WASHINGTON, 06 October 2021, (TON): United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is set to meet China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi in Zurich on Wednesday, the White House has announced, amid mounting tensions between Washington and Beijing.

The meeting is scheduled just days after Chinese military manoeuvres near Taiwan were denounced by US President Joe Biden’s administration as “provocative” and “destabilising”.

Sullivan and Yang will follow up on a September 9 call between Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping “as we continue to seek to responsibly manage the competition” between the two countries, US National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said in a statement.

White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also confirmed that US Trade Representative Katherine Tai would engage with her Chinese counterpart in talks on the implementation of a 2020 trade agreement between the two countries.

After Biden’s call with Xi last month, the White House said the two leaders agreed to continue to engage “openly and straightforwardly” on the issues where they disagree or share common interests.

Despite heightened tensions, US officials have stressed that Washington is not seeking conflict with Beijing.

KUWAIT CITY, 06 October 2021, (TON): Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, deputy emir and crown prince of Kuwait, received Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi minister of state and member of the Saudi Cabinet, and an accompanying delegation at Bayan Palace.

Prince Turki conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He also met Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed issues of common interest. They also reviewed relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen ties.

The meeting was also attended by Prince Sultan bin Saad bin Khaled, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Kuwait, as well as a number of senior officials.

ISLAMABAD, 06 October 2021, (TON): The army's media wing said “the Pakistan Army's top brass expressed the resolve to take necessary measures to safeguard Pakistan’s territorial integrity in the face of "malicious propaganda" by the Indian military.”

The resolution in this regard was expressed during the 244th Corps Commanders Conference chaired by Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa at the GHQ.

According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement “the commanders undertook a comprehensive review of the evolving security situation in the region, with a particular focus on border management and internal security.”

The press release said “the forum was apprised of the measures being taken to "thwart nefarious designs of inimical forces to destabilise Pakistan and spoil the hard-earned peace and stability.”

While taking serious note of the "malicious propaganda by Indian military", the meeting expressed the resolve to take all necessary measures to protect Pakistan’s territorial integrity.

"The baseless propaganda only reflects their frustration and an attempt to divert attention from their internal contradictions especially gross human rights violations being committed in [Indian-occupied Kashmir]," Gen Bajwa remarked.

KABUL, 06 October 2021, (TON): Citizens complained about the closed passport department, saying that despite the repeated promises to resume operations, the department has yet to reopen.

Students, Afghans who work abroad, and people who must bring patients out of the country for medical treatment were among those who gathered at the closed office.

Pacha Gul, who came to Kabul from the southeastern province of Paktia, said “it (passport) has expired. I go to Pakistan to Peshawar. I paid 700 dollars for only one gate pass for the consulate but the process didn’t work there either and now I came here, but (the department) is closed.”

He said that he worked in Saudi Arabia and that he was unable to travel because his passport has expired.

Rostam Amerkhil, a resident of Wardak province, said “everything is connected to the passport, if they want to go out, or stay inside. Let the passport office be open. Don’t cause trouble for people.”

Shafiq Hamdam, a university student said “let the passport department be opened, some are medical patients, some have trade problems and some have educational problems.”

The interior ministry said that the passport department would soon resume its activities.

“Decisions has been taken in this regard,” said Sayed Khosti, a spokesman for the ministry.

ISLAMABAD, 06 October 2021, (TON): Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed on Tuesday the need to end the "illicit flow of money from poor countries to rich capitals, to tax havens, to haven destinations", which he said was "crushing the people in the developing world".

Addressing the 15th UN Conference on Trade and Development via a video link, PM Imran cited data by the UN's Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda (FACTI) Panel and said $7 trillion was parked in tax havens around the world. The premier lamented that annually, $1tr was transferred from the developing world to tax havens, and held the "corrupt ruling elites of the developing world" responsible for the "plunder".

"This a huge crisis and this is going to get worse" in the coming years, he warned.

Emphasising that this illegal flow of money must be stopped, the prime minister said that the only way to go about it was to implement the recommendations made by the FACTI Panel in this regard.

He added that it was unfortunate that rich countries, which were in the position to curb the practice, were doing little on this front for reasons he identified as a lack of motivation and absence of incentives.

PM Imran explained that the continuing illegal outflow of money from poor countries was increasing difficulties for their populations because it led to the devaluation of currencies, followed by a rise in inflation and eventually, increased poverty.

The prime minister warned that the impact of the illegal practice, however, would not be limited to poor nations.

