News

Kamala Harris blasts China

Published

5 years ago

August 24, 2021

The Vice President has sharply criticised Beijing, accusing it of coercion and intimidation in the South China Sea

Kamala Harris made the remarks during a major foreign policy speech in Singapore, as part of her second overseas trip since taking office.

The Vice President accusing Beijing of continuing “to coerce, to intimidate and to make claims to the vast majority of the South China Sea”.

“These unlawful claims have been rejected by the 2016 arbitral tribunal decision, and Beijing’s actions continue to undermine the rules based order and threaten the sovereignty of nations,” Harris says.

Harris says the U.S. stands with its allies and partners in the face of these threats.

At the same time, Harris is seeking to reassure nations in the region that the Biden administration won’t force them to choose between China and the U.S.

“I must be clear: Our engagement in Southeast Asia and Indo-Pacific is not against any one country, nor is it designed to make anyone choose between countries.”
KAMALA HARRIS

Harris says U.S. engagement is “about advancing an optimistic vision that we have for our participation and partnership in this region”.

The U.S. has deep and enduring strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific, which is why our security presence matters. Thank you to our sailors and all our servicemen and women for your service and sacrifice, and the work you do every day to protect the country. pic.twitter.com/JK85NPi7zi
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) August 23, 2021

The Vice President is using the trip to reassure Southeast Asia of the Biden administration’s commitment to the region.

The messy and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan has raised concerns about the credibility of the United States’ foreign policy commitments, making this task even more important.

Appearing alongside the Vice President at a media conference on Monday, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was asked about U.S. reliability, following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

“What will influence perceptions of US resolve and commitment to the region will be what the US does going forward – how it repositions itself in the region, how it engages its broad range of friends and partners and allies in the region, and how it continues the fight against terrorism.”
Lee Hsien Loong

Kamala Harris will also make a historic trip to Vietnam this week, becoming the first U.S. Vice President to visit the nation.

News

Iran live updates: Rubio warns hardest US strikes yet to come as toll rises

Published

3 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Ahron Young

What’s happening in the Middle East?

President Donald Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, with Iran now entering a transitional period under a three man leadership council
Trump says U.S. strikes on Iran could last four to five weeks, outlining objectives including destroying missile capabilities, dismantling Iran’s navy and preventing it from obtaining a nuclear weapon
The U.S. military confirms four American service members have been killed, and the White House says U.S. forces have destroyed and sunk nine Iranian naval ships
Iran says it sees “no limit” to its right to self defence and will not negotiate, as missile and drone attacks continue across Israel and Gulf states
More than 500 Iranians have been killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes, with additional deaths reported in Lebanon, Israel and the UAE
Shipping, aviation and energy markets have been disrupted, Qatar has halted LNG production, UAE stock markets have closed temporarily, and oil and gas prices have surged

News

Oil prices surge amid rising Middle East conflict risks

Crude oil surges 7% amid fears of Middle East conflict; Strait of Hormuz disruptions may push Brent over $100.

Published

4 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Crude oil surges 7% amid fears of Middle East conflict; Strait of Hormuz disruptions may push Brent over $100.

Crude oil prices spiked dramatically as investors react to the growing risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East. U.S. crude surged 7.2 percent, trading near $71.84 a barrel, signalling heightened concern across energy markets.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint, has come under intense scrutiny. Rising war-risk insurance premiums and suspended tanker traffic are already slowing the movement of oil, creating ripple effects in global supply chains.

JPMorgan has warned that prolonged disruptions over three weeks could force Gulf producers to reduce output, potentially pushing Brent crude prices to between $100 and $120 a barrel. Markets are closely watching for developments that could reshape global energy pricing.

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News

Trump warns of last opportunity to hit Iran as conflict escalates

Trump declares final chance to strike Iran, aiming to dismantle missile systems and prevent nuclear weapons amid U.S. troop losses.

Published

4 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Trump declares final chance to strike Iran, aiming to dismantle missile systems and prevent nuclear weapons amid U.S. troop losses.

President Trump has declared this is the final opportunity to strike Iran as conflict intensifies across the Middle East, outlining four key military objectives including dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities and targeting its navy.

The U.S. says its mission is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and to halt its alleged support for terrorist groups abroad, signalling a potentially prolonged campaign in the region.

Four U.S. troops have already been killed, with officials warning further casualties are possible as operations continue.

#Trump #Iran #MiddleEast

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