Iran on Friday called on the new US administration to "unconditionally" lift sanctions imposed by Donald Trump on the Islamic republic to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal, warning against any concessions.

Under Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump, Washington withdrew from the deal, designed to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon - and bolstered sanctions in a bid to force Tehran into talks on a broader agreement that also addressed its ballistic missile program and support for proxies around the Middle East.

Biden, who took office on Wednesday, “can begin by removing all sanctions imposed since Trump assumed office and seek to re-enter and abide by the 2015 nuclear deal without altering its painstakingly negotiated terms,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote in&nbsp;an op-ed in the US foreign policy magazine Foreign Affairs on Tehran's view towards saving the deal.

“In turn, Iran would reverse all the remedial measures it has taken in the wake of Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal,” he said on Friday, adding that the “initiative squarely rests with Washington”.

Since Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, Iran has breached its key limits one after the other, building up its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, refining uranium to a higher level of purity and using advanced centrifuges for enrichment.

Biden has said that if Tehran resumed strict compliance with the 2015 agreement Washington would rejoin it.

“But we would use that, as a platform with our allies and partners ..., to seek a longer and stronger agreement and also...to capture these other issues, particularly with regard to missiles and Iran’s destabilizing activities,” Antony Blinken, Biden’s choice for secretary of state, said on Tuesday.

Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal was agreed between Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany.

It offered sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear ambitions and guarantees it would not seek an atomic bomb. Iran has maintained it has only pursued a civilian nuclear energy programme.

"The new administration in Washington has a fundamental choice to make," Zarif, who is considered one of the architects of the 2015 nuclear deal, wrote in the op-ed.

"It can embrace the failed policies of the Trump administration," or Biden "can choose a better path by ending Trump's failed policy of 'maximum pressure' and returning to the deal his predecessor abandoned," he added.

"But if Washington instead insists on extracting concessions, then this opportunity will be lost."

'Collective efforts'&nbsp;

The sanctions targeted Iran's vital oil sales and international banking ties, plunging its economy into a deep recession.

Since 2019, Iran has suspended its compliance with most of the limits set by the deal in response to Washington's abandonment of sanctions relief and what Tehran deemed as Europe's inaction to provide it with the JCPOA's economic benefits.

The Iranian government has signalled a readiness to engage with Biden, who took office on January 20 and who has expressed willingness to return to diplomacy with Tehran.

Biden's pick for secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, said at a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday that Trump's policies had made Iran "more dangerous".

Blinken confirmed Biden's desire for Washington to return to the nuclear agreement but said that was conditional on Tehran's return to strict compliance with its commitments.

But Tehran has insisted that Washington must first lift all sanctions and return to its own JCPOA obligations.

"The incoming Biden administration can still salvage the nuclear agreement, but only if it can muster the genuine political will in Washington to demonstrate that the United States is ready to be a real partner in collective efforts," Zarif wrote.

"The administration should begin by unconditionally removing, with full effect, all sanctions imposed, reimposed, or relabeled since Trump took office," he added.

"In turn, Iran would reverse all the remedial measures it has taken in the wake of Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal."

'Revenge' tweet&nbsp;

Iran has maintained it would return to full compliance with the deal if sanctions were lifted and it could benefit from the economic relief it expected under the JCPOA.

Biden, along with Paris and Berlin, have expressed a desire to negotiate more broadly with Iran, notably on its missile programme and regional influence.&nbsp;

In his op-ed, Zarif indicated Iran was not open to further negotiations, made clear in the title of the op-ed: "Iran wants the nuclear deal it made. Don't ask Tehran to meet new demands."

"Iranians are running out of patience," Zarif wrote, as evidenced by legislation the country's parliament passed in December requiring Tehran "to boost uranium enrichment and limit UN (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspections if sanctions are not removed by February".

In a sign that tensions between Iran and the US remain high, a Twitter account linked to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted on Thursday a tweet vowing vengeance for the death of storied foreign operations chief General Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in a 2020 drone strike in Iraq ordered by Trump.

"Revenge is inevitable. Soleimani's killer and the man who gave the orders must face vengeance," it said, accompanied by a photomontage of Trump playing golf under the shadow of a warplane.

"Revenge can take place at any moment."

Twitter later suspended the account, saying it had violated its rules.

Iran on Friday called on the new US administration to "unconditionally" lift sanctions imposed by Donald Trump on the Islamic republic to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal, warning against any concessions.

