US President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Texas which has suffered widespread power blackouts and water shortages during a deep freeze, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Saturday.

The action makes federal funding available to individuals across the state, including assistance for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans.

The winter storm has left millions without heat, food or safe drinking water. At least 30 people have died in Texas since Sunday, according to the Washington Post, due to the storm and a frigid snap.

Biden is also weighing a trip to Texas to survey the federal response to the first new crisis to develop since he took office a month ago. The White House is working closely with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who did not initially acknowledge Biden’s November election win.

All the state’s power plants had returned to service, although more than 195,000 homes remained without electricity on Friday morning, and residents of 160 of Texas’ 254 counties had water service disruptions, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Half of the state is under a boil-water advisory after water treatment centers experienced blackouts. Even those with access to safe water have been told to turn off their water, for fear thawing pipes will burst, causing flooding.

(with inputs)

US President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Texas which has suffered widespread power blackouts and water shortages during a deep freeze, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Saturday.

US President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Texas which has suffered widespread power blackouts and water shortages during a deep freeze, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Saturday. The action makes federal funding available to individuals across the state, including assistance for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans. The winter storm has left millions without heat, food or safe drinking water. At least 30 people have died in Texas since Sunday, according to the Washington Post, due to the storm and a frigid snap. Biden is also weighing a trip to Texas to survey the federal response to the first new crisis to develop since he took office a month ago. The White House is working closely with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who did not initially acknowledge Biden’s November election win. All the state’s power plants had returned to service, although more than 195,000 homes remained without electricity on Friday morning, and residents of 160 of Texas’ 254 counties had water service disruptions, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Half of the state is under a boil-water advisory after water treatment centers experienced blackouts. Even those with access to safe water have been told to turn off their water, for fear thawing pipes will burst, causing flooding. (with inputs)

Biden approves major disaster declaration for Texas

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>on Friday urged American allies to work towards addressing Iran's "destabilising" activities across the Middle East.

Biden's remarks came in at the Munich Security Conference a day after he urged European allies to return nuclear talks with Iran.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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"The threat of nuclear proliferation also continues to require careful diplomacy and cooperation among us," the US president said in the teleconference.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-his-first-major-global-appearance-biden-draws-sharp-contrast-with-trumps-policies-364920">At his first major global appearance, Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump's policies</a>

"That's why we have said we're prepared to reengage in negotiations with the P5+1 on Iran's nuclear program."&nbsp;

"We must also address Iran's destabilising activities across the Middle East, and we're going to work in close cooperation with our European and other partners as we proceed."

After Biden's predecessor <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump </a>pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran resumed the enrichment of uranium, raising threats of the Islamic republic developing nuclear weaponry.&nbsp;

On Thursday, the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price hinted at a diplomatic solution to the issue as he said that the US has accepted an invitation by the European Union political director Enrique Mora for an informal meet to discuss Iran.&nbsp;

The spokesperson said the meeting would "discuss a diplomatic way forward."

To ease tensions with Iran, the US has also dropped Trump's approach of a push at the UN to impose more sanctions on Iran and removed curbs on the Iranian diplomats accredited to the United Nations in New York.

However, Tehran has continued its demand to lift all the sanctions imposed by Trump.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden on Friday urged American allies to work towards addressing Iran's "destabilising" activities across the Middle East. Biden's remarks came in at the Munich Security Conference a day after he urged European allies to return nuclear talks with Iran.

US President Joe Biden on Friday urged American allies to work towards addressing Iran's "destabilising" activities across the Middle East. Biden's remarks came in at the Munich Security Conference a day after he urged European allies to return nuclear talks with Iran. Watch | "The threat of nuclear proliferation also continues to require careful diplomacy and cooperation among us," the US president said in the teleconference. Also read | At his first major global appearance, Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump's policies "That's why we have said we're prepared to reengage in negotiations with the P5+1 on Iran's nuclear program." "We must also address Iran's destabilising activities across the Middle East, and we're going to work in close cooperation with our European and other partners as we proceed." After Biden's predecessor Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran resumed the enrichment of uranium, raising threats of the Islamic republic developing nuclear weaponry. On Thursday, the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price hinted at a diplomatic solution to the issue as he said that the US has accepted an invitation by the European Union political director Enrique Mora for an informal meet to discuss Iran. The spokesperson said the meeting would "discuss a diplomatic way forward." To ease tensions with Iran, the US has also dropped Trump's approach of a push at the UN to impose more sanctions on Iran and removed curbs on the Iranian diplomats accredited to the United Nations in New York. However, Tehran has continued its demand to lift all the sanctions imposed by Trump.

Biden urges allies to work towards addressing Iran's 'destabilising' activities

President Joe Biden on Friday (February 19) said he is confident the United States will exceed his goal of delivering 100 million vaccine doses in the first 100 days of his term in office.

Biden confident US will deliver more than 100 million vaccine shots in 100 days

After being trodded away for years by the Trump administration, asylum seekers have finally started returning to the US by the border under President Joe Biden's new immigration reforms.

The first group of 25 asylum seekers crossed the US border recently, with thousands of others waiting for their turn.

Biden's new and progressive immigration reforms have come as a welcome step as tens of thousands of asylum seekers from Central America were earlier being sent back through the border under Trump's "Remain in Mexico" program.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-his-first-major-global-appearance-biden-draws-sharp-contrast-with-trumps-policies-364920" hreflang="en">At his first major global appearance, Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump's policies</a>

The former US President Donald Trump was infamous for being against immigrants. Pertaining to that, he had issued notices to send immigrants back over the border due to the pending outcome of their applications.

Within a few days of taking over the White House, Biden's administration rushed to control the damage made by the previous administration and started to dismantle the controversial policy called the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).

The group of 25 migrants crossed the border by bus from the Mexican city of Tijuana and were accompanied by volunteers of UNHCR.&nbsp;

After being trodded away for years by the Trump administration, asylum seekers have finally started returning to the US by the border under President Joe Biden's new immigration reforms.

After being trodded away for years by the Trump administration, asylum seekers have finally started returning to the US by the border under President Joe Biden's new immigration reforms. The first group of 25 asylum seekers crossed the US border recently, with thousands of others waiting for their turn. Biden's new and progressive immigration reforms have come as a welcome step as tens of thousands of asylum seekers from Central America were earlier being sent back through the border under Trump's "Remain in Mexico" program. Also read| At his first major global appearance, Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump's policies The former US President Donald Trump was infamous for being against immigrants. Pertaining to that, he had issued notices to send immigrants back over the border due to the pending outcome of their applications. Within a few days of taking over the White House, Biden's administration rushed to control the damage made by the previous administration and started to dismantle the controversial policy called the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). The group of 25 migrants crossed the border by bus from the Mexican city of Tijuana and were accompanied by volunteers of UNHCR.

