North America

Washington, Dec 20 (PTI) The US should not obstruct the flow of talent from India as it is an important part of the economic cooperation and almost acts as a strategic bridge between the two countries, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, emphasising the importance of H-1B visas, popular among Indian IT professionals, for the bilateral ties.

WASHINGTON/MEXICO CITY, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States began flying Mexican deportees to the interior of Mexico and a senior US official said Mexicans seeking US asylum could be sent to Guatemala, as the Trump administration seeks to further limit border crossings.

The flight carrying Mexican deportees from Tucson, Arizona, landed in Guadalajara around midday. One immigration shelter in the city said it had been informed of a likely influx of deportees.

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund approved a delayed loan tranche for Ecuador, releasing nearly US$500 million under a three-year aid program.

The IMF board gave the go-ahead for a US$4.2 billion loan in March to help support the oil-rich nation’s economic reforms, but massive protests led by indigenous groups erupted in October when President Lenin Moreno scrapped fuel subsidies, causing gasoline prices to soar.

HAVANA, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba will continue to enact economic reforms at its own pace regardless of the pressure exerted by a US embargo, Economy Minister Alejandro Gil said.

Cuba has been subject to US sanctions since the communist revolution of 1959 but they have ramped up since US President Donald Trump came to power in January 2017.

That’s posed new problems for the island nation which insists it will continue to “resist” US sanctions.

Gil said in an interview Wednesday that 2019 was “a difficult year, full of tension.”

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States and India have signed two Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI) agreements, the latest effort to boost bilateral ties, said the Pentagon on Thursday.

The DTTI pacts, concerning bilateral industry collaboration forum and standard operating procedure respectively, were signed during the second bilateral “2+2 Ministerial Dialogue” held earlier this week in Washington, according to a statement released by the Pentagon.

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 19 (APP): The United Nations is opposed to the death penalty, a world body’s spokesman said Thursday when questioned about the death sentence handed down to former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in absentia for high treason.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told the regular news briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York that he understood that the case was in an appeal process, but the UN had long been opposed to capital punishment.

“The United Nations stands against the death penalty,” he added.

NEW YORK, Dec 20 (APP): Amna Nawaz, an award-winning correspondent for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), on Thursday became the first Pakistani-American and Muslim journalist to moderate a US presidential debate which took place in Los Angeles, California.

THE UNITED NATIONS, December 20. /TASS/: The UN Security Council has postponed voting on the resolution on extending the mechanism of delivering cross-border aid to Syria and will continue consultations, UN diplomats told TASS on Thursday.

Throughout the week, the UNSC was considering two alternative resolutions on cross-border aid deliveries to Syria. Voting was supposed to take place on December 19, but the sides failed to agree on the parameters of aid delivery. "Consultations will continue. Voting may take place tomorrow or later," one diplomat told TASS.

20 December 2019; AFP: President Donald Trump's former press secretary was forced to apologize to presidential hopeful Joe Biden for mocking the candidate, who has struggled with stuttering, after he touched on the matter during Thursday's Democratic debate.

The bizarre episode began under the glaring hot spotlight during the Los Angeles debate, as Biden -- whos is not widely known as a stutterer -- told the audience how people with varying problems approach him for condolence or advice.

20 December 2019; AFP: Boeing is set to launch its Starliner capsule Friday on a crewless eight-day journey to the International Space Station and back, a dry run for NASA's plans to end US dependence on Russia for space rides.

The reputational stakes are high for the aerospace giant, which is in the midst of a safety crisis over its 737 MAX jet, while US national pride is also on the line.