US Haiti envoy quits over 'inhumane' deportations - BBC News

The US special envoy for Haiti has resigned in protest over the deportation of Haitian migrants.

The decision to return migrants fleeing an earthquake and political instability was "inhumane", senior diplomat Daniel Foote said in a damning letter.

Last weekend, the US started deportation flights from a Texas border town, where about 13,000 migrants had gathered under a bridge.

They have been waiting in a makeshift camp in temperatures of 37C (99F).

Local officials have struggled to provide them with food and adequate sanitation.

Since Sunday, the US has returned to Haiti 1,401 migrants from the Texas camp on the border with Mexico.

In his resignation letter, Mr Foote said Haiti was a "collapsed state" that "simply cannot support the forced infusion of thousands of returned migrants lacking food, shelter, and money without additional, avoidable human tragedy".

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki responded in a press conference: "Special Envoy Foote had ample opportunity to raise concerns about immigration during his tenure. He never once did so."

Ms Psaki also described images from the border - showing horse-mounted US officers corralling the migrants - as horrific and said horses would no longer be used in the area.

AFP

The widely shared pictures, taken by an AFP photographer earlier this week, have evoked grim comparisons to US slavery and the country's historical mistreatment of black people.

That led to pressure on President Joe Biden's administration, and prompted calls from within his Democratic Party to give the Haitians asylum rather than fly them back to their home country.

• Images of Haitians at US border echo grim past
• What is Biden doing differently at US border?

Many Haitians left after a devastating earthquake struck the country in 2010. A large number of those in the camp had been living in Brazil or other South American countries and travelled north after being unable to secure jobs or legal status.

This year has brought further hardship for the impoverished country. In July, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated - and in August it suffered another deadly earthquake.

'International puppeteering'

Mr Foote said Haitians needed "immediate assistance", and criticised the US and other countries for interfering in the country's politics.

"What our Haitian friends really want, and need, is the opportunity to chart their own course, without international puppeteering and favoured candidates but with genuine support for that course," he said.

Mr Foote has served in the role since Moïse's assassination in July.

A state department spokesperson thanked the ambassador for his work, and insisted that the US remained "committed to supporting safe, orderly, and humane migration throughout our region".

But in a later statement, a department spokesperson hit back at Mr Foote's claim he had been ignored by officials.

"It is unfortunate that, instead of participating in a solutions-oriented policy process, Special Envoy Foote has both resigned and mischaracterised the circumstances," Ned Price said.

President Biden has been accused of having an incoherent policy on migration. On the campaign trail, he vowed to reverse President Donald Trump's policies - which he deemed too harsh - and he put Vice-President Kamala Harris in charge of the issue in March.

But critics say they have failed to come up with a concrete plan for the near future, with the numbers of migrants coming into the country reaching record highs.

On the US side of the Mexican border in Del Rio, teams of police and National Guard agents have "completely blocked off" the area, according to immigrant rights activist Jenn Budd, who is at the scene.

"You cannot breathe here without law enforcement knowing what you're doing," Ms Budd, a former Border Patrol agent, told the BBC.

"They're cleaning it up and getting rid of everything, and they have shut down access to the river itself."

On the Mexican side of the river, migrants in a camp in Ciudad Acuña are voicing concern about potential expulsions. "I have nothing in my country. What are they going to do?" one tearful Haitian woman asked an AFP reporter.

Separately, nearly 19,000 mostly Haitian migrants are in Colombia, waiting to cross the border with Panama on the journey to the US, officials say.

"We want them to let us cross, from here to Panama, before the United States closes its border," one migrant said. "They are going to take away our dreams. I come from Peru, I've been struggling."

As monthly border-crossings continue to surge, Joe Biden has been caught between conservatives who say he is weak on undocumented migrants and liberal activists who view his policies as too much like those of his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Now the criticism of Biden's actions are coming from inside his own administration - a development that could encourage more to speak out.

The images of uniformed border patrol agents on horseback accosting black Haitians have drawn comparisons to dark chapters of slavery and discrimination in American history. Immigration activists say the border episode provides evidence of the harsher treatment dark-skinned migrants receive in this country.

The US has a process by which it can give undocumented migrants "temporary protected status" from deportation if government officials determine that it would not be safe to return them to their home country.

