held Aleppo with air strikes on Saturday, US called the "indiscriminate bombing" crimes against humanity, AFP reported. Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have overrun around 85 per cent of rebel-held east Aleppo in the last month, displacing tens of thousands of civilians and triggering international outrage. Western powers met in Paris on Saturday, calling for the resumption of peace talks and for civilians to be allowed to leave Aleppo, AFP reported. "The indiscriminate bombing by the regime violates rules of law, or in many cases, crimes against humanity, and war crimes," Kerry said in Paris, urging Russia to do its "utmost to bring it to a close". The UN's Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said the world is watching "the last steps" in the Aleppo battle and evacuating civilians must be a priority. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault called for a diplomatic solution to the nearly six-year-old conflict. "We need to tie down the conditions for a genuine political transition, and negotiations must resume on a clear basis within the framework of the UN resolution 2254," he said. Both Moscow and Damascus have rejected talk of a ceasefire without a rebel withdrawal from the city -- a demand that opposition groups have refused. US and Russian officials will gather in Geneva on Sunday for what Kerry described as a bid to stop the city from "being absolutely, completely, destroyed." Kerry was not upbeat about the chances of success ahead of the meetings in Paris and Geneva, AFP reported. "I know people are tired of these meetings, I'm tired of these meetings," he said. "But what am I supposed to do? Go home and have a nice weekend... while people are dying? Sit there in Washington and do nothing?" Aleppo, once a thriving commercial city, has witnessed some of the most brutal violence in the country's nearly six-year war. The diplomatic flurry came even as a US-backed alliance announced it would launch the second phase of its assault against the Islamic State in the de facto Syrian capital Raqa. Nine civilians were killed on Saturday in a barrage of rebel rocket fire on government-controlled neighbourhoods, AFP said citing the Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. The fresh attacks brought to 129 people, including 39 children, the number of people killed by rebel fire on regime-held west Aleppo since November 15. Another 413 civilians, among them 45 children, have been killed in east Aleppo in the same period. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Syria's 'indiscriminate' bombing of Aleppo is crime against humanity: Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov failed to make progress on a Syria truce in talks in Germany early Thursday, an American official said.

Kerry and Lavrov met twice Thursday on the margins of a foreign ministers&#39; meeting of the 57-member Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said a US official.

Their meetings lasted 10 minutes each and &quot;no progress, no conclusion were reached on Aleppo&quot;, the devastated north Syrian city where Russia-backed regime troops are battling rebel forces, the official said.

However, leaving the talks with Lavrov in the northern German city of Hamburg, Kerry told Russian journalists that he remained hopeful and would continue to work for a solution.

Moscow launched an air war in support of Assad&#39;s forces last year, while Washington has supported rebel forces battling the regime.

On Wednesday the United States, Britain and France led a joint call for an immediate ceasefire to allow aid to reach Aleppo, in an appeal backed by Canada, Germany and Italy.

Kerry said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Tuesday that he would work for a relaunch of peace talks between the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad and the opposition, with the help of Russia.

&quot;Russia says Assad is ready to come to the table ... and I am in favour of putting that to the test,&quot; Kerry said in Brussels.

Lavrov said in Hamburg on Wednesday, before a meeting with Kerry, that Russia backed a US proposal made on December 2 involving a rebel withdrawal from eastern Aleppo, which Moscow has accused Washington of since backtracking on.

Kerry has denied any change of plans and Washington itself has accused Moscow of stalling after Russia and China blocked a UN Security Council resolution on Monday calling for a seven-day ceasefire.

Kerry will on Saturday take part in a Paris meeting on Syria organised by his French, German and Qatari counterparts, the State Department said. 
 
(AFP)

The US, Britain and France earlier led a joint call for an immediate ceasefire to allow aid to reach Aleppo

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov failed to make progress on a Syria truce in talks in Germany early Thursday, an American official said. Kerry and Lavrov met twice Thursday on the margins of a foreign ministers' meeting of the 57-member Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said a US official. Their meetings lasted 10 minutes each and "no progress, no conclusion were reached on Aleppo", the devastated north Syrian city where Russia-backed regime troops are battling rebel forces, the official said. However, leaving the talks with Lavrov in the northern German city of Hamburg, Kerry told Russian journalists that he remained hopeful and would continue to work for a solution. Moscow launched an air war in support of Assad's forces last year, while Washington has supported rebel forces battling the regime. On Wednesday the United States, Britain and France led a joint call for an immediate ceasefire to allow aid to reach Aleppo, in an appeal backed by Canada, Germany and Italy. Kerry said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels on Tuesday that he would work for a relaunch of peace talks between the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad and the opposition, with the help of Russia. "Russia says Assad is ready to come to the table ... and I am in favour of putting that to the test," Kerry said in Brussels. Lavrov said in Hamburg on Wednesday, before a meeting with Kerry, that Russia backed a US proposal made on December 2 involving a rebel withdrawal from eastern Aleppo, which Moscow has accused Washington of since backtracking on. Kerry has denied any change of plans and Washington itself has accused Moscow of stalling after Russia and China blocked a UN Security Council resolution on Monday calling for a seven-day ceasefire. Kerry will on Saturday take part in a Paris meeting on Syria organised by his French, German and Qatari counterparts, the State Department said. (AFP)

US, Russia talks on Aleppo ceasefire deadlocked

US secretary of state John Kerry on Sunday accused right-wing Israelis of deliberately thwarting efforts to broker a peace deal with the Palestinians.

In unusually stark terms, Washington&#39;s top diplomat warned that Israeli settlement building was undermining any hope of an agreement to allow two states to live side-by-side.

At the Saban Forum, an annual gathering of senior Israeli and US policymakers, Kerry said some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s government had made &quot;profoundly disturbing&quot; statements.

&quot;And more than 50 per cent of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state and that there will be no Palestinian state,&quot; he said.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu had addressed the forum via video link, arguing that Israeli settlement building was not an obstacle to peace.

Israel was ready for talks with no preconditions, he said, urging Arab governments to recognise the state of Israel.

However, Kerry dismissed the idea that more Arab states would strike peace deals with Israel without any moves towards an agreement with the Palestinians.

&quot;There will be no advance and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace,&quot; he said. &quot;Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality.&quot;

In the US government&#39;s view, Israel&#39;s accelerated building on Palestinian-owned land is not only an obstacle to peace but deliberately so, Kerry added.

&quot;I&#39;m not here to tell you that the settlements are the reason for the conflict, no, they&#39;re not,&quot; Kerry said.

&quot;But I also can not accept the notion that they don&#39;t affect the peace process, that they aren&#39;t a barrier to the capacity to have peace,&quot; he argued.&nbsp;

&quot;And I&#39;ll tell you why I know that: because the left in Israel is telling everybody they are a barrier to peace and the right that supports it openly supports it because they don&#39;t want peace.&quot;

US President Barack Obama&#39;s administration, which comes to an end next month with no prospect of a revived peace process, has been frustrated by the attitude of Netanyahu&#39;s government.

Still, Kerry insisted Israel has no greater friend than Washington.

Since he arrived at the State Department in February 2013, he has spoken to Netanyahu on 375 formally recorded occasions for more than 130 hours of discussions, he said.

Washington has opposed all attempts to pressure Israel through votes on United Nations bodies, he added, and has just signed a 10-year $38 billion military support deal, the biggest in US history.