First group of asylum seekers cross US border from Mexico

US President Joe Biden has reassured Americans that Covid vaccine shots are safe, and hold the key to beating the coronavirus pandemic.

The Democratic president on Friday visited a Pfizer factory manufacturing coronavirus vaccines -- at record speed -- in response to the global health crisis.

"The vaccines are safe. Please, for yourself, your family, your community, this country, take the vaccine when it's your turn and it's available. That's how we beat this pandemic," he said, against a backdrop of Pfizer's gleaming manufacturing equipment at the Michigan facility.

Biden said companies making the vaccines are "fastidious" and "it takes more time to do the check for safety than it does to make the vaccine. That's how fastidious they are."

"If there's one message to cut through to everyone in the country, it's this: Vaccines are safe," he added.

Biden said the programme to deliver the vaccines into people's arms is as complicated as the already intense challenges of manufacturing in huge quantities at speed.

"There has never, ever, ever been a logistical challenge as consequential as what we're trying to do, but we're getting it done," he said.&nbsp;

According to Biden, his goal of administering a million shots a day for a total of 100 million in the first 100 days of his presidency is on track to be easily surpassed, with a current average of 1.7 million vaccines a day.

Biden said that 600 million doses -- enough to cover most of the country -- were expected to be ready by the end of July.

"I believe we'll be approaching normalcy by the end of this year. God willing, this Christmas will be different to last, but I can't make that commitment," he said.

Meanwhile, the death toll is set soon to pass 500,000 in the United States.

US President Joe Biden has reassured Americans that Covid vaccine shots are safe, and hold the key to beating the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic president on Friday visited a Pfizer factory manufacturing coronavirus vaccines -- at record speed -- in response to the global health crisis.

US President Joe Biden has reassured Americans that Covid vaccine shots are safe, and hold the key to beating the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic president on Friday visited a Pfizer factory manufacturing coronavirus vaccines -- at record speed -- in response to the global health crisis. "The vaccines are safe. Please, for yourself, your family, your community, this country, take the vaccine when it's your turn and it's available. That's how we beat this pandemic," he said, against a backdrop of Pfizer's gleaming manufacturing equipment at the Michigan facility. Biden said companies making the vaccines are "fastidious" and "it takes more time to do the check for safety than it does to make the vaccine. That's how fastidious they are." "If there's one message to cut through to everyone in the country, it's this: Vaccines are safe," he added. Biden said the programme to deliver the vaccines into people's arms is as complicated as the already intense challenges of manufacturing in huge quantities at speed. "There has never, ever, ever been a logistical challenge as consequential as what we're trying to do, but we're getting it done," he said. According to Biden, his goal of administering a million shots a day for a total of 100 million in the first 100 days of his presidency is on track to be easily surpassed, with a current average of 1.7 million vaccines a day. Biden said that 600 million doses -- enough to cover most of the country -- were expected to be ready by the end of July. "I believe we'll be approaching normalcy by the end of this year. God willing, this Christmas will be different to last, but I can't make that commitment," he said. Meanwhile, the death toll is set soon to pass 500,000 in the United States.

Biden reassures Americans Covid vaccines are safe

The United States is building a new weapon of mass destruction -- one that was sanctioned during the Obama era.

The weapon had found support during Trump's presidency, and is likely to continue under the Joe Biden administration.

The weapon is worth $100 billion. Here's a report on how much money that is -- and the weapon it will buy.

US President Joe Biden once said, "America is back. America is back."

This was Biden's declaration in his first diplomatic address.

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&nbsp;

This simply means the second biggest nuclear power in the world was back at building a weapon of mass destruction.

The story begins on September 8, 2020. The US air force gave defence manufacturer North-Rop Grumman a $13.3 billion initial contract -- to begin engineering this missile.

This is just a fraction of the total bill -- which will reach $100 billion dollars by 2029.

It's called GBSD -- a ground based strategic deterrant. It will be able to travel 6,000 miles, carry a warhead 20 times more powerful -- than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

The weapons programme was sanctioned during the Obama era -- it was supported by Donald Trump, and is likely to continue under the Joe Biden administration.

The US air force is already planning to order 600 missiles.

When Biden won the election in November, there were reports that the programme could freeze once he takes the oath.

But close to a month has passed, and there has been no word on its cancellation. For all his promises of halting an arms race, Joe Biden doesn't seem to be walking the talk.

America's deep dive into nuclear militarism continues, regardless of which party is in power.

The United States is building a new weapon of mass destruction -- one that was sanctioned during the Obama era. The weapon had found support during Trump's presidency, and is likely to continue under the Joe Biden administration.

The United States is building a new weapon of mass destruction -- one that was sanctioned during the Obama era. The weapon had found support during Trump's presidency, and is likely to continue under the Joe Biden administration. The weapon is worth $100 billion. Here's a report on how much money that is -- and the weapon it will buy. US President Joe Biden once said, "America is back. America is back." This was Biden's declaration in his first diplomatic address. × This simply means the second biggest nuclear power in the world was back at building a weapon of mass destruction. The story begins on September 8, 2020. The US air force gave defence manufacturer North-Rop Grumman a $13.3 billion initial contract -- to begin engineering this missile. This is just a fraction of the total bill -- which will reach $100 billion dollars by 2029. It's called GBSD -- a ground based strategic deterrant. It will be able to travel 6,000 miles, carry a warhead 20 times more powerful -- than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. The weapons programme was sanctioned during the Obama era -- it was supported by Donald Trump, and is likely to continue under the Joe Biden administration. The US air force is already planning to order 600 missiles. When Biden won the election in November, there were reports that the programme could freeze once he takes the oath. But close to a month has passed, and there has been no word on its cancellation. For all his promises of halting an arms race, Joe Biden doesn't seem to be walking the talk. America's deep dive into nuclear militarism continues, regardless of which party is in power.

America's deep dive into nuclear militarism continues

US President Joe Biden on Friday drew a sharp contrast with the foreign policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, pledging to end transactional diplomacy and vowing climate change.

In a bid to promote democracy over years of divisive “America First” policies pursued by Trump, the Democratic president used his first big appearance on the global stage to try to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player.

