As competition in the space tourism industry heats up, a US-based firm said Friday it was excited to re-enter the sector with the upcoming launch of a Japanese billionaire.

Space Adventures, headed by Tom Shelley, is set in December to send Japanese tycoon Yusaku Maezawa to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Russia-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

It's the company's first launch in over a decade after suspending trips to the ISS as NASA bought up seats on Russia-operated flights and no other vehicles were available.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/top-us-naval-commander-hosts-senior-indian-navy-officers-aboard-uss-carl-vinson-420814">Top US naval commander hosts senior Indian Navy officers aboard USS Carl Vinson</a>

"It's a very exciting time for us," Shelley, 48, the president of Space Adventures, told AFP during an interview in Moscow on Friday.

He added that Space Adventures with Russia was planning &nbsp;future launches "to innovate and find new offerings" for clients.&nbsp;

Shelley said the next Space Adventures flight to the ISS -- scheduled for late 2023 or early 2024 -- will give one of its clients an opportunity to complete a spacewalk.

The return of Shelley's company to the industry with Russia was made possible after the succesful flight of Elon Musk's SpaceX last year that delivered astronauts to the ISS.

The move rendered NASA less dependant on Russian launches, freeing up seats with Moscow's space agency, Roscosmos.

Maezawa, 45, will board a Soyuz rocket operated by Roscosmos together with his assistant Yozo Hirano and cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin.

The December launch &nbsp;comes in the middle of a flurry of non-professional launches.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-stars-fall-at-indian-wells-which-struggles-to-draw-a-crowd-420743">US Open stars fall at Indian Wells, which struggles to draw a crowd</a>

SpaceX this year sent an all-civilian crew on an orbit of the Earth, a first in the history of amateur space travel.

In Moscow, Shelley said the boom in civilian launches meant the general public was becoming "more aware" of space travel.

"2021 has turned into a very interesting year within the private spaceflight industry," he said.

It's "not just something that has been talked as something for the future, but it is happening now".

Space Adventures has sent seven tourists to the ISS. The last was Canadian Cirque du Soleil co-founder Guy Laliberte in 2009.

As competition in the space tourism industry heats up, a US-based firm said Friday it was excited to re-enter the sector with the upcoming launch of a Japanese billionaire.

As competition in the space tourism industry heats up, a US-based firm said Friday it was excited to re-enter the sector with the upcoming launch of a Japanese billionaire. Space Adventures, headed by Tom Shelley, is set in December to send Japanese tycoon Yusaku Maezawa to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Russia-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It's the company's first launch in over a decade after suspending trips to the ISS as NASA bought up seats on Russia-operated flights and no other vehicles were available. Also Read | Top US naval commander hosts senior Indian Navy officers aboard USS Carl Vinson "It's a very exciting time for us," Shelley, 48, the president of Space Adventures, told AFP during an interview in Moscow on Friday. He added that Space Adventures with Russia was planning future launches "to innovate and find new offerings" for clients. Shelley said the next Space Adventures flight to the ISS -- scheduled for late 2023 or early 2024 -- will give one of its clients an opportunity to complete a spacewalk. The return of Shelley's company to the industry with Russia was made possible after the succesful flight of Elon Musk's SpaceX last year that delivered astronauts to the ISS. The move rendered NASA less dependant on Russian launches, freeing up seats with Moscow's space agency, Roscosmos. Maezawa, 45, will board a Soyuz rocket operated by Roscosmos together with his assistant Yozo Hirano and cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. The December launch comes in the middle of a flurry of non-professional launches. Also Read | US Open stars fall at Indian Wells, which struggles to draw a crowd SpaceX this year sent an all-civilian crew on an orbit of the Earth, a first in the history of amateur space travel. In Moscow, Shelley said the boom in civilian launches meant the general public was becoming "more aware" of space travel. "2021 has turned into a very interesting year within the private spaceflight industry," he said. It's "not just something that has been talked as something for the future, but it is happening now". Space Adventures has sent seven tourists to the ISS. The last was Canadian Cirque du Soleil co-founder Guy Laliberte in 2009.

US firm sees 'exciting' moment as space tourism booms

An expert committee on Thursday recommended a booster dose of Moderna's anti-Covid vaccine in the United States for certain at-risk groups, a month after making a similar decision for the Pfizer shot.

The opinion submitted by the advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration -- composed of researchers, epidemiologists and infectious disease experts -- is not binding, but it is rare for the FDA not to follow it.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-covaxin-gets-emergency-use-nod-for-children-aged-2-18-years-420111">COVID-19: Covaxin gets emergency use nod for children aged 2-18 years</a>

After a day of debate, the experts decided to authorize a booster dose of Moderna for three categories of people: the over-65s, people aged between 18 and 64 who are at a higher risk of developing a severe version of the coronavirus, and those whose work may involve frequent exposure to the virus.&nbsp;

The same definitions were adopted for the Pfizer booster.&nbsp;

The last category includes supermarket workers, health workers, prisoners and people in homeless shelters.&nbsp;

The booster can be administered six months after the second injection of Moderna's vaccine. The dosage is 50 micrograms, which is half the dosage of the initial shots.&nbsp;

A Moderna representative told the panel the booster would help combat the Delta variant, at a time when vaccine effectiveness has been observed to decline over time against infection and mild cases of the disease, even though it remains effective against severe cases.&nbsp;

The committee will meet again on Friday to deliver its verdict on a booster dose for the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-covid-19-caseload-tops-2367-million-419033">Global Covid-19 caseload tops 236.7 million</a>

It will also discuss the results of a study published this week that looked at the possibility of using a different vaccine for the booster shot than that used for the initial dose, which at the moment is not authorized in the United States.

The study suggests that people who have received the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine may benefit from a booster dose of a different, messenger-RNA vaccine such as Pfizer or Moderna.&nbsp;

Almost 15 million Americans have received a dose of the J&amp;J vaccine, and nearly 70 million are fully vaccinated with Moderna.&nbsp;

If the FDA officially allows booster shots for these two vaccines, an expert committee from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) will in turn have to deliver its own opinion next week, at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

As a final step, the CDC will have to publish precise recommendations for these injections, intended for healthcare professionals administering them.

An expert committee on Thursday recommended a booster dose of Moderna's anti-Covid vaccine in the United States for certain at-risk groups, a month after making a similar decision for the Pfizer shot.

An expert committee on Thursday recommended a booster dose of Moderna's anti-Covid vaccine in the United States for certain at-risk groups, a month after making a similar decision for the Pfizer shot. The opinion submitted by the advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration -- composed of researchers, epidemiologists and infectious disease experts -- is not binding, but it is rare for the FDA not to follow it. Also Read | COVID-19: Covaxin gets emergency use nod for children aged 2-18 years After a day of debate, the experts decided to authorize a booster dose of Moderna for three categories of people: the over-65s, people aged between 18 and 64 who are at a higher risk of developing a severe version of the coronavirus, and those whose work may involve frequent exposure to the virus. The same definitions were adopted for the Pfizer booster. The last category includes supermarket workers, health workers, prisoners and people in homeless shelters. The booster can be administered six months after the second injection of Moderna's vaccine. The dosage is 50 micrograms, which is half the dosage of the initial shots. A Moderna representative told the panel the booster would help combat the Delta variant, at a time when vaccine effectiveness has been observed to decline over time against infection and mild cases of the disease, even though it remains effective against severe cases. The committee will meet again on Friday to deliver its verdict on a booster dose for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Also Read | Global Covid-19 caseload tops 236.7 million It will also discuss the results of a study published this week that looked at the possibility of using a different vaccine for the booster shot than that used for the initial dose, which at the moment is not authorized in the United States. The study suggests that people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may benefit from a booster dose of a different, messenger-RNA vaccine such as Pfizer or Moderna. Almost 15 million Americans have received a dose of the J&J vaccine, and nearly 70 million are fully vaccinated with Moderna. If the FDA officially allows booster shots for these two vaccines, an expert committee from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) will in turn have to deliver its own opinion next week, at a meeting scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. As a final step, the CDC will have to publish precise recommendations for these injections, intended for healthcare professionals administering them.

US experts recommend Moderna booster for older and at-risk groups

Chief of US naval operations Admiral Michael Gilday on Thursday hosted Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and 11 other senior military officials aboard nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson in the Bay of Bengal.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is part of the deployment by the US Navy in the second phase of the ongoing Malabar exercise featuring the navies of all four Quad countries -- India, the US, Australia and Japan.

The US Navy said Admiral Gilday hosted 12 senior Indian Navy officers aboard USS Carl Vinson on Thursday during the Malabar exercise. The four-day exercise began on Tuesday.

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"The visit to the aircraft carrier, which included Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Vice Admiral A B Singh, Commander in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, took place during the second phase of the exercise off the coast of India," the US Navy said in a statement.

Admiral Gilday is on a five-day visit to India from October 11 to 15.

"This visit to Carl Vinson during Malabar was an important opportunity to see first-hand the integration between our two navies at-sea," Admiral Gilday said.

"By our navies continuing to exercise together, as we are doing right now alongside Japanese and Australian naval forces, there is no doubt our partnership will only continue to grow. Cooperation, when applied with naval power, promotes freedom and peace, and prevents coercion, intimidation and aggression," he added.

Besides USS Carl Vinson, the US also deployed Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Stockdale in the exercise.

After taking its maiden voyage in 1983, USS Carl Vinson was part of several major operations including Operation Desert Strike, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom.

US Charge d'Affaires Patricia Lacina, who also participated in the visit to Carl Vinson, expressed similar sentiments.

"Exercise Malabar is a showcase example of defense collaboration between our four partnering countries, demonstrating what we can accomplish when we work together to advance our common interests in the Indo-Pacific," she said.

