Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

US and India will tackle the Covid-19 pandemic together, says Blinken

US and India will tackle the Covid-19 pandemic together, says Blinken

US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said  that the US and India are united in trying to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic together and Washington is determined to help India with its coronavirus crisis.

Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who has spent the past week in the US seeking help amid a devastating second wave of infections at home, told reporters while standing with Blinken at a state department meeting that India is grateful to Washington for strong support and solidarity.


"In the earlier days of Covidd, India was there for the US - something we will never forget," Blinken said. "And now we want to make sure that we're there for India as well."

Blinken said the partnership between the two countries is "vital," "strong" and "increasingly productive."

"We're united in confronting Covid-19 together," Blinken said.

He said the two countries were also united in addressing climate change, and were partnered together directly through the Quad - a four country group that also includes Japan and Australia - and through UN institutions "in dealing with many of the challenges we face in the region and around the world."

India, the world's second most-populous country, this month has recorded its highest Covid-19 death toll since the pandemic began last year. Only about three per cent of India's 1.3 billion people have been fully vaccinated, the lowest rate among the 10 countries with the most cases.

Prime minister Narendra Modi's government has faced mounting criticism for its failure to secure Covid-19 vaccines for its people, even though India is one of the world's biggest producers of vaccines. Indian officials have said Jaishankar has been seeking supplies while in the US.

Jaishankar said India was appreciative to Washington for its "strong support and solidarity at a moment of great difficulty for us."

US acting assistant secretary for South Asia Dean Thompson later told a briefing hosted by the state department's foreign press centre that vaccine manufacturing, procurement and delivery were discussed with Jaishankar, but declined to give details.

He said final decisions were still pending as to where up to 80 million vaccine doses President Joe Biden has promised to send abroad would go.

Thomson said the US  government, state governments, US companies, and private citizens had provided over $500 million in Covid-19 relief supplies to India.

He said the assistance had included redirecting a US order of critical vaccine manufacturing supplies that would allow India to make over 20 million additional doses of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

India pledged last month to fast-track vaccine imports. Its insistence on local trials and a dispute over indemnity stalled discussions with US firm Pfizer. India scrapped local trials for "well-established" foreign vaccines on Thursday (27) and a government official said Pfizer shots could arrive by July.

Jaishankar met with UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres in New York. Guterres' spokesman said they had a "very good discussion" on "Covid-19, the issue of vaccines and also a number of other peace and security issues in general."

US-India ties have grown closer in recent years amid shared concerns about China's rise and they have increased cooperation through the Quad.

US president Joe Biden's Indo-Pacific policy coordinator, Kurt Campbell, said on Wednesday (26) that the US is looking to convene an in-person summit of leaders of the Quad in the fall, with a focus on infrastructure.

The Quad held a first virtual summit in March and pledged to work closely on Covid-19 vaccines, climate and security.

More For You

Starmer-Getty

Starmer also condemned the 'poison of the far-right,' referencing threats made against safeguarding minister Jess Phillips. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer criticises online 'misinformation' after Musk's criticism

KEIR STARMER on Monday criticised those "spreading lies and misinformation" online, following a series of attacks from Elon Musk over historical child rape crimes in northern England.

Speaking to reporters, Starmer said: "Those that are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible, they’re not interested in victims, they’re interested in themselves."

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-snow-getty

Yellow warnings for snow and ice are in effect across Scotland, Wales, northern England, and the Midlands, valid until midday Monday. (Photo: Getty Images)

Snow, ice, and rain warnings continue amid flood risks

WARNINGS for snow, ice, and rain remain active across the UK, with southern England facing flood risks due to rain and melting snow from milder temperatures.

Over 100 flood warnings have been issued in southern England, where flooding is “expected,” and more than 260 flood alerts are in place across England and Wales, indicating flooding is “possible,” BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester-airport-Reuters

Staff use tractors to help clear snow from around aircraft after overnight snowfall caused the temporary closure of Manchester Airport. (Photo: Reuters)

Flights disrupted as heavy snow hits airports

HEAVY snow across parts of the UK has caused significant disruption to air travel, with Manchester and Liverpool airports temporarily closing their runways.

All incoming flights to Manchester Airport were diverted, with planes landing in cities such as Birmingham, London, Dublin, Glasgow, and Paris, according to Flightradar24.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jake-Sullivan-Getty

Jake Sullivan, US National Security Adviser, is visiting New Delhi from 5-6 January. (Photo: Getty Images)

Chinese dams expected to feature in India-US talks

US National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan is visiting New Delhi from 5-6 January, with discussions expected to cover the impact of Chinese dams, according to a senior US official.

The official stated that Washington has observed environmental and climate effects from Chinese dams, including those in the Mekong region, which have affected downstream countries. Sullivan’s visit will address India’s concerns regarding similar projects.

Keep ReadingShow less
Child abuse inquiry: Former prosecutor dismisses Musk's demands

Nazir Afzal

Child abuse inquiry: Former prosecutor dismisses Musk's demands


A FORMER chief prosecutor has pushed back against calls from Elon Musk and Conservative politicians for a new national inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Britain.

Nazir Afzal, who successfully prosecuted the Rochdale child sexual abusers, pointed out that previous extensive inquiries were largely ignored by the Tory government.

Keep ReadingShow less