The Friday address to the annual Munich Security Conference -- held by video link because of the Covid-19 pandemic -- dovetailed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming of a return to "multilateralism" after the confrontational years of Biden's predecessor.

The US president declared the alliance between the United States and Europe was back in place after Trump strained relations.

"I'm sending a clear message to the world. America is back. The transatlantic alliance is back," Biden said.

Here, he drew a stark difference with the more transactional foreign policy practised by Trump, who angered allies by breaking off global accords and threatening to end defense assistance unless they toed his line.

“Our partnerships have endured and grown through the years because they are rooted in the richness of our shared democratic values. They’re not transactional. They’re not extractive. They’re built on a vision of the future where every voice matters,” he said.

“I know, I know the past few years of strain (have) tested our transatlantic relationship, but the United States is determined - determined to re-engage with Europe,” he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trump-biden-and-g7-refocus-on-covid-recovery-364923">Also read |&nbsp;After Trump, Biden and G7 refocus on Covid recovery</a>

Biden also urged European allies to join together to confront strong political and economic challenges from China.

"We must prepare together for long-term strategic competition from China," Biden told the Munich security conference.

"We have to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared broadly and equitably, not just by a few. We can push back against the Chinese government's economic abuses and coercion and undercut the foundations of the international economic system," he said.

Biden also called on European allies to double down on commitments to fight climate change, warning of a "global existential crisis."

"We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change," Biden said, just hours after the United States formally rejoined the Paris accord on global warming.

"This is a global existential crisis. We will all suffer consequences," he told the Munich Security Conference.

The United States on Friday officially returned to the Paris climate accord, with Biden vowing to make the fight against global warming a top priority.

Biden said he was not seeking a return to "the rigid blocs of the Cold War," insisting that the international community must work together on issues like the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, even where deep disagreements exist on other issues.

The return of the United States -- effective Friday -- to the Paris climate agreement was proof of Washington's intentions, he said.

"We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change," Biden said, calling this a "global existential crisis."

But Biden delivered harsh warnings about the threats he said are posed by Russia and China.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-officially-back-in-paris-climate-accord-vows-action-364885">Also read |&nbsp;US officially back in Paris climate accord, vows action</a>

A month after Biden took office, the world's largest economy and second largest carbon emitter was formally back in the 2015 global agreement aimed at confronting the planet's dangerously rising temperatures.

The re-entry of the United States means that the Paris accord again includes virtually every country after Trump made the US the sole outlier.

Also, Biden delivered harsh warnings about the threats he said are posed by Russia and China.

"The Kremlin attacks our democracies and weaponizes corruption to try and undermine our system of governance," he said. President Vladimir Putin "seeks to weaken the European project and our NATO alliance."

Again urging Western unity, Biden said, "it's so much easier for the Kremlin to bully and threaten individual states than to negotiate with a strong, closely united transatlantic community."

Similarly, US partners should stand together against "the Chinese government's economic abuses and coercion that undercut the foundations of the international economic system," he said.

"Chinese companies should be held to the same standard" as US and European companies facing onerous restrictions on their presence in China, he said.

On Iran, Biden reiterated his pledge to return to international negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program, but said "we must address Iran's destabilising activities across the Middle East."

Biden's pivot is getting good reviews in Europe.

G7 leaders, in a similar vein, vowed a new chapter for global cooperation at their first summit since Biden succeeded the isolationist Trump.

"Drawing on our strengths and values as democratic, open economies and societies, we will work together and with others to make 2021 a turning point for multilateralism and to shape a recovery that promotes the health and prosperity of our people and planet," they said in a joint statement after the virtual summit.

They also agreed to "intensify cooperation" in response to the coronavirus pandemic and increase funding commitments for the rollout of vaccines in the world's poorest countries to $7.5 billion.

"Today, with increased financial commitments of over $4 billion USD to ACT-A and COVAX, collective G7 support totals $7.5 billion," the statement added.

Biden plans to join the elite club -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan apart from the US -- for an in-person G7 summit hosted by the UK this summer.

(with inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Friday drew a sharp contrast with the foreign policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, pledging to end transactional diplomacy and vowing climate change.

US President Joe Biden on Friday drew a sharp contrast with the foreign policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, pledging to end transactional diplomacy and vowing climate change. In a bid to promote democracy over years of divisive “America First” policies pursued by Trump, the Democratic president used his first big appearance on the global stage to try to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player. The Friday address to the annual Munich Security Conference -- held by video link because of the Covid-19 pandemic -- dovetailed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming of a return to "multilateralism" after the confrontational years of Biden's predecessor. The US president declared the alliance between the United States and Europe was back in place after Trump strained relations. "I'm sending a clear message to the world. America is back. The transatlantic alliance is back," Biden said. Here, he drew a stark difference with the more transactional foreign policy practised by Trump, who angered allies by breaking off global accords and threatening to end defense assistance unless they toed his line. “Our partnerships have endured and grown through the years because they are rooted in the richness of our shared democratic values. They’re not transactional. They’re not extractive. They’re built on a vision of the future where every voice matters,” he said. “I know, I know the past few years of strain (have) tested our transatlantic relationship, but the United States is determined - determined to re-engage with Europe,” he said. Also read | After Trump, Biden and G7 refocus on Covid recovery Biden also urged European allies to join together to confront strong political and economic challenges from China. "We must prepare together for long-term strategic competition from China," Biden told the Munich security conference. "We have to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared broadly and equitably, not just by a few. We can push back against the Chinese government's economic abuses and coercion and undercut the foundations of the international economic system," he said. Biden also called on European allies to double down on commitments to fight climate change, warning of a "global existential crisis." "We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change," Biden said, just hours after the United States formally rejoined the Paris accord on global warming. "This is a global existential crisis. We will all suffer consequences," he told the Munich Security Conference. The United States on Friday officially returned to the Paris climate accord, with Biden vowing to make the fight against global warming a top priority. Biden said he was not seeking a return to "the rigid blocs of the Cold War," insisting that the international community must work together on issues like the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, even where deep disagreements exist on other issues. The return of the United States -- effective Friday -- to the Paris climate agreement was proof of Washington's intentions, he said. "We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change," Biden said, calling this a "global existential crisis." But Biden delivered harsh warnings about the threats he said are posed by Russia and China. Also read | US officially back in Paris climate accord, vows action A month after Biden took office, the world's largest economy and second largest carbon emitter was formally back in the 2015 global agreement aimed at confronting the planet's dangerously rising temperatures. The re-entry of the United States means that the Paris accord again includes virtually every country after Trump made the US the sole outlier. Also, Biden delivered harsh warnings about the threats he said are posed by Russia and China. "The Kremlin attacks our democracies and weaponizes corruption to try and undermine our system of governance," he said. President Vladimir Putin "seeks to weaken the European project and our NATO alliance." Again urging Western unity, Biden said, "it's so much easier for the Kremlin to bully and threaten individual states than to negotiate with a strong, closely united transatlantic community." Similarly, US partners should stand together against "the Chinese government's economic abuses and coercion that undercut the foundations of the international economic system," he said. "Chinese companies should be held to the same standard" as US and European companies facing onerous restrictions on their presence in China, he said. On Iran, Biden reiterated his pledge to return to international negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program, but said "we must address Iran's destabilising activities across the Middle East." Biden's pivot is getting good reviews in Europe. G7 leaders, in a similar vein, vowed a new chapter for global cooperation at their first summit since Biden succeeded the isolationist Trump. "Drawing on our strengths and values as democratic, open economies and societies, we will work together and with others to make 2021 a turning point for multilateralism and to shape a recovery that promotes the health and prosperity of our people and planet," they said in a joint statement after the virtual summit. They also agreed to "intensify cooperation" in response to the coronavirus pandemic and increase funding commitments for the rollout of vaccines in the world's poorest countries to $7.5 billion. "Today, with increased financial commitments of over $4 billion USD to ACT-A and COVAX, collective G7 support totals $7.5 billion," the statement added. Biden plans to join the elite club -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan apart from the US -- for an in-person G7 summit hosted by the UK this summer. (with inputs from agencies)

