International monitors will watch over a nearly six-month-old ceasefire agreement in Libya, the UN Security Council decided in a vote announced on Friday, as the country heads towards December elections after a decade of fighting and upheaval.&nbsp;

The council agreed unanimously to follow through on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' recent proposal for up to 60 monitors to join an existing political mission in Libya.&nbsp;

The monitors would arrive in an ‘incremental deployment ... Once conditions allow’, according to the council's British-drafted resolution. The measure also urges all foreign forces and mercenaries to get out of the country, as was supposed to happen months ago.&nbsp;

"We now expect all UN Members to act on that, helping Libya to regain its sovereignty and work towards lasting peace and stability," Britain's minister for the Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, said in a statement from London.&nbsp;

He heralded the resolution as sending 'a clear signal of support' for Libya's transitional government, which took power last month and is expected to lead the country to the elections, planned for December 24.&nbsp;

Libya's UN Mission didn't immediately comment on the resolution. The country didn't get to vote on them, as it isn't a member of the 15-nation council. Voting was conducted by email, due to the coronavirus pandemic; the results were announced at a brief virtual meeting.&nbsp;

Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 and split the oil-rich North African country between a UN-supported government in the capital, Tripoli, and rival authorities based in the country's east.&nbsp;

Each side was backed by armed groups and foreign governments. The UN Estimated in December there were at least 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya, including Syrians, Russians, Sudanese and Chadians.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

International monitors will watch over a nearly six-month-old ceasefire agreement in Libya, the UN Security Council decided in a vote announced on Friday, as the country heads towards December elections after a decade of fighting and upheaval.

International monitors will watch over a nearly six-month-old ceasefire agreement in Libya, the UN Security Council decided in a vote announced on Friday, as the country heads towards December elections after a decade of fighting and upheaval. The council agreed unanimously to follow through on Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' recent proposal for up to 60 monitors to join an existing political mission in Libya. The monitors would arrive in an ‘incremental deployment ... Once conditions allow’, according to the council's British-drafted resolution. The measure also urges all foreign forces and mercenaries to get out of the country, as was supposed to happen months ago. "We now expect all UN Members to act on that, helping Libya to regain its sovereignty and work towards lasting peace and stability," Britain's minister for the Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly, said in a statement from London. He heralded the resolution as sending 'a clear signal of support' for Libya's transitional government, which took power last month and is expected to lead the country to the elections, planned for December 24. Libya's UN Mission didn't immediately comment on the resolution. The country didn't get to vote on them, as it isn't a member of the 15-nation council. Voting was conducted by email, due to the coronavirus pandemic; the results were announced at a brief virtual meeting. Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 and split the oil-rich North African country between a UN-supported government in the capital, Tripoli, and rival authorities based in the country's east. Each side was backed by armed groups and foreign governments. The UN Estimated in December there were at least 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya, including Syrians, Russians, Sudanese and Chadians. (With inputs from agencies)

UN agrees to deploy ceasefire monitors as Libya heads towards December polls 

Two men were killed and a woman and a San Antonio police officer were wounded in a shootout on Friday following a routine traffic stop.&nbsp;

Around 11:30 am, an officer stopped a pickup truck containing three occupants for an undetermined reason on a street on the city's West Side, Police Chief William McManus said.&nbsp;

The officer's body camera recorded a few minutes of what appeared to be a casual conversation between the officer and the truck's occupants until the driver flashed a handgun and shot the officer in the hand, McManus said.&nbsp;

The officer returned fire while retreating, killing the male driver and a male passenger and wounding a female passenger, he said.&nbsp;

"The officer is very lucky to be alive, getting shot at that close range," McManus said.&nbsp;

None of the identities of those involved have been released. The woman was taken to a hospital, where her condition was not known.&nbsp;

The incident came one day after a man sought for shooting at busy US 281 from a northern San Antonio flyover overpass was shot and killed hours later by a police officer after the man opened fire outside a San Antonio International Airport terminal. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Two men were killed and a woman and a San Antonio police officer were wounded in a shootout on Friday following a routine traffic stop. Around 11:30 am, an officer stopped a pickup truck containing three occupants for an undetermined reason on a street on the city's West Side, Police Chief William McManus said.

Two men were killed and a woman and a San Antonio police officer were wounded in a shootout on Friday following a routine traffic stop. Around 11:30 am, an officer stopped a pickup truck containing three occupants for an undetermined reason on a street on the city's West Side, Police Chief William McManus said. The officer's body camera recorded a few minutes of what appeared to be a casual conversation between the officer and the truck's occupants until the driver flashed a handgun and shot the officer in the hand, McManus said. The officer returned fire while retreating, killing the male driver and a male passenger and wounding a female passenger, he said. "The officer is very lucky to be alive, getting shot at that close range," McManus said. None of the identities of those involved have been released. The woman was taken to a hospital, where her condition was not known. The incident came one day after a man sought for shooting at busy US 281 from a northern San Antonio flyover overpass was shot and killed hours later by a police officer after the man opened fire outside a San Antonio International Airport terminal. (With inputs from agencies)

Two killed, cop wounded in US shootout 

Before the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by September 11, there might be an increase in number of soldiers to ensure safe and orderly drawdown, the Pentagon has said.&nbsp;

"It is not out of the realm the possibility that for a short period of time, there will have to be some additional enabling capabilities added to Afghanistan, to help effect a safe, orderly, and deliberately planned drawdown of everybody by the president's deadline, early September," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a news conference on Friday.&nbsp;

