US space agency NASA has named Indian-American Bhavya Lal as the acting chief of staff.

"NASA has named appointees for senior positions. Bhavya Lal joins as acting chief of staff, Philip Thomson will serve as White House liaison," the US agency said in a statement.

Bhavya Lal had served as a member of the NASA's transition review team for the incoming Biden administration. &nbsp;

She had earlier served as research staff at the Defence Analysis Science and Technology Policy Institute(STPI).

She has also chaired the National Academy of Sciences committee. The Indian-American had also served in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Advisory Committee on commercial remote sensing.

(Inputs ANI) 
&nbsp;

US space agency NASA has named Indian-American Bhavya Lal as the acting chief of staff. "NASA has named appointees for senior positions. Bhavya Lal joins as acting chief of staff, Philip Thomson will serve as White House liaison," the US agency said in a statement.

US space agency NASA has named Indian-American Bhavya Lal as the acting chief of staff. "NASA has named appointees for senior positions. Bhavya Lal joins as acting chief of staff, Philip Thomson will serve as White House liaison," the US agency said in a statement. Bhavya Lal had served as a member of the NASA's transition review team for the incoming Biden administration. She had earlier served as research staff at the Defence Analysis Science and Technology Policy Institute(STPI). She has also chaired the National Academy of Sciences committee. The Indian-American had also served in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Advisory Committee on commercial remote sensing. (Inputs ANI)

NASA names Indian-American Bhavya Lal as acting chief of staff

According to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a huge<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-asteroids-headed-earths-way-on-day-of-joe-bidens-inauguration-as-us-president-357734"> asteroid</a> would travel past the Earth on February 1.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japanese-spacecraft-returns-to-earth-carrying-pieces-of-distant-asteroid-347853/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The space rock dubbed 2016 CL136 measures between 460 feet and 1,017 feet in diameter, report say which is equal to the size of the French Eiffel Tower.

Experts say the asteroid is expected to come 3.3 million miles of the Earth. The asteroid is reportedly set to travel past the Earth on February 1 at 5:26 pm.

In an earlier report, NASA scientists had said asteroid named 2021 AC, which is twice the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza, would hit the Earth's orbit.&nbsp;

NASA had said that small asteroids pass the Earth a few time a year which are often difficult to record.

NASA had earlier warned that a 220-meter asteroid was headed towards the Earth in the new year.

According to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a huge asteroid would travel past the Earth on February 1. Watch: The space rock dubbed 2016 CL136 measures between 460 feet and 1,017 feet in diameter, report say which is equal to the size of the French Eiffel Tower.

According to NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), a huge asteroid would travel past the Earth on February 1. Watch: The space rock dubbed 2016 CL136 measures between 460 feet and 1,017 feet in diameter, report say which is equal to the size of the French Eiffel Tower. Experts say the asteroid is expected to come 3.3 million miles of the Earth. The asteroid is reportedly set to travel past the Earth on February 1 at 5:26 pm. In an earlier report, NASA scientists had said asteroid named 2021 AC, which is twice the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza, would hit the Earth's orbit. NASA had said that small asteroids pass the Earth a few time a year which are often difficult to record. NASA had earlier warned that a 220-meter asteroid was headed towards the Earth in the new year.

Asteroid size of Eiffel Tower to pass Earth: NASA study

The US east coast was hit by a powerful winter snowstorm as New York City and other urban centres in America woke up to a heavy blanket of snowstorm on Monday.&nbsp;

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-european-unions-vaccine-supply-disaster-360729/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A powerful winter storm pummelled Pennsylvania through New England causing disruption as the inclement weather impacted COVID-19 vaccination sites in the region.

The heavy snowfall and strong winds battered New York as COVID-19 vaccination sites were forced to shut and vaccination was suspended at New York public hospitals.

Amid the raging the snowstorm, non-essential travel was restricted in New York City on Monday with public transport suspended in New Jersey.

"On the vaccinations, those that were scheduled for today or tomorrow in state-run facilities, they're going to be postponed. I know how hard it is to get an appointment. I know people will say "I had an appointment finally, is it really going to get rescheduled?" it's really going to get rescheduled in any state-run facility. So if you had an appointment, it will be rescheduled at a state-run facility," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said.

Several COVID-19 vaccination sites and testing locations were forced to shutter on Monday due to the blazing snow as all six vaccine mega sites in New Jersey was closed on Monday.

The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 26 million cases and 443,100 fatalities so far.

The powerful storm is forecast to bring one to two feet of snow across the region through Tuesday with snowfall rates likely to reach 2 to 4 inches per hour during the storm's peak as winter storm warnings and weather advisories were put in place across the north-east United States

The New Jersey governor had declared a state of emergency on Sunday, suspending public transport service for the entire day on Monday.

