UK police violence
London police have come under fire for restraining and arresting several people at a vigil for a woman who was kidnapped and killed by an officer. Officers scuffled with protesters after hundreds rallied despite coronavirus restrictions. Organizers condemned police actions, saying officers physically manhandled women at the event that was held to call attention to dangers women face in London. Meanwhile, the home secretary and the London mayor demanded explanations from the police while Liberal Democrats called for the Metropolitan police chief to resign. A London police officer has been charged with kidnapping and murdering Sarah Everard. She disappeared on March the third, while walking home from a friend's home.
No to US backdoor diplomacy
The United States says North Korea has not responded to its behind-the-scenes diplomatic push for talks since mid-February. A senior official of the administration of President Joe Biden says Washington has used several channels to reach out to Pyongyang but to no avail. According to the unnamed official, there has been no active dialogue for more than a year despite multiple US attempts. Former President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un met twice in 2018 and 2019 for denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. But the engagement failed as Washington refused to relieve any sanctions in return for Pyongyang’s goodwill measures. The Biden administration has not publicized its approach to North Korea but says it is carrying out a policy review.
US China policy
The US defense secretary says he is traveling to Asia to boost military cooperation and strengthen partnerships with American allies. Lloyd Austin said the US and its allies want to make sure that they have the capability to 'offer credible deterrence' to China or anybody else who would want to take on the US. Austin kicked off his first foreign visit as the Pentagon chief via Hawaii, the seat of the American military command for the Indo-Pacific region. His trip will take him to India, Japan and South Korea where he is to hold meetings with top officials. He will also be joined in Tokyo and Seoul by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The Biden administration insists that a tough approach to China can be more effective by shoring up alliances.