At his first major global appearance, Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump's policies

Wealthy G7 powers on Friday ramped up health funding for poorer nations after accusations they are hoarding coronavirus vaccines, as US President Joe Biden and the rest of the leaders declared a "turning point" from the psychodramas of the Trump era.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, this year's chair of the G7, vowed to free up any surplus UK vaccines for poorer countries at a future date, and underlined the need for collective action to recover from the pandemic.

"We've got to make sure the whole world is vaccinated because this is a global pandemic and it's no use one country being far ahead of another, we've got to move together," he said in opening remarks at the online summit, the G7's first since last April when the group was rent apart by then president Donald Trump.

At the G7, Biden brought a pledge of $4 billion (4.6 billion euros) in US aid to the UN's Covax fund to buy vaccines for global distribution.&nbsp;

Germany said it was giving an extra 1.5 billion euros for the global rollout, and the European Union doubled its own Covax funding to one billion euros.

The total in G7 commitments stands at 7.5 billion euros, the group said in a joint statement following the talks.

"Drawing on our strengths and values as democratic, open economies and societies, we will work together and with others to make 2021 a turning point for multilateralism and to shape a recovery that promotes the health and prosperity of our people and planet," the leaders added.

- 'Inflection point' -

But ahead of the gathering, French President Emmanuel Macron had demanded richer nations go further by transferring 3-5 percent of their existing stock to Africa.

"It's an unprecedented acceleration of global inequality and it's politically unsustainable too because it's paving the way for a war of influence over vaccines," he told the Financial Times, as Russia and China step up free or low-cost distribution of their own jabs.

The ONE Campaign, a global organisation co-founded by U2 singer Bono, said the G7 members plus Australia had collectively bought nearly 1.25 billion more doses than they needed to inoculate every member of their populations against Covid-19.

Later Friday, Biden, Johnson and EU leaders in the G7 joined another gathering online, the annual Munich Security Conference, to discuss "renewing transatlantic cooperation".&nbsp;

Biden became the first US president to address the Munich meeting, underlining a decisive shift after cooperation was all but broken under his go-it-alone predecessor.

The struggle worldwide between democracy and autocracy is at an "inflection point", Biden told the Munich conference.

"And I believe with every ounce of my being that democracy must prevail."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed President Biden's arrival on the stage.

"Multilateralism is boosted through the change in the US government -- the Biden administration has already demonstrated this with its first decisions" on returning to the Paris climate accord and rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO), she said.

- Absent China looms large -

Though Friday marked America's formal re-entry to the Paris climate accord, in a departure from Trump-era politics, Biden has maintained his predecessor's mistrust of China.

Beijing is not part of the G7 -- which comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US -- and Washington is repositioning rich democracies as a counterweight amid mistrust of China's initial handling of Covid-19.

Biden urged a collective pushback against China's "economic abuses", and also accused Russia of attacking democracies.

At Britain's urging, the G7 agreed to look into a possible pandemic treaty to enhance early warning and data transparency in case of future outbreaks.&nbsp;

London denies it has China in its sights, but the Asian power has been widely accused of covering up the emergence of the virus in late 2019 and depriving the WHO of vital early information.

Now that inoculation campaigns are picking up speed -- in the West at least -- G7 leaders also hope to look past the pandemic to financial recovery after lockdowns ravaged many economies.

Biden also said the world can "no longer do the bare minimum on climate", as Britain prepares to host the UN's next climate summit, COP26, in the Scottish city of Glasgow in November.&nbsp;

COP26 will cap a busy diplomatic year that will flesh out Johnson's vision of a "Global Britain", following its Brexit withdrawal from the EU.&nbsp;

He&nbsp;hopes to host the G7's leaders in person in June, at a resort in southwest England.

Wealthy G7 powers on Friday ramped up health funding for poorer nations after accusations they are hoarding coronavirus vaccines, as US President Joe Biden and the rest of the leaders declared a "turning point" from the psychodramas of the Trump era.