The US east coast was hit by a powerful winter snowstorm as New York City and other urban centres in America woke up to a heavy blanket of snowstorm on Monday. Watch: A powerful winter storm pummelled Pennsylvania through New England causing disruption as the inclement weather impacted COVID-19 vaccination sites in the region.

The US east coast was hit by a powerful winter snowstorm as New York City and other urban centres in America woke up to a heavy blanket of snowstorm on Monday. Watch: A powerful winter storm pummelled Pennsylvania through New England causing disruption as the inclement weather impacted COVID-19 vaccination sites in the region. The heavy snowfall and strong winds battered New York as COVID-19 vaccination sites were forced to shut and vaccination was suspended at New York public hospitals. Amid the raging the snowstorm, non-essential travel was restricted in New York City on Monday with public transport suspended in New Jersey. "On the vaccinations, those that were scheduled for today or tomorrow in state-run facilities, they're going to be postponed. I know how hard it is to get an appointment. I know people will say "I had an appointment finally, is it really going to get rescheduled?" it's really going to get rescheduled in any state-run facility. So if you had an appointment, it will be rescheduled at a state-run facility," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. Several COVID-19 vaccination sites and testing locations were forced to shutter on Monday due to the blazing snow as all six vaccine mega sites in New Jersey was closed on Monday. The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 26 million cases and 443,100 fatalities so far. The powerful storm is forecast to bring one to two feet of snow across the region through Tuesday with snowfall rates likely to reach 2 to 4 inches per hour during the storm's peak as winter storm warnings and weather advisories were put in place across the north-east United States The New Jersey governor had declared a state of emergency on Sunday, suspending public transport service for the entire day on Monday.

Powerful snowstorm disrupts COVID-19 vaccination drive in New York

<a href="&lt;div class=&quot;videoWrapper trancodeVideo&quot;&gt;&lt;iframe src=&quot;https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-west-asia-post-will-it-be-a-long-road-to-the-iran-nuclear-deal-360402/embed&quot; width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;350&quot; style=&quot;width:100%;max-width:560px;&quot; class=&quot;includeVideo&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; autoplay=1 allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;">Iran </a>on Monday completed the test launch of a satellite-carrying rocket below orbit, according to the country's defence ministry.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-west-asia-post-will-it-be-a-long-road-to-the-iran-nuclear-deal-360402/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Iran maintains that its satellite programme is aimed at peaceful applications, however, western nations say that the programme could have military applications for missile development.

According to Iran's space ministry division,&nbsp;it was a "hybrid satellite carrier" which has &nbsp;"500 kilometres altitude orbit and can carry a 220 kilogramme payload."

The rocket can also be launched from a mobile platform with reports indicating that the launch took place from central Semnan province where the country has a space centre.

The launch of the new satellite comes even as the country is in talks with European nations for its return to the nuclear deal.&nbsp;

Iran's foreign minister had urged EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to play a role in helping the country to get back into the 2015 nuclear deal after Trump administration had walked out of the accord. 
&nbsp; 
US President Joe Biden had voiced support for returning to the accord but with several preconditions including nuclear compliance even as new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Iran could now produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon within "a few months."

However, foreign minister Zarif said Iran could return to its previous nuclear commitments in less than a day.

Iran on Monday completed the test launch of a satellite-carrying rocket below orbit, according to the country's defence ministry. Watch: Iran maintains that its satellite programme is aimed at peaceful applications, however, western nations say that the programme could have military applications for missile development.

Iran on Monday completed the test launch of a satellite-carrying rocket below orbit, according to the country's defence ministry. Watch: Iran maintains that its satellite programme is aimed at peaceful applications, however, western nations say that the programme could have military applications for missile development. According to Iran's space ministry division, it was a "hybrid satellite carrier" which has "500 kilometres altitude orbit and can carry a 220 kilogramme payload." The rocket can also be launched from a mobile platform with reports indicating that the launch took place from central Semnan province where the country has a space centre. The launch of the new satellite comes even as the country is in talks with European nations for its return to the nuclear deal. Iran's foreign minister had urged EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to play a role in helping the country to get back into the 2015 nuclear deal after Trump administration had walked out of the accord. US President Joe Biden had voiced support for returning to the accord but with several preconditions including nuclear compliance even as new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Iran could now produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon within "a few months." However, foreign minister Zarif said Iran could return to its previous nuclear commitments in less than a day.

Iran launches satellite-carrying rocket

New York, Philadelphia declare 'snow emergency' hitting vaccination drive

When Joselaine Cordeiro arrived at the U.S. border in 2017, she spent seven months in immigration detention in Texas while her 14-year-old son, James, languished in a shelter in Chicago.

As the months wore on, her child’s case worker reported that he was depressed, and suggested putting him up for adoption. “I thought, my God, I will never see my child again,” recalled Cordeiro, who had fled an abusive husband in Brazil.

She and her son were among the first of more than 5,500 migrant families separated at the southwestern border under the Trump administration’s most hotly debated immigration policy — a program that President Joe Biden must now find a way to unravel years after the policy was abandoned.

