World
Vice President Harris’ Trip Aims To Deepen US Ties In Africa
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will strive to strengthen and reinterpret U.S. partnerships in Africa during a weeklong trip that marks the Biden administration’s latest and most visible outreach as it moves to offset China’s growing influence.
Harris intends to travel to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia, focusing on economic development, climate change, food security, and a growing young population. She is set to arrive in Ghana’s capital, Accra, on Sunday. Doug Emhoff, her husband, is accompanying her.
“For far too long, the United States’ foreign policy establishment has treated Africa as an after-school project rather than part of the core curriculum,” said Michelle Gavin, an Africa expert at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former United States ambassador to Botswana. “I see a concerted effort now to change that mindset.” However, it takes time.”
Harris will be widely followed across Africa as the first person of color and the first woman to serve as America’s vice president. Harris was reared in California even though her mother was born in India and her father was born in Jamaica.
“Everyone is excited about Kamala Harris,” said Idayat Hassan, director of Abuja, Nigeria’s Centre for Democracy and Development. “You can be whatever you want — that’s what she represents to many of us.”
A lecture in Accra and a visit to Cape Coast Castle, where enslaved Africans were once put onto ships bound for America, will highlight Harris’ trip. Harris also intends to meet with authorities in each country she visits and to lay a wreath in memory of the 1998 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s capital.
Harris will be widely followed across Africa as the first person of color and the first woman to serve as America’s vice president.
Her schedule also includes a few non-traditional sites designed to emphasize the exciting future of a continent with a median age of only 19.
Harris intends to visit a recording studio in Accra, meet with female entrepreneurs, and visit a tech accelerator in Dar es Salaam. Harris is scheduled to meet with corporate and charity leaders in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, to discuss boosting access to digital and financial systems.
Emhoff’s events have a similar focus. During his visit to Ghana, he intends to hold a town hall meeting with performers from a local television show, attend a girls’ basketball clinic, and tour a women-run chocolate company.
According to administration sources, the goal is to promote Africa as a site for investment rather than just aid packages, a subject that Harris underlined in December during a U.S.-Africa meeting in Washington.
“Because of your energy, ambition, and ability to turn seemingly intractable problems into opportunities,” she remarked, “I am an optimist about what lies ahead for Africa and, by extension, for the world.” “Simply put, your ability to see what could be, unburdened by what has been.”
Harris will spend three nights in Ghana, two nights in Tanzania, and one in Zambia before returning to Washington on April 2.
“It’s trip to support reformers,” said Vanda Felbab-Brown, co-director of the Brookings Institution’s Africa Security Initiative. “All three countries have faced significant challenges and changed dramatically.”
Tanzania’s first female president has loosened restrictions on opposition parties and rallies.
Ghana is facing a debt crisis and excessive inflation, dragging down an economy that was once among the best in the region. It is particularly concerned about instability caused by Islamist extremists and Russian mercenaries operating in countries north of Ghana.
Tanzania’s first female president has loosened restrictions on opposition parties and rallies. Zambia has implemented its reforms, such as decriminalizing presidential slander. However, democratic development in both areas is thought to be fragile.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and First Lady Jill Biden have traveled to Africa. President Joe Biden is set to leave office later this year.
Harris will visit Zambia for the first time since childhood when her maternal grandpa worked there. He was a civil servant from India who assisted with refugee relocation after Zambia gained independence from Britain.
“Grandpa was one of my favorite people in the world and one of the earliest and most lasting influences in my life,” Harris writes in her book.
The December U.S.-Africa meeting was the first since President Obama hosted one in 2014. Although Washington’s approach to Africa has had some historic successes, such as President George W. Bush’s HIV/AIDS effort, which has saved millions of lives, there have also been times of neglect.
“There’s a lot of skepticism and doubt about American staying power,” said Daniel Russel, a former State Department official who now works at the Asia Society Policy Institute. “They’re used to American promises that fizzle out and don’t amount to much.”
In stark contrast, China has led far-reaching infrastructure projects and increased telecom activities throughout the region.
According to John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, African leaders are “beginning to realize that China is not their friend.”
“China’s interests in the region are purely selfish, in contrast to the U.S.,” he remarked. “We are truly committed to assisting our African friends in dealing with many challenges.”
Senior administration officials have been careful not to characterize Harris’ visit as another step in a geopolitical contest, which might alienate African leaders weary of choosing sides between global heavyweights.
They are now waiting to see what Harris and the U.S. have to give over the next week.
“Because of her profile, she has a very good reputation in Africa,” said Rama Yade, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center. “However, beyond that, public opinion in the three countries will develop expectations very quickly.”
SOURCE – (AP)
World
US Navy Flies Aircraft Through The Taiwan Strait A Day After US – China Defense Chiefs Hold Rare Talks
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The U.S. 7th Fleet reported that a Navy P-8A Poseidon flew through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, a day after U.S. and Chinese defense leaders conducted their first discussions since November 2022 to ease regional tensions.