"We stand committed to ensure peace, security, and economic prosperity in the region and beyond," she added. 
Rear Admiral Dan Martin, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 1, said he was honored to host the visitors aboard Carl Vinson.

"We value the bonds and personal relationships we have developed during exercise Malabar,? said Martin. 
Following India's invitation, Australia participated in the Malabar exercise last year that effectively made it a drill by all four member nations of the Quad or Quadrilateral coalition. Australia participated in this year's exercise too.

The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral drill between the Indian Navy and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Japan became a permanent member of the exercise in 2015.

Chief of US naval operations Admiral Michael Gilday on Thursday hosted Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and 11 other senior military officials aboard nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson in the Bay of Bengal.

Chief of US naval operations Admiral Michael Gilday on Thursday hosted Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh and 11 other senior military officials aboard nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson in the Bay of Bengal. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier is part of the deployment by the US Navy in the second phase of the ongoing Malabar exercise featuring the navies of all four Quad countries -- India, the US, Australia and Japan. The US Navy said Admiral Gilday hosted 12 senior Indian Navy officers aboard USS Carl Vinson on Thursday during the Malabar exercise. The four-day exercise began on Tuesday. × "The visit to the aircraft carrier, which included Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and Vice Admiral A B Singh, Commander in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, took place during the second phase of the exercise off the coast of India," the US Navy said in a statement. Admiral Gilday is on a five-day visit to India from October 11 to 15. "This visit to Carl Vinson during Malabar was an important opportunity to see first-hand the integration between our two navies at-sea," Admiral Gilday said. "By our navies continuing to exercise together, as we are doing right now alongside Japanese and Australian naval forces, there is no doubt our partnership will only continue to grow. Cooperation, when applied with naval power, promotes freedom and peace, and prevents coercion, intimidation and aggression," he added. Besides USS Carl Vinson, the US also deployed Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Stockdale in the exercise. After taking its maiden voyage in 1983, USS Carl Vinson was part of several major operations including Operation Desert Strike, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. US Charge d'Affaires Patricia Lacina, who also participated in the visit to Carl Vinson, expressed similar sentiments. "Exercise Malabar is a showcase example of defense collaboration between our four partnering countries, demonstrating what we can accomplish when we work together to advance our common interests in the Indo-Pacific," she said. "We stand committed to ensure peace, security, and economic prosperity in the region and beyond," she added. Rear Admiral Dan Martin, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 1, said he was honored to host the visitors aboard Carl Vinson. "We value the bonds and personal relationships we have developed during exercise Malabar,? said Martin. Following India's invitation, Australia participated in the Malabar exercise last year that effectively made it a drill by all four member nations of the Quad or Quadrilateral coalition. Australia participated in this year's exercise too. The Malabar exercise started in 1992 as a bilateral drill between the Indian Navy and the US Navy in the Indian Ocean. Japan became a permanent member of the exercise in 2015.

Top US naval commander hosts senior Indian Navy officers aboard USS Carl Vinson

The world's supply chains are under extreme stress. The U.S. Government has stepped up efforts to resolve the issue which are threatening to disrupt the holiday season and slow down the post pandemic economic recovery.

U.S. Government steps up efforts to resolve supply chain crisis

Warning America on record levels of northbound migration, Mexico has said the United States needs to invest more heavily in central America if it hopes to slow record levels of northbound migration.

Mexico asks America to invest more if it hopes to slow northbound migration

Computer chip shortages, port congestion, and lack of truck drivers. The worlds supply chains are under extreme stress. The U.S. Government has stepped up efforts to resolve the issue which are threatening to disrupt the holiday season and slow down the post pandemic economic recovery.

World's supply chains under extreme stress

The second phase of the Malabar Exercise has now begun in the Bay of Bengal. This time the maritime exercise features all four of the Quad Countries i.e India, US, Australia, Japan.

Malabar Naval Exercise: U.S navy chief hosts Indian counterpart

Supply chains under extreme stress  due to chip shortages, port congestion, lack of truck drivers

The Indian envoy to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has said that the "character and content" of Indo US relationship is very substantial and PM Modi and President Biden's "chemistry was very much visible" during the former's Washington visit. Speaking to our Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal from Washington, Envoy Sandhu said PM's US visit in September was "landmark visit in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance" which key focus during the bilateral was on covid, trade, Afghanistan, defense. September in person meet between PM Modi and President Biden was the first such meet between the 2 leaders since the new admin took charge in Washington earlier this year. He pointed out to the increased engagements between the 2 sides including the visit of US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman, United States' chief of naval operations admiral Michael M Gilday India visit, and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's US visit. He said, "no area of human endeavor that is untouched by this important partnership". Both sides will soon be part annual 2+2 foreign and defense ministers meet in US towards the end of the year. He also slammed Pakistan, saying, "events in Afghanistan have only exposed them even more". Pakistan's support to cross border terror has been key part of India, US conversations.

Content of India, US Relation substantial says Indian Envoy to US Taranjit Sandhu

It may not have been planned or coordinated but efforts by Middle Eastern states to dial down tensions serve as an example of what happens when big power interests coincide.

It also provides evidence of the potentially positive fallout of a lower US profile in the region.

Afghanistan, the United States’ chaotic withdrawal notwithstanding, could emerge as another example of the positive impact when global interests coincide. That is if the Taliban prove willing and capable of policing militant groups to ensure that they don’t strike beyond the Central Asian nation’s borders or at embassies and other foreign targets in the country.

Analysts credit the coming to office of US President Joe Biden with a focus on Asia rather than the Middle East and growing uncertainty about his commitment to the security of the Gulf for efforts to reduce tensions by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirate and Egypt on the one hand and on the other, Turkey, Iran, and Qatar. Those efforts resulted in the lifting, early this year, of the Saudi-UAE-Egyptian-led economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar.

Doubts about the United States’ commitment also played an important role in efforts to shore up or formalise alliances like the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel by the UAE and Bahrain.

For its part, Saudi Arabia has de facto acknowledged its ties with the Jewish state even if Riyadh is not about to formally establish relations. In a sign of the times, that did not stop then Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu from last year visiting the kingdom.

To be sure, changes in Washington’s priorities impact regional defence strategies and postures given that the United States has a significant military presence in the Middle East and serves as its sole security guarantor.

Yet, what rings alarm bells in Gulf capitals also sparks concerns in Beijing, which depends to a significant degree on the flow of its trade and energy from and through Middle Eastern waters, and Moscow with its own security concerns and geopolitical aspirations.

Little surprise that Russia and China, each in their own way and independent of the United States, over the last year echoed the United States’ message that the Middle East needs to get its act together.

Eager to change rather than reform the world order, Russia proposed an all-new regional security architecture modelled on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) adding not only Russia but also China, India, and Europe to the mix.

China, determined to secure its proper place in the new world order rather than fundamentally altering it, sent smoke signals through its academics and analysts that conveyed a double-barrelled message. On the one hand, China suggested that the Middle East did not rank high on its agenda. In other words, the Middle East would have to act to climb Beijing’s totem pole.

“For China, the Middle East is always on the very distant back burner of China’s strategic global strategies,” Niu Xinchun, director of Middle East Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), China’s most prestigious think tank, told a webinar last year.

Prominent Chinese scholars Sun Degang and Wu Sike provided months later a carrot to accompany Mr. Niu’s stick. Taking the opposite tack, they argued that the Middle East was a “key region in big power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in a new era.”

Chinese characteristics, they said, would involve “seeking common ground while reserving differences,” a formula that implies conflict management rather than conflict resolution.

On that basis, the two scholars suggest, Chinese engagement in Middle Eastern security would seek to build an inclusive and shared regional collective security mechanism based on fairness, justice, multilateralism, comprehensive governance, and the containment of differences.

In the final analysis, Chinese and Russian signalling that there was an unspoken big power consensus likely reinforced American messaging and gave Middle Eastern states a further nudge to change course and demonstrate a willingness to control tensions and differences.

Implicit in the unspoken big power consensus was not only the need to dial down tensions but also the projection of a reduced, not an eliminated, US presence in the Middle East.

While there has been little real on-the-ground reduction of US forces, just talking about it seemingly opened pathways. It altered the US’ weighting in the equation.

“The US has a habit of seeing itself as indispensable to regional stability around the world, when in fact its intervention can be very destabilising because it becomes part of the local equation rather than sitting above it,” noted Raad Alkadiri, an international risk consultant.

While important, the United States’ willingness to get out of the way is no guarantee that talks will do anything more than at best avert conflicts spinning out of control.

Saudi and Iranian leaders and officials have sought to put a positive spin on several rounds of direct and indirect talks between the two rivals.

Yet, more important than the talk of progress, expressions of willingness to bury hatchets, and toning down of rhetoric is Saudi King Salman’s insistence in remarks last month to the United Nations General Assembly on the need to build trust.

The monarch suggested that could be achieved by Iran ceasing "all types of support" for armed groups in the region, including the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.

The potential monkey wrench is not just the improbability of Iran making meaningful concessions to improve relations but also the fact that the chances are fading for a revival of the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program.

“We have to prepare for a world where Iran doesn’t have constraints on its nuclear program and we have to consider options for dealing with that. This is what we are doing while we hope they do go back to the deal,” said US negotiator Rob Malley.

Already, Israeli politicians, unhappy with the original nuclear deal and the Biden administration's effort to revive it, are taking a more alarmist view than may be prevalent in their intelligence services.

In Washington this week, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that Iran was “becoming a nuclear threshold state.” Back home Yossi Cohen, a close confidante of Mr Netanyahu, who stepped down in June as head of the Mossad, asserted at the same time that Iran was “no closer than before” to obtaining a nuclear weapon.

