Tag: White House

  • George Clooney called White House to blast Biden for calling wife’s work on Israel ‘outrageous’

    George Clooney called White House to blast Biden for calling wife’s work on Israel ‘outrageous’

    Hollywood superstar George Clooney reportedly rang up one of President Joe Biden’s top aides to complain about the president’s criticism of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) warrants against Israeli leaders — a case his wife, Amal Clooney, worked on, Washington Post has reported after talking to three people familiar with the conversation.

    Clooney called Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president, to blast Biden’s condemnation of arrest warrants sought by ICC prosecutors for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and especially his use of the word “outrageous” to criticise the court’s decision.

    His wife, Amal Clooney, is an International Human Rights Lawyer and runs the Clooney Foundation for Justice. She said in a statement that the prosecutor’s office had enlisted her to help with the investigation, asking her to review evidence of suspected war crimes and provide legal analysis. The Clooney Foundation for Justice published the statement, which said the team’s legal findings were “unanimous.” ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced on May 20 that he was seeking to charge Netanyahu, Gallant, Hamas leader Yehiya Sinwar, and two other top Hamas leaders with war crimes.

    “I do not accept that any conflict should be beyond the reach of the law, nor that any perpetrator should be above the law,” Amal Clooney wrote in the statement. “So I support the historic step that the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has taken to bring justice to victims of atrocities in Israel and Palestine,” she added.

    Washington Post revealed that the actor was “upset” about the administration’s initial openness to imposing sanctions on the ICC because his wife might be subjected to the penalties. Clooney has long been known for backing Democrats and is due to appear at a Biden campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles.

    The concerns expressed by the actor spread throughout Biden’s campaign as some officials were worried that he would withdraw from participating in the high-profile fundraiser, which will also feature former president Barack Obama, late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel, and actress Julia Roberts.
    However, both the White House and Clooney declined to comment on the matter.

    In 2020, George Clooney donated more than $500,000 to Biden’s campaign effort and co-hosted a virtual fundraiser for him that raised $7 million.

  • Israeli military strikes Rafah while continuing talks with mediators

    Israeli military strikes Rafah while continuing talks with mediators

    The Israeli military said that it is conducting targeted strikes against positions held by the Islamist group Hamas in the eastern part of Rafah, a southern city in Gaza.

    The operation is part of ongoing efforts to pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages and achieving other strategic goals, reports Ari Rabinovitch.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his war cabinet has approved the continuation of the operation in Rafah. The aim is to increase pressure on Hamas to ensure the release of Israeli hostages while pursuing other military objectives.

    “The war cabinet unanimously decided that Israel continue the operation in Rafah to exert military pressure on Hamas in order to advance the release of our hostages and the other goals of the war,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

    The statement also indicated that despite the ongoing strikes, Israel would engage with mediators in an attempt to reach an agreement with Hamas, noting that the current Hamas proposal does not meet Israel’s necessary demands.

    “In parallel, even though the Hamas proposal is far from Israel’s necessary demands, Israel will send a working delegation to the mediators in order to exhaust the possibility of reaching an agreement under conditions acceptable to Israel,” the statement read.

    Meanwhile, the White House announced that it is reviewing Hamas’s response to a ceasefire and hostage release deal and is urging Israel to avoid launching a large-scale offensive in Rafah.

    White House spokesperson John Kirby noted that U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu for about 30 minutes regarding the ongoing operation in Rafah and the hostage situation before Hamas’s response was received.

    Kirby described the discussion as constructive, stating, “It wasn’t a pressure call; it wasn’t about twisting his arm towards a certain set of parameters.”

    However, he also said that the United States does “not support ground operations in Rafah” unless Israel can demonstrate a clear plan to protect hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians living in the area.

    CIA Director William Burns is also in the region, discussing the Hamas response with Israeli officials.

    Kirby highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, “We are at a critical stage right now,” and reiterated that the U.S. is urging restraint to avoid further civilian casualties.

  • US defense chief under fire for undisclosed hospitalisation

    US defense chief under fire for undisclosed hospitalisation

    US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is facing growing criticism for waiting days to inform the White House and Congress about his hospitalisation, keeping key officials in the dark about his status during a major Middle East crisis.

    Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on January 1 due to complications from an elective medical procedure, but the Pentagon did not make any public announcement until four days later, and also waited to notify other top government figures.

    The 70-year-old secretary’s hospitalization comes with Washington struggling to contain the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war, which has sparked violence against American forces in Iraq and Syria as well as attacks on international shipping.

    With the Middle East in turmoil, the idea that “for four days the secretary of defense is in a hospital and (President Joe) Biden doesn’t know is shocking,” Ian Bremmer, the president of the Eurasia Group political risk firm, said Monday.

    Bremmer said the situation gives the president an opportunity to replace Austin, but the White House has stood by the secretary.

    Austin underwent an unspecified medical procedure on December 22 and was discharged the following day, but began experiencing “severe pain” on January 1 and was taken by ambulance to Walter Reed, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told journalists on Monday.

