The CBI has booked UK-based Cambridge Analytica and Global Science Research Ltd for illegally harvesting data of Facebook users in India for commercial purposes, officials said on Friday.

The action came after a preliminary enquiry into the matter which showed that Global Science Research had created an app "thisisyourdigitallife" which was authorised by Facebook to collect specific datasets of its users for research and academic purposes in 2014, they said.

The company then entered into a criminal conspiracy with Cambridge Analytica, allowing it to use the data harvested by it for commercial purposes, the officials said.

Facebook had collected certificates from both the firms in 2016-17 that data collected by them using "thisisyourdigitallife" was accounted for and destroyed. However, the CBI enquiry did not find any evidence of any such destruction, according to the officials.

"The enquiry prima facie established that Global Science Research Ltd, UK dishonestly and fraudulently accessed data of app users of "thisisyourdigitallife" and their Facebook friends," an official said, citing the FIR.&nbsp;

The CBI has booked UK-based Cambridge Analytica and Global Science Research Ltd for illegally harvesting data of Facebook users in India for commercial purposes, officials said on Friday.

The CBI has booked UK-based Cambridge Analytica and Global Science Research Ltd for illegally harvesting data of Facebook users in India for commercial purposes, officials said on Friday. The action came after a preliminary enquiry into the matter which showed that Global Science Research had created an app "thisisyourdigitallife" which was authorised by Facebook to collect specific datasets of its users for research and academic purposes in 2014, they said. The company then entered into a criminal conspiracy with Cambridge Analytica, allowing it to use the data harvested by it for commercial purposes, the officials said. Facebook had collected certificates from both the firms in 2016-17 that data collected by them using "thisisyourdigitallife" was accounted for and destroyed. However, the CBI enquiry did not find any evidence of any such destruction, according to the officials. "The enquiry prima facie established that Global Science Research Ltd, UK dishonestly and fraudulently accessed data of app users of "thisisyourdigitallife" and their Facebook friends," an official said, citing the FIR.

CBI files FIR against Cambridge Analytica over illegally harvesting data of Facebook users in India

Amid fears of a third <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijing-launches-mass-testing-after-china-reports-surge-in-cases-due-to-uk-coronavirus-strain-358433">coronavirus</a> wave, the European Union(EU)&nbsp;has proposed setting up of &nbsp;"dark red" coronavirus hot spots.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/europe-ramps-up-vaccination-drive-amid-surge-in-covid-19-cases-356448/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to the new guidelines, non-essential travel will be "strongly discouraged". &nbsp;Michel, president of the European Council, said: "It will be probably necessary to take additional restrictive measures in order to limit the non-essential travels and that is the orientation that we are taking."

“A dark red zone would show that in this zone, the virus is circulating at a very high level,” &nbsp;European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, adding, "persons travelling from dark red areas could be required to do a test before departure, as well as to undergo quarantine after arrival."

The European Commission president added that from Sunday anybody arriving from outside the EU may have to test for COVID-19 before departure.

During a video conference, EU leaders agreed that there should be common standards for vaccine certificates for medical purposes even as France said it will require a negative PCR test 72 hours before departure for most European arrivals other than those on essential travel.

European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen said that the health situation in Europe was very serious while stressing that countries should not close their borders to ensure functioning of the single market.

The move comes as several regions in Europe are witnessing very high rate of COVID-19 infections with almost all of Europe in the red zone.&nbsp;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that European countries needed to take the new virus variant seriously to avoid a third wave while asserting that border closure cannot be ruled out. EU leaders had earlier agreed that borders should remain open.

Meanwhile, Belgium PM Alexander de Croo said he will ask fellow EU leaders to halt non-essential travel. Belgium's per capita COVID-19 cases is lower than its neighbouring countries.

Amid fears of a third coronavirus wave, the European Union(EU) has proposed setting up of "dark red" coronavirus hot spots. Watch: According to the new guidelines, non-essential travel will be "strongly discouraged".

Amid fears of a third coronavirus wave, the European Union(EU) has proposed setting up of "dark red" coronavirus hot spots. Watch: According to the new guidelines, non-essential travel will be "strongly discouraged". Michel, president of the European Council, said: "It will be probably necessary to take additional restrictive measures in order to limit the non-essential travels and that is the orientation that we are taking." “A dark red zone would show that in this zone, the virus is circulating at a very high level,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, adding, "persons travelling from dark red areas could be required to do a test before departure, as well as to undergo quarantine after arrival." The European Commission president added that from Sunday anybody arriving from outside the EU may have to test for COVID-19 before departure. During a video conference, EU leaders agreed that there should be common standards for vaccine certificates for medical purposes even as France said it will require a negative PCR test 72 hours before departure for most European arrivals other than those on essential travel. European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen said that the health situation in Europe was very serious while stressing that countries should not close their borders to ensure functioning of the single market. The move comes as several regions in Europe are witnessing very high rate of COVID-19 infections with almost all of Europe in the red zone. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that European countries needed to take the new virus variant seriously to avoid a third wave while asserting that border closure cannot be ruled out. EU leaders had earlier agreed that borders should remain open. Meanwhile, Belgium PM Alexander de Croo said he will ask fellow EU leaders to halt non-essential travel. Belgium's per capita COVID-19 cases is lower than its neighbouring countries.