(AFP)

Kerry said more than 50 per cent of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state

US secretary of state John Kerry on Sunday accused right-wing Israelis of deliberately thwarting efforts to broker a peace deal with the Palestinians. In unusually stark terms, Washington's top diplomat warned that Israeli settlement building was undermining any hope of an agreement to allow two states to live side-by-side. At the Saban Forum, an annual gathering of senior Israeli and US policymakers, Kerry said some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had made "profoundly disturbing" statements. "And more than 50 per cent of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state and that there will be no Palestinian state," he said. Earlier in the day, Netanyahu had addressed the forum via video link, arguing that Israeli settlement building was not an obstacle to peace. Israel was ready for talks with no preconditions, he said, urging Arab governments to recognise the state of Israel. However, Kerry dismissed the idea that more Arab states would strike peace deals with Israel without any moves towards an agreement with the Palestinians. "There will be no advance and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace," he said. "Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality." In the US government's view, Israel's accelerated building on Palestinian-owned land is not only an obstacle to peace but deliberately so, Kerry added. "I'm not here to tell you that the settlements are the reason for the conflict, no, they're not," Kerry said. "But I also can not accept the notion that they don't affect the peace process, that they aren't a barrier to the capacity to have peace," he argued. "And I'll tell you why I know that: because the left in Israel is telling everybody they are a barrier to peace and the right that supports it openly supports it because they don't want peace." US President Barack Obama's administration, which comes to an end next month with no prospect of a revived peace process, has been frustrated by the attitude of Netanyahu's government. Still, Kerry insisted Israel has no greater friend than Washington. Since he arrived at the State Department in February 2013, he has spoken to Netanyahu on 375 formally recorded occasions for more than 130 hours of discussions, he said. Washington has opposed all attempts to pressure Israel through votes on United Nations bodies, he added, and has just signed a 10-year $38 billion military support deal, the biggest in US history. (AFP)

John Kerry accuses right-wing Israelis of sabotaging peace process with Palestine

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday accused right-wing Israelis of deliberately thwarting efforts to broker a peace deal with the Palestinians.

In unusually stark terms, Washington&#39;s top diplomat warned that Israeli settlement building was undermining any hope of an agreement to allow two states to live side-by-side.

At the Saban Forum, an annual gathering of senior Israeli and US policymakers, Kerry said some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s government had made &quot;profoundly disturbing&quot; statements.

&quot;And more than 50 per cent of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state and that there will be no Palestinian state,&quot; he said.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu had addressed the forum via video link, arguing that Israeli settlement building was not an obstacle to peace.

Israel was ready for talks with no preconditions, he said, urging Arab governments to recognise the state of Israel.

However, Kerry dismissed the idea that more Arab states would strike peace deals with Israel without any moves towards an agreement with the Palestinians.

&quot;There will be no advance and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace,&quot; he said. &quot;Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality.&quot;

In the US government&#39;s view, Israel&#39;s accelerated building on Palestinian-owned land is not only an obstacle to peace but deliberately so, Kerry added.

&quot;I&#39;m not here to tell you that the settlements are the reason for the conflict, no, they&#39;re not,&quot; Kerry said.

&quot;But I also cannot accept the notion that they don&#39;t affect the peace process, that they aren&#39;t a barrier to the capacity to have peace,&quot; he argued.&nbsp;

&quot;And I&#39;ll tell you why I know that: because the left in Israel is telling everybody they are a barrier to peace and the right that supports it openly supports it because they don&#39;t want peace.&quot;

US President Barack Obama&#39;s administration, which comes to an end next month with no prospect of a revived peace process, has been frustrated by the attitude of Netanyahu&#39;s government.

Still, Kerry insisted Israel has no greater friend than Washington. Since he arrived at the State Department in February 2013, he has spoken to Netanyahu on 375 formally recorded occasions for more than 130 hours of discussions, he said.

Washington has opposed all attempts to pressure Israel through votes on United Nations bodies, he added, and has just signed a 10-year $38 billion military support deal, the biggest in US history.

(AFP)

'More than 50% of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state'

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday accused right-wing Israelis of deliberately thwarting efforts to broker a peace deal with the Palestinians. In unusually stark terms, Washington's top diplomat warned that Israeli settlement building was undermining any hope of an agreement to allow two states to live side-by-side. At the Saban Forum, an annual gathering of senior Israeli and US policymakers, Kerry said some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government had made "profoundly disturbing" statements. "And more than 50 per cent of the ministers in the current government have publicly stated they are opposed to a Palestinian state and that there will be no Palestinian state," he said. Earlier in the day, Netanyahu had addressed the forum via video link, arguing that Israeli settlement building was not an obstacle to peace. Israel was ready for talks with no preconditions, he said, urging Arab governments to recognise the state of Israel. However, Kerry dismissed the idea that more Arab states would strike peace deals with Israel without any moves towards an agreement with the Palestinians. "There will be no advance and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process and Palestinian peace," he said. "Everybody needs to understand that. That is a hard reality." In the US government's view, Israel's accelerated building on Palestinian-owned land is not only an obstacle to peace but deliberately so, Kerry added. "I'm not here to tell you that the settlements are the reason for the conflict, no, they're not," Kerry said. "But I also cannot accept the notion that they don't affect the peace process, that they aren't a barrier to the capacity to have peace," he argued. "And I'll tell you why I know that: because the left in Israel is telling everybody they are a barrier to peace and the right that supports it openly supports it because they don't want peace." US President Barack Obama's administration, which comes to an end next month with no prospect of a revived peace process, has been frustrated by the attitude of Netanyahu's government. Still, Kerry insisted Israel has no greater friend than Washington. Since he arrived at the State Department in February 2013, he has spoken to Netanyahu on 375 formally recorded occasions for more than 130 hours of discussions, he said. Washington has opposed all attempts to pressure Israel through votes on United Nations bodies, he added, and has just signed a 10-year $38 billion military support deal, the biggest in US history. (AFP)

Kerry accuses Israeli right of sabotaging peace process

US secretary of state John Kerry held talks Monday with officials in Oman on efforts to end Yemen&#39;s 19-month conflict, state media in Muscat said.

Kerry and Oman&#39;s foreign minister Yusuf bin Alawi discussed the &quot;peaceful and humanitarian role played by the sultanate in Yemen,&quot; ONA state news agency reported.&nbsp;

Kerry is also expected to meet ruler Sultan Qaboos, in one of his last trips as secretary of state before President Barack Obama&#39;s administration ends on January 20.

The US chief diplomat has been pushing for a settlement of Yemen&#39;s deadly conflict, which escalated with the military intervention of a Saudi-led coalition to support the government against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in March 2015.

Oman, one of the few Arab states to have good relations with Iran, has used its links to mediate peace talks between the insurgents and Yemen&#39;s UN-recognised government of president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

It is also the only Arab nation in the Gulf not part of the Saudi-led coalition, although it maintains good relations with regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia.

More than 7,000 people have been killed and nearly 37,000 wounded in Yemen since March 2015, and the UN says millions are in need of food aid.

Another 21 million people urgently need health services, according to the UN health agency.

On Monday, 12 civilians, including a child, were killed in an air raid that targeted a convoy of three lorries in the central Ibb province, while nine rebels were killed in an ambush in the same region, military and medical sources said.

Five other rebels, three soldiers and one civilian were killed Sunday in renewed violence in the southwestern Taez province, military sources said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

After Oman, Kerry will travel to Abu Dhabi for talks on regional conflicts, including Syria. 
 
(AFP)

Oman has used its links with Iran to mediate peace talks between the Houthi rebels and Yemen's UN-recognised Hadi government

US secretary of state John Kerry held talks Monday with officials in Oman on efforts to end Yemen's 19-month conflict, state media in Muscat said. Kerry and Oman's foreign minister Yusuf bin Alawi discussed the "peaceful and humanitarian role played by the sultanate in Yemen," ONA state news agency reported. Kerry is also expected to meet ruler Sultan Qaboos, in one of his last trips as secretary of state before President Barack Obama's administration ends on January 20. The US chief diplomat has been pushing for a settlement of Yemen's deadly conflict, which escalated with the military intervention of a Saudi-led coalition to support the government against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in March 2015. Oman, one of the few Arab states to have good relations with Iran, has used its links to mediate peace talks between the insurgents and Yemen's UN-recognised government of president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. It is also the only Arab nation in the Gulf not part of the Saudi-led coalition, although it maintains good relations with regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia. More than 7,000 people have been killed and nearly 37,000 wounded in Yemen since March 2015, and the UN says millions are in need of food aid. Another 21 million people urgently need health services, according to the UN health agency. On Monday, 12 civilians, including a child, were killed in an air raid that targeted a convoy of three lorries in the central Ibb province, while nine rebels were killed in an ambush in the same region, military and medical sources said. Five other rebels, three soldiers and one civilian were killed Sunday in renewed violence in the southwestern Taez province, military sources said. After Oman, Kerry will travel to Abu Dhabi for talks on regional conflicts, including Syria. (AFP)

US, Oman hold talks for resolution of Yemen conflict

Talks on Syria convened by US Secretary of State John Kerry in the Swiss city of Lausanne ended on Saturday without a solution to ending the violence in the war-ravaged country.

