Washington, June 28 (IANS) Hundreds of visitors queued up in Washington’s popular Dupont Circle on Saturday afternoon to sample Indian mangoes at the annual Mango Festival, with many calling for wider availability of premium Indian varieties in the United States as organisers showcased the country’s rich horticultural diversity. The festival, organised by the Embassy of India in Washington in collaboration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), th…
Latest Washington News & Updates
New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) The proposed China–Myanmar–Bangladesh Economic Corridor (CMBEC) is another attempt at Beijing trying to reshape South Asia’s connectivity trying to strengthen its Belt and Road footprint and direct access to the Indian Ocean.Additionally, alongside Gwadar Port in Pakistan and Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka, Chinese presence in Bangladesh’s Mongla and Chittagong Ports is an effort at furthering Beijing’s “string of pearls” strategy, surrounding India’s maritime sphere….
Washington, June 27 (IANS) The notion that Washington can shape Asia’s future security architecture without placing India at the center of its strategic calculations is increasingly at odds with geopolitical realities, as geography alone makes such an approach untenable, a report has stated. The Indian Ocean is a vital artery for global trade, energy supplies, and maritime commerce, while key chokepoints — from the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb to the Strait of Malacca — lie within Indi…
Seoul, June 27 (IANS) Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina attended the Pax Silica Summit in Washington this week where partner nations discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence and semiconductor supply chains, the foreign ministry said on Saturday.The Pax Silica Summit is a US-led strategic initiative and coalition of more than 20 partner nations dedicated to securing the global technology supply chain, reports Yonhap news agency.On the first day of the second summit, held from Thursday to Fri…
Washington, June 27 (IANS) South Korea’s top envoy to the United States has said that the sacrifices of Korean War veterans laid the foundation for the bilateral alliance, stressing that strong security cooperation is “essential” amid growing North Korean threats and other challenges. Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha made the remarks on Friday (local time) during an event commemorating the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 war at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, underscorin…
Beirut, June 27 (IANS) Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement signed earlier in the day in Washington marked the beginning of the path toward restoring Lebanon’s full sovereignty, vowing to continue working until the process is completed. In a statement issued by the Lebanese Presidency on Friday (local time), Aoun said the agreement represents the first step toward enabling displaced Lebanese to return to their land, stressing that Lebanon would no longe…
Washington, June 27 (IANS) The United States, Israel and Lebanon on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement that Washington described as the first step towards ending decades of conflict along Israel’s northern border, restoring Lebanese sovereignty and creating a pathway for the disarmament of Hezbollah.The agreement, signed in Washington with US mediation, establishes what Secretary of State Marco Rubio called “a framework for lasting peace and security” and creates a US-facilitated Mil…
Tehran, June 26 (IANS) Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Friday underlined his country’s position on maritime navigation rules and transit arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.”Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz under vague arrangements, parallel routes, or decision-making outside Iran’s considerations as the coastal state is not guaranteed,” Gharibabadi wrote on X.”Any valid framework must be based on coordination with Iran and the provisions of paragraph 5 of the Isl…
Dhaka, June 26 (IANS) Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday held bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, marking one of the key engagements of his four-day official visit to China, as the two countries continue to deepen engagement, local media reported.According to Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, the meeting commenced on Friday morning.Prime Minister’s office spokesperson Mahdi Amin said that th…
Seoul, June 26 (IANS) South Korea will lower the cap on fuel prices to reflect the recent decline in global crude oil prices, the finance minister said on Friday, while freezing electricity and gas rates in the second half this year.Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol made the remarks during a meeting with economy-related ministers, noting the cap system will remain in place until consumer prices are fully stabilised.Details of the adjustment to the cap were expected to be announced later Friday, rep…