Leave Ukraine within 48 hours as a Russian attack could come at any time, the White House told Americans on Friday. It said that the war could start with an air assault. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This comes as Russia has accused Western nations of lying to distract from own aggressive acts. &nbsp;

Jostling for influence in Europe, the Kremlin has rejected a joint Western diplomatic response as disrespectful. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blinken-says-russia-could-invade-ukraine-during-winter-olympics-as-biden-speaks-of-world-war-452402">After Biden's 'war' remark, Blinken says Russia may invade Ukraine 'any time'</a>

"The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough. If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. &nbsp;

As per US intelligence, a rapid assault on Kyiv can come and Russian President Vladimir Putin could also order an invasion before the Winter Olympics ends, Sullivan said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-refused-russian-covid-test-in-putin-trip-due-to-dna-theft-fears-report-452420">Macron refused Russian Covid test in Putin trip due to DNA theft fears: Report</a>

Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy looked to mock Sullivan's comments a little later and said on Twitter, "Some reasonable people were hoping US-fanned hysteria was waning. Maybe they put a jinx on it, because scaremongers have clearly got second wind. Our troops are still on our territory and I wonder if the US will invade Ukraine itself - someone has to, after such a panic campaign." &nbsp;

Washington is also looking to send 3,000 extra troops to Poland in near future to try and help reassure NATO allies, four US officials told Reuters. They will be in addition to 8,500, who are already on alert for deployment to Europe if needed. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Leave Ukraine within 48 hours as a Russian attack could come at any time, the White House told Americans on Friday. It said that the war could start with an air assault.

Leave Ukraine within 48 hours as a Russian attack could come at any time, the White House told Americans on Friday. It said that the war could start with an air assault. This comes as Russia has accused Western nations of lying to distract from own aggressive acts. Jostling for influence in Europe, the Kremlin has rejected a joint Western diplomatic response as disrespectful. Also Read: After Biden's 'war' remark, Blinken says Russia may invade Ukraine 'any time' "The risk is now high enough and the threat is now immediate enough. If a Russian attack on Ukraine proceeds, it is likely to begin with aerial bombing and missile attacks that could obviously kill civilians without regard to their nationality," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters. As per US intelligence, a rapid assault on Kyiv can come and Russian President Vladimir Putin could also order an invasion before the Winter Olympics ends, Sullivan said. Also Read: Macron refused Russian Covid test in Putin trip due to DNA theft fears: Report Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy looked to mock Sullivan's comments a little later and said on Twitter, "Some reasonable people were hoping US-fanned hysteria was waning. Maybe they put a jinx on it, because scaremongers have clearly got second wind. Our troops are still on our territory and I wonder if the US will invade Ukraine itself - someone has to, after such a panic campaign." Washington is also looking to send 3,000 extra troops to Poland in near future to try and help reassure NATO allies, four US officials told Reuters. They will be in addition to 8,500, who are already on alert for deployment to Europe if needed. (With inputs from agencies)

Leave Ukraine within 48 hours as Russian attack can come any time, US tells Americans

Since the Covid pandemic has taken a toll on the US, most Americans have become ‘germaphobes’. &nbsp;&nbsp;

As per a recent survey, which was carried out by Xlear and OnePoll, more than two of three Americans have turned into ‘germaphobes’. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Around 69% respondents of the survey said they have adopted new hygiene practices to avoid falling ill. These include wearing masks and gloves, washing hands more often and others. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-death-toll-crosses-900000-mark-in-us-450593">COVID-19: Death toll crosses 9,00,000 mark in US</a>

Approximately, 68% people said that they have prioritised their hygiene. At least 62% claimed their cleansing habits have “permanently changed for the better”, all thanks to the Covid pandemic. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The survey was published on Wednesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Around 88% respondents said that hygiene is important to them and 57% lamented that they didn’t treat their bodies as well as they should have. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-party-in-us-terms-capitol-attack-as-legitimate-political-discourse-450602">Republican party terms US Capitol attack as 'legitimate political discourse'</a>

In a statement accompanying the survey, Xlear’s Dr&nbsp;Lon Jones said, “Keeping the nose clean is important because essentially all respiratory problems begin there.” &nbsp; &nbsp;

Jones looked to suggest that those seeking improved health should start with taking better care of their noses. The company’s CEO Nathan Jones also concurred, and said that he was an “avid nose washer.” &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Since the Covid pandemic has taken a toll on the US, most Americans have become ‘germaphobes’. As per a recent survey, which was carried out by Xlear and OnePoll, more than two of three Americans have turned into ‘germaphobes’.

Since the Covid pandemic has taken a toll on the US, most Americans have become ‘germaphobes’. As per a recent survey, which was carried out by Xlear and OnePoll, more than two of three Americans have turned into ‘germaphobes’. Around 69% respondents of the survey said they have adopted new hygiene practices to avoid falling ill. These include wearing masks and gloves, washing hands more often and others. Also Read | COVID-19: Death toll crosses 9,00,000 mark in US Approximately, 68% people said that they have prioritised their hygiene. At least 62% claimed their cleansing habits have “permanently changed for the better”, all thanks to the Covid pandemic. The survey was published on Wednesday. Around 88% respondents said that hygiene is important to them and 57% lamented that they didn’t treat their bodies as well as they should have. Also Read: Republican party terms US Capitol attack as 'legitimate political discourse' In a statement accompanying the survey, Xlear’s Dr Lon Jones said, “Keeping the nose clean is important because essentially all respiratory problems begin there.” Jones looked to suggest that those seeking improved health should start with taking better care of their noses. The company’s CEO Nathan Jones also concurred, and said that he was an “avid nose washer.” (With inputs from agencies)

After Covid pandemic, most Americans turned into ‘germaphobes’, says survey

According to federal health officials in the United States, the Omicron COVID-19 form is so contagious that most people in the country will be infected, and the pandemic has been compared to a "natural disaster."

Authorities said they are hopeful that the surge will lessen rapidly, even as Omicron sets new records for new cases, and that the US should focus on ensuring that healthcare systems do not collapse as a result of the surge.&nbsp;

Officials in the United States are comparing the ultra-transmissible omicron coronavirus variation to a natural disaster as the country continues to set records, with over 1.4 million new COVID-19 cases reported on Monday and over 140,000 hospitalisations.

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<h5>"I think that we're talking about a natural disaster," Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the Food Drug Administration, said in a Senate Health Committee hearing Tuesday. "I think right now, we need to focus on continuity of operations for hospitals and other essential services as this variant sweeps through the population."</h5>
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Officials are now preparing for the weeks ahead, which are projected to bring even more cases, putting a strain on health-care systems and other critical services across the country.&nbsp;

The Omicron variant, which has numerous key mutations, has spread swiftly over the world and shattered records for new daily cases in the United States.

According to the CDC, the variant is currently responsible for more than 98 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States, having replaced Delta in less than a month.

Simultaneously, the variety is thought to be less harmful than prior strains, and there is some evidence that it will reach a peak soon.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

According to federal health officials in the United States, the Omicron COVID-19 form is so contagious that most people in the country will be infected, and the pandemic has been compared to a "natural disaster.

According to federal health officials in the United States, the Omicron COVID-19 form is so contagious that most people in the country will be infected, and the pandemic has been compared to a "natural disaster." Authorities said they are hopeful that the surge will lessen rapidly, even as Omicron sets new records for new cases, and that the US should focus on ensuring that healthcare systems do not collapse as a result of the surge. Officials in the United States are comparing the ultra-transmissible omicron coronavirus variation to a natural disaster as the country continues to set records, with over 1.4 million new COVID-19 cases reported on Monday and over 140,000 hospitalisations. "I think that we're talking about a natural disaster," Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the Food Drug Administration, said in a Senate Health Committee hearing Tuesday. "I think right now, we need to focus on continuity of operations for hospitals and other essential services as this variant sweeps through the population." × Officials are now preparing for the weeks ahead, which are projected to bring even more cases, putting a strain on health-care systems and other critical services across the country. The Omicron variant, which has numerous key mutations, has spread swiftly over the world and shattered records for new daily cases in the United States. According to the CDC, the variant is currently responsible for more than 98 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States, having replaced Delta in less than a month. Simultaneously, the variety is thought to be less harmful than prior strains, and there is some evidence that it will reach a peak soon. (With inputs from agencies)

Omicron a natural disaster, most Americans will get COVID-19: US health officials

As per the results of two polls released on Sunday, one year after the violent assault on the US Capitol, Americans remain genuinely concerned about the health of their democracy, with approximately a third believing that violence against the government can occasionally be justifiable.

According to two-thirds of those polled for a CBS News poll, the attack on the House of Representatives on January 6 was "a precursor of growing political violence," and American democracy "is jeopardised."

Meanwhile, according to a Washington Post/University of Maryland poll, Americans' "pride" in their democracy has decreased dramatically, from 90 percent in 2002 to 54 percent currently.

With the anniversary of January 6 approaching, polls show that there are several reasons to be concerned:

According to CBS, 28% of respondents feel force can be used to defend an election result, while 34% told The Washington Post that a violent action against the government can be justified on rare occasions — the highest percentage in decades.

The findings highlight the seemingly incompatible viewpoints that divide American society, which President Joe Biden, who entered office 14 days after the Capitol riots, has sought to bridge.

Two-thirds of Trump supporters believe Trump's baseless claim that Biden is not the democratically elected president.

Shortly before the Capitol assault, Trump addressed thousands of supporters, urging them that the election was "rigged" and that they should "fight like hell."

Sixty per cent of those polled believe Trump is to blame for the Capitol invasion, which occurred just as lawmakers were about to recognise Biden's victory. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: US&nbsp;Capitol: How the World reacted

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'Coordinated effort'

There again, opinion follows partisan lines: 83 percent of Trump voters placed his level of responsibility at only "some" or "none," the Post survey found.

And 26 percent of Americans want him to run again in 2024, according to CBS.

A select committee of the House of Representatives has spent months working to establish the roles and responsibility of those who incited or may have organised the protest.

Despite limited cooperation from Trump's inner circle, the panel has conducted more than 300 interviews and collected thousands of documents.

"We have uncovered some things that cause us real concern, things like people trying to ... undermine the integrity of our democracy," the panel's chairman, Representative Bennie Thompson, said Sunday on ABC.

"It appeared to be a coordinated effort on the part of a number of people to undermine the election," he said.

