New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) The Donald Trump administration has unveiled ‘Project Vault,’ a $12 billion critical mineral reserve building exercise to challenge China’s dominance, which includes a $1.3 billion investment in Reko Diq mines in Balochistan.This is the only international project financed under the initiative, operated under the Export-Import Bank (EXIM).Reko Diq contains some of the world’s largest untapped copper and gold deposits. As per industry estimates, the site’s reserve…
Latest US State Department News & Updates
Washington, Feb 5 (IANS) Citing the historic India-US trade deal, which he said is “in the final stages of detailing”, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday said that a “strong momentum” is evident in the growing engagement between New Delhi and Washington. The EAM made the comment as he concluded his February 2-4 visit to the United States during which he also participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. “Co…
Washington, Feb 5 (IANS) South Korea will lead a new multinational initiative, launched under a US push to beef up cooperation with allies on critical minerals supply chains, through June, the State Department said, as Washington steps up efforts to counter China’s formidable clout over key resources.The department made the announcement on Seoul’s role for FORGE, or Forum on Resource Geostrategic Engagement, after the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, a meeting aimed at reinforcing and di…
Washington, Feb 3 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in New York for a three-day official visit to the United States and is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday as part of talks focused on cooperation in critical minerals.The meeting comes a day after a phone call between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the call, the president announced a trade deal with India. The announcement has added momentum to high-…
Washington, Feb 3 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in New York on Monday for a three-day official visit to the United States focused on cooperation in critical minerals and meetings with senior officials from the Trump administration.Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to Washington during the visit, where he will attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to an official announcement. US Vice President J.D. Vance is expec…
Islamabad, Jan 29 (IANS) Pakistan’s military establishment has been emboldened by US and Arab engagement, enabling it to escalate repression against ethnic groups such as Baloch and Pashtun as well as Hindu minorities across the country. The resurgence of the Pakistani military on the global stage has given it confidence to stifle the autonomy of the country’s democratic institutions and rule civilians with an iron fist, a report said on Thursday.“Recent engagement by President Trump and key A…
Islamabad/Washington, Jan 29 (IANS) The US State Department has urged American citizens planning to travel to Pakistan to reconsider their plans, citing security concerns, local media in Pakistan reported on Thursday.In its latest advisory, the department advised travellers to think twice before visiting Pakistan due to crime, civil unrest, terrorism, and the risk of kidnapping.”Pakistan has been placed under a Level 3 advisory, a category that indicates a high risk where terrorist attacks may o…
Washington, Jan 27 (IANS) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told US President Donald Trump that expanding the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council is necessary and that the proposed Peace Council should be limited to the Gaza issue, according to a readout of their phone call issued by the office of the Brazilian President.The two leaders also agreed that Lula would visit Washington after completing his trips to India and South Korea in February. A date for the …
Washington, Jan 23 (IANS) The US State Department is set to finalize an expanded version of the Mexico City Policy on Friday, sharply widening restrictions on how American foreign assistance can be used overseas.The Mexico City Policy, also known as the “global gag rule,” restricts U.S. federal funding for foreign nongovernmental organizations that provide abortion-related services or advocacy. The policy has long affected global health and family planning efforts by limiting which organizat…
Quetta, Jan 19 (IANS) Leading Baloch human rights defender, Mir Yar Baloch, on Monday slammed Pakistan’s inclusion in the US-led Gaza Board of Peace as the “ultimate mockery of peace”.The remarks followed a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday, which confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received US President Donald Trump’s invitation to join the Board of Peace for Gaza.”Nominating Pakistan, a nation infamous for harbouring global terrorists and unleashing proxy wars to th…