The patrol and reconnaissance jet “transited the Taiwan Strait in international airspace,” according to a 7th Fleet news release.
AP – VOR News Image
US Navy Flies Aircraft Through The Taiwan Strait A Day After US – China Defense Chiefs Hold Rare Talks
The statement stated, “By operating within the Taiwan Strait in accordance with international law, the United States upholds the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations.”
The vital strait, 160 kilometers (100 miles) wide, separates China from the self-governing island democracy. Although it is on the international seas, China regards the passage of foreign military aircraft and ships through it as a threat to its sovereignty.
China claims Taiwan and has threatened to protect it with force if necessary, despite U.S. military support for the island.
According to a report on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command’s official Weibo social media site, China dispatched fighter jets to “monitor the U.S. plane’s passage” and operated “in accordance with laws and regulations.”
“Theater troops are on high alert at all times to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability,” Li said in a statement.
Taiwan News – VOR News Image
US Navy Flies Aircraft Through The Taiwan Strait A Day After US – China Defense Chiefs Hold Rare Talks
China often issues severe protests and deploys fortifications in reaction to the passage of ships and military planes across the Straight, particularly those from the United States.
China also regularly deploys navy ships and airplanes into the strait and other locations around the island to wear down Taiwan’s defenses and scare its 23 million people, who staunchly support their de facto independence.
“By operating in the Taiwan Strait in conformity with international law, the United States protects all nations’ navigational rights and freedoms. The aircraft’s passage through the Taiwan Strait underlines the U.S. commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. According to the 7th Fleet statement, the United States military flies, sails, and operates wherever international law allows.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Chinese counterpart, Adm. Dong Jun, on Tuesday in the latest move to strengthen relations with the Chinese military and lessen the likelihood of a regional conflict.
It was Austin’s first time speaking with Dong and his first time speaking in depth with any Chinese counterpart since November 2022. The call lasted slightly more than an hour, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China this month for discussions.
ABC – VOR News Image
US Navy Flies Aircraft Through The Taiwan Strait A Day After US – China Defense Chiefs Hold Rare Talks
Military-to-military contact ended in August 2022 when Beijing terminated all communication following a visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Asia. China replied by firing missiles over the country and increasing military exercises, including what seemed to be a rehearsal for a naval and aerial blockade of the island.
SOURCE – (AP)
Peshawar, Pakistan — Lightning and torrential rains killed 14 people in Pakistan on Wednesday, increasing the total death toll from four days of extreme weather to at least 63. The biggest rainstorm in decades inundated towns on the country’s southwestern coast. In neighboring Afghanistan, flash floods have killed hundreds.
In Pakistan, the majority of the deaths were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, located in the northwest. According to Khursheed Anwar, a spokesman for the Disaster Management Authority, 32 people have died as a result of building collapses, including 15 children and five women. Anwar reported that dozens more people were hurt in the region, which reportedly suffered damage to 1,370 homes.
AP – VOR News Image
Death Toll From 4 Days Of Rains Rises To 63 In Pakistan With More Rain On The Forecast
The eastern region of Punjab has recorded 21 deaths due to lightning and collapse, while Baluchistan in the country’s southwest has reported 10 deaths as officials issued a state of emergency in response to flash floods.
Baluchistan was braced for additional rains on Wednesday while rescue and relief activities continued, as flash floods flooded villages near the coastal city of Gwadar.
Heavy rains also fell on the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. Authorities warned that a second round of heavy rain will affect numerous places, including the capital, Karachi.
According to Zaheer Ahmed Babar, a senior official with the Pakistan Meteorological Department, Pakistan will experience more rain in April due to climate change.
“This month, so far, there has been 353% more rainfall than normal in Baluchistan,” Babar told The Press. “Overall, rainfall has been 99% higher than the average across Pakistan, and it shows climate change has already happened in our country.”
AP – VOR News Image
Death Toll From 4 Days Of Rains Rises To 63 In Pakistan With More Rain On The Forecast
Babar reported that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province received 90% more rain than typical in April, but rainfall in other regions of the country remained relatively normal. This has been the wettest April in the last 30 years.
In 2022, downpours swelled rivers and flooded a third of Pakistan, killing 1,739 people. The floods also inflicted $30 billion in damage, which Pakistan is currently working to repair. That year, rainfall in Baluchistan was 590% above average, while Karachi received 726% more than usual.
Meanwhile, the death toll in neighboring Afghanistan has risen to 70, with 37 additional people killed in recent rain and flash flooding occurrences, according to Abdullah Janan Saiq, the Taliban’s spokesperson for the State Ministry of Natural Disasters.
AP – VOR News Image
Death Toll From 4 Days Of Rains Rises To 63 In Pakistan With More Rain On The Forecast
He also stated that flash floods have damaged 2,000 homes, three mosques, and four schools, affecting thousands of individuals who will require humanitarian help. Floods also devastated agricultural land, killing 2,500 livestock, according to Saiq.