On Tuesday, the White House is expected to announce a task force that will look at demands for restitution, expanded mental health services, the readmission of deported parents and possible permanent legal residency for families like Cordeiro’s who suffered lingering damage from a policy intended to make it too emotionally punishing for migrant families to attempt to cross into the United States.

More than 1,000 migrant children still in the United States likely remain separated from their parents, and another 500 or more were taken from their parents who have yet to be located, according to the latest estimates from lawyers working on the issue.

One of the continuing obstacles to reunification is that hundreds of parents have been deported to their home countries — places they had fled because of the danger there — and are fearful of having their children sent home to them. And some children are being deported even though their parents are still in the United States trying to obtain legal residence.

Cordeiro became the second named plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit that the American Civil Liberties Union brought against the family separation policy and that has accomplished much of the work of identifying relatives all over the world.

“When we brought this case in 2018, we never thought there would be thousands of families separated, much less that we would still be looking for hundreds of them three years later,” said Lee Gelernt, lead counsel in the ACLU lawsuit.

Having inherited the crisis, the Biden administration has committed to addressing it: On Tuesday, Biden is expected to announce a task force that will look at demands for restitution, expanded mental health services, the readmission of deported parents and possible permanent legal residency for families disrupted by separations.

The task force, with representatives from the departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and State, will be headed by Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

Biden has already encountered resistance to dismantling Trump administration policies, signaling roadblocks ahead. A federal court last week temporarily blocked his administration from enforcing a 100-day suspension of deportations until the judge considers a lawsuit brought by Texas. The Senate confirmation of Mayorkas was stalled by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

But given the firestorm that family separations generated across party lines, Biden will be asked to take a wide range of actions to make amends.

“There’s a clear moral imperative here,” said Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, an advocacy group. “At a minimum, they should be offered the opportunity to be reunited and settled in the U.S. as eventual permanent residents.”

In addition to proposals for legal residency and demands for financial compensation, some immigrant advocacy groups are calling for those in the senior levels of the Trump White House who were responsible for crafting and carrying out the policy to be held accountable.

That would include the chief architect of the policy, Stephen Miller, former President Donald Trump’s primary adviser on immigration, and the former attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who issued the official memorandum on “zero tolerance” in April 2018. Former senior officials at the Justice Department, as well as in the Department of Homeland Security, also could be included in accountability investigations.

Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has called for the creation of a committee to investigate the policy and identify officials to be held responsible and face consequences.

The policy epitomized the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. According to a report issued last month by the Justice Department’s inspector general, top department officials were a “driving force” behind the decision to separate families in their quest to fulfill Trump’s agenda.

Nearly 3,000 migrant children were separated from their parents while zero tolerance was in force. It later emerged that another 1,000 families had been separated during a pilot program conducted in 2017 near El Paso, Texas. And even after Trump officially rescinded the policy, border authorities removed more than 1,000 children from their families, sometimes for reasons as minor as committing a traffic infraction or failing to change a baby’s diaper, according to court documents.

The revelation late in the presidential campaign that parents of hundreds of children had yet to be found by a committee charged with contacting families created outrage anew, prompting Biden to promise to address the families’ plight. Two-thirds of the parents are believed to be in their home countries, including some whose children may be living in the United States, and a third are believed to be in the United States but might have gone under the radar because of their own fears of being deported.

Some advocates said it was vital that the White House push for legislation to prevent such extreme punitive measures from being employed as a deterrence tool in the future.

“We must right the wrongs committed and make sure this doesn’t happen again under another administration,” said Jennifer Podkul, vice president for policy and advocacy for Kids in Need of Defense, which represents some of the families.

Locating missing parents will continue to be a daunting task. Contact information for many parents is outdated or unavailable, and conditions in Central America make searches on the ground difficult and dangerous. The coronavirus pandemic and hurricanes have caused further delays. Some families, understanding their children to be in safe hands, have not answered their phones or have declined to talk after what they endured.

Even if the Biden administration is willing to offer green cards to parents who were deported, the logistics will be challenging because many remain suspicious of the government and worry they will be arrested again. It is also not clear whether the issue of redress for the effects of family separation will be folded into Biden’s broader immigration plans, which some Republicans might oppose.

Unless Biden revamps border procedures, further separations will almost certainly occur when Border Patrol agents suspect that someone accompanying a child is not a parent or a legal guardian. Some parents lack birth certificates and documents to prove lineage. Border officials are tasked with guarding against the trafficking of children across borders.

In Cordeiro’s case, after months had passed, she finally found a friend willing to take her son from the shelter. But the authorities told her that the woman did not qualify because she was not related.

After acting out, James was administered antidepressants and other drugs, according to his mother.

When she finally was released seven months later, red tape delayed their reunification by another two months.