There is no doubt, however that both men agree that Israel retains the option of a military strike against Iran. "Israel reserves the right to act at any moment in any way," Mr. Lapid told his American interlocutors as they sought to resolve differences of how to deal with Iran if a revival of the agreement proves elusive.

Meanwhile, a foreplay of the fallout of a potential failure to put a nuclear deal in place is playing out on multiple fronts. Tension have been rising along the border between Iran and Azerbaijan.

Iran sees closer Azerbaijani-Israeli relations as part of an effort to encircle it and fears that the Caucasian state would be a staging ground for Israeli operations against the Islamic republic. Iran and Azerbaijan agreed this week to hold talks to reduce the friction.

At the same time, Iran, Turkey and Israel have been engaged in a shadow boxing match in predominantly Kurdish northern Iraq while a poll showed half of Israeli Jews believe that attacking Iran early on rather than negotiating a deal would have been a better approach.

Taken together, these factors cast a shadow over optimism that the Middle East is pulling back from the brink. They suggest that coordinated big power leadership is what could make the difference as the Middle East balances between forging a path towards stability and waging a continuous covert war and potentially an overt one.

A Johns Hopkins University Iran research program suggested that a US return to the nuclear deal may be the catalyst for cooperation with Europe, China, and Russia.

“Should the United States refuse to re-join the agreement following sufficient attempts by Iran to demonstrate flexibility in their negotiating posture, Russia and China will ramp up their economic and security cooperation with Iran in a manner fundamentally opposed to US interests,” the program warned.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh announced this week that Russia and Iran were finalizing a ‘Global Agreement for Cooperation between Iran and Russia’ along the lines of a &nbsp;similar 25-year agreement between China and the Islamic republic last year that has yet to get legs.

Even so, Iran scored an important victory when the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in which China and Russia loom large last month agreed to process Iran’s application for membership.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 
&nbsp;

It may not have been planned or coordinated but efforts by Middle Eastern states to dial down tensions serve as an example of what happens when big power interests coincide.

It may not have been planned or coordinated but efforts by Middle Eastern states to dial down tensions serve as an example of what happens when big power interests coincide. It also provides evidence of the potentially positive fallout of a lower US profile in the region. Afghanistan, the United States’ chaotic withdrawal notwithstanding, could emerge as another example of the positive impact when global interests coincide. That is if the Taliban prove willing and capable of policing militant groups to ensure that they don’t strike beyond the Central Asian nation’s borders or at embassies and other foreign targets in the country. Analysts credit the coming to office of US President Joe Biden with a focus on Asia rather than the Middle East and growing uncertainty about his commitment to the security of the Gulf for efforts to reduce tensions by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirate and Egypt on the one hand and on the other, Turkey, Iran, and Qatar. Those efforts resulted in the lifting, early this year, of the Saudi-UAE-Egyptian-led economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar. Doubts about the United States’ commitment also played an important role in efforts to shore up or formalise alliances like the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel by the UAE and Bahrain. For its part, Saudi Arabia has de facto acknowledged its ties with the Jewish state even if Riyadh is not about to formally establish relations. In a sign of the times, that did not stop then Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu from last year visiting the kingdom. To be sure, changes in Washington’s priorities impact regional defence strategies and postures given that the United States has a significant military presence in the Middle East and serves as its sole security guarantor. Yet, what rings alarm bells in Gulf capitals also sparks concerns in Beijing, which depends to a significant degree on the flow of its trade and energy from and through Middle Eastern waters, and Moscow with its own security concerns and geopolitical aspirations. Little surprise that Russia and China, each in their own way and independent of the United States, over the last year echoed the United States’ message that the Middle East needs to get its act together. Eager to change rather than reform the world order, Russia proposed an all-new regional security architecture modelled on the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) adding not only Russia but also China, India, and Europe to the mix. China, determined to secure its proper place in the new world order rather than fundamentally altering it, sent smoke signals through its academics and analysts that conveyed a double-barrelled message. On the one hand, China suggested that the Middle East did not rank high on its agenda. In other words, the Middle East would have to act to climb Beijing’s totem pole. “For China, the Middle East is always on the very distant back burner of China’s strategic global strategies,” Niu Xinchun, director of Middle East Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), China’s most prestigious think tank, told a webinar last year. Prominent Chinese scholars Sun Degang and Wu Sike provided months later a carrot to accompany Mr. Niu’s stick. Taking the opposite tack, they argued that the Middle East was a “key region in big power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in a new era.” Chinese characteristics, they said, would involve “seeking common ground while reserving differences,” a formula that implies conflict management rather than conflict resolution. On that basis, the two scholars suggest, Chinese engagement in Middle Eastern security would seek to build an inclusive and shared regional collective security mechanism based on fairness, justice, multilateralism, comprehensive governance, and the containment of differences. In the final analysis, Chinese and Russian signalling that there was an unspoken big power consensus likely reinforced American messaging and gave Middle Eastern states a further nudge to change course and demonstrate a willingness to control tensions and differences. Implicit in the unspoken big power consensus was not only the need to dial down tensions but also the projection of a reduced, not an eliminated, US presence in the Middle East. While there has been little real on-the-ground reduction of US forces, just talking about it seemingly opened pathways. It altered the US’ weighting in the equation. “The US has a habit of seeing itself as indispensable to regional stability around the world, when in fact its intervention can be very destabilising because it becomes part of the local equation rather than sitting above it,” noted Raad Alkadiri, an international risk consultant. While important, the United States’ willingness to get out of the way is no guarantee that talks will do anything more than at best avert conflicts spinning out of control. Saudi and Iranian leaders and officials have sought to put a positive spin on several rounds of direct and indirect talks between the two rivals. Yet, more important than the talk of progress, expressions of willingness to bury hatchets, and toning down of rhetoric is Saudi King Salman’s insistence in remarks last month to the United Nations General Assembly on the need to build trust. The monarch suggested that could be achieved by Iran ceasing "all types of support" for armed groups in the region, including the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. The potential monkey wrench is not just the improbability of Iran making meaningful concessions to improve relations but also the fact that the chances are fading for a revival of the 2015 international agreement that curbed Iran’s nuclear program. “We have to prepare for a world where Iran doesn’t have constraints on its nuclear program and we have to consider options for dealing with that. This is what we are doing while we hope they do go back to the deal,” said US negotiator Rob Malley. Already, Israeli politicians, unhappy with the original nuclear deal and the Biden administration's effort to revive it, are taking a more alarmist view than may be prevalent in their intelligence services. In Washington this week, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that Iran was “becoming a nuclear threshold state.” Back home Yossi Cohen, a close confidante of Mr Netanyahu, who stepped down in June as head of the Mossad, asserted at the same time that Iran was “no closer than before” to obtaining a nuclear weapon. There is no doubt, however that both men agree that Israel retains the option of a military strike against Iran. "Israel reserves the right to act at any moment in any way," Mr. Lapid told his American interlocutors as they sought to resolve differences of how to deal with Iran if a revival of the agreement proves elusive. Meanwhile, a foreplay of the fallout of a potential failure to put a nuclear deal in place is playing out on multiple fronts. Tension have been rising along the border between Iran and Azerbaijan. Iran sees closer Azerbaijani-Israeli relations as part of an effort to encircle it and fears that the Caucasian state would be a staging ground for Israeli operations against the Islamic republic. Iran and Azerbaijan agreed this week to hold talks to reduce the friction. At the same time, Iran, Turkey and Israel have been engaged in a shadow boxing match in predominantly Kurdish northern Iraq while a poll showed half of Israeli Jews believe that attacking Iran early on rather than negotiating a deal would have been a better approach. Taken together, these factors cast a shadow over optimism that the Middle East is pulling back from the brink. They suggest that coordinated big power leadership is what could make the difference as the Middle East balances between forging a path towards stability and waging a continuous covert war and potentially an overt one. A Johns Hopkins University Iran research program suggested that a US return to the nuclear deal may be the catalyst for cooperation with Europe, China, and Russia. “Should the United States refuse to re-join the agreement following sufficient attempts by Iran to demonstrate flexibility in their negotiating posture, Russia and China will ramp up their economic and security cooperation with Iran in a manner fundamentally opposed to US interests,” the program warned. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh announced this week that Russia and Iran were finalizing a ‘Global Agreement for Cooperation between Iran and Russia’ along the lines of a similar 25-year agreement between China and the Islamic republic last year that has yet to get legs. Even so, Iran scored an important victory when the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in which China and Russia loom large last month agreed to process Iran’s application for membership. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion | US military presence in the Middle East: The less the better

California firefighters scrambled overnight on Wednesday as the 14,500-acre blaze continues to burn in Santa Barbara County. Officials are concerned that strong winds, which prompted a wind advisory for the area Wednesday, may lead to heavy flames.