"It could be people in the executive branch. It could be people in the Department of Defence... and some very wealthy individuals."

He said he would not hesitate to refer any evidence of illegality to the Justice Department.

Liz Cheney, one of only two Republicans on the panel, on Sunday strongly condemned Trump for waiting hours before urging the Capitol rioters to stand down.

He could easily have issued such a call, she told ABC.

"He failed to do so. It's hard to imagine a more significant and more serious dereliction of duty." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

As per the results of two polls released on Sunday, one year after the violent assault on the US Capitol, Americans remain genuinely concerned about the health of their democracy, with approximately a third believing that violence against the government can occasionally be justifiable.

As per the results of two polls released on Sunday, one year after the violent assault on the US Capitol, Americans remain genuinely concerned about the health of their democracy, with approximately a third believing that violence against the government can occasionally be justifiable. According to two-thirds of those polled for a CBS News poll, the attack on the House of Representatives on January 6 was "a precursor of growing political violence," and American democracy "is jeopardised." Meanwhile, according to a Washington Post/University of Maryland poll, Americans' "pride" in their democracy has decreased dramatically, from 90 percent in 2002 to 54 percent currently. With the anniversary of January 6 approaching, polls show that there are several reasons to be concerned: According to CBS, 28% of respondents feel force can be used to defend an election result, while 34% told The Washington Post that a violent action against the government can be justified on rare occasions — the highest percentage in decades. The findings highlight the seemingly incompatible viewpoints that divide American society, which President Joe Biden, who entered office 14 days after the Capitol riots, has sought to bridge. Two-thirds of Trump supporters believe Trump's baseless claim that Biden is not the democratically elected president. Shortly before the Capitol assault, Trump addressed thousands of supporters, urging them that the election was "rigged" and that they should "fight like hell." Sixty per cent of those polled believe Trump is to blame for the Capitol invasion, which occurred just as lawmakers were about to recognise Biden's victory. Watch | Gravitas: US Capitol: How the World reacted 'Coordinated effort' There again, opinion follows partisan lines: 83 percent of Trump voters placed his level of responsibility at only "some" or "none," the Post survey found. And 26 percent of Americans want him to run again in 2024, according to CBS. A select committee of the House of Representatives has spent months working to establish the roles and responsibility of those who incited or may have organised the protest. Despite limited cooperation from Trump's inner circle, the panel has conducted more than 300 interviews and collected thousands of documents. "We have uncovered some things that cause us real concern, things like people trying to ... undermine the integrity of our democracy," the panel's chairman, Representative Bennie Thompson, said Sunday on ABC. "It appeared to be a coordinated effort on the part of a number of people to undermine the election," he said. "It could be people in the executive branch. It could be people in the Department of Defence... and some very wealthy individuals." He said he would not hesitate to refer any evidence of illegality to the Justice Department. Liz Cheney, one of only two Republicans on the panel, on Sunday strongly condemned Trump for waiting hours before urging the Capitol rioters to stand down. He could easily have issued such a call, she told ABC. "He failed to do so. It's hard to imagine a more significant and more serious dereliction of duty." (With inputs from agencies)

Americans think violence against government can be justified, new polls find

January 6 capitol riots in 2021 shook the world. The world's biggest democracy was under threat. But it also unmasked how easily Americans waged violence against its own government. Washington Post and the Maryland University have launched a poll to understand if the violence against the govt can be justified.

Washington Post, University of Maryland conduct poll on capitol riots of 2021

Coronavirus has outpaced the American government once again. The Omicron variant has taken over from the previous variants. Long queues are expanding outside testing centres across the country, the isolation period for infected patients has been reduced and the promised free rapid home test kits are nowhere to be seen.

Americans struggle to find free rapid test kits,  Biden govt fails to deliver promise

The drug crisis in the United States continues to escalate. This year, more than 100,000 Americans died due to drug overdose. Its overuse exceeds the deaths caused by car crashes, guns and even flu. It is now one of the top 10 reasons for death in America. Officials say this grim situation is tied in with the onset of COVID-19.

Drug crisis in the United States continues to escalate

20 Million Americans have quit their jobs since April. Attrition in India's tech sector is up 23%. We are in the middle of the Great Resignation. Should you resign too? What can employers do to retain talent?

Gravitas Plus: The Great Resignation

As the Americans made a hasty and a botched up exit from Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden promised 'over-the-horizon monitoring' to the war torn country. He even said that US will act quickly and decisively if their is a direct threat in the region.

US President Joe Biden promises 'over-the-horizon monitoring' in Afghanistan

As the nation’s death toll climbed above 700,000 in October, Dr. Anthony Fauci, an adviser on the pandemic to President Joe Biden, emphasized the need for the 70 million Americans who are eligible for a vaccine to get immunized during interviews on Sunday morning talk shows.

“Many of those deaths were unavoidable but many, many are avoidable, were avoidable and will in the future be avoidable,” Fauci, who is also director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN’s "State the Union."

Fauci was enthusiastic about the development of the new Merck antiviral pill, describing it as “extremely important.” In announcing the results of its clinical trial last Friday, Merck said the pill was able to cut the risk of hospitalization and death from the virus by half.

But he also warned that Americans should not wait to be vaccinated because they believe they can take the pill. While the new medicine may decrease a person’s risk, the best way to be protected is avoiding infection, he said.

Merck said it would seek emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its drug, known as molnupiravir, as soon as possible. The pills could be available by late this year.

Fauci pointed to the stark difference in how many people died during Merck’s clinical trial for the treatment, with eight among the placebo group and none among those taking the drug. “That’s very impressive, so we really look forward to the implementation of this and to its effect on people who are infected,” he said.

The federal government has placed advanced orders for 1.7 million doses of the new medication. But Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former FDA commissioner under President Donald Trump and a board member for Pfizer, said that amount was “not enough” on CBS’ Face the Nation, covering only one month’s worth of infections in Southern states since the delta variant emerged. He also contrasted that quantity with the national stockpile of medication to treat a flu pandemic, which he said numbers in the tens of millions.

Earlier, Fauci dismissed the notion that federal officials had not procured enough of the medicine, saying they had placed “a good bet” on the treatment.

“We have options for millions more,” he said on the program, predicting the company would ramp up production to meet demand in the United States and across the world.

Fauci also expressed optimism that the country was now seeing a slowdown in cases, signaling a potential respite from the pandemic. “We certainly are turning a corner on this particular surge,” he said during an interview on “This Week” on ABC News.

But he also refused to predict whether people would be able to freely gather this coming Christmas, saying on CBS News that “it’s just too soon to tell.”

As the nation’s death toll climbed above 700,000 in October, Dr. Anthony Fauci, an adviser on the pandemic to President Joe Biden, emphasized the need for the 70 million Americans who are eligible for a vaccine to get immunized during interviews on Sunday morning talk shows.

As the nation’s death toll climbed above 700,000 in October, Dr. Anthony Fauci, an adviser on the pandemic to President Joe Biden, emphasized the need for the 70 million Americans who are eligible for a vaccine to get immunized during interviews on Sunday morning talk shows. “Many of those deaths were unavoidable but many, many are avoidable, were avoidable and will in the future be avoidable,” Fauci, who is also director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on CNN’s "State the Union." Fauci was enthusiastic about the development of the new Merck antiviral pill, describing it as “extremely important.” In announcing the results of its clinical trial last Friday, Merck said the pill was able to cut the risk of hospitalization and death from the virus by half. But he also warned that Americans should not wait to be vaccinated because they believe they can take the pill. While the new medicine may decrease a person’s risk, the best way to be protected is avoiding infection, he said. Merck said it would seek emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration for its drug, known as molnupiravir, as soon as possible. The pills could be available by late this year. Fauci pointed to the stark difference in how many people died during Merck’s clinical trial for the treatment, with eight among the placebo group and none among those taking the drug. “That’s very impressive, so we really look forward to the implementation of this and to its effect on people who are infected,” he said. The federal government has placed advanced orders for 1.7 million doses of the new medication. But Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former FDA commissioner under President Donald Trump and a board member for Pfizer, said that amount was “not enough” on CBS’ Face the Nation, covering only one month’s worth of infections in Southern states since the delta variant emerged. He also contrasted that quantity with the national stockpile of medication to treat a flu pandemic, which he said numbers in the tens of millions. Earlier, Fauci dismissed the notion that federal officials had not procured enough of the medicine, saying they had placed “a good bet” on the treatment. “We have options for millions more,” he said on the program, predicting the company would ramp up production to meet demand in the United States and across the world. Fauci also expressed optimism that the country was now seeing a slowdown in cases, signaling a potential respite from the pandemic. “We certainly are turning a corner on this particular surge,” he said during an interview on “This Week” on ABC News. But he also refused to predict whether people would be able to freely gather this coming Christmas, saying on CBS News that “it’s just too soon to tell.”

Fauci says Americans should get vaccinated even if Merck’s Covid pill cuts deaths 

A heart patient from Alabama died after 43 hospitals turned him down over lack of special ICU beds. US hospitals have been pushed to the brink by unvaccinated Americans. Despite a glut of jabs, why are so many Americans unvaccinated? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Alabama patient dies after 43 hospitals turn him down

President Joe Biden issued sweeping new federal vaccine mandates for as many as 100 million Americans on Thursday, including private-sector employees, health-care professionals, and federal contractors, in an all-out effort to halt the spread of the COVID-19 delta strain.

Despite months of availability and incentives, tens of millions of Americans have not yet been vaccinated, according to Biden, who spoke at the White House.

Biden's new restrictions are in response to a rising COVID-19 epidemic caused by the virus's delta version and tens of millions of Americans who refuse to be vaccinated.

Federal employees who do not comply might be fired, and private firms could face fines, according to the government. 
 
Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-unvaccinated-people-hampering-us-vaccine-drive-412057/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Biden also levelled some of his harshest criticism yet at the 25% of adults in the United States who have not yet been immunised, claiming that they are prolonging the pandemic, which has claimed more than 650,000 lives in the United States. &nbsp;

"My message to unvaccinated Americans is this: What more is there to wait for? What more do you need to see? " 'He said "We've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us, so please, do the right thing."

His latest plan, the president said, would "combat those blocking public health" and also "protects our economy and will make our kids safer in schools."

The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will establish an emergency regulation mandating companies with 100 or more employees to compel employees to get vaccinated or tested weekly, as well as to provide paid time off to get inoculated, under Biden's new strategy.