Haitians, as well as citizens from a handful of Central American countries, enjoy this protection - and it's cited as one of the reasons migrants brave the hazardous journey to the US, even though new arrivals do not qualify for the protections.

Instead, the Haitians at the border are being sent back to a homeland where, according to Daniel Foote in his resignation letter, they face inhumane treatment and grave danger.

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2021-09-23 18:57:37Z
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La Palma eruption: Lava spread raises fears of more damage on Spanish island as it rises 50 feet in places - Sky News

The advance of lava from a volcanic eruption in Spain's Canary Islands has slowed, rising in some places up to 50 feet as it thickens.

One giant river of lava on the island of La Palma slowed to 13 feet (4m) per hour on Wednesday - on Monday, a day after the eruption, it was moving at 2,300 feet (700m) per hour.

A second stream of lava has virtually ground to a halt.

As it slows, it has raised concerns that the molten rock may fan out across the land and destroy more homes.

Image: The advance of the lava has slowed significantly

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Correspondent broadcasts live as volcano erupts

It now covers 410 acres and has entombed 350 homes.

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There have been no casualties reported from the eruption but damage to property, infrastructure, and farmland is expected to be extensive.

Almost 7,000 people were evacuated after scientists monitoring the volcano warned of the eruption.

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The lava slowing has allowed more residents of towns in its path to grab belongings under police escort.

Officials had initially expressed fears about what would happen when the lava - with temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celcius - reached the Atlantic ocean, as it could cause explosions, trigger landslides and produce clouds of toxic gas.

However, the head of the National Geographic Institute in the Canary Islands, Maria Jose Blanco, said some lava streams won't reach the ocean until the weekend, and others may never reach it at all.

Image: Thick ash has covered the island

Meanwhile, molten lava, ash and smoke continue to pour from the volcano's mouth, shooting up to nearly 14,000 feet high, the Canary Islands Volcanology Institute said, raising concerns about whether airspace above the island could remain open.

Readings taken of the air found no threat to health, authorities said.

Joel Francisco, 38, said he and his elderly parents left their home with only a handful of belongings and important documents.

Now the flow appears to have slowed, he hopes to return, if police allow.

"We don't know how long we have to wait until we can return to our homes because the roads are closed," he told The Associated Press.

"Some people have it worse off, their houses are gone."

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Video of La Palma eruptions burning buildings and destroying homes

The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute said the eruption and its aftermath could last for up to 84 days.

This means residents could still be at risk of earthquakes, lava flows, toxic gases, volcanic ash, and acid rain.

However, tourists visiting the island have been largely undeterred, with many continuing to land for previously planned holidays.

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2021-09-23 18:22:34Z
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Witnessing the erupting Canary Islands volcano - BBC News - BBC News

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2021-09-23 14:05:50Z
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US Haiti envoy quits over 'inhumane' deportations - BBC News

The US special envoy for Haiti has resigned in protest over the deportation of Haitian migrants.

The decision to return migrants fleeing an earthquake and political instability was "inhumane", senior diplomat Daniel Foote said in a damning letter.

Last weekend, the US started deportation flights from a Texas border town, where about 13,000 migrants had gathered under a bridge.

They have been waiting in a makeshift camp in temperatures of 37C (99F).

Local officials have struggled to provide them with food and adequate sanitation.

Since Sunday, the US has returned to Haiti 1,401 migrants from the Texas camp on the border with Mexico.

In his resignation letter, Mr Foote said Haiti was a "collapsed state" that "simply cannot support the forced infusion of thousands of returned migrants lacking food, shelter, and money without additional, avoidable human tragedy".

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki responded in a press conference: "Special Envoy Foote had ample opportunity to raise concerns about immigration during his tenure. He never once did so."

Ms Psaki also described images from the border - showing horse-mounted US officers corralling the migrants - as horrific and said horses would no longer be used in the area.

AFP

The widely shared pictures, taken by an AFP photographer earlier this week, have evoked grim comparisons to US slavery and the country's historical mistreatment of black people.

That led to pressure on President Joe Biden's administration, and prompted calls from within his Democratic Party to give the Haitians asylum rather than fly them back to their home country.

• Images of Haitians at US border echo grim past
• What is Biden doing differently at US border?

Many Haitians left after a devastating earthquake struck the country in 2010. A large number of those in the camp had been living in Brazil or other South American countries and travelled north after being unable to secure jobs or legal status.