SOURCE – (AP)
World
British Envoy Says Israel Is ‘Making A Decision To Act’ As Iran Vows To Respond To Any Incursion
JERUSALEM — British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Wednesday that Israel “is making a decision to act” in response to Iran’s missile and drone attacks over the weekend, while Iran warned that even the “tiniest” assault of its territory would result in a “massive and harsh” reaction.
Israel has promised to retaliate to Iran’s unprecedented attack without specifying when or how leaving the region braced for more escalation following months of turmoil connected to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Israel’s closest allies, including the United States and the United Kingdom, who assisted in repelling the Iranian strike, are attempting to contain any further escalation.
AP- VOR News Image
British Envoy Says Israel Is ‘Making A Decision To Act’ As Iran Vows To Respond To Any Incursion
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, meanwhile, warned Israel against retribution as he attended an annual army parade, which had been shifted to a barracks from its customary route and was not shown live on state television, possibly due to fears of being targeted.
In remarks broadcast by Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Raisi said Saturday’s attack was limited and that if Iran had intended to carry out a larger attack, “nothing would remain from the Zionist regime.”
Adding to already high tensions, Lebanon’s Hezbollah launched a rocket attack on a northern Israeli border town on Wednesday, injuring 13 people, four of them critically, according to the Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom. The Iran-backed militant organization said it was in revenge for the deaths of several of its fighters, including a commander, in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon the day before.
On Wednesday, Cameron and Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock visited Israel separately to meet top officials. The two European countries, Israel’s closest allies, have recommended caution.
Cameron stated that “it’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act” against Iran, but he hoped they would do so “in a way that is smart as well as tough and also does as little as possible to escalate this conflict.” He said that after meeting with Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, whose position is largely ceremonial,
Cameron stated that the primary goal of his visit was to refocus attention on the ongoing conflict in Gaza, including the need for a cease-fire and the release of Hamas hostages.
Baerbock stated that Germany is “in full solidarity with Israel” but urged it to exhibit caution.
“Everyone must now be prudent and responsible. I am not talking about giving in. “I am talking about prudent restraint, which is nothing short of strength,” she told reporters. “Because Israel has already shown strength with its defensive victory at the weekend.”
AP- VOR News Image
British Envoy Says Israel Is ‘Making A Decision To Act’ As Iran Vows To Respond To Any Incursion
The ministers indicated they would advocate for additional international sanctions on Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he met with both ministers and thanked them for their countries’ assistance.
“They give a variety of options and advice. I appreciate it. But I want to be clear: We will make our own judgments, and the State of Israel will do everything it takes to defend itself,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel over the weekend in retaliation for a purported Israeli raid on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria on April 1, which killed 12 people, including two Iranian generals.
Israel claims to have successfully intercepted nearly all of the missiles and drones with the assistance of the United States, the United Kingdom, neighboring Jordan, and other countries. A seven-year-old child was injured in the attack, which did not result in any fatalities or significant damage.
Israel and Iran have fought a covert war for decades, but the weekend strike was the first direct Iranian military attack on Israel.
Regional tensions have risen since Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two Palestinian armed factions funded by Iran, launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7. The attack killed over 1,200 Israelis, and the extremists held approximately 250 hostages. Israel reacted with one of the deadliest and most damaging military offensives in recent memory, killing approximately 34,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.
Israel has withdrawn the majority of its forces from Gaza following significant offensives that destroyed its two largest cities, Gaza City and Khan Younis. However, Israeli officials claim the battle is far from done and that they intend to send ground forces into Rafah, the southernmost Gaza city where more than half of the territory’s 2.3 million residents have taken safety from fighting elsewhere.
Hamas is still holding over 130 hostages, with a quarter of them believed to be dead, while international efforts to mediate a cease-fire and hostage release have made no progress.
Since the war began, Hezbollah, another close ally of Iran, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a nearly daily basis in a low-intensity confrontation that risks escalating into all-out war. Iran-backed organizations in Iraq and Syria have also conducted strikes, while Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted international shipping in the Red Sea, claiming it is a blockade of Israel.
AP- VOR News Image
British Envoy Says Israel Is ‘Making A Decision To Act’ As Iran Vows To Respond To Any Incursion
President Joe Biden’s administration imposed further penalties against Iran on Tuesday and has sought to coordinate a worldwide response to the attack, asking all sides to de-escalate. US officials claimed earlier this week that Biden informed Netanyahu that Washington would not take any offensive measures against Iran.
Israel looks unlikely to attack Iran directly without US cooperation, but it may use more covert ways, such as attacking other prominent Iranian commanders or Iran-backed forces in other countries or conducting a cyber attack.
Given the heightened tensions, it’s uncertain how Iran will respond. Any miscalculation on either side risks sparking a regional conflict.
SOURCE – (AP)
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US Navy Flies Aircraft Through The Taiwan Strait A Day After US – China Defense Chiefs Hold Rare Talks
Russian Missiles Slam Into A Ukraine City And Kill 14 People As The War Approaches A Critical Stage
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