They are now living in the Boston area, and James has been weaned off the medication, Cordeiro said, but he has few friends and spends most of his time alone. “I never imagined a government would do this to human beings,” she said. “It was pure cruelty.”

Among parents hoping that Biden’s administration will allow them back into the United States is a woman from El Salvador named Xiomara, who was deported without her daughter after they were separated at the border on Mother’s Day in 2018.

“I can hardly wait for the day when I will wake up from this nightmare,” said Xiomara, 34, who spoke on condition that she be identified only by her first name because of security concerns.

One of her last acts of motherhood was to bathe and dress her daughter, after being told by border officials that Briselda, then 8, would be taken away. She said she watched helplessly as officials escorted Briselda to join a line of children, most of them crying, who were waiting to board a van bound for the airport.

For her daughter’s safety, Xiomara said she had preferred that Briselda remain in the United States with family rather than return to her in El Salvador. They are in regular contact over WhatsApp, she said, but the distance has taken an emotional toll, and Xiomara has battled depression and recently started seeing a therapist.

Others continue to suffer repercussions despite being reunited.

Fifteen days passed before Oscar, an immigrant from Honduras who was locked up in McAllen, Texas, heard from his son, Daniel, then 8, from whom he had been separated.

“I felt mad. I was going crazy,” recalled Oscar, 35, who spoke on condition that he be identified only by his middle name.

On a tearful call, his son told him he was staying in a shelter in Houston. Father and son were reunited after 33 days, thanks to a judge’s order, and they moved to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Since then, Oscar has been grappling with how to help his son, whom he described as “not the same boy since we were separated.” Daniel runs away whenever he sees someone in police uniform and wakes up screaming at night, Oscar said.

Recently, Oscar learned that his child had been ordered deported even though his own case is still pending, a result of Daniel’s immigration case not being transferred to North Carolina and consolidated with his father’s.

He struggles to imagine what would happen to his son in Honduras without him.

“I pray to God that this country won’t separate us again,” Oscar said.

When Joselaine Cordeiro arrived at the U.S. border in 2017, she spent seven months in immigration detention in Texas while her 14-year-old son, James, languished in a shelter in Chicago.