Wealthy G7 powers on Friday ramped up health funding for poorer nations after accusations they are hoarding coronavirus vaccines, as US President Joe Biden and the rest of the leaders declared a "turning point" from the psychodramas of the Trump era. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, this year's chair of the G7, vowed to free up any surplus UK vaccines for poorer countries at a future date, and underlined the need for collective action to recover from the pandemic. "We've got to make sure the whole world is vaccinated because this is a global pandemic and it's no use one country being far ahead of another, we've got to move together," he said in opening remarks at the online summit, the G7's first since last April when the group was rent apart by then president Donald Trump. At the G7, Biden brought a pledge of $4 billion (4.6 billion euros) in US aid to the UN's Covax fund to buy vaccines for global distribution. Germany said it was giving an extra 1.5 billion euros for the global rollout, and the European Union doubled its own Covax funding to one billion euros. The total in G7 commitments stands at 7.5 billion euros, the group said in a joint statement following the talks. "Drawing on our strengths and values as democratic, open economies and societies, we will work together and with others to make 2021 a turning point for multilateralism and to shape a recovery that promotes the health and prosperity of our people and planet," the leaders added. - 'Inflection point' - But ahead of the gathering, French President Emmanuel Macron had demanded richer nations go further by transferring 3-5 percent of their existing stock to Africa. "It's an unprecedented acceleration of global inequality and it's politically unsustainable too because it's paving the way for a war of influence over vaccines," he told the Financial Times, as Russia and China step up free or low-cost distribution of their own jabs. The ONE Campaign, a global organisation co-founded by U2 singer Bono, said the G7 members plus Australia had collectively bought nearly 1.25 billion more doses than they needed to inoculate every member of their populations against Covid-19. Later Friday, Biden, Johnson and EU leaders in the G7 joined another gathering online, the annual Munich Security Conference, to discuss "renewing transatlantic cooperation". Biden became the first US president to address the Munich meeting, underlining a decisive shift after cooperation was all but broken under his go-it-alone predecessor. The struggle worldwide between democracy and autocracy is at an "inflection point", Biden told the Munich conference. "And I believe with every ounce of my being that democracy must prevail." German Chancellor Angela Merkel hailed President Biden's arrival on the stage. "Multilateralism is boosted through the change in the US government -- the Biden administration has already demonstrated this with its first decisions" on returning to the Paris climate accord and rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO), she said. - Absent China looms large - Though Friday marked America's formal re-entry to the Paris climate accord, in a departure from Trump-era politics, Biden has maintained his predecessor's mistrust of China. Beijing is not part of the G7 -- which comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US -- and Washington is repositioning rich democracies as a counterweight amid mistrust of China's initial handling of Covid-19. Biden urged a collective pushback against China's "economic abuses", and also accused Russia of attacking democracies. At Britain's urging, the G7 agreed to look into a possible pandemic treaty to enhance early warning and data transparency in case of future outbreaks. London denies it has China in its sights, but the Asian power has been widely accused of covering up the emergence of the virus in late 2019 and depriving the WHO of vital early information. Now that inoculation campaigns are picking up speed -- in the West at least -- G7 leaders also hope to look past the pandemic to financial recovery after lockdowns ravaged many economies. Biden also said the world can "no longer do the bare minimum on climate", as Britain prepares to host the UN's next climate summit, COP26, in the Scottish city of Glasgow in November. COP26 will cap a busy diplomatic year that will flesh out Johnson's vision of a "Global Britain", following its Brexit withdrawal from the EU. He hopes to host the G7's leaders in person in June, at a resort in southwest England.

After Trump, Biden and G7 refocus on Covid recovery

Democrats introduced a bill based on the Biden administration’s immigration priorities that would provide a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants. Meanwhile, officials will begin processing Central American asylum-seekers who were turned back and forced to remain in Mexico under a controversial Trump-era policy that has been revoked.

Biden administration’s immigration policy and recent attacks on the Asian-American communities

The United States has officially returned to the Paris climate accord, exactly one month after Joe Biden took office as the president and immediately moved to rejoin.

The world's largest economy and second largest carbon emitter was formally back in the 2015 accord on Thursday.

The re-entry of the United States means that the Paris accord again includes virtually every country after Biden's predecessor Donald Trump made the US the sole outlier.

"Climate change and science diplomacy can never again be 'add-ons' in our foreign policy discussions," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement saluting the return of the United States.

Biden plans an April 22 climate summit to coincide with Earth Day and John Kerry, the former secretary of state and now US climate envoy, has called for the world to raise ambitions during UN climate talks in Glasgow in November.

Biden has vowed to make the US power sector pollution-free by 2035 and to go to an entirely net-zero-emission economy by 2050.

The Paris accord aims to limit global temperature rises to two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to go down to 1.5 degrees.

Trump had argued that the Paris climate accord was unfair to the United States.

The United States has officially returned to the Paris climate accord, exactly one month after Joe Biden took office as the president and immediately moved to rejoin.

The United States has officially returned to the Paris climate accord, exactly one month after Joe Biden took office as the president and immediately moved to rejoin. The world's largest economy and second largest carbon emitter was formally back in the 2015 accord on Thursday. The re-entry of the United States means that the Paris accord again includes virtually every country after Biden's predecessor Donald Trump made the US the sole outlier. "Climate change and science diplomacy can never again be 'add-ons' in our foreign policy discussions," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement saluting the return of the United States. Biden plans an April 22 climate summit to coincide with Earth Day and John Kerry, the former secretary of state and now US climate envoy, has called for the world to raise ambitions during UN climate talks in Glasgow in November. Biden has vowed to make the US power sector pollution-free by 2035 and to go to an entirely net-zero-emission economy by 2050. The Paris accord aims to limit global temperature rises to two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to go down to 1.5 degrees. Trump had argued that the Paris climate accord was unfair to the United States.

US officially back in Paris climate accord, vows action

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Some of the world's wealthiest countries are promising to share coronavirus vaccines with the poorest, but details of when and how many remain scarce as leaders of the Group of Seven economic powers hold their first meeting of 2021 on Friday | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-vows-to-share-vaccines-with-poor-nations-as-g-7-meets-364793">READ MORE</a>

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The United States says it has decided to de-link its suspension of millions of dollars of aid to Ethiopia from that country's dispute with Egypt over a massive hydroelectric dam project | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-aid-pause-to-ethiopia-no-longer-linked-to-dam-dispute-364855">READ MORE</a>

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials on Friday said that four 'Helina' anti-tank missiles were launched from Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv helicopter at Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-indias-homegrown-anti-tank-missile-helina-launched-successfully-ready-for-induction-364785">READ MORE</a>

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Biden to ask G7 allies to work together on China challenge US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together t