According to one official, employers might face fines of roughly $14,000 per infringement.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 177 million Americans are completely vaccinated against the coronavirus, yet confirmed cases have risen to an average of nearly 140,000 per day in recent weeks, with an average of around 1,000 deaths.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

President Joe Biden issued sweeping new federal vaccine mandates for as many as 100 million Americans on Thursday, including private-sector employees, health-care professionals, and federal contractors, in an all-out effort to halt the spread of the COVID-19 delta strain.

President Joe Biden issued sweeping new federal vaccine mandates for as many as 100 million Americans on Thursday, including private-sector employees, health-care professionals, and federal contractors, in an all-out effort to halt the spread of the COVID-19 delta strain. Despite months of availability and incentives, tens of millions of Americans have not yet been vaccinated, according to Biden, who spoke at the White House. Biden's new restrictions are in response to a rising COVID-19 epidemic caused by the virus's delta version and tens of millions of Americans who refuse to be vaccinated. Federal employees who do not comply might be fired, and private firms could face fines, according to the government. Watch: Biden also levelled some of his harshest criticism yet at the 25% of adults in the United States who have not yet been immunised, claiming that they are prolonging the pandemic, which has claimed more than 650,000 lives in the United States. "My message to unvaccinated Americans is this: What more is there to wait for? What more do you need to see? " 'He said "We've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us, so please, do the right thing." His latest plan, the president said, would "combat those blocking public health" and also "protects our economy and will make our kids safer in schools." The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will establish an emergency regulation mandating companies with 100 or more employees to compel employees to get vaccinated or tested weekly, as well as to provide paid time off to get inoculated, under Biden's new strategy. According to one official, employers might face fines of roughly $14,000 per infringement. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 177 million Americans are completely vaccinated against the coronavirus, yet confirmed cases have risen to an average of nearly 140,000 per day in recent weeks, with an average of around 1,000 deaths. (With inputs from agencies)

Joe Biden announces new vaccine mandates for 100 million Americans

About 1,000 people, including Americans and Afghans holding visas for the US and other countries, are still stuck in Afghanistan. 6 days after the US troops withdrawal many people await the Taliban clearance for flights out of the country.

Over 1,000 await Taliban clearance for flights out of Afghanistan

The Islamic State-Khorasan, which killed 13 US troops in a suicide attack at Kabul airport, has been warned by US President Joe Biden that they will face increased retaliation from Washington.&nbsp;

These are the highlights of his address to the nation: 
 
‘It was time to end this war’

Hours after the last US jets left Afghanistan, President Joe Biden made his strongest defence yet for his administration's handling of the drawdown.

Biden said celebrating the end of the US occupation of Afghanistan that he was not ready to allow a "forever war" turn into a "forever exit," noting that the US managed to get the majority of Americans out before the final flights departed.&nbsp;

Biden warns ISIS-K: 'You will pay the ultimate price'

"We will continue the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries," Biden said Tuesday.

"And to ISIS-K: We are not done with you yet," he said, using another acronym for the Afghan offshoot of the Islamic State jihadist group.

US remains ‘committed’ to getting out the remaining Americans from Afghanistan

The president said that "90 per cent of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to leave" while adding that for those who remained beyond the 31 August withdrawal deadline, "there is no deadline."

"We remain committed to getting them out, if they want to come out," he said.

Biden slams Trump’s withdrawal plan

Biden lambasted Trump's agreement with the Taliban to depart by 1 May without any cooperative governance agreements or promises to release hundreds of Taliban prisoners, claiming that the Taliban are in their best position in more than a decade.&nbsp; 
 
I take responsibility for the decision: Biden defends evacuation plan

He stated, "I accept responsibility for the decision."

“Imagine if we started evacuations in June or July, bringing in thousands of American forces and evacuating over 120,000 people in the midst of a civil war,” he continued.

"There would still have been a mad rush to the airport, a breakdown in government confidence and control, and a very difficult and risky mission.” 
 
“The simple truth is that there is no way to evacuate from the conclusion of a war without facing the types of complications, obstacles, and risks we did,” he said. "none.”&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The Islamic State-Khorasan, which killed 13 US troops in a suicide attack at Kabul airport, has been warned by US President Joe Biden that they will face increased retaliation from Washington.

The Islamic State-Khorasan, which killed 13 US troops in a suicide attack at Kabul airport, has been warned by US President Joe Biden that they will face increased retaliation from Washington. These are the highlights of his address to the nation: ‘It was time to end this war’ Hours after the last US jets left Afghanistan, President Joe Biden made his strongest defence yet for his administration's handling of the drawdown. Biden said celebrating the end of the US occupation of Afghanistan that he was not ready to allow a "forever war" turn into a "forever exit," noting that the US managed to get the majority of Americans out before the final flights departed. Biden warns ISIS-K: 'You will pay the ultimate price' "We will continue the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries," Biden said Tuesday. "And to ISIS-K: We are not done with you yet," he said, using another acronym for the Afghan offshoot of the Islamic State jihadist group. US remains ‘committed’ to getting out the remaining Americans from Afghanistan The president said that "90 per cent of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to leave" while adding that for those who remained beyond the 31 August withdrawal deadline, "there is no deadline." "We remain committed to getting them out, if they want to come out," he said. Biden slams Trump’s withdrawal plan Biden lambasted Trump's agreement with the Taliban to depart by 1 May without any cooperative governance agreements or promises to release hundreds of Taliban prisoners, claiming that the Taliban are in their best position in more than a decade. I take responsibility for the decision: Biden defends evacuation plan He stated, "I accept responsibility for the decision." “Imagine if we started evacuations in June or July, bringing in thousands of American forces and evacuating over 120,000 people in the midst of a civil war,” he continued. "There would still have been a mad rush to the airport, a breakdown in government confidence and control, and a very difficult and risky mission.” “The simple truth is that there is no way to evacuate from the conclusion of a war without facing the types of complications, obstacles, and risks we did,” he said. "none.” (With inputs from agencies)

Highlights of Biden's speech: The President discusses ‘tough decisions’ after US troops leave Afghanistan

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that US military personnel enabled the 'extraordinary success of the mission' in Afghanistan. He said thousands of troops and diplomats "risked their lives" to get people on board planes and out of Afghanistan.

Biden hailed the success of the US airlift of more than 120,000 civilians from Afghanistan, a day after the last US troops left the nation.

"One of the largest airlifts in history was done," Biden remarked.

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"To those who wish America harm, we will hunt you down and you will pay the ultimate price," says US President <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> 
 
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"In all of history, no nation has ever done anything like it; only the United States had the talent, will, and ability to achieve it," he remarked.&nbsp; 
 
Joe Biden declared today at a White House press briefing that he would not continue a "forever war" or a "forever exit" by delaying the withdrawal deadline, which had already passed.

The president went on to say that the August 31 deadline was set to "save American lives," rather than being a "arbitrary deadline."

He also promised to continue assisting those in need, stating, "We are far from done."

"The basic conclusion is that there is no evacuation from the end of a conflict that can avoid the problems that we faced," Biden remarked. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that US military personnel enabled the 'extraordinary success of the mission' in Afghanistan. He said thousands of troops and diplomats "risked their lives" to get people on board planes and out of Afghanistan.

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that US military personnel enabled the 'extraordinary success of the mission' in Afghanistan. He said thousands of troops and diplomats "risked their lives" to get people on board planes and out of Afghanistan. Biden hailed the success of the US airlift of more than 120,000 civilians from Afghanistan, a day after the last US troops left the nation. "One of the largest airlifts in history was done," Biden remarked. "To those who wish America harm, we will hunt you down and you will pay the ultimate price," says US President @JoeBiden Watch LIVE: https://t.co/OxEFGlewjf pic.twitter.com/s88jLo92l3 — WION (@WIONews) August 31, 2021 × "In all of history, no nation has ever done anything like it; only the United States had the talent, will, and ability to achieve it," he remarked. Joe Biden declared today at a White House press briefing that he would not continue a "forever war" or a "forever exit" by delaying the withdrawal deadline, which had already passed. The president went on to say that the August 31 deadline was set to "save American lives," rather than being a "arbitrary deadline." He also promised to continue assisting those in need, stating, "We are far from done." "The basic conclusion is that there is no evacuation from the end of a conflict that can avoid the problems that we faced," Biden remarked. (With inputs from agencies)

President Joe Biden calls US evacuation from Afghanistan 'extraordinary success'

As the 20-year military presence of the US in Afghanistan ends, President Joe Biden said Taliban must honour commitments on safe passage. There are 200 Americans still left, who want to move out. &nbsp;

Biden added the Secretary of State Antony Blinken will lead the continued coordination with international partners to ensure the safe passage for any US citizens, Afghan partners or foreign nationals, who still want to leave the war-torn country. &nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: American Defence firms exploits desperation of Afghans

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Blinken said less than 200 Americans remain in Afghanistan, who want to leave, and the US will make efforts to get them out. The US would work with the neighbours of Afghanistan to secure their departure either overland or by charter flight once the Kabul airport re-opens, Blinken added. &nbsp;

The US president also said the continued efforts also include the work to build on the UN Security Council resolution, which sent a clear message about the international community’s expectations from the Taliban that it would deliver on moving forward, notably freedom of travel. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-completes-military-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-409541" hreflang="en">US completes military withdrawal from Afghanistan</a>

President said, “The Taliban has made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments. It will include ongoing diplomacy in Afghanistan and coordination with partners in the region to reopen the airport allowing for continued departure for those who want to leave and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan." &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

As the 20-year military presence of the US in Afghanistan ends, President Joe Biden said Taliban must honour commitments on safe passage. There are 200 Americans still left, who want to move out.