Even though Kerry said that the discussion &quot;was exactly what we wanted,&quot; the meeting failed to come up with a joint statement or a concrete solution.

&quot;I would characterize this as an example of what we wanted, which was a brainstorming and a very candid first-time discussion,&quot; Kerry told the press at the at the lakeside hotel where he met envoys from Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Qatar.

&quot;A number of ideas came from the number of different ministers as we hoped that might be able to shape some different approaches,&quot; he said while also adding that the envoys would contact each other on Monday for follow-up talks.

&quot;The way it wrapped up was to have several ideas that need to be quickly followed up,&quot; the US Secretary of State said. &quot;The next contact on trying to follow up on this is going to be immediately, because this is urgent, and we&#39;re not letting any grass grow under our feet.&quot;

The talks come after the collapse of a ceasefire between US and Russia in September that many saw as the last hope for peace this year. 
 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who had said he had &quot;no special expectations&quot; for Saturday&#39;s meeting, said ministers had discussed several &quot;interesting ideas&quot; but he did not elaborate what those ideas were.

On Friday, he had warned that had warned that Russia was not planning to give any new solutions for resolving the conflict. He instead called for implementing previous UN resolutions and specifically for opposition fighters to separate from &quot;terrorist&quot; jihadist groups.

A former Western envoy in Syria had earlier told Reuters, &quot;I don&#39;t understand (why) the Americans are asking the Russians to talk again. They have made zero concessions. Do the Americans believe Moscow was shaken by the break-off last week and will change behavior now?&quot;

In Aleppo, Assad&#39;s Russian-backed government forces intensified their bombardment of the rebel-held east of the city, further damaging any prospect of a renewed ceasefire, AFP reported.

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel forces advanced towards the northern Syrian town of Dabiq, which has become a rallying cry for the Islamic State group as the scene for an end-of-days battle.

Aleppo has been engulfed by some of the worst violence of the conflict since the collapse of last month&#39;s truce deal. More than 370 people, including nearly 70 children, have been killed in regime and Russian bombardment of eastern Aleppo since September 22, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

US Secretary of State John Kerry said a number of ideas had emerged that needed to be promptly followed-up

Talks on Syria convened by US Secretary of State John Kerry in the Swiss city of Lausanne ended on Saturday without a solution to ending the violence in the war-ravaged country. Even though Kerry said that the discussion "was exactly what we wanted," the meeting failed to come up with a joint statement or a concrete solution. "I would characterize this as an example of what we wanted, which was a brainstorming and a very candid first-time discussion," Kerry told the press at the at the lakeside hotel where he met envoys from Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Qatar. "A number of ideas came from the number of different ministers as we hoped that might be able to shape some different approaches," he said while also adding that the envoys would contact each other on Monday for follow-up talks. "The way it wrapped up was to have several ideas that need to be quickly followed up," the US Secretary of State said. "The next contact on trying to follow up on this is going to be immediately, because this is urgent, and we're not letting any grass grow under our feet." The talks come after the collapse of a ceasefire between US and Russia in September that many saw as the last hope for peace this year. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who had said he had "no special expectations" for Saturday's meeting, said ministers had discussed several "interesting ideas" but he did not elaborate what those ideas were. On Friday, he had warned that had warned that Russia was not planning to give any new solutions for resolving the conflict. He instead called for implementing previous UN resolutions and specifically for opposition fighters to separate from "terrorist" jihadist groups. A former Western envoy in Syria had earlier told Reuters, "I don't understand (why) the Americans are asking the Russians to talk again. They have made zero concessions. Do the Americans believe Moscow was shaken by the break-off last week and will change behavior now?" In Aleppo, Assad's Russian-backed government forces intensified their bombardment of the rebel-held east of the city, further damaging any prospect of a renewed ceasefire, AFP reported. Turkey-backed Syrian rebel forces advanced towards the northern Syrian town of Dabiq, which has become a rallying cry for the Islamic State group as the scene for an end-of-days battle. Aleppo has been engulfed by some of the worst violence of the conflict since the collapse of last month's truce deal. More than 370 people, including nearly 70 children, have been killed in regime and Russian bombardment of eastern Aleppo since September 22, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. (WION with inputs from agencies)

No breakthrough in US, Russia meet on Syria, envoys to hold follow-up talks

US secretary of state John Kerry spoke with Saudi Arabia&#39;s deputy crown prince and foreign minister on Sunday to reiterate the United States&#39; &quot;deep concern&quot; about an air strike on a funeral gathering in Yemen, a State Department spokesman said.

The strike, which was widely blamed on Saudi-led warplanes, prompted the White House on Saturday to announce a review of Washington&#39;s support to Saudi Arabia for its 18-month-old campaign in Yemen. The planes hit mourners at a community hall in the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, killing as many as 140 people, according to one UN&nbsp;estimate and 82, according to the Houthis.

Kerry spoke with Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman&nbsp;and foreign minister Adel al Jubeir, and said&nbsp;he welcomed Bin Salman&#39;s commitment &quot;to launch a thorough and immediate investigation of the strike&quot;, according to the statement by State Department spokesman, Mark Toner.

Kerry urged bin Salman to take &quot;urgent steps to ensure such an incident does not happen again&quot;, Toner said.

US&nbsp;National Security Council Spokesman, Ned&nbsp;Price, said in a statement that the US will reevaluate its support for the coalition.

&quot;In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition, and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen&#39;s tragic conflict.&quot;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Kerry reiterated the US' 'deep concern' about the air strike on a wake that killed as many as 140 people

US secretary of state John Kerry spoke with Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince and foreign minister on Sunday to reiterate the United States' "deep concern" about an air strike on a funeral gathering in Yemen, a State Department spokesman said. The strike, which was widely blamed on Saudi-led warplanes, prompted the White House on Saturday to announce a review of Washington's support to Saudi Arabia for its 18-month-old campaign in Yemen. The planes hit mourners at a community hall in the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, killing as many as 140 people, according to one UN estimate and 82, according to the Houthis. Kerry spoke with Saudi deputy crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman and foreign minister Adel al Jubeir, and said he welcomed Bin Salman's commitment "to launch a thorough and immediate investigation of the strike", according to the statement by State Department spokesman, Mark Toner. Kerry urged bin Salman to take "urgent steps to ensure such an incident does not happen again", Toner said. US National Security Council Spokesman, Ned Price, said in a statement that the US will reevaluate its support for the coalition. "In light of this and other recent incidents, we have initiated an immediate review of our already significantly reduced support to the Saudi-led coalition, and are prepared to adjust our support so as to better align with US principles, values and interests, including achieving an immediate and durable end to Yemen's tragic conflict." (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Kerry speaks to Saudi leaders over Yemen funeral attack: State Department

US secretary of state John Kerry on Wednesday urged Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban militants to follow the recent example of a notorious warlord and make an &quot;honourable&quot; peace with the Kabul government.

Kerry said a peace deal signed last month by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who heads the Hezb-i-Islami group and is designated a global terrorist by the United States, was a &quot;model for what might be possible&quot;.

&quot;There is a path toward an honourable end to the conflict that the Taliban have waged,&nbsp;it is a conflict that cannot be won on the battlefield,&quot; Kerry told an international donor conference in Brussels.

Hekmatyar&#39;s deal requires him to stop violence, end ties with &quot;international terrorist organisations&quot; and accept Afghanistan&#39;s constitution including guarantees of rights for women, Kerry said.&nbsp;In return the group &quot;will be able to emerge from the shadows to rejoin Afghan society&quot;.&nbsp;He added: &quot;The message for the Taliban would be: take note.&quot;

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who signed the pact with Hekmatyar, told the Brussels conference: &quot;Afghans can make peace, we will make peace, we are committed to constructive politics, not destructive politics.&quot;

Hekmatyar, widely known as the &quot;butcher of Kabul&quot; in Afghanistan, was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the 1992-1996 civil war.

He is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-Taliban era by granting judicial immunity for past crimes. But the Taliban themselves have resisted any peace deal and continue to push on with offensives, including against the Afghan city of Kunduz this week.

Kerry added that a peace deal would in fact achieve the Taliban&#39;s aim of expelling foreign forces from Afghanistan, 15 years after a US-led invasion drove the Islamist group from power.