BRUSSELS, 06 October 2021, (TON): The European Union’s 27 leaders will seek a new approach to China on Tuesday in their first summit on Sino-European strategy since the bloc imposed sanctions on Beijing in March and faced retaliation, jeopardising a new investment pact.

Along with the United States, Britain and Canada, the EU imposed sanctions on Chinese officials on March 22 over human rights abuses, which Beijing denies.

The EU was immediately hit by Beijing with sanctions on European Parliament lawmakers, freezing approval of a recently agreed EU-China investment deal.

An EU diplomat said “the EU has sought to avoid confrontation with Beijing, but we can no longer regard China as a benign trading partner.”

At a country estate in Slovenia, EU leaders will also hear from their French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on how the bloc can try to project strength in international affairs after Britain, the United States and Australia agreed in secret a military alliance to counter China, excluding France.

As the world’s largest trading bloc, the EU wields power in setting rules that can shape policy far beyond its borders, but it has repeatedly failed to coordinate a common foreign and military policy, weakening its influence.

Senior EU officials and diplomats hope the informal gathering can be a moment to debate both becoming more independent of the United States and playing a part in Washington’s foreign policy shift to Asia.

WASHINGTON, 06 October 2021, (TON): The White House said “White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told his Israeli counterpart Eyal Hulata that President Joe Biden's administration believes diplomacy is the best way to make sure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.”

Sullivan also noted at the White House meeting that Biden “has made clear that if diplomacy fails, the United States is prepared to turn to other options,” the White House said.

Hulata is on a visit to Washington, which US officials said will allow the two allies to share intelligence and develop a “baseline assessment” of how far Tehran's nuclear program has advanced.

Asked what actions were under consideration and whether that included military options, a US official said “we'll be prepared to take measures that are necessary“ but did not elaborate.

RAMALLAH, 06 October 2021, (TON): Sources on both sides said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met an Israeli government delegation in Ramallah on Sunday evening, the second meeting between the two sides in a month.

Abbas received Israel’s Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Freij and deputy Michal Rozin, all from the left-wing Meretz party, part of the ruling coalition.

The territory’s official news agency WAFA reported “the president underlined the importance of ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a just and global peace conforming to international resolutions.”

Abbas also stressed the need to put an end to the settlements, and to end the expulsion of Palestinian families from different parts of East Jerusalem.

The Meretz members reiterated their support for a two-state solution to the conflict, for an independent Palestinian state and the need to build trust between the two sides.

“We have a common mission,” Horowitz wrote later on Twitter.

WARSAW, 06 October 2021, (TON): Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszak called Russia the main factor in the deterioration of the security situation in Europe. He made this statement at the opening of the Warsaw Security Forum.

“The security situation in Europe is deteriorating because of Russia’s policy,” said the head of the Polish defense ministry. According to him, this is expressed through the build-up of the military power of the Russian Federation, threats in international relations and other forms of testing defense capabilities, including the use of hybrid technologies.

Blashchak said “the Zapad-2021 exercise is a clear demonstration of military strength on the part of Russia.”

According to the Polish minister, in the current situation, “the Euro-Atlantic policy should be united and solidary.” “This is a condition for an effective and strategic response to these threats,” he said.

According to him, all countries should contribute to ensuring common security. “Poland not only keeps spending on defense at 3% of GDP, but also exceeds it,” he said. “We will increase defense spending by 2.5% over the current decade.”

“In today’s world, no country is able to independently pursue a security policy,” said Blaszczak. “Poland is ready to contribute to NATO’s security.”

WASHINGTON, 06 October 2021, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris on Monday. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Le Drian agreed to close consultations, as President Biden and French President Macron agreed in their September 22 phone call.

They also agreed to remain in close contact on Afghanistan and discussed the importance of holding the Taliban to its commitments. They discussed areas of cooperation and close coordination, including in the Indo-Pacific and the Sahel region.

Both highlighted the importance of U.S.-EU cooperation during France’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, strengthening the NATO Alliance, U.S. support for European security, the climate crisis, and the need for success at COP26.

Similarly, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met French Diplomatic Advisor to the President Emmanuel Bonne today in Paris. Secretary Blinken and Ambassador Bonne noted the productive phone call between President Biden and French President Macron on September 22 and discussed the way forward in the U.S.-French bilateral relationship. They discussed cooperation on key strategic security areas, including in the Indo-Pacific, the Sahel region, and Afghanistan.

They also discussed enhancing the U.S.-EU relationship, including during France’s upcoming EU presidency, the NATO Alliance, and U.S. support for European security.