However, Kirby did not elaborate on the nature of the increase in US troops. "I can't speak today with exactly what that would look like, how many, when they would be going in. But as we transitioned out of Iraq, of course, it's logical to assume that you may need some logistics help, maybe some engineering help," he said.&nbsp;

"You may have to add some force protection capabilities, temporarily, just to make sure that the drawdown goes in a safe, orderly, and effective way. Again, we'll know more as we get closer, but that would not be out of the realm of possibility," Kirby said.&nbsp;

Responding to a question, Kirby said that the Department of Defence is still working out what the future bilateral security relationship is going to be with Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"We're going to transition to a bilateral relationship, a military relationship that's more akin to the kinds of relationships we have with other countries," he said.&nbsp;

"It will not include a US military footprint on the ground in Afghanistan with the exception of what's going to be required to support the diplomatic mission there. All that's still being worked out. So, I can't speak with specificity today about what contract support the Afghan security forces are going to need going forward," he said.&nbsp;

The United States, he said, will maintain counterterrorism capabilities to continue to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a launching pad for terrorist attacks on the US.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Before the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by September 11, there might be an increase in number of soldiers to ensure safe and orderly drawdown, the Pentagon has said.

Before the complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan by September 11, there might be an increase in number of soldiers to ensure safe and orderly drawdown, the Pentagon has said. "It is not out of the realm the possibility that for a short period of time, there will have to be some additional enabling capabilities added to Afghanistan, to help effect a safe, orderly, and deliberately planned drawdown of everybody by the president's deadline, early September," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a news conference on Friday. However, Kirby did not elaborate on the nature of the increase in US troops. "I can't speak today with exactly what that would look like, how many, when they would be going in. But as we transitioned out of Iraq, of course, it's logical to assume that you may need some logistics help, maybe some engineering help," he said. "You may have to add some force protection capabilities, temporarily, just to make sure that the drawdown goes in a safe, orderly, and effective way. Again, we'll know more as we get closer, but that would not be out of the realm of possibility," Kirby said. Responding to a question, Kirby said that the Department of Defence is still working out what the future bilateral security relationship is going to be with Afghanistan. "We're going to transition to a bilateral relationship, a military relationship that's more akin to the kinds of relationships we have with other countries," he said. "It will not include a US military footprint on the ground in Afghanistan with the exception of what's going to be required to support the diplomatic mission there. All that's still being worked out. So, I can't speak with specificity today about what contract support the Afghan security forces are going to need going forward," he said. The United States, he said, will maintain counterterrorism capabilities to continue to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a launching pad for terrorist attacks on the US. (With inputs from agencies)

Before withdrawal, US soldiers’ number may rise in Afghanistan: Pentagon  

President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga showcased the alliance between their two countries as well as their shared resolve in dealing with China as they met at the White House on Friday in Biden's first face-to-face talks with a foreign leader as president.&nbsp;

The talks featured unusually frank warnings from a Japanese leader against any effort by China to dominate the Indo-Pacific region by 'force or coercion’.&nbsp;

Suga said the visit was meant to ‘reaffirm the new and tight bond between us' as the US and Japan deal with challenges in the region.&nbsp;

Suga and Biden, who wore masks for their meeting in a visit modified by precautions against the coronavirus, were seeking to challenge messaging from Chinese President Xi Jinping that America and democracies in general are on the decline following the political turmoil and international withdrawal that marked Donald Trump's presidency.&nbsp;

In a news conference afterward in the Rose Garden, Suga made repeated references to the 'severe security environment' in East Asia, where China under Xi is exerting its economic and military strength, including with military deployments meant to assert its disputed territorial claims in the region.&nbsp;

Suga broke from past Japanese leaders on Friday by not veiling his comments about China, an important economic partner for Japan. &nbsp;

The prime minister said he and Biden held 'serious talks on China's influence over the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. We oppose any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion.'&nbsp;

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had warned his Japanese counterpart in a call ahead of Suga's visit to see to it that China-Japan relations 'do not get involved in the so-called confrontation between major countries,' according to a Chinese government readout.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga showcased the alliance between their two countries as well as their shared resolve in dealing with China as they met at the White House on Friday in Biden's first face-to-face talks with a foreign leader as president.

President Joe Biden and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga showcased the alliance between their two countries as well as their shared resolve in dealing with China as they met at the White House on Friday in Biden's first face-to-face talks with a foreign leader as president. The talks featured unusually frank warnings from a Japanese leader against any effort by China to dominate the Indo-Pacific region by 'force or coercion’. Suga said the visit was meant to ‘reaffirm the new and tight bond between us' as the US and Japan deal with challenges in the region. Suga and Biden, who wore masks for their meeting in a visit modified by precautions against the coronavirus, were seeking to challenge messaging from Chinese President Xi Jinping that America and democracies in general are on the decline following the political turmoil and international withdrawal that marked Donald Trump's presidency. In a news conference afterward in the Rose Garden, Suga made repeated references to the 'severe security environment' in East Asia, where China under Xi is exerting its economic and military strength, including with military deployments meant to assert its disputed territorial claims in the region. Suga broke from past Japanese leaders on Friday by not veiling his comments about China, an important economic partner for Japan. The prime minister said he and Biden held 'serious talks on China's influence over the peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. We oppose any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion.' Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had warned his Japanese counterpart in a call ahead of Suga's visit to see to it that China-Japan relations 'do not get involved in the so-called confrontation between major countries,' according to a Chinese government readout. (With inputs from agencies)

