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Russia: US-led coalition should leave Syria after Daesh defeat

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Russia: US-led coalition should leave Syria after Deash defeat

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Nobody in these areas wants the Damascus government to return, says US

Russia has demanded that all foreign forces, including those of US-led coalition present in Syria without authorization from Damascus, should withdraw after total defeat of Daesh (IS) terrorists.

While addressing Rome MED Mediterranean Dialogue on Friday, Sergei Lavrov said that all foreign forces have to withdraw from Syria and expressed hope that the so-called military coalition to adhere to fighting Daesh as propagated by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and other American officials.

He was quoted saying to the reporters, “There is legitimate presence based on an invitation from official authorities, but there is illegitimate one, namely presence of the U.S.-led coalition and special forces’ troops from a wide range of foreign countries who nobody has invited. After terrorism is defeated, the first step should be the pullout of those who stay illegitimately in Syria.”

He also said, “Attempts to make it difficult to finalize the counter-terrorism operation would not be tolerated.”

According to Syrian official SANA news agency, Lavrov said that the de-escalation zones agreement reached via Astana process changed the situation on the ground and warned against using these zones for dividing Syria.

Meanwhile, Washington Post reports that Brett McGurk, US presidential envoy for coordinating Counter Islamic State Coalition has told reporters at UN, “Nobody in these areas wants the Damascus government to return – meaning flags, army. That would be, I think, something that would not be stabilizing.”

He claimed that Syrian civilians flee areas controlled by IS or taken from IS by the Assad regime, whereas they return to their homes in areas that the US backed Syrian Democratic forces recapture.

Syrian government and its allies, Russia, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah defeated all terror groups including Daesh (IS), Nusra front, an Al-Qaeda outfit and others clubbing all anti-Assad forces as terrorists. However, US consider Nusra Front and other groups as Assad’s opposition and have been openly supporting them.

Joel Gehrke of Washington Post writes that if US led coalition withdraws from Syria it would leave Syrian President Bashar Assad, backed by Russian and Iranian forces, in military control of the country. He considers that Lavrov’s “warning is part of jockeying for long-term control of the strategically significant Syria.”

On October 12, Lavrov said that US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, during a telephone conversation three days earlier, had assured him that the US’ only goal in Syria was fighting the terror outfit.

The US-led coalition began airstrikes against what they said to be Daesh targets in September 2014 without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate. Syrian government has repeatedly accused US-led coalition of targeting and killing its civilians and armed forces.

Russian foreign minister had earlier asserted that the presence of the US-led coalition in the form of “a wide range of foreign countries” is “illegitimate” because “nobody has invited them”.

Russia was invited by Damascus to defeat terror groups including land holding Daesh. Moscow has been providing air-cover to the military operations by targeting Daesh positions and other militant groups since September 2015.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Prince William, Kate Middleton celebrate Valentine’s Day, share a romantic photo

“To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis, and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you,” he wrote.

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On this Valentine’s Day, as the world revels in celebrations of love, social media is awash with heartwarming images, including a particularly poignant photograph of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Shared on the official X account of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this touching image has resonated with people across the globe, sparking a wave of affectionate comments for the beloved royal couple.

The enchanting photo features the couple sitting together on a mat, surrounded by beautiful woodland scenery. Middleton is captured laughing joyfully as Prince William gives her a tender kiss on the cheek. The couple is colour-coordinated, donning outfits in similar shades that enhance their close bond.

Not only a visual delight, this photograph also serves as a tribute to what the couple has described as their “hardest year.” It is taken from a video shared last year where Kate announced her successful completion of chemotherapy following a cancer diagnosis she received nine months prior. The emotional weight of the image is underscored by the single red heart emoji accompanying the post.

Earlier this month, on January 9, which marked Kate Middleton’s 43rd birthday, Prince William paid tribute to his wife, expressing admiration for her remarkable strength throughout the challenging year. “To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis, and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you,” he wrote.

In her video marking the end of her cancer treatment, Kate reflected on her journey, stating, “The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life can change in an instant, and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters.” She also shared her insights on the vulnerabilities faced during such a journey and emphasized the new perspective it brings.

The couple, proud parents to three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—continues to inspire many through their resilience and love.

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PM Modi, Trump announce strategic initiatives, aim for $500 billion trade by 2030

PM Modi and President Trump’s meeting at the White House covered defence, trade, technology, and energy. Both leaders aim for a $500 billion trade target by 2030, alongside key defence initiatives.

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PM Modi and President Trump during their high-level meeting at the White House

In a pivotal meeting at the White House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed a range of issues that will shape the future of Indo-US relations, covering defence, trade, technology, and energy sectors. The high-level talks, which followed PM Modi’s visit to France, came just hours after President Trump’s announcement of new reciprocal tariffs affecting all US trading partners, including India.