Iran on Friday called on the new US administration to "unconditionally" lift sanctions imposed by Donald Trump on the Islamic republic to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal, warning against any concessions. Under Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump, Washington withdrew from the deal, designed to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon - and bolstered sanctions in a bid to force Tehran into talks on a broader agreement that also addressed its ballistic missile program and support for proxies around the Middle East. Biden, who took office on Wednesday, “can begin by removing all sanctions imposed since Trump assumed office and seek to re-enter and abide by the 2015 nuclear deal without altering its painstakingly negotiated terms,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote in an op-ed in the US foreign policy magazine Foreign Affairs on Tehran's view towards saving the deal. “In turn, Iran would reverse all the remedial measures it has taken in the wake of Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal,” he said on Friday, adding that the “initiative squarely rests with Washington”. Since Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, Iran has breached its key limits one after the other, building up its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, refining uranium to a higher level of purity and using advanced centrifuges for enrichment. Biden has said that if Tehran resumed strict compliance with the 2015 agreement Washington would rejoin it. “But we would use that, as a platform with our allies and partners ..., to seek a longer and stronger agreement and also...to capture these other issues, particularly with regard to missiles and Iran’s destabilizing activities,” Antony Blinken, Biden’s choice for secretary of state, said on Tuesday. Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal was agreed between Iran, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany. It offered sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear ambitions and guarantees it would not seek an atomic bomb. Iran has maintained it has only pursued a civilian nuclear energy programme. "The new administration in Washington has a fundamental choice to make," Zarif, who is considered one of the architects of the 2015 nuclear deal, wrote in the op-ed. "It can embrace the failed policies of the Trump administration," or Biden "can choose a better path by ending Trump's failed policy of 'maximum pressure' and returning to the deal his predecessor abandoned," he added. "But if Washington instead insists on extracting concessions, then this opportunity will be lost." 'Collective efforts' The sanctions targeted Iran's vital oil sales and international banking ties, plunging its economy into a deep recession. Since 2019, Iran has suspended its compliance with most of the limits set by the deal in response to Washington's abandonment of sanctions relief and what Tehran deemed as Europe's inaction to provide it with the JCPOA's economic benefits. The Iranian government has signalled a readiness to engage with Biden, who took office on January 20 and who has expressed willingness to return to diplomacy with Tehran. Biden's pick for secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, said at a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday that Trump's policies had made Iran "more dangerous". Blinken confirmed Biden's desire for Washington to return to the nuclear agreement but said that was conditional on Tehran's return to strict compliance with its commitments. But Tehran has insisted that Washington must first lift all sanctions and return to its own JCPOA obligations. "The incoming Biden administration can still salvage the nuclear agreement, but only if it can muster the genuine political will in Washington to demonstrate that the United States is ready to be a real partner in collective efforts," Zarif wrote. "The administration should begin by unconditionally removing, with full effect, all sanctions imposed, reimposed, or relabeled since Trump took office," he added. "In turn, Iran would reverse all the remedial measures it has taken in the wake of Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal." 'Revenge' tweet Iran has maintained it would return to full compliance with the deal if sanctions were lifted and it could benefit from the economic relief it expected under the JCPOA. Biden, along with Paris and Berlin, have expressed a desire to negotiate more broadly with Iran, notably on its missile programme and regional influence. In his op-ed, Zarif indicated Iran was not open to further negotiations, made clear in the title of the op-ed: "Iran wants the nuclear deal it made. Don't ask Tehran to meet new demands." "Iranians are running out of patience," Zarif wrote, as evidenced by legislation the country's parliament passed in December requiring Tehran "to boost uranium enrichment and limit UN (International Atomic Energy Agency) inspections if sanctions are not removed by February". In a sign that tensions between Iran and the US remain high, a Twitter account linked to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted on Thursday a tweet vowing vengeance for the death of storied foreign operations chief General Qasem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in a 2020 drone strike in Iraq ordered by Trump. "Revenge is inevitable. Soleimani's killer and the man who gave the orders must face vengeance," it said, accompanied by a photomontage of Trump playing golf under the shadow of a warplane. "Revenge can take place at any moment." Twitter later suspended the account, saying it had violated its rules.

Iran calls on Biden to 'unconditionally' lift US sanctions imposed by Donald Trump

AstraZeneca&nbsp;Plc has informed European Union officials on Friday it would cut deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60 per cent&nbsp;to 31 million doses in the first quarter of the year due to production problems, a senior official told Reuters.

The decrease deals another blow to Europe's COVID-19 vaccination drive after Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE slowed supplies of their vaccine to the bloc this week, saying the move was needed because of work to ramp up production.

AstraZeneca&nbsp;was expected to deliver about 80 million doses to the 27 EU countries by the end of March, the official who was involved in the talks said.

The official added&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;planned to begin deliveries to the EU from Feb. 15, in line with original plans.

The company confirmed the drop in deliveries without giving specific details on the magnitude of the shortfall.

"Initial volumes will be lower than originally anticipated due to reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain," an&nbsp;AstraZeneca&nbsp;spokesman said in a written statement.

"We will be supplying tens of millions of doses in February and March to the European Union, as we continue to ramp up production volumes," he said of the vaccine developed with Oxford University.

The Britain-based drugmaker had also agreed to deliver more than 80 million doses in the second quarter. On Friday, the EU official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the company was not able to provide updated delivery targets for the April to June period due to the production issues.

AstraZeneca&nbsp;told EU officials at a meeting that the cut was due to production problems at a vaccine factory in Belgium run by its partner Novasep, the EU official said. Novasep was not immediately available to comment.

EU governments "expressed deep dissatisfaction with this," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Twitter after the announcement.

The EU drug regulator is due to decide on the approval of&nbsp;AstraZeneca's vaccine on Jan. 29. It has already received emergency authorisation in Britain.

The EU has a deal to purchase at least 300 million doses from&nbsp;AstraZeneca, with an option for an additional 100 million, part of the company's global commitments to supply more than 3 billion doses.

AstraZeneca Plc has informed European Union officials on Friday it would cut deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60 per cent to 31 million doses in the first quarter of the year due to production problems, a senior official told Reuters.