US, Japan showcase alliance, resolve in dealing with aggressive China 

Leaked photos and video of 'unidentified aerial phenomena' (UAP) taken in 2019 were legitimate and taken by navy personnel, confirmed the Defence Department of the US.&nbsp;

Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough confirmed to CNN that the photos and video of triangle-shaped objects blinking and moving through the clouds were taken by US Navy personnel.&nbsp;

The pictures of three unidentified objects, categorised as a ‘sphere', 'acorn' and 'metallic blimp' were taken by Navy personnel, confirmed Gough.&nbsp;

The defence department cannot comment further on the observations or examination, added Gough.&nbsp;

In April 2020, the Pentagon released three short videos showing 'unidentified aerial phenomena'. Earlier, the US Navy had confirmed the clips as real. The videos released by the Pentagon date back to 2004 and 2015, and show flying objects that cannot be identified. The objects in question were moving rapidly, and were captured by infrared cameras.&nbsp;

In December last year, former President Donald Trump had signed the $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief bill which he also set into motion a 180-day countdown for the authorities to reveal all they know about UFOs.&nbsp;

The DIA and Secretary of Defence were given less than six months to provide information on 'unidentified aerial phenomena' to the Congress and committees of armed services, according to former President Trump's move.&nbsp;

In addition, the report must pinpoint any potential threats to national security posed by UFOs, while attempting to analyse whether any of the adversaries of the US may be involved in the sightings of UFOs.&nbsp;

Almost on cue, America's spy agency CIA allowed all UFO information to be downloaded ahead of the deadline last month. &nbsp;

The CIA allowed documents to be accessed by downloading from the Black Vault website. The data involved every instance of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), which has been mapped by the US government.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Leaked photos and video of 'unidentified aerial phenomena' (UAP) taken in 2019 were legitimate and taken by navy personnel, confirmed the Defence Department of the US.

Leaked photos and video of 'unidentified aerial phenomena' (UAP) taken in 2019 were legitimate and taken by navy personnel, confirmed the Defence Department of the US. Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough confirmed to CNN that the photos and video of triangle-shaped objects blinking and moving through the clouds were taken by US Navy personnel. The pictures of three unidentified objects, categorised as a ‘sphere', 'acorn' and 'metallic blimp' were taken by Navy personnel, confirmed Gough. The defence department cannot comment further on the observations or examination, added Gough. In April 2020, the Pentagon released three short videos showing 'unidentified aerial phenomena'. Earlier, the US Navy had confirmed the clips as real. The videos released by the Pentagon date back to 2004 and 2015, and show flying objects that cannot be identified. The objects in question were moving rapidly, and were captured by infrared cameras. In December last year, former President Donald Trump had signed the $2.3 trillion coronavirus relief bill which he also set into motion a 180-day countdown for the authorities to reveal all they know about UFOs. The DIA and Secretary of Defence were given less than six months to provide information on 'unidentified aerial phenomena' to the Congress and committees of armed services, according to former President Trump's move. In addition, the report must pinpoint any potential threats to national security posed by UFOs, while attempting to analyse whether any of the adversaries of the US may be involved in the sightings of UFOs. Almost on cue, America's spy agency CIA allowed all UFO information to be downloaded ahead of the deadline last month. The CIA allowed documents to be accessed by downloading from the Black Vault website. The data involved every instance of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), which has been mapped by the US government. (With inputs from agencies)

Leaked UFO photos, video are authentic, confirms US defence department 

A top Chinese diplomat said on Friday that US Policy toward China is 'too negative' and that cooperation could be critically important as the Biden administration focuses on combatting Covid-19 and promoting economic recovery.&nbsp;

The US appears to be highlighting confrontation and playing down cooperation, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said in an interview.&nbsp;

"Such an approach, I must say, is too negative," he said, adding that it lacks ‘a forward-looking spirit’.&nbsp;

China could be a partner as Biden tackles the coronavirus and the economy, he said.&nbsp;

"To me it is hard to imagine the two priorities can be resolved without a cooperative and healthy China-US Relationship," he said.&nbsp;

Le also signaled that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at a climate change meeting called by President Joe Biden for next week. He spoke as Biden's climate envoy, John Kerry, was discussing the issue on the second day of closed-door meetings with Chinese counterparts in Shanghai.&nbsp;

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced last year that China would be carbon-neutral by 2060 and aim to reach a peak in its emissions by 2030.&nbsp;

"For a big country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily delivered," Le said. "Some countries are asking China to do more on climate change. I am afraid this is not very realistic."&nbsp;

Le said he had no details on the Kerry meetings in Shanghai.&nbsp;

Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Xi, to an April 22-23 virtual climate summit. &nbsp;

The US and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting emissions and pledge financial help for climate efforts by less wealthy nations.&nbsp;

Le said that China would convey a positive message at the meeting, but added that China is responding to climate change on its own initiative, not because others asked it to. &nbsp;

On whether Xi would join the summit, Le said, "the Chinese side is actively studying the matter."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A top Chinese diplomat said on Friday that US Policy toward China is 'too negative' and that cooperation could be critically important as the Biden administration focuses on combatting Covid-19 and promoting economic recovery.