This year has brought further hardship for the impoverished country. In July, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated - and in August it suffered another deadly earthquake.

'International puppeteering'

Mr Foote said Haitians needed "immediate assistance", and criticised the US and other countries for interfering in the country's politics.

"What our Haitian friends really want, and need, is the opportunity to chart their own course, without international puppeteering and favoured candidates but with genuine support for that course," he said.

Mr Foote has served in the role since Moïse's assassination in July.

A state department spokesperson thanked the ambassador for his work, and insisted that the US remained "committed to supporting safe, orderly, and humane migration throughout our region".

But in a later statement, a department spokesperson hit back at Mr Foote's claim he had been ignored by officials.

"It is unfortunate that, instead of participating in a solutions-oriented policy process, Special Envoy Foote has both resigned and mischaracterised the circumstances," Ned Price said.

President Biden has been accused of having an incoherent policy on migration. On the campaign trail, he vowed to reverse President Donald Trump's policies - which he deemed too harsh - and he put Vice-President Kamala Harris in charge of the issue in March.

But critics say they have failed to come up with a concrete plan for the near future, with the numbers of migrants coming into the country reaching record highs.

On the US side of the Mexican border in Del Rio, teams of police and National Guard agents have "completely blocked off" the area, according to immigrant rights activist Jenn Budd, who is at the scene.

"You cannot breathe here without law enforcement knowing what you're doing," Ms Budd, a former Border Patrol agent, told the BBC.

"They're cleaning it up and getting rid of everything, and they have shut down access to the river itself."

On the Mexican side of the river, migrants in a camp in Ciudad Acuña are voicing concern about potential expulsions. "I have nothing in my country. What are they going to do?" one tearful Haitian woman asked an AFP reporter.

Separately, nearly 19,000 mostly Haitian migrants are in Colombia, waiting to cross the border with Panama on the journey to the US, officials say.

"We want them to let us cross, from here to Panama, before the United States closes its border," one migrant said. "They are going to take away our dreams. I come from Peru, I've been struggling."

As monthly border-crossings continue to surge, Joe Biden has been caught between conservatives who say he is weak on undocumented migrants and liberal activists who view his policies as too much like those of his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Now the criticism of Biden's actions are coming from inside his own administration - a development that could encourage more to speak out.

The images of uniformed border patrol agents on horseback accosting black Haitians have drawn comparisons to dark chapters of slavery and discrimination in American history. Immigration activists say the border episode provides evidence of the harsher treatment dark-skinned migrants receive in this country.

The US has a process by which it can give undocumented migrants "temporary protected status" from deportation if government officials determine that it would not be safe to return them to their home country.

Haitians, as well as citizens from a handful of Central American countries, enjoy this protection - and it's cited as one of the reasons migrants brave the hazardous journey to the US, even though new arrivals do not qualify for the protections.

Instead, the Haitians at the border are being sent back to a homeland where, according to Daniel Foote in his resignation letter, they face inhumane treatment and grave danger.

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Harry and Meghan visit WTC and 9/11 Memorial with NY Gov Cathy Hochul and Bill de Blasio - Daily Mail

Harry and Meghan head to 'meeting with the US Ambassador to the UN' after visiting the 9/11 memorial and One World Trade Center in sober black outfits during their first major public appearance since quitting the royal family

• Sussexes have kicked off their NYC trip with a trip to One World Observatory on Thursday morning
• Royal couple, who arrived in New York City on Wednesday night, ascended to the 100th to 102nd floor observation deck of the Freedom Tower for meeting
• They met with NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and his family, as well as New York State Governor Kathy Hochul 
• They subsequently inspected the 9/11 Memorial pools, and have since entered the museum underneath 
• The trip is Meghan's first visit to New York City since her $500,000 February 2019 baby shower  
• Harry and Meghan, who are rumored to be staying at the $1,300-a-night Carlyle Hotel, also set to attend Global Citizen Live concert Saturday, which calls for vaccine equity
• They're said to be making a stop at 50 UN Plaza on Thursday afternoon, which is home to US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield  
• Their two children Archie and Lilibet are not with them, and remain at home in California

By Jimmy Mccloskey and Rachel Sharp At One World Trade Center For Dailymail.Com

Published: 13:21 BST, 23 September 2021 | Updated: 16:33 BST, 23 September 2021

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expected to hold a meeting with the US Ambassador to the UN following Thursday morning's visit to the 9/11 memorial and One World Trade Center during their first major public appearance since quitting the royal family. 

