Biden on Thursday said he planned to discuss with President Ghani and Abdullah, head of the reconciliation council, plans for airlifting the thousands of Afghans who supported Americans out of the country.

'To ensure no safe haven for terrorists': White House on Biden-Ghani meeting

US President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators announced that they’d reached a framework $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal. Senators agreed on a $973 billion package over five years with $559 billion in new funding.

Joe Biden agrees to $1.2 trillion infra deal with bipartisan backing

Afghan forces and the Taliban have clashed repeatedly across the country as American and other foreign soldiers get set to fully leave by September 11 this year.

Biden set to meet Afghanistan President Ghani amid troop pullout

European Union leaders rejected a proposal by France and Germany to restart talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Poland which opposed the talks said such a move will send a 'wrong message'.

EU leaders rejects France & Germany's proposal for talks with Putin

Joe Biden will be meeting Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani in Washington on Friday(25 June) amid an ongoing US military withdrawal and Taliban resurgence.

Afghan President to meet Joe Biden amid rise in Taliban attacks

Biden said the $1.2 trillion plan includes investments that are “so badly needed” in transportation, water infrastructure, sustainable power and energy investments, and more.

Biden, senators tentatively agree on $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan

US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that closure of Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily was a "sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world". The financial hub's pro-democracy tabloid was forced to close under Hong Kong's new national security law.

The newspaper published a defiant final edition on Thursday. In the final edition, it said it had been a "victim of tyranny" after 26 years of facing up to China's authoritarian leaders.

"It is a sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

"Intensifying repression by Beijing has reached such a level that Apple Daily, a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong, has now ceased publishing," he continued.

"Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a National Security Law that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views."

The prosecution of Apple Daily was sparked by articles and columns that allegedly supported international sanctions against China, a view now deemed illegal under the new security law imposed on Hong Kong last year.

The sudden death of the popular newspaper is the latest blow to Hong Kong's freedoms, deepening unease over whether the international finance centre can remain a media hub as China seeks to stamp out dissent.

Praising the "invaluable role" that independent media plays in "resilient and prosperous societies," Biden called on Beijing to halt its crackdown on the media.

"Beijing must stop targeting the independent press and release the journalists and media executives that have been detained," he said.

"The act of journalism is not a crime."

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that closure of Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily was a "sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world". The financial hub's pro-democracy tabloid was forced to close under Hong Kong's new national security law.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that closure of Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily was a "sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world". The financial hub's pro-democracy tabloid was forced to close under Hong Kong's new national security law. The newspaper published a defiant final edition on Thursday. In the final edition, it said it had been a "victim of tyranny" after 26 years of facing up to China's authoritarian leaders. "It is a sad day for media freedom in Hong Kong and around the world," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. "Intensifying repression by Beijing has reached such a level that Apple Daily, a much-needed bastion of independent journalism in Hong Kong, has now ceased publishing," he continued. "Through arrests, threats, and forcing through a National Security Law that penalizes free speech, Beijing has insisted on wielding its power to suppress independent media and silence dissenting views." The prosecution of Apple Daily was sparked by articles and columns that allegedly supported international sanctions against China, a view now deemed illegal under the new security law imposed on Hong Kong last year. The sudden death of the popular newspaper is the latest blow to Hong Kong's freedoms, deepening unease over whether the international finance centre can remain a media hub as China seeks to stamp out dissent. Praising the "invaluable role" that independent media plays in "resilient and prosperous societies," Biden called on Beijing to halt its crackdown on the media. "Beijing must stop targeting the independent press and release the journalists and media executives that have been detained," he said. "The act of journalism is not a crime." (With inputs from agencies)

Hong Kong tabloid Apple Daily's closure a 'sad day' for media, says Biden

Germany and France are pushing EU counterparts to consider a summit with Russian leader Vladimir&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;as the bloc weighs its strategy to keep Moscow in check, diplomats said Wednesday.

The EU's 27 leaders are set to discuss ties with its vast eastern neighbour at a meeting on Thursday as Brussels admits that relations with the Kremlin have reached their "lowest level".&nbsp;

Berlin and Paris put forward a last-minute proposal for the bloc to contemplate a potential summit in the wake of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">US President Joe Biden's</a> sit-down with&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;in Geneva last week.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-putin-summit-takeaways-respect-optimism-and-some-scepticism-392063">Biden-Putin summit takeaways: Respect, optimism, and some scepticism</a>

But there remains opposition from numerous EU members states, especially in eastern Europe -- wary of talking to the Kremlin.&nbsp;

EU ambassadors were set to hold a meeting late Wednesday evening to try to thrash out a common position.&nbsp;

"The EU must stand firm and establish a counterbalance against Russia. It must also put itself in a position to resist, in particular, cyberattacks. And it must be able to engage in dialogue with Russia on the subjects for which it has interests," one European diplomat argued.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-you-want-peace-prepare-for-war-russia-ready-to-cut-ties-with-eu-over-sanctions-asserts-lavrov-363130">'If you want peace, prepare for war': Russia ready to cut ties with EU over sanctions, asserts Lavrov</a>

"But there is a question over the format for this dialogue. How to conduct this dialogue? At what level? Through what channel? And what role should be given to the EU institutions."

Another diplomat insisted that it was "premature" to talk about a meeting with the Russian leader.&nbsp;

"Why have a summit with&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;if there is nothing positive to discuss," the diplomat said.&nbsp;

Ties between the EU and Russia have been in the doldrums since the Kremlin annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

The bloc has slapped waves of sanctions on Moscow, and Russia has responded with its own counter-measures.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-warns-will-retaliate-if-eu-imposes-new-sanctions-over-navalny-362989">Russia warns will retaliate if EU imposes new sanctions over Navalny</a>

The last summit between EU chiefs in Brussels and&nbsp;Putin&nbsp;took place in early 2014, with the Kremlin strongman preferring to deal bilaterally with individual nations since then.&nbsp;

While the German-French proposal mooted engagement with Moscow, it also made clear the bloc needed to remain united in the face of Russian aggression.&nbsp;

Proposed summit conclusions seen by AFP said there needs "a firm and coordinated response by the EU and the Member States to Russia's malign activities, making full use of all instruments at the EU's disposal, and ensuring coordination with other partners."

The draft statement said that leaders would task EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell "to present options for additional adequate and effective economic sanctions against responsible parties in reaction to destabilising actions by Russia".

Germany and France are pushing EU counterparts to consider a summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as the bloc weighs its strategy to keep Moscow in check, diplomats said Wednesday.

Germany and France are pushing EU counterparts to consider a summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin as the bloc weighs its strategy to keep Moscow in check, diplomats said Wednesday. The EU's 27 leaders are set to discuss ties with its vast eastern neighbour at a meeting on Thursday as Brussels admits that relations with the Kremlin have reached their "lowest level". Berlin and Paris put forward a last-minute proposal for the bloc to contemplate a potential summit in the wake of US President Joe Biden's sit-down with Putin in Geneva last week. Also read | Biden-Putin summit takeaways: Respect, optimism, and some scepticism But there remains opposition from numerous EU members states, especially in eastern Europe -- wary of talking to the Kremlin. EU ambassadors were set to hold a meeting late Wednesday evening to try to thrash out a common position. "The EU must stand firm and establish a counterbalance against Russia. It must also put itself in a position to resist, in particular, cyberattacks. And it must be able to engage in dialogue with Russia on the subjects for which it has interests," one European diplomat argued. Also read | 'If you want peace, prepare for war': Russia ready to cut ties with EU over sanctions, asserts Lavrov "But there is a question over the format for this dialogue. How to conduct this dialogue? At what level? Through what channel? And what role should be given to the EU institutions." Another diplomat insisted that it was "premature" to talk about a meeting with the Russian leader. "Why have a summit with Putin if there is nothing positive to discuss," the diplomat said. Ties between the EU and Russia have been in the doldrums since the Kremlin annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. The bloc has slapped waves of sanctions on Moscow, and Russia has responded with its own counter-measures. Also read | Russia warns will retaliate if EU imposes new sanctions over Navalny The last summit between EU chiefs in Brussels and Putin took place in early 2014, with the Kremlin strongman preferring to deal bilaterally with individual nations since then. While the German-French proposal mooted engagement with Moscow, it also made clear the bloc needed to remain united in the face of Russian aggression. Proposed summit conclusions seen by AFP said there needs "a firm and coordinated response by the EU and the Member States to Russia's malign activities, making full use of all instruments at the EU's disposal, and ensuring coordination with other partners." The draft statement said that leaders would task EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell "to present options for additional adequate and effective economic sanctions against responsible parties in reaction to destabilising actions by Russia".