When Joselaine Cordeiro arrived at the U.S. border in 2017, she spent seven months in immigration detention in Texas while her 14-year-old son, James, languished in a shelter in Chicago. As the months wore on, her child’s case worker reported that he was depressed, and suggested putting him up for adoption. “I thought, my God, I will never see my child again,” recalled Cordeiro, who had fled an abusive husband in Brazil. She and her son were among the first of more than 5,500 migrant families separated at the southwestern border under the Trump administration’s most hotly debated immigration policy — a program that President Joe Biden must now find a way to unravel years after the policy was abandoned. On Tuesday, the White House is expected to announce a task force that will look at demands for restitution, expanded mental health services, the readmission of deported parents and possible permanent legal residency for families like Cordeiro’s who suffered lingering damage from a policy intended to make it too emotionally punishing for migrant families to attempt to cross into the United States. More than 1,000 migrant children still in the United States likely remain separated from their parents, and another 500 or more were taken from their parents who have yet to be located, according to the latest estimates from lawyers working on the issue. One of the continuing obstacles to reunification is that hundreds of parents have been deported to their home countries — places they had fled because of the danger there — and are fearful of having their children sent home to them. And some children are being deported even though their parents are still in the United States trying to obtain legal residence. Cordeiro became the second named plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit that the American Civil Liberties Union brought against the family separation policy and that has accomplished much of the work of identifying relatives all over the world. “When we brought this case in 2018, we never thought there would be thousands of families separated, much less that we would still be looking for hundreds of them three years later,” said Lee Gelernt, lead counsel in the ACLU lawsuit. Having inherited the crisis, the Biden administration has committed to addressing it: On Tuesday, Biden is expected to announce a task force that will look at demands for restitution, expanded mental health services, the readmission of deported parents and possible permanent legal residency for families disrupted by separations. The task force, with representatives from the departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and State, will be headed by Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Biden has already encountered resistance to dismantling Trump administration policies, signaling roadblocks ahead. A federal court last week temporarily blocked his administration from enforcing a 100-day suspension of deportations until the judge considers a lawsuit brought by Texas. The Senate confirmation of Mayorkas was stalled by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. But given the firestorm that family separations generated across party lines, Biden will be asked to take a wide range of actions to make amends. “There’s a clear moral imperative here,” said Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas, an advocacy group. “At a minimum, they should be offered the opportunity to be reunited and settled in the U.S. as eventual permanent residents.” In addition to proposals for legal residency and demands for financial compensation, some immigrant advocacy groups are calling for those in the senior levels of the Trump White House who were responsible for crafting and carrying out the policy to be held accountable. That would include the chief architect of the policy, Stephen Miller, former President Donald Trump’s primary adviser on immigration, and the former attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who issued the official memorandum on “zero tolerance” in April 2018. Former senior officials at the Justice Department, as well as in the Department of Homeland Security, also could be included in accountability investigations. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, has called for the creation of a committee to investigate the policy and identify officials to be held responsible and face consequences. The policy epitomized the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. According to a report issued last month by the Justice Department’s inspector general, top department officials were a “driving force” behind the decision to separate families in their quest to fulfill Trump’s agenda. Nearly 3,000 migrant children were separated from their parents while zero tolerance was in force. It later emerged that another 1,000 families had been separated during a pilot program conducted in 2017 near El Paso, Texas. And even after Trump officially rescinded the policy, border authorities removed more than 1,000 children from their families, sometimes for reasons as minor as committing a traffic infraction or failing to change a baby’s diaper, according to court documents. The revelation late in the presidential campaign that parents of hundreds of children had yet to be found by a committee charged with contacting families created outrage anew, prompting Biden to promise to address the families’ plight. Two-thirds of the parents are believed to be in their home countries, including some whose children may be living in the United States, and a third are believed to be in the United States but might have gone under the radar because of their own fears of being deported. Some advocates said it was vital that the White House push for legislation to prevent such extreme punitive measures from being employed as a deterrence tool in the future. “We must right the wrongs committed and make sure this doesn’t happen again under another administration,” said Jennifer Podkul, vice president for policy and advocacy for Kids in Need of Defense, which represents some of the families. Locating missing parents will continue to be a daunting task. Contact information for many parents is outdated or unavailable, and conditions in Central America make searches on the ground difficult and dangerous. The coronavirus pandemic and hurricanes have caused further delays. Some families, understanding their children to be in safe hands, have not answered their phones or have declined to talk after what they endured. Even if the Biden administration is willing to offer green cards to parents who were deported, the logistics will be challenging because many remain suspicious of the government and worry they will be arrested again. It is also not clear whether the issue of redress for the effects of family separation will be folded into Biden’s broader immigration plans, which some Republicans might oppose. Unless Biden revamps border procedures, further separations will almost certainly occur when Border Patrol agents suspect that someone accompanying a child is not a parent or a legal guardian. Some parents lack birth certificates and documents to prove lineage. Border officials are tasked with guarding against the trafficking of children across borders. In Cordeiro’s case, after months had passed, she finally found a friend willing to take her son from the shelter. But the authorities told her that the woman did not qualify because she was not related. After acting out, James was administered antidepressants and other drugs, according to his mother. When she finally was released seven months later, red tape delayed their reunification by another two months. They are now living in the Boston area, and James has been weaned off the medication, Cordeiro said, but he has few friends and spends most of his time alone. “I never imagined a government would do this to human beings,” she said. “It was pure cruelty.” Among parents hoping that Biden’s administration will allow them back into the United States is a woman from El Salvador named Xiomara, who was deported without her daughter after they were separated at the border on Mother’s Day in 2018. “I can hardly wait for the day when I will wake up from this nightmare,” said Xiomara, 34, who spoke on condition that she be identified only by her first name because of security concerns. One of her last acts of motherhood was to bathe and dress her daughter, after being told by border officials that Briselda, then 8, would be taken away. She said she watched helplessly as officials escorted Briselda to join a line of children, most of them crying, who were waiting to board a van bound for the airport. For her daughter’s safety, Xiomara said she had preferred that Briselda remain in the United States with family rather than return to her in El Salvador. They are in regular contact over WhatsApp, she said, but the distance has taken an emotional toll, and Xiomara has battled depression and recently started seeing a therapist. Others continue to suffer repercussions despite being reunited. Fifteen days passed before Oscar, an immigrant from Honduras who was locked up in McAllen, Texas, heard from his son, Daniel, then 8, from whom he had been separated. “I felt mad. I was going crazy,” recalled Oscar, 35, who spoke on condition that he be identified only by his middle name. On a tearful call, his son told him he was staying in a shelter in Houston. Father and son were reunited after 33 days, thanks to a judge’s order, and they moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. Since then, Oscar has been grappling with how to help his son, whom he described as “not the same boy since we were separated.” Daniel runs away whenever he sees someone in police uniform and wakes up screaming at night, Oscar said. Recently, Oscar learned that his child had been ordered deported even though his own case is still pending, a result of Daniel’s immigration case not being transferred to North Carolina and consolidated with his father’s. He struggles to imagine what would happen to his son in Honduras without him. “I pray to God that this country won’t separate us again,” Oscar said.

Biden faces pressure to make amends on family separation

Ahead of opposition leader Alexi <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-wife-among-thousands-held-as-russian-police-clamp-down-on-protests-360443">Navalny's</a> hearing, several people were arrested outside a court in Moscow.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russias-interior-ministry-warns-citizens-to-not-join-pro-navalny-protests-360393/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Russian authorities have placed Navalny, 44, in custody until February 15 for allegedly violating the terms of 2014 suspended sentence on fraud charges.

