Tag: US

US to train and fly Indian astronauts to International Space Station in 2024

Chennai: After Russia in 1984, it is now the US to fly Indian astronauts to space.

But this time the US will fly Indian astronauts to the International Space Station next year much ahead of India’s own human space mission Gaganyaan.

According to the joint statement issued by the US White House, the US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a course to reach new frontiers across all sectors of space cooperation.

The leaders applauded our growing cooperation on earth and space science, and space technologies.

“They welcomed the decision of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) to develop a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of 2023,” the statement said.

“The leaders hailed the announcement by NASA to provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with a goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024,” the statement notes.

It may be recalled that it was Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma who had travelled to space in a Russian rocket in 1984.

It will be interesting to know who from India will be travelling to the International Space Station on an American rocket.

Already four Indian Air Force (IAF) officials have undergone astronaut training in Russia as a part of India’s Gaganyaan programme.

Whether the same four will be considered for the US-Indo space programme or a different set of people is not known.

Be that as it may, the other Indo-US joint space programme NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) — an earth observation satellite — will be orbited by an Indian rocket next year from the Sriharikota rocket port in Andhra Pradesh.

The NISAR is an earth observation satellite jointly built by NASA and ISRO.

The satellite has already reached India from the US.

Modi and Biden called for enhanced commercial collaboration between the US and Indian private sectors in the entire value chain of the space economy and to address export controls and facilitate technology transfer.

“President Biden deeply appreciated India’s signing of the Artemis Accords, which advance a common vision of space exploration for the benefit of all humankind,” the White House statement said.

June 23, 2023
CM Vijayan, Indian Ambassador To US Discuss Bringing More Investments To Kerala

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Wednesday held discussions on bringing more investments to the state and the assistance that the embassy can provide for it.

The ambassador, during the discussion, said there was a potential for investments in the defense and space sectors and for collaboration in the field of pharmaceutical vaccines, a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said. Vijayan also tweeted about the meeting, saying it was “productive”.

“Had a productive meeting with the Indian Ambassador to the US, @SandhuTaranjitS. We discussed the vital aspects of investments and collaborations for Kerala’s progress and explored exciting opportunities across various sectors like space, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and tourism.” he tweeted.

Vijayan and Sandhu, during their meeting, also deliberated on sending health workers to America, improving their nursing education to better their standards and collaborating with American companies, the CMO statement said.

They were also of the view that there was great potential for cooperation in the field of tourism, especially medical tourism which could help to promote Ayurveda, it said.

Besides, the two also deliberated on elevating the education sector in Kerala to international standards and how it can be achieved by collaborating with university professors in the American Malayali diaspora.

“There was also a discussion on collaboration between American companies and Kerala in the fields of IT Innovation, Start Up, Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen and many others,” the statement said.

Sandhu promised all the necessary assistance to Kerala and also offered the embassy support to bring more American investments to Kerala and take necessary steps to increase cooperation between educational institutions in Kerala and the United States, it said.

The CM said that all necessary measures will be taken by the Kerala government also.

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal, Chief Secretary Dr V P Joy and others also participated in the meeting between the CM and the ambassador.

After concluding his nearly a week long US visit, Vijayan left for Cuba, the statement said.

Indian Consul General in New York Randhir Jaiswal accompanied the CM Minister and his delegation to the airport to see them off, it said.

Vijayan will participate in various events in Havana on Thursday and Friday.

He will meet with various dignitaries and also visit places of historical importance including the Jose Marti National Monument, the CMO statement said.

-With PTI Input

June 14, 2023
21-year-old Indian-Origin student shot dead by unknown men in US

A 21-year-old Indian-origin student was shot dead in Philadelphia by unidentified assailants, a media report said.

The deceased student was identified as Jude Chacko, hailing from Kerala’s Kollam district, was gunned down while he was returning from work on Sunday, Khaleej Times reported.

His parents migrated to the US more than 30 years ago.

Chacko, a student who also worked part-time, was attacked by two men during a robbery attempt, the report said citing police officials.

His funeral is likely to be held at a Malankara Catholic Church in Philadelphia on Saturday.

In April this year, Saiesh Veera, a 24-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh, was shot dead by unknown men at a fuel station in Ohio.

He was shot dead by unknown assailants while on the job, police said.