&quot;A political settlement negotiated with the Afghan government is the only way to end the fighting, ensure lasting stability, and achieve a full drawdown of international military forces, which is their goal,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;Their goal of ridding Afghanistan of external forces will not come by the continued insurgency, it will come by peace.&quot;

Around 9,800 US troops remain in Afghanistan, although numbers have reduced dramatically from their peak of 140,000 NATO-led soldiers in 2011.&nbsp;The Brussels conference is aimed at securing funding for Afghanistan for the next four years until 2020.

(AFP)

Kerry said a peace deal signed last month by Hezb-i-Islami group's chief was a 'model for what might be possible'

US secretary of state John Kerry on Wednesday urged Afghanistan's Taliban militants to follow the recent example of a notorious warlord and make an "honourable" peace with the Kabul government. Kerry said a peace deal signed last month by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who heads the Hezb-i-Islami group and is designated a global terrorist by the United States, was a "model for what might be possible". "There is a path toward an honourable end to the conflict that the Taliban have waged, it is a conflict that cannot be won on the battlefield," Kerry told an international donor conference in Brussels. Hekmatyar's deal requires him to stop violence, end ties with "international terrorist organisations" and accept Afghanistan's constitution including guarantees of rights for women, Kerry said. In return the group "will be able to emerge from the shadows to rejoin Afghan society". He added: "The message for the Taliban would be: take note." Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who signed the pact with Hekmatyar, told the Brussels conference: "Afghans can make peace, we will make peace, we are committed to constructive politics, not destructive politics." Hekmatyar, widely known as the "butcher of Kabul" in Afghanistan, was a prominent anti-Soviet commander in the 1980s who stands accused of killing thousands of people in the Afghan capital during the 1992-1996 civil war. He is the latest in a series of controversial figures that Kabul has sought to reintegrate in the post-Taliban era by granting judicial immunity for past crimes. But the Taliban themselves have resisted any peace deal and continue to push on with offensives, including against the Afghan city of Kunduz this week. Kerry added that a peace deal would in fact achieve the Taliban's aim of expelling foreign forces from Afghanistan, 15 years after a US-led invasion drove the Islamist group from power. "A political settlement negotiated with the Afghan government is the only way to end the fighting, ensure lasting stability, and achieve a full drawdown of international military forces, which is their goal," he said. "Their goal of ridding Afghanistan of external forces will not come by the continued insurgency, it will come by peace." Around 9,800 US troops remain in Afghanistan, although numbers have reduced dramatically from their peak of 140,000 NATO-led soldiers in 2011. The Brussels conference is aimed at securing funding for Afghanistan for the next four years until 2020. (AFP)

Kerry urges Taliban to choose 'honourable' peace

The New York Times released a recording on Friday, in which US secretary of state John Kerry sounds exasperated that his diplomatic efforts to end Syria&#39;s civil war were not supported by the US military.&nbsp;

In the leaked audio recording, Kerry could be heard saying &quot;I think you&#39;re looking at three people, four people in the administration who have all argued for use of force, and I lost the argument.&quot; The conversation was recorded in New York where Kerry was talking to a group of Syrian civilians, on&nbsp;the sidelines of UNGA.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;ve argued for the use of force ... but things evolved into a different process.&quot;

&quot;Look, I get it, a lot of us wish there was an enforcement mechanism right now. A lot of us have been fighting for one, but we don&#39;t have one right now and that&#39;s set,&quot; he warned.

&quot;We&#39;re trying to pursue the diplomacy, and I understand it&#39;s frustrating. You have nobody more frustrated than we are,&quot; he told the Syrians.&nbsp;

State department spokesman John Kirby did not deny that the audio clip was authentic, &quot;While we will decline to comment on a private conversation, Secretary Kerry was grateful for the chance to meet with this group of Syrians, to hear their concerns first hand and to express our continued focus on ending this civil war.&quot;

According to AFP, Kerry has been pushing US President Barack Obama to take a more robust path in Syria to force President Bashar al-Assad out.&nbsp;

In August 2013, after Assad had been accused of firing chemical weapons at civilians, Kerry gave a ferocious speech that was seen as prefiguring a retaliatory US military strike -- only for Obama to back down only hours later.

He also referred to the incident in the recording&nbsp;but blamed the US Congress for not voting to authorise military action against Assad.&nbsp;

During the meeting, the Syrians had expressed frustration that the US was only focused on fighting the Islamic State group and have overlooked Assad and his forces.

(WION with inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

US secretary of state Kerry pushed for use of military action to end the Syrian war in the leaked audio interaction with a group of Syrians

The New York Times released a recording on Friday, in which US secretary of state John Kerry sounds exasperated that his diplomatic efforts to end Syria's civil war were not supported by the US military. In the leaked audio recording, Kerry could be heard saying "I think you're looking at three people, four people in the administration who have all argued for use of force, and I lost the argument." The conversation was recorded in New York where Kerry was talking to a group of Syrian civilians, on the sidelines of UNGA. "I've argued for the use of force ... but things evolved into a different process." "Look, I get it, a lot of us wish there was an enforcement mechanism right now. A lot of us have been fighting for one, but we don't have one right now and that's set," he warned. "We're trying to pursue the diplomacy, and I understand it's frustrating. You have nobody more frustrated than we are," he told the Syrians. State department spokesman John Kirby did not deny that the audio clip was authentic, "While we will decline to comment on a private conversation, Secretary Kerry was grateful for the chance to meet with this group of Syrians, to hear their concerns first hand and to express our continued focus on ending this civil war." According to AFP, Kerry has been pushing US President Barack Obama to take a more robust path in Syria to force President Bashar al-Assad out. In August 2013, after Assad had been accused of firing chemical weapons at civilians, Kerry gave a ferocious speech that was seen as prefiguring a retaliatory US military strike -- only for Obama to back down only hours later. He also referred to the incident in the recording but blamed the US Congress for not voting to authorise military action against Assad. During the meeting, the Syrians had expressed frustration that the US was only focused on fighting the Islamic State group and have overlooked Assad and his forces. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Kerry laments lack of Syria options in leaked audio

Russia has also warned ?that Washington's refusal to work with Moscow on a settlement would be a 'gift to terrorists'

The United States said on Thursday that it is on the verge of ending talks with Russia over the airstrikes on Aleppo. US secretary of state John Kerry admitted that months of diplomacy to end the war had hit a dead-end. "I think we are on the verge of suspending the discussion because, you know, it's irrational in the context of the kind of bombing taking place, to be sitting there, trying to take things seriously," he told a conference in the US capital, according to the international news agency, AFP. Air strikes pounded Aleppo province on Thursday and killed at least 11 civilians, including seven children, died during attacks on the city of Idlib, nearby Jarjanaz and central Hama province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights was quoted as saying by AFP. US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have condemned what they called "barbarous" Russian and Syrian regime airstrikes on Aleppo during a phone call later on Thursday but Russia said it would press ahead with airstrikes in support of the regime. According to the UN, Aleppo is witnessing the worst humanitarian crisis since the war started in 2011. × Russia has also warned that Washington's refusal to work with Moscow on a settlement would be a "gift to terrorists." "If Washington's threats to halt cooperation become concrete decisions, then there is no longer any doubt that the rebels are under the White House's protection and in the streets,terrorists will celebrate," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova told AFP. Russia and the United States have been blaming each other for last week's collapse of a ceasefire deal that would have marked the first step to initiate an to end the five-year war that has killed 300,000 people. According to the UN, Aleppo is witnessing the worst humanitarian crisis since the war started in 2011. UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council in New York that Aleppo is descending into a "merciless abyss of a humanitarian catastrophe unlike any we have witnessed so far in Syria.", AFP reported. More than 100,000 children are trapped in east Aleppo, which is under intense bombing since the Syrian army offensive began, he said. The siege by Syrian government forces has made food scarce and fresh water in short supply, he added. (WION with inputs from AFP)

US on 'verge of suspending' Syria talks with Russia

The US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power expressed regret on Saturday over the US-led coalition strike on a Syrian army post, but dismissed Russia&#39;s call for an emergency Security Council meeting as a &quot;stunt.&quot; 
 
Russia called the urgent meeting to demand an explanation from the United States after the bombing killed at least 62 soldiers in eastern Syria, near the Islamic State group-controlled town of Deir Ezzor. 
 