The details of the Sussexes' trip to the Big Apple are closely guarded but they are thought to be heading to 50 UN Plaza in Midtown East at 1pm on Thursday. 

It is an apartment building close to the United Nations Global Headquarters and is home to the US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. 

The purpose of the visit is not clear but it will mark the second stop on their trip around the city.  

Earlier atop the One World Trade Center, Meghan, 40, smiled and said 'it's wonderful to be back' in New York - almost exactly two years on from her last visit in September 2019 when she cheered on close friend and tennis star Serena Williams at the 2019 US Open. 

The Duchess, who wore heavy fall clothes despite humid 80F weather, spoke moments before she and her husband visited the 9/11 Memorial as part of their first big public trip together since quitting the Royal Family in early 2020. 

She and her husband Harry, 37, posed for photos in front of the observatory's floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer stunning views of New York City and New Jersey. The Sussexes were joined by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, 63, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, 60, de Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray, 66, and the couple's son Dante, 24. 

Harry and Meghan, who arrived in NYC on Wednesday, and are rumored to be staying at the $1,300-a-night Carlyle Hotel, then visited the 9/11 memorial pools around 9am EST.  

The couple inspected the large black pools, built in the footprints of the original Twin Towers, before entering the 9/11 Museum, which sits underneath, and spending around half an hour inside.   

Saturday's Global Citizen concert in Central Park is the Sussexes' next confirmed appearance, and it is currently unclear how they will spend the remainder of Thursday and Friday.  

Harry and Meghan, who donned somber dark outfits, walked hand-in-hand around the memorial pools and museum accompanied by National September 11 Memorial & Museum President Alice Greenwald and Patricia Harris from Bloomberg Philanthropy. 

The couple's two-year-old son Archie and three month-old daughter Lilibet remain at home in California. 

Meghan said 'It's wonderful to be back' while posing with NY Governor Kathy Hochul (furthest left) and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio (next to Harry) as well as De Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray, and the couple's son Dante, furthest right, on Thursday  

The Duchess of Sussex made the remark while visiting the One World Trade Center Observatory with her husband Harry 

Meghan and Harry are pictured at the South Tower memorial pool in New York City on Thursday morning, with National September 11 Memorial and Museum President Alice Greenwald, pictured in blue 

The couple appeared somber as they were shown the huge memorial by Greenwald, during their first big public trip together since quitting the royal family in early 2020 

Harry and Meghan were shown the South Tower pool moments after being given the chance to visit the adjoining North Tower memorial pool alone and together. Patricia Harris from Bloomberg Philanthropy, pictured in Green, also joined the couple 

Greenwald appeared to be explaining the symbolism of the pool to the couple. Both water features were built in the footprints of the original World Trade Center Twin Towers, which were destroyed in the 9/11 terror attacks 

Meghan looked pensive as she chatted to 9/11 Museum President Alice Greenwald (in blue) and Patricia Harris from Bloomberg Philanthropy (in green)

Harry gave a wave to fans who called his name as he and Meghan walked towards the entrance of the skyscraper 

Meghan and Harry dressed in complementary dark outfits - although the Duchess was in heavy clothing for NYC's humid 85F weather 

Meghan last visited the city in February 2019, when pals including Amal Clooney and Gayle King held a lavish baby shower for her at The Mark Hotel's $75,000-a-night penthouse suite on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

The Duchess traveled to that event from London on a private jet, with the bash estimated to have cost $500,000. 

It is unclear if the Sussexes - famed for their pronouncements on climate change - arrived in New York on a commercial flight or flew there by private jet. 

It is also unclear who is paying for the trip and for the security detail around the Sussexes.  

Harry and Meghan arrived at One World Trade Center at 8:14am Thursday in somber outfits, likely chosen for their planned trip to the nearby 9/11 Memorial afterwards. 

The couple exited a black SUV, and were whisked up to the skyscraper's viewing deck - which sits between floors 100 and 102 - to meet Hochul and de Blasio, who arrived moments before the royals.