May 30, 2023
US announces $1.2 bn in new military aid for Ukraine

By AFP

WASHINGTON: The United States on Tuesday announced a new $1.2 billion security assistance package for Ukraine to boost the country’s air defences and provide it with additional artillery ammunition.

The package underscores the continued US commitment to Ukraine “by committing critical near-term capabilities, such as air defence systems and munitions, while also building the capacity of Ukraine’s armed forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the long term,” the Defense Department said in a statement.

The assistance comes in the form of Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds, which pay for the procurement of equipment from the defence industry or partners rather than providing equipment from existing US stocks.

This avoids depleting US inventories but means the assistance will take longer to reach the battlefield.

The package features unspecified air defence systems and munitions as well as equipment to integrate Western systems with Ukraine’s existing gear, which is mainly of Soviet vintage.

It also includes ammunition for counter-drone systems, 155 mm artillery rounds, and commercial satellite imagery services.

The United States has spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging an international coalition to back Kyiv after Russia invaded in February 2022 and coordinating aid from dozens of countries.

Kyiv has pushed for some items that its international supporters have been reluctant to provide, including Patriot air defence systems and advanced heavy tanks — which were eventually promised — and others such as Western fighter aircraft, which have not been pledged so far.

May 9, 2023
South Korean President Announces ‘nuclear-based Upgrade’ In Alliance With US

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has said that the country has upgraded its alliance with the US, just days after he met his American counterpart Joe Biden. On Monday, he announced the upgrade during a meeting he held with his cabinet to give a briefing of his recent trip to the US.

“The alliance has gotten a nuclear-based upgrade, and expanded to include supply chain, industrial and science and technology alliances,” he said, according to RT. This comes days after the South Korean leader held a summit with US President Joe Biden amid North Korea’s aggressive nuclear and missile activities.

Together, Biden and Yoon joined hands with a “Washington Declaration” for the launch of a Nuclear Consultative Group that will “strengthen extended deterrence”, offer crucial insight to Seoul, and make it a part of Washington’s plans and response in the face of any nuclear threats or incidents.

In a step towards strong military cooperation, the two leaders announced last week that the US would deploy nuclear-armed submarines and bombers to the Korean Peninsula, which could help avert any provocative weapons tests by North Korea in the future.

North Korea denounces Yoon’s US visit
Yoon’s visit garnered a harsh response from Pyongyang, which slammed “regular and continuous deployment of US nuclear strategic assets and the frequent military exercises” near the Korean Peninsula. However, the deal does not mean that South Korea is actively looking to create its own nuclear arsenal. Clarifying this, Yoon said that doing so would be a violation of his country’s commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“Nuclear weapons are not just a matter of technology. There are complex politics and economics and political and economic equations related to nuclear weapons. There are various values and interests that must be given up when possessing nuclear weapons,” he said during an address at Harvard University’s Kennedy School in Massachusetts.

May 2, 2023
Top nuclear envoys of S Korea, US discuss N Korea threat in Seoul

SEOUL: The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the US have met in Seoul to discuss ways to cooperate on countering North Korea’s “evolving nuclear and military threats”, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.

US Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim held a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Kim Gunn, on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Asan Plenum 2023 conference, a security forum hosted by a local think tank, Yonhap news agency reported.

“The two sides shared their assessments of the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula and discussed joint responses to North Korea’s nuclear threats,” the ministry said in a statement.

The envoys agreed to strengthen close coordination on Pyongyang to make it cease provocations and return to denuclearisation talks, based on the agreements from the South Korea-US summit held in Washington last week.

It is their third consultation this month, following a bilateral session in Seoul on April 6 and phone talks on April 13.

—IANS

April 30, 2023
China Condemns Defence And Military Exchanges Between Taiwan-US

China warned against continued U.S.-Taiwan cooperation Wednesday, responding to reports that the U.S. military was sending officers to help train Taiwan’s counterparts and that a delegation of defence contractors would visit the self-ruled island next week.

“We resolutely oppose the U.S. having any form of official or military contact with China’s Taiwan region,” Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a weekly press briefing in Beijing.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war. Taiwan never has been part of the People’s Republic of China, but the Communist Party says it is obliged to unite with the mainland, by force if necessary.