State prosecutors had said they would ask the court to jail Navalny for up to three and a half years.&nbsp;

Riot police had earlier detained over 5,300 people who had taken part in protests across the country over the weekend as Kremlin said the protesters were&nbsp;"hooligans and provocateurs"&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greta-thunberg-and-navalny-nominated-for-nobel-peace-prize-360468">Navalny</a> was detained after he reached Russia last month from Berlin where he was treated for poisoning which he alleges was carried out by Putin's government. The Russian president has refused to pronounce Navalny's name in public.

Navalny had urged his supporters to protest after being detained in Moscow airport.&nbsp;

The Russian opposition leader is being held in a high-security centre and faces jail time in several other cases.&nbsp;

Several Western countries including the President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-foundation-calls-on-biden-to-sanction-putin-allies-360490">Biden's</a> administration have condemned Navalny's detention and called for his release.

Navalny is serving a 30-day jail stint with the Russian legal authorities now set to pronounce their judgement on the anti-Kremlin opposition leader.

Ahead of opposition leader Alexi Navalny's hearing, several people were arrested outside a court in Moscow. Watch: Russian authorities have placed Navalny, 44, in custody until February 15 for allegedly violating the terms of 2014 suspended sentence on fraud charges.

Ahead of opposition leader Alexi Navalny's hearing, several people were arrested outside a court in Moscow. Watch: Russian authorities have placed Navalny, 44, in custody until February 15 for allegedly violating the terms of 2014 suspended sentence on fraud charges. State prosecutors had said they would ask the court to jail Navalny for up to three and a half years. Riot police had earlier detained over 5,300 people who had taken part in protests across the country over the weekend as Kremlin said the protesters were "hooligans and provocateurs" Navalny was detained after he reached Russia last month from Berlin where he was treated for poisoning which he alleges was carried out by Putin's government. The Russian president has refused to pronounce Navalny's name in public. Navalny had urged his supporters to protest after being detained in Moscow airport. The Russian opposition leader is being held in a high-security centre and faces jail time in several other cases. Several Western countries including the President Biden's administration have condemned Navalny's detention and called for his release. Navalny is serving a 30-day jail stint with the Russian legal authorities now set to pronounce their judgement on the anti-Kremlin opposition leader.

Ahead of Navalny's hearing, several protesters arrested outside court

After the military takeover of Myanmar, the Indian embassy in Yangon&nbsp;in an advisory cautioned Indian citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to the country.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-military-coup-in-myanmar-360738/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"In view of the recent developments in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-expects-myanmar-to-keep-rohingya-repatriation-commitments-despite-coup-360714">Myanmar</a>, all Indian citizens are required to take due precautions and avoid unnecessary travel," it said.

The Indian embassy in Yangon added that Air India flight which was scheduled for February 4 on Yangon-New Delhi sector has now been rescheduled for February 11 due to "unavoidable reasons".

On Monday, Myanmar's military rulers had detained National League for Democracy(NLD) party leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior leaders of the party including President Win Myint.&nbsp;

The Myanmar army installed an ex-general as president and handed over "legislative, judicial and executive powers" to Army chief Min Aung Hlaing, a move which was criticised US President Joe Biden including other Western leaders.

The UN Security Council(UNSC) will meet on Tuesday to discuss the issue amid calls to release Suu Kyi. &nbsp;

The Myanmar army accused the NLD of voter fraud in the election held in November last year as several political activists were detained on Monday.

The Biden administration threatened an immediate review of sanctions to be "followed by appropriate action" as the military once again took control of the country. 
&nbsp;

After the military takeover of Myanmar, the Indian embassy in Yangon in an advisory cautioned Indian citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to the country. Watch: "In view of the recent developments in Myanmar, all Indian citizens are required to take due precautions and avoid unnecessary travel," it said.

After the military takeover of Myanmar, the Indian embassy in Yangon in an advisory cautioned Indian citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to the country. Watch: "In view of the recent developments in Myanmar, all Indian citizens are required to take due precautions and avoid unnecessary travel," it said. The Indian embassy in Yangon added that Air India flight which was scheduled for February 4 on Yangon-New Delhi sector has now been rescheduled for February 11 due to "unavoidable reasons". On Monday, Myanmar's military rulers had detained National League for Democracy(NLD) party leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior leaders of the party including President Win Myint. The Myanmar army installed an ex-general as president and handed over "legislative, judicial and executive powers" to Army chief Min Aung Hlaing, a move which was criticised US President Joe Biden including other Western leaders. The UN Security Council(UNSC) will meet on Tuesday to discuss the issue amid calls to release Suu Kyi. The Myanmar army accused the NLD of voter fraud in the election held in November last year as several political activists were detained on Monday. The Biden administration threatened an immediate review of sanctions to be "followed by appropriate action" as the military once again took control of the country.