AstraZeneca Plc has informed European Union officials on Friday it would cut deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60 per cent to 31 million doses in the first quarter of the year due to production problems, a senior official told Reuters. The decrease deals another blow to Europe's COVID-19 vaccination drive after Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE slowed supplies of their vaccine to the bloc this week, saying the move was needed because of work to ramp up production. AstraZeneca was expected to deliver about 80 million doses to the 27 EU countries by the end of March, the official who was involved in the talks said. The official added AstraZeneca planned to begin deliveries to the EU from Feb. 15, in line with original plans. The company confirmed the drop in deliveries without giving specific details on the magnitude of the shortfall. "Initial volumes will be lower than originally anticipated due to reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain," an AstraZeneca spokesman said in a written statement. "We will be supplying tens of millions of doses in February and March to the European Union, as we continue to ramp up production volumes," he said of the vaccine developed with Oxford University. The Britain-based drugmaker had also agreed to deliver more than 80 million doses in the second quarter. On Friday, the EU official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the company was not able to provide updated delivery targets for the April to June period due to the production issues. AstraZeneca told EU officials at a meeting that the cut was due to production problems at a vaccine factory in Belgium run by its partner Novasep, the EU official said. Novasep was not immediately available to comment. EU governments "expressed deep dissatisfaction with this," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Twitter after the announcement. The EU drug regulator is due to decide on the approval of AstraZeneca's vaccine on Jan. 29. It has already received emergency authorisation in Britain. The EU has a deal to purchase at least 300 million doses from AstraZeneca, with an option for an additional 100 million, part of the company's global commitments to supply more than 3 billion doses.

AstraZeneca to cut COVID-19 vaccine delivery to EU by 60%: Report

The Central Government can revamp the structure of India's import tariff structure in Union Budget 2021 to provide lower duty on large&nbsp;inputs, especially those used in products that are exported while keeping levies high on exported goods, in a bid to boost local manufacturing.

India&nbsp;is considering hiking import duties by 5-10&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;on more than 50 items including smartphones, electronic components and appliances in the upcoming budget, as per sources.

The move to increase import duties is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's self-reliant&nbsp;India&nbsp;campaign that aims to promote and support domestic manufacturing, said three government sources privy to the discussions.

One of the sources said the government was seeking to target additional revenue of about 200 billion to 210 billion rupees ($2.7 billion to $2.8 billion) from the moves, as it looks to shore up revenue amidst the pandemic-driven slowdown that has stung the economy.

Two of the government sources also said the duty hikes could impact furniture and electric vehicles, potentially hurting the likes of Swedish furniture maker Ikea and Tesla, which is planning to launch its cars in&nbsp;India&nbsp;this year.

The officials, however, did not specify how much of a hike was planned on furniture and electric vehicles.

Both Ikea and Tesla executives have previously expressed concerns about the steep duty structure their products already face in&nbsp;India.

The list of items likely to attract steeper duties is set to include appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners too, three of the sources said.

The finance ministry could not be reached by telephone and did not reply to an email seeking comments.

India's finance minister will on February&nbsp;1 unveil the government's annual federal budget for the 2021-22 financial year, which begins April 1.

The sources said the proposals may still be tweaked further before they are finalised.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will unveil the budget on February&nbsp;1 amid the shadow of a projected economic contraction of 7.7&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;for the current fiscal year.

India&nbsp;has in recent years taken a series of measures that industry executives say discriminate against foreign companies. Government officials say such taxes are essential to promote&nbsp;India&nbsp;as a destination for local manufacturing and to support domestic businesses.

"This is part of revenue-raising and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant&nbsp;India) plan," said one of the government sources.

Last year,&nbsp;India&nbsp;raised import taxes on a wide range of products such as footwear, furniture, toys, electrical and electronics items by up to 20%.

The Central Government can revamp the structure of India's import tariff structure in Union Budget 2021 to provide lower duty on large inputs, especially those used in products that are exported while keeping levies high on exported goods, in a bid to boost local manufacturing.

The Central Government can revamp the structure of India's import tariff structure in Union Budget 2021 to provide lower duty on large inputs, especially those used in products that are exported while keeping levies high on exported goods, in a bid to boost local manufacturing. India is considering hiking import duties by 5-10 per cent on more than 50 items including smartphones, electronic components and appliances in the upcoming budget, as per sources. The move to increase import duties is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's self-reliant India campaign that aims to promote and support domestic manufacturing, said three government sources privy to the discussions. One of the sources said the government was seeking to target additional revenue of about 200 billion to 210 billion rupees ($2.7 billion to $2.8 billion) from the moves, as it looks to shore up revenue amidst the pandemic-driven slowdown that has stung the economy. Two of the government sources also said the duty hikes could impact furniture and electric vehicles, potentially hurting the likes of Swedish furniture maker Ikea and Tesla, which is planning to launch its cars in India this year. The officials, however, did not specify how much of a hike was planned on furniture and electric vehicles. Both Ikea and Tesla executives have previously expressed concerns about the steep duty structure their products already face in India. The list of items likely to attract steeper duties is set to include appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners too, three of the sources said. The finance ministry could not be reached by telephone and did not reply to an email seeking comments. India's finance minister will on February 1 unveil the government's annual federal budget for the 2021-22 financial year, which begins April 1. The sources said the proposals may still be tweaked further before they are finalised. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will unveil the budget on February 1 amid the shadow of a projected economic contraction of 7.7 per cent for the current fiscal year. India has in recent years taken a series of measures that industry executives say discriminate against foreign companies. Government officials say such taxes are essential to promote India as a destination for local manufacturing and to support domestic businesses. "This is part of revenue-raising and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) plan," said one of the government sources. Last year, India raised import taxes on a wide range of products such as footwear, furniture, toys, electrical and electronics items by up to 20%.

Union Budget 2021: Government may raise duty on finished goods and imports

Inside US President Joe Biden's redecorated Oval Office

France has passed a law protecting the countryside's "sensory heritage" from attempts to stifle the everyday aspects of rural life from newcomers looking for peace and quiet.

No longer will lily-livered weekending urbanites be able to complain about the smell of pigs or slurry-spreading, or indeed the thrill being jolted awake by a cockerel's full-throated call.&nbsp;

All this came about because of a spate of court cases by neo-rurals outraged to discover the country could be noisy, smelly and full of stubborn hicks.