Meghan donned a stylish dark blue outfit, with a matching jacket, polo neck, wide-legged trousers, heels and her hair swept back into a business-like bun. She wore simple pearl earrings and muted makeup. 

Harry wore a complementary dark suit and tie. The couple were snapped donning black face masks as they entered One World Trade Center.   

After completing their trip to the World Trade Center, the couple got into a waiting black Range Rover and were driven away

Harry and Meghan are rumored to be staying at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan, and are in New York for three days 

They held hands as the walked up the steps of the building, with Harry giving a wave to watching fans who shouted his name on seeing him.  

No details on why the royals are meeting with the Democrat lawmakers and what they plan to discuss were shared in advance. 

De Blasio's wife Chirlane McCray, 66, and the mayoral couple's son Dante, 24, were also there to welcome the royal couple, who are visiting from their home in Montecito, California.

The mayor and governor arrived and entered the building a few minutes ahead of the Sussexes.

A small group of taxi drivers protested the event to call on Mayor de Blasio to offer additional protection for yellow cab drivers who've been hit by the rise in popularity of ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Lyft, with security also present to guard the royals and politicians.

'De Blasio help the cabbies, Mr. Mayor help the cabbies,' the group chanted as de Blasio arrived at the building.  

One of the drivers told DailyMail.com called for the mayor to focus on supporting New Yorkers rather than mingling with royals.

'The mayor should take care of the people, not spend money on this,' said Barbara Basiaosowca.     

How NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has come under fire for spiralling crime rates and handling of pandemic

Democrat Bill de Blasio’s tenure as the 109th New York City Mayor has been marred by controversy since he was elected in 2014.

Criticism during his time in office includes the spiralling crime on the city’s streets, his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and his fractious relationship with NYPD.

He has also come under fire for his approach to the Eric Garner case and his plans to increase affordable housing at the expense of the city's character.

Crime has also become a frequent stain on de Blasio's tenure in office, with statistics showing that both shootings and felony assaults had both increased in number compared to last year - with de Blasio blaming the court system.  

Shootings in April 2021 in New York surged by 166 per cent compared to the same month last year, and felony assaults had risen by 35.6 per cent - while crime as a whole jumped by 30.4 per cent.

High crime rates, paired with the nation's highest tax rates have also seen many people ditching New York City for good - with the coronavirus pandemic providing the push they needed. 

Bill de Blasio (pictured) has served as the 109th mayor of New York City since he was elected in back in 2014, though his time in office has been marred with controversy

De Blasio has also endured some controversial episodes during his time in office, such as in 2014. Eric Garner died after former New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo put him into a choke hold on Staten Island - but the officer retained his job. 

He has also endured a strained relationship with the NYPD, with many officers turning their backs on him during the funeral for Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

The two officers had been shot just weeks after de Blasio gave an interview in which he claimed to have told his son Dante, who is biracial, about the 'dangers' posed by the police to young black men.

Similarly, de Blasio faced backlash after he did not attend the vigil held for New York City police officer Miosotis Familia in July 2017. While speaking at Familia's service, many police officers again chose to turn their backs on de Blasio.

Elsewhere, de Blasio has also been criticised for how he has dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic. During the second week of March 2020, he did not act to close down public schools as the virus rapidly spread.

When he eventually did give the order for schools to be shut, he was called out for having been too slow. 

De Blasio has also faced criticism over a recent vaccination mandate he imposed on school staff.

Mayor de Blasio shared a live stream of himself and Hochul with the royal couple posing for photos in front of the observation deck's floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer stunning views of New York and New Jersey. 

He captioned the video: 'The tragedy of September 11 touched the entire world, and it's still felt today. 

'We're honored to join Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at One World Observatory.' 

The group put masks on to enter the building, removed them for photos at the top, then put them back on after the photo opportunity.   

Afterwards, the Sussexes came back down to ground-level, and posed with Hochul, de Blasio, the mayor's wife and son for another photo.

They hugged, smile and laughed before Harry and Meghan walked down towards the 9/11 memorial alone. A fan shouted 'you look beautiful Meghan, I love you!' prompting the Duchess to smile and wave, saying 'Thank you.'   

