A top US Treasury Department official is set next week to make his first trip to India since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Amid tension over India’s neutral stance on the invasion that began in late February, the US wants the official visit to focus on how to deepen ties with the South Asian nation.
Wally Adeyemo, the deputy treasury secretary, will travel to Mumbai and New Delhi for meetings with officials from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office, the finance ministry, the Reserve Bank of India, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Krishna Janmashtami celebrations in India — in pictures
And as India is set to lead the Group of 20 intergovernmental forum in 2023, Treasury says Mr Adeyemo will “discuss key shared priorities such as bolstering energy security, addressing food insecurity globally and combating illicit financial flows”.
India has not shunned Russia despite its membership in the regional Quad alliance with the US, Australia and Japan. Instead it has maintained its business ties with Russia, depending on the Kremlin for energy and other exports.
The nation has boosted its purchase of Russian oil, buying about 60 million barrels in 2022 so far, compared with only 12 million barrels in all of 2021, commodity data firm Kpler reported.
The US and Europe, however, are moving away from Russian energy — with Treasury officials promoting a price cap on Russian oil.
A Treasury statement says Mr Adeyemo will meet financial services and energy sector executives in Mumbai and will speak about strengthening economic ties between the US and India.
He will also underscore “our two countries’ deep economic, security and cultural ties” and discuss ways to build “more resilient supply chains” through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework that India joined as a founding member in May.
India is the world’s second most populous country and the largest democracy, based on its population of 1.4 billion.
President Joe Biden on Sunday issued a statement celebrating India's 75th anniversary of independence, calling the US and India “indispensable partners”.
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham 0-1 Ajax, Tuesday
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Game is on BeIN Sports
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
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Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
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