Senators in France voted to approve a bill that was proposed after a string of court cases that pitted villagers against vacationers or second-home owners who complained of animal noises.

"The countryside is this music, the rustling of branches and leaves, and cries that form an architecture when we close our eyes," Senator Pierre-Antoine Levi told his colleagues before the&nbsp;vote.

A rooster named Maurice in southwest&nbsp;France&nbsp;was a cause celebré for activists fighting to preserve the countryside in the face of residents claiming that loud animal noises were a nuisance.

Maurice's owner won the case in September 2019, and months later, a court in western&nbsp;France&nbsp;ruled in favour of a duck and geese farmer who was sued by her neighbour for the animals' quacking.

Lawmakers said the legislation would stem the threat to&nbsp;France's agricultural lands, as urbanisation expands.

The law also protects singing cicadas, croaking frogs, whirring tractors, and church bells, among rural sounds and smells.

France has passed a law protecting the countryside's "sensory heritage" from attempts to stifle the everyday aspects of rural life from newcomers looking for peace and quiet.

France has passed a law protecting the countryside's "sensory heritage" from attempts to stifle the everyday aspects of rural life from newcomers looking for peace and quiet. No longer will lily-livered weekending urbanites be able to complain about the smell of pigs or slurry-spreading, or indeed the thrill being jolted awake by a cockerel's full-throated call. All this came about because of a spate of court cases by neo-rurals outraged to discover the country could be noisy, smelly and full of stubborn hicks. Senators in France voted to approve a bill that was proposed after a string of court cases that pitted villagers against vacationers or second-home owners who complained of animal noises. "The countryside is this music, the rustling of branches and leaves, and cries that form an architecture when we close our eyes," Senator Pierre-Antoine Levi told his colleagues before the vote. A rooster named Maurice in southwest France was a cause celebré for activists fighting to preserve the countryside in the face of residents claiming that loud animal noises were a nuisance. Maurice's owner won the case in September 2019, and months later, a court in western France ruled in favour of a duck and geese farmer who was sued by her neighbour for the animals' quacking. Lawmakers said the legislation would stem the threat to France's agricultural lands, as urbanisation expands. The law also protects singing cicadas, croaking frogs, whirring tractors, and church bells, among rural sounds and smells.

'Sensory heritage': France passes law protecting sounds and smells of countryside

Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and new US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone Friday on an extensive range of topics, and made plans to meet in person "next month," Ottawa said.&nbsp;

"The two leaders agreed to meet next month in order to advance the important work of renewing the deep and enduring friendship between Canada and the United States," Trudeau's office said in a statement.

Trudeau, who has been keen to embrace the new president and turn the page on the often tumultuous Donald Trump years, was the first foreign leader to speak with Biden since Wednesday's inauguration.

"They discussed collaboration on vaccines and acknowledged that the two countries’ efforts are strengthened by existing exchanges of medical personnel and the flow of critical medical supplies," according to a readout of the call.

The two also agreed to expand cooperation on continental defence and in the Arctic and said their respective top defence and foreign affairs would be meeting at the earliest opportunity.

Trudeau earlier on Friday hailed Biden's arrival as a "new era" for bilateral ties but the relationship has begun with an early disagreement after Biden scrapped the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the United States on his first day in office on Wednesday.

Pipeline builder TC Energy Corp said it would eliminate more than 1,000 construction jobs in coming weeks due to the cancellation.

"The prime minister raised Canada’s disappointment with the United States’ decision on the Keystone XL pipeline," according to the readout, which noted that Trudeau also brought up the "the importance of the softwood lumber industry, and urged the removal of duties."

The long-running dispute saw the Trump administration impose tariffs against what it saw as unfair subsidies for Canadian exporters of softwood lumber, which is used in home construction.

Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and new US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone Friday on an extensive range of topics, and made plans to meet in person "next month," Ottawa said.

Canadian leader Justin Trudeau and new US President Joe Biden spoke on the phone Friday on an extensive range of topics, and made plans to meet in person "next month," Ottawa said. "The two leaders agreed to meet next month in order to advance the important work of renewing the deep and enduring friendship between Canada and the United States," Trudeau's office said in a statement. Trudeau, who has been keen to embrace the new president and turn the page on the often tumultuous Donald Trump years, was the first foreign leader to speak with Biden since Wednesday's inauguration. "They discussed collaboration on vaccines and acknowledged that the two countries’ efforts are strengthened by existing exchanges of medical personnel and the flow of critical medical supplies," according to a readout of the call. The two also agreed to expand cooperation on continental defence and in the Arctic and said their respective top defence and foreign affairs would be meeting at the earliest opportunity. Trudeau earlier on Friday hailed Biden's arrival as a "new era" for bilateral ties but the relationship has begun with an early disagreement after Biden scrapped the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the United States on his first day in office on Wednesday. Pipeline builder TC Energy Corp said it would eliminate more than 1,000 construction jobs in coming weeks due to the cancellation. "The prime minister raised Canada’s disappointment with the United States’ decision on the Keystone XL pipeline," according to the readout, which noted that Trudeau also brought up the "the importance of the softwood lumber industry, and urged the removal of duties." The long-running dispute saw the Trump administration impose tariffs against what it saw as unfair subsidies for Canadian exporters of softwood lumber, which is used in home construction.

US President Joe Biden and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to have first meeting 'next month'

Over 150&nbsp;National&nbsp;Guard troops&nbsp;deployed to Washington, D.C., to provide security for President Joe Biden's inauguration have tested positive for the coronavirus, a US&nbsp;official said on Friday.

The US&nbsp;government imposed unprecedented security measures in the city following the deadly January&nbsp;6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, including fences topped with razor wire and checkpoints manned by&nbsp;National&nbsp;Guard.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the number of&nbsp;National&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;troops who tested positive could rise but was still a small fraction of the more than 25,000 troops deployed in the city over the past few days.