Avoid unnecessary travel, Indian embassy in Myanmar issues advisory

India's finance minister Nirmala <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-budget-2021-nirmala-sitharaman-announces-rs-35000-crore-for-covid-19-vaccines-in-health-plan-360559">Sitharaman</a> while presenting the Budget before Parliament on Monday said that&nbsp;Life Insurance Corporation(LIC) will come up with an IPO in 2021-22.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-union-budget-2021-news-nirmala-fm-sitharaman-budget-speech-income-tax-slab-rate-cut-FDI-limit-insurance-sector-from-49%25-to-74%25-economy-gdp-coronavirus-farmer-railway-budget-union-cabinet-meet-to-start-fm-reaches-parliament-360487">Also Read:&nbsp;LIVE Union Budget 2021</a>

BPCL, Air India, IDBI, SCI and Concor disinvestment will be completed in 2021-22, India's finance minister announced. The finance minister announced the undertaking of disinvestment of two PSBs and one general insurance companies apart from IDBI bank in the financial year 2021 with legislations amendments to be introduced in this session.

"The Pipelines of GAIL (India) Ltd, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and HPCL will be monetised," the finance minister said.

<h2>2021 Budget for banking sector</h2>

The finance minister said asset reconstruction and management company will be set up for stressed assets of banks. The government proposed further recapitalisation of state-owned banks earmarking Rs 20,000 crore.

"Barring four strategic areas, PSUs in other sectors will be divested," &nbsp;the finance minister said while announcing the new disinvestment policy while adding that &nbsp;NITI Aayog will be asked to work on the next list of central public sector companies for disinvestment.

The finance minister said that the definition of small companies will be revised by raising the capital base to Rs 2 crore from the current limit of Rs 50 lakh.

<h2>Insurance sector Budget 2021-22</h2>

The minister said that Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) in insurance will be increased to 74 per cent from 49 per cent.

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Budget before Parliament on Monday said that Life Insurance Corporation(LIC) will come up with an IPO in 2021-22.

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Budget before Parliament on Monday said that Life Insurance Corporation(LIC) will come up with an IPO in 2021-22. Also Read: LIVE Union Budget 2021 BPCL, Air India, IDBI, SCI and Concor disinvestment will be completed in 2021-22, India's finance minister announced. The finance minister announced the undertaking of disinvestment of two PSBs and one general insurance companies apart from IDBI bank in the financial year 2021 with legislations amendments to be introduced in this session. "The Pipelines of GAIL (India) Ltd, Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and HPCL will be monetised," the finance minister said. 2021 Budget for banking sector The finance minister said asset reconstruction and management company will be set up for stressed assets of banks. The government proposed further recapitalisation of state-owned banks earmarking Rs 20,000 crore. "Barring four strategic areas, PSUs in other sectors will be divested," the finance minister said while announcing the new disinvestment policy while adding that NITI Aayog will be asked to work on the next list of central public sector companies for disinvestment. The finance minister said that the definition of small companies will be revised by raising the capital base to Rs 2 crore from the current limit of Rs 50 lakh. Insurance sector Budget 2021-22 The minister said that Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) in insurance will be increased to 74 per cent from 49 per cent.

Union Budget 2021: LIC IPO in 2021-22; FDI in insurance increased

India's finance ministe<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/nirmala-sitharaman">r Nirmala Sitharaman</a> while presenting the Union Budget 2021 in Parliament on Monday said that the government is fully prepared to support and facilitate "economic reset" in India.&nbsp;

Sitharaman said the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/budget">Budget</a> rests on six pillars: health and well being, physical and financial capital infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation and R&amp;D and minimum government and maximum governance.

<h2>Key highlights of Nirmala Sitharaman's health plan in Union Budget 2021:</h2>

<ul>
	<li>The finance minister announced Aatmanirbhar health yojana with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>The fund to commit more funds to the health sector as needed.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Investment on health and welfare has been increased substantially, finance minister said.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>India's finance minister announced Rs 35,000 crore for COVID-19 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/union-budget-2021-two-more-vaccines-expected-soon-says-nirmala-sitharaman-360542">vaccines </a>has been provided with further funds to be provided if needed.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>The urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 will be rolled out with an outlay of Rs 1,48,000 crore over 5 years.</li>
</ul>

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2021 in Parliament on Monday said that the government is fully prepared to support and facilitate "economic reset" in India.

India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2021 in Parliament on Monday said that the government is fully prepared to support and facilitate "economic reset" in India. Sitharaman said the Budget rests on six pillars: health and well being, physical and financial capital infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation and R&D and minimum government and maximum governance. Key highlights of Nirmala Sitharaman's health plan in Union Budget 2021: The finance minister announced Aatmanirbhar health yojana with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore. The fund to commit more funds to the health sector as needed. Investment on health and welfare has been increased substantially, finance minister said. India's finance minister announced Rs 35,000 crore for COVID-19 vaccines has been provided with further funds to be provided if needed. The urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 will be rolled out with an outlay of Rs 1,48,000 crore over 5 years.

