Shangri-La Dialogue: Chinese general hits out at Lloyd Austin over Taiwan - South China Morning Post

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1. Shangri-La Dialogue: Chinese general hits out at Lloyd Austin over Taiwan  South China Morning Post
2. US defence chief tells China talks essential to avoid crisis  CNA
3. The right time to talk? When sanctions are removed, says China  The Straits Times
4. The Shangri-La Dialogue at 20  The Straits Times
5. US defence chief warns China against risky behaviour in Indo-Pacific  Financial Times
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-06-03 06:02:59Z
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More than 280 dead, 900 injured in massive train crash in Odisha, India - The Straits Times

BHUBANESWAR - At least 288 people were killed and 900 injured when two passenger trains collided in India’s Odisha state, a government official said on Saturday, making the rail accident the country’s deadliest in more than a decade.

Mr Sudhanshu Sarangi, director general of the Odisha state fire department, confirmed the new number to AFP.

The death toll is expected to increase, state Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena said in a tweet.

He added that more than 200 ambulances had been called to the scene of the accident in eastern state Odisha’s Balasore district and 100 additional doctors, on top of 80 already there, had been mobilised.

Images from the scene showed rescuers climbing up the mangled wreck of one of the trains to find survivors, while passengers called for help and sobbed next to the wreckage.

Early on Saturday morning, video footage showed police officials moving bodies covered in white cloth off the railway tracks. 

Videos shared on social media showed the arrival of several ambulances and people being pulled out of the upturned train coaches.

“I was there at the site and I can see blood, broken limbs and people dying around me,” an eyewitness told Reuters by phone.

An extensive search and rescue operation has been mounted, involving hundreds of fire department personnel, police officers and sniffer dogs. National Disaster Response Force teams were also at the site.

Hundreds of young people lined up outside a government hospital in Odisha’s Soro to donate blood.

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2023-06-03 03:31:15Z
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NATO membership 'impossible' until Russia war ends, says Zelenskyy - CNA

PEACE EFFORTS MUST NOT REWARD RUSSIAN AGGRESSION

"A ceasefire that simply freezes current lines in place and enables Putin to consolidate control over the territory he seized and then rest, rearm and re-attack. That is not a just and lasting peace," he said.

"It will legitimise Russia's land grab, it would reward the aggressor and punish the victim."

He added that if and when Russia is prepared to discuss "true peace" Washington will respond and would be open to a broader discussion about European security that would reduce the likelihood of further conflict.

The United States has been Ukraine's top military and economic supporter, sending the country billions worth of weapons systems to defend itself against Russia, whose invasion started in February 2022.

Various peace proposals to end the war have popped up in different capitals as the war has displaced millions of people, propelled food prices and made a dent in world prosperity,

Zelenskyy made a major push to court the Global South last month in response to peace moves from some of its members.

He attended the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on May 19, holding talks with host Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Iraq and other delegations.

China, which has touted its own peace plan, sent a top envoy to Kyiv, Moscow and other European capitals to discuss a "political settlement" this month.

South Africa said last week Kyiv and Moscow had agreed to discuss a peace plan with African leaders. The Vatican also fleshed out a peace mission this month.

Blinken said Washington was working with Ukraine and other allies to build consensus around the core elements of a durable peace and welcomed any initiatives but said they must uphold the principles of the United Nations charter.

"We will support efforts – whether by Brazil, China, or any other nation – if they help find a way to a just and lasting peace," Blinken added.

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2023-06-02 13:56:37Z
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US Congress averts historic default, approves debt-limit suspension - CNA

WASHINGTON: The US Senate on Thursday (Jun 1) passed bipartisan legislation backed by President Joe Biden that lifts the government's US$31.4 trillion debt ceiling, averting what would have been a first-ever default.

The Senate voted 63-36 to approve the Bill that was passed on Wednesday by the House of Representatives, as lawmakers raced against the clock following months of partisan bickering between Democrats and Republicans.

The Treasury Department had warned it would be unable to pay all its bills on Jun 5 if Congress failed to act by then.

"We are avoiding default tonight," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday as he steered the legislation through his 100-member chamber.

Biden praised Congress' timely action. "This bipartisan agreement is a big win for our economy and the American people," the Democratic president said in a statement, adding that he will sign it into law as soon as possible. He said he would make an additional statement on Friday at 11pm GMT (7am, Saturday, Singapore time).

Biden was directly involved in negotiations on the bill with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

While this bitter battle has ended, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell wasted no time flagging the next budget fight.

"In the coming months, Senate Republicans will continue working to provide for the common defence and control Washington Democrats’ reckless spending," he said in a statement.

McConnell was referring to 12 bills Congress will work on over the summer to fund government programs in the fiscal year beginning Oct 1, which will also carry out the broad instructions of the debt limit bill.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, meanwhile, issued some pointed advice saying, "I continue to strongly believe that the full faith and credit of the United States must never be used as a bargaining chip", as Republicans did over the past several months.

Before the final vote, senators tore through nearly a dozen amendments - rejecting all of them during a late-night session in anticipation of Monday's deadline.

With this legislation, the statutory limit on federal borrowing will be suspended until Jan 1, 2025. Unlike most other developed countries, the United States limits the amount of debt the government can borrow, regardless of any spending allocated by the legislature.