The United States reported more than 4,000 daily deaths from COVID-19 for a second consecutive day on Thursday, bringing the cumulative number of US&nbsp;lives lost to almost 410,000.

The military has said arrangements are being made for thousands of troops to return home, and that about 15,000 are expected to leave Washington within the next five to 10 days.

Some 7,000&nbsp;National&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;personnel are expected to stay at least through the end of the month, officials have said. A smaller number of troops could stay longer.

Meanwhile, a&nbsp;decision to turn a chilly underground parking garage into an overnight billet for&nbsp;National&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;troops in Washington to protect&nbsp;Biden's inauguration has stirred an uproar.

A&nbsp;number of the 25,000 troops standing&nbsp;guard&nbsp;around the US Capitol in recent days in the wake of the&nbsp;insurrection had been allowed to take breaks and naps in between long shifts on the floors of the building housing the US Congress.

But on Thursday afternoon, after the legislature resumed work a day after the Biden inauguration, someone decided instead to force them out to a nearby parking garage.

Photos that spread quickly over the internet showed troops stretched out under fluorescent lights in parking slots, with few toilets, outlets for charging phones or other facilities.

Some members of Congress, noting that many of the troops came from their home states, voiced outrage.

"This is an insult to all&nbsp;National&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;units that followed orders and served in the cold and rain through the night without fail.&nbsp;They protected our Capitol when we needed them most," said Representative Brendan Boyle on Twitter.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is an insult to all National Guard units that followed orders and served in the cold and rain through the night without fail. They protected our Capitol when we needed them most. (thread)<a href="https://t.co/429OpjUNU5">https://t.co/429OpjUNU5</a>
— Rep. Brendan Boyle (@CongBoyle) <a href="https://twitter.com/CongBoyle/status/1352619655043670020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Lawmakers visited the troops and apologized early Friday.

"What happened was an outrage and it will never happen again," said Chuck Schumer, the new Senate Majority leader, as he walked in a hall in the Capitol with dozens of soldiers sleeping on both sides.

Schumer said nobody knew exactly who ordered the part-time soldiers moved to the garage.

In the afternoon, first lady Jill Biden also paid a surprise visit to a group of military personnel on duty in Congress, offering them chocolate chip cookies and posing for photos.&nbsp;

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WATCH: First lady Jill Biden thanked the National Guard troops for their service during President Joe Biden's inauguration <a href="https://t.co/hQUjql3Lo0">pic.twitter.com/hQUjql3Lo0</a>
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReutersIndia/status/1352750388965851136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"The&nbsp;National&nbsp;Guard&nbsp;will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens," she said. President Joe Biden's late son, Beau, was a member of the Delaware&nbsp;National&nbsp;Guard.

Over 150 National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C., to provide security for President Joe Biden's inauguration have tested positive for the coronavirus, a US official said on Friday.

Over 150 National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C., to provide security for President Joe Biden's inauguration have tested positive for the coronavirus, a US official said on Friday. The US government imposed unprecedented security measures in the city following the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, including fences topped with razor wire and checkpoints manned by National Guard. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the number of National Guard troops who tested positive could rise but was still a small fraction of the more than 25,000 troops deployed in the city over the past few days. The United States reported more than 4,000 daily deaths from COVID-19 for a second consecutive day on Thursday, bringing the cumulative number of US lives lost to almost 410,000. The military has said arrangements are being made for thousands of troops to return home, and that about 15,000 are expected to leave Washington within the next five to 10 days. Some 7,000 National Guard personnel are expected to stay at least through the end of the month, officials have said. A smaller number of troops could stay longer. Meanwhile, a decision to turn a chilly underground parking garage into an overnight billet for National Guard troops in Washington to protect Biden's inauguration has stirred an uproar. A number of the 25,000 troops standing guard around the US Capitol in recent days in the wake of the insurrection had been allowed to take breaks and naps in between long shifts on the floors of the building housing the US Congress. But on Thursday afternoon, after the legislature resumed work a day after the Biden inauguration, someone decided instead to force them out to a nearby parking garage. Photos that spread quickly over the internet showed troops stretched out under fluorescent lights in parking slots, with few toilets, outlets for charging phones or other facilities. Some members of Congress, noting that many of the troops came from their home states, voiced outrage. "This is an insult to all National Guard units that followed orders and served in the cold and rain through the night without fail. They protected our Capitol when we needed them most," said Representative Brendan Boyle on Twitter. This is an insult to all National Guard units that followed orders and served in the cold and rain through the night without fail. They protected our Capitol when we needed them most. (thread)https://t.co/429OpjUNU5 — Rep. Brendan Boyle (@CongBoyle) January 22, 2021 × Lawmakers visited the troops and apologized early Friday. "What happened was an outrage and it will never happen again," said Chuck Schumer, the new Senate Majority leader, as he walked in a hall in the Capitol with dozens of soldiers sleeping on both sides. Schumer said nobody knew exactly who ordered the part-time soldiers moved to the garage. In the afternoon, first lady Jill Biden also paid a surprise visit to a group of military personnel on duty in Congress, offering them chocolate chip cookies and posing for photos. WATCH: First lady Jill Biden thanked the National Guard troops for their service during President Joe Biden's inauguration pic.twitter.com/hQUjql3Lo0 — Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) January 22, 2021 × "The National Guard will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens," she said. President Joe Biden's late son, Beau, was a member of the Delaware National Guard.