Germany, France propose EU-Russia summit: Diplomats

US envoy in Moscow returned to Russia on Thursday and said that he was ready to work on "stable and predictable relationship" after a summit between US and Russia aimed at reducing tensions.&nbsp;

"Arrived back in Moscow today," Ambassador John Sullivan said in a statement, several days after Russia's envoy to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, resumed his own posting, saying he hoped to build "equal and pragmatic ties".&nbsp;

Sullivan said he was ready to work with Russia "on our goal of a stable and predictable relationship between our countries."

Russian President Vladimir Putin last week said that both, Russia and the US had agreed for the respective ambassadors to return to their posts. Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden and Putin held summit talks in Geneva.

In March, Russia had recalled Antonov and recommended the United States bring back Sullivan for consultations after Biden agreed with a description of Putin as a "killer".

Sullivan departed Moscow for Washington the next month, as the US and Russia announced a series of tit-for-tat sanctions and expulsions of diplomats.

Diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington had all but broken down after Biden took office and accused the Kremlin of interfering in US elections and launching cyberattacks.

In May, Russia formally designated the United States an "unfriendly" state, barring its embassy from employing Russian nationals. The only other country on that list is the Czech Republic.

(With agency inputs)

US envoy in Moscow returned to Russia on Thursday and said that he was ready to work on "stable and predictable relationship" after a summit between US and Russia aimed at reducing tensions.

US envoy in Moscow returned to Russia on Thursday and said that he was ready to work on "stable and predictable relationship" after a summit between US and Russia aimed at reducing tensions. "Arrived back in Moscow today," Ambassador John Sullivan said in a statement, several days after Russia's envoy to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, resumed his own posting, saying he hoped to build "equal and pragmatic ties". Sullivan said he was ready to work with Russia "on our goal of a stable and predictable relationship between our countries." Russian President Vladimir Putin last week said that both, Russia and the US had agreed for the respective ambassadors to return to their posts. Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden and Putin held summit talks in Geneva. In March, Russia had recalled Antonov and recommended the United States bring back Sullivan for consultations after Biden agreed with a description of Putin as a "killer". Sullivan departed Moscow for Washington the next month, as the US and Russia announced a series of tit-for-tat sanctions and expulsions of diplomats. Diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington had all but broken down after Biden took office and accused the Kremlin of interfering in US elections and launching cyberattacks. In May, Russia formally designated the United States an "unfriendly" state, barring its embassy from employing Russian nationals. The only other country on that list is the Czech Republic. (With agency inputs)

US envoy to Russia returns to Moscow

The United States has said that it will not change its Afghanistan withdrawal timeline even as violence rises in the country. The announcement came two days before Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will hold talks with Joe Biden.

US: No change in troops withdrawal timeline from Afghanistan

The potent greenhouse&nbsp;gas&nbsp;methane&nbsp;is spewing out of natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;across&nbsp;the&nbsp;European Union because of leaks and venting, video footage made available to Reuters shows.

Using a 100,000 euro ($119,000) infrared camera, non-profit Clean Air Task Force (CATF) found&nbsp;methane&nbsp;seeping into the atmosphere at 123 oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;sites in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania this year.

Methane, the biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2), is the main component of natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;and over 80 times more potent than CO2 in its first 20 years in the air.

Currently, the EU does not regulate&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions in the energy sector, meaning companies running the sites surveyed by CATF are not breaking laws because of leaks or venting.

While some member states require firms to report some emissions there is no overarching framework forcing them to monitor smaller leaks, or fix them.

That's set to change.

The EU is proposing laws this year that will force oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;companies to monitor and report&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions, as well as improve the detection and repair of leaks.

In the energy sector,&nbsp;methane&nbsp;is emitted intentionally through venting and by accident from sites such as&nbsp;gas&nbsp;storage tanks, liquefied natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;(LNG) terminals, pipeline compressor stations and oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;processing sites.

CATF visited over 200 sites in seven EU countries and filmed emissions with the infrared camera in public vantage points to detect hydrocarbons invisible to the naked eye, such as&nbsp;methane.

"Once you see it, you can't unsee it," said CATF's James Turitto, who filmed the emissions. "If we have any hope of achieving only a 1.5 Celsius rise in average global temperatures, we must stop these leaks."

Altogether, CATF counted 271 incidents, with some sites leaching&nbsp;methane&nbsp;from several places.

Turitto said over 90% of the sites he visited in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania were emitting&nbsp;methane&nbsp;while his hit rate in Germany and Austria was lower.

LEAKS AND HOLES

A selection of the CATF thermography, which shows hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, was reviewed by five technical experts contacted by Reuters.

Given emissions were at installations handling natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;- and&nbsp;methane&nbsp;is its main component - they concluded the emissions recorded by CATF were almost certainly&nbsp;methane.

At one&nbsp;gas&nbsp;plant owned by Italy's Eni near the town of Pineto on the country's Adriatic coast,&nbsp;methane&nbsp;appears to be&nbsp;leaking&nbsp;from a rusty hole in the side of a tank.

The footage captures a snapshot of each site's emissions on a given day so it cannot quantify the amount of&nbsp;methane&nbsp;being emitted over longer periods.

What it does reveal is emissions that could be avoided if&nbsp;infrastructure&nbsp;owners used commercially available measurement and abatement technology, emissions experts said.

"If there are cracks in the storage tanks, it is a relatively easy fix to patch the tanks," said Jonathan Dorn, an air quality expert at Abt Associates.

Turitto said he called an emergency number for reporting leaks at the Eni site but the line was dead.

Eni said the leak at Pineto was from a water tank which would have had negligible amounts of&nbsp;gas&nbsp;and that it had been detected and fixed during regular maintenance.

"We are strengthening our efforts in the implementation of periodic leak detection and repair monitoring campaigns," Eni said, adding that it was supportive of EU regulations to address&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions.

COMPANIES ON NOTICE

Brussels put energy companies on notice in October that it would target them with new rules on&nbsp;gas&nbsp;leaks and was also considering restrictions on venting or flaring of&nbsp;methane.

"The Commission calls on companies in the oil,&nbsp;gas&nbsp;and coal sectors to set up more robust leak detection and repair programmes to prepare for upcoming proposals for legislation that would make such programmes mandatory," it said.

An EU official told Reuters this month that because the EU has few&nbsp;methane&nbsp;"super emitters", the legislation would focus on tackling the smaller but far more frequent emissions that occur throughout energy sector&nbsp;infrastructure.

"The first thing is to really try to address these more diffused emissions of&nbsp;methane, covering the whole energy sector," the official, who declined to be named, said.

Experts say the new rules will shake things up for every oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;firm in&nbsp;Europe, not least because the EU is considering forcing companies to find and fix even the smallest leaks.

"Each company has a lot to do," said Andris Piebalgs, professor at the Florence School of Regulation and a former EU energy commissioner.

It is unlikely the new rules would take effect before 2023 but Brussels wants to get them in place early enough to contribute to its goal of cutting net emissions of all greenhouse&nbsp;gases by 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels.

INTENTIONAL EMISSIONS

The EU is not alone. US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's administration plans to propose new rules this year to reduce&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions.

The New York Times used an infrared camera to identify large&nbsp;methane&nbsp;leaks at U.S. oil and&nbsp;gas&nbsp;sites in 2019 while satellite footage made available to Reuters revealed massive&nbsp;methane&nbsp;leaks from Russian&nbsp;gas&nbsp;pipelines. https://nyti.ms/3iCpJyn

CATF's footage shows Italian energy company SNAM was venting hydrocarbons consistently over three dates during a two-week period from two stacks at its Panigaglia LNG terminal near La Spezia on the Mediterranean coast.

Tim Doty, a consultant in thermographic imaging in the energy sector and a former official at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said the footage showed the stacks were "openly venting hydrocarbon emissions".

At a SNAM underground storage facility at Minerbio near Bologna, the infrared footage showed a plume of&nbsp;methane&nbsp;flowing out of a vent stack.