Biden to ask G7 allies to work together on China challenge US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together to address a range of concerns about China | READ MORE Britain vows to ‘share’ vaccines with poor nations as G-7 meets Some of the world's wealthiest countries are promising to share coronavirus vaccines with the poorest, but details of when and how many remain scarce as leaders of the Group of Seven economic powers hold their first meeting of 2021 on Friday | READ MORE US: Aid pause to Ethiopia no longer linked to dam dispute The United States says it has decided to de-link its suspension of millions of dollars of aid to Ethiopia from that country's dispute with Egypt over a massive hydroelectric dam project | READ MORE China looks for measures to lift flagging birthrate More than four years after ending its controversial one-child policy, China is considering additional measures to increase its flagging birthrate | READ MORE Watch: India's homegrown anti-tank missile Helina launched successfully, ready for induction The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officials on Friday said that four 'Helina' anti-tank missiles were launched from Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv helicopter at Pokhran ranges in Rajasthan | READ MORE Indian-American scientist Swati Mohan played key role in NASA Mars rover landing An Indian-American scientist, Swati Mohan, played a pivotal role in landing NASA's historic Perseverance rover on the Martian surface on Friday | READ MORE Pfizer first dose 85% effective after 2-4 weeks, study says The first dose of the Pfizer vaccination is 85 per cent effective against coronavirus infection between two and four weeks after inoculation | READ MORE Uber drivers are workers, not self-employed: UK Supreme Court Britain's top court on Friday ruled that ride-hailing giant Uber's drivers are entitled to workers' rights, in a judgment with huge implications for the "gig economy" | READ MORE China's Sinovac delivers 1 million doses to Hong Kong China's Sinovac delivered 1 million doses of its Covid vaccine CoronaVac to Hong Kong on Friday | READ MORE

Top ten world news: Biden to rally G7 allies, UK vows to share vaccines and more

US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together to address a range of concerns about China.

Biden is, however, not looking for a "new Cold War." The Democratic president will use a “virtual visit” to Europe to try to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player after four years of divisive “America First” policies pursued by Donald Trump.

Biden will urge democracies to work together to push back against practices and policies of the Chinese government that he will describe as “economically abusive and counter to our values.”

The Biden White House is reviewing China policy across an array of fronts, including its military buildup and trade policies, its actions in Hong Kong, treatment of minority Uighurs in Xinjiang and its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Biden will meet at 9 am (1400 GMT) with G7 leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan by video-conference, but plans to join them for an in-person summit hosted by the UK this summer.

Additionally, later on Friday morning, Biden will address an online session of the Munich Security Conference -- which often draws top global leaders.

Several years ago as a private citizen, Biden had reassured participants rattled by the Trump presidency: “We will be back.”

Biden will underscore that democracies, not autocracies, offer the best path forward for the world, after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters made clear that democracy was fragile.

The US president will also speak specifically about “malign” and concerted action he believes Russia has taken to destabilise and undermine democracy in the United States and Europe and elsewhere, and will call on allies to stand firm with Washington.

The Kremlin has, however, repeatedly denied any such action.

On the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear programme, Biden will say the United States looks forward to re-engaging in diplomacy amid efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal that Trump abandoned, the official said.

Biden will also urge other G7 leaders to continue to invest heavily in their economies to foster and accelerate economic growth.

(with inputs from Reuters)

US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together to address a range of concerns about China. Biden is, however, not looking for a "new Cold War.

US President Joe Biden will on Friday rally global democracies and European allies to work together to address a range of concerns about China. Biden is, however, not looking for a "new Cold War." The Democratic president will use a “virtual visit” to Europe to try to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player after four years of divisive “America First” policies pursued by Donald Trump. Biden will urge democracies to work together to push back against practices and policies of the Chinese government that he will describe as “economically abusive and counter to our values.” The Biden White House is reviewing China policy across an array of fronts, including its military buildup and trade policies, its actions in Hong Kong, treatment of minority Uighurs in Xinjiang and its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Biden will meet at 9 am (1400 GMT) with G7 leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan by video-conference, but plans to join them for an in-person summit hosted by the UK this summer. Additionally, later on Friday morning, Biden will address an online session of the Munich Security Conference -- which often draws top global leaders. Several years ago as a private citizen, Biden had reassured participants rattled by the Trump presidency: “We will be back.” Biden will underscore that democracies, not autocracies, offer the best path forward for the world, after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters made clear that democracy was fragile. The US president will also speak specifically about “malign” and concerted action he believes Russia has taken to destabilise and undermine democracy in the United States and Europe and elsewhere, and will call on allies to stand firm with Washington. The Kremlin has, however, repeatedly denied any such action. On the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear programme, Biden will say the United States looks forward to re-engaging in diplomacy amid efforts to revive the Iran nuclear deal that Trump abandoned, the official said. Biden will also urge other G7 leaders to continue to invest heavily in their economies to foster and accelerate economic growth. (with inputs from Reuters)

Biden to ask G7 allies to work together on China challenge

The President of The Unites States Joe Biden in his debut virtual G7 (Group of Seven) summit will be discussing COVID-19 vaccine distribution, ailing Economy and most prominently the challenges posed by China. The virtual summit, hosted by UK's PM Boris Johnson will also include leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the European Commission and European Council.

Joe Biden to debut at first virtual G7 Summit

Nearly a month after coming to office, President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) spoke to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since the inauguration and reiterated the United States' support for the recent normalisation of relations between Israel and countries in the Arab and Muslim world.&nbsp;

During the telephonic conversation, Biden affirmed his personal history of steadfast commitment to Israel's security and conveyed his intent to strengthen all aspects of the US-Israel partnership, including strong defence cooperation, according to an official statement issued by the White House.&nbsp;

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Netanyahu was the first leader in the Middle East to get a call from Biden, according to The Jerusalem Post. During the interaction, both leaders discussed the importance of continued close consultation on regional security issues, including Iran.&nbsp;

"Biden underscored the importance of working to advance peace throughout the region, including between Israelis and Palestinians," the statement said.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-us-immigration-reform-bill-to-be-unveiled-on-thursday-364547">Biden's US immigration reform bill to be unveiled on Thursday</a>

Both leaders also affirmed their shared interest in continued strategic cooperation to confront the many challenges facing the region.&nbsp;

Following the interaction, Biden tweeted, "I spoke today with Israeli PM Netanyahu and affirmed the United States' steadfast commitment to our ally Israel's security. Our teams are in constant touch to strengthen US-Israel strategic cooperation on all regional security issues, including Iran." &nbsp;

Last year on December 16, US President Donald Trump had presided over the signing ceremony at the White House to establish the foundation of the peace agreements between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. &nbsp;

Nearly a month after coming to office, President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) spoke to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since the inauguration and reiterated the United States' support for the recent normalisation of relations between Israel and countries in the Arab and Muslim world.