A top Chinese diplomat said on Friday that US Policy toward China is 'too negative' and that cooperation could be critically important as the Biden administration focuses on combatting Covid-19 and promoting economic recovery. The US appears to be highlighting confrontation and playing down cooperation, Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said in an interview. "Such an approach, I must say, is too negative," he said, adding that it lacks ‘a forward-looking spirit’. China could be a partner as Biden tackles the coronavirus and the economy, he said. "To me it is hard to imagine the two priorities can be resolved without a cooperative and healthy China-US Relationship," he said. Le also signaled that China is unlikely to make any new pledges at a climate change meeting called by President Joe Biden for next week. He spoke as Biden's climate envoy, John Kerry, was discussing the issue on the second day of closed-door meetings with Chinese counterparts in Shanghai. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced last year that China would be carbon-neutral by 2060 and aim to reach a peak in its emissions by 2030. "For a big country with 1.4 billion people, these goals are not easily delivered," Le said. "Some countries are asking China to do more on climate change. I am afraid this is not very realistic." Le said he had no details on the Kerry meetings in Shanghai. Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Xi, to an April 22-23 virtual climate summit. The US and other countries are expected to announce more ambitious national targets for cutting emissions and pledge financial help for climate efforts by less wealthy nations. Le said that China would convey a positive message at the meeting, but added that China is responding to climate change on its own initiative, not because others asked it to. On whether Xi would join the summit, Le said, "the Chinese side is actively studying the matter." (With inputs from agencies)

US 'too negative' towards China, says top Beijing diplomat 

Hundreds of people marched through the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago on Friday evening, calling for overhauls to the city’s police department after the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by a police officer in March.

Holding signs reading “Justicia Para Adam” and “We are Adam, defund the police,” a large crowd listened as speakers denounced the Chicago Police Department and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Adam was shot and killed by a police officer, Eric E. Stillman, 34, in the early hours of March 29. In video of the shooting, released Thursday by an independent city agency that investigates police conduct, Adam is chased down an alley by a white police officer, who orders him to stop and show his hands. An analysis of the video, slowing down events that took place in the space of a second, shows the boy then appearing to toss a handgun nearby and raising his hands in the air, just before the officer shoots him in the chest.

Jasmin Cardenas, who attended the march with her two small children, cried as she stood holding a sign supporting Adam and his family. She lives in Little Village, the predominantly Latino neighborhood where Adam was killed, and runs an after-school arts program that once worked with children at Gary Elementary, where Adam was a student.

The neighborhood is sorely lacking in services for children and teenagers, she said, and needs nurses in the schools and more art programs to keep young people busy.

“I’m just in shock at how many of us made mistakes and we’re still here,” Cardenas said. “He did all the right things. He put his hands up, and he still got shot.”

With renewed national attention on police conduct amid the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis, demonstrations also took place beyond Chicago on Friday night.

In the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, protests continued in front of that city’s police department for a sixth straight night following an officer’s fatal shooting of a 20-year-old motorist, Daunte Wright.

Protesters occasionally threw bottles of water and pushed up against a fence in front of the Police Department. Police fired a volley of pepper spray, rubber bullets and grenades that made a loud bang into the crowd, injuring several people and briefly setting the umbrella that one protester had used to block pepper spray on fire. There was no curfew Friday, but police declared the assembly unlawful before running at the crowd just after 10 p.m., making dozens of arrests.

In Chicago, speakers addressed a crowd in a large neighborhood park at the beginning of the rally, calling for defunding of the police and for measures like rent control to be enacted. At the mention of Lightfoot by one of the speakers, the crowd booed loudly.

“Our goal is to not let people forget and keep being active,” said Maximo Rodriguez, who said he had been involved in social justice causes since 1985, when he was a student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “The problem isn’t us, it’s the police. Whenever they’re around, there’s a chance for violence.”

Evelene Certa, 13, of suburban Berwyn, has been going to protests with her family her entire life, she said. “This one, it’s a kid my age,” she said, before pausing to gather herself. “It could’ve happened to me. It really changes my point of view.”

Hundreds of people marched through the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago on Friday evening, calling for overhauls to the city’s police department after the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by a police officer in March.

Hundreds of people marched through the Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago on Friday evening, calling for overhauls to the city’s police department after the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by a police officer in March. Holding signs reading “Justicia Para Adam” and “We are Adam, defund the police,” a large crowd listened as speakers denounced the Chicago Police Department and Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Adam was shot and killed by a police officer, Eric E. Stillman, 34, in the early hours of March 29. In video of the shooting, released Thursday by an independent city agency that investigates police conduct, Adam is chased down an alley by a white police officer, who orders him to stop and show his hands. An analysis of the video, slowing down events that took place in the space of a second, shows the boy then appearing to toss a handgun nearby and raising his hands in the air, just before the officer shoots him in the chest. Jasmin Cardenas, who attended the march with her two small children, cried as she stood holding a sign supporting Adam and his family. She lives in Little Village, the predominantly Latino neighborhood where Adam was killed, and runs an after-school arts program that once worked with children at Gary Elementary, where Adam was a student. The neighborhood is sorely lacking in services for children and teenagers, she said, and needs nurses in the schools and more art programs to keep young people busy. “I’m just in shock at how many of us made mistakes and we’re still here,” Cardenas said. “He did all the right things. He put his hands up, and he still got shot.” With renewed national attention on police conduct amid the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis, demonstrations also took place beyond Chicago on Friday night. In the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, protests continued in front of that city’s police department for a sixth straight night following an officer’s fatal shooting of a 20-year-old motorist, Daunte Wright. Protesters occasionally threw bottles of water and pushed up against a fence in front of the Police Department. Police fired a volley of pepper spray, rubber bullets and grenades that made a loud bang into the crowd, injuring several people and briefly setting the umbrella that one protester had used to block pepper spray on fire. There was no curfew Friday, but police declared the assembly unlawful before running at the crowd just after 10 p.m., making dozens of arrests. In Chicago, speakers addressed a crowd in a large neighborhood park at the beginning of the rally, calling for defunding of the police and for measures like rent control to be enacted. At the mention of Lightfoot by one of the speakers, the crowd booed loudly. “Our goal is to not let people forget and keep being active,” said Maximo Rodriguez, who said he had been involved in social justice causes since 1985, when he was a student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “The problem isn’t us, it’s the police. Whenever they’re around, there’s a chance for violence.” Evelene Certa, 13, of suburban Berwyn, has been going to protests with her family her entire life, she said. “This one, it’s a kid my age,” she said, before pausing to gather herself. “It could’ve happened to me. It really changes my point of view.”