Amid fears of third wave, EU proposes 'dark red' COVID-19 zones

A new form of African swine fever identified in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/beijing-launches-mass-testing-after-china-reports-surge-in-cases-due-to-uk-coronavirus-strain-358433"> Chinese </a>pig farms is most likely caused by illicit vaccines, industry insiders say, a fresh blow to the world's largest pork producer, still recovering from a devastating epidemic of the virus.

Two new strains of African swine fever have infected more than 1,000 sows on several farms owned by New Hope Liuhe, China's fourth-largest producer, as well as pigs being fattened for the firm by contract farmers, said Yan Zhichun, the company's chief science officer.

Though the strains, which are missing one or two key genes present in the wild African swine fever virus, don't kill pigs like the disease that ravaged China's farms in 2018 and 2019, they cause a chronic condition that reduces the number of healthy piglets born, Yan told Reuters. At New Hope, and many large producers, infected pigs are culled to prevent the spread, making the disease effectively fatal.

Although the known infections are limited now, if the strains spread widely, they could slash pork output in the world's top consumer and producer; two years ago, swine fever wiped out half of China's 400 million-head pig herd. Pork prices are still at record levels and China is under pressure to strengthen food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I don't know where they come from, but we find some mild field infections caused by some sort of gene-deleted viruses," Yan said.

Wayne Johnson, a Beijing-based veterinarian, said he diagnosed a chronic, or less-lethal, form of the disease in pigs last year. The virus lacked certain genetic components, known as the MGF360 genes. New Hope has found strains of the virus missing both the MGF360 genes and the CD2v genes, Yan said.

Research has shown that deleting some MGF360 genes from African swine fever creates immunity. But the modified virus was not developed into a vaccine because it tended to later mutate back to a harmful state.

"You can sequence these things, these double deletions, and if it's exactly the same as described in the lab, it's too much of a coincidence, because you would never get that exact deletion," said Lucilla Steinaa, principal scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi.

There is no approved vaccine for African swine fever, which is not harmful to humans. But many Chinese farmers struggling to protect their pigs have resorted to unapproved products, industry insiders and experts said. They fear illicit vaccines have created accidental infections, which are now spreading.

The new strains could proliferate globally through contaminated meat, infecting pigs that are fed on kitchen waste. The virus is known to survive for months in some pork products.

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not respond to two requests for comment.

But it has issued at least three warnings against use of unauthorised African swine fever vaccines, cautioning that they could have severe side effects and that producers and users could be charged with a criminal offence.

In August, the ministry said it would test pigs for different strains of the virus as part of a nationwide investigation into illegal vaccine use.

Any strains with gene deletions could indicate a vaccine had been used, it said. No findings have been published so far on the issue, which is highly sensitive for Beijing. Reporting of the recent African swine fever outbreaks was extensively covered up.

After decades of research toward producing a vaccine against the huge, complex swine fever virus, researchers around the world are focussing on live-virus vaccines - the only type to have shown any promise.

But such vaccines carry higher risks because even after the virus is weakened so it does not cause serious illness, it can sometimes recover its virulence.

One such vaccine used in Spain in the 1960s caused a chronic disease with swollen joints, skin lesions and respiratory issues in pigs that complicated efforts to eradicate African swine fever over the next three decades. Since then, no nation has approved a vaccine for the disease.

A vaccine with both MGF360 and CD2v genes deleted is undergoing trials by China's Harbin Veterinary Research Institute after showing promise.

Yan said he believes that people have replicated the sequences of virus strains being studied, which have been published in scientific literature, and that pigs injected with illicit vaccines based on them could be infecting others.

"It's definitely man-made; this is not a natural strain," he said.

Neither Johnson nor Yan have fully sequenced the new swine fever strains. Beijing strictly controls who is allowed to work with the virus, which can only be handled in laboratories with high biosecurity designations.

But several private companies have developed test kits that can check for specific genes.

GM Biotech, based in China's central Hunan province, said in an online post last week it had developed a test that identifies whether the pathogen is a virulent strain, a single-gene deleted attenuated strain, or a double-gene deleted attenuated strain.

The test helps pig producers because the new strains are "very difficult to detect at the initial stage of infection and have a longer incubation period after infection," the company said.

The government has not said how widely used illicit vaccines are or who has produced them. But a "vast amount" of pigs in China have nonetheless been vaccinated, Johnson said, a sentiment echoed by many other experts.

In 2004-5, when the H5 bird flu strains were spreading across Asia, Chinese laboratories produced several unauthorised live bird flu vaccines, said Mo Salman, a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University, who has worked on animal health in Asia, raising fears that they could produce dangerous new variants.