Over 150 National Guard troops for Biden inauguration test positive for coronavirus

Chief Medical Advisor to the US President, Anthony Fauci said that the lack of truthfulness from the previous President Donald Trump`s administration pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic "very likely" cost American lives.

"We don't have everything perfect right now. And we are going to make some missteps," he said, appearing virtually at a US&nbsp;Conference of Mayor's panel discussion. "When we do make missteps, what we are going to do is try and correct them."

Fauci said that it`s "not helpful" when "you're starting to go down paths that are not based on any science at all," adding that he doesn`t wish to rehash the ways in which the Trump administration steered away from science.

The Biden administration's approach to handling the Covid-19 pandemic will be "completely transparent, open and honest" with the American people, said Fauci on Thursday.

"If things go wrong, not point fingers but to correct them. And to make everything we do be based on science and evidence," he told reporters.

Fauci said that it was "uncomfortable" when things like hydroxychloroquine were promoted as treatments for Covid-19 when they weren`t based on fact and that he takes "no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the President."

The medical advisor to Biden said that it is a "liberating feeling" to now be able to "talk about what you know, what the evidence, what the science is," without fear of repercussions.

The United States is the nation hardest-hit by COVID-19, with 24.51 million cases and 409,987 deaths by early Friday morning. More than 4,000 Americans died of the disease on Thursday for the second day in a row.

Fewer than half of the nearly 38 million vaccine doses shipped to date by the federal government have actually made it into the arms of Americans, the US&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Thursday.

Some individual states have lagged behind with just a third or 40 per cent of their vaccine allotments being administered as of Thursday, which marked the one-year anniversary of the first locally transmitted COVID-19 case documented in the United States.

A key problem is organizing the distribution of vaccines to smaller clinics and pharmacies - rather than just to large medical centers and retail pharmaceutical chains.

Chief Medical Advisor to the US President, Anthony Fauci said that the lack of truthfulness from the previous President Donald Trump`s administration pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic "very likely" cost American lives.

Chief Medical Advisor to the US President, Anthony Fauci said that the lack of truthfulness from the previous President Donald Trump`s administration pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic "very likely" cost American lives. "We don't have everything perfect right now. And we are going to make some missteps," he said, appearing virtually at a US Conference of Mayor's panel discussion. "When we do make missteps, what we are going to do is try and correct them." Fauci said that it`s "not helpful" when "you're starting to go down paths that are not based on any science at all," adding that he doesn`t wish to rehash the ways in which the Trump administration steered away from science. The Biden administration's approach to handling the Covid-19 pandemic will be "completely transparent, open and honest" with the American people, said Fauci on Thursday. "If things go wrong, not point fingers but to correct them. And to make everything we do be based on science and evidence," he told reporters. Fauci said that it was "uncomfortable" when things like hydroxychloroquine were promoted as treatments for Covid-19 when they weren`t based on fact and that he takes "no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the President." The medical advisor to Biden said that it is a "liberating feeling" to now be able to "talk about what you know, what the evidence, what the science is," without fear of repercussions. The United States is the nation hardest-hit by COVID-19, with 24.51 million cases and 409,987 deaths by early Friday morning. More than 4,000 Americans died of the disease on Thursday for the second day in a row. Fewer than half of the nearly 38 million vaccine doses shipped to date by the federal government have actually made it into the arms of Americans, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Thursday. Some individual states have lagged behind with just a third or 40 per cent of their vaccine allotments being administered as of Thursday, which marked the one-year anniversary of the first locally transmitted COVID-19 case documented in the United States. A key problem is organizing the distribution of vaccines to smaller clinics and pharmacies - rather than just to large medical centers and retail pharmaceutical chains.

Trump administration's lack of honesty in handling COVID-19 'very likely' cost lives: Fauci

Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine, which has been authorized for use in the country, proved safe and produced an immune response in a small group of adults aged 18 to 55, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal.

The vaccine, developed with the&nbsp;Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being evaluated in a separate 25,800 person trial, which started in November.

Bharat Biotech said on Friday 13,000 people participating in the late-stage trial had been given the second dose.

The interim data published in the journal included three different vaccine formulations and a placebo group among 375 adults.

Two formulations of the vaccine, called COVAXIN, have been selected for more advanced stages of testing and further efficacy trials are warranted, the report said.

COVAXIN is an inactivated vaccine that introduces dead virus into the body to trigger an immune response.

This is the first peer-reviewed data for the vaccine that has come under scrutiny after widespread criticism over the lack of transparency on the approval process for the shot.

The vaccine was granted emergency approval by the drugs controller general of&nbsp;India&nbsp;this month along with another vaccine, Covishield, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

India, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus infections after the United States, kicked off its own vaccination drive on Saturday in what the government called the "world's largest vaccination program."

Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine, which has been authorized for use in the country, proved safe and produced an immune response in a small group of adults aged 18 to 55, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal.

Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine, which has been authorized for use in the country, proved safe and produced an immune response in a small group of adults aged 18 to 55, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal. The vaccine, developed with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being evaluated in a separate 25,800 person trial, which started in November. Bharat Biotech said on Friday 13,000 people participating in the late-stage trial had been given the second dose. The interim data published in the journal included three different vaccine formulations and a placebo group among 375 adults. Two formulations of the vaccine, called COVAXIN, have been selected for more advanced stages of testing and further efficacy trials are warranted, the report said. COVAXIN is an inactivated vaccine that introduces dead virus into the body to trigger an immune response. This is the first peer-reviewed data for the vaccine that has come under scrutiny after widespread criticism over the lack of transparency on the approval process for the shot. The vaccine was granted emergency approval by the drugs controller general of India this month along with another vaccine, Covishield, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. India, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus infections after the United States, kicked off its own vaccination drive on Saturday in what the government called the "world's largest vaccination program."

Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 shot safe, produced immune response in early human trial: Study

Opposition parties staged a walkout from the Senate session on Friday over the Pakistan government`s "inadequate" response to their queries on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority ordinance, reported Dawn.

They also questioned the meeting of Lt-Gen retired Asim Saleem Bajwa with the Chinese ambassador when the CPEC Authority had no chairman and the CPEC Authority`s ordinance had lapsed.

"Is [retired Lt Gen] Asim Saleem still receiving the salary of the chairman of CPEC Authority?" questioned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad asked in what capacity was Bajwa working and meeting with the Chinese ambassador. Ahmad said Bajwa was a "controversial" figure and yet, he was made chairman of the CPEC Authority, adding that there were allegations of corruption against Bajwa.

He further said that "in the future, no such individual, who has allegations of corruption against them, should be appointed chairman of the CPEC Authority."Earlier, local media had exposed Bajwa`s several offshore businesses, including more than 100 companies and franchises in the US, UAE and Canada in which his families were involved.

In 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan had promulgated an ordinance to establish a CPEC Authority ahead of his visit to China and had appointed Bajwa as its chairperson. While earlier, the Planning and Development Ministry used to oversee the CPEC projects.

China forced CPEC Authority on Pakistan because it wanted the army to be directly involved in the CPEC portfolio as Beijing was reportedly irked with Khan`s slow movement on the project.

The CPEC Authority ordinance by Imran Khan government gave immunity to the chairman and staff from all legal proceedings, in turn protecting them from National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and police to institute cases.

Earlier, Ahmad had also submitted written questions to the Minister for Planning Asad Umar These included "Whether it was true that the CPEC Authority was continuing to work despite the lapse of the CPEC Authority Ordinance?" and "What was the legal nature of the administrative and financial decisions taken by the authority so far?"Umar responded that the CPEC Authority Ordinance had lapsed in May 2020 and the CPEC Authority Bill was pending in the National Assembly.

He added that all administrative and financial decisions of the authority were being taken according to the rules and regulations of the related ministries, reported Dawn. Opposition members, in turn, walked out of Senate as they felt that the response of Umar was inadequate regarding CPEC Authority.

Opposition parties staged a walkout from the Senate session on Friday over the Pakistan government`s "inadequate" response to their queries on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority ordinance, reported Dawn.

Opposition parties staged a walkout from the Senate session on Friday over the Pakistan government`s "inadequate" response to their queries on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority ordinance, reported Dawn. They also questioned the meeting of Lt-Gen retired Asim Saleem Bajwa with the Chinese ambassador when the CPEC Authority had no chairman and the CPEC Authority`s ordinance had lapsed. "Is [retired Lt Gen] Asim Saleem still receiving the salary of the chairman of CPEC Authority?" questioned Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi. Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmad asked in what capacity was Bajwa working and meeting with the Chinese ambassador. Ahmad said Bajwa was a "controversial" figure and yet, he was made chairman of the CPEC Authority, adding that there were allegations of corruption against Bajwa. He further said that "in the future, no such individual, who has allegations of corruption against them, should be appointed chairman of the CPEC Authority."Earlier, local media had exposed Bajwa`s several offshore businesses, including more than 100 companies and franchises in the US, UAE and Canada in which his families were involved. In 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan had promulgated an ordinance to establish a CPEC Authority ahead of his visit to China and had appointed Bajwa as its chairperson. While earlier, the Planning and Development Ministry used to oversee the CPEC projects. China forced CPEC Authority on Pakistan because it wanted the army to be directly involved in the CPEC portfolio as Beijing was reportedly irked with Khan`s slow movement on the project. The CPEC Authority ordinance by Imran Khan government gave immunity to the chairman and staff from all legal proceedings, in turn protecting them from National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and police to institute cases. Earlier, Ahmad had also submitted written questions to the Minister for Planning Asad Umar These included "Whether it was true that the CPEC Authority was continuing to work despite the lapse of the CPEC Authority Ordinance?" and "What was the legal nature of the administrative and financial decisions taken by the authority so far?"Umar responded that the CPEC Authority Ordinance had lapsed in May 2020 and the CPEC Authority Bill was pending in the National Assembly. He added that all administrative and financial decisions of the authority were being taken according to the rules and regulations of the related ministries, reported Dawn. Opposition members, in turn, walked out of Senate as they felt that the response of Umar was inadequate regarding CPEC Authority.

Pak opposition walks out of Senate over 'inadequate' response on CPEC queries

Chinese rescuers drilled deep into the ground Thursday in an increasingly desperate bid to save 21 miners now trapped for almost two weeks, with one confirmed dead and still no signs of life from over half of the missing workers, state media reported.

Twenty-two workers were entombed hundreds of metres underground at the Hushan mine near Qixia city in east China's Shandong province after a January 10 explosion sealed the entrance and cut off communications.

Contact has been established with one group of miners, although one, seriously injured in the initial explosion, was confirmed dead late Wednesday.

Another is believed to be trapped on his own, one hundred metres further down in rising waters, but his condition is unknown as he has not been directly reached by the rescue teams above.&nbsp;

The second group of 11 miners have also yet to be contacted, despite rescuers' efforts.

"They have also been lowering life detectors and nutrient solutions to other sections to locate the other missing miners but continued to receive no life signs," state news agency Xinhua reported.