Nearly a month after coming to office, President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) spoke to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since the inauguration and reiterated the United States' support for the recent normalisation of relations between Israel and countries in the Arab and Muslim world. During the telephonic conversation, Biden affirmed his personal history of steadfast commitment to Israel's security and conveyed his intent to strengthen all aspects of the US-Israel partnership, including strong defence cooperation, according to an official statement issued by the White House. Also Read: US charges three North Korean hackers in $1.3 billion theft spree Netanyahu was the first leader in the Middle East to get a call from Biden, according to The Jerusalem Post. During the interaction, both leaders discussed the importance of continued close consultation on regional security issues, including Iran. "Biden underscored the importance of working to advance peace throughout the region, including between Israelis and Palestinians," the statement said. Also Read: Biden's US immigration reform bill to be unveiled on Thursday Both leaders also affirmed their shared interest in continued strategic cooperation to confront the many challenges facing the region. Following the interaction, Biden tweeted, "I spoke today with Israeli PM Netanyahu and affirmed the United States' steadfast commitment to our ally Israel's security. Our teams are in constant touch to strengthen US-Israel strategic cooperation on all regional security issues, including Iran." Last year on December 16, US President Donald Trump had presided over the signing ceremony at the White House to establish the foundation of the peace agreements between Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

Biden affirms support for normalisation of ties between Israel, Arab nations

US President Joe Biden's immigration bill will be unveiled on Thursday to begin its legislative process. The said bill aims to create a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants who can prove they were in the United States on January 1, 2021.

Two Democratic legislators, California Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, will present the initiative in the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively.

The legislation will benefit the so-called Dreamers, people who were brought to the United States illegally as children and grew up there.

The bill will also replace the term "alien," used to refer to foreigners in immigration legislation, with "non-citizen" "to better reflect the president's values on immigration".

Then-president Barack Obama issued an executive order in 2012 which offered protection for Dreamers at renewable two-year periods, including authorisation to work.&nbsp;

His successor Donald Trump attempted to end the programme in 2017 as part of his crackdown on all kinds of immigration.

The case ended up in the US Supreme Court, which ruled that the Trump administration had not followed proper administrative procedures to end the policy, although the Department of Homeland Security reinstated it only partially.

People benefiting from Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which prevents the deportation of citizens from countries affected by natural disasters or conflict, and farmworkers who can show a history of employment in the United States will also be able to get permanent residence.

Since coming to power, Biden has announced a push to reform immigration and roll back his predecessor's hardline policies, including with the creation of a special task force to reunite families separated by Trump's "zero tolerance" border policy towards undocumented immigrants.

Starting this week, he will begin to dismantle the controversial "stay in Mexico" programme, which forced tens of thousands of asylum seekers to remain at the border pending resolution of their cases.

The Trump administration had passed more than 400 executive orders to curb immigration and punish the undocumented.

US President Joe Biden's immigration bill will be unveiled on Thursday to begin its legislative process. The said bill aims to create a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants who can prove they were in the United States on January 1, 2021.

US President Joe Biden's immigration bill will be unveiled on Thursday to begin its legislative process. The said bill aims to create a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants who can prove they were in the United States on January 1, 2021. Two Democratic legislators, California Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, will present the initiative in the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively. The legislation will benefit the so-called Dreamers, people who were brought to the United States illegally as children and grew up there. The bill will also replace the term "alien," used to refer to foreigners in immigration legislation, with "non-citizen" "to better reflect the president's values on immigration". Then-president Barack Obama issued an executive order in 2012 which offered protection for Dreamers at renewable two-year periods, including authorisation to work. His successor Donald Trump attempted to end the programme in 2017 as part of his crackdown on all kinds of immigration. The case ended up in the US Supreme Court, which ruled that the Trump administration had not followed proper administrative procedures to end the policy, although the Department of Homeland Security reinstated it only partially. People benefiting from Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which prevents the deportation of citizens from countries affected by natural disasters or conflict, and farmworkers who can show a history of employment in the United States will also be able to get permanent residence. Since coming to power, Biden has announced a push to reform immigration and roll back his predecessor's hardline policies, including with the creation of a special task force to reunite families separated by Trump's "zero tolerance" border policy towards undocumented immigrants. Starting this week, he will begin to dismantle the controversial "stay in Mexico" programme, which forced tens of thousands of asylum seekers to remain at the border pending resolution of their cases. The Trump administration had passed more than 400 executive orders to curb immigration and punish the undocumented.

Biden's US immigration reform bill to be unveiled on Thursday

The United States on Wednesday announced talks with Australia, Japan and India to further boost the "Quad" alliance despite warnings from China.&nbsp;

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will speak with the foreign ministers of the three countries with coronavirus pandemic and climate change being on the agenda, the State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

Watch |

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-secretary-of-state-antony-blinken-to-hold-quad-meet-with-members-364460/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"These discussions with the Quad foreign ministers is critical to advancing our shared goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific and rising to the defining challenges of our times," Price said.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quad-potential-bulwark-against-chinas-increasing-activity-in-the-indo-pacific-364376">Quad: Potential bulwark against China's increasing activity in the Indo-Pacific</a>

The Quadrilateral alliance, commonly known as "Quad", was launched in 2007 to balance China's rise in the region.&nbsp;

Despite the initial caution, Quad in recent years, particularly in the last year has grown, something that has angered Beijing.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, China's state-run Global Times warned US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>that renewing Quad would be a "serious strategic blunder" and may spark "a severe strategic confrontation" with Beijing.&nbsp;

The newspaper in an expert's commentary also tried to put a lot of pressure on India, saying India has the power to end the alliance and asked the country to not "completely tie itself to the US' anti-China chariot."

Recently Indian Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/narendra-modi">Narendra Modi </a>and Biden talked in a phone call in which the two leaders agreed to strengthen the security in the Indo-Pacific region.&nbsp;

The United States on Wednesday announced talks with Australia, Japan and India to further boost the "Quad" alliance despite warnings from China. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will speak with the foreign ministers of the three countries with coronavirus pandemic and climate change being on the agenda, the State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday.

The United States on Wednesday announced talks with Australia, Japan and India to further boost the "Quad" alliance despite warnings from China. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will speak with the foreign ministers of the three countries with coronavirus pandemic and climate change being on the agenda, the State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Wednesday. Watch | "These discussions with the Quad foreign ministers is critical to advancing our shared goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific and rising to the defining challenges of our times," Price said. Also read | Quad: Potential bulwark against China's increasing activity in the Indo-Pacific The Quadrilateral alliance, commonly known as "Quad", was launched in 2007 to balance China's rise in the region. Despite the initial caution, Quad in recent years, particularly in the last year has grown, something that has angered Beijing. Earlier this month, China's state-run Global Times warned US President Joe Biden that renewing Quad would be a "serious strategic blunder" and may spark "a severe strategic confrontation" with Beijing. The newspaper in an expert's commentary also tried to put a lot of pressure on India, saying India has the power to end the alliance and asked the country to not "completely tie itself to the US' anti-China chariot." Recently Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Biden talked in a phone call in which the two leaders agreed to strengthen the security in the Indo-Pacific region.