"The current ASF unlawful vaccine(s) in China is repeating history," Salman said.

 
&nbsp;

A new form of African swine fever identified in Chinese pig farms is most likely caused by illicit vaccines, industry insiders say, a fresh blow to the world's largest pork producer, still recovering from a devastating epidemic of the virus.

A new form of African swine fever identified in Chinese pig farms is most likely caused by illicit vaccines, industry insiders say, a fresh blow to the world's largest pork producer, still recovering from a devastating epidemic of the virus. Two new strains of African swine fever have infected more than 1,000 sows on several farms owned by New Hope Liuhe, China's fourth-largest producer, as well as pigs being fattened for the firm by contract farmers, said Yan Zhichun, the company's chief science officer. Though the strains, which are missing one or two key genes present in the wild African swine fever virus, don't kill pigs like the disease that ravaged China's farms in 2018 and 2019, they cause a chronic condition that reduces the number of healthy piglets born, Yan told Reuters. At New Hope, and many large producers, infected pigs are culled to prevent the spread, making the disease effectively fatal. Although the known infections are limited now, if the strains spread widely, they could slash pork output in the world's top consumer and producer; two years ago, swine fever wiped out half of China's 400 million-head pig herd. Pork prices are still at record levels and China is under pressure to strengthen food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "I don't know where they come from, but we find some mild field infections caused by some sort of gene-deleted viruses," Yan said. Wayne Johnson, a Beijing-based veterinarian, said he diagnosed a chronic, or less-lethal, form of the disease in pigs last year. The virus lacked certain genetic components, known as the MGF360 genes. New Hope has found strains of the virus missing both the MGF360 genes and the CD2v genes, Yan said. Research has shown that deleting some MGF360 genes from African swine fever creates immunity. But the modified virus was not developed into a vaccine because it tended to later mutate back to a harmful state. "You can sequence these things, these double deletions, and if it's exactly the same as described in the lab, it's too much of a coincidence, because you would never get that exact deletion," said Lucilla Steinaa, principal scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. There is no approved vaccine for African swine fever, which is not harmful to humans. But many Chinese farmers struggling to protect their pigs have resorted to unapproved products, industry insiders and experts said. They fear illicit vaccines have created accidental infections, which are now spreading. The new strains could proliferate globally through contaminated meat, infecting pigs that are fed on kitchen waste. The virus is known to survive for months in some pork products. China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not respond to two requests for comment. But it has issued at least three warnings against use of unauthorised African swine fever vaccines, cautioning that they could have severe side effects and that producers and users could be charged with a criminal offence. In August, the ministry said it would test pigs for different strains of the virus as part of a nationwide investigation into illegal vaccine use. Any strains with gene deletions could indicate a vaccine had been used, it said. No findings have been published so far on the issue, which is highly sensitive for Beijing. Reporting of the recent African swine fever outbreaks was extensively covered up. After decades of research toward producing a vaccine against the huge, complex swine fever virus, researchers around the world are focussing on live-virus vaccines - the only type to have shown any promise. But such vaccines carry higher risks because even after the virus is weakened so it does not cause serious illness, it can sometimes recover its virulence. One such vaccine used in Spain in the 1960s caused a chronic disease with swollen joints, skin lesions and respiratory issues in pigs that complicated efforts to eradicate African swine fever over the next three decades. Since then, no nation has approved a vaccine for the disease. A vaccine with both MGF360 and CD2v genes deleted is undergoing trials by China's Harbin Veterinary Research Institute after showing promise. Yan said he believes that people have replicated the sequences of virus strains being studied, which have been published in scientific literature, and that pigs injected with illicit vaccines based on them could be infecting others. "It's definitely man-made; this is not a natural strain," he said. Neither Johnson nor Yan have fully sequenced the new swine fever strains. Beijing strictly controls who is allowed to work with the virus, which can only be handled in laboratories with high biosecurity designations. But several private companies have developed test kits that can check for specific genes. GM Biotech, based in China's central Hunan province, said in an online post last week it had developed a test that identifies whether the pathogen is a virulent strain, a single-gene deleted attenuated strain, or a double-gene deleted attenuated strain. The test helps pig producers because the new strains are "very difficult to detect at the initial stage of infection and have a longer incubation period after infection," the company said. The government has not said how widely used illicit vaccines are or who has produced them. But a "vast amount" of pigs in China have nonetheless been vaccinated, Johnson said, a sentiment echoed by many other experts. In 2004-5, when the H5 bird flu strains were spreading across Asia, Chinese laboratories produced several unauthorised live bird flu vaccines, said Mo Salman, a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University, who has worked on animal health in Asia, raising fears that they could produce dangerous new variants. "The current ASF unlawful vaccine(s) in China is repeating history," Salman said.

Why swine fever in China is likely caused by illicit vaccines

Ex-Desert Knight 21: Rafale jets spearhead India, France air exercise at Jodhpur

The United States said today that the relationship between India and the United States has been further cemented with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-indian-family-is-waiting-for-her-to-become-president-358310">Kamala Harris</a> becoming the Vice-President of the country.