As the 20-year military presence of the US in Afghanistan ends, President Joe Biden said Taliban must honour commitments on safe passage. There are 200 Americans still left, who want to move out. Biden added the Secretary of State Antony Blinken will lead the continued coordination with international partners to ensure the safe passage for any US citizens, Afghan partners or foreign nationals, who still want to leave the war-torn country. Watch | Gravitas: American Defence firms exploits desperation of Afghans × Blinken said less than 200 Americans remain in Afghanistan, who want to leave, and the US will make efforts to get them out. The US would work with the neighbours of Afghanistan to secure their departure either overland or by charter flight once the Kabul airport re-opens, Blinken added. The US president also said the continued efforts also include the work to build on the UN Security Council resolution, which sent a clear message about the international community’s expectations from the Taliban that it would deliver on moving forward, notably freedom of travel. Also Read | US completes military withdrawal from Afghanistan President said, “The Taliban has made commitments on safe passage and the world will hold them to their commitments. It will include ongoing diplomacy in Afghanistan and coordination with partners in the region to reopen the airport allowing for continued departure for those who want to leave and delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan." (With inputs from agencies)

Biden urges Taliban to honour commitments as under 200 Americans still left in Afghanistan  

The Taliban appear to have released a photo mocking the Americans, copying one of the most recognisable photos of World War II. This photo shows US Marines raising the flag on the island of Iwo Jima while donning US-made tactical gear.

Taliban 'mock US' with propaganda photo copying Iwo Jima flag raising

The US military in Afghanistan sent helicopters to&nbsp;rescue&nbsp;over 150&nbsp;Americans&nbsp;unable to reach the&nbsp;Kabul&nbsp;airport gates, an official said Friday, in the first evidence that US forces were willing and able to go beyond the US-secured compound to help people seeking evacuation.

The news came as American officials confirmed evacuation operations from Afghanistan stalled for about seven hours Friday, because the receiving base in Qatar was overflowing and could not take in evacuees.

That left thousands more Afghans already cleared to leave their country for the United States waiting at the&nbsp;Kabul&nbsp;airport.

"It was early this morning, and it lasted about six to seven hours," Major General Hank Taylor told reporters, adding the backlog was subsequently cleared.

The US State Department has been criticised for being overly bureaucratic and not having enough staff to process thousands of Afghans seeking to come to the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghanistan-biden-says-cannot-guarantee-final-outcome-of-risky-kabul-evacuation-407326">Also read |&nbsp;Afghanistan: Biden says cannot guarantee 'final outcome' of risky Kabul evacuation</a>

Evacuee accounts from Qatar describe sleeping on the floor in sweltering heat in a US aircraft hanger for three days or more, with limited facilities.

Taylor said US aircraft flew some 6,000 people, including a couple of hundred US citizens, out of&nbsp;Kabul&nbsp;in the 24 hours to early Friday, until the bottleneck halted flights.

Close to the perimeter

Flights from&nbsp;Kabul&nbsp;resumed late Friday after US operations in Qatar arranged for trips for many evacuees onward to the US military base in Ramstein, Germany.

US citizens and Afghans who worked for the US forces in Afghanistan continued to attempt to get to the airport in&nbsp;Kabul&nbsp;to leave the country.

There were numerous accounts of some struggling to reach and enter the airport, some impeded by Taliban fighters who now control&nbsp;Kabul.

President Joe Biden said Friday that US troops had to go beyond the perimeter of the airport to retrieve 169&nbsp;Americans, potentially risking a conflict with the Taliban.

Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby downplayed the incident.

"They were very close to the perimeter of the airport. Very close," he said, adding later that they had been airlifted from the Baron hotel, near the airport, by three US Chinook helicopters.

The helicopters had been deployed due to concerns for the&nbsp;Americans' safety in traversing a huge crowd that had gathered outside the airport's Abbey entry gate.

"There was a large crowd established outside the Abbey Gate, a crowd that not everybody had confidence in, in terms of their ability to walk through it, and so local commanders on the scene took the initiative and flew these helicopters out there to pick them up," Kirby said.

Taylor said the Taliban have mostly been cooperating with US officials to allow those with US passports or visas to get to the airport and that there was "constant communication" between the US commander on the ground and the Taliban.

"We're seeing that things that we are asking for," such as passage to the airport, "is happening and getting better," he said.

The US military in Afghanistan sent helicopters to rescue over 150 Americans unable to reach the Kabul airport gates, an official said Friday, in the first evidence that US forces were willing and able to go beyond the US-secured compound to help people seeking evacuation.

The US military in Afghanistan sent helicopters to rescue over 150 Americans unable to reach the Kabul airport gates, an official said Friday, in the first evidence that US forces were willing and able to go beyond the US-secured compound to help people seeking evacuation. The news came as American officials confirmed evacuation operations from Afghanistan stalled for about seven hours Friday, because the receiving base in Qatar was overflowing and could not take in evacuees. That left thousands more Afghans already cleared to leave their country for the United States waiting at the Kabul airport. "It was early this morning, and it lasted about six to seven hours," Major General Hank Taylor told reporters, adding the backlog was subsequently cleared. The US State Department has been criticised for being overly bureaucratic and not having enough staff to process thousands of Afghans seeking to come to the United States. Also read | Afghanistan: Biden says cannot guarantee 'final outcome' of risky Kabul evacuation Evacuee accounts from Qatar describe sleeping on the floor in sweltering heat in a US aircraft hanger for three days or more, with limited facilities. Taylor said US aircraft flew some 6,000 people, including a couple of hundred US citizens, out of Kabul in the 24 hours to early Friday, until the bottleneck halted flights. Close to the perimeter Flights from Kabul resumed late Friday after US operations in Qatar arranged for trips for many evacuees onward to the US military base in Ramstein, Germany. US citizens and Afghans who worked for the US forces in Afghanistan continued to attempt to get to the airport in Kabul to leave the country. There were numerous accounts of some struggling to reach and enter the airport, some impeded by Taliban fighters who now control Kabul. President Joe Biden said Friday that US troops had to go beyond the perimeter of the airport to retrieve 169 Americans, potentially risking a conflict with the Taliban. Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby downplayed the incident. "They were very close to the perimeter of the airport. Very close," he said, adding later that they had been airlifted from the Baron hotel, near the airport, by three US Chinook helicopters. The helicopters had been deployed due to concerns for the Americans' safety in traversing a huge crowd that had gathered outside the airport's Abbey entry gate. "There was a large crowd established outside the Abbey Gate, a crowd that not everybody had confidence in, in terms of their ability to walk through it, and so local commanders on the scene took the initiative and flew these helicopters out there to pick them up," Kirby said. Taylor said the Taliban have mostly been cooperating with US officials to allow those with US passports or visas to get to the airport and that there was "constant communication" between the US commander on the ground and the Taliban. "We're seeing that things that we are asking for," such as passage to the airport, "is happening and getting better," he said.

US flies to rescue of Americans trying to escape Kabul

Half&nbsp;of&nbsp;the US population is now&nbsp;fully&nbsp;vaccinated&nbsp;against&nbsp;Covid-19, the&nbsp;White&nbsp;House&nbsp;said Friday, as inoculations rise in response to the surging Delta variant&nbsp;of&nbsp;the coronavirus.

"50%&nbsp;of&nbsp;Americans are now&nbsp;fully&nbsp;vaccinated. Keep going!" Cyrus Shahpar, the&nbsp;White&nbsp;House's&nbsp;Covid-19 data director, tweeted.

That means more than 165 million people have received either the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or the one-and-done Johnson &amp; Johnson shot.&nbsp;

The threshold&nbsp;of&nbsp;half&nbsp;of&nbsp;all adult&nbsp;Americans&nbsp;fully&nbsp;vaccinated&nbsp;was reached in late May.

President Joe Biden has been pressing hard for&nbsp;Americans&nbsp;to get&nbsp;vaccinated&nbsp;ever since he took office in January but has faced stubborn resistance, especially in conservative parts&nbsp;of&nbsp;the country, with inoculations dropping off sharply in April.

The aggressive vaccination program had raised hopes&nbsp;of&nbsp;a return to some semblance&nbsp;of&nbsp;normal life this summer, but the plan was hindered by the Delta variant.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-state-department-announces-five-additions-to-global-terrorist-list-403595">Also read |&nbsp;US State Department announces five additions to global terrorist list</a>

In an increasingly assertive approach, the Biden administration has asked all federal employees to get&nbsp;vaccinated&nbsp;or face&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;testing twice a week.&nbsp;

Biden hinted Friday there would be further measures, saying, "There will be more to come in the days ahead."

White&nbsp;House&nbsp;spokeswoman Jen Psaki said there were "early conversations, early discussions about a range&nbsp;of&nbsp;options."

One possibility mentioned in press reports is pressuring nursing homes -- a hotbed&nbsp;of&nbsp;deaths early in the pandemic -- to force vaccinations among staff or risk losing public funding.

Cities including New York and Los Angeles are imposing new restrictions, such as demanding proof&nbsp;of&nbsp;vaccination for entering indoor venues including restaurants and gyms.

The seven-day average&nbsp;of&nbsp;newly&nbsp;vaccinated&nbsp;people is up 11 percent from last week, and up 44 percent over the past two weeks, Shahpar said.

Daily new cases, deaths and hospitalizations have risen sharply in recent weeks. Last week, there was an average&nbsp;of&nbsp;90,000 new coronavirus cases per day, with Florida and Texas accounting for a third&nbsp;of&nbsp;them, the&nbsp;White&nbsp;House&nbsp;said.

The United States is back up to around 380&nbsp;Covid-19 deaths a day, with hospitalisations averaging 7,300 a day over a week.

The level&nbsp;of&nbsp;community transmission&nbsp;of&nbsp;the virus is "high" or "substantial" in 85 percent&nbsp;of&nbsp;the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;says.

The United States is the nation hardest-hit by the pandemic, with 615,000 deaths.

Half of the US population is now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the White House said Friday, as inoculations rise in response to the surging Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Half of the US population is now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, the White House said Friday, as inoculations rise in response to the surging Delta variant of the coronavirus. "50% of Americans are now fully vaccinated. Keep going!" Cyrus Shahpar, the White House's Covid-19 data director, tweeted. That means more than 165 million people have received either the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, or the one-and-done Johnson & Johnson shot. The threshold of half of all adult Americans fully vaccinated was reached in late May. President Joe Biden has been pressing hard for Americans to get vaccinated ever since he took office in January but has faced stubborn resistance, especially in conservative parts of the country, with inoculations dropping off sharply in April. The aggressive vaccination program had raised hopes of a return to some semblance of normal life this summer, but the plan was hindered by the Delta variant. Also read | US State Department announces five additions to global terrorist list In an increasingly assertive approach, the Biden administration has asked all federal employees to get vaccinated or face Covid testing twice a week. Biden hinted Friday there would be further measures, saying, "There will be more to come in the days ahead." White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said there were "early conversations, early discussions about a range of options." One possibility mentioned in press reports is pressuring nursing homes -- a hotbed of deaths early in the pandemic -- to force vaccinations among staff or risk losing public funding. Cities including New York and Los Angeles are imposing new restrictions, such as demanding proof of vaccination for entering indoor venues including restaurants and gyms. The seven-day average of newly vaccinated people is up 11 percent from last week, and up 44 percent over the past two weeks, Shahpar said. Daily new cases, deaths and hospitalizations have risen sharply in recent weeks. Last week, there was an average of 90,000 new coronavirus cases per day, with Florida and Texas accounting for a third of them, the White House said. The United States is back up to around 380 Covid-19 deaths a day, with hospitalisations averaging 7,300 a day over a week. The level of community transmission of the virus is "high" or "substantial" in 85 percent of the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The United States is the nation hardest-hit by the pandemic, with 615,000 deaths.