Hundreds march in Chicago, protesting police shooting of Adam Toledo, 13

President Joe Biden pledged to “do more” to address gun violence and implored Congress to act after a mass shooting in Indianapolis left eight people dead. But his administration, scrambling to respond to a new cycle of violence, rejected calls to appoint a gun czar to more forcefully confront the crisis.

At a news conference Friday with the Japanese prime minister, Biden called gun violence across the country “a national embarrassment” and urged Senate Republicans to allow a vote on a gun control bill that has already passed the House.

“This has to end,” he said. “Who in God’s name needs a weapon that can hold 100 rounds or 40 rounds or 20 rounds? It’s just wrong.”

In an earlier statement, Biden said he had been briefed on the attack in Indianapolis on Thursday, in which “a lone gunman murdered eight people and wounded several more in the dark of night.” He ordered flags lowered to half-staff just two weeks after he had given a similar directive in response to massacres in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado.

“Gun violence is an epidemic in America,” he said. “But we should not accept it. We must act. We can, and must, do more to act and to save lives. God bless the eight fellow Americans we lost in Indianapolis and their loved ones, and we pray for the wounded for their recovery.”

His press secretary, Jen Psaki, rejected suggestions that Biden appoint a gun czar, similar to the position he created to address the climate crisis. The White House argued that the main impediment to addressing the crisis was congressional Republicans, not a lack of will in the West Wing.

“I would say that advocates should pressure Republicans in the Senate, that all of you should pressure Republicans in the Senate and ask them why they are opposing universal background checks,” Psaki said after a reporter suggested that Biden was “passing the buck” by blaming Republicans.

Despite the apparent gridlock, there are signs that things might be changing.

Biden is moving ahead with several narrow executive actions, and there are new negotiations on Capitol Hill for an expansion of background checks — aided by the financial collapse of the National Rifle Association.

Among the most consequential actions so far is a personnel move: Biden has chosen David Chipman, a former federal law enforcement official, to be the new head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a battered agency tasked with enforcing existing federal gun laws and executive actions.

Over the years, NRA-allied lawmakers have handcuffed the ATF with the tightest restrictions imposed on any federal law enforcement agency, even banning the bureau from making gun tracing records searchable by computer.

The agency has been without a full-time director for much of the past 25 years because NRA-allied senators have quashed nominations by both Republican and Democratic administrations, arguing that a strong agency leader threatens the Second Amendment.

Chipman is an unapologetic proponent of expanding background checks, banning assault weapons again and unshackling ATF inspectors.

White House officials are hopeful he can garner as many as 52 votes for confirmation given the disgust over the recent shootings. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the most conservative Democrat on guns, has expressed tentative support, and two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania, are open to the pick, according to Senate Republican aides with knowledge of their thinking.

On a parallel track, a dozen senators in both parties have quietly begun to negotiate a deal to expand background checks for gun purchases — a proposal that enjoys nearly 90% approval nationally in recent polls.

Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, both D-Conn., have been reaching out to Republicans in hopes of passing a narrower background check bill than the universal-checks measure passed by House Democrats earlier this year.

Biden, adopting a tone of disgust and frustration, unveiled two relatively modest executive actions last week: a 60-day review of homemade, unregistered “ghost guns” that is likely to lead to a ban, and a measure eliminating arm braces used to turn pistols into short-barreled rifles, a proposal rejected by the Trump administration.

Gun violence in America, he said at the time, was “an international embarrassment.”

President Joe Biden pledged to “do more” to address gun violence and implored Congress to act after a mass shooting in Indianapolis left eight people dead. But his administration, scrambling to respond to a new cycle of violence, rejected calls to appoint a gun czar to more forcefully confront the crisis.