US press secretary Jen Psaki has said,"President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/were-in-national-emergency-biden-warns-covid-19-death-toll-in-us-could-climb-to-half-a-million-next-month-358420">Biden</a> who of course has visited India many times, respects and values the long bipartisan successful relationship between leaders in India and the United States. It looks forward to the continuation of that."

"The first Indian-American to serve as vice-president is certainly a historic moment for all of us in this country which helps in cementing the importance of the ties between the two countries," Psaki added.

At least 20 Indian-Americans have been named or nominated for a key role in the Biden administration. There are at least 13 women in the Biden administration. Among the Indian-Americans Neera Tanden, 50, has been nominated director for the White House Office of Management &amp; Budget.&nbsp;

Vanita Gupta, 45, has been nominated as the Associate Attorney General at the Department of Justice. Mala Adiga has been appointed as the policy director to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. 
&nbsp; 
Aisha Shah has been named as the partnership manager at the White House Office of Digital Strategy. Another Indian-American Sameera Fazili is set to take the position of Deputy Director at the US National Economic Council in the White House.

Indian-American Tarun Chhabra will serve as the Senior Director for Technology.

The United States said today that the relationship between India and the United States has been further cemented with Kamala Harris becoming the Vice-President of the country.

The United States said today that the relationship between India and the United States has been further cemented with Kamala Harris becoming the Vice-President of the country. US press secretary Jen Psaki has said,"President Biden who of course has visited India many times, respects and values the long bipartisan successful relationship between leaders in India and the United States. It looks forward to the continuation of that." "The first Indian-American to serve as vice-president is certainly a historic moment for all of us in this country which helps in cementing the importance of the ties between the two countries," Psaki added. At least 20 Indian-Americans have been named or nominated for a key role in the Biden administration. There are at least 13 women in the Biden administration. Among the Indian-Americans Neera Tanden, 50, has been nominated director for the White House Office of Management & Budget. Vanita Gupta, 45, has been nominated as the Associate Attorney General at the Department of Justice. Mala Adiga has been appointed as the policy director to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Aisha Shah has been named as the partnership manager at the White House Office of Digital Strategy. Another Indian-American Sameera Fazili is set to take the position of Deputy Director at the US National Economic Council in the White House. Indian-American Tarun Chhabra will serve as the Senior Director for Technology.

Kamala Harris as US vice president cements importance of India, US ties: Jen Psaki

President Joe <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/were-in-national-emergency-biden-warns-covid-19-death-toll-in-us-could-climb-to-half-a-million-next-month-358420">Biden</a> has proposed a five-year extension with Russia of the New START treaty.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/biden-administration-to-seek-5-year-extension-on-nuclear-arms-treaty-with-russia-358427/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I can confirm that the United States intends to seek a five-year extension of New Start as the treaty permits. The president has long been clear that the New Start treaty is in the national security interests of the United States," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, adding," this extension makes even more sense when the relationship with Russia is adversarial, as it is at this time."

"The New Start is the only remaining treaty constraining Russian nuclear forces and is an anchor of strategic stability between our two countries," Psaki added.

The landmark agreement called the new strategic arms reduction treaty(START) expires on February 5.

The United States and Russia had signed the New Start for a period of ten years in 2011 when President Joe Biden was serving as vice president to Barack Obama.

The agreement limits the size of the two countries nuclear arsenals with the United States and Russia not allowed to deploy more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads each.

President Trump had failed to reach an agreement with Russia to keep the key deal alive despite the fact that Russia had expressed its desire to renew the deal quite a few times in the last year.

Reports suggest that Russia's ambassador to the US plans to meet with President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan on Thursday.

US &nbsp;and Russia account for 93 per cent of all nuclear warheads in the world as experts fear a new- larger arms race in case US and Russia fail to extend the nuclear deal.

Despite plans for an agreement on the arms deal, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the US still plans to investigate Russia in a number of cases including the solar-winds cyber hack, alleged bounties on US troops and alleged interference in the 2020 elections, including poisoning Kremlin's staunch Putin critic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-tells-social-networks-stop-promoting-anti-kremlin-navalny-protests-to-minors-358352">Alexey Navalny</a> who is under detention after he reached Moscow from Germany.

President Joe Biden has proposed a five-year extension with Russia of the New START treaty. Watch: "I can confirm that the United States intends to seek a five-year extension of New Start as the treaty permits.