Union Budget 2021: Nirmala Sitharaman announces Rs 35,000 crore for COVID-19 vaccines in health plan

The BSE Sensex shot up 900 points on Monday as India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/key-facts-about-indias-budgets-till-date-277967">Union Budget</a>.&nbsp;India's BSE Sensex had surged over 400 points in early trade.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-union-budget-2021-indias-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-arrives-in-finance-ministry-360487">LIVE Union Budget 2021</a>

The Nifty up 114.85 points at 13,749.45 in early trade ahead of the Budget on Monday.

The markets had closed down on Friday amid decline in pharmaceutical and information technology stocks.

The Sensex had closed 1.26 per cent down to end at 46,285.77 on Friday with the NSE Nifty 50 index falling 1.32 per cent to end at 13,634.6 which was the sixth session of losses ahead of the Budget.

IT stocks Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services had dropped &nbsp;2.9 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively with the Pharma index falling 1.8 per cent.

HDFC Bank was the biggest gainer on Friday even as Dr Reddy's stocks fell &nbsp;6.6 per cent.

India had entered a "technical" recession for the first time since independence in 1947 after contracting for the second successive quarter between July and September amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The BSE Sensex shot up 900 points on Monday as India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget. India's BSE Sensex had surged over 400 points in early trade.

The BSE Sensex shot up 900 points on Monday as India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget. India's BSE Sensex had surged over 400 points in early trade. LIVE Union Budget 2021 The Nifty up 114.85 points at 13,749.45 in early trade ahead of the Budget on Monday. The markets had closed down on Friday amid decline in pharmaceutical and information technology stocks. The Sensex had closed 1.26 per cent down to end at 46,285.77 on Friday with the NSE Nifty 50 index falling 1.32 per cent to end at 13,634.6 which was the sixth session of losses ahead of the Budget. IT stocks Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services had dropped 2.9 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively with the Pharma index falling 1.8 per cent. HDFC Bank was the biggest gainer on Friday even as Dr Reddy's stocks fell 6.6 per cent. India had entered a "technical" recession for the first time since independence in 1947 after contracting for the second successive quarter between July and September amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Union Budget 2021: Sensex surges over 900 points as Sitharaman presents Budget

Amid the pandemic, India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday emerged from the finance ministry with a tablet instead of a "bahi khata"&nbsp;which was presented&nbsp;last year as India's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/nine-landmark-budgets-and-their-impact-on-republic-of-india-194050">Budget</a> goes paperless.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-fm-nirmala-sitharaman-to-present-union-budget-2021-today-360503/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The tablet was placed in a red coloured cover with a golden coloured national emblem. MoS finance Anurag Thakur and other officials accompanied <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/nirmala-sitharaman">Nirmala Sitharaman</a> as she ditched the traditional leather suitcase.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/live-union-budget-2021-union-cabinet-meet-to-start-fm-reaches-parliament-360487">Follow:&nbsp;LIVE Union Budget 2021-&nbsp;Union Cabinet meet to start</a>

India's finance minister said that Modi government is not a "suitcase-carrying government" while taking a dig at the previous governments.

The decision to go paperless was taken by the government in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Sitharaman had earlier launched to the "Union Budget Mobile App" with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/union-budget-2021-sensex-surges-over-360-points-in-early-trade-ahead-of-sitharamans-budget-360511">Budget</a> going online this year.

The Union Budget copies will be disseminated electronically this year with documents being uploaded on the government website including the government apps.

India's finance minister met President Kovind, she is set to&nbsp;meet the Union cabinet before presenting the Budget at 11am in Parliament today.

Amid the pandemic, India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday emerged from the finance ministry with a tablet instead of a "bahi khata" which was presented last year as India's Budget goes paperless.

Amid the pandemic, India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday emerged from the finance ministry with a tablet instead of a "bahi khata" which was presented last year as India's Budget goes paperless. Watch: The tablet was placed in a red coloured cover with a golden coloured national emblem. MoS finance Anurag Thakur and other officials accompanied Nirmala Sitharaman as she ditched the traditional leather suitcase. Follow: LIVE Union Budget 2021- Union Cabinet meet to start India's finance minister said that Modi government is not a "suitcase-carrying government" while taking a dig at the previous governments. The decision to go paperless was taken by the government in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Sitharaman had earlier launched to the "Union Budget Mobile App" with the Budget going online this year. The Union Budget copies will be disseminated electronically this year with documents being uploaded on the government website including the government apps. India's finance minister met President Kovind, she is set to meet the Union cabinet before presenting the Budget at 11am in Parliament today.

Union Budget 2021: Tablet replaces 'bahi khata' in Sitharaman's paperless Budget

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Rustam

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.