President Joe Biden pledged to “do more” to address gun violence and implored Congress to act after a mass shooting in Indianapolis left eight people dead. But his administration, scrambling to respond to a new cycle of violence, rejected calls to appoint a gun czar to more forcefully confront the crisis. At a news conference Friday with the Japanese prime minister, Biden called gun violence across the country “a national embarrassment” and urged Senate Republicans to allow a vote on a gun control bill that has already passed the House. “This has to end,” he said. “Who in God’s name needs a weapon that can hold 100 rounds or 40 rounds or 20 rounds? It’s just wrong.” In an earlier statement, Biden said he had been briefed on the attack in Indianapolis on Thursday, in which “a lone gunman murdered eight people and wounded several more in the dark of night.” He ordered flags lowered to half-staff just two weeks after he had given a similar directive in response to massacres in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado. “Gun violence is an epidemic in America,” he said. “But we should not accept it. We must act. We can, and must, do more to act and to save lives. God bless the eight fellow Americans we lost in Indianapolis and their loved ones, and we pray for the wounded for their recovery.” His press secretary, Jen Psaki, rejected suggestions that Biden appoint a gun czar, similar to the position he created to address the climate crisis. The White House argued that the main impediment to addressing the crisis was congressional Republicans, not a lack of will in the West Wing. “I would say that advocates should pressure Republicans in the Senate, that all of you should pressure Republicans in the Senate and ask them why they are opposing universal background checks,” Psaki said after a reporter suggested that Biden was “passing the buck” by blaming Republicans. Despite the apparent gridlock, there are signs that things might be changing. Biden is moving ahead with several narrow executive actions, and there are new negotiations on Capitol Hill for an expansion of background checks — aided by the financial collapse of the National Rifle Association. Among the most consequential actions so far is a personnel move: Biden has chosen David Chipman, a former federal law enforcement official, to be the new head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a battered agency tasked with enforcing existing federal gun laws and executive actions. Over the years, NRA-allied lawmakers have handcuffed the ATF with the tightest restrictions imposed on any federal law enforcement agency, even banning the bureau from making gun tracing records searchable by computer. The agency has been without a full-time director for much of the past 25 years because NRA-allied senators have quashed nominations by both Republican and Democratic administrations, arguing that a strong agency leader threatens the Second Amendment. Chipman is an unapologetic proponent of expanding background checks, banning assault weapons again and unshackling ATF inspectors. White House officials are hopeful he can garner as many as 52 votes for confirmation given the disgust over the recent shootings. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, the most conservative Democrat on guns, has expressed tentative support, and two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania, are open to the pick, according to Senate Republican aides with knowledge of their thinking. On a parallel track, a dozen senators in both parties have quietly begun to negotiate a deal to expand background checks for gun purchases — a proposal that enjoys nearly 90% approval nationally in recent polls. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, both D-Conn., have been reaching out to Republicans in hopes of passing a narrower background check bill than the universal-checks measure passed by House Democrats earlier this year. Biden, adopting a tone of disgust and frustration, unveiled two relatively modest executive actions last week: a 60-day review of homemade, unregistered “ghost guns” that is likely to lead to a ban, and a measure eliminating arm braces used to turn pistols into short-barreled rifles, a proposal rejected by the Trump administration. Gun violence in America, he said at the time, was “an international embarrassment.”

Biden vows to ‘do more’ to end gun violence but rejects calls to appoint a czar

An NFT (non-fungible token) artwork by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been sold for more than $5.4 million.&nbsp;

The artwork titled, Stay Free combines the entirety of a landmark US court decision ruling the National Security Agency's (NSA) mass surveillance violated the law, with the iconic portrait of the whistleblower.&nbsp;

The funds will benefit the Freedom of the Press Foundation, where Snowden is the president. &nbsp;

"FIVE POINT FIVE MILLION from @PleasrDAO. It feels like the whole staff of @FreedomOfPress is watching live, and we`ve never seen anything like this. This is more than a spectacle," Snowden tweeted.&nbsp;

"Emerging applications of cryptography can play an important role in supporting our rights. This auction will drive the development of valuable and privacy-protecting uses of encryption, to safeguard press freedom and serve the public," he added.&nbsp;

In 2013, Snowden leaked information on US intelligence's methods of electronic surveillance, including illegally eavesdropping on foreign leaders.&nbsp;

Fleeing punitive consequences from US federal authorities, Snowden sent requests for asylum to some countries, including Russia.&nbsp;

On August 1, 2014, he received a Russian residence permit valid for three years, which was later extended for another three years.&nbsp;

In the US, Snowden faces two counts of violating the Espionage Act.&nbsp;

He may risk up to 10 years in prison on each of the counts.&nbsp;

The US authorities have repeatedly stated that they consider Snowden to have caused grave damage to national security.&nbsp;

"We have a winner, internet friends. I want to extend a very special thanks to everyone who followed this over the last 24 hours, and the deepest gratitude from EVERYONE at our @FreedomofPress to those who bid on our charity event. You help us make a better world. Stay free!," Snowden said in a tweet.&nbsp;

NFTs allow people to buy and sell ownership of unique digital items and keep track of who owns them using the Blockchain. NFT stands for 'non-fungible token’, and it can technically contain anything digital, including drawings, artwork, tweets, animated GIFs, songs or even video games.&nbsp;

An NFT (non-fungible token) artwork by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been sold for more than $5.4 million. The artwork titled, Stay Free combines the entirety of a landmark US court decision ruling the National Security Agency's (NSA) mass surveillance violated the law, with the iconic portrait of the whistleblower.

An NFT (non-fungible token) artwork by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden has been sold for more than $5.4 million. The artwork titled, Stay Free combines the entirety of a landmark US court decision ruling the National Security Agency's (NSA) mass surveillance violated the law, with the iconic portrait of the whistleblower. The funds will benefit the Freedom of the Press Foundation, where Snowden is the president. "FIVE POINT FIVE MILLION from @PleasrDAO. It feels like the whole staff of @FreedomOfPress is watching live, and we`ve never seen anything like this. This is more than a spectacle," Snowden tweeted. "Emerging applications of cryptography can play an important role in supporting our rights. This auction will drive the development of valuable and privacy-protecting uses of encryption, to safeguard press freedom and serve the public," he added. In 2013, Snowden leaked information on US intelligence's methods of electronic surveillance, including illegally eavesdropping on foreign leaders. Fleeing punitive consequences from US federal authorities, Snowden sent requests for asylum to some countries, including Russia. On August 1, 2014, he received a Russian residence permit valid for three years, which was later extended for another three years. In the US, Snowden faces two counts of violating the Espionage Act. He may risk up to 10 years in prison on each of the counts. The US authorities have repeatedly stated that they consider Snowden to have caused grave damage to national security. "We have a winner, internet friends. I want to extend a very special thanks to everyone who followed this over the last 24 hours, and the deepest gratitude from EVERYONE at our @FreedomofPress to those who bid on our charity event. You help us make a better world. Stay free!," Snowden said in a tweet. NFTs allow people to buy and sell ownership of unique digital items and keep track of who owns them using the Blockchain. NFT stands for 'non-fungible token’, and it can technically contain anything digital, including drawings, artwork, tweets, animated GIFs, songs or even video games.