White House says 50% of Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Millions of Americans could find themselves homeless starting Sunday when a nationwide ban on evictions expires, even as billions in government funds meant to help them go untapped.

Millions of Americans could find themselves homeless starting Sunday when a nationwide ban on evictions expires, even as billions in government funds meant to help them go untapped. The wave of evictions would come as the fast-spreading Delta variant has taken hold in the country and rental housing is in high demand in the hot real estate market. US President Joe Biden on Thursday urged Congress to extend the 11-month-old eviction moratorium after a recent Supreme Court ruling meant the White House could not extend the measure through September as intended. Democratic leaders in Congress were pushing for an extension, but it was unclear if they had the votes, even among moderates in their own party, to prevent the ban from expiring. Efforts stalled on Friday in the House after a move to pass the extension was unsuccessful, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying in a statement, that "not a single Republican would support this measure." The day before, she had said called the extension "a moral imperative." She also called on governors and local officials "to take whatever steps are necessary to distribute the rental assistance that Congress already allocated." Unlike other pandemic-related aid that was distributed from Washington, such as stimulus checks, it was states, counties and cities that were responsible for building programs from the ground up to dole out assistance earmarked for renters. The Treasury Department said that as of June, only $3 billion in aid had reached households out of the $25 billion sent to states and localities in early February, less than three weeks after Biden took office. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ordered the eviction moratorium in September 2020, as the world's largest economy lost over 20 million jobs amid the pandemic shutdowns. The CDC feared increasing homelessness would boost coronavirus infections. Although more than half of those lost jobs were recovered as businesses were able to reopen, many families still have not caught up on missed rent payments. The Census Bureau's latest Household Pulse survey through the first week of July showed that of 51 million renters surveyed, 7.4 million were behind on their rent and nearly half of those said they were at risk of being evicted in the next two months. Where is the help? Through the end of June, only about 450,000 households had received aid through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and some states and localities have yet to pay out any funds, according to Treasury data. The Treasury launched a campaign this week to spread the word about the program and help authorities get their systems up and running, modelling those in Virginia and Houston, which have been successful in helping struggling families. Also read | Unvaccinated travellers to undergo COVID-19 tests, declares Germany amid rise coronavirus cases Immediately after taking over, the Biden administration had eased paperwork and eligibility requirements for the program, but the Treasury says management remains in the hands of state and local officials. The White House also shifted responsibility to states. Biden said, "there can be no excuse for any state or locality not accelerating funds to landlords and tenants that have been hurt during this pandemic." "Every state and local government must get these funds out to ensure we prevent every eviction we can," he said in a statement Friday. And while the White House cannot act, there is nothing preventing state and local authorities from instituting their own protections, Biden added. 'Pulling out all the stops' Pelosi called the delays an unjust "bureaucratic situation." California Democrat Maxine Waters, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, introduced the bill to extend the prohibition of evictions. "I'm pulling out all the stops right now," she tweeted Friday. But some Democrats oppose the move, and a congressional source confirmed to AFP that several were planning to leave town rather than participate in a vote, making it hard for the party to use their slim majority to push through a bill. A handful of states and Washington, DC have imposed their own temporary eviction protections, and the White House also asked government departments involved in housing to extend eviction bans for federally insured properties they control. Another $21.5 billion is available in the second round of funding, but it will not go out until the first tranche is spent.

Millions of Americans at risk of losing homes as virus cases spike

Canada is all set to lift non-essential travel restrictions for fully vaccinated US citizens from August 9. The country will then reopen its borders to all vaccinated foreign travelers from September 7.

Canada to open border to fully vaccinated Americans from August 9

An Italian court convicted two Americans on Wednesday for murder of a policeman near their Rome hotel in 2019 while they were on a summer holiday, sentencing them to the maximum life in prison.

Two American tourists given life sentences for killing police officer in Italy

Two American students have been charged with a life sentence for the murder of a police officer while they were on a summer holiday in Rome.

Mario Cerciello Rega, a police officer, was stabbed during a late-night encounter in July 2019 while he was out with his friend Gabriel Natale-Hjorth.

Finnegan Lee Elder, a 21-year-old, had admitted to stabbing Cerciello 11 times with a seven-inch camping knife. The police officer was stabbed to death on a dark street near the hotel the Americans were staying in.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/two-american-tourists-given-life-sentences-for-killing-police-officer-in-italy-383168">Watch |</a>

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However, Elder claims they acted out of self-defence as they thought they were being jumped from behind. The two Americans had assumed thugs were following them after what they called a 'drug deal gone wrong'.

The two will first have to serve solitary confinement for two months and then serve their life behind bars — a sentence that brought Elder close to fainting. They will also have to pay for their trial.

"This sentence is a disgrace for&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;with these judges who don't want to see what emerged during the trial and the investigation,"&nbsp;Elder's attorney, Renato Borzone, said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Two American students have been charged with a life sentence for the murder of a police officer while they were on a summer holiday in Rome. Mario Cerciello Rega, a police officer, was stabbed during a late-night encounter in July 2019 while he was out with his friend Gabriel Natale-Hjorth.

Two American students have been charged with a life sentence for the murder of a police officer while they were on a summer holiday in Rome. Mario Cerciello Rega, a police officer, was stabbed during a late-night encounter in July 2019 while he was out with his friend Gabriel Natale-Hjorth. Finnegan Lee Elder, a 21-year-old, had admitted to stabbing Cerciello 11 times with a seven-inch camping knife. The police officer was stabbed to death on a dark street near the hotel the Americans were staying in. Watch | However, Elder claims they acted out of self-defence as they thought they were being jumped from behind. The two Americans had assumed thugs were following them after what they called a 'drug deal gone wrong'. The two will first have to serve solitary confinement for two months and then serve their life behind bars — a sentence that brought Elder close to fainting. They will also have to pay for their trial. "This sentence is a disgrace for Italy with these judges who don't want to see what emerged during the trial and the investigation," Elder's attorney, Renato Borzone, said. (With inputs from agencies)

2 American students handed life sentences in Italy for cop's murder

Tokyo prosecutors on Monday charged two Americans with helping Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan chief, jump bail in Tokyo, where he was awaiting trial on four counts of financial wrongdoing.

Japanese prosecutors said in an indictment that the two men, Michael Taylor, 60, a former Green Beret, and his son Peter Maxwell Taylor, 27, assisted Ghosn’s efforts to escape the country, helping him flee to Turkey and then on to Lebanon, where he has been beyond the reach of Japanese law.

U.S. officials arrested the men in May in Massachusetts. Earlier this month, they were extradited to Japan, where they have been held in a Tokyo detention center while undergoing questioning by prosecutors. A third man believed to have aided Ghosn’s escape remains at large.

Japanese authorities have accused Michael Taylor of helping Ghosn travel by train to the western city of Osaka, through security checks at a private jet terminal and then onto a plane bound for Turkey. Once there, Ghosn transferred to a flight bound for Beirut. Peter Taylor assisted in planning for the escapade, visiting Ghosn several times before the escape, officials say.

Ghosn and his son, Anthony Ghosn, paid more than $1.3 million to the Taylors and a company they controlled, U.S. prosecutors have said in court filings.

Ghosn’s case raised international concerns about what some critics call Japan’s system of “hostage justice,” which includes lengthy detentions of criminal suspects without charge. While in the United States, the Taylors fought a long legal battle to prevent their extradition, with their lawyers arguing that they could be subjected to harsh conditions in a Japanese jail.

Tokyo prosecutors on Monday charged two Americans with helping Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan chief, jump bail in Tokyo, where he was awaiting trial on four counts of financial wrongdoing.

Tokyo prosecutors on Monday charged two Americans with helping Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan chief, jump bail in Tokyo, where he was awaiting trial on four counts of financial wrongdoing. Japanese prosecutors said in an indictment that the two men, Michael Taylor, 60, a former Green Beret, and his son Peter Maxwell Taylor, 27, assisted Ghosn’s efforts to escape the country, helping him flee to Turkey and then on to Lebanon, where he has been beyond the reach of Japanese law. U.S. officials arrested the men in May in Massachusetts. Earlier this month, they were extradited to Japan, where they have been held in a Tokyo detention center while undergoing questioning by prosecutors. A third man believed to have aided Ghosn’s escape remains at large. Japanese authorities have accused Michael Taylor of helping Ghosn travel by train to the western city of Osaka, through security checks at a private jet terminal and then onto a plane bound for Turkey. Once there, Ghosn transferred to a flight bound for Beirut. Peter Taylor assisted in planning for the escapade, visiting Ghosn several times before the escape, officials say. Ghosn and his son, Anthony Ghosn, paid more than $1.3 million to the Taylors and a company they controlled, U.S. prosecutors have said in court filings. Ghosn’s case raised international concerns about what some critics call Japan’s system of “hostage justice,” which includes lengthy detentions of criminal suspects without charge. While in the United States, the Taylors fought a long legal battle to prevent their extradition, with their lawyers arguing that they could be subjected to harsh conditions in a Japanese jail.

Japan indicts two Americans tied to Ghosn’s escape

An American woman who visited the beautiful city, Rome, decided to return an ancient Roman marble that she stole in 2017 with a personal apology note.&nbsp;

The woman, identified as Jess, returned an ancient marble to the&nbsp;National Roman Museum and apologised "for being such an American a*****e" for taking something that was not "rightfully mine".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/skeletons-of-rich-man-and-his-male-slave-found-from-ashes-at-pompeii-excavation-344621">Skeletons of rich man and his 'male slave' found from ashes at Pompeii excavation</a>

When the marble was returned, a message reading 'To Sam, love Jess, Rome 2017' was also inscribed on it with a black marker pen. She also claimed that she tried removing the message, but was unsuccessful in every possible way.