SNAM said it was a member of the Oil and&nbsp;Gas&nbsp;Methane&nbsp;Partnership (OGMP), a voluntary group of energy companies that is committed to improving&nbsp;methane&nbsp;measurement and abatement. Eni is also a member.

"Emissions recorded by CATF at the Minerbio and Bordolano storage sites are fugitive emissions resulting from blowdown valves that are internally&nbsp;leaking&nbsp;... the full replacement, starting in 2021, will be completed in 2024," SNAM said.

"The (Panigaglia) emission recorded by CATF at the vent stacks was due to the temporary mechanical failure of an air compressor," it said. "We are confident to be able to fix the air compressor during the second half of 2021."

HUNTING THE SOURCE

An expert with nearly two decades of experience at major oil companies who advises U.S. firms and authorities on&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions said the CATF footage showed the EU had a problem.

"There is this urban legend that the U.S. natural&nbsp;gas&nbsp;system is disproportionately leaky compared to the rest of the world," said the expert, who declined to be named. "When I look at these videos, they don't seem very different than the United States."

Globally, the concentration of&nbsp;methane&nbsp;in the atmosphere is rising. The U.N. said in April that without deep cuts in&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions this decade, the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting&nbsp;warming&nbsp;to 1.5 Celsius would slip out of reach.

Once&nbsp;methane&nbsp;is in the atmosphere, it is all but impossible to trace it back to a specific source which means better monitoring at the point of emission is key.

A growing web of satellites searching for&nbsp;methane&nbsp;means major leaks of thousands of tonnes a year are easier to identify but many smaller leaks go unnoticed.

In Hungary, the footage showed a MOL site which separates&nbsp;gas&nbsp;from oil venting emissions.

The Hungarian energy company said it was aware of the emissions and they were an unavoidable part of normal and safe operations to avoid pressure building up in storage tanks.

MOL said there were no existing regulations requiring it to measure or report emissions but it aimed to end routine&nbsp;methane&nbsp;emissions from&nbsp;gas&nbsp;activities by 2030.

In Austria, at an OMV oil facility near onshore wells north of Vienna, the camera showed a number of smaller leaks.

OMV said it fully supported new EU&nbsp;methane&nbsp;rules. It said the minor leaks at the site had been fixed and it was planning to replace pressure regulation systems that release&nbsp;methane&nbsp;with equipment that stops such emissions.

"The presence of these emissions indicates that this site has ongoing maintenance issues," said Doty, pointing to four different sources. "These emissions are very troubling."

The potent greenhouse gas methane is spewing out of natural gas infrastructure across the European Union because of leaks and venting, video footage made available to Reuters shows.

The potent greenhouse gas methane is spewing out of natural gas infrastructure across the European Union because of leaks and venting, video footage made available to Reuters shows. Using a 100,000 euro ($119,000) infrared camera, non-profit Clean Air Task Force (CATF) found methane seeping into the atmosphere at 123 oil and gas sites in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania this year. Methane, the biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2), is the main component of natural gas and over 80 times more potent than CO2 in its first 20 years in the air. Currently, the EU does not regulate methane emissions in the energy sector, meaning companies running the sites surveyed by CATF are not breaking laws because of leaks or venting. While some member states require firms to report some emissions there is no overarching framework forcing them to monitor smaller leaks, or fix them. That's set to change. The EU is proposing laws this year that will force oil and gas companies to monitor and report methane emissions, as well as improve the detection and repair of leaks. In the energy sector, methane is emitted intentionally through venting and by accident from sites such as gas storage tanks, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, pipeline compressor stations and oil and gas processing sites. CATF visited over 200 sites in seven EU countries and filmed emissions with the infrared camera in public vantage points to detect hydrocarbons invisible to the naked eye, such as methane. "Once you see it, you can't unsee it," said CATF's James Turitto, who filmed the emissions. "If we have any hope of achieving only a 1.5 Celsius rise in average global temperatures, we must stop these leaks." Altogether, CATF counted 271 incidents, with some sites leaching methane from several places. Turitto said over 90% of the sites he visited in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Romania were emitting methane while his hit rate in Germany and Austria was lower. LEAKS AND HOLES A selection of the CATF thermography, which shows hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, was reviewed by five technical experts contacted by Reuters. Given emissions were at installations handling natural gas - and methane is its main component - they concluded the emissions recorded by CATF were almost certainly methane. At one gas plant owned by Italy's Eni near the town of Pineto on the country's Adriatic coast, methane appears to be leaking from a rusty hole in the side of a tank. The footage captures a snapshot of each site's emissions on a given day so it cannot quantify the amount of methane being emitted over longer periods. What it does reveal is emissions that could be avoided if infrastructure owners used commercially available measurement and abatement technology, emissions experts said. "If there are cracks in the storage tanks, it is a relatively easy fix to patch the tanks," said Jonathan Dorn, an air quality expert at Abt Associates. Turitto said he called an emergency number for reporting leaks at the Eni site but the line was dead. Eni said the leak at Pineto was from a water tank which would have had negligible amounts of gas and that it had been detected and fixed during regular maintenance. "We are strengthening our efforts in the implementation of periodic leak detection and repair monitoring campaigns," Eni said, adding that it was supportive of EU regulations to address methane emissions. COMPANIES ON NOTICE Brussels put energy companies on notice in October that it would target them with new rules on gas leaks and was also considering restrictions on venting or flaring of methane. "The Commission calls on companies in the oil, gas and coal sectors to set up more robust leak detection and repair programmes to prepare for upcoming proposals for legislation that would make such programmes mandatory," it said. An EU official told Reuters this month that because the EU has few methane "super emitters", the legislation would focus on tackling the smaller but far more frequent emissions that occur throughout energy sector infrastructure. "The first thing is to really try to address these more diffused emissions of methane, covering the whole energy sector," the official, who declined to be named, said. Experts say the new rules will shake things up for every oil and gas firm in Europe, not least because the EU is considering forcing companies to find and fix even the smallest leaks. "Each company has a lot to do," said Andris Piebalgs, professor at the Florence School of Regulation and a former EU energy commissioner. It is unlikely the new rules would take effect before 2023 but Brussels wants to get them in place early enough to contribute to its goal of cutting net emissions of all greenhouse gases by 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels. INTENTIONAL EMISSIONS The EU is not alone. US President Joe Biden's administration plans to propose new rules this year to reduce methane emissions. The New York Times used an infrared camera to identify large methane leaks at U.S. oil and gas sites in 2019 while satellite footage made available to Reuters revealed massive methane leaks from Russian gas pipelines. https://nyti.ms/3iCpJyn CATF's footage shows Italian energy company SNAM was venting hydrocarbons consistently over three dates during a two-week period from two stacks at its Panigaglia LNG terminal near La Spezia on the Mediterranean coast. Tim Doty, a consultant in thermographic imaging in the energy sector and a former official at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said the footage showed the stacks were "openly venting hydrocarbon emissions". At a SNAM underground storage facility at Minerbio near Bologna, the infrared footage showed a plume of methane flowing out of a vent stack. SNAM said it was a member of the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP), a voluntary group of energy companies that is committed to improving methane measurement and abatement. Eni is also a member. "Emissions recorded by CATF at the Minerbio and Bordolano storage sites are fugitive emissions resulting from blowdown valves that are internally leaking ... the full replacement, starting in 2021, will be completed in 2024," SNAM said. "The (Panigaglia) emission recorded by CATF at the vent stacks was due to the temporary mechanical failure of an air compressor," it said. "We are confident to be able to fix the air compressor during the second half of 2021." HUNTING THE SOURCE An expert with nearly two decades of experience at major oil companies who advises U.S. firms and authorities on methane emissions said the CATF footage showed the EU had a problem. "There is this urban legend that the U.S. natural gas system is disproportionately leaky compared to the rest of the world," said the expert, who declined to be named. "When I look at these videos, they don't seem very different than the United States." Globally, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is rising. The U.N. said in April that without deep cuts in methane emissions this decade, the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting warming to 1.5 Celsius would slip out of reach. Once methane is in the atmosphere, it is all but impossible to trace it back to a specific source which means better monitoring at the point of emission is key. A growing web of satellites searching for methane means major leaks of thousands of tonnes a year are easier to identify but many smaller leaks go unnoticed. In Hungary, the footage showed a MOL site which separates gas from oil venting emissions. The Hungarian energy company said it was aware of the emissions and they were an unavoidable part of normal and safe operations to avoid pressure building up in storage tanks. MOL said there were no existing regulations requiring it to measure or report emissions but it aimed to end routine methane emissions from gas activities by 2030. In Austria, at an OMV oil facility near onshore wells north of Vienna, the camera showed a number of smaller leaks. OMV said it fully supported new EU methane rules. It said the minor leaks at the site had been fixed and it was planning to replace pressure regulation systems that release methane with equipment that stops such emissions. "The presence of these emissions indicates that this site has ongoing maintenance issues," said Doty, pointing to four different sources. "These emissions are very troubling."