Meghan and Harry waved and smiled as they arrived at the World Trade Center on Thursday morning 

Meghan and Harry arrived at the World Trade Center in New York for their meeting on Thursday morning 

Harry arrived at One World Trade Center at 8:14am, shortly after Mayor de Blasio and Governor Kathy Hochul 

Meghan gave her trademark smile as she arrived at the landmark NYC skyscraper, and showed off her huge diamond engagement ring

Harry and Megna held hands after getting out of their SUV and walking towards the Freedom Tower for the first meeting on their three day trip to New York City 

Meghan and Harry parted ways with the lawmakers at the entrance to the tower to then visit the 9/11 memorial pools and museum.

They first visited the North Tower memorial pool, spending several minutes looking at the names of those killed in the attacks, which are inscribed around the edges of both pools.  

Harry was seen putting a protective arm around his wife as they paid their respects at the monument.

They then walked to the nearby South Tower memorial pool, chatting with Greenwald and Harris, before taking a moment of silence in front of a wreath next to the survivor tree. 

The Sussexes then went into the museum, which sits underneath the reflecting pools, and offers a comprehensive retelling of the 2001 terror outrage. 

They spent around 30 minutes inside, before being driven away in a black Range Rover.    

The royal couple ascended the Freedom Tower for a meeting with NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and NY Governor Kathy Hochul

After their trip up the Freedom Tower, Meghan and Harry will visit the nearby 9/11 memorial reflecting pools 

Port Authority Police officers helped guard the royal couple as they began their first public visit to New York since moving to the United States in March 2020 

Meghan produced a matching face mask as she approached the revolving door of One World Trade Center, while her husband of three years gave her a tender glance 

Meghan was snapped smiling at her husband as they arrived at the entrance to One World Trade Center 

Meghan was snapped donning a face mask before entering One World Trade Center to visit its observation deck 

Harry also appeared to be reaching for his face mask from his jacket pocket, moments before the royals took an elevator up to the building's 100th floor viewing deck 

Thursday's visit is the Sussexes' first public trip to New York City since their permanent move from England to Meghan's native California in March 2020.

One World Trade Center, also known as the Freedom Tower, opened in 2014 after the original World Trade Center Twin Towers were destroyed in the 9/11 terror attacks in September 2001.      

The memorial's two giant sunken pools and cascading waterfalls have been constructed on the footprints of the original Twin Towers. 

The sides of the pools, which have been constructed from black stone, are inscribed with the names of the 2,977 people murdered in New York, Washington DC and Pennsylvania. 

The Sussexes' itinerary will also see them attend the Global Citizen Live concert in Central Park Saturday. 

That will feature performances from artists including Coldplay, Lizzo and Jennifer Lopez, and will take place on the Manhattan park's Great Lawn.

Harry, Meghan and other dignitaries are attending to draw attention to Global Citizen's call for the G7 group of countries and EU to share at least 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines with developing countries. 

The music event will form part of a 24-hour broadcast from cities around the world, which also calls for vaccine manufacturers to waive their intellectual property rights on COVID shots.

Global Citizen Live and its supporters have further called for pharmaceutical firms to share mRNA technology used to develop the vaccines with a World Health Organization-backed medical hub based in South Africa. 

Harry and Meghan have become heavily-involved in philanthropy since sensationally quitting the Royal Family in January 2020, after complaining of the pressure-cooker environment and life in the spotlight.

The couple's somber outfit choice came as they visited New York just a fortnight after the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks 

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, pictured in red, arrived a few minutes before the royal couple 

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, pictured waving, was joined by his wife Chirlane McCray, pictured to his left, and their son Dante

Details on why de Blasio, Hochul and the Sussexes are meeting have yet to be released 

The couple have also signed huge deals with Netflix and Spotify, rumored to be worth a combined $125 million, to produce content for the streaming and podcasting giants.

They kicked off their new lives as aspiring media moguls with a bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview in March 2020.

The most sensational claim from the bombshell-laden chat saw Meghan, who is bi-racial, claim that an unidentified member of the royal family had voiced concerns over the skin tone of the couple's baby while she was pregnant with Archie, who was born in May 2019. 

Meghan went on to refute claims that she'd made the Duchess of Cambridge cry in the run-up to her May 2018 wedding to Harry - and allege that Kate had actually been the one to reduce her to tears. 

Kate has not commented on Meghan's counter-claim. Meanwhile, Harry confirmed a rift with his brother William, the Duke of Cambridge, and told of how his father Prince Charles - the heir to the throne - had cut him off financially. 