"I feel terrible for not only stealing this item from its rightful place but placing writing on it," her apology note read. "It was a big mistake on my part and only now, as an adult, do I realise just how thoughtless and despicable it was."

The package was sent to the museum from Atlanta, the US and the museum has decided not to press charges against the woman.&nbsp;"From its tone, we imagine it was a young woman…In 2017 she must have come to Rome, and took this fragment of marble in order to gift it to her boyfriend," said&nbsp;National Roman Museum director Stéphane Verger.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/two-million-year-old-skull-of-human-cousin-unearthed-342100">Two million-year-old skull of human cousin unearthed</a>

He also added that the officials found the apology letter was heartfelt and left an impact on him "precisely because she is young – she understood that she had made a mistake."

"It is a spontaneous gesture, but the fruit of conscious reflection," he added.&nbsp;

This letter has come a few months after a Canadian woman,&nbsp;Nicole, sent back two mosaic tiles,&nbsp;a piece of ceramic, and parts of an amphora in the package claiming the artefacts were "cursed" — after stealing them in 2015 from&nbsp;Pompeii.

Referring to the same incident, Verger said, "Maybe she did hear about the Canadian woman. The year 2020, decimated by the COVID pandemic, has made people reflect, as well as moved the conscience. The fact is that three years after the theft, she returned it – it’s a very important symbolic gesture."

An American woman who visited the beautiful city, Rome, decided to return an ancient Roman marble that she stole in 2017 with a personal apology note. The woman, identified as Jess, returned an ancient marble to the National Roman Museum and apologised "for being such an American a*****e" for taking something that was not "rightfully mine".

An American woman who visited the beautiful city, Rome, decided to return an ancient Roman marble that she stole in 2017 with a personal apology note. The woman, identified as Jess, returned an ancient marble to the National Roman Museum and apologised "for being such an American a*****e" for taking something that was not "rightfully mine". Also read| Skeletons of rich man and his 'male slave' found from ashes at Pompeii excavation When the marble was returned, a message reading 'To Sam, love Jess, Rome 2017' was also inscribed on it with a black marker pen. She also claimed that she tried removing the message, but was unsuccessful in every possible way. "I feel terrible for not only stealing this item from its rightful place but placing writing on it," her apology note read. "It was a big mistake on my part and only now, as an adult, do I realise just how thoughtless and despicable it was." The package was sent to the museum from Atlanta, the US and the museum has decided not to press charges against the woman. "From its tone, we imagine it was a young woman…In 2017 she must have come to Rome, and took this fragment of marble in order to gift it to her boyfriend," said National Roman Museum director Stéphane Verger. Also read| Two million-year-old skull of human cousin unearthed He also added that the officials found the apology letter was heartfelt and left an impact on him "precisely because she is young – she understood that she had made a mistake." "It is a spontaneous gesture, but the fruit of conscious reflection," he added. This letter has come a few months after a Canadian woman, Nicole, sent back two mosaic tiles, a piece of ceramic, and parts of an amphora in the package claiming the artefacts were "cursed" — after stealing them in 2015 from Pompeii. Referring to the same incident, Verger said, "Maybe she did hear about the Canadian woman. The year 2020, decimated by the COVID pandemic, has made people reflect, as well as moved the conscience. The fact is that three years after the theft, she returned it – it’s a very important symbolic gesture."

'Sorry for being such an American a*****e': Woman returns ancient Roman marble

A helicopter crash in Egypt's Sinai desert involving a multi-national observer force killed seven people on Thursday -- five Americans, a French national and a Czech citizen, an Israeli source told AFP.

An official with the Multinational Force &amp; Observers (MFO), Brad Lynch, said it was "actively investigating an incident involving one of our helicopters today".

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/helicopter-carrying-human-organs-crashed-in-los-angeles-pilot-injured-341309">Helicopter carrying human organs crashed in Los Angeles; pilot injured</a>

Lynch had no details on fatalities.

But the Israeli source, who requested anonymity, told AFP: "There has been a helicopter crash and I have the information that there were seven killed: five of them are American, one is French and one is Czech."

The MFO, which has a headquarters in Rome, was set up in 1979 under agreement by Israel and Egypt to supervise parts of the historic peace treaty agreed between the two countries that year.

The MFO is not linked to the United Nations.

A helicopter crash in Egypt's Sinai desert involving a multi-national observer force killed seven people on Thursday -- five Americans, a French national and a Czech citizen, an Israeli source told AFP.

A helicopter crash in Egypt's Sinai desert involving a multi-national observer force killed seven people on Thursday -- five Americans, a French national and a Czech citizen, an Israeli source told AFP. An official with the Multinational Force & Observers (MFO), Brad Lynch, said it was "actively investigating an incident involving one of our helicopters today". Also read| Helicopter carrying human organs crashed in Los Angeles; pilot injured Lynch had no details on fatalities. But the Israeli source, who requested anonymity, told AFP: "There has been a helicopter crash and I have the information that there were seven killed: five of them are American, one is French and one is Czech." The MFO, which has a headquarters in Rome, was set up in 1979 under agreement by Israel and Egypt to supervise parts of the historic peace treaty agreed between the two countries that year. The MFO is not linked to the United Nations.

Sinai helicopter crash kills 7, including 5 Americans: Source

Donald Trump has refused to concede defeat but according to a survey 80% of Americans have accepted Joe Biden as next president. WION brings you a report.

Survey: 80% of Americans have accepted Joe Biden as their President

Millions of more Americans than usual have been working from home since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and with this workers are rethinking where to live. Watch report.

Remote working soars due to pandemic: Google employees to work from home till July 2021

WASHINGTON — One day in September, Elizabeth Leiba opened the LinkedIn app and saw a post by Aaisha Joseph, a diversity consultant with nearly 16,000 followers on the platform.

“Ima need #companies to stop sending their dedicated House Negros to ‘deal with the Blacks’ they deem out of control,” read the item. “It’s really not a good look — it’s actually a very #whitesupremacist and #racist one.”

The post was exactly the sort of thing Leiba, an instructional design manager at City College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was looking for. These days, when she pulls out her phone in search of boisterous conversation, hot takes and the latest tea, she finds herself tapping LinkedIn, which since the killing of George Floyd has become a thriving forum for Black expression.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-announces-charges-against-chinese-malaysians-involved-in-worldwide-hacking-racket-328011">Also read|&nbsp;US announces charges against Chinese, Malaysians involved in worldwide hacking racket</a>

“I go onto Twitter and I get bored,” Leiba, 46, said. “Then I go right back to LinkedIn because it’s on fire. I don’t even have to go on any other social media now.”

It’s an unexpected development for what has long been the most polite and perhaps the dullest of the major social networks. LinkedIn was founded in 2003 as a place to network and post résumés — essentially, a directory of white-collar professionals. A few years ago, LinkedIn added a Facebook-like news feed that encouraged users to post links and updates, but it has never been a rollicking space. A team of editors helped enforce a mood best described as corporate.

“You talk on LinkedIn the same way you talk in the office,” Dan Roth, LinkedIn’s editor-in-chief, told The New York Times in August 2019. “There are certain boundaries around what is acceptable.”

Two staggering events have changed that. In early 2020, the pandemic hit, forcing millions to work from home and miss out on break-room chitchat — boosting LinkedIn as a place to vent. Then, the killing of Floyd in police custody in May put workers over the edge. Black grief went on display, uninhibited, at corporate America’s virtual water cooler.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/microsoft-to-buy-linkedin-for-262-billion-in-its-biggest-ever-deal-418">Also read|&nbsp;Microsoft to buy LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in its biggest-ever deal</a>

“I was just 43 years tired,” said Future Cain, a social- and emotional-learning director at a middle and high school in Wisconsin. “I was using LinkedIn to post positive things and uplift people during the pandemic, and I decided I can’t sit here quietly anymore.”

As protesters took to the streets to demand police reform, Leiba and Cain were among those who discovered that LinkedIn was a place to speak to the executive class on something like their home turf. Black users have taken to the site to call out racial discrimination in the workplace and share their stories of alienation on the job.

Not that it’s all serious: Much of the posting is exuberant — full of memes, Black cultural references and linguistic panache. This summer, Leiba shared a video about code-switching, in which a Black employee transforms while greeting colleagues of color (“Oh, hey, Black queen!”) and a white one (empty-headed hiking talk). “I’ve watched it at least fifty eleven times,” Leiba wrote.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/what-after-linkedin-will-twitter-get-bought-next-or-is-the-social-network-bubble-about-to-burst-472">Also read|&nbsp;What after LinkedIn: Will Twitter get bought next or is the social network bubble about to burst?</a>

These are the kinds of conversations, and ways of speaking, that cubicle-dwelling Black workers have typically held out of earshot of their white colleagues. As unusually charismatic posts appeared in my own feed this summer, it seemed clear that Black LinkedIn was emerging as a professional cousin to Black Twitter — the unapologetically Black digital space where people expose long-ignored injustices and pump their experience into the mainstream.

What’s less clear is how comfortable LinkedIn is with the development, having placed its content moderators in the incendiary position of determining what manner of race-related speech is appropriate for its virtual workplace of 706 million users.

Black users who post in forceful tones, and some of their allies, say they feel LinkedIn has silenced them — erasing their posts and even freezing their accounts for violating vague rules of decorum.

For example, the “House Negros” post that Joseph wrote in September vanished from the platform. Joseph, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, was able to see it when she viewed her own page, but no other users could — a practice known as shadow banning. (Later, LinkedIn added an unsigned note in red, saying the post had been removed for violating the site’s Professional Community Policies, which instruct users to “be civil and respectful in every single interaction.”) Joseph began a new item: “Let me say it louder since LinkedIn wanted to delete my post the first time.” The company removed that post, too, saying it included “harassment, defamation or disparagement of others.”

Theresa M. Robinson, a corporate training consultant in Houston, said LinkedIn had deleted a post she wrote about racism, then reinstated it after she complained. She said she never received an explanation. Two others, Cain and Madison Butler, who works in Austin, Texas, also said LinkedIn had restricted their commentary on race.

In the absence of clear communication from the company, these users are left guessing as to what the rules are — and feeling that the company is not just policing their tone but stifling their opportunity to force change in corporate America.