    Some of Austin’s authorities were transferred to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on January 2, but she was not told that he was hospitalized until two days later, Ryder said.

    The US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was likewise informed on January 4, bringing the White House into the loop, while Congress was not told until the day after that — the same day the Pentagon made a public announcement.

    Ryder said Austin’s chief of staff “had been out sick with the flu, which caused a delay in these notifications.”

    “We are currently reviewing how we can improve these notification procedures, to include White House and congressional notifications,” he said.

    Ryder also said he was informed of Austin’s hospitalization on January 2, but “did not feel that I was at liberty” to disclose information on the secretary’s condition “until we knew more.”

    The lack of notification has drawn criticism from Congress, with some Republican lawmakers calling on Austin to go.

    “It is shocking and absolutely unacceptable that the Department of Defense waited multiple days to notify the president, the National Security Council, and the American people,” Representative Elise Stefanik said in a statement, calling for Austin’s “immediate resignation.”

    Former president Donald Trump also weighed in, saying in a social media post that Austin “should be fired immediately for improper professional conduct and dereliction of duty.”

    But the White House has backed him, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying, “The president has complete confidence, continues to have confidence in Secretary Austin.”

    Ryder also said Austin — who remains hospitalized but is no longer in intensive care and has resumed his full duties — “has no plans to resign.”

    “Nothing is more important to the secretary of defense and the (Defense) Department than the trust and confidence of the American public we serve,” Ryder said, adding that “we will continue to work hard every day to earn and deserve that trust.”

    Austin meanwhile said in a statement on Saturday that he took “full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure,” and admitted that he “could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed.”

  • ‘Epic’: Twitter lauds acapella group for singing song written by Muslim for Modi’s arrival at White House

    ‘Epic’: Twitter lauds acapella group for singing song written by Muslim for Modi’s arrival at White House

    Two days ago, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the US White House, a video went viral of the all-Indian acapella group Penn Masala sang ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’ in celebration of his arrival. Many Twitter users interpreted this as a clever diss to the controversial politician over his Islamophobic government, and also as a direct response to Biden who revealed that he will not talk to the Indian Prime Minister about human right violations during his visit.

    ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’ is an Urdu song written by the Muslim artists A.R Rehman and Javed Akhtar, and was sung by Javed Ali. The song was featured in the film ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, a movie about the marriage between the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his Hindu wife Jodha.

    Twitter users lauded this discreet but clever way to troll a secular and facist politcian, who has been criticised by American politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, who announced that they were boycotting Modi’s address to Congress, citing the politician’s abysmal human right’s record, as well as his erosion of religious freedom in India.

    Some also felt that the song was an indirect target towards the Indian government’s move to remove chapters from school textbooks on Mughal rulers.

    https://twitter.com/onlynina/status/1671905008017629185?s=20

    One user wrote: “The irony of an urdu song from a film glorifying mughal emperor Akbar.”

  • ‘First army chief to be appointed on merit in Pakistan’: PM Shehbaz lends support to COAS Munir

    ‘First army chief to be appointed on merit in Pakistan’: PM Shehbaz lends support to COAS Munir

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, in a series of tweets, has lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, slamming his criticism of the establishment and current Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir.

    Calling out Khan, Shehbaz Sharif wrote, “PTI’s disgusting smear campaign against COAS Munir at the behest of Imran Niazi is deserving of the strongest condemnation”, adding that “Khan is going to the extent of damaging the country and undermining our armed forces and their leadership.”

    In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Shehbaz strongly condemned the “vile campaign” against the Pakistan army and COAS Munir and called on overseas Pakistanis to raise their voice against it.

    Referring to the COAS as the “first army chief to be appointed on merit in Pakistan”, Shehbaz Sharif stressed that such a campaign could only be the agenda of the enemies of the country.

    He said that “toxic politics” was being spread through overseas Pakistanis.

    The premier called on patriotic Pakistanis living abroad to raise their voices against the “foreign-funded campaign” and not become a part of such conspiracies.

    In response, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said the statement is only to create distance between the people and the army so “PDM can continue looting”.

    On the behalf of the party, he clarfied that the party wishes well to the army chief.

    A day earlier, hundreds of Pakistanis Americans gathered outside the White House, in the United States (US) to demand an end to the government’s actions against Imran.

    During the demonstration, one of the protesters said that the “establishment must realise its mistake”.

    On March 3, the PTI chief said that he is ready to hold talks with the COAS for the sake of the country, claiming that the army chief considers Imran his enemy.

  • US first lady is in ‘good spirits’ after surgery to remove cancerous lesions

    US first lady is in ‘good spirits’ after surgery to remove cancerous lesions

    Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States of America, has successfully undergone surgery to remove cancerous skin lesions on her face and chest on Wednesday. A third lesion was removed from her left eyelid and sent for examination.

    The lesions, removed via Mohr’s surgery, were consistent with basal cell carcinoma, a form of cancer that does not metastasize. Jill Biden’s doctors have said they were able to get clean margins.