Gas infrastructure across Europe leaking planet-warming methane

The Pentagon said on Monday that it would complete its full withdrawal by September 11, but the pace of the pullout could be slowed given the Taliban's gains.

Fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban escalates

US President Joe Biden's administration has announced its plan to send 55 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to countries in need. The donation will complete Washington's initial pledge of 80 million doses from its own vaccine supply.

Biden administration announces allocation plan for 55 mn COVID-19 vaccine doses

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong has ridiculed the United States’s hopes for an early resumption of diplomacy. Watch this report to know more.

Kim Jong Un’s sister ridicules US hopes for dialogue

Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi on Monday ruled out meeting US President Joe Biden over revival of 2015 Iran nuclear deal.&nbsp;He was speaking at his first press conference after getting elected as President of Iran.

"No," said Raisi to a question from American media on whether he would meet Biden in the event that these talks lead to the US lifting sanctions on Iran, and in order to "fix" the problems between the arch-enemies.

Duiring the press conference, Raisi said on Monday that his government will not allow negotiations for the sake of negotiations aimed at reviving 2015 nuclear deal.

"Any negotiations that guarantee national interests will certainly be supported, but... we will not allow negotiations to be for negotiation's sake," he said in his first press conference, adding that his election on Friday followed a "massive" voter turnout.

The talks in Vienna to revive the nuclear deal have been adjourned. They were adjourned on June 20. Chief of Iran's delegation said on Sunday that the talks <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-nuclear-talks-to-be-adjourned-for-consultations-in-capital-392761">have been adjourned</a> for respective delegations to have consultations in respective capitals.

No date has been decided to resume the talks.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/disagreements-remain-in-iran-nuclear-talks-says-us-392784">Disagreements remain in Iran nuclear talks, says US</a>

Nuclear deal with Iran was struck by P5+1 powers in 2015. But former US President Donald Trump unilaterally took USA out of the agreement and reimposed sanctions that crippled Iran economy.

Have 'always' defended human rights

Raisi said that he had always defended human rights.

"All that I have done through my years of service has always been towards defending human rights," said Raisi, who is Iran's outgoing judiciary chief, while accusing the west of violating human rights.

Raisi faces allegations of executions, torture and other abuses from the US and western organisations.

'No obstacles' to restoring ties with Saudi Arabia

"There are no obstacles from Iran's side to re-opening embassies... there are no obstacles to ties with Saudi Arabia," he said, as talks are underway to discuss a thaw in relations between the two countries who have had no diplomatic ties since 2016.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi on Monday ruled out meeting US President Joe Biden over revival of 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He was speaking at his first press conference after getting elected as President of Iran.

Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi on Monday ruled out meeting US President Joe Biden over revival of 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He was speaking at his first press conference after getting elected as President of Iran. "No," said Raisi to a question from American media on whether he would meet Biden in the event that these talks lead to the US lifting sanctions on Iran, and in order to "fix" the problems between the arch-enemies. Duiring the press conference, Raisi said on Monday that his government will not allow negotiations for the sake of negotiations aimed at reviving 2015 nuclear deal. "Any negotiations that guarantee national interests will certainly be supported, but... we will not allow negotiations to be for negotiation's sake," he said in his first press conference, adding that his election on Friday followed a "massive" voter turnout. The talks in Vienna to revive the nuclear deal have been adjourned. They were adjourned on June 20. Chief of Iran's delegation said on Sunday that the talks have been adjourned for respective delegations to have consultations in respective capitals. No date has been decided to resume the talks. Also Read | Disagreements remain in Iran nuclear talks, says US Nuclear deal with Iran was struck by P5+1 powers in 2015. But former US President Donald Trump unilaterally took USA out of the agreement and reimposed sanctions that crippled Iran economy. Have 'always' defended human rights Raisi said that he had always defended human rights. "All that I have done through my years of service has always been towards defending human rights," said Raisi, who is Iran's outgoing judiciary chief, while accusing the west of violating human rights. Raisi faces allegations of executions, torture and other abuses from the US and western organisations. 'No obstacles' to restoring ties with Saudi Arabia "There are no obstacles from Iran's side to re-opening embassies... there are no obstacles to ties with Saudi Arabia," he said, as talks are underway to discuss a thaw in relations between the two countries who have had no diplomatic ties since 2016. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran President-elect Raisi says 'no' to meeting Joe Biden

During his first news conference with journalists after Friday’s election, Iran’s president-elect Ebrahim Raisi said he would not meet with US President Joe Biden. Asked about Iran’s ballistic missile program and its support of regional militias, Raisi described the issues as “non-negotiable.”

Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi says 'no' to meeting Joe Biden

"The visit by President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah will highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues," the White House said in a statement.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani to meet Joe Biden this week

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will be visiting the United States to meet President Joe Biden this week, as uncertainty mounts over Afghanistan's future after the American military withdrawal.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to visit US amid military drawdown

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani will meet US President Joe Biden on June 25, the White House said on Sunday. Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation will also be present. The meeting comes at a time when fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces has surged.

Biden has already announced that all US troops in Afghanistan would be withdrawn before September 11 this year

"The visit by President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah will highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues," the White House said in a statement.

The statement added that Washington was committed to supporting Afghan people by providing diplomatic, economic and humanitarian assistance.

"The United States will remain deeply engaged with the Government of Afghanistan to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for terrorist groups who pose a threat to the US homeland," it said.

However, the Taliban is taking steps to expand its influence across Afghanistan.

Since the United States announced plans in April to pull out all of troops, at least 30 districts have been seized by the Taliban.

(With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani will meet US President Joe Biden on June 25, the White House said on Sunday. Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation will also be present.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani will meet US President Joe Biden on June 25, the White House said on Sunday. Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation will also be present. The meeting comes at a time when fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces has surged. Biden has already announced that all US troops in Afghanistan would be withdrawn before September 11 this year "The visit by President Ghani and Dr. Abdullah will highlight the enduring partnership between the United States and Afghanistan as the military drawdown continues," the White House said in a statement. The statement added that Washington was committed to supporting Afghan people by providing diplomatic, economic and humanitarian assistance. "The United States will remain deeply engaged with the Government of Afghanistan to ensure the country never again becomes a safe haven for terrorist groups who pose a threat to the US homeland," it said. However, the Taliban is taking steps to expand its influence across Afghanistan. Since the United States announced plans in April to pull out all of troops, at least 30 districts have been seized by the Taliban. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani to meet Joe Biden next week

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Saturday, June 19, announced the passing away of their pet, Champ. "Our hearts are heavy today as we let you all know that our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home", read a statement released by the President and the first lady.&nbsp;

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Our family lost our loving companion Champ today. I will miss him. <a href="https://t.co/sePqXBIAsE">pic.twitter.com/sePqXBIAsE</a>
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Biden continued the tradition of having pets inside the White House. Champ was one of two German Shepherds living at the White House with the Bidens. The other one is Major, who is the first rescue dog to live in the White House. &nbsp;The Bidens adopted him in November 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association. Champ, also a German Shepherd, joined the family in 2008.

However, Major had to be briefly removed from the premises after two incidents of nipping staff at the White House.

Former President Barack Obama was dog-less while campaigning, but promised his daughters Sasha and Malia a puppy during his acceptance speech after winning the 2008 election. The Obamas eventually had a Portuguese Water Dog called Bo who was gifted to the family by the late Senator Ted Kennedy.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-white-house-to-be-home-for-joe-bidens-pets-major-and-champ-a-brief-history-on-first-pets-of-america-357949">Also Read |&nbsp;White House to be home for Joe Biden's pets Major and Champ: A brief history on 'first pets' of America&nbsp;</a>

The Obamas adopted a second dog of the same breed, Sunny, in 2013, according to the Presidential Pet Museum.