California firefighters scrambled overnight on Wednesday as the 14,500-acre blaze continues to burn in Santa Barbara County. Officials are concerned that strong winds, which prompted a wind advisory for the area Wednesday, may lead to heavy flames. According to the US Forest Service, the Alisal fire is just five per cent contained. Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann, at a community briefing said, "This fire is a reminder that as summer winds down, our fire season ramps up." More than 1,300 personnel are responding to the wildfire. #Alisal Fire - UPDATE- 7 a.m. briefing held at ICP/Earl Warren Showgrounds. 14,500 acres, 5% contained. 1,300 personnel assigned with more on the way. Hoping for favorable winds for fixed-wing aircraft to engage. Photos by Christina Favuzzi/MFD pic.twitter.com/81IA8b1HsY — SBCFireInfo (@EliasonMike) October 13, 2021 × "The main constraint has been heavy winds that have limited safe access to suppress the fire and limited the use of aircraft to engage and support fire suppression," an incident report said. Also read | 'Extreme' California wildfire forces hundreds to evacuate The cause of the fire, which began near the Alisal Reservoir on Monday afternoon, remains under investigation, the state's fire agency Cal Fire said. Air pollution in the area was deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups by air quality technology company IQAir. The area also had a concentration of the pollutant PM2.5 nearly four times higher than what the World Health Organization recommends for air quality. SPECIAL AIR QUALITY ADVISORY: smoke from the #AlisalFire near Santa Barbara is expected to move into portions of the South Coast Air Basin and elevate air quality levels: https://t.co/Y158OoPtBX pic.twitter.com/VEqa4FneIY — South Coast AQMD (@SouthCoastAQMD) October 13, 2021 × The company recommended that the sensitive groups in affected areas wear a face mask while outdoors. The use of an air purifier has also been recommended. Santa Barbara County fire chief Mark Hartwig said that the Alisal is a "wind-driven" fire, noting that the weather has helped to spread its flames quickly. Fully containing the wildfire could take weeks, he added. In order to prevent additional wildfires from igniting, energy provider Pacific Gas and Electric issued public safety power shutoffs in 12 counties throughout California. "As a result of this wind event, combined with extreme to exceptional drought conditions and extremely dry vegetation, PG&E began sending one-day advance notifications Wednesday morning to customers in areas where PG&E may need to proactively turn off power for safety to reduce the risk of wildfire from energised power lines," the company warned. Also read | US coastline to be dotted with wind farms, says Biden administration Scientists say human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, is warming the planet and changing weather patterns. This is contributing in making wildfires hotter, more intense and more destructive. Along with other parts of the western United States, California has struggled under a years-long drought that has left various region's tinder dry.

California's Alisal fire continues to burn 14,500-acres

Under a plan announced by the Biden administration on Wednesday, seven major offshore wind farms would be developed on the east and west coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico. This project comes as a part of Biden’s plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. This will further help in generating enough electricity to power more than 10 million homes.

If the target is met, it could mean jobs for more than 44,000 workers and 33,000 others in related employment, the White House said.

Deb Haaland, the interior secretary said that her department hoped to hold lease sales by 2025 off the coasts of Maine, New York and the mid-Atlantic, Carolinas, California, Oregon and the Gulf of Mexico.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hows-biden-doing-do-you-miss-me-yet-trump-pokes-fun-at-us-president-420630">Also read |&nbsp;'How's Biden doing? 'Do you miss me yet?': Trump pokes fun at US President</a>

The officials said that the projects could avoid about 78m metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.&nbsp;

Apart from this, the interior department is also working with other federal agencies to increase renewable energy production on public lands, with a goal of at least 25 gigawatts of onshore renewable energy from wind and solar power by 2025.

Haaland and Amanda Lefton, director of department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have said that the officials hoped to reduce potential conflicts with fishing groups and other ocean users. Lefton in a statement said, “This means we will engage early and often with all stakeholders prior to identifying any new wind energy areas."

Under a plan announced by the Biden administration on Wednesday, seven major offshore wind farms would be developed on the east and west coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico.

Under a plan announced by the Biden administration on Wednesday, seven major offshore wind farms would be developed on the east and west coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico. This project comes as a part of Biden’s plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. This will further help in generating enough electricity to power more than 10 million homes. If the target is met, it could mean jobs for more than 44,000 workers and 33,000 others in related employment, the White House said. Deb Haaland, the interior secretary said that her department hoped to hold lease sales by 2025 off the coasts of Maine, New York and the mid-Atlantic, Carolinas, California, Oregon and the Gulf of Mexico. Also read | 'How's Biden doing? 'Do you miss me yet?': Trump pokes fun at US President The officials said that the projects could avoid about 78m metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Apart from this, the interior department is also working with other federal agencies to increase renewable energy production on public lands, with a goal of at least 25 gigawatts of onshore renewable energy from wind and solar power by 2025. Haaland and Amanda Lefton, director of department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have said that the officials hoped to reduce potential conflicts with fishing groups and other ocean users. Lefton in a statement said, “This means we will engage early and often with all stakeholders prior to identifying any new wind energy areas."

US coastline to be dotted with wind farms, says Biden administration

Abdulla Shahid, the president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Tuesday clarified to WION that Myanmar did not speak at the assembly hall because it failed to make a request as per the protocols.

Speaking exclusively to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, he sought to put to&nbsp;rest speculation that the country now under a military junta was not allowed to speak at the behest of US, China and Russia.

Shahid said a committee will meet in November to decide whether&nbsp;Myanmar’s current UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun will be allowed to retain his seat.

“No country has decided that Myanmar will not speak. We have a lot of procedures here which are being followed. There is a committee on credentials who are meeting in November and their report will be adopted by the general assembly. So, it is up to the membership of the UN to decide on these things,” Shahid said.

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"I received no request from Myanmar" 
 
UNGA President Abdulla Shahid (<a href="https://twitter.com/abdulla_shahid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abdulla_shahid</a>) speaks exclusively with WION's <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Myanmar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Myanmar</a>'s exclusion from the list of speakers at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA76?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNGA76</a>, says "everyone who requested to speak were given the floor"<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIONatUNGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIONatUNGA</a> <a href="https://t.co/J5d6Gb0MFN">pic.twitter.com/J5d6Gb0MFN</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1442839463114252294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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When pointed out that Myanmar’s current UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun – appointed by Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government— was not allowed to address the assembly, Shahid said, “I am not aware of it. As the president of UNGA, I am not aware of anyone not allowing it. I am the person who either allows or doesn’t allow.”

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-wont-address-world-at-un-ousted-afghan-government-will-416300">&nbsp;Myanmar won't address world at UN, ousted Afghan government will</a>

When the president was asked if the Myanmar representative make a request to address the UNGA, Shahid said, “There was no request from the Myanmar delegation to speak."

"I just completed the general debate at the assembly hall and the list of speakers was exhausted. Meaning: Everyone who requested to speak were given the floor, in which 194 delegations spoke," he said, pointing out that Myanmar was the only one who did not make a request to speak.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-says-plot-against-myanmar-un-envoy-fits-disturbing-pattern-403812">US says plot against Myanmar UN envoy fits 'disturbing pattern'</a>

There were reports that China, Russia and the United States had reached an understanding to prevent&nbsp;Kyaw Moe Tun&nbsp;from addressing the general assembly.

Watch

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-edition-myanmar-envoy-stopped-from-addressing-unga-416471/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Kyaw Moe Tun is supported by the international community and has retained his seat at the United Nations following the February 1 military coup.

In May, the junta had appointed a former general to replace him, but the United Nations has not yet approved the appointment.

UN accreditation issues are dealt with by a nine-member committee, whose members include the US, China and Russia. It traditionally meets in October or November.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since Aung San Suu Kyi’s government was overthrown by the military in February, sparking a nationwide uprising that the military has tried to crush.

(With inputs from agencies)

Abdulla Shahid, the president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Tuesday clarified to WION that Myanmar did not speak at the assembly hall because it failed to make a request as per the protocols.

Abdulla Shahid, the president of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Tuesday clarified to WION that Myanmar did not speak at the assembly hall because it failed to make a request as per the protocols. Speaking exclusively to WION’s Executive Editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay, he sought to put to rest speculation that the country now under a military junta was not allowed to speak at the behest of US, China and Russia. Shahid said a committee will meet in November to decide whether Myanmar’s current UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun will be allowed to retain his seat. “No country has decided that Myanmar will not speak. We have a lot of procedures here which are being followed. There is a committee on credentials who are meeting in November and their report will be adopted by the general assembly. So, it is up to the membership of the UN to decide on these things,” Shahid said. "I received no request from Myanmar" UNGA President Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) speaks exclusively with WION's @palkisu on #Myanmar's exclusion from the list of speakers at #UNGA76, says "everyone who requested to speak were given the floor"#WIONatUNGA pic.twitter.com/J5d6Gb0MFN — WION (@WIONews) September 28, 2021 × When pointed out that Myanmar’s current UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun – appointed by Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government— was not allowed to address the assembly, Shahid said, “I am not aware of it. As the president of UNGA, I am not aware of anyone not allowing it. I am the person who either allows or doesn’t allow.” Also read | Myanmar won't address world at UN, ousted Afghan government will When the president was asked if the Myanmar representative make a request to address the UNGA, Shahid said, “There was no request from the Myanmar delegation to speak." "I just completed the general debate at the assembly hall and the list of speakers was exhausted. Meaning: Everyone who requested to speak were given the floor, in which 194 delegations spoke," he said, pointing out that Myanmar was the only one who did not make a request to speak. Also read | US says plot against Myanmar UN envoy fits 'disturbing pattern' There were reports that China, Russia and the United States had reached an understanding to prevent Kyaw Moe Tun from addressing the general assembly. Watch Kyaw Moe Tun is supported by the international community and has retained his seat at the United Nations following the February 1 military coup. In May, the junta had appointed a former general to replace him, but the United Nations has not yet approved the appointment. UN accreditation issues are dealt with by a nine-member committee, whose members include the US, China and Russia. It traditionally meets in October or November. Myanmar has been in turmoil since Aung San Suu Kyi’s government was overthrown by the military in February, sparking a nationwide uprising that the military has tried to crush. (With inputs from agencies)

Myanmar did not make a request to speak, UNGA president Abdulla Shahid clarifies to WION

Former US President Donald Trump's family company is in advanced talks to sell the rights to its iconic hotel in Washington DC In a deal worth over 370 million dollars.

Report: DC hotel concealed payments

The pentagon says US commitment to Taiwan is" rock solid" against the threat posed by China. U.S. commitment to the island nation comes after a recent spate of Chinese military flights, off the coast of Taiwan. Chinese jets & Xi Jinping's push for re-unification have raised tensions in the region.

