US governor visits Taiwan amid rising tensions with China

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Indiana's Republican governor met with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen after two recent high-profile visits by US politicians that drew China's ire and its military drills.

Eric Holcomb landed in Taiwan on Sunday for an "economic development trip". (AFP)

Indiana's Republican governor, Eric Holcomb, has met Taiwan's president, days after Washington announced trade talks with Taipei.  The meeting comes amid rising US-China tensions since Beijing staged huge military drills in retaliation for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this month. Holcomb landed in Taiwan on Sunday for an "economic development trip". In her meeting with Holcomb on Monday, President Tsai Ing-wen directly referenced Beijing's drills and called for like-minded countries to continue supporting Taiwan. "Taiwan has been confronted by military threats from China in and around the Taiwan Strait. At this moment democratic allies must stand together and boost cooperation across all areas," she said. Holcomb said the United States and Taiwan "share so many common values and interests and goals". "We will continue to seek to build a strategic partnership with you," he said. READ MORE: US says it doesn't support Taiwan's independence Trade talks Holcomb is also expected to meet representatives of Taiwan's world-leading semiconductor industry before leaving on Wednesday for South Korea.

Alongside South Korea, Taiwan makes some of the world's smallest and most advanced computer chips – a commodity that is vital for electronics but in short supply worldwide. Holcomb's visit comes on the heels of the announcement of trade talks between Washington and Taipei in the coming months as a senior US diplomat warned Beijing will continue to put pressure on Taiwan. Taiwan and China split in 1949 after the Communists won a civil war on the mainland.  Beijing sees official American contact with Taiwan as encouragement to make the island’s decades-old de facto independence permanent, a step US leaders say they don’t support.  READ MORE: China sanctions Taiwanese 'independence diehard' officials Source: AFP

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/us-governor-visits-taiwan-amid-rising-tensions-with-china/?feed_id=14096&_unique_id=630323401c2a6

Wind blowing and rising dust in some provinces of the country/ raining in some areas until Sunday

In an interview with IRNA, Kobri Rafiei said that in the next 24 hours, we will witness torrential rains in the north and east of Khuzestan, south of Lorestan, northwest of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, east and north of Sistan and Baluchistan.

He added: "Tomorrow (Saturday) torrential rains are predicted for the north and east of Khuzestan, west of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, east and south of Sistan and Baluchistan and east of Hormozgan."

An expert of the Meteorological Organization emphasized: On Sunday, rain is predicted for the heights of Tehran, Alborz, Mazandaran and East Khuzestan provinces, and there will also be dust rising in some areas.

Rafiee clarified: During the next five days in the north of Sistan and Baluchistan, South Khorasan, the southern half of Razavi Khorasan and the east of Yazd province, temporary strong winds and dust rising will be the dominant phenomenon. The same conditions will occur for the next 2 days in the southwest of the country in provinces such as Ilam and Kermanshah.

He said that the southern waters of the country, especially the eastern waters of the Oman Sea, will be turbulent and rough today, and added: Today, a clear sky with wind is predicted for Tehran, and the maximum temperature will reach 34 degrees above zero and tomorrow it will reach 33 degrees above zero. The minimum temperature today in Mehrabad station of Tehran will reach 23 degrees above zero.

The expert of the Meteorological Organization pointed out: Shahrekord with a temperature of 8 degrees above zero, Ardabil with a temperature of 9 degrees above zero, Zanjan with a temperature of 11 degrees above zero today, and the hottest center of the province was Ahvaz with a maximum of 48 degrees above zero.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/wind-blowing-and-rising-dust-in-some-provinces-of-the-country-raining-in-some-areas-until-sunday/?feed_id=12904&_unique_id=62ff2e5eb2b1d