The 'first pets' of America enjoy perks as well. Like George W Bush`s Scottish Terrier, Barney, flew on Air Force One and starred in `Barney Cam` videos to celebrate the holiday season. "He never discussed politics and was always a faithful friend," Bush said when Barney died in 2013.

The Clintons` Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Buddy, joined cat Socks at the White House; while George HW Bush and family had several dogs in the White House, including Millie, the star of a children`s book written by Bush`s wife Barbara.

About 67% of all U.S. homes had a pet in 2019, up from 56% three decades ago, the American Pet Products Association reported last year.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Saturday, June 19, announced the passing away of their pet, Champ. "Our hearts are heavy today as we let you all know that our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home", read a statement released by the President and the first lady.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Saturday, June 19, announced the passing away of their pet, Champ. "Our hearts are heavy today as we let you all know that our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home", read a statement released by the President and the first lady. Our family lost our loving companion Champ today. I will miss him. pic.twitter.com/sePqXBIAsE — President Biden (@POTUS) June 19, 2021 × Biden continued the tradition of having pets inside the White House. Champ was one of two German Shepherds living at the White House with the Bidens. The other one is Major, who is the first rescue dog to live in the White House. The Bidens adopted him in November 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association. Champ, also a German Shepherd, joined the family in 2008. However, Major had to be briefly removed from the premises after two incidents of nipping staff at the White House. Former President Barack Obama was dog-less while campaigning, but promised his daughters Sasha and Malia a puppy during his acceptance speech after winning the 2008 election. The Obamas eventually had a Portuguese Water Dog called Bo who was gifted to the family by the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Also Read | White House to be home for Joe Biden's pets Major and Champ: A brief history on 'first pets' of America The Obamas adopted a second dog of the same breed, Sunny, in 2013, according to the Presidential Pet Museum. The 'first pets' of America enjoy perks as well. Like George W Bush`s Scottish Terrier, Barney, flew on Air Force One and starred in `Barney Cam` videos to celebrate the holiday season. "He never discussed politics and was always a faithful friend," Bush said when Barney died in 2013. The Clintons` Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Buddy, joined cat Socks at the White House; while George HW Bush and family had several dogs in the White House, including Millie, the star of a children`s book written by Bush`s wife Barbara. About 67% of all U.S. homes had a pet in 2019, up from 56% three decades ago, the American Pet Products Association reported last year.

Biden's German Shepherd Champ dies; President, first lady pay tribute

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the Geneva summit and said that Biden is a professional and one needs to be very careful while working with him. He also added that his country is ready to continue more dialogues if his American counterpart agrees.

Putin  hails the Geneva summit as 'positive', says ready for more dialogue with US

While Biden and Putin may have achieved a thaw, the Russian and American press are still at daggers drawn. The media scuffled in front of the Presidents in Geneva; they turned the press conference into a harangue. Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas | Geneva: American and Russian media at daggers drawn

A friendship starts with a meaningful gift. The US President Joe Biden appears to have&nbsp;taken the adage seriously. He had gifted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a pair of American-made sunglasses in his favourite aviator style.

The aviators have been a symbol in the US Army for ages and the company, Randolph Engineering, has had a contract with the US armed forces since 1978 for supplying nearly 25,000 pairs of the sunglasses to the army every month.

Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/highlights-stone-face-rare-eye-contact-biden-and-putins-historic-summit-391948">Highlights: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit</a>

Biden gave the aviators as a diplomatic gift to Putin during their historic summit which took place on June 16 in Geneva, Switzerland — a few months after Biden labelled Putin as a 'killer'.

Peter Waszkiewicz, the owner the company, saw the sunglasses produced by his company being offered as a diplomatic token at the historic summit.

"It was a normal business day until about after 12:00, when the phones started ringing and the social media went abuzz,&nbsp;then we realised what was going on," he said. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it?&nbsp;I mean how often does an opportunity like this happen?"

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-highlights-of-the-geneva-summit-392269">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-highlights-of-the-geneva-summit-392269/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

These aviator-styled sunglasses were made famous by the US Army and Tom Cruise, who wore it in a famous 1980s movie, Top Gun.

The "Concorde" sunglasses take nearly 200 steps and six weeks to be created to perfection and the company revealed that the ones gifted to Putin are named after the 20th-century supersonic aircraft and cost nearly $279.

"President Biden, I'm sure, gave those glasses to President Putin as a symbol of our national heritage," Waszkiewicz said.&nbsp;"And let's hope it's the symbol of peace."

A friendship starts with a meaningful gift. The US President Joe Biden appears to have taken the adage seriously. He had gifted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a pair of American-made sunglasses in his favourite aviator style.

A friendship starts with a meaningful gift. The US President Joe Biden appears to have taken the adage seriously. He had gifted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin a pair of American-made sunglasses in his favourite aviator style. The aviators have been a symbol in the US Army for ages and the company, Randolph Engineering, has had a contract with the US armed forces since 1978 for supplying nearly 25,000 pairs of the sunglasses to the army every month. Have a look | Highlights: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit Biden gave the aviators as a diplomatic gift to Putin during their historic summit which took place on June 16 in Geneva, Switzerland — a few months after Biden labelled Putin as a 'killer'. Peter Waszkiewicz, the owner the company, saw the sunglasses produced by his company being offered as a diplomatic token at the historic summit. "It was a normal business day until about after 12:00, when the phones started ringing and the social media went abuzz, then we realised what was going on," he said. "It's pretty amazing, isn't it? I mean how often does an opportunity like this happen?" WATCH | These aviator-styled sunglasses were made famous by the US Army and Tom Cruise, who wore it in a famous 1980s movie, Top Gun. The "Concorde" sunglasses take nearly 200 steps and six weeks to be created to perfection and the company revealed that the ones gifted to Putin are named after the 20th-century supersonic aircraft and cost nearly $279. "President Biden, I'm sure, gave those glasses to President Putin as a symbol of our national heritage," Waszkiewicz said. "And let's hope it's the symbol of peace."

Diplomatic token: Biden gifted aviator-style sunglasses to Putin during historic summit

For a while, it wasn’t clear that this week’s meeting in Geneva between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Biden would go ahead.

Mr. Biden, seeking his first encounter as president with Mr. Putin, made the invitation in mid-April; but it took until the end of May for the summit to be confirmed. Despite Mr. Putin’s experience with American presidents — he’s dealt with four, across two decades — the Kremlin, Russian officials said, was considering the risk that Mr. Biden would use the meeting to publicly lecture his Russian counterpart on democracy and human rights.

The caution seemed reasonable. After all, the new American administration, especially by comparison with its predecessor, devotes considerable attention to promoting human rights across the globe. And Mr. Biden set out his stall when he agreed in an interview in March that Mr. Putin is a “killer.”

Yet the Kremlin eventually accepted the invitation. Why? Besides the chance to de-escalate tensions, there’s one very good reason: Mr. Putin has nothing to fear from Mr. Biden. Enduringly popular and freshly buoyed by the quashing of the opposition, Russia’s president has ample cause to feel secure. Whatever the American president might say in Geneva — or his administration do, by way of sanctions — will not affect Mr. Putin’s rule in Russia.

The first impediment for Mr. Biden is straightforward: His message will not get a good airing. Television, dominated by channels run or controlled by the state, remains the main source of news for three-quarters of Russians, so most people in Russia will see the American president through the Kremlin’s eyes. Independent media, recently curtailed by the authorities declaring several prominent outlets to be “foreign agents,” won’t be able to redress the imbalance.

Yet even without this media filter, Mr. Putin has no reason to fear any aspersions Mr. Biden might cast his way. Though the president’s popularity has waned a touch since its peak in 2014, he retains the trust and approval of over 60 percent of Russians, according to Levada Center, an independent and highly respected polling organization. This might be more inertia and apathy than a conscious political affiliation, but the result is the same. The opposition can only dream about such ratings: Support for the most prominent opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny, doesn’t rise above 20 percent.

The blame for that can’t be placed squarely on the Kremlin. Though the opposition is hampered by a range of state restrictions, the fact remains that opposition rallies do not attract significant numbers of participants. The last big protest in support of Mr. Navalny — one of the largest displays of dissent in the past decade — brought between 51,000 and 120,000 people to 109 cities across the country on April 21, according to opposition outlets. But even if you take the higher number, that amounts to less than 0.1 percent of the country’s population. Protesting is a minority interest.