President Joe Biden has proposed a five-year extension with Russia of the New START treaty. Watch: "I can confirm that the United States intends to seek a five-year extension of New Start as the treaty permits. The president has long been clear that the New Start treaty is in the national security interests of the United States," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, adding," this extension makes even more sense when the relationship with Russia is adversarial, as it is at this time." "The New Start is the only remaining treaty constraining Russian nuclear forces and is an anchor of strategic stability between our two countries," Psaki added. The landmark agreement called the new strategic arms reduction treaty(START) expires on February 5. The United States and Russia had signed the New Start for a period of ten years in 2011 when President Joe Biden was serving as vice president to Barack Obama. The agreement limits the size of the two countries nuclear arsenals with the United States and Russia not allowed to deploy more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads each. President Trump had failed to reach an agreement with Russia to keep the key deal alive despite the fact that Russia had expressed its desire to renew the deal quite a few times in the last year. Reports suggest that Russia's ambassador to the US plans to meet with President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan on Thursday. US and Russia account for 93 per cent of all nuclear warheads in the world as experts fear a new- larger arms race in case US and Russia fail to extend the nuclear deal. Despite plans for an agreement on the arms deal, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the US still plans to investigate Russia in a number of cases including the solar-winds cyber hack, alleged bounties on US troops and alleged interference in the 2020 elections, including poisoning Kremlin's staunch Putin critic Alexey Navalny who is under detention after he reached Moscow from Germany.

Biden proposes to renew New START nuclear treaty between US and Russia

After announcing a partial lockdown in the capital, Chinese authorities have undertaken a mass testing programme in Beijing amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Watch: China on Friday reported a marginal decline in coronavirus cases with 103 new cases down from 144 COVID-19 cases a day earlier.

After announcing a partial lockdown in the capital, Chinese authorities have undertaken a mass testing programme in Beijing amid a surge in coronavirus cases. Watch: China on Friday reported a marginal decline in coronavirus cases with 103 new cases down from 144 COVID-19 cases a day earlier. The country has been reporting over a hundred new COVID-19 cases for over a week. The country's northeastern province has become the new epicentre of the virus with Heilongjiang reporting 47 new cases and Jilin province recording 19 new cases on Friday. The capital city of Beijing reported three new cases as authorities ramped up testing. Amid a surge in cases, Shanghai authorities evacuated a residential neighbourhood near Bund riverfront after three new coronavirus cases were detected on Thursday. On Wednesday, nearly 1.6 million residents were banned from leaving Beijing after two cases of the UK variant was detected in the Chinese capital. It has been over a year since China reported the first case of the virus in Wuhan in December, 2019 with the first fatality due to the virus taking place on January 11, 2020. China has been aggressively locking down areas hit with the virus and unleashed mass testing programmes including sweeping travel restrictions. Chinese authorities are planning to impose strict coronavirus testing during the Lunar New Year next month when millions of Chinese travel nationwide. According to Chinese officials, the total number of coronavirus cases in China stands at 88,804 with 4,635 fatalities.

Beijing launches mass testing after China reports surge in cases due to UK coronavirus strain

The Islamic State(IS) group claimed responsibility for the double suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twin-suicide-attack-in-central-baghdad-kills-20-wounds-40-358293">Baghdad</a> on Thursday that killed at least 32 people and wounded more than hundred.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-twin-suicide-bombing-kills-more-than-30-in-iraq-358403/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The bombing was a rare deadly attack in the Iraqi capital, which has seen almost no such incident since 2017. &nbsp;The Iraqi interior ministry said that the first attack was targeted at capital's Tayaran Square as the perpetrator drew in crowds after claiming to feel sick and then denoted his bomb fixed to his belt.

A second bomber set off the explosive at the scene leading to more casualties.

President Barham Saleh said his government will "stand firmly against these rogue attempts to destabilise our country" even as the United States, United Nations and the European Union condemned the attack.

US acting secretary of state Daniel Smith said: "The bombings "were vicious acts of mass murder and a sobering reminder of the terrorism that continues to threaten the lives of innocent Iraqis".

The attack comes as Iraqis prepare for the election. The Islamic State&nbsp;had seized a third of Iraq in 2014 and had come dangerously close to annexing Baghdad however a long, ravaging battle lasting three years had ensured the IS terrorists were pushed back.

The United States has 2,500 troops on the ground in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/with-2500-each-us-says-lowest-troops-deployed-in-iraq-afghanistan-in-about-two-decades-356978">Iraq</a> after the Trump administration pulled out 5,200 troops a year ago.

The Islamic State(IS) group claimed responsibility for the double suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad on Thursday that killed at least 32 people and wounded more than hundred.

The Islamic State(IS) group claimed responsibility for the double suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad on Thursday that killed at least 32 people and wounded more than hundred. Watch: The bombing was a rare deadly attack in the Iraqi capital, which has seen almost no such incident since 2017. The Iraqi interior ministry said that the first attack was targeted at capital's Tayaran Square as the perpetrator drew in crowds after claiming to feel sick and then denoted his bomb fixed to his belt. A second bomber set off the explosive at the scene leading to more casualties. President Barham Saleh said his government will "stand firmly against these rogue attempts to destabilise our country" even as the United States, United Nations and the European Union condemned the attack. US acting secretary of state Daniel Smith said: "The bombings "were vicious acts of mass murder and a sobering reminder of the terrorism that continues to threaten the lives of innocent Iraqis". The attack comes as Iraqis prepare for the election. The Islamic State had seized a third of Iraq in 2014 and had come dangerously close to annexing Baghdad however a long, ravaging battle lasting three years had ensured the IS terrorists were pushed back. The United States has 2,500 troops on the ground in Iraq after the Trump administration pulled out 5,200 troops a year ago.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Baghdad twin bombings

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-visibly-relieved-china-warms-up-to-joe-biden-congratulates-him-358356">Biden</a> warned Americans that the coronavirus death toll could climb to half a million next month as he unveiled new plans to fight the virus.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-here-are-all-the-members-of-team-biden-358414/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We're in a national emergency. It's time we treated it like one," the new US president said as he tightened mask-wearing guidelines and ordered quarantine for people flying into the United States.