Edward Snowden's NFT artwork sells for over $5.4 mn 

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, likely does not directly infect the brain but can still inflict significant neurological damage, a new study suggests.&nbsp;

The findings, published in the journal Brain, suggest that the neurological changes often seen in these patients may result from inflammation triggered by the virus in other parts of the body or the brain's blood vessels.&nbsp;

"We've looked at more brains than other studies and we have used more techniques to search for the virus. The bottom line is that we find no evidence of viral RNA or protein in brain cells," said researcher James E Goldman from Columbia University.&nbsp;

For the study, the research team examined the brains of 41 patients with Covid-19 who succumbed to the disease during their hospitalisation. The patients ranged in age from 38 to 97, about half had been intubated and all had lung damage caused by the virus.&nbsp;

All of the patients had extensive clinical and laboratory investigations, and some had brain MRI and CT scans.&nbsp;

To detect any virus in the neurons and glia cells of the brain, the researchers used multiple methods including RNA in situ hybridisation, which can detect viral RNA within intact cells; antibodies that can detect viral proteins within cells; and RT-PCR, a sensitive technique for detecting viral RNA.&nbsp;

Despite their intensive search, the researchers found no evidence of the virus in the patients' brain cells. Though they did detect very low levels of viral RNA by RT-PCR, this was likely due to virus in blood vessels or leptomeninges covering the brain.&nbsp;

The tests were conducted on more than two dozen brain regions, including the olfactory bulb, which was searched because some reports have speculated that the coronavirus can travel from the nasal cavity into the brain via the olfactory nerve.&nbsp;

"Even there, we didn't find any viral protein or RNA. Though we found viral RNA and protein in the patients' nasal mucosa and in the olfactory mucosa high in the nasal cavity," Goldman said.&nbsp;

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, likely does not directly infect the brain but can still inflict significant neurological damage, a new study suggests.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, likely does not directly infect the brain but can still inflict significant neurological damage, a new study suggests. The findings, published in the journal Brain, suggest that the neurological changes often seen in these patients may result from inflammation triggered by the virus in other parts of the body or the brain's blood vessels. "We've looked at more brains than other studies and we have used more techniques to search for the virus. The bottom line is that we find no evidence of viral RNA or protein in brain cells," said researcher James E Goldman from Columbia University. For the study, the research team examined the brains of 41 patients with Covid-19 who succumbed to the disease during their hospitalisation. The patients ranged in age from 38 to 97, about half had been intubated and all had lung damage caused by the virus. All of the patients had extensive clinical and laboratory investigations, and some had brain MRI and CT scans. To detect any virus in the neurons and glia cells of the brain, the researchers used multiple methods including RNA in situ hybridisation, which can detect viral RNA within intact cells; antibodies that can detect viral proteins within cells; and RT-PCR, a sensitive technique for detecting viral RNA. Despite their intensive search, the researchers found no evidence of the virus in the patients' brain cells. Though they did detect very low levels of viral RNA by RT-PCR, this was likely due to virus in blood vessels or leptomeninges covering the brain. The tests were conducted on more than two dozen brain regions, including the olfactory bulb, which was searched because some reports have speculated that the coronavirus can travel from the nasal cavity into the brain via the olfactory nerve. "Even there, we didn't find any viral protein or RNA. Though we found viral RNA and protein in the patients' nasal mucosa and in the olfactory mucosa high in the nasal cavity," Goldman said.

'Covid does not infect brain but still inflicts damage' 

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will embark on a three-day official visit to the UAE on Saturday during, which he will hold discussions with the country's leadership on all areas of bilateral cooperation including collaboration in trade and investment.&nbsp;

Foreign Office said that the Foreign Minister will meet his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other UAE dignitaries.&nbsp;

The UAE is home to the second-largest Pakistani community abroad.&nbsp;

"The Foreign Minister will hold consultations with the UAE's leadership on all areas of bilateral cooperation including collaboration in trade and investment, job opportunities for Pakistani workforce and the welfare of Pakistani diaspora," said the Foreign Office.&nbsp;

He will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest.&nbsp;

Pakistan and the UAE enjoy strong fraternal ties, rooted deep in common faith and shared history and values.&nbsp;

High-level visits between the two countries have played a pivotal role in providing further impetus to strengthening bilateral cooperation and collaboration on a wide range of issues.&nbsp;

But the visit got additional importance after reports by the local and international media that the UAE hosted secret talks in January between Pakistani and Indian officials. Weeks after this, the two sides agreed to restore the 2003 ceasefire agreement on the LoC in February, followed by reconciliatory messages sent by the leaders of the two countries.&nbsp;