Key highlights from the Modi-Trump talks:

Defence: strengthening military ties

A significant announcement from the meeting was the creation of a new 10-year framework for US-India defence cooperation. This framework will expand US platforms within the Indian defence services, including new deals for Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stryker armoured vehicles. Additionally, the US will deliver six more P8I maritime surveillance aircraft to India.

Another major development includes a review of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), aimed at easing technology transfers and spare part supplies between the two nations. Both countries also initiated talks for a Reciprocal Defence Procurement (RDP) agreement, which will streamline mutual defence purchases. A major breakthrough came with the US’s announcement of policy reviews for releasing fifth-generation fighter jets and underwater warfare systems to India.

The two nations also launched the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA), focusing on collaboration in underwater domain awareness technologies. India will be the first country to co-develop these sensitive technologies with the US.

Trade: ‘Mission 500’ and bilateral trade expansion

On the economic front, both leaders set an ambitious goal of reaching $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 under the initiative “Mission 500”. Key trade agreements are set to be concluded by 2025, addressing issues like the controversial reciprocal tariffs. The discussion also highlighted Indian investments in the US worth over $7.3 billion, which have supported thousands of American jobs.

However, trade talks took place against the backdrop of President Trump’s 25% tariff on global steel and aluminium imports, which could have significant implications for Indian exports.

Technology: Advancing strategic partnerships

PM Modi and President Trump also unveiled the TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) initiative, a collaboration designed to accelerate partnerships in critical and emerging technologies. A roadmap for US-India AI collaboration is expected by the end of the year, along with plans for next-generation data centres and AI processing collaborations.

Moreover, both countries are working on expanding Indian pharmaceutical manufacturing in the US, especially for essential medicines, and launching initiatives to recover rare earth minerals to support high-tech industries.

Energy: Strengthening strategic ties

The India-US Energy Security Partnership was reaffirmed, with commitments to support India’s full membership in the International Energy Agency (IEA) and to advance nuclear energy production through the India-US 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement. Plans for collaboration on small modular reactors are also in the pipeline, aiming to boost nuclear energy generation in India.

Counterterrorism and multilateral cooperation

The two leaders also discussed counterterrorism efforts, with both condemning Pakistan’s inaction against terrorist groups. A significant announcement came with the approval of the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a key convict in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, to India. Furthermore, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Quad alliance (India, US, Japan, Australia) and laid the groundwork for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC).

The meeting also included discussions on new initiatives for 2025 through the I2U2 Group and the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, which will focus on economic and security cooperation.

A new chapter in India-US relations

With an array of initiatives spanning defence, trade, technology, and energy, the meeting between PM Modi and President Trump is set to deepen bilateral ties and pave the way for greater cooperation in the years to come.

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NASA sets March 12 as target date for Crew-10 launch to bring astronauts home

NASA has pushed forward the launch of its Crew-10 mission to March 12, with plans to return astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore to Earth.

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SpaceX Crew-10 launch with NASA astronauts

NASA has set its sights on a new target launch date for the highly anticipated Crew-10 mission, now slated for March 12, pending completion of the flight readiness process. The launch, aimed at returning stranded astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS), will also mark a significant crew rotation mission with SpaceX’s partnership.

Earlier, Crew-10 was scheduled for late March, but NASA has accelerated the mission’s timeline in light of new developments. This decision aligns with a strategic shift in spacecraft preparation, which now sees the flight utilizing the “Endurance” Dragon capsule, a previously flown spacecraft. The adjustment comes as NASA works to meet Commercial Crew Programme safety standards, ensuring the spacecraft meets all necessary requirements.

Why the accelerated launch?

The Crew-10 mission will bring a new team to the ISS, consisting of NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The mission’s importance grew after President Donald Trump urged SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to expedite the return of astronauts Williams and Wilmore, who have been stranded on the ISS since June due to delays with Boeing’s Starliner.

Musk acknowledged the urgency, describing the situation as “terrible” and emphasizing the need for a swift return of the astronauts. The new Crew-9 team, which includes Williams, Wilmore, NASA astronaut Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, will hand over operations to the Crew-10 team during their final days in space.

Key mission details

NASA’s Crew-10 launch will be an important milestone for both the agency and its private partner SpaceX, further cementing their collaboration under the Commercial Crew Programme. The shift to an earlier launch gives the mission the ability to proceed with a spacecraft that has already been flown, ensuring that technical issues are addressed in time for the critical mission.

In the coming weeks, NASA’s team will complete assessments to confirm the spacecraft’s readiness, marking another step toward fulfilling the agency’s crew rotation commitments to the ISS.

The March 12 launch will be a crucial moment not only for returning astronauts Williams and Wilmore but also for advancing NASA’s collaboration with private companies like SpaceX. With careful coordination and mission readiness, Crew-10 is poised to bring closure to a prolonged stay in space for these astronauts and maintain the steady rhythm of crew rotations at the ISS.

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