US commitment to Taiwan is" rock solid" against threat posed by China

The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, two US&nbsp;officials said on Tuesday.

The rules, which will be formally announced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, will cover land borders and ferry crossings. They are similar but not identical to planned requirements announced last month for international air travelers, the officials said in a call with reporters.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydney-covid-19-cases-ease-further-as-focus-shifts-to-reviving-economy-420055">Sydney COVID-19 cases ease further as focus shifts to reviving economy</a>

Lawmakers from US border states praised the move to lift the unprecedented restrictions which harmed the economies of local communities and prevented visits to friends and families.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

Unvaccinated visitors will still be barred from entering the United States from Canada or Mexico at land borders.

The officials from President Joe Biden's administration emphasized that the White House would not lift the "Title 42" order put in place by former President Donald Trump's administration that has essentially cut off access to asylum for hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking to enter from Mexico.

The precise date in early November when the restrictions will be lifted on both land and air travel will be announced "very soon," one of the officials said, adding the that Biden administration was "creating a consistent stringent protocol for all foreign nationals traveling into the United States."

Canada on August&nbsp;9 began allowing fully vaccinated US&nbsp;visitors for non-essential travel.

Great Relife

Once the US curbs are lifted, non-essential foreign visitors crossing US&nbsp;land borders, such as tourists, will be able to visit if they are vaccinated. In early January, the United States will require essential visitors, like truck drivers, to be vaccinated to cross land borders, the officials said.

US&nbsp;lawmakers have been pushing the White House to lift restrictions that have barred non-essential travel by Canadians across the northern US&nbsp;border since March 2020, and many border communities have been hit hard by the closure. Mexico has also pressed the Biden administration to ease restrictions.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-120000-kids-in-us-lost-a-primary-caregiver-due-to-covid-19-419101">Over 120,000 kids in US lost a primary caregiver due to COVID-19</a>

Senator Maria Cantwell said the announcement "will provide great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada."

The White House announced on September&nbsp;20 that the United States in early November would lift travel restrictions on air travelers&nbsp;from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It also said it would extend the vaccine requirements to foreign air travelers from all other countries.

Foreign visitors crossing into the United States by land or ferry will need to be vaccinated but will not necessarily need to show proof of vaccination unless they are referred by US&nbsp;Customs and Border Patrol for secondary inspections.

By contrast, all non-US&nbsp;air travelers will need to show proof of vaccination before boarding a flight, and will need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Foreign visitors crossing a land border will not need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-national-guard-medical-teams-deployed-in-some-areas-in-california-amid-virus-surge-418338">US National Guard medical teams deployed in some areas in California amid virus surge</a>

On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the United States would accept&nbsp;the use by international visitors of COVID-19 vaccines authorized by US&nbsp;regulators or the World Health Organization.

One question unanswered is whether the United States will accept vaccines from visitors who received doses of two different COVID-19 vaccines. 
The US&nbsp;land border restrictions have not barred US&nbsp;citizens from returning home.

The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, two US officials said on Tuesday.

The United States will lift restrictions at its land borders with Canada and Mexico for fully vaccinated foreign nationals in early November, ending historic curbs on non-essential travelers in place since March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic, two US officials said on Tuesday. The rules, which will be formally announced by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, will cover land borders and ferry crossings. They are similar but not identical to planned requirements announced last month for international air travelers, the officials said in a call with reporters. Also Read | Sydney COVID-19 cases ease further as focus shifts to reviving economy Lawmakers from US border states praised the move to lift the unprecedented restrictions which harmed the economies of local communities and prevented visits to friends and families. "Since the beginning of the pandemic, members of our shared cross-border community have felt the pain and economic hardship of the land border closures. That pain is about to end," Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. Unvaccinated visitors will still be barred from entering the United States from Canada or Mexico at land borders. The officials from President Joe Biden's administration emphasized that the White House would not lift the "Title 42" order put in place by former President Donald Trump's administration that has essentially cut off access to asylum for hundreds of thousands of migrants seeking to enter from Mexico. The precise date in early November when the restrictions will be lifted on both land and air travel will be announced "very soon," one of the officials said, adding the that Biden administration was "creating a consistent stringent protocol for all foreign nationals traveling into the United States." Canada on August 9 began allowing fully vaccinated US visitors for non-essential travel. Great Relife Once the US curbs are lifted, non-essential foreign visitors crossing US land borders, such as tourists, will be able to visit if they are vaccinated. In early January, the United States will require essential visitors, like truck drivers, to be vaccinated to cross land borders, the officials said. US lawmakers have been pushing the White House to lift restrictions that have barred non-essential travel by Canadians across the northern US border since March 2020, and many border communities have been hit hard by the closure. Mexico has also pressed the Biden administration to ease restrictions. Also Read | Over 120,000 kids in US lost a primary caregiver due to COVID-19 Senator Maria Cantwell said the announcement "will provide great relief to those waiting to see friends and loved ones from Canada." The White House announced on September 20 that the United States in early November would lift travel restrictions on air travelers from 33 countries including China, India, Brazil and most of Europe who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. It also said it would extend the vaccine requirements to foreign air travelers from all other countries. Foreign visitors crossing into the United States by land or ferry will need to be vaccinated but will not necessarily need to show proof of vaccination unless they are referred by US Customs and Border Patrol for secondary inspections. By contrast, all non-US air travelers will need to show proof of vaccination before boarding a flight, and will need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Foreign visitors crossing a land border will not need to show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Also Read | US National Guard medical teams deployed in some areas in California amid virus surge On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the United States would accept the use by international visitors of COVID-19 vaccines authorized by US regulators or the World Health Organization. One question unanswered is whether the United States will accept vaccines from visitors who received doses of two different COVID-19 vaccines. The US land border restrictions have not barred US citizens from returning home.

US to lift Canada, Mexico land border restrictions in November for vaccinated visitors

Betting on increased holiday demand and lifting of travel bans, US carrier American airlines has estimated a smaller-than-expected adjusted loss for the third quarter and signaled improved bookings for the rest of the year.

US carrier American airlines estimates smaller-than-expected loss for third quarter

Daily exposure to phthalates, a group of chemicals used in everything from plastic containers to makeup, may lead to approximately 100,000 deaths in older Americans annually, a study from New York University warned Tuesday.

The chemicals, which can be found in hundreds of products such as toys, clothing and shampoo, have been known for decades to be "hormone disruptors," affecting a person's endocrine system.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/14-die-of-alcohol-poisoning-in-russia-419093">14 die of alcohol poisoning in Russia</a>

The toxins can enter the body through such items and are linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, said the study published in the journal Environmental Pollution.

The research, which was carried out by New York University's Grossman School of Medicine and includes some 5,000 adults aged 55 to 64, shows that those with higher concentrations of phthalates in their urine were more likely to die of heart disease.

However, higher concentrations did not appear to increase the risk of death by cancer.

"Our findings reveal that increased phthalate exposure is linked to early death, particularly due to heart disease," said study lead author Leonardo Trasande.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/merck-seeks-us-fdas-authorisation-for-covid-19-pill-420024">Merck seeks US FDA's authorisation for COVID-19 pill</a>

"Until now, we have understood that the chemicals connect to heart disease, and heart disease in turn is a leading cause of death, but we had not yet tied the chemicals themselves to death."

Trasande cautioned, however, that the study does not establish a direct cause and effect relationship between phthalate exposure and death, in part because the specific biological mechanisms of that relationship are unclear.

"Our research suggests that the toll of this chemical on society is much greater than we first thought," Trasande said, adding that it "is undeniably clear that limiting exposure to toxic phthalates can help safeguard Americans' physical and financial wellbeing."

Other studies have already linked phthalates to more than 10,000 deaths per year associated with reduced testosterone levels in adult men.

The study added that the economic loss due to phthalates is between $40 billion and $47 billion -- more than four times what was previously estimated.

Daily exposure to phthalates, a group of chemicals used in everything from plastic containers to makeup, may lead to approximately 100,000 deaths in older Americans annually, a study from New York University warned Tuesday.

Daily exposure to phthalates, a group of chemicals used in everything from plastic containers to makeup, may lead to approximately 100,000 deaths in older Americans annually, a study from New York University warned Tuesday. The chemicals, which can be found in hundreds of products such as toys, clothing and shampoo, have been known for decades to be "hormone disruptors," affecting a person's endocrine system. Also Read | 14 die of alcohol poisoning in Russia The toxins can enter the body through such items and are linked to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, said the study published in the journal Environmental Pollution. The research, which was carried out by New York University's Grossman School of Medicine and includes some 5,000 adults aged 55 to 64, shows that those with higher concentrations of phthalates in their urine were more likely to die of heart disease. However, higher concentrations did not appear to increase the risk of death by cancer. "Our findings reveal that increased phthalate exposure is linked to early death, particularly due to heart disease," said study lead author Leonardo Trasande. Also Read | Merck seeks US FDA's authorisation for COVID-19 pill "Until now, we have understood that the chemicals connect to heart disease, and heart disease in turn is a leading cause of death, but we had not yet tied the chemicals themselves to death." Trasande cautioned, however, that the study does not establish a direct cause and effect relationship between phthalate exposure and death, in part because the specific biological mechanisms of that relationship are unclear. "Our research suggests that the toll of this chemical on society is much greater than we first thought," Trasande said, adding that it "is undeniably clear that limiting exposure to toxic phthalates can help safeguard Americans' physical and financial wellbeing." Other studies have already linked phthalates to more than 10,000 deaths per year associated with reduced testosterone levels in adult men. The study added that the economic loss due to phthalates is between $40 billion and $47 billion -- more than four times what was previously estimated.