&quot;We are investigating the incident,&quot; Power told journalists as the closed door meeting got under way. 
 
&quot;If we determine that we did indeed strike Syrian military personnel, that was not our intention. And we of course regret the loss of life,&quot; she added. 
 
Power went on to describe Russia&#39;s request for the urgent meeting as a &quot;stunt, replete with moralism and grandstanding,&quot; saying Moscow should instead demand a meeting with the Assad regime to press for peace. 
 
In an exchange reminiscent of Cold War-era verbal jousting, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin returned by accusing the United States of violating agreements that it would not target Syrian positions and said the action was a &quot;bad omen&quot; for a US-Russian deal on halting the fighting in Syria. 
 
Washington and Moscow reached an agreement in September that calls for a ceasefire, the delivery of aid and the joint targeting of Islamist rebels in Syria. 
 
The ceasefire went into effect on Monday, but convoys of aid have yet to reach civilians besieged by Syrian forces in the battleground city of Aleppo. 
 
Asked if the air strike on the Syrian army would kill off the US-Russian deal, Churkin said &quot;this is a very big question mark.&quot; 
 
&quot;I do hope that they will find a way to convince us and everybody else that they are serious about political settlement in Syria, serious about fighting terrorists,&quot; he said. 
 
US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov are due on Wednesday to attend a special Security Council meeting on Syria, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Russia has called an urgent UNSC meeting to demand an explanation of the US for the bombing that killed at least 62 Syrian soldiers

The US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power expressed regret on Saturday over the US-led coalition strike on a Syrian army post, but dismissed Russia's call for an emergency Security Council meeting as a "stunt." Russia called the urgent meeting to demand an explanation from the United States after the bombing killed at least 62 soldiers in eastern Syria, near the Islamic State group-controlled town of Deir Ezzor. "We are investigating the incident," Power told journalists as the closed door meeting got under way. "If we determine that we did indeed strike Syrian military personnel, that was not our intention. And we of course regret the loss of life," she added. Power went on to describe Russia's request for the urgent meeting as a "stunt, replete with moralism and grandstanding," saying Moscow should instead demand a meeting with the Assad regime to press for peace. In an exchange reminiscent of Cold War-era verbal jousting, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin returned by accusing the United States of violating agreements that it would not target Syrian positions and said the action was a "bad omen" for a US-Russian deal on halting the fighting in Syria. Washington and Moscow reached an agreement in September that calls for a ceasefire, the delivery of aid and the joint targeting of Islamist rebels in Syria. The ceasefire went into effect on Monday, but convoys of aid have yet to reach civilians besieged by Syrian forces in the battleground city of Aleppo. Asked if the air strike on the Syrian army would kill off the US-Russian deal, Churkin said "this is a very big question mark." "I do hope that they will find a way to convince us and everybody else that they are serious about political settlement in Syria, serious about fighting terrorists," he said. US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov are due on Wednesday to attend a special Security Council meeting on Syria, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting. (AFP)

US regrets Syria airstrike, hits out at Russia

US secretary of state John Kerry yesterday postponed his departure from New Delhi by at least one more day, reported NDTV. 
 
Kerry arrived in India on Monday for a three-day visit, and was initially scheduled to leave on Wednesday evening. 
 
His visit has been extended to enable him to travel to China for the G-20 Summit this weekend. 
 
Earlier yesterday, Kerry addressed a town hall meeting at the Indian Institute of Technology.&nbsp; 
 
Kerry was also supposed to visit three places of worship, the Gauri Shankar temple, the Jama Masjid, and the Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib, in the old Delhi area at around 11 am yesterday but the rains and the accompanying traffic forced him to call off his plans.&nbsp; 
 
(WION)

Kerry's visit has been extended to enable him to travel to China for the G-20 Summit this weekend

US secretary of state John Kerry yesterday postponed his departure from New Delhi by at least one more day, reported NDTV. Kerry arrived in India on Monday for a three-day visit, and was initially scheduled to leave on Wednesday evening. His visit has been extended to enable him to travel to China for the G-20 Summit this weekend. Earlier yesterday, Kerry addressed a town hall meeting at the Indian Institute of Technology. Kerry was also supposed to visit three places of worship, the Gauri Shankar temple, the Jama Masjid, and the Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib, in the old Delhi area at around 11 am yesterday but the rains and the accompanying traffic forced him to call off his plans. (WION)

US secretary of state extends stay in India

The US secretary of state Mr John Kerry got to his talk at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi an hour late but he more than made up for it in his speech. He said, among other things Indians would have liked to hear, the US saw India as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean commensurate with its expanding global role.&nbsp; 
 
Kerry is in India on a three-day visit to take part in the second Indo-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. He was this morning talking to about 200 students at the Indian Institute of Technology, the venue having been chosen because its alumni have gone on to head large enterprises both in the US (Sun Microsystems) and in India (Flipkart and Snapdeal) and the two countries think of entrepreneurship as a significant creator of jobs going into the future. 
 
Coming back to India, Mr Kerry said the country and Bangladesh have been able to resolve their maritime differences because India chose to accept the Hague court&#39;s verdict. He added that China and the Philippines will have to do the same when it comes to their conflict over the South China Sea -- that they will have to abide by the Hague&#39;s decision which Mr Kerry said was &quot;final and legally binding&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
There is no military solution, he added, to the South China Sea dispute. 
 
He also talked about deepening India and US cooperation. He was referring to the LEMOA agreement (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) signed by India and the US -- the Indian defence minister Mr Manohar Parrikar is in America at the moment -- on Monday which allows the militaries of both countries to use each others bases for resupply and repair purposes.&nbsp; 
 
And in what the Indians would have liked to hear, he blamed conflict around the world on &quot;non-state actors&quot;.&nbsp;
<h2> 
&#39;Pakistan has work to do&#39;</h2>
Mr Kerry said Pakistan has to do more to clear terror sanctuaries on its soil and push harder against &quot;indigenous groups&quot; operating from its territory. They, he said, are affecting ties with India and Afghanistan&#39;s peace and stability. 
 
The US secretary of state said that he has discussed with Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif the issue of taking stronger action against groups such as the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). 
Terror groups like Daesh, Al Qaeda, LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), he said, cannot be fought by a single nation alone. 
 
&quot;We are working on it. I have been working on this issue very hard. I have had many engagements with Nawaz Sharif. We have been talking on the sanctuaries in the western part of the country, how to deal more effectively with the Haqqani network and the LeT. 
 
&quot;It is clear that Pakistan has work to do in order to push harder against its indigenous groups that are engaged in terrorist activities. They must work with us to help clear sanctuary of bad actors who are affecting not only India- Pakistan relationship but also our ability to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan,&quot; Kerry said.&nbsp; 
But, Mr Kerry added, Pakistan has fastened the process in recent months.&nbsp;
<h2>Democracy, pluralism &amp; free speech</h2>
Mr Kerry talked for about half an hour, which was followed by a question and answer session for about the same length of time. He touched on a number of topics, which included global warming, energy, trade and economy, and culture, under which subhead he talked about democracy and pluralism.&nbsp; 
 
For example, on globalisation he said: no one can put that genie back in the bottle. 
 
On South Asia, he said: it is the least inter-connected market.&nbsp; 
 
It was not the most riveting of speeches. Mr Kerry has done better in the past, and it was certainly no match for the speech US President Obama had given in Delhi in early 2015. (In that speech too, Mr Obama had talked about pluralism and how India must not let go of it easily.)&nbsp; 
 
But the comments by Kerry that made people prick up their ears were: &quot;People should be allowed to protest in peace&quot; and &quot;People should not be jailed for speech or the things they say&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Mr Kerry&#39;s comments are open to interpretation for they could equally be applied to both countries -- India and the US.&nbsp; 
 
Close to 70 protesters have been shot dead by security forces in the Indian state of Kashmir over the last seven weeks, and sedition charges were filed recently against Amnesty International India after a few Kashmiri members in the audience at a function organised by Amnesty shouted azaadi (freedom) slogans.&nbsp; 
 
Correspondingly, there have been massive protests in the US after a number of African American men were shot dead by police forces. And the idea of free speech -- or pluralism and democracy -- seems to be at variance with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump&#39;s current election campaign. 
 