The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 24.6 million cases and 409,667 fatalities. On wearing masks, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-unveils-ambitious-covid-strategy-on-first-day-of-office-358334">Biden</a> said it "has become a partisan issue, unfortunately, but it's a patriotic act", referring to ex-president Trump's reluctance to wear masks.

Biden had earlier announced the goal of 100 million vaccines to be administered across the nation in the next 100 days. The US president has already signed ten virus-related executive orders.

"Today, today, I am unveiling a national strategy on COVID-19 and executive actions to beat this pandemic. This plan reflects the ideas I set forward during the campaign and further refined over the past three months. It consists of my transition team, the task force, Tony Fauci and the team here today and other experts put this plan together. Our national strategy is comprehensive, it's based on science, not politics. It's based on truth, not denial, and it's detailed," the US president asserted.

We'll move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated for free and create more places for them to get vaccinated, to mobilize more medical teams to get shots in people's arms and to increase vaccine supply and get it out the door as fast as possible."

According to the plan, people will be required to wear masks in airports and on certain public transportation, including many trains, aeroplanes and intercity buses.

&nbsp;The Biden administration will expand vaccine manufacturing and power to purchase more vaccines. President Biden will also direct the federal emergency management agency to reimburse states for the costs associated with National Guard related efforts to battle the virus.

"We will move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated for free and create more places for them to get vaccinated, to mobilize more medical teams to get shots in people's arms and to increase vaccine supply and get it out the door as fast as possible," the President said.

President Biden warned Americans that the coronavirus death toll could climb to half a million next month as he unveiled new plans to fight the virus. Watch: "We're in a national emergency.

President Biden warned Americans that the coronavirus death toll could climb to half a million next month as he unveiled new plans to fight the virus. Watch: "We're in a national emergency. It's time we treated it like one," the new US president said as he tightened mask-wearing guidelines and ordered quarantine for people flying into the United States. The United States is the worst-hit country due to the virus with over 24.6 million cases and 409,667 fatalities. On wearing masks, Biden said it "has become a partisan issue, unfortunately, but it's a patriotic act", referring to ex-president Trump's reluctance to wear masks. Biden had earlier announced the goal of 100 million vaccines to be administered across the nation in the next 100 days. The US president has already signed ten virus-related executive orders. "Today, today, I am unveiling a national strategy on COVID-19 and executive actions to beat this pandemic. This plan reflects the ideas I set forward during the campaign and further refined over the past three months. It consists of my transition team, the task force, Tony Fauci and the team here today and other experts put this plan together. Our national strategy is comprehensive, it's based on science, not politics. It's based on truth, not denial, and it's detailed," the US president asserted. We'll move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated for free and create more places for them to get vaccinated, to mobilize more medical teams to get shots in people's arms and to increase vaccine supply and get it out the door as fast as possible." According to the plan, people will be required to wear masks in airports and on certain public transportation, including many trains, aeroplanes and intercity buses. The Biden administration will expand vaccine manufacturing and power to purchase more vaccines. President Biden will also direct the federal emergency management agency to reimburse states for the costs associated with National Guard related efforts to battle the virus. "We will move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated for free and create more places for them to get vaccinated, to mobilize more medical teams to get shots in people's arms and to increase vaccine supply and get it out the door as fast as possible," the President said.

'We're in national emergency': Biden warns COVID-19 death toll in US could climb to half a million next month

Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei&nbsp;posted an image of a golfer resembling ex-US President Donald <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-biden-removes-trumps-diet-coke-button-from-oval-desk-358513">Trump</a> allegedly being targeted by a drone as he vowed&nbsp;to avenge top Iranian general General Qassem Soleimani assassination&nbsp;by US drone strike last year.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-vows-action-on-trumps-impeachment-trial-358512/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

As ex-US president Donald Trump left the White House on January 20, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani had hailed the departure of "tyrant Trump".&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🔻انتقام حتمی است 
 
قاتل سلیمانی و آمر به قتل سلیمانی باید انتقامشان را پس بدهند. 
اگر چه کفش پای سلیمانی هم بر سرِ قاتل او شرف دارد؛ اما بالاخره غلطی کردند، بایستی <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%85?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#انتقام</a> پس بدهند؛ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%87%D9%85_%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%B1_%D9%87%D9%85_%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%84?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#هم_آمر_هم_قاتل</a> بدانند که در هر زمان ممکن باید انتقامشان را پس بدهند. 
۱۳۹۹/۰۹/۲۶ <a href="https://t.co/i2DYpPSBhw">pic.twitter.com/i2DYpPSBhw</a>
— KHAMENEI.IR‎ | سایت (@khamenei_site) <a href="https://twitter.com/khamenei_site/status/1352349195114569739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Tyrant's era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign," President Hassan Rouhani had said in televised remarks during his cabinet meeting, adding, "someone for whom all of his four years bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own people and the world".