Rescuers made contact on Sunday with the first group of 11 miners at a site around 580 metres (1,900 feet) below the surface.&nbsp;

Emergency responders have drilled two "lifeline" channels to deliver food and medicine and installed a telephone line while trying to widen a shaft to eventually allow the miners to be extracted.&nbsp;

The workers said they were trapped by "two underground explosions" in the mine but details are still being confirmed, reported China Daily Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are plans for the widest of the shafts, about the size of a manhole cover, to be broadened enough to extract the miners once drilling is finished, CCTV said Wednesday.&nbsp;

The progress of the rescue has been slow because they are drilling through granite, officials have said, while the extraction could be further complicated by the water-logged state of the mine.

Rescue teams initially lost precious time as it took more than a day for the accident to be reported.

Both the local Communist Party secretary and the mayor have been sacked over the 30-hour delay and an official investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion.

Mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record and regulations are often weakly enforced.

In December, 23 workers died after being stuck underground in the southwestern city of Chongqing.

Chinese rescuers drilled deep into the ground Thursday in an increasingly desperate bid to save 21 miners now trapped for almost two weeks, with one confirmed dead and still no signs of life from over half of the missing workers, state media reported.

Chinese rescuers drilled deep into the ground Thursday in an increasingly desperate bid to save 21 miners now trapped for almost two weeks, with one confirmed dead and still no signs of life from over half of the missing workers, state media reported. Twenty-two workers were entombed hundreds of metres underground at the Hushan mine near Qixia city in east China's Shandong province after a January 10 explosion sealed the entrance and cut off communications. Contact has been established with one group of miners, although one, seriously injured in the initial explosion, was confirmed dead late Wednesday. Another is believed to be trapped on his own, one hundred metres further down in rising waters, but his condition is unknown as he has not been directly reached by the rescue teams above. The second group of 11 miners have also yet to be contacted, despite rescuers' efforts. "They have also been lowering life detectors and nutrient solutions to other sections to locate the other missing miners but continued to receive no life signs," state news agency Xinhua reported. Rescuers made contact on Sunday with the first group of 11 miners at a site around 580 metres (1,900 feet) below the surface. Emergency responders have drilled two "lifeline" channels to deliver food and medicine and installed a telephone line while trying to widen a shaft to eventually allow the miners to be extracted. The workers said they were trapped by "two underground explosions" in the mine but details are still being confirmed, reported China Daily Thursday. There are plans for the widest of the shafts, about the size of a manhole cover, to be broadened enough to extract the miners once drilling is finished, CCTV said Wednesday. The progress of the rescue has been slow because they are drilling through granite, officials have said, while the extraction could be further complicated by the water-logged state of the mine. Rescue teams initially lost precious time as it took more than a day for the accident to be reported. Both the local Communist Party secretary and the mayor have been sacked over the 30-hour delay and an official investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion. Mining accidents are common in China, where the industry has a poor safety record and regulations are often weakly enforced. In December, 23 workers died after being stuck underground in the southwestern city of Chongqing.

China rescuers prepare escape route for trapped gold miners, one confirmed dead

Scientists have resolved the mystery of bizarrely&nbsp;dimming star Boyajian's star saying that the ''alien megastructure''&nbsp;is not alone.

The <a href="https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.06313">study</a> conducted by&nbsp;astronomers led by Logan Pearce of the University of Arizona has been published in the Astrophysical Journal.

"In this work, we use three epochs of Keck/NIRC2 astrometry spanning five years to revisit the status of the close companion to KIC 8462852, and show that they are a common proper motion pair and a gravitationally bound binary system," the team said in a statement.

<img alt="aa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1a2b648d-ff9b-4aa1-9c04-a66525d90f52" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/6008763485f54070c93bf38e.jpg" />

In picture: KIC 8462852 surrounded by a ring of dust/NASA

As per astrologers,&nbsp;KIC 8462852, also known as&nbsp;Boyajian's star, seems to have a binary companion that could be contributing to its irregular dips in its brightness.&nbsp; The two stars are 880 astronomical units away from each other.

“The binary companion may influence the long-term evolution of the system,”&nbsp;the astronomers wrote in their new paper.&nbsp;

Ever since&nbsp;Tabetha Boyajian's discovery 15 the star has perplexed experts. It's a yellow-white dwarf star which is around 1,470 light-years away.

The inconsistency in its brightness had ruled out its chances of being an exoplanet. It also blocked all wavelengths equally

Scientists have now settled upon&nbsp;the most possible explanation of it being thin dust and debris from broken-up comets.

Scientists have resolved the mystery of bizarrely dimming star Boyajian's star saying that the ''alien megastructure'' is not alone. The study conducted by astronomers led by Logan Pearce of the University of Arizona has been published in the Astrophysical Journal.

Scientists have resolved the mystery of bizarrely dimming star Boyajian's star saying that the ''alien megastructure'' is not alone. The study conducted by astronomers led by Logan Pearce of the University of Arizona has been published in the Astrophysical Journal. "In this work, we use three epochs of Keck/NIRC2 astrometry spanning five years to revisit the status of the close companion to KIC 8462852, and show that they are a common proper motion pair and a gravitationally bound binary system," the team said in a statement. In picture: KIC 8462852 surrounded by a ring of dust/NASA As per astrologers, KIC 8462852, also known as Boyajian's star, seems to have a binary companion that could be contributing to its irregular dips in its brightness. The two stars are 880 astronomical units away from each other. “The binary companion may influence the long-term evolution of the system,” the astronomers wrote in their new paper. Ever since Tabetha Boyajian's discovery 15 the star has perplexed experts. It's a yellow-white dwarf star which is around 1,470 light-years away. The inconsistency in its brightness had ruled out its chances of being an exoplanet. It also blocked all wavelengths equally Scientists have now settled upon the most possible explanation of it being thin dust and debris from broken-up comets.

Scientists resolve mystery of Boyajian's Star, say 'alien megastructure' is not alone

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