And the couple, who were expecting their second child at the time, also revealed to Winfrey that they were expecting a girl.

Their daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, was born in California in June.

She was given Queen Elizabeth's childhood nickname, sparking controversy over whether the royal couple had asked permission to recycle the head of the royal household's cherished moniker.

Harry and Meghan also paid tribute to the Duke's late mother Diana, who was killed in a car crash in Paris in August 1997 aged 36.  

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2021-09-23 12:21:02Z
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Evergrande: Shares in crisis-hit firm jump as debt deadline looms - BBC News

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Shares in Evergrande have jumped in Hong Kong after the troubled property giant struck an agreement with Chinese bond holders on Wednesday.

The announcement helped to calm some investor concerns over debts of more than $300bn (£220bn).

But the world's most indebted developer is also due to make a $83.5m interest payment on an overseas bond on Thursday.

The Hong Kong market was closed on Wednesday when the deal was announced.

After a volatile day of trading, Evergrande shares closed more than 17% higher.

The firm's shares have lost more than 80% of their value on the Hong Kong stock market so far this year as it struggles to raise money to meet its obligations.

• What is Evergrande and is it too big to fail?

The company had moved to placate investors, saying in a statement on Wednesday that it would pay interest payments for its domestic bonds.

The amount due for the domestic bond is estimated to be $35.9m (£26.3m).

However, the statement did not reveal how much interest would be paid or when any payment would be made, saying only that the bond "has already been resolved through private negotiations".

The filing also did not mention the separate foreign bond.

Under agreements with investors, the company has a 30-day grace period before a missed payment on the offshore bond would become a default.

Some analysts have cautioned that the failure of such a large and heavily-indebted property developer could have a major impact on the Chinese economy, which could potentially spread to the global financial system.

• Asian stocks mixed as Evergrande fears persist

And while Wednesday's deal was seen by some investors as a positive development, others remain wary.

"It's too soon to say whether this is just a brief respite or it signifies that a rescue plan is in the works," Donald Low, Director of the Institute for Emerging Market Studies at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology said.

Investment experts are looking for clarity over what the Chinese government may do to resolve the firm's debt crisis.

"Until there is certainty regarding how the government will deal with Evergrande, investors are likely to remain jittery," Catherine Yeung, Investment Director, Fidelity International told the BBC.

Ms Yeung also pointed that Beijing' business crackdown - which has seen it increasingly tightening its grip on big businesses, including tech giant Alibaba and ride-sharing app Didi Chuxing- may add to uncertainty.

• China says crackdown on business to go on for years

"Investors can usually deal with different standalone issues but the regulatory changes we have seen so far this year, coupled with the fast evolving Evergrande situation, has seen investor sentiment weaken," she said.

Reporting by Peter Hoskins

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2021-09-23 08:38:00Z
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Pakistan’s message to world on Taliban: ‘Be realistic … engage’ - Al Jazeera English

Be realistic. Show patience. Engage. And above all, do not isolate. Those are the pillars of an approach emerging in Pakistan to deal with a fledgling Taliban government that is once again running Afghanistan next door.

Pakistan’s government is proposing that the international community develop a road map that leads to diplomatic recognition of the Taliban – with incentives if they fulfil its requirements – and then sit down face to face and talk it out with the group’s leaders.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi outlined the idea on Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s meeting of world leaders.

“If they live up to those expectations, they would make it easier for themselves, they will get acceptability, which is required for recognition,” Qureshi told the AP.

“At the same time, the international community has to realise: What is the alternative? What are the options? This is the reality, and can they turn away from this reality?”

‘Be more realistic’

Qureshi said Pakistan “is in sync with the international community” in wanting to see a peaceful, stable Afghanistan with no space for terrorist elements to increase their foothold, and for the Taliban to ensure “that Afghan soil is never used again against any country”.

“But we are saying, be more realistic in your approach,” Qureshi said. “Try an innovative way of engaging with them. The way that they were being dealt with has not worked.”

Expectations from the Taliban leadership could include an inclusive government and assurances for human rights, especially for women and girls, Qureshi said.

In turn, he said, the Afghan government might be motivated by receiving development, economic and reconstruction aid to help recover from decades of war.