Trump had targeted Iran with harsh sanctions on its&nbsp;oil and banking sectors while pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal.&nbsp;

After Biden was sworn in, Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said: "Trump, Pompeo &amp; Co. are relegated to the dustbin of history in disgrace."

&nbsp;"Perhaps new folks in DC have learned," Zarif said in a cryptic message on Twitter.

"We expect (the Biden administration) to return to law and to commitments, and try in the next four years, if they can, to remove the stains of the past four years," Rouhani had said, adding,"Trump's political career had died... but the JCPOA is alive."&nbsp;

Biden's pick for secretary of state &nbsp;Anthony Blinken had confirmed President Biden's desire to return to the nuclear agreement, although he added that it would be based on the condiction Tehran allows strict compliance.

Zarif had however asserted that "Mr Biden should know that his responsibility is to lift these sanctions" while adding "the ball is in America's court"

Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted an image of a golfer resembling ex-US President Donald Trump allegedly being targeted by a drone as he vowed to avenge top Iranian general General Qassem Soleimani assassination by US drone strike last year.

Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted an image of a golfer resembling ex-US President Donald Trump allegedly being targeted by a drone as he vowed to avenge top Iranian general General Qassem Soleimani assassination by US drone strike last year. Watch: As ex-US president Donald Trump left the White House on January 20, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani had hailed the departure of "tyrant Trump". 🔻انتقام حتمی است قاتل سلیمانی و آمر به قتل سلیمانی باید انتقامشان را پس بدهند. اگر چه کفش پای سلیمانی هم بر سرِ قاتل او شرف دارد؛ اما بالاخره غلطی کردند، بایستی #انتقام پس بدهند؛ #هم_آمر_هم_قاتل بدانند که در هر زمان ممکن باید انتقامشان را پس بدهند. ۱۳۹۹/۰۹/۲۶ pic.twitter.com/i2DYpPSBhw — KHAMENEI.IR‎ | سایت (@khamenei_site) January 21, 2021 × "Tyrant's era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign," President Hassan Rouhani had said in televised remarks during his cabinet meeting, adding, "someone for whom all of his four years bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own people and the world". Trump had targeted Iran with harsh sanctions on its oil and banking sectors while pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal. After Biden was sworn in, Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said: "Trump, Pompeo & Co. are relegated to the dustbin of history in disgrace." "Perhaps new folks in DC have learned," Zarif said in a cryptic message on Twitter. "We expect (the Biden administration) to return to law and to commitments, and try in the next four years, if they can, to remove the stains of the past four years," Rouhani had said, adding,"Trump's political career had died... but the JCPOA is alive." Biden's pick for secretary of state Anthony Blinken had confirmed President Biden's desire to return to the nuclear agreement, although he added that it would be based on the condiction Tehran allows strict compliance. Zarif had however asserted that "Mr Biden should know that his responsibility is to lift these sanctions" while adding "the ball is in America's court"

Drone on Trump playing golf? Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vows Soleimani revenge

The European Union(EU) urged&nbsp;Russia to immediately release opposition leader Alexey <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-rejects-navalnys-accusations-regarding-putins-wealth-dossier-357871">Navalny</a>&nbsp;as lawmakers&nbsp;called for an end to the&nbsp;Nord&nbsp;Stream&nbsp;2 pipeline.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/eu-lawmakers-demand-halt-to-nord-stream-2-over-kremlin-critic-navalny-arrest-358483/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

During a video summit of 27 leaders, European Council president Charles Michel said the leaders expect Russia to fully cooperate on a transparent and international investigation on Navalny's poisoning.

Navalny was arrested last Sunday at a Moscow airport as he tried to enter the country from Germany. Navalny had spent five months in Berlin recovering from nerve agent poisoning he blames on the Kremlin.

''We condemn his detention by the Russian authorities. Navalny's rights must be fully and unconditionally respected, we call on Russia to release him immediately and ensure his safety. We expect Russia to urgently proceed with the independent and transparent investigation into the attack on his life, and to fully cooperate with the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons to ensure an impartial and international investigation, " Charles Michel said.

Russia has come under renewed pressure after Navalny's arrest to explain the nerve agent attack on the opposition leader. The European Council president also insisted that Moscow “fully cooperate with the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons so that an impartial international investigation can be carried out into the attack"

European Union lawmakers also passed a resolution calling to stop the completion of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

The resolution said the EU should "devise a new strategy for the EU's relations with Russia, centred around support for civil society, which promotes democratic values, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and human rights."