Widely used chemical linked to 100,000 US deaths per year: Study

The United States is working to expand normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab nations, known as the Abraham Accords, and hopes restoring such ties can be leveraged to advance progress on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, senior State Department officials said on Tuesday.

In a briefing with reporters previewing US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meetings on Wednesday with his Israeli and Emirati counterparts, officials repeated that the Abraham Accords were not a substitute for the two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-uae-ministers-in-us-as-biden-seeks-to-expand-normalisation-420266">&nbsp;Israel, UAE ministers in US as Biden seeks to expand normalisation&nbsp;</a>

"We continue to welcome the economic cooperation between Israel and all countries in the region. We hope that normalisation can be leveraged to advance progress on the Israeli-Palestinian tracks," a senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity said.

Blinken will first meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan separately at the State Department on Wednesday. He will then host a trilateral meeting with both of them, the first of its kind.

The leaders of Israel, the UAE and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords at the White House last September. The following month, Israel and Sudan announced they would normalize relations, and Morocco established diplomatic ties with Israel in December, after US&nbsp;President Joe Biden defeated his predecessor Donald Trump in the election.

Palestinian officials said they felt betrayed by their Arab brethren for reaching deals with Israel without first demanding progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state. Until last year, only two Arab states - Egypt and Jordan - had forged full ties with Israel.

The US&nbsp;officials did not say precisely how Washington aimed to use the normalisation agreements as a tool to make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-judges-approval-of-quiet-jewish-prayer-at-al-aqsa-stirs-anger-419092">&nbsp;Israeli judge's approval of 'quiet' Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa stirs anger</a>

"Biden administration has started out with a clear commitment to the two-state solution. We continue on with that commitment. We seek to advance as we can, when we can, as best we can," one of the US&nbsp;officials said.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a nationalist atop a cross-partisan coalition, opposes Palestinian statehood.

The three countries will also be setting up two new working groups at the meeting, US&nbsp;officials said, with one group focusing on religious coexistence and the other on water and energy issues.

"These working groups will seek to realise that promise to link up to important US&nbsp;partners in the region and find new ways to solve old problems together, in Israel and the UAE but also across the region," one of the US&nbsp;officials said.

The United States is working to expand normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab nations, known as the Abraham Accords, and hopes restoring such ties can be leveraged to advance progress on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, senior State Department officials said on Tuesday.

The United States is working to expand normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab nations, known as the Abraham Accords, and hopes restoring such ties can be leveraged to advance progress on the Israeli and Palestinian conflict, senior State Department officials said on Tuesday. In a briefing with reporters previewing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's meetings on Wednesday with his Israeli and Emirati counterparts, officials repeated that the Abraham Accords were not a substitute for the two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. Also Read | Israel, UAE ministers in US as Biden seeks to expand normalisation "We continue to welcome the economic cooperation between Israel and all countries in the region. We hope that normalisation can be leveraged to advance progress on the Israeli-Palestinian tracks," a senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity said. Blinken will first meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan separately at the State Department on Wednesday. He will then host a trilateral meeting with both of them, the first of its kind. The leaders of Israel, the UAE and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords at the White House last September. The following month, Israel and Sudan announced they would normalize relations, and Morocco established diplomatic ties with Israel in December, after US President Joe Biden defeated his predecessor Donald Trump in the election. Palestinian officials said they felt betrayed by their Arab brethren for reaching deals with Israel without first demanding progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state. Until last year, only two Arab states - Egypt and Jordan - had forged full ties with Israel. The US officials did not say precisely how Washington aimed to use the normalisation agreements as a tool to make progress on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. Also Read | Israeli judge's approval of 'quiet' Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa stirs anger "Biden administration has started out with a clear commitment to the two-state solution. We continue on with that commitment. We seek to advance as we can, when we can, as best we can," one of the US officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a nationalist atop a cross-partisan coalition, opposes Palestinian statehood. The three countries will also be setting up two new working groups at the meeting, US officials said, with one group focusing on religious coexistence and the other on water and energy issues. "These working groups will seek to realise that promise to link up to important US partners in the region and find new ways to solve old problems together, in Israel and the UAE but also across the region," one of the US officials said.

US hopes Abraham Accords will help Israeli-Palestinian issue: Officials

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell on Tuesday called on Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to preserve all documents related to a testimony last week from company whistleblower Frances Haugen.

"The testimony&nbsp;raises significant concerns about whether Facebook has misled the public, federal regulators, and this committee," said Cantwell, a Democrat.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-backed-group-launches-misinformation-adjudication-panel-in-australia-419803">Facebook-backed group launches misinformation adjudication panel in Australia</a>

"This committee will continue its oversight and work to pursue legislation to protect consumers’ privacy, improve data security, and strengthen federal enforcement to address the digital harms that are the subject of these hearings."

She asked Facebook to preserve and retain internal Facebook research referenced by Haugen and Facebook’s evaluation of the research; ranking or composition systems; experiments or recommendations to change those ranking systems and the impact of Facebook’s platforms on children and teenagers under the age of 18.

Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said in response the company has "absolutely no commercial incentive, no moral incentive, no company-wide incentive to do anything other than to try to give the maximum number of people as much of a positive experience as possible on Facebook."

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/here-for-the-articles-pornhub-goes-up-as-facebook-servers-were-down-419167">&nbsp;'Here for the articles': Pornhub goes up as Facebook servers were down</a>

Cantwell's letter cited "the potential danger that social media platforms pose for spreading divisive content was demonstrated, with horrifying consequences, by the role the Facebook platform played in fomenting ethnic violence against the Rohingya."

She added "the role of Facebook’s platform in the Rohingya tragedy illustrates the horrible consequences that failing to effectively limit the spread of divisive content on social media platforms can have in inflicting public harm."

Last month, a US&nbsp;judge ordered Facebook to release records of accounts connected to anti-Rohingya violence in Myanmar that the social media giant had shut down, rejecting its argument about protecting privacy as "rich with irony."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-instagram-stop-working-yet-again-twitterati-open-bag-of-memes-419307">Facebook, Instagram stop working yet again; Twitterati open bag of memes</a>

Last week, the Commerce Committee harshly criticized Facebook, accusing Zuckerberg of pushing for higher profits while being cavalier about user safety, and demanded regulators investigate whistleblower accusations that the social media company harms children's mental health and stokes divisions.

Zuckerberg defended the company, saying the accusations were at odds with Facebook's goals.

Haugen called for transparency about how Facebook entices users to keep scrolling, creating ample opportunity for advertisers to reach them.

Haugen, a former product manager on Facebook's civic misinformation team, left the nearly $1 trillion company with tens of thousands of confidential documents.

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell on Tuesday called on Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to preserve all documents related to a testimony last week from company whistleblower Frances Haugen.

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell on Tuesday called on Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg to preserve all documents related to a testimony last week from company whistleblower Frances Haugen. "The testimony raises significant concerns about whether Facebook has misled the public, federal regulators, and this committee," said Cantwell, a Democrat. Also Read | Facebook-backed group launches misinformation adjudication panel in Australia "This committee will continue its oversight and work to pursue legislation to protect consumers’ privacy, improve data security, and strengthen federal enforcement to address the digital harms that are the subject of these hearings." She asked Facebook to preserve and retain internal Facebook research referenced by Haugen and Facebook’s evaluation of the research; ranking or composition systems; experiments or recommendations to change those ranking systems and the impact of Facebook’s platforms on children and teenagers under the age of 18. Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said in response the company has "absolutely no commercial incentive, no moral incentive, no company-wide incentive to do anything other than to try to give the maximum number of people as much of a positive experience as possible on Facebook." Also Read | 'Here for the articles': Pornhub goes up as Facebook servers were down Cantwell's letter cited "the potential danger that social media platforms pose for spreading divisive content was demonstrated, with horrifying consequences, by the role the Facebook platform played in fomenting ethnic violence against the Rohingya." She added "the role of Facebook’s platform in the Rohingya tragedy illustrates the horrible consequences that failing to effectively limit the spread of divisive content on social media platforms can have in inflicting public harm." Last month, a US judge ordered Facebook to release records of accounts connected to anti-Rohingya violence in Myanmar that the social media giant had shut down, rejecting its argument about protecting privacy as "rich with irony." Also Read | Facebook, Instagram stop working yet again; Twitterati open bag of memes Last week, the Commerce Committee harshly criticized Facebook, accusing Zuckerberg of pushing for higher profits while being cavalier about user safety, and demanded regulators investigate whistleblower accusations that the social media company harms children's mental health and stokes divisions. Zuckerberg defended the company, saying the accusations were at odds with Facebook's goals. Haugen called for transparency about how Facebook entices users to keep scrolling, creating ample opportunity for advertisers to reach them. Haugen, a former product manager on Facebook's civic misinformation team, left the nearly $1 trillion company with tens of thousands of confidential documents.

US senator asks Facebook CEO to retain documents linked to testimony

After accepting an award in Lisbon, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she thinks a lot about what she would be doing if she "ruled the world". &nbsp;

The remark came on Monday after the California Democrat accepted the Women For Peace and Security Award at the 67th annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-uae-ministers-in-us-as-biden-seeks-to-expand-normalisation-420266">Israel, UAE ministers in US as Biden seeks to expand normalisation&nbsp;</a>

Pelosi said, “When people ask me, ‘If you ruled the world, what one thing would you do?’ — I think about that a lot. It would be to prioritise the education of women and girls ... It would make the biggest difference not only in their lives, their families, their communities but to the world.” &nbsp;

“Because we truly do believe that when women succeed, America succeeds — or any country succeeds. But globally, we all succeed,” the leader said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-governor-bars-all-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-in-state-rips-biden-for-bullying-420106" hreflang="en">Texas governor bars all COVID-19 vaccine mandates in state, rips Biden for 'bullying'</a>

The speaker looks to display the award at her office in the US Capitol. &nbsp;

Pelosi added, "I will display with great pride in the Speaker's Office in the Capitol as a constant reminder and inspiration of the work that you do and the importance of parliaments in the work of security, the economy, governance — the issues that brought us here today." &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After accepting an award in Lisbon, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she thinks a lot about what she would be doing if she "ruled the world". The remark came on Monday after the California Democrat accepted the Women For Peace and Security Award at the 67th annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal.