He urged the United States, the International Monetary Fund and other countries that have frozen Afghan government funds to immediately release the money so it can be used “for promoting normalcy in Afghanistan”.

And he pledged that Pakistan is ready to play a “constructive, positive” role in opening communications channels with the Taliban because it, too, benefits from peace and stability.

This is the second time the Taliban has ruled Afghanistan. The first time, from 1996 to 2001, ended when they were removed by a US-led coalition after the 9/11 attacks.

During that rule, Taliban leaders and police barred girls from school and banned women from working outside the home or leaving it without a male escort.

After their rule was overthrown, Afghan women still faced challenges in the male-dominated society but increasingly stepped into powerful positions in government and numerous fields.

But when the US withdrew its military from Afghanistan last month, the government collapsed and a new generation of the Taliban resurged, taking over almost immediately. In the weeks since, many countries have expressed disappointment that the Taliban’s interim government is not inclusive as its spokesman had promised.

While the new government has allowed young girls to attend school, it has not yet allowed older girls to return to secondary school, and most women to return to work despite a promise in April that women “can serve their society in the education, business, health and social fields while maintaining correct Islamic hijab”.

‘Let the situation evolve’

Pakistan, which shares a long border with Afghanistan, has a long and sometimes conflicted relationship with its neighbour that includes attempts to prevent terrorism there and, some say, also encouraging it.

Islamabad has a fundamental vested interest in ensuring that whatever the new Afghanistan offers, it is not a threat to Pakistan.

That, Qureshi says, requires a steady and calibrated approach.

“It has to be a realistic assessment, a pragmatic view on both sides, and that will set the tone for recognition eventually,” the Pakistani minister said.

Qureshi prescribes patience and realism on part of the international community in dealing with the Taliban [Mary Altaffer/AP]

The good news, he said: The Taliban is listening, “and they are not insensitive to what is being said by neighbours and the international community”.

How does he know they are listening? He says the interim government, drawn mostly from Afghanistan’s dominant Pashtun ethnic group, made some additions on Tuesday. It added representatives from the country’s ethnic minorities – Tajiks, Uzbeks and Hazaras, who are Shia Muslims in a Sunni-majority country.

“Yes, there are no women yet,” Qureshi said. “But let us let the situation evolve.”

He stressed that the Taliban must make decisions in coming days and weeks that will enhance their acceptability.

“What the international community can do, in my view, is sit together and work out a road map,” Qureshi said.

“And if they fulfil those expectations, this is what the international community can do to help them stabilise their economy. This is the humanitarian assistance that can be provided. This is how they can help rebuild Afghanistan, reconstruction and so on and so forth.”

He added: “With this road map ahead, I think an international engagement can be more productive.”

‘Positive sign’

On Wednesday night, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said after a meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council that all five nations – the US, China, Britain, Russia and France – want “an Afghanistan at peace, stable, where humanitarian aid can be distributed without problems or discrimination”.

He also hoped for an “Afghanistan where the rights of women and girls are respected, an Afghanistan that won’t be a sanctuary for terrorism, an Afghanistan where we have an inclusive government representing the different sectors of the population”.

Qureshi said there are different forums where the international community can work out the best way to approach the situation.

In the meantime, he asserted, things seem to be stabilising.

Less than six weeks after the Taliban seized power on August 15, he said, Pakistan has received information that the law and order situation has improved, fighting has stopped and many internally displaced Afghans are going home.

“That’s a positive sign,” Qureshi said.

He said Pakistan has not seen a new influx of Afghan refugees – a sensitive issue for Pakistanis, who are highly motivated to prevent it.

A humanitarian crisis, a foundering economy and workers who return to jobs and school but are not getting salaries and do not have money could cause Afghans to flee across the porous border into Pakistan, which has suffered economically from such arrivals over decades of conflict.

Qureshi prescribed patience and realism. After all, he says, every previous attempt to stabilise Afghanistan has failed, so do not expect new efforts to produce immediate success with the Taliban.

If the US and its allies “could not convince them or eliminate them in two decades, how will you do it in the next two months or the next two years?” he wondered.

Asked whether he had a prediction of what Afghanistan might be like in six months, Qureshi turned the question back on his AP interviewer, replying: “Can you guarantee me the US behaviour over the next six months?”

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2021-09-23 07:14:02Z
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