And that’s not just because Russian authorities have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to brutally suppress gatherings. Many people unhappy with life in Russia stay away from protests because they don’t associate themselves with the organizers and don’t believe they can bring about change from the street. In a recent survey by the Levada Center, only 21 percent of respondents said they would consider going to a rally in support of economic demands, and even fewer, 16 percent, said they’d go in support of political demands. There are demographic divides — young people are generally more eager to protest — but that doesn’t really change the picture.

What’s more, those ready to actively challenge Mr. Putin’s rule have been repressed. Mr. Navalny, who returned to the country in January in the hope of setting off a substantive movement to oppose Mr. Putin, was imprisoned with a two-and-a-half-year sentence. Many of his allies were jailed, while others fled the country. And last week, his organization, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, whose activities were already suspended, was officially labeled “extremist” — effectively preventing its activists from running in future elections and further intimidating supporters.

It’s not just Mr. Navalny. Another opposition network — Open Russia, founded by a former oil tycoon and now exiled Kremlin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky — recently announced its closure, hoping to protect its coordinators. That didn’t stop the arrest on May 31 of one of the group’s executives, Andrey Pivovarov, who now faces up to six years in prison. Fearing the same fate, another prominent opposition figure, Dmitry Gudkov, fled to Ukraine in early June.

Ahead of September’s legislative elections, the authorities have disbanded the opposition and docked the media, closing down the space for dissent. But a majority of Russians, consumed by the concerns of everyday life and long inured to Mr. Putin’s rule, don’t seem to care much. With them, Mr. Biden’s message about the inviolability of human rights and the sanctity of democracy — both of which are slipping away in Russia, to no general uproar — is likely to ring hollow.

Even among Russians who actively support democracy, the rule of law and human rights, Mr. Biden won’t find much support. Over the past decades, many Russian liberals have become disillusioned with the West, especially the United States. For some, America’s image started to crack with the bombing of Yugoslavia and the war in Iraq. For others, it was the revelations of WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden, which brought to light a host of America’s covert operations and dirty dealings, that soured feelings of admiration.

And for many, the presidency of Donald Trump — during which Washington abandoned international agreements, treated allies as clients, badly mismanaged the pandemic and, most important, exacerbated political polarization and social dysfunction — definitively stripped America of its authority. With this legacy, no American president would have a substantial audience in Russia.

Secure internally and with little to lose, Vladimir Putin is ready for President Biden. As for his image in the United States and the rest of the West, it’s fair to assume — after years as their arch-villain and evil mastermind — that Mr. Putin couldn’t care less.

For a while, it wasn’t clear that this week’s meeting in Geneva between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Biden would go ahead. Mr. Biden, seeking his first encounter as president with Mr.

For a while, it wasn’t clear that this week’s meeting in Geneva between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Biden would go ahead. Mr. Biden, seeking his first encounter as president with Mr. Putin, made the invitation in mid-April; but it took until the end of May for the summit to be confirmed. Despite Mr. Putin’s experience with American presidents — he’s dealt with four, across two decades — the Kremlin, Russian officials said, was considering the risk that Mr. Biden would use the meeting to publicly lecture his Russian counterpart on democracy and human rights. The caution seemed reasonable. After all, the new American administration, especially by comparison with its predecessor, devotes considerable attention to promoting human rights across the globe. And Mr. Biden set out his stall when he agreed in an interview in March that Mr. Putin is a “killer.” Yet the Kremlin eventually accepted the invitation. Why? Besides the chance to de-escalate tensions, there’s one very good reason: Mr. Putin has nothing to fear from Mr. Biden. Enduringly popular and freshly buoyed by the quashing of the opposition, Russia’s president has ample cause to feel secure. Whatever the American president might say in Geneva — or his administration do, by way of sanctions — will not affect Mr. Putin’s rule in Russia. The first impediment for Mr. Biden is straightforward: His message will not get a good airing. Television, dominated by channels run or controlled by the state, remains the main source of news for three-quarters of Russians, so most people in Russia will see the American president through the Kremlin’s eyes. Independent media, recently curtailed by the authorities declaring several prominent outlets to be “foreign agents,” won’t be able to redress the imbalance. Yet even without this media filter, Mr. Putin has no reason to fear any aspersions Mr. Biden might cast his way. Though the president’s popularity has waned a touch since its peak in 2014, he retains the trust and approval of over 60 percent of Russians, according to Levada Center, an independent and highly respected polling organization. This might be more inertia and apathy than a conscious political affiliation, but the result is the same. The opposition can only dream about such ratings: Support for the most prominent opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny, doesn’t rise above 20 percent. The blame for that can’t be placed squarely on the Kremlin. Though the opposition is hampered by a range of state restrictions, the fact remains that opposition rallies do not attract significant numbers of participants. The last big protest in support of Mr. Navalny — one of the largest displays of dissent in the past decade — brought between 51,000 and 120,000 people to 109 cities across the country on April 21, according to opposition outlets. But even if you take the higher number, that amounts to less than 0.1 percent of the country’s population. Protesting is a minority interest. And that’s not just because Russian authorities have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to brutally suppress gatherings. Many people unhappy with life in Russia stay away from protests because they don’t associate themselves with the organizers and don’t believe they can bring about change from the street. In a recent survey by the Levada Center, only 21 percent of respondents said they would consider going to a rally in support of economic demands, and even fewer, 16 percent, said they’d go in support of political demands. There are demographic divides — young people are generally more eager to protest — but that doesn’t really change the picture. What’s more, those ready to actively challenge Mr. Putin’s rule have been repressed. Mr. Navalny, who returned to the country in January in the hope of setting off a substantive movement to oppose Mr. Putin, was imprisoned with a two-and-a-half-year sentence. Many of his allies were jailed, while others fled the country. And last week, his organization, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, whose activities were already suspended, was officially labeled “extremist” — effectively preventing its activists from running in future elections and further intimidating supporters. It’s not just Mr. Navalny. Another opposition network — Open Russia, founded by a former oil tycoon and now exiled Kremlin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky — recently announced its closure, hoping to protect its coordinators. That didn’t stop the arrest on May 31 of one of the group’s executives, Andrey Pivovarov, who now faces up to six years in prison. Fearing the same fate, another prominent opposition figure, Dmitry Gudkov, fled to Ukraine in early June. Ahead of September’s legislative elections, the authorities have disbanded the opposition and docked the media, closing down the space for dissent. But a majority of Russians, consumed by the concerns of everyday life and long inured to Mr. Putin’s rule, don’t seem to care much. With them, Mr. Biden’s message about the inviolability of human rights and the sanctity of democracy — both of which are slipping away in Russia, to no general uproar — is likely to ring hollow. Even among Russians who actively support democracy, the rule of law and human rights, Mr. Biden won’t find much support. Over the past decades, many Russian liberals have become disillusioned with the West, especially the United States. For some, America’s image started to crack with the bombing of Yugoslavia and the war in Iraq. For others, it was the revelations of WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden, which brought to light a host of America’s covert operations and dirty dealings, that soured feelings of admiration. And for many, the presidency of Donald Trump — during which Washington abandoned international agreements, treated allies as clients, badly mismanaged the pandemic and, most important, exacerbated political polarization and social dysfunction — definitively stripped America of its authority. With this legacy, no American president would have a substantial audience in Russia. Secure internally and with little to lose, Vladimir Putin is ready for President Biden. As for his image in the United States and the rest of the West, it’s fair to assume — after years as their arch-villain and evil mastermind — that Mr. Putin couldn’t care less.

Sorry, Biden. Putin honestly could not care less

This week saw US President Joe Biden engaging with world leaders on a wide range of issues. He also sat with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for a historic summit that was closely watched across the world.

Biden and Putin hold first in-person meeting in Geneva

President Joe Biden's executive order aimed at safeguarding Americans' sensitive data would force some Chinese apps to take tougher measures to protect private information if they want to remain in the US market.

Chinese apps could face subpoenas or bans under Biden's new order

There was no breakthrough in the Geneva Summit between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The differences outweighed the gains. But what did the leaders' body language give away? Palki Sharma has the details.

Gravitas: Highlights of the Geneva Summit of US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin

For a while, it wasn’t clear that this week’s meeting in Geneva between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Biden would go ahead.