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will embark on a three-day official visit to the UAE on Saturday during, which he will hold discussions with the country's leadership on all areas of bilateral cooperation including collaboration in trade and investment.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will embark on a three-day official visit to the UAE on Saturday during, which he will hold discussions with the country's leadership on all areas of bilateral cooperation including collaboration in trade and investment. Foreign Office said that the Foreign Minister will meet his counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other UAE dignitaries. The UAE is home to the second-largest Pakistani community abroad. "The Foreign Minister will hold consultations with the UAE's leadership on all areas of bilateral cooperation including collaboration in trade and investment, job opportunities for Pakistani workforce and the welfare of Pakistani diaspora," said the Foreign Office. He will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest. Pakistan and the UAE enjoy strong fraternal ties, rooted deep in common faith and shared history and values. High-level visits between the two countries have played a pivotal role in providing further impetus to strengthening bilateral cooperation and collaboration on a wide range of issues. But the visit got additional importance after reports by the local and international media that the UAE hosted secret talks in January between Pakistani and Indian officials. Weeks after this, the two sides agreed to restore the 2003 ceasefire agreement on the LoC in February, followed by reconciliatory messages sent by the leaders of the two countries.

Qureshi to visit UAE, to discuss cooperation in trade 

In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Eritrea agreed to start pulling its troops from Ethiopia’s Tigray region, making its first public admission to having troops in the neighboring country.&nbsp;

On Thursday, UN aid chief Mark Lowcock had told the Security Council that there was no proof Eritrean forces were withdrawing. The development has come in response to this admission. &nbsp;

In the letter posted on Eritrea’s Information Ministry’s website, Eritrea’s UN Ambassador Sophia Tesfamariam, said, “Eritrea and Ethiopia have agreed, at the highest levels, to embark on the withdrawal of Eritrean forces and the simultaneous redeployment of Ethiopian contingents along the international boundary.” Eritrea has not given a timeline for the withdrawal.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s prime minister has confirmed that Eritrea agreed to withdraw its forces from the Tigray region, where they had been described to have carried out looting, killing and raping.&nbsp;

The statement by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office came after intense pressure from the United States and others to address the deadly crisis in Tigray.&nbsp;

The Ethiopian forces will take over guarding the border areas ‘effective immediately’, the statement added.&nbsp;

Abiy only in the past week has acknowledged the presence of soldiers from Eritrea, long an enemy of the Tigray leaders, who once dominated Ethiopia’s government.&nbsp;

His statement accuses the former Tigray leaders of starting the conflict by attacking Ethiopian forces, then drawing Eritrea into the fighting by firing rockets into Eritrea’s capital. But witnesses have alleged the involvement of Eritrean soldiers from the start of the fighting.&nbsp;

Abiy shocked the region in 2018 by making peace with Eritrea after a long border war in the Tigray region, an achievement for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But since the current Tigray conflict began in November, Abiy has been accused of teaming up with Eritrea to pursue the now-fugitive Tigray leaders.&nbsp;

The US weeks ago demanded that Eritrean soldiers leave Tigray immediately, and pressure increased in recent days with the Joe Biden administration dispatching Sen. Chris Coons to Ethiopia nearly a week ago for hours of talks with Abiy.&nbsp;

No one knows how many thousands of people, especially civilians, have been killed in the Tigray fighting.&nbsp;

Only in recent days has the United Nations Human Rights office said it’s been allowed into the Tigray region in a limited capacity to support investigations into alleged atrocities including mass rapes by Eritrean soldiers and others.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Eritrea agreed to start pulling its troops from Ethiopia’s Tigray region, making its first public admission to having troops in the neighboring country.

In a letter to the United Nations Security Council, Eritrea agreed to start pulling its troops from Ethiopia’s Tigray region, making its first public admission to having troops in the neighboring country. On Thursday, UN aid chief Mark Lowcock had told the Security Council that there was no proof Eritrean forces were withdrawing. The development has come in response to this admission. In the letter posted on Eritrea’s Information Ministry’s website, Eritrea’s UN Ambassador Sophia Tesfamariam, said, “Eritrea and Ethiopia have agreed, at the highest levels, to embark on the withdrawal of Eritrean forces and the simultaneous redeployment of Ethiopian contingents along the international boundary.” Eritrea has not given a timeline for the withdrawal. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s prime minister has confirmed that Eritrea agreed to withdraw its forces from the Tigray region, where they had been described to have carried out looting, killing and raping. The statement by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office came after intense pressure from the United States and others to address the deadly crisis in Tigray. The Ethiopian forces will take over guarding the border areas ‘effective immediately’, the statement added. Abiy only in the past week has acknowledged the presence of soldiers from Eritrea, long an enemy of the Tigray leaders, who once dominated Ethiopia’s government. His statement accuses the former Tigray leaders of starting the conflict by attacking Ethiopian forces, then drawing Eritrea into the fighting by firing rockets into Eritrea’s capital. But witnesses have alleged the involvement of Eritrean soldiers from the start of the fighting. Abiy shocked the region in 2018 by making peace with Eritrea after a long border war in the Tigray region, an achievement for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But since the current Tigray conflict began in November, Abiy has been accused of teaming up with Eritrea to pursue the now-fugitive Tigray leaders. The US weeks ago demanded that Eritrean soldiers leave Tigray immediately, and pressure increased in recent days with the Joe Biden administration dispatching Sen. Chris Coons to Ethiopia nearly a week ago for hours of talks with Abiy. No one knows how many thousands of people, especially civilians, have been killed in the Tigray fighting. Only in recent days has the United Nations Human Rights office said it’s been allowed into the Tigray region in a limited capacity to support investigations into alleged atrocities including mass rapes by Eritrean soldiers and others. (With inputs from agencies)

In UNSC letter, Eritrea agrees to pull troops out of Tigray in Ethiopia 

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Zee News Rajasthan

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