After accepting an award in Lisbon, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she thinks a lot about what she would be doing if she "ruled the world". The remark came on Monday after the California Democrat accepted the Women For Peace and Security Award at the 67th annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Lisbon, Portugal. Also Read: Israel, UAE ministers in US as Biden seeks to expand normalisation Pelosi said, “When people ask me, ‘If you ruled the world, what one thing would you do?’ — I think about that a lot. It would be to prioritise the education of women and girls ... It would make the biggest difference not only in their lives, their families, their communities but to the world.” “Because we truly do believe that when women succeed, America succeeds — or any country succeeds. But globally, we all succeed,” the leader said. Also Read: Texas governor bars all COVID-19 vaccine mandates in state, rips Biden for 'bullying' The speaker looks to display the award at her office in the US Capitol. Pelosi added, "I will display with great pride in the Speaker's Office in the Capitol as a constant reminder and inspiration of the work that you do and the importance of parliaments in the work of security, the economy, governance — the issues that brought us here today." (With inputs from agencies)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thinks ‘a lot’ about what to do if she 'ruled the world'

The Pentagon says US commitment to Taiwan is" rock solid" against the threat posed by China. U.S commitment to the island nation comes after a recent spate of Chinese military flights, off the coast of Taiwan. Chinese jets & Xi Jinping's push for re-unification have raised tensions in the region.

Pentagon states US commitment to Taiwan "rock solid"

The Indian envoy to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu in an interaction with Wion's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal said that the "character and content" of Indo US relationship is very substantial. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden's "chemistry was very much visible" during the former's Washington visit.

Envoy Sandhu said that PM Modi's US visit in September was "landmark visit in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance". Key focus during the bilateral was on Covid, trade, Afghanistan, defense.

In-person meet between Biden and Modi was first such meeting after the new administration took charge in Washington earlier this year.

Sandhu pointed out the increased engagements between the 2 sides including the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, United States' Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael M Gilday India visit, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's US visit.&nbsp;

He said, "no area of human endeavor that is untouched by this important partnership".&nbsp;

Both sides will soon be part annual 2+2 foreign and defense ministers meet in US towards the end of the year.&nbsp; 
Sandhu also slammed Pakistan, saying, "events in Afghanistan have only exposed them even more".&nbsp;

Pakistan's support to cross border terror has been key part of India, US conversations.

Wion: How do u describe the visit of PM. In terms of outcome?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Let's start off with PM's visit, It was a very important landmark visit in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance. You are aware of the background of the visit, COVID-19. You yourself were here.&nbsp;

There were regional and global developments, and despite all this the summit took place and showed commitment of the leadership.&nbsp;

In this, I may say very clearly 7 elements of the visit--It was the first in-person bilateral summit with President Biden, first in-person meeting with Vice President Harris, first in-person Quad leaders' summit, bilateralS with Japan and Australia, focus meeting with top CEOs, return of Indian antiquities and finally the address to the United Nations (UN).&nbsp;

Let me come to the bilateral, there were very clear 10 takeaways, first Of course, in COVID-19 health care which was very much in focus, then on climate -- We heard the concept of trusteeship with PM underlining climate finance, transfer of technology. 3rd issue was cyber in which promoting critical infrastructure, building capacities was discussed. Then there was the tech talk in which (there was discussion about) expanding partnership in new domains including emerging technologies, health security, space, semi-conductors, AI, 5G, 6G, future generation telecom technology, blockchain etc.&nbsp;

Then there was trade, mechanism like trade policy forum, commercial dialogue, high technology working group, economic and financing dialogue are coming into play and they will enhance trade and economic cooperation and not to forget, that movement of skilled professionals, students, investors. This was priority in the enhanced bilateral economic and technology partnership. 6th was defense and 7th was terrorism in which cross border terrorism, Mumbai attacks, use of terrorist proxies, working together to deny logical financial military support to terrorism, all this was covered.&nbsp;

8th was Afghanistan, 9th was international organisations in which India's UNSC and NSG membership, these all came in.&nbsp;

Finally the antiquities. In that, I want to underline, that in the joint statement and President committed to strengthening effort to combat the theft, trafficking of cultural objects. Return took place under that. So what I said in the beginning, in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance, it was a very significant visit.&nbsp;

Wion: In terms of PM Modi-President Biden meet, how does it give an impetus to India-US ties?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Sidhant, It was a very important meeting both in terms of signalling, and messaging. Substance, I have mentioned. The 10 takeaways.&nbsp;

It was a very warm and positive meeting, I just want bring to your attention, skeptics for long have been saying that once Biden administration comes there will be a change of tone, but I think the chemistry was very much to be seen by all, and I must add here that in both the meetings--bilateral and Quad, the chemistry was very visible, not only to all of us but also other leaders who were there. In this I would say, it is that trust and partnership is the key. Both sides have the basic trust, and if you permit me to say, the bipartisan character of the relationship is again being shown here. I have been part of the relationship for last 20 years and I have been underlining this, I have seen this grow. This has been very reflective, this interaction, this chemistry, and mind you, they have earlier interacted in 2014, 2016 but this clearly showed both are very committed to taking the relationship ahead. As PM Modi himself said, that this is a decade of transformative relation and he underlined 5 Ts--Tradition, Technology, Trade, Trusteeship and Talent.&nbsp;

Challenges have been international in nature; it is more imperative to work together. For example, COVID-19 surge. You have seen India and US, they have helped each other and this has been recognized by President Biden himself. Clearly reflected that this chemistry and this meeting will play significant role in giving indication to what is to come in future.&nbsp;

Wion: What more is expected in the relationship. We have seen visit of US official to India, and Indian officials to US. More such visits on the anvil?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: It is not wrong to say, no area of human endeavor that is untouched by this important partnership. In this, healthcare, IT, emerging technologies, energy, environment, education, infrastructure, knowledge partnership, supply chain etc are involved.&nbsp;

We have seen in joint statement; all of these have been covered. Take a look at first 6 months itself, after Biden administration took over, there have been in-person meets, the bilateral, Quad. There have been 4 virtual summits-- Quad, climate, COVID, G20 and there were 4 telephonic calls between PM and president and vice president.&nbsp;

Several other engagements, at EAM level, NSA, various cabinet ministers have been talking with their counterpart.&nbsp;

In fact, the commerce minister had interaction with his counterpart in Italy, and as you pointed out the finance minister is very much in US and has had several meetings in Boston and will be coming later this evening to Washington DC. From US side, number of visits-- Secretary of State Blinken has visited,(Defence) Secy Austin and Secy Kerry have visited. Deputy NSA has visited and one of the seniormost and most experienced diplomats, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman just recently visited India.&nbsp;

Just between the time PM has left, we had a very substantial finance minister-level interaction coming in. Not only because of World Bank meetings, but also because of meetings at bilateral level. She is interacting with number of key investment and business counterparts here and there will be roundtable with number of investors.&nbsp;

We had the visit of CDS and the defense secretary, the defense policy group has met and from US to India, health dialogue has taken place. Industrial security agreement has taken place, then deputy USTR has visited. As you asked what is scheduled, the economic and financial partnership dialogue will happen this week. The chief of naval staff of US is visiting India, then we have Malabar phase 2 exercises, then we have the Yudh Abhyas, the Vajra Prahar, the trade policy forum expected to happen. The 2+2 ministerial dialogue in December, and finally the commercial dialogue, the CEO forum, they all plan in coming months. So, lot of action in coming days. ​

Wion: Wendy Sherman in her remarks said, no interest in returning to days of a hyphenated India and Pak visit is for a narrow and specific purpose. What do u make of the comments?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: I think the remark speak of themselves; I think it is very important to take them as they have been stated.&nbsp;

This is also reflected in number of similar statements from across the board from the US--from the administration, the US Congress, think tanks, media and public at large. It is very significant to understand the length and depth of this relationship between US and India. Everyone here knows, and have been speaking about the character of Pakistan. The events in Afghanistan have only exposed them even more.&nbsp;

On the other hand, please look at the character and content of relationship with India, which is very different. There is substantial cooperation, much deeper and wider, not only in counter-terrorism, take a look at joint statement on counter-terrorism. But as I have indicated to u, the joint statement covered Mumbai, cross-border terrorism, terrorist proxies, denying logistical financial military support but as I have said, look at the depth of our relationship. Health care, IT, digital, emerging technologies, energy, education and knowledge partnership. That speaks for themselves.&nbsp;

Wion: In terms of Quad, where do u see the grouping? Will India host the Quad summit?