(Written by Parakram Rautela, with inputs from agencies)

But in a gentle reminder, he also says 'people should be allowed to protest in peace' and 'people should not be jailed for things they say'

The US secretary of state Mr John Kerry got to his talk at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi an hour late but he more than made up for it in his speech. He said, among other things Indians would have liked to hear, the US saw India as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean commensurate with its expanding global role. Kerry is in India on a three-day visit to take part in the second Indo-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. He was this morning talking to about 200 students at the Indian Institute of Technology, the venue having been chosen because its alumni have gone on to head large enterprises both in the US (Sun Microsystems) and in India (Flipkart and Snapdeal) and the two countries think of entrepreneurship as a significant creator of jobs going into the future. Coming back to India, Mr Kerry said the country and Bangladesh have been able to resolve their maritime differences because India chose to accept the Hague court's verdict. He added that China and the Philippines will have to do the same when it comes to their conflict over the South China Sea -- that they will have to abide by the Hague's decision which Mr Kerry said was "final and legally binding". There is no military solution, he added, to the South China Sea dispute. He also talked about deepening India and US cooperation. He was referring to the LEMOA agreement (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) signed by India and the US -- the Indian defence minister Mr Manohar Parrikar is in America at the moment -- on Monday which allows the militaries of both countries to use each others bases for resupply and repair purposes. And in what the Indians would have liked to hear, he blamed conflict around the world on "non-state actors". 'Pakistan has work to do' Mr Kerry said Pakistan has to do more to clear terror sanctuaries on its soil and push harder against "indigenous groups" operating from its territory. They, he said, are affecting ties with India and Afghanistan's peace and stability. The US secretary of state said that he has discussed with Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif the issue of taking stronger action against groups such as the Haqqani network and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Terror groups like Daesh, Al Qaeda, LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), he said, cannot be fought by a single nation alone. "We are working on it. I have been working on this issue very hard. I have had many engagements with Nawaz Sharif. We have been talking on the sanctuaries in the western part of the country, how to deal more effectively with the Haqqani network and the LeT. "It is clear that Pakistan has work to do in order to push harder against its indigenous groups that are engaged in terrorist activities. They must work with us to help clear sanctuary of bad actors who are affecting not only India- Pakistan relationship but also our ability to achieve peace and stability in Afghanistan," Kerry said. But, Mr Kerry added, Pakistan has fastened the process in recent months. Democracy, pluralism & free speech Mr Kerry talked for about half an hour, which was followed by a question and answer session for about the same length of time. He touched on a number of topics, which included global warming, energy, trade and economy, and culture, under which subhead he talked about democracy and pluralism. For example, on globalisation he said: no one can put that genie back in the bottle. On South Asia, he said: it is the least inter-connected market. It was not the most riveting of speeches. Mr Kerry has done better in the past, and it was certainly no match for the speech US President Obama had given in Delhi in early 2015. (In that speech too, Mr Obama had talked about pluralism and how India must not let go of it easily.) But the comments by Kerry that made people prick up their ears were: "People should be allowed to protest in peace" and "People should not be jailed for speech or the things they say". Mr Kerry's comments are open to interpretation for they could equally be applied to both countries -- India and the US. Close to 70 protesters have been shot dead by security forces in the Indian state of Kashmir over the last seven weeks, and sedition charges were filed recently against Amnesty International India after a few Kashmiri members in the audience at a function organised by Amnesty shouted azaadi (freedom) slogans. Correspondingly, there have been massive protests in the US after a number of African American men were shot dead by police forces. And the idea of free speech -- or pluralism and democracy -- seems to be at variance with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's current election campaign. (Written by Parakram Rautela, with inputs from agencies)

Kerry calls India net security provider, talks of its expanding global role

Early morning torrential rains on Wednesday (August 31) brought the Indian capital New Delhi to a standstill as the waterlogged roads left hundreds of commuters, including the US secretary of state John Kerry,&nbsp;stranded on the roads.&nbsp; 
 
What started as a light drizzle early morning soon took face of a heavy downpour later. 
 
Kerry, who is in Delhi and recently signed a pact with India for the countries to share their military bases, was caught up in a traffick snarl on his way to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).&nbsp; 
 
However, senior officials of the Delhi police claimed that Kerry was &quot;given a clear passage and did not have encounter traffic&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
However, despite the absence of traffic, Kerry&#39;s motorcade was delayed as there were several stretches of roads that were waterlogged, sources said. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t know how you all got here, you must have needed boats to get here,&quot; Kerry joked.&nbsp; 
 
As rains lashed the city, Kerry had to cancel visits to three religious sites.&nbsp; 
 
Television channels beamed harrowing images of office workers and school children stuck in traffic&mdash;frustrated and tired. Pedestrians could be seen wading their way through knee-deep waters.&nbsp; 
 
The capital has received the highest daily rainfall of the annual monsoon season, said a meteorological department official. 
 
Excess rains triggering floods have killed at least 150 people in various parts of north and east India.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

Waterlogged roads left hundreds of commuters, including US secretary of state John Kerry, stranded for hours

Early morning torrential rains on Wednesday (August 31) brought the Indian capital New Delhi to a standstill as the waterlogged roads left hundreds of commuters, including the US secretary of state John Kerry, stranded on the roads. What started as a light drizzle early morning soon took face of a heavy downpour later. Kerry, who is in Delhi and recently signed a pact with India for the countries to share their military bases, was caught up in a traffick snarl on his way to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). However, senior officials of the Delhi police claimed that Kerry was "given a clear passage and did not have encounter traffic". However, despite the absence of traffic, Kerry's motorcade was delayed as there were several stretches of roads that were waterlogged, sources said. "I don't know how you all got here, you must have needed boats to get here," Kerry joked. As rains lashed the city, Kerry had to cancel visits to three religious sites. Television channels beamed harrowing images of office workers and school children stuck in traffic—frustrated and tired. Pedestrians could be seen wading their way through knee-deep waters. The capital has received the highest daily rainfall of the annual monsoon season, said a meteorological department official. Excess rains triggering floods have killed at least 150 people in various parts of north and east India. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Heavy rains in Indian capital trigger massive traffic jams, bring city to standstill

There&#39;s an &quot;urgent necessity&quot; for Pakistan to &quot;dismantle safe havens for terrorists and criminal networks&quot;, including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Dawood Ibrahim gang, operating from its territory. India and the United States reaffirmed this in a joint press conference after the second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&amp;CD). 
 
Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said, &quot;Secretary Kerry and I also agreed on the need for Pakistan to do more to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice quickly.&quot; Swaraj and US secretary of state John Kerry addressed the press conference together. Kerry referred to the Indian minister using her first name several times.&nbsp; 
 
Swaraj said she and secretary Kerry &quot;discussed at length the issue of terrorism, which is the key challenge to the international community, and the foremost threat to international peace and security&quot;. 
 
&quot;I am happy to note that there was a &#39;meeting of minds&#39; on this issue.&quot; 
 
&quot;We both agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorisation of good and bad terrorists, nor must they act as sanctuaries and safe havens for terrorist organisations, &quot; Swaraj said. 
 
The Indian external affairs minister also briefed secretary Kerry on the problem of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan that India and the neighbourhood faces. 
 
&quot;It is vital that Pakistan joins with other nations in fighting this challenge,&quot; Kerry said. He said he was noting progress in counter-terrorism operations in the west of the country and was in touch with Pakistan&#39;s civilian and military leaders on terrorism. 
 
&quot;My hope is that Pakistan as a country is not isolated by this, but is encouraged by this,&quot; Kerry said, referring to the planned US-India-Afghan talks that would be held at the annual UN meetings in New York. 
 
&quot;I thanked Secretary Kerry for the US constant support for India&#39;s membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). This interaction has strengthened the US-India relationship, and I hope it contributes to the world at large,&quot; she added. 
 
&quot;For this, we need to define the benefits associated with India`s designation as a &#39;Major Defence Partner&#39; of the US during the Prime Minister&#39;s visit in June. This would spur defence industry collaboration between India and the US and help India play the desired role as a net provider of security in the region,&quot; Swaraj said. 
 