Nicole Leverich, a LinkedIn spokeswoman, wrote in an email: “We are not censoring content and have not made any changes to our algorithm to reduce the distribution of content about these important topics.” She added in an interview that LinkedIn was introducing a new process for notifying users when their posts were flagged for violating platform rules, and that some people hadn’t been phased in by the end of September.

The company acknowledged that it had erred in taking action against some users and restored content that was found, on appeal, not to violate its policies.

“If we make a mistake, we will own it,” said Paul Rockwell, head of LinkedIn’s trust and safety division. “We will be very clear — this is a learning opportunity for us. We’re going to continue to use that in our journey to get better and better. And we do want to nail this thing.”

Hard conversations about race

Few people think LinkedIn should look anything like the wilds of Reddit or Twitter, which have a certain amount of anonymity and even anarchy built into their DNA. Much of LinkedIn’s value — Microsoft acquired it in 2016 for $26 billion — is tied to its sense of professionalism and respectful conduct. Users must share their real names and credentials, and it’s understood that their current or prospective employers might well scan anything they post.

For Black people in the corporate realm, however, words like “professional” and “respectful” are red flags. Like the natural Black hairstyles that were once widely considered unprofessional, certain behaviors — being too Black, speaking too Black or talking too much about Black topics — have long limited advancement in companies with white cultures.

That’s what has changed on LinkedIn in the last few months. Black people are being, to use a technical term, Blackity-Black Black on LinkedIn. Much of the behavior is not so different from Black Twitter; users pepper their posts with clap emojis to emphasize every syllable, and GIFs celebrate cultural touchstones like Issa Rae’s “Insecure” and Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.” The difference is that it is all happening on a social network that mirrors the business world — a place that is predominantly white.

“It is liberating. It feels like it’s about time,” Joseph said. “We are taking back what was stolen from us — and that’s our voice. I’m talking specifically to my people in the way that we talk to each other in other spaces, and without regard for any outside audience. No longer having to stifle that has been freeing.”

Part of what Black LinkedIn has done is brought together Black professionals to be their authentic selves in front of their white colleagues. For many, it has been an existential relief, and may provide a blueprint for how Black employees choose to conduct themselves once the physical workplace reopens.

“The days of hiding and masking who you are and dealing with the BS — I just can’t even go back to that,” said Jessica Pharm, 33, who works in human resources at a manufacturing firm near Milwaukee. “Any company that gets me next is getting the full-on Jessica.”

Leiba posted on Sept. 17: “It means code-switching is OUT. It means the AFRO is coming at you on a daily basis. It means you’re getting these bangle earrings and the poppin’ lip gloss.”

Inevitably, not everyone accepts this kind of exuberance. Posts about Black Lives Matter and racial justice often attract the same kind of dismissive, and sometimes bigoted, responses found on other platforms: rejoinders that “all lives matter” or claims about Black-on-Black crime. But because the activity takes place on LinkedIn, these comments typically come with the user’s headshot, place of employment and entire work history attached.

“You start to see these people who are absolutely not OK with this focus on Blackness popping up in commentary, with their name and their company fully on display, giving zero deference to the moment,” said John Graham Jr., 39, a digital marketer and strategist at a California biotechnology company. “I find it telling that people would put their careers in jeopardy and their unconscious biases on full display.”

LinkedIn has also struggled internally with how to respond to the Black Lives Matter movement. In June, chief executive Ryan Roslansky publicly apologized for “appalling” racial comments some employees had made at a companywide staff meeting.

Rosanna Durruthy, LinkedIn’s head of diversity, inclusion and belonging, said in an interview that the company was engaging in hard conversations about race, both inside the company and out.

“We’re really beginning to focus very consistently on how we begin to address this externally” on the platform, she said.

‘Break down the status quo’

One of the most vociferous presences on Black LinkedIn is Butler, a human resources consultant and vice president at a startup. She has posted on LinkedIn since 2018 and with increasing frequency and fervor this year. The potential to speak truth to capital, she said, makes the resulting rounds of death threats worth it.

“There is something to be said about the access LinkedIn gives you to powerful CEOs and VCs to help change their outlook and how they support Black employees and founders,” said Butler, 29, referring to venture capitalists. “The conversation that has to happen in order to break down the status quo in corporate America isn’t happening on Instagram.”

Butler, who has about 40,000 followers, posts on LinkedIn daily. Her style is to be prescriptive, assail corporate norms and call out whitesplainers and trolls; she tends to close each missive with the hashtags #isaidwhatisaid, #thatsthetea and #blackgirlmagic. One recent post scolded companies that make a show of cheering on the Black Lives Matter movement but haven’t done right by their employees.

“Do the Black people in your organization feel like they matter, or do they feel like the Black stock photos you used to enhance your ‘wokeness’ footprint in the marketplace. If you can’t make the Black lives under your own roof matter, do not use Black Lives Matter as a brand strategy,” Butler wrote recently. “Don’t talk about it, be about it. Period.”

Other stars of Black LinkedIn target specific companies. Joseph, for example, has recently called out Wells Fargo, DoorDash, Microsoft and Google.

There has also been no shortage of criticism of LinkedIn itself. Users are holding the company to a standard it set for itself in June, when Melissa Selcher, chief marketing and communications officer, wrote an open letter on the platform.

“We have a responsibility to use our platform and resources to intentionally address the systemic barriers to economic opportunity,” she wrote. “We also believe we play a critical role in amplifying Black voices.”

Also in June, with Black Lives Matter protests spreading across the country, LinkedIn highlighted “Black Voices to Follow and Amplify,” a curated list of chief executives, media personalities and other influencers, including the Rev. Bernice King and Karamo Brown from the Netflix show “Queer Eye.” For the most part, members of the list post content that is general, motivational and safe.

Joseph and others took to LinkedIn to say the group contained too many establishment names and not enough activists. “Where are the Tamika Mallorys of LinkedIn on that list?” Joseph wrote, referring to a co-founder of the 2017 Women’s March.

“Black voices aren’t just corporate C-Suite ones,” wrote Patricia S. Gatlin, a talent sourcing specialist in Las Vegas.

“All Black voices need to be heard in this moment,” added Scott Taylor, a recruiter in Los Angeles. “Not just the ones your team of analysts think we should hear from.”

Leverich, the LinkedIn spokeswoman, said by email: “We use a number of factors in our selection, including members who have self-identified as Black, people from a variety of industries and with an interesting perspective to share. We’re constantly adding new voices and sorting through requests to join this program.”

In September, LinkedIn used its own company page to pose a question to its 13 million followers: “What are the best ways to normalize having conversations about race and anti-racism in the workplace? #ConversationsForChange”

The responses quickly turned sour. “LinkedIn, you can facilitate that objective by normalizing those conversations on your platform,” wrote Lenzy Ruffin, a communications strategist in Washington, D.C.

“The irony that you should post this!” wrote Abi Adamson, a diversity and inclusion consultant in London. “Kindly stop censoring Black content around racism. People like me have had our engagement go down astronomically when highlighting racism or how to be anti-racist. Help amplify our voices and stop silencing us.”

Sabrina McClimans, a graduate student in Seattle, asked the platform to “stop ‘accidentally’ disappearing the posts of Black women on your platform when they talk about race and anti-racism.”

Phil Molé, who works at a software company in Chicago, added: “I have seen cases in which individuals who harass Black women on this platform have maintained their accounts while those who speak out against racism and prejudice have had accounts suspended. It’s time for a thorough review of the way the issues are handled.”

LinkedIn did not respond to those comments. Philip Mix, a consultant in London, added to the thread after a day and a half, when there were 344 comments, saying he had gone through them “three times to make sure I wasn’t mistaken.” By his count, LinkedIn had replied to five users — four times to say “Thank you for sharing” and once with “Nicely put.”

Mix concluded: “Not sure if I’m more shocked or depressed by this miserably inadequate show from LinkedIn.”

WASHINGTON — One day in September, Elizabeth Leiba opened the LinkedIn app and saw a post by Aaisha Joseph, a diversity consultant with nearly 16,000 followers on the platform.