Taranjit Singh Sandhu: See Sidhant, as I indicated earlier that they are global challenges and they are therefore requirement of like-minded partners coming together.&nbsp;

I think, Quad is a reflection of that. There have been intensifying engagements. In 2019, the foreign ministers meet, first virtual summit took place in March 2021, and that time President Biden had clearly indicated that he would like to hold first in-person summit by end of this year. You saw, by September the first in-person summit took place despite all the challenges, particularly of the COVID. You were here and have seen the situation.&nbsp;

Here, as far as Quad is concerned, the first virtual summit laid out 3 practical areas of cooperation--those are very very clear and grounded areas.&nbsp;

First was COVID-19 vaccines, in which 1 billion vaccines by 2022, and mind you these will be produced in India.&nbsp; 
It is creating capacity in India and that is very much on board. In climate change and critical technology, this summit reviewed all this and took stock of the situation and further deepen it. In this summit, leaders have expanded the scope to include new areas and important amongst them is space which includes exchange of satellite data, tackling climate change, sustainable uses of ocean, marine resources, and responding to challenges in shared domains.&nbsp;

In cyber security, workforce talent and secure and trustworthy digital infrastructure itself. There will be effort by all 4 countries to map out infrastructure needs, technical assistance and promoting sustainable infrastructure development and not to forget-- for the first-time education has been part of the Quad initiative. There is Quad fellowship in Quad areas, and I don't need to remind you, among the 200,000 Indian students in US 2/3 are in STEM areas. These all areas, are practical, people-oriented and underpinned by mutual respect, cooperation for global common good. As PM Modi has himself highlighted, that this is a force for global good. India is going to play a significant role in all these areas. About the annual meeting, the Quad joint statement itself mentions, they are committed and they will be meeting regularly.&nbsp;

The Indian envoy to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu in an interaction with Wion's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal said that the "character and content" of Indo US relationship is very substantial.

The Indian envoy to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu in an interaction with Wion's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal said that the "character and content" of Indo US relationship is very substantial. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden's "chemistry was very much visible" during the former's Washington visit. Envoy Sandhu said that PM Modi's US visit in September was "landmark visit in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance". Key focus during the bilateral was on Covid, trade, Afghanistan, defense. In-person meet between Biden and Modi was first such meeting after the new administration took charge in Washington earlier this year. Sandhu pointed out the increased engagements between the 2 sides including the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, United States' Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael M Gilday India visit, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's US visit. He said, "no area of human endeavor that is untouched by this important partnership". Both sides will soon be part annual 2+2 foreign and defense ministers meet in US towards the end of the year. Sandhu also slammed Pakistan, saying, "events in Afghanistan have only exposed them even more". Pakistan's support to cross border terror has been key part of India, US conversations. Wion: How do u describe the visit of PM. In terms of outcome? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Let's start off with PM's visit, It was a very important landmark visit in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance. You are aware of the background of the visit, COVID-19. You yourself were here. There were regional and global developments, and despite all this the summit took place and showed commitment of the leadership. In this, I may say very clearly 7 elements of the visit--It was the first in-person bilateral summit with President Biden, first in-person meeting with Vice President Harris, first in-person Quad leaders' summit, bilateralS with Japan and Australia, focus meeting with top CEOs, return of Indian antiquities and finally the address to the United Nations (UN). Let me come to the bilateral, there were very clear 10 takeaways, first Of course, in COVID-19 health care which was very much in focus, then on climate -- We heard the concept of trusteeship with PM underlining climate finance, transfer of technology. 3rd issue was cyber in which promoting critical infrastructure, building capacities was discussed. Then there was the tech talk in which (there was discussion about) expanding partnership in new domains including emerging technologies, health security, space, semi-conductors, AI, 5G, 6G, future generation telecom technology, blockchain etc. Then there was trade, mechanism like trade policy forum, commercial dialogue, high technology working group, economic and financing dialogue are coming into play and they will enhance trade and economic cooperation and not to forget, that movement of skilled professionals, students, investors. This was priority in the enhanced bilateral economic and technology partnership. 6th was defense and 7th was terrorism in which cross border terrorism, Mumbai attacks, use of terrorist proxies, working together to deny logical financial military support to terrorism, all this was covered. 8th was Afghanistan, 9th was international organisations in which India's UNSC and NSG membership, these all came in. Finally the antiquities. In that, I want to underline, that in the joint statement and President committed to strengthening effort to combat the theft, trafficking of cultural objects. Return took place under that. So what I said in the beginning, in terms of symbolism, atmospherics, substance, it was a very significant visit. Wion: In terms of PM Modi-President Biden meet, how does it give an impetus to India-US ties? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: Sidhant, It was a very important meeting both in terms of signalling, and messaging. Substance, I have mentioned. The 10 takeaways. It was a very warm and positive meeting, I just want bring to your attention, skeptics for long have been saying that once Biden administration comes there will be a change of tone, but I think the chemistry was very much to be seen by all, and I must add here that in both the meetings--bilateral and Quad, the chemistry was very visible, not only to all of us but also other leaders who were there. In this I would say, it is that trust and partnership is the key. Both sides have the basic trust, and if you permit me to say, the bipartisan character of the relationship is again being shown here. I have been part of the relationship for last 20 years and I have been underlining this, I have seen this grow. This has been very reflective, this interaction, this chemistry, and mind you, they have earlier interacted in 2014, 2016 but this clearly showed both are very committed to taking the relationship ahead. As PM Modi himself said, that this is a decade of transformative relation and he underlined 5 Ts--Tradition, Technology, Trade, Trusteeship and Talent. Challenges have been international in nature; it is more imperative to work together. For example, COVID-19 surge. You have seen India and US, they have helped each other and this has been recognized by President Biden himself. Clearly reflected that this chemistry and this meeting will play significant role in giving indication to what is to come in future. Wion: What more is expected in the relationship. We have seen visit of US official to India, and Indian officials to US. More such visits on the anvil? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: It is not wrong to say, no area of human endeavor that is untouched by this important partnership. In this, healthcare, IT, emerging technologies, energy, environment, education, infrastructure, knowledge partnership, supply chain etc are involved. We have seen in joint statement; all of these have been covered. Take a look at first 6 months itself, after Biden administration took over, there have been in-person meets, the bilateral, Quad. There have been 4 virtual summits-- Quad, climate, COVID, G20 and there were 4 telephonic calls between PM and president and vice president. Several other engagements, at EAM level, NSA, various cabinet ministers have been talking with their counterpart. In fact, the commerce minister had interaction with his counterpart in Italy, and as you pointed out the finance minister is very much in US and has had several meetings in Boston and will be coming later this evening to Washington DC. From US side, number of visits-- Secretary of State Blinken has visited,(Defence) Secy Austin and Secy Kerry have visited. Deputy NSA has visited and one of the seniormost and most experienced diplomats, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman just recently visited India. Just between the time PM has left, we had a very substantial finance minister-level interaction coming in. Not only because of World Bank meetings, but also because of meetings at bilateral level. She is interacting with number of key investment and business counterparts here and there will be roundtable with number of investors. We had the visit of CDS and the defense secretary, the defense policy group has met and from US to India, health dialogue has taken place. Industrial security agreement has taken place, then deputy USTR has visited. As you asked what is scheduled, the economic and financial partnership dialogue will happen this week. The chief of naval staff of US is visiting India, then we have Malabar phase 2 exercises, then we have the Yudh Abhyas, the Vajra Prahar, the trade policy forum expected to happen. The 2+2 ministerial dialogue in December, and finally the commercial dialogue, the CEO forum, they all plan in coming months. So, lot of action in coming days. Wion: Wendy Sherman in her remarks said, no interest in returning to days of a hyphenated India and Pak visit is for a narrow and specific purpose. What do u make of the comments? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: I think the remark speak of themselves; I think it is very important to take them as they have been stated. This is also reflected in number of similar statements from across the board from the US--from the administration, the US Congress, think tanks, media and public at large. It is very significant to understand the length and depth of this relationship between US and India. Everyone here knows, and have been speaking about the character of Pakistan. The events in Afghanistan have only exposed them even more. On the other hand, please look at the character and content of relationship with India, which is very different. There is substantial cooperation, much deeper and wider, not only in counter-terrorism, take a look at joint statement on counter-terrorism. But as I have indicated to u, the joint statement covered Mumbai, cross-border terrorism, terrorist proxies, denying logistical financial military support but as I have said, look at the depth of our relationship. Health care, IT, digital, emerging technologies, energy, education and knowledge partnership. That speaks for themselves. Wion: In terms of Quad, where do u see the grouping? Will India host the Quad summit? Taranjit Singh Sandhu: See Sidhant, as I indicated earlier that they are global challenges and they are therefore requirement of like-minded partners coming together. I think, Quad is a reflection of that. There have been intensifying engagements. In 2019, the foreign ministers meet, first virtual summit took place in March 2021, and that time President Biden had clearly indicated that he would like to hold first in-person summit by end of this year. You saw, by September the first in-person summit took place despite all the challenges, particularly of the COVID. You were here and have seen the situation. Here, as far as Quad is concerned, the first virtual summit laid out 3 practical areas of cooperation--those are very very clear and grounded areas. First was COVID-19 vaccines, in which 1 billion vaccines by 2022, and mind you these will be produced in India. It is creating capacity in India and that is very much on board. In climate change and critical technology, this summit reviewed all this and took stock of the situation and further deepen it. In this summit, leaders have expanded the scope to include new areas and important amongst them is space which includes exchange of satellite data, tackling climate change, sustainable uses of ocean, marine resources, and responding to challenges in shared domains. In cyber security, workforce talent and secure and trustworthy digital infrastructure itself. There will be effort by all 4 countries to map out infrastructure needs, technical assistance and promoting sustainable infrastructure development and not to forget-- for the first-time education has been part of the Quad initiative. There is Quad fellowship in Quad areas, and I don't need to remind you, among the 200,000 Indian students in US 2/3 are in STEM areas. These all areas, are practical, people-oriented and underpinned by mutual respect, cooperation for global common good. As PM Modi has himself highlighted, that this is a force for global good. India is going to play a significant role in all these areas. About the annual meeting, the Quad joint statement itself mentions, they are committed and they will be meeting regularly.

Character and content of India-US relations substantial: Indian Envoy to US Taranjit Sandhu

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Character and content of India-US relations substantial: Indian Envoy to US Taranjit Sandhu