Pointing out that both countries share the same democratic ethos of freedom, equality, pluralism and rule of law, she said, &quot;India&#39;s enhanced global role is in our mutual interest. It is in this context, we look forward to continue working closely with the U.S. to secure our membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).&quot; 
 
&quot;In view of the rapidly evolving regional and global situation,&quot; said Swaraj, &quot;we look forward to resuming the meeting of the Trilateral with Afghanistan; consultations on Africa and on multilateral issues within this year.&quot; 
 
(WION with inputs from ANI)

Swaraj stressed on the need for Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice

There's an "urgent necessity" for Pakistan to "dismantle safe havens for terrorists and criminal networks", including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Dawood Ibrahim gang, operating from its territory. India and the United States reaffirmed this in a joint press conference after the second India-US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD). Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said, "Secretary Kerry and I also agreed on the need for Pakistan to do more to bring the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai and 2016 Pathankot terrorist attacks to justice quickly." Swaraj and US secretary of state John Kerry addressed the press conference together. Kerry referred to the Indian minister using her first name several times. Swaraj said she and secretary Kerry "discussed at length the issue of terrorism, which is the key challenge to the international community, and the foremost threat to international peace and security". "I am happy to note that there was a 'meeting of minds' on this issue." "We both agreed that nations must not maintain double standards, such as the categorisation of good and bad terrorists, nor must they act as sanctuaries and safe havens for terrorist organisations, " Swaraj said. The Indian external affairs minister also briefed secretary Kerry on the problem of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan that India and the neighbourhood faces. "It is vital that Pakistan joins with other nations in fighting this challenge," Kerry said. He said he was noting progress in counter-terrorism operations in the west of the country and was in touch with Pakistan's civilian and military leaders on terrorism. "My hope is that Pakistan as a country is not isolated by this, but is encouraged by this," Kerry said, referring to the planned US-India-Afghan talks that would be held at the annual UN meetings in New York. "I thanked Secretary Kerry for the US constant support for India's membership to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). This interaction has strengthened the US-India relationship, and I hope it contributes to the world at large," she added. "For this, we need to define the benefits associated with India`s designation as a 'Major Defence Partner' of the US during the Prime Minister's visit in June. This would spur defence industry collaboration between India and the US and help India play the desired role as a net provider of security in the region," Swaraj said. Pointing out that both countries share the same democratic ethos of freedom, equality, pluralism and rule of law, she said, "India's enhanced global role is in our mutual interest. It is in this context, we look forward to continue working closely with the U.S. to secure our membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)." "In view of the rapidly evolving regional and global situation," said Swaraj, "we look forward to resuming the meeting of the Trilateral with Afghanistan; consultations on Africa and on multilateral issues within this year." (WION with inputs from ANI)

Pakistan must dismantle terrorist safe havens, assert India, US

US secretary of state John Kerry said today there was evidence to link operatives in Bangladesh to the Islamic State group. 
 
Referring to the recent spate of attacks, Kerry promised help with intelligence and law enforcement.&nbsp; 
 
The blunt statement followed the July 1 attack on a cafe in an upscale district of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, in which 22 people were killed - mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. 
 
The statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s government, which has blamed homegrown militants and denied a foreign hand in the hostage taking at the Holey Artisan Bakery that was claimed by Islamic State. 
 
Bangladesh&#39;s government has staunchly denied that IS or any international jihadist network has gained a foothold in the country. 
 
Kerry however rejected the idea that Hasina`s administration was in denial about the nature of the extremist threat that it faced, the AFP reported. 
 
&quot;I don&#39;t believe that the government of Bangladesh has its head in the sand. I do not believe that,&quot; the report quoted him as saying in a speech in Dhaka where he was paying a one-day visit. 
 
According to AFP, the top US diplomat said that the two governments had agreed on increased cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies. 
 
&quot;The (foreign) minister (Mahmood Ali) was very, and the prime minister was very clear (at) the desire to cooperate with us very very closely,&quot; he said. 
 
The cafe raid was the most shocking of a series of atrocities that has included killings of atheist intellectuals, people from religious and sexual minorities and foreigners, raising fears over the stability of the mainly Muslim nation of 160 million. 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)

The blunt statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government which has blamed homegrown militants

US secretary of state John Kerry said today there was evidence to link operatives in Bangladesh to the Islamic State group. Referring to the recent spate of attacks, Kerry promised help with intelligence and law enforcement. The blunt statement followed the July 1 attack on a cafe in an upscale district of the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, in which 22 people were killed - mostly non-Muslims and foreigners, including one American. The statement, however, contradicted the narrative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, which has blamed homegrown militants and denied a foreign hand in the hostage taking at the Holey Artisan Bakery that was claimed by Islamic State. Bangladesh's government has staunchly denied that IS or any international jihadist network has gained a foothold in the country. Kerry however rejected the idea that Hasina`s administration was in denial about the nature of the extremist threat that it faced, the AFP reported. "I don't believe that the government of Bangladesh has its head in the sand. I do not believe that," the report quoted him as saying in a speech in Dhaka where he was paying a one-day visit. According to AFP, the top US diplomat said that the two governments had agreed on increased cooperation between their respective intelligence agencies. "The (foreign) minister (Mahmood Ali) was very, and the prime minister was very clear (at) the desire to cooperate with us very very closely," he said. The cafe raid was the most shocking of a series of atrocities that has included killings of atheist intellectuals, people from religious and sexual minorities and foreigners, raising fears over the stability of the mainly Muslim nation of 160 million. (WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)

Evidence to link Bangladesh extremists to Islamic State: John Kerry

The Philippines&#39; firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte has sparked a fresh diplomatic row with his colourful language, calling the US ambassador &quot;gay&quot; in comments that prompted Washington to summon Manila&#39;s envoy to complain. 
 
In the latest of series of tirades, Duterte used a local Tagalog language homophobic slur to express his displeasure with US Ambassador Philip Goldberg in televised comments made Friday. 
 
&quot;As you know, I&#39;m fighting with (US Secretary of State John Kerry&#39;s) ambassador. His gay ambassador, the son of a whore. He pissed me off,&quot; Duterte said. 
 
Duterte, 71, surged to power with a landslide in May following an incendiary campaign in which he gleefully used foul language to disrespect authority figures, from his local political rivals to the pope. 
 
He first came into conflict with US envoy Goldberg on the campaign trail, after he said he wanted to rape a &quot;beautiful&quot; Australian missionary who was sexually assaulted and murdered in a 1989 prison riot in Davao, the city he ran for two decades.
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<h5>As you know, I&#39;m fighting with (US Secretary of State John Kerry&#39;s) ambassador. His gay ambassador, the son of a whore. He pissed me off - Rodrigo Duterte</h5>
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Goldberg and the Australian Ambassador both strongly criticised these comments. 
 
&quot;He meddled during the elections, giving statements here and there. He was not supposed to do that,&quot; Duterte said Friday. 
 
The US State Department said that the Filipino charge d&#39;affaires, Patrick Chuasoto, had been summoned Monday to discuss Duterte&#39;s comments. 
 
&quot;We had that conversation,&quot; department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said. 
 
&quot;I think what we were seeking is perhaps a better understanding of why that statement was made,&quot; she added. 
 
Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose confirmed the meeting but said Manila&#39;s envoy had been &quot;invited to the State Department to discuss the entire breadth of Philippines-US relations.&quot; 
 
&quot;Philippine-US relations remain strong,&quot; he told AFP Wednesday. 
 