The pipeline is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines from Russia to Germany. Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to block the pipeline construction work with 581 votes in favor, 50 against and 44 abstentions.

The Nord Stream 2 is designed to double the capacity of the existing undersea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. The initiative is led by &nbsp;Russia's Gazprom with western partners. The pipeline is more than 90 per cent complete and scheduled to operate from this year.

The United States is fiercely against Nord Stream 2 project. The Trump administration had imposed sanctions on a ship involved in construction work. 
. 
&nbsp;

The European Union(EU) urged Russia to immediately release opposition leader Alexey Navalny as lawmakers called for an end to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Watch: During a video summit of 27 leaders, European Council president Charles Michel said the leaders expect Russia to fully cooperate on a transparent and international investigation on Navalny's poisoning.

The European Union(EU) urged Russia to immediately release opposition leader Alexey Navalny as lawmakers called for an end to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Watch: During a video summit of 27 leaders, European Council president Charles Michel said the leaders expect Russia to fully cooperate on a transparent and international investigation on Navalny's poisoning. Navalny was arrested last Sunday at a Moscow airport as he tried to enter the country from Germany. Navalny had spent five months in Berlin recovering from nerve agent poisoning he blames on the Kremlin. ''We condemn his detention by the Russian authorities. Navalny's rights must be fully and unconditionally respected, we call on Russia to release him immediately and ensure his safety. We expect Russia to urgently proceed with the independent and transparent investigation into the attack on his life, and to fully cooperate with the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons to ensure an impartial and international investigation, " Charles Michel said. Russia has come under renewed pressure after Navalny's arrest to explain the nerve agent attack on the opposition leader. The European Council president also insisted that Moscow “fully cooperate with the organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons so that an impartial international investigation can be carried out into the attack" European Union lawmakers also passed a resolution calling to stop the completion of Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The resolution said the EU should "devise a new strategy for the EU's relations with Russia, centred around support for civil society, which promotes democratic values, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and human rights." The pipeline is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines from Russia to Germany. Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to block the pipeline construction work with 581 votes in favor, 50 against and 44 abstentions. The Nord Stream 2 is designed to double the capacity of the existing undersea gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. The initiative is led by Russia's Gazprom with western partners. The pipeline is more than 90 per cent complete and scheduled to operate from this year. The United States is fiercely against Nord Stream 2 project. The Trump administration had imposed sanctions on a ship involved in construction work. .

EU lawmakers demand end to Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline over Navalny row

The British government said it had not reached any decision on handing out 500 pounds to anyone who tested positive for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-fears-of-third-wave-eu-proposes-dark-red-covid-19-zones-358481">virus</a> after reports said the Johnson government was considering the plan in England since people were avoiding taking tests.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/englands-cathedrals-turned-into-makeshit-vaccination-centres-357414/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

“I’m not going to comment on this particular paper but we’ve always kept it under review,” Britain’s environment minister George Eustice said. Britain has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases after the new strain was detected from South Africa.

On Thursday, Britain had recorded 37,892 new coronavirus cases along with 1,290 deaths. The UK is the worst-hit country with the virus with over 94,760 deaths and 3.5 million infected cases.

England is currently under a third lockdown with schools and non-essential shops closed.&nbsp;

PM Boris Johnson had imposed fresh stay-at-home order after the emergence of the contagious virus variant with similar rules in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Amid a surge in cases, police in England said it issue bigger fines to those who break coronavirus lockdown measures by partying with penalties of up to &nbsp;$8,775 to 7,200 euros.

The new fines are targeted at those who attend house parties and other gatherings. London's Metropolitan Police had said earlier that it would issue more than 140 fines totalling £39,000 over two days.

The British government said it had not reached any decision on handing out 500 pounds to anyone who tested positive for the virus after reports said the Johnson government was considering the plan in England since people were avoiding taking tests.

The British government said it had not reached any decision on handing out 500 pounds to anyone who tested positive for the virus after reports said the Johnson government was considering the plan in England since people were avoiding taking tests. Watch: “I’m not going to comment on this particular paper but we’ve always kept it under review,” Britain’s environment minister George Eustice said. Britain has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases after the new strain was detected from South Africa. On Thursday, Britain had recorded 37,892 new coronavirus cases along with 1,290 deaths. The UK is the worst-hit country with the virus with over 94,760 deaths and 3.5 million infected cases. England is currently under a third lockdown with schools and non-essential shops closed. PM Boris Johnson had imposed fresh stay-at-home order after the emergence of the contagious virus variant with similar rules in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Amid a surge in cases, police in England said it issue bigger fines to those who break coronavirus lockdown measures by partying with penalties of up to $8,775 to 7,200 euros. The new fines are targeted at those who attend house parties and other gatherings. London's Metropolitan Police had said earlier that it would issue more than 140 fines totalling £39,000 over two days.

Johnson government undecided over cash for COVID plan

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