    A White House physician said that “all cancerous tissue was removed.”

    According to Jill’s spokesperson, Vanessa Valdivia, the first lady is “doing well and in good spirits.”

    The 71-year-old first lady was accompanied by her husband President Joe Biden, who spent more than eight hours with her at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

    Biden himself has had several non-melanoma skin cancers in the past.

    Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. They are slow-growing, curable and cause minimal damage if treated early.

  • Ambassador Masood Khan met President Biden in Washington

    Pakistan’s ambassador to Washington Sardar Masood Khan met United States (US) President Joe Biden at the White House for a “meet and greet”.

    The Pakistani embassy said that Khan also went to have a official photograph with the US President, which is an established tradition in Washington DC for a newly appointed envoy.

    During the meeting, President Biden and Ambassador Khan had a brief conversation on building a strong basis to move US-Pakistan ties forward.

    According to the embassy statement, the official photograph has completed all formalities hence formalising Khan’s position as Pakistan’s envoy to the country.

    Apart from Masood Khan, ambassadors from 46 other countries were also present at the White House to get their official photographs with Biden. Previously, due to Covid restrictions, like Khan, they were also unable to meet the US President.

    Ambassador Khan was sent to Washington in March by the previous government. Following the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, it was speculated that it would impact Masood’s appointment.

    But Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Munir Akram clarified that current ambassadors continue to represent the country in foreign capitals unless specifically asked by the new government to return home.

  • Joe Biden to host granddaughter’s wedding reception at White House

    Joe Biden to host granddaughter’s wedding reception at White House

    United States (US) President, Joe Biden and first lady, Jill Biden will host their eldest granddaughter, Naomi Biden’s wedding reception at the White House. The ceremony will take place this November 19, reports CNN.

    Naomi Biden, 28, was engaged to Peter Neal,24, in September 2021. The fiancé proposed to Ms Biden near his childhood house as the White House official reported. The couple has been in a relationship for about four years. They both met for the first time through a mutual friend.

    Naomi Biden is currently working as a lawyer in Washington, DC whereas Peter Neal is in the final semester of law school at the University of Pennsylvania.

    This is not the first time that a wedding reception is being held at the White House. There is a long history of conducting marriage ceremonies at the White House. The first wedding ceremony was held at the White House in 1812 when the sister of the first lady Dolley Madison, was wed to Thomas Todd. Dolley Madison was the wife of 4th US President James Madison

    The last wedding reception which took place at the White House was for the daughter of George W Bush in 2008. She celebrated a month after she tied a knot in Texas.

  • Rejected: White House says they have nothing to do with Khan’s allegation of a US-backed ‘foreign conspiracy’

    Rejected: White House says they have nothing to do with Khan’s allegation of a US-backed ‘foreign conspiracy’

    The White House has rejected Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s allegations of the United States government’s involvement in a plot to remove him.

    Responding to media questions regarding the issue, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said, “There is absolutely no truth to the allegation.”

    US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said, “We are closely following developments in Pakistan. We respect and support Pakistan’s constitutional process and the rule of law. But when it comes to those allegations, there is no truth to them.”

    On Thursday evening, PM Khan named the US as the country that threatened to remove him in a live address. 

  • Biden puts sanctions on Russia but has no intention of fighting its long rival

    Biden puts sanctions on Russia but has no intention of fighting its long rival

    United States (US) President Joe Biden has announced that they are imposing the first tranche of sanctions against Russia for launching an invasion of Ukraine and warned that more would come if there are further incursions.

    In a video, Biden said, “We are implementing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions and comprehensive sanctions on Russia’s sovereign debt. We have cut off Russia’s government from Western financing.” He added that the US will also impose sanctions on Russia’s elites and their family members.

    Speaking at the White House, the US President lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Who in the Lord’s name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries [Donetsk and Luhansk] that belonged to his neighbour [Ukraine].”

    Biden said that the US would continue to provide “defensive assistance” to Ukraine but has no intention of fighting Russia. He said that the authorised additional movements of US forces are already stationed in Europe to strengthen Baltic allies Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

    He further revealed that the decision has been taken by the US and its allies. “I have told Putin to his face more than a month ago that we (US and allies) would act together if Russia invaded Ukraine,” he stated.

    According to Russian news agencies, Putin did not watch Biden’s speech and Russia will first look at what the US has outlined before responding, reports Reuters. Previously, Putin said, “They are trying to blackmail us again. They are threatening us again with sanctions” adding that the US just needs “an excuse to impose sanctions”.

    The development came a day after Putin recognised pro-Moscow separatist regions Donetsk and Luhansk as independent entities and allowed Russian troops to enter this region.

    Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly called up the country’s reservists and warned that Ukraine could face a battle.

    Ukraine is deeply divided, with a large Russian-speaking minority. Since fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014, separatist rebels of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics have been accused of being proxies for Russian interests.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan is going to Russia today (Wednesday) on a two-day visit.