Mr. Biden, seeking his first encounter as president with Mr. Putin, made the invitation in&nbsp;mid-April; but it took until the&nbsp;end of May&nbsp;for the summit to be confirmed. Despite Mr. Putin’s experience with American presidents, he’s dealt with four, across two decades, the Kremlin, Russian officials said, was considering the risk that Mr. Biden would use the meeting to publicly lecture his Russian counterpart on democracy and human rights.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-blog-will-not-tolerate-violence-of-democratic-sovereignty-biden-tells-putin-391919">Live blog: Will not tolerate violence of democratic sovereignty, Biden tells Putin</a>

The caution seemed reasonable. After all, the new American administration, especially by comparison with its predecessor, devotes considerable attention to promoting human rights across the globe. And Mr. Biden set out his stall when he agreed in an interview in March that Mr. Putin is a “killer.”

Yet the Kremlin eventually accepted the invitation. Why? Besides the chance to de-escalate tensions, there’s one very good reason: Mr. Putin has nothing to fear from Mr. Biden. Enduringly popular and freshly buoyed by the quashing of the opposition, Russia’s president has ample cause to feel secure. Whatever the American president might say in Geneva — or his administration do, by way of sanctions — will not affect Mr. Putin’s rule in Russia.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-joint-press-conference-after-biden-putin-meet-says-white-house-391043">No joint press conference after Biden-Putin meet, says White House</a>

The first impediment for Mr. Biden is straightforward: His message will not get a good airing. Television, dominated by channels run or controlled by the state, remains the main source of news for&nbsp;three-quarters of Russians, so most people in Russia will see the American president through the Kremlin’s eyes. Independent media, recently curtailed by the authorities declaring several prominent outlets to be “foreign agents,” won’t be able to redress the imbalance.

Yet even without this media filter, Mr. Putin has no reason to fear any aspersions Mr. Biden might cast his way. Though the president’s popularity has waned a touch since its peak in 2014, he retains the trust and approval of over 60 per cent of Russians, according to&nbsp;Levada Center, an independent and highly respected polling organization. This might be more inertia and apathy than a conscious political affiliation, but the result is the same. The opposition can only dream about such ratings: Support for the most prominent opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny, doesn’t rise above&nbsp;20 per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/excessive-expectations-over-biden-putin-summit-kremlin-387559">Excessive expectations over Biden-Putin summit: Kremlin</a>

The blame for that can’t be placed squarely on the Kremlin. Though the opposition is hampered by a range of state restrictions, the fact remains that opposition rallies do not attract significant numbers of participants. The last big protest in support of Mr. Navalny — one of the largest&nbsp;displays of dissent&nbsp;in the past decade, brought between&nbsp;51,000 and 120,000&nbsp;people to 109 cities across the country on April 21, according to opposition outlets. But even if you take the higher number, that amounts to less than 0.1 per cent of the country’s population. Protesting is a minority interest.

And that’s not just because Russian authorities have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness&nbsp;to brutally suppress gatherings. Many people unhappy with life in Russia stay away from protests because they don’t associate themselves with the organizers and don’t believe they can bring about change from the street. In a&nbsp;recent survey&nbsp;by the Levada Center, only 21 per cent of respondents said they would consider going to a rally in support of economic demands, and even fewer, 16 per cent, said they’d go in support of political demands. There are demographic divides, young people are generally more eager to protest, but that doesn’t really change the picture.

What’s more, those ready to actively challenge Mr. Putin’s rule have been repressed. Mr. Navalny, who returned to the country in January in the hope of setting off a substantive movement to oppose Mr. Putin,&nbsp;was imprisoned&nbsp;with a two-and-a-half-year sentence. Many of his allies were jailed, while others fled the country. And last week, his organization, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, whose activities were already suspended, was officially&nbsp;labeled “extremist”&nbsp;— effectively preventing its activists from running in future elections and further intimidating supporters.

It’s not just Mr. Navalny. Another opposition network;&nbsp;Open Russia, founded by a former oil tycoon and now exiled Kremlin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, recently&nbsp;announced its closure, hoping to protect its coordinators. That didn’t stop the arrest on May 31 of one of the group’s executives,&nbsp;Andrey Pivovarov, who now faces up to&nbsp;six years in prison. Fearing the same fate, another prominent opposition figure,&nbsp;Dmitry Gudkov, fled to Ukraine in early June.

Ahead of September’s legislative elections, the authorities have disbanded the opposition and docked the media, closing down the space for dissent. But a majority of Russians, consumed by the concerns of everyday life and long inured to Mr. Putin’s rule, don’t seem to care much. With them, Mr. Biden’s message about the inviolability of human rights and the sanctity of democracy, both of which are slipping away in Russia, to no general uproar, is likely to ring hollow.

Even among Russians who actively support democracy, the rule of law and human rights, Mr. Biden won’t find much support. Over the past decades, many Russian liberals have become&nbsp;disillusioned with the West, especially the United States. For some, America’s image started to crack with the bombing of Yugoslavia and the war in Iraq. For others, it was the revelations of WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden, which brought to light a host of America’s covert operations and dirty dealings, that soured feelings of admiration.

And for many, the presidency of Donald Trump, during which Washington abandoned international agreements, treated allies as clients, badly mismanaged the pandemic and, most important, exacerbated political polarisation and social dysfunction, definitively&nbsp;stripped America of its authority. With this legacy, no American president would have a substantial audience in Russia.

Secure internally and with little to lose, Vladimir Putin is ready for President Biden. As for his image in the United States and the rest of the West, it’s fair to assume, after years as their arch-villain and evil mastermind, that Mr. Putin couldn’t care less.

For a while, it wasn’t clear that this week’s meeting in Geneva between President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Biden would go ahead. Mr. Biden, seeking his first encounter as president with Mr. Putin, made the invitation in mid-April; but it took until the end of May for the summit to be confirmed. Despite Mr. Putin’s experience with American presidents, he’s dealt with four, across two decades, the Kremlin, Russian officials said, was considering the risk that Mr. Biden would use the meeting to publicly lecture his Russian counterpart on democracy and human rights. Also read | Live blog: Will not tolerate violence of democratic sovereignty, Biden tells Putin The caution seemed reasonable. After all, the new American administration, especially by comparison with its predecessor, devotes considerable attention to promoting human rights across the globe. And Mr. Biden set out his stall when he agreed in an interview in March that Mr. Putin is a “killer.” Yet the Kremlin eventually accepted the invitation. Why? Besides the chance to de-escalate tensions, there’s one very good reason: Mr. Putin has nothing to fear from Mr. Biden. Enduringly popular and freshly buoyed by the quashing of the opposition, Russia’s president has ample cause to feel secure. Whatever the American president might say in Geneva — or his administration do, by way of sanctions — will not affect Mr. Putin’s rule in Russia. Also read | No joint press conference after Biden-Putin meet, says White House The first impediment for Mr. Biden is straightforward: His message will not get a good airing. Television, dominated by channels run or controlled by the state, remains the main source of news for three-quarters of Russians, so most people in Russia will see the American president through the Kremlin’s eyes. Independent media, recently curtailed by the authorities declaring several prominent outlets to be “foreign agents,” won’t be able to redress the imbalance. Yet even without this media filter, Mr. Putin has no reason to fear any aspersions Mr. Biden might cast his way. Though the president’s popularity has waned a touch since its peak in 2014, he retains the trust and approval of over 60 per cent of Russians, according to Levada Center, an independent and highly respected polling organization. This might be more inertia and apathy than a conscious political affiliation, but the result is the same. The opposition can only dream about such ratings: Support for the most prominent opposition leader, Aleksei Navalny, doesn’t rise above 20 per cent. Also read | Excessive expectations over Biden-Putin summit: Kremlin The blame for that can’t be placed squarely on the Kremlin. Though the opposition is hampered by a range of state restrictions, the fact remains that opposition rallies do not attract significant numbers of participants. The last big protest in support of Mr. Navalny — one of the largest displays of dissent in the past decade, brought between 51,000 and 120,000 people to 109 cities across the country on April 21, according to opposition outlets. But even if you take the higher number, that amounts to less than 0.1 per cent of the country’s population. Protesting is a minority interest. And that’s not just because Russian authorities have repeatedly demonstrated their willingness to brutally suppress gatherings. Many people unhappy with life in Russia stay away from protests because they don’t associate themselves with the organizers and don’t believe they can bring about change from the street. In a recent survey by the Levada Center, only 21 per cent of respondents said they would consider going to a rally in support of economic demands, and even fewer, 16 per cent, said they’d go in support of political demands. There are demographic divides, young people are generally more eager to protest, but that doesn’t really change the picture. What’s more, those ready to actively challenge Mr. Putin’s rule have been repressed. Mr. Navalny, who returned to the country in January in the hope of setting off a substantive movement to oppose Mr. Putin, was imprisoned with a two-and-a-half-year sentence. Many of his allies were jailed, while others fled the country. And last week, his organization, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, whose activities were already suspended, was officially labeled “extremist” — effectively preventing its activists from running in future elections and further intimidating supporters. It’s not just Mr. Navalny. Another opposition network; Open Russia, founded by a former oil tycoon and now exiled Kremlin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, recently announced its closure, hoping to protect its coordinators. That didn’t stop the arrest on May 31 of one of the group’s executives, Andrey Pivovarov, who now faces up to six years in prison. Fearing the same fate, another prominent opposition figure, Dmitry Gudkov, fled to Ukraine in early June. Ahead of September’s legislative elections, the authorities have disbanded the opposition and docked the media, closing down the space for dissent. But a majority of Russians, consumed by the concerns of everyday life and long inured to Mr. Putin’s rule, don’t seem to care much. With them, Mr. Biden’s message about the inviolability of human rights and the sanctity of democracy, both of which are slipping away in Russia, to no general uproar, is likely to ring hollow. Even among Russians who actively support democracy, the rule of law and human rights, Mr. Biden won’t find much support. Over the past decades, many Russian liberals have become disillusioned with the West, especially the United States. For some, America’s image started to crack with the bombing of Yugoslavia and the war in Iraq. For others, it was the revelations of WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden, which brought to light a host of America’s covert operations and dirty dealings, that soured feelings of admiration. And for many, the presidency of Donald Trump, during which Washington abandoned international agreements, treated allies as clients, badly mismanaged the pandemic and, most important, exacerbated political polarisation and social dysfunction, definitively stripped America of its authority. With this legacy, no American president would have a substantial audience in Russia. Secure internally and with little to lose, Vladimir Putin is ready for President Biden. As for his image in the United States and the rest of the West, it’s fair to assume, after years as their arch-villain and evil mastermind, that Mr. Putin couldn’t care less.