"America can breathe a sigh of relief," Schumer said in remarks to the Senate.

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2023-06-02 03:07:00Z
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US, China defence chiefs call on Singapore leaders ahead of 20th Shangri-La Dialogue - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - Defence chiefs from the United States and China called on Singapore’s leaders on Friday morning, ahead of the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue here this weekend.

Acting Prime Minister Lawrence Wong hosted Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister Li Shangfu at The Treasury, as part of the Chinese general’s introductory visit to Singapore.

DPM Wong took on the role as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had tested positive for Covid-19 and is recuperating, the Prime Minister’s Office said on June 1.

Separately, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin called on Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen at the Shangri-La Hotel, the venue for top defence officials from around the world to meet and discuss pressing security issues over the next three days.

This is General Li’s first visit to Singapore since his appointment in March. He had met Dr Ng on June 1 for the second Singapore-China Defence Ministers’ Dialogue, after which the two leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement to set up a hotline to strengthen high-level defence communication.

At their meeting, Mr Wong and Gen Li reaffirmed the longstanding bilateral defence relationship between Singapore and China, and welcomed the progress in bilateral defence cooperation under the 2019 enhanced Agreement on Defence Exchanges and Security Cooperation (ADESC).

The ADESC was a defence pact that both nations signed in 2008 and strengthened in 2019 with commitments to scale up bilateral exercises and exchanges between the two defence establishments.

Mr Wong and Gen Li also exchanged views on global and regional security developments at the meeting, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a statement.

Meanwhile, during his meeting with Mr Austin on Friday, Dr Ng expressed appreciation for the US’ longstanding support for the Singapore Armed Forces’ training in the US, which includes the basing of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) training detachments.

The RSAF currently has three permanent training detachments in the US, including the Peace Carvin II detachment in Arizona, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

On his part, Mr Austin conveyed his appreciation for Singapore’s consistent support of US military presence in this region, which includes the hosting of rotational deployments.

Dr Ng and Mr Austin look forward to deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly through the RSAF’s acquisition and operationalisation of F-35B fighter aircraft, said Mindef.

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2023-06-02 05:30:00Z
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US and Taiwan ink trade deal as China issues warning - CNA

"NEW BEGINNING"

Washington has remained a key ally and arms supplier to Taiwan despite switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. It is also the island's second-largest trade partner.

But Beijing detests any hint of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and other governments because it considers the self-ruled island its own territory.

"The deal that will be signed tonight is not only very historic but also signals a new beginning," cabinet spokesman Alan Lin told reporters in Taipei, ahead of Thursday's ceremony in the United States.

"Relevant tasks are yet to be completed ... Taiwan will continue to move towards a comprehensive FTA (free trade agreement) with the United States to ensure Taiwan's economic security," he added.

Taiwan's government has described the deal as "the most comprehensive" trade agreement signed with Washington since 1979.

China warned Washington earlier on Thursday against signing any pact "with connotations of sovereignty or of an official nature with China's Taiwan region".

The United States "must not send the wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces in the name of trade", foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a media briefing.

Beijing has stepped up threats and rhetoric against Taiwan in recent years, increasing military drills in the seas around the island and working to cut off its official ties with countries around the world.

The issue prompts rare bipartisan agreement in the United States, with politicians including Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his Democratic predecessor Nancy Pelosi both meeting publicly with Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen.

Washington unveiled plans for the trade negotiations in August in a show of support while Beijing was staging huge military drills in response to then-speaker Pelosi's visit to Taipei.

China lashes out at any diplomatic action that appears to treat Taiwan as a sovereign nation and has reacted with growing anger to visits by Western politicians.

In April, Beijing conducted three days of military exercises simulating a blockade of the island in response to McCarthy and Tsai meeting in California.

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2023-06-01 18:14:00Z
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More warm nights and wet mornings expected for start of June: Weatherman - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE – Expect more warm, clammy nights and wet mornings in the next two weeks, the weatherman said on Thursday.

Warm nights typically occur when winds blow from the south-east or south and bring warm, humid air from the sea, according to the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS).

MSS said nights in the first half of June are expected to be warm and humid, and temperatures may stay above 29 deg C on some nights, particularly over the southern and eastern coastal areas of the island.

The daily maximum temperature is expected to range between 33 deg C and 34 deg C on most days, and may be about 35 deg C on a few days with less cloud cover, it added.

Additionally, there may be widespread thundery showers and gusty winds between pre-dawn and morning on a few days, and short and localised thundery showers over parts of the island on some afternoons during this period, said MSS.

The total rainfall for the fortnight is likely to be near average over most parts of the island.

MSS also said that in May, there were nine days when temperatures of 35 deg C or more were registered, and maximum temperatures were above 34 deg C on most days.

On May 13, several locations recorded temperatures exceeding 36 deg C, with the highest temperature of 37 deg C recorded in Ang Mo Kio. It tied with the record for the highest daily maximum temperature in Singapore – in Tengah on April 17, 1983 – since temperature records started in 1929.

Warm night-time temperatures were also experienced in the second half of May, when temperatures stayed above 29 deg C on some nights.

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2023-06-01 09:35:00Z
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