President Xi Jinping’s government has flown fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan in increasing numbers and fired missiles into the sea in an attempt to intimidate the island.

Taiwanese media reported this month that the U.S. had sent 200 military personnel, mostly Marines, to help train Taiwan troops. Taiwan’s Defence Ministry has neither denied nor confirmed the report.

Meanwhile, a delegation of around 25 defence contractors is visiting the island next week, hosted by the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council. Nikkei Asia reported that the weapons manufacturers will discuss joint production of drones and ammunition in Taiwan.

“U.S. defence contractors intentionally provoke confrontation between the two sides, taking the opportunity to make a profit,” Zhu said. She accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has been in power for six years, of colluding with the U.S. to press for the island’s formal independence.

The U.S. doesn’t formally recognize the Taiwan government but is Taipei’s most vital provider of weapons and other security assistance as well as political support. China has turned up the heat by sending fighter jets and navy vessels near the island on a nearly daily basis, especially in response to political meetings between the U.S. and Taiwan.

Earlier this month, China held large-scale military exercises simulating a strike on key targets in Taiwan in response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

April 26, 2023
US Army Sets Up First Permanent Garrison In Poland Amid Russia-Ukraine War

The first permanent garrison has been set up by US Army in Poland, as per TASS news agency. The announcement has been made by Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak on Tuesday at a ceremony at Camp Kosciuszko in the city of Poznan. Notably, the announcement comes amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. “The garrison in Poznan is active as of today,” Blaszczak said. Further, he added that the country has been pushing for a permanent presence of US troops for years. The US Land Forces V Corps command has been operating from Camp Kosciuszko since 2020, reported TASS news agency.

“Its main task is to coordinate activities and supervise US land forces in Europe and cooperation and synchronization of American forces with NATO troops,” said the Polish Defense Ministry in a statement.

Taking to Twitter, US Embassy in Warsaw wrote: “Today was the official appointment of the U.S. Army Garrison Poland, which will be the first permanent US Army garrison in. In his speech, Ambassador Brzezinski emphasized that the USA is committed to Poland and the NATO alliance and that we are united in the face of Russian aggression.”

In a separate tweet, the US Embassy in Warsaw wrote: “‘Camp Kościuszko’ is a milestone in defense co-operation – the first ever Garrison of the US Armed Forces permanently stationed in Poland was named in honor of the hero of both nations, Tadeusz Kościuszko, and its role will be i.a. management of advanced military outposts in Poland.”

March 22, 2023
US Witnesses Drug Resistant Deadly Fungal Infection That’s Spreading At Alarming Rate: CDC

The US is witnessing the spread of a deadly drug-resistant and what is being described as a potentially “deadly fungus” that is causing infection among Americans at an alarming rate, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated on Tuesday, according to American broadcasters. The fungus behind the spread is a type of yeast called Candida Auris, or C. Auris, and it can reportedly cause “severe illness” among people who have a weakened immune system. According to CDC, scores of people have been found diagnosed with C. Auris and are now infected. CDC’s findings have been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and the warnings come as the Mississippi Department of Health is battling a major outbreak of the fungus across the state.

The sudden spike in the cases of infection “especially in the most recent years is really concerning to us,” CDC’s study author, Dr Meghan Lyman, a chief medical officer in the CDC’s Mycotic Diseases Branch, told NBC news. “We’ve seen increases not just in areas of ongoing transmission, but also in new areas,” she added. The fungus infection, which is also resistant to antifungal medication, according to American healthcare experts, has now turned into a “dangerous public healthcare threat.” Doctors in the US are warning that the deadly fungus infection might lead to serious illness as well as fatalities. Those at risk the most are the vulnerable groups that use or have used invasive medical devices in healthcare facilities. As many as 30% to 60% of those infected died from the illness, last year.

Fungus Candida Auris is found in more than 30 countries but was first reported in the US in 2016. Until 2021, there have been an estimated 3,270 cases of infections on record of a total of 7,413 screenings, the CDC noted. The infection can spread from bodily contact, person to person, as well as from contaminated surfaces due to a lack of hygiene. There aren’t many known control methods that have proven to be effective to fight the disease, according to the CDC findings. The infected patient can be identified via a test of the bodily fluids.

March 22, 2023