WASHINGTON — One day in September, Elizabeth Leiba opened the LinkedIn app and saw a post by Aaisha Joseph, a diversity consultant with nearly 16,000 followers on the platform. “Ima need #companies to stop sending their dedicated House Negros to ‘deal with the Blacks’ they deem out of control,” read the item. “It’s really not a good look — it’s actually a very #whitesupremacist and #racist one.” The post was exactly the sort of thing Leiba, an instructional design manager at City College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was looking for. These days, when she pulls out her phone in search of boisterous conversation, hot takes and the latest tea, she finds herself tapping LinkedIn, which since the killing of George Floyd has become a thriving forum for Black expression. Also read| US announces charges against Chinese, Malaysians involved in worldwide hacking racket “I go onto Twitter and I get bored,” Leiba, 46, said. “Then I go right back to LinkedIn because it’s on fire. I don’t even have to go on any other social media now.” It’s an unexpected development for what has long been the most polite and perhaps the dullest of the major social networks. LinkedIn was founded in 2003 as a place to network and post résumés — essentially, a directory of white-collar professionals. A few years ago, LinkedIn added a Facebook-like news feed that encouraged users to post links and updates, but it has never been a rollicking space. A team of editors helped enforce a mood best described as corporate. “You talk on LinkedIn the same way you talk in the office,” Dan Roth, LinkedIn’s editor-in-chief, told The New York Times in August 2019. “There are certain boundaries around what is acceptable.” Two staggering events have changed that. In early 2020, the pandemic hit, forcing millions to work from home and miss out on break-room chitchat — boosting LinkedIn as a place to vent. Then, the killing of Floyd in police custody in May put workers over the edge. Black grief went on display, uninhibited, at corporate America’s virtual water cooler. Also read| Microsoft to buy LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in its biggest-ever deal “I was just 43 years tired,” said Future Cain, a social- and emotional-learning director at a middle and high school in Wisconsin. “I was using LinkedIn to post positive things and uplift people during the pandemic, and I decided I can’t sit here quietly anymore.” As protesters took to the streets to demand police reform, Leiba and Cain were among those who discovered that LinkedIn was a place to speak to the executive class on something like their home turf. Black users have taken to the site to call out racial discrimination in the workplace and share their stories of alienation on the job. Not that it’s all serious: Much of the posting is exuberant — full of memes, Black cultural references and linguistic panache. This summer, Leiba shared a video about code-switching, in which a Black employee transforms while greeting colleagues of color (“Oh, hey, Black queen!”) and a white one (empty-headed hiking talk). “I’ve watched it at least fifty eleven times,” Leiba wrote. Also read| What after LinkedIn: Will Twitter get bought next or is the social network bubble about to burst? These are the kinds of conversations, and ways of speaking, that cubicle-dwelling Black workers have typically held out of earshot of their white colleagues. As unusually charismatic posts appeared in my own feed this summer, it seemed clear that Black LinkedIn was emerging as a professional cousin to Black Twitter — the unapologetically Black digital space where people expose long-ignored injustices and pump their experience into the mainstream. What’s less clear is how comfortable LinkedIn is with the development, having placed its content moderators in the incendiary position of determining what manner of race-related speech is appropriate for its virtual workplace of 706 million users. Black users who post in forceful tones, and some of their allies, say they feel LinkedIn has silenced them — erasing their posts and even freezing their accounts for violating vague rules of decorum. For example, the “House Negros” post that Joseph wrote in September vanished from the platform. Joseph, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, was able to see it when she viewed her own page, but no other users could — a practice known as shadow banning. (Later, LinkedIn added an unsigned note in red, saying the post had been removed for violating the site’s Professional Community Policies, which instruct users to “be civil and respectful in every single interaction.”) Joseph began a new item: “Let me say it louder since LinkedIn wanted to delete my post the first time.” The company removed that post, too, saying it included “harassment, defamation or disparagement of others.” Theresa M. Robinson, a corporate training consultant in Houston, said LinkedIn had deleted a post she wrote about racism, then reinstated it after she complained. She said she never received an explanation. Two others, Cain and Madison Butler, who works in Austin, Texas, also said LinkedIn had restricted their commentary on race. In the absence of clear communication from the company, these users are left guessing as to what the rules are — and feeling that the company is not just policing their tone but stifling their opportunity to force change in corporate America. Nicole Leverich, a LinkedIn spokeswoman, wrote in an email: “We are not censoring content and have not made any changes to our algorithm to reduce the distribution of content about these important topics.” She added in an interview that LinkedIn was introducing a new process for notifying users when their posts were flagged for violating platform rules, and that some people hadn’t been phased in by the end of September. The company acknowledged that it had erred in taking action against some users and restored content that was found, on appeal, not to violate its policies. “If we make a mistake, we will own it,” said Paul Rockwell, head of LinkedIn’s trust and safety division. “We will be very clear — this is a learning opportunity for us. We’re going to continue to use that in our journey to get better and better. And we do want to nail this thing.” Hard conversations about race Few people think LinkedIn should look anything like the wilds of Reddit or Twitter, which have a certain amount of anonymity and even anarchy built into their DNA. Much of LinkedIn’s value — Microsoft acquired it in 2016 for $26 billion — is tied to its sense of professionalism and respectful conduct. Users must share their real names and credentials, and it’s understood that their current or prospective employers might well scan anything they post. For Black people in the corporate realm, however, words like “professional” and “respectful” are red flags. Like the natural Black hairstyles that were once widely considered unprofessional, certain behaviors — being too Black, speaking too Black or talking too much about Black topics — have long limited advancement in companies with white cultures. That’s what has changed on LinkedIn in the last few months. Black people are being, to use a technical term, Blackity-Black Black on LinkedIn. Much of the behavior is not so different from Black Twitter; users pepper their posts with clap emojis to emphasize every syllable, and GIFs celebrate cultural touchstones like Issa Rae’s “Insecure” and Jordan Peele’s “Get Out.” The difference is that it is all happening on a social network that mirrors the business world — a place that is predominantly white. “It is liberating. It feels like it’s about time,” Joseph said. “We are taking back what was stolen from us — and that’s our voice. I’m talking specifically to my people in the way that we talk to each other in other spaces, and without regard for any outside audience. No longer having to stifle that has been freeing.” Part of what Black LinkedIn has done is brought together Black professionals to be their authentic selves in front of their white colleagues. For many, it has been an existential relief, and may provide a blueprint for how Black employees choose to conduct themselves once the physical workplace reopens. “The days of hiding and masking who you are and dealing with the BS — I just can’t even go back to that,” said Jessica Pharm, 33, who works in human resources at a manufacturing firm near Milwaukee. “Any company that gets me next is getting the full-on Jessica.” Leiba posted on Sept. 17: “It means code-switching is OUT. It means the AFRO is coming at you on a daily basis. It means you’re getting these bangle earrings and the poppin’ lip gloss.” Inevitably, not everyone accepts this kind of exuberance. Posts about Black Lives Matter and racial justice often attract the same kind of dismissive, and sometimes bigoted, responses found on other platforms: rejoinders that “all lives matter” or claims about Black-on-Black crime. But because the activity takes place on LinkedIn, these comments typically come with the user’s headshot, place of employment and entire work history attached. “You start to see these people who are absolutely not OK with this focus on Blackness popping up in commentary, with their name and their company fully on display, giving zero deference to the moment,” said John Graham Jr., 39, a digital marketer and strategist at a California biotechnology company. “I find it telling that people would put their careers in jeopardy and their unconscious biases on full display.” LinkedIn has also struggled internally with how to respond to the Black Lives Matter movement. In June, chief executive Ryan Roslansky publicly apologized for “appalling” racial comments some employees had made at a companywide staff meeting. Rosanna Durruthy, LinkedIn’s head of diversity, inclusion and belonging, said in an interview that the company was engaging in hard conversations about race, both inside the company and out. “We’re really beginning to focus very consistently on how we begin to address this externally” on the platform, she said. ‘Break down the status quo’ One of the most vociferous presences on Black LinkedIn is Butler, a human resources consultant and vice president at a startup. She has posted on LinkedIn since 2018 and with increasing frequency and fervor this year. The potential to speak truth to capital, she said, makes the resulting rounds of death threats worth it. “There is something to be said about the access LinkedIn gives you to powerful CEOs and VCs to help change their outlook and how they support Black employees and founders,” said Butler, 29, referring to venture capitalists. “The conversation that has to happen in order to break down the status quo in corporate America isn’t happening on Instagram.” Butler, who has about 40,000 followers, posts on LinkedIn daily. Her style is to be prescriptive, assail corporate norms and call out whitesplainers and trolls; she tends to close each missive with the hashtags #isaidwhatisaid, #thatsthetea and #blackgirlmagic. One recent post scolded companies that make a show of cheering on the Black Lives Matter movement but haven’t done right by their employees. “Do the Black people in your organization feel like they matter, or do they feel like the Black stock photos you used to enhance your ‘wokeness’ footprint in the marketplace. If you can’t make the Black lives under your own roof matter, do not use Black Lives Matter as a brand strategy,” Butler wrote recently. “Don’t talk about it, be about it. Period.” Other stars of Black LinkedIn target specific companies. Joseph, for example, has recently called out Wells Fargo, DoorDash, Microsoft and Google. There has also been no shortage of criticism of LinkedIn itself. Users are holding the company to a standard it set for itself in June, when Melissa Selcher, chief marketing and communications officer, wrote an open letter on the platform. “We have a responsibility to use our platform and resources to intentionally address the systemic barriers to economic opportunity,” she wrote. “We also believe we play a critical role in amplifying Black voices.” Also in June, with Black Lives Matter protests spreading across the country, LinkedIn highlighted “Black Voices to Follow and Amplify,” a curated list of chief executives, media personalities and other influencers, including the Rev. Bernice King and Karamo Brown from the Netflix show “Queer Eye.” For the most part, members of the list post content that is general, motivational and safe. Joseph and others took to LinkedIn to say the group contained too many establishment names and not enough activists. “Where are the Tamika Mallorys of LinkedIn on that list?” Joseph wrote, referring to a co-founder of the 2017 Women’s March. “Black voices aren’t just corporate C-Suite ones,” wrote Patricia S. Gatlin, a talent sourcing specialist in Las Vegas. “All Black voices need to be heard in this moment,” added Scott Taylor, a recruiter in Los Angeles. “Not just the ones your team of analysts think we should hear from.” Leverich, the LinkedIn spokeswoman, said by email: “We use a number of factors in our selection, including members who have self-identified as Black, people from a variety of industries and with an interesting perspective to share. We’re constantly adding new voices and sorting through requests to join this program.” In September, LinkedIn used its own company page to pose a question to its 13 million followers: “What are the best ways to normalize having conversations about race and anti-racism in the workplace? #ConversationsForChange” The responses quickly turned sour. “LinkedIn, you can facilitate that objective by normalizing those conversations on your platform,” wrote Lenzy Ruffin, a communications strategist in Washington, D.C. “The irony that you should post this!” wrote Abi Adamson, a diversity and inclusion consultant in London. “Kindly stop censoring Black content around racism. People like me have had our engagement go down astronomically when highlighting racism or how to be anti-racist. Help amplify our voices and stop silencing us.” Sabrina McClimans, a graduate student in Seattle, asked the platform to “stop ‘accidentally’ disappearing the posts of Black women on your platform when they talk about race and anti-racism.” Phil Molé, who works at a software company in Chicago, added: “I have seen cases in which individuals who harass Black women on this platform have maintained their accounts while those who speak out against racism and prejudice have had accounts suspended. It’s time for a thorough review of the way the issues are handled.” LinkedIn did not respond to those comments. Philip Mix, a consultant in London, added to the thread after a day and a half, when there were 344 comments, saying he had gone through them “three times to make sure I wasn’t mistaken.” By his count, LinkedIn had replied to five users — four times to say “Thank you for sharing” and once with “Nicely put.” Mix concluded: “Not sure if I’m more shocked or depressed by this miserably inadequate show from LinkedIn.”

Black LinkedIn is thriving. Does LinkedIn have a problem with that?

How bad was the U.S. Presidential debate? So bad that Americans are looking for ways to apply for Canadian citizenship. Some want to move to 'Canda'. WION's Palki has the details.

Gravitas: Presidential Debate Impact? Americans want to move to 'Canda'

US President Donald Trump on August 15 said to use the snapback technique, a day after the UN Security Council rejected an American resolution to extend an Iranian arms embargo. Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later said “American snapback is illegal and unacceptable and the Americans know they cannot use snapback."

Iran Nuclear Deal: US has been humiliated at the UN, says Iran

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