Sorry, Biden. Putin honestly could not care less.

“The tone of the entire meeting was good, positive,” Biden said, adding: “The bottom line is, I told President Putin that we need to have some basic rules of the road that we can all abide by.”

Biden and Putin hold first face-to-face meeting in Geneva

Almost a day after meeting the US President, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-seeks-mutual-interests-rational-way-with-putin-391983">historic summit</a>, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has said his government is ready to continue the dialogue with the US if the other side agrees.

"We are ready to continue this dialogue to the same extent as the American side is," Putin said during a televised session.

Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/highlights-stone-face-rare-eye-contact-biden-and-putins-historic-summit-391948">Highlights: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit</a>

His statement has come after the two world leaders held detailed discussions on various issues on Wednesday at the picturesque villa in Geneva.

The tone of the meeting was expected to be a little grim but the two leaders surprised the world by cordially extending an olive branch, while slyly staying away from matters that have erupted in chaos in the recent past.

"Biden is a professional, you have to be very attentive when working with him so as not to miss something," Putin said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/day-after-putin-biden-summit-kremlin-says-ukraine-joining-nato-would-be-a-red-line-for-russia-392182">Day after Putin-Biden summit, Kremlin says Ukraine joining NATO would be a 'red line' for Russia</a>

However, Putin also took a sly dig at Biden infamously mixing up Syria and Libya at the G7 conference. "So what that he sometimes confuses things. His press secretary&nbsp;is a young, educated, beautiful woman -- she herself constantly confuses things," Putin remarked, referring to White House press secretary Jen Psaki. "It is not because she is poorly educated or has a bad memory, just when people think that some things are secondary they &nbsp;don't focus too much attention on them."

"I know that you have been on a long trip and had a lot of work, still the&nbsp;US-Russian&nbsp;relations have a lot of issues accumulated that require meetings at the highest level," Putin told Biden before starting the summit.

Meanwhile, Biden, too, assured everyone that the US is "not looking for conflict" but also announced that the US “is back” after the Trump era and will "respond if&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;continues its harmful activities".

Putin, too, after the summit claimed that "Americans think that nothing is more important than themselves".

Almost a day after meeting the US President, Joe Biden, in a historic summit, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has said his government is ready to continue the dialogue with the US if the other side agrees.

Almost a day after meeting the US President, Joe Biden, in a historic summit, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has said his government is ready to continue the dialogue with the US if the other side agrees. "We are ready to continue this dialogue to the same extent as the American side is," Putin said during a televised session. Have a look | Highlights: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit His statement has come after the two world leaders held detailed discussions on various issues on Wednesday at the picturesque villa in Geneva. The tone of the meeting was expected to be a little grim but the two leaders surprised the world by cordially extending an olive branch, while slyly staying away from matters that have erupted in chaos in the recent past. "Biden is a professional, you have to be very attentive when working with him so as not to miss something," Putin said. Also read | Day after Putin-Biden summit, Kremlin says Ukraine joining NATO would be a 'red line' for Russia However, Putin also took a sly dig at Biden infamously mixing up Syria and Libya at the G7 conference. "So what that he sometimes confuses things. His press secretary is a young, educated, beautiful woman -- she herself constantly confuses things," Putin remarked, referring to White House press secretary Jen Psaki. "It is not because she is poorly educated or has a bad memory, just when people think that some things are secondary they don't focus too much attention on them." "I know that you have been on a long trip and had a lot of work, still the US-Russian relations have a lot of issues accumulated that require meetings at the highest level," Putin told Biden before starting the summit. Meanwhile, Biden, too, assured everyone that the US is "not looking for conflict" but also announced that the US “is back” after the Trump era and will "respond if Russia continues its harmful activities". Putin, too, after the summit claimed that "Americans think that nothing is more important than themselves".

Russia ready to continue dialogue if US is willing, Putin says after meeting Biden

As the US President Joe Biden met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a historic summit in Geneva, Osama Bin Laden’s niece waved a "Trump won" flag.

Videos on social media showed &nbsp;34-year-old Noor bin Laden standing in a boat in Geneva Lake, Switzerland with a blue flag supporting former US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump.</a>

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— Noor Bin Ladin (@NoorBinLadin) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoorBinLadin/status/1404864935650369537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The niece of the 9/11 mastermind believes the former president won the US election 2020, not&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, and wants the former reality TV star to return to the White House.

She claimed the local police confiscated her signboards. "You're going to arrest me? If I don’t give you the signs, you’re going to arrest me?" she was seen asking the police officers in the video. "Donald Trump won the 2020 election, and we’re not allowed here in Switzerland?"

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/read-watch-blow-by-blow-account-of-biden-putin-summit-391919" hreflang="en">Read &amp; Watch: Blow-by-blow account of Biden-Putin summit</a>

Noor Bin laden claims to be a staunch supporter of Trump since his early days in politics in 2015 and admire “this man’s resolve". She also believes the re-election of Trump is "vital for the future of not only America, but Western civilisation as a whole."

As the US President Joe Biden met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a historic summit in Geneva, Osama Bin Laden’s niece waved a "Trump won" flag. Videos on social media showed 34-year-old Noor bin Laden standing in a boat in Geneva Lake, Switzerland with a blue flag supporting former US President Donald Trump.

As the US President Joe Biden met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a historic summit in Geneva, Osama Bin Laden’s niece waved a "Trump won" flag. Videos on social media showed 34-year-old Noor bin Laden standing in a boat in Geneva Lake, Switzerland with a blue flag supporting former US President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/TXk0acVQqi — Noor Bin Ladin (@NoorBinLadin) June 15, 2021 × The niece of the 9/11 mastermind believes the former president won the US election 2020, not Joe Biden, and wants the former reality TV star to return to the White House. She claimed the local police confiscated her signboards. "You're going to arrest me? If I don’t give you the signs, you’re going to arrest me?" she was seen asking the police officers in the video. "Donald Trump won the 2020 election, and we’re not allowed here in Switzerland?" Also read | Read & Watch: Blow-by-blow account of Biden-Putin summit Noor Bin laden claims to be a staunch supporter of Trump since his early days in politics in 2015 and admire “this man’s resolve". She also believes the re-election of Trump is "vital for the future of not only America, but Western civilisation as a whole."

Osama Bin Laden's niece voices support for Trump during Biden-Putin summit

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