US NATIONAL

US deepening its relationship with India in several areas, says official

Patel said that he imagines there will be a number of additional areas where the two countries could continue to deepen cooperation. "National Security Adviser Sullivan just had a visit to Delhi a number of weeks ago as well," he said.

'Extremely dangerous' Hurricane Beryl intensifies in Caribbean, eyeing Jamaica

Hurricane Beryl intensified to a Category 4 storm with winds up to 155 mph, moving across the southeastern Caribbean on Monday. Jamaica is near its path, prompting a hurricane warning. The storm has caused power outages and flooding in several Caribbean islands. Beryl is expected to bring heavy rain to Barbados and the Windward Islands. Climate change is believed to be intensifying such storms, contributing to an unusually active hurricane season. Jamaica and Mexico are preparing for Beryl's impact, with warnings of potential flash flooding and infrastructure damage.

Asian stocks fluctuate as traders weigh Trump win

Asian stocks fluctuated amid US election uncertainty. Markets in Japan, Australia, and South Korea remained stable. Yields on 10-year Treasuries held steady. Wall Street edged higher with tech megacaps leading the rally. The Democratic National Committee considers early Biden nomination. Supreme Court ruling on Trump's immunity affects the election. Fiscal deficit policies are investors' focus.

US Presidential Election 2024: Can Joe Biden be replaced by the Democrats? What are the political consequences of this move?

There is a demand by some Democrats to replace incumbent US President Joe Biden as the official presidential nominee of the Democratic Party after his “terrible” performance on Thursday during the first US presidential debate. The party which will hold its national convention in August may find it difficult to replace a candidate who has overwhelmingly won the primaries. The rules are vague and there are several political consequences denying a nomination to a sitting president.

The Saipan surprise: How delicate talks led to the unlikely end of Julian Assange's 12-year saga

About a year and a half ago, a lawyer for Julian Assange presented federal prosecutors in Virginia with a request to dismiss the case against him. This move was notable given Assange's publication of hundreds of thousands of secret documents and his status as perhaps the highest-profile detainee facing a U.S. extradition request. The Justice Department was involved in a battle in British courts to extradite him to the United States for trial.

Why will NASA pay SpaceX $843 million to plunge ISS into Pacific Ocean? Will it not burn up while making re-entry to Earth?

National Aeronautics and Space Agency has asked Elon Musk-owned company SpaceX to develop the ‘US Deorbit Vehicle’ that will lead the US sections of the ISS to its death when its time is over. But why? It could leave it to burn up while making re-entry to the Earth.

We oppose unilateral actions to change status quo by force: India on fresh tensions in South China Sea

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke to his Filipino counterpart Eduardo M Ano this week following the fresh tensions in the South China Sea. Sullivan and Ano discussed shared concerns over China's "dangerous and escalatory actions against the Philippines' lawful maritime operations near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, a White House readout said.

US sanctions Boeing for sharing information about 737 Max 9 investigation

US investigators are sanctioning Boeing for sharing unauthorised information about a federal investigation into a door plug blowout on a Boeing 737 Max 9. The National Transportation Safety Board accused Boeing of violating investigative regulations by providing non-public information to the media and speculating about possible causes of the incident. Boeing's recent actions have led to sanctions, including restricted access to investigative information and a subpoena to appear at an investigative hearing in August.

China calls on scientists of all nations to study lunar samples, but notes obstacle with the US

China's space officials announced that scientists worldwide could apply to study lunar rock samples from the Chang'e 6 mission. Cooperation, however, excludes the U.S. due to the Wolf Amendment, which restricts direct bilateral collaboration with NASA. China welcomes international scientists but refrains from revealing specific sample details pending further announcements. Future plans include lunar and planetary exploration missions.

WikiLeaks founder Assange strikes US plea deal, to be a ‘free man’

He flew out of London to travel to the Northern Mariana Islands, a US territory in the Pacific where he will plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy to obtain and disseminate national defence information, according to a court document.