A former US colony, the Philippines and the United States have long shared a military treaty. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Duterte used a local Tagalog language homophobic slur to express his displeasure with US Ambassador Philip Goldberg

The Philippines' firebrand President Rodrigo Duterte has sparked a fresh diplomatic row with his colourful language, calling the US ambassador "gay" in comments that prompted Washington to summon Manila's envoy to complain. In the latest of series of tirades, Duterte used a local Tagalog language homophobic slur to express his displeasure with US Ambassador Philip Goldberg in televised comments made Friday. "As you know, I'm fighting with (US Secretary of State John Kerry's) ambassador. His gay ambassador, the son of a whore. He pissed me off," Duterte said. Duterte, 71, surged to power with a landslide in May following an incendiary campaign in which he gleefully used foul language to disrespect authority figures, from his local political rivals to the pope. He first came into conflict with US envoy Goldberg on the campaign trail, after he said he wanted to rape a "beautiful" Australian missionary who was sexually assaulted and murdered in a 1989 prison riot in Davao, the city he ran for two decades. As you know, I'm fighting with (US Secretary of State John Kerry's) ambassador. His gay ambassador, the son of a whore. He pissed me off - Rodrigo Duterte Goldberg and the Australian Ambassador both strongly criticised these comments. "He meddled during the elections, giving statements here and there. He was not supposed to do that," Duterte said Friday. The US State Department said that the Filipino charge d'affaires, Patrick Chuasoto, had been summoned Monday to discuss Duterte's comments. "We had that conversation," department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said. "I think what we were seeking is perhaps a better understanding of why that statement was made," she added. Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Charles Jose confirmed the meeting but said Manila's envoy had been "invited to the State Department to discuss the entire breadth of Philippines-US relations." "Philippine-US relations remain strong," he told AFP Wednesday. A former US colony, the Philippines and the United States have long shared a military treaty. (AFP)

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte calls US envoy 'gay, son of a wh**e'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that US state secretary John Kerry intends to visit this month, in what would be the first trip by a top Western dignitary since a failed coup. 
 
Kerry&#39;s visit, if confirmed, comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Ankara in the wake of the attempted military takeover on July 15. 
 
Turkey has been furiously demanding the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of masterminding the coup.&nbsp;The government has launched a crackdown in its wake that has seen over 60,000 people within the military, judiciary, civil service and education sector dismissed, detained or put under investigation. 
 
&quot;I think their secretary of state is coming on the 21th (August),&quot; Erdogan said in a live interview with state-run TRT television. 
 
Within the next two weeks, a delegation led by Turkey&#39;s foreign and justice ministers would also travel to the US to explain Gulen&#39;s alleged involvement in the coup bid, he added. 
 
US state department spokesman Mark Toner declined to comment.&nbsp;An Istanbul court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for Gulen, accusing him of ordering the coup aimed at ousting Erdogan.&nbsp; 
 
Ankara has frequently called on the United States to extradite the Muslim cleric, sending two sets of documents to Washington as evidence of his involvement in the putsch attempt.&nbsp;Gulen strongly denies masterminding the coup and the movement he leads insists it is a charitable network promoting tolerant Islam. 
 
Kerry said on July 18 that Turkey must present &quot;genuine evidence&quot; and &quot;not allegations&quot; against Erdogan&#39;s former ally for his extradition. 
 
The crisis in Turkey has erupted at a time when the Ankara-Washington relationship is as important as ever, with the United States needing Turkish help in the battle against Islamic State militants in Syria.&nbsp;US fighter jets have been using Turkey&#39;s southern base of Incirlik as a crucial launch point for lethal raids against IS targets in neighbouring Syria. 
 
During Thursday&#39;s live broadcast, Erdogan broke down in tears while watching a TRT documentary about civilians who lost their lives on the night of the coup.&nbsp;At least 272 people including 34 plotters were killed after people took to the streets and squares against the putschists. 
 
(AFP)

Ankara had called on Washington to extradite the Muslim cleric, sending documents claiming his involvement in the coup attempt

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday that US state secretary John Kerry intends to visit this month, in what would be the first trip by a top Western dignitary since a failed coup. Kerry's visit, if confirmed, comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Ankara in the wake of the attempted military takeover on July 15. Turkey has been furiously demanding the extradition of Pennsylvania-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of masterminding the coup. The government has launched a crackdown in its wake that has seen over 60,000 people within the military, judiciary, civil service and education sector dismissed, detained or put under investigation. "I think their secretary of state is coming on the 21th (August)," Erdogan said in a live interview with state-run TRT television. Within the next two weeks, a delegation led by Turkey's foreign and justice ministers would also travel to the US to explain Gulen's alleged involvement in the coup bid, he added. US state department spokesman Mark Toner declined to comment. An Istanbul court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for Gulen, accusing him of ordering the coup aimed at ousting Erdogan. Ankara has frequently called on the United States to extradite the Muslim cleric, sending two sets of documents to Washington as evidence of his involvement in the putsch attempt. Gulen strongly denies masterminding the coup and the movement he leads insists it is a charitable network promoting tolerant Islam. Kerry said on July 18 that Turkey must present "genuine evidence" and "not allegations" against Erdogan's former ally for his extradition. The crisis in Turkey has erupted at a time when the Ankara-Washington relationship is as important as ever, with the United States needing Turkish help in the battle against Islamic State militants in Syria. US fighter jets have been using Turkey's southern base of Incirlik as a crucial launch point for lethal raids against IS targets in neighbouring Syria. During Thursday's live broadcast, Erdogan broke down in tears while watching a TRT documentary about civilians who lost their lives on the night of the coup. At least 272 people including 34 plotters were killed after people took to the streets and squares against the putschists. (AFP)

US state secretary Kerry to visit Turkey amid tensions over Islamic preacher Gulen's extradition

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas on Saturday said any reboot of peace talks with Israel should happen within a clear timeframe and under international supervision, after meeting with US secretary of state John Kerry in Paris. 
 
Abbas also held talks with French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on the prospects of achieving a two-state solution, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erakat said, describing both discussions as &quot;very constructive&quot;. 
 
&quot;We need a timeline for the negotiations, we need a timeline for the implementation, and we need an international framework that will ensure the implementation of any agreement reached,&quot; Erakat said. 
 
France has been leading a fresh initiative to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, after the last round of negotiations collapsed in 2014. 
 
But while Palestinians have welcomed the French push, Israel has said it favours direct negotiations. 
 
Abbas &quot;reiterated our full support to the French initiative that aims to convene an international conference before the end of the year,&quot; Erakat said. 
 
The Palestinian negotiator added that there was &quot;no contradiction&quot; between the French, US and more recently Egyptian efforts to break the deadlock and move the peace talks forward. 
 
&quot;All these efforts aim to revive the peace process, to achieve the two-state solution (based) on the 1967 lines. They are complementary,&quot; he said. 
 
The diplomatic initiatives showed that the &quot;status quo can&#39;t be sustained&quot;, he added, reiterating the need for Israel to &quot;stop all settlement activities&quot; in order to give &quot;credibility to any peace process&quot;. 
 
The Middle East diplomatic quartet -- the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States -- urged Israel to stop building settlements and Palestinians to cease incitement to violence in a July report that drew a frosty response from both sides. 
 
While in Paris, Kerry also held talks with his French counterpart on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 
 
&quot;They agreed that strong leadership was required by all parties to help reduce the violence and take practical steps that can lead to meaningful discussions,&quot; the US State Department said in a statement. 
 
(AFP)

President Mahmud Abbas held talks with France, which has been leading Israel-Palestine peace talks, on achieving a two-state solution

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas on Saturday said any reboot of peace talks with Israel should happen within a clear timeframe and under international supervision, after meeting with US secretary of state John Kerry in Paris. Abbas also held talks with French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault on the prospects of achieving a two-state solution, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erakat said, describing both discussions as "very constructive". "We need a timeline for the negotiations, we need a timeline for the implementation, and we need an international framework that will ensure the implementation of any agreement reached," Erakat said. France has been leading a fresh initiative to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, after the last round of negotiations collapsed in 2014. But while Palestinians have welcomed the French push, Israel has said it favours direct negotiations. Abbas "reiterated our full support to the French initiative that aims to convene an international conference before the end of the year," Erakat said. The Palestinian negotiator added that there was "no contradiction" between the French, US and more recently Egyptian efforts to break the deadlock and move the peace talks forward. "All these efforts aim to revive the peace process, to achieve the two-state solution (based) on the 1967 lines. They are complementary," he said. The diplomatic initiatives showed that the "status quo can't be sustained", he added, reiterating the need for Israel to "stop all settlement activities" in order to give "credibility to any peace process". The Middle East diplomatic quartet -- the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States -- urged Israel to stop building settlements and Palestinians to cease incitement to violence in a July report that drew a frosty response from both sides. While in Paris, Kerry also held talks with his French counterpart on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "They agreed that strong leadership was required by all parties to help reduce the violence and take practical steps that can lead to meaningful discussions," the US State Department said in a statement. (AFP)

Palestinians urge timeframe for peace talks with Israel

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