Spiller of beans, and State vs open society

Wikileaks demonstrated the immense power governments, even in liberal democracies, have over their citizens and the extent to which a state will go to protect that power. Assange made us confront the ease with which governments use 'national security' as a default rabbit to be pulled out of the hat.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to plead guilty in espionage act case in US court, will be freed from prison

Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, will plead guilty to conspiring to obtain and disseminate classified US defense information under a deal with the US Justice Department. This agreement concludes a decade-long legal battle involving multiple countries. Assange will appear in a federal court in the Mariana Islands to enter his plea, after which he will return to Australia. The case has sparked significant debates over press freedom and national security.

A new $72,000 migrant smuggling route to the US starts with a charter flight, and many Indians are waiting to board

Indian nationals on a Legend Airlines flight faced challenges in El Salvador as they attempted to reach the U.S. via Mexico. The incident sheds light on a new phase of illegal immigration through intercontinental smuggling routes, impacting U.S. border policies and migrants' journeys.

Enemy within? China is buying land around American military bases

China's proximity to military bases within the US, including a nuclear missile base in Wyoming, raises national security concerns. The US government blocked a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining firm from owning land near Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, citing it as a 'national security risk'. The order required the divestment of property operated as a crypto mining facility near the base.

US PMI data triggers sharp decline in gold prices

Gold prices surged to a two-week high of $2,366 following a second rate cut by the Swiss National Bank and weaker US data. Traders anticipate a move by the US Federal Reserve, especially after the European Central Bank's rate cut.

Indian national Nikhil Gupta extradited in Pannun foiled murder plot: What's the impact on Indo-US ties?

Indian national Nikhil Gupta extradited to the US from Czech Republic for alleged foiled plot to murder Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, involving hitman hired by Indian government official. US Department of Justice claims Pannun targeted for exercising freedom of speech. Extradition coincided with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to India, overshadowing iCET talks.

US proposes targeted restrictions for AI, tech investment in China

The U.S. proposed rules to regulate investments in China to prevent sensitive technology development, supported by Treasury Assistant Secretary Paul Rosen.

Kremlin slams US ban on cybersecurity firm Kaspersky

The Kremlin on Friday criticised the US decision to ban Moscow's cybersecurity firm Kaspersky over security concerns as creating "unfair competition" from American companies. "Kaspersky Lab is a company which is very, very competitive on the international level," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky denies it's a hazard after the US Commerce Dept bans its software

The Moscow-based company - whose CEO Eugene Kaspersky is Russian - said in a statement that the Commerce Department's decision would not affect its ability to sell and promote its cyber security products and training in the U.S. Kaspersky said the government had based its decision on the "geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns" rather than independently verifying if there was a risk.

"I don't have more to add..." White House refrains from commenting on Khalistani terrorist Pannun

The White House declined to comment on whether the plot to kill pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was discussed during National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan's meetings in India. National Security Spokesperson John Kirby emphasized the focus on deepening US-India relations, particularly in emerging technology. Sullivan's visit to Delhi marked the first trip by a senior Biden Administration official after the Modi government's third-term victory. Meanwhile, Indian national Nikhil Gupta, extradited to the US, faces charges related to the alleged plot against Pannun.

Jaishankar meets US National Security Advisor Sullivan in Delhi, discusses bilateral, global issues

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in New Delhi on Monday to discuss a range of issues. They explored various bilateral, regional, and global matters during their comprehensive conversation. Jaishankar shared his optimism about the future of India-US relations.

Delhi: US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan meets EAM S Jaishankar for the iCET initiative

India, the US and 12 other nations sign Indo-Pacific region economic pact

The US and 13 nations in Asia signed agreements on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, part of Biden's strategy to counter China's influence. The pact includes major economies like Japan, India, and South Korea, focusing on renewable energy, climate change, taxation, corruption, and supply-chain management.