US to hold talks with 'Quad' partners despite China pressure

President Joe Biden has said repeatedly that he wants to create a path to citizenship for all of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

But even as he prepares to push hard for the broadest possible overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, he and his aides have started to signal openness to more targeted approaches that could win citizenship for smaller, discrete groups of immigrants living in the United States without legal permission. At a CNN town hall Tuesday, he said such efforts would be acceptable “in the meantime.”

In a private telephone call with activists Wednesday, top immigration aides to Biden said they supported what they called a “multiple trains” strategy, which could target citizenship for “Dreamers,” the young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children; farmworkers who have toiled for years in U.S. fields; and others.

Smaller bills could move forward as the president tries to build support for the broader legislation, which is scheduled to be introduced Thursday, according to two people who were on the call.

If he chooses to move step by step, Biden appears unlikely to anger the most powerful pro-immigration groups, which are embracing a more pragmatic strategy after spectacular defeats under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

For more than two decades, activists have tried and failed to secure passage of a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws that would create a path to citizenship for most immigrants living in the United States without legal permission, a faster path for Dreamers, expanded visa access for highly skilled workers and a new program for seasonal agricultural laborers.

They are betting that Biden will struggle even more than his predecessors did to win support from a Republican Party that became more anti-immigrant during the Trump administration.

While the activists are willing to let Biden try for a bipartisan deal this year, they have warned that they will not wait forever.

“We want 11 million people legalized. That is our North Star,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice and a veteran of immigration wars in the nation’s capital for more than 30 years. “But we can’t come home empty-handed. We’re not going to adopt an all-or-nothing approach. We have to achieve a breakthrough.”

For those like Sharry, that is a major shift, and it could herald fierce debates over whether Democrats should use parliamentary tactics in the Senate to ram through individual immigration measures without any Republican support.

The activists are mobilizing on behalf of separate bills that would legalize Dreamers, farmworkers, immigrants granted temporary status after fleeing war and natural disasters, and “essential workers” living in the United States illegally who have been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

Publicly, the White House is insisting that Congress should pass the president’s broad immigration overhaul. Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, said this week that Biden was pushing for comprehensive changes because “they all need to be addressed — that’s why he proposed them together.”

And the chief backers of Biden’s legislation in Congress — Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Linda Sanchez of California — say abandoning the broader effort before it has even begun would be a mistake. Menendez and Sanchez are expected to reveal details about the president’s legislation Thursday morning after it is introduced in the House.

A Democratic aide familiar with the legislation said if immigration activists ask for only “half a loaf,” they should not be surprised when they end up going home with just a single slice of bread.

“We have an economic and moral imperative to pass big, bold and inclusive immigration reform — reform that leaves no one behind,” Menendez said Wednesday evening. He criticized advocates for not being willing to fight for legislation that would eventually legalize all the country’s immigrant population.

“We must not start with concessions out of the gate. We are not going to start with 2 million undocumented people instead of 11 million,” he said. “We will never win an argument that we don’t have the courage to make. We must make our case for bold, inclusive and lasting immigration reform.”

How to successfully revamp the nation’s immigration system has for decades eluded policymakers in Washington. The last time a major immigration bill was signed into law was in 1990, when President George Bush expanded legal immigration into the United States, before an explosion of illegal crossings at the southwestern border in the following 20 years.

The surge in illegal border crossings prompted demands for increased enforcement from conservatives even as backlogs in legal immigration created a growing crisis for businesses looking for workers and for families seeking refuge in the United States from violence and disasters at home.

For nearly three decades, those in favor of immigration have argued for a single, comprehensive bill with elements that could unite Democrats and Republicans, labor unions and big businesses, security-minded conservatives and liberal immigration supporters.

Such bills — which were introduced in 2001, 2006, 2007 and 2013 — centered around a trade-off: amped-up border security and immigration law enforcement in exchange for a path to citizenship for people living in the United States without legal permission. They also included increases in the number of temporary workers allowed into the United States, more resources for processing asylum applications, new opportunities for high-skilled workers from other countries, some limits on immigration based on family ties, and protections for people living in the United States illegally who arrived as children.

But none of those efforts succeeded. Despite support from Bush, the Senate and House failed to reach a compromise in 2006, and legislation in 2007 was defeated in the Senate. In 2013, Obama secured bipartisan Senate passage of an immigration overhaul, 68-32, only to see it ignored by the Republican-controlled House. Over the past four years, some of the conservative side of the equation — border security — was secured by President Donald Trump in the form of tough restrictions on asylum-seekers and partial construction of Trump’s border wall.

Biden won the presidency in part by pledging that he would bring back bipartisanship and saying that his long-standing relationships in the Senate would help him bridge the partisan divides that have grown deeper in recent years. Psaki said the president has outlined “the tenets of what we think the proposal should look like” in the hopes of addressing the root causes of immigration problems.

But immigration advocates say the history of failure is driving a change in strategy this year.

“You’re talking about a fight that we’ve had for over three decades at this point,” said Lorella Praeli, president of Community Change Action. “I’m not interested in a dance. I’m committed to seeing this through and delivering on concrete changes.”

Praeli and other proponents praised Biden, Menendez and Sanchez for their broader bill. But they also called on the president to promise that he would also use a budgetary tool known as reconciliation to enact smaller components of the legislation even as he pushes ahead with the larger effort.

Under Senate rules, legislation that significantly affects the nation’s budget can be passed with only a majority vote, avoiding filibuster rules that require the support of 60 senators. With the current 50-50 Senate, that would give Democrats the ability to pass reconciliation bills without Republican support and with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tiebreaking vote — if they can stay united.

Immigration proponents say some more targeted efforts to legalize some immigrants living in the United State illegally would pass muster under the sometimes baffling rules of reconciliation, which are supposed to bar pure policy measures from bills that are supposed to deal with government taxation and spending. Because newly legalized residents would affect tax revenue and government benefits, the groups say immigration legislation could be tailored as budget measures.

Reconciliation is already being used to muscle through Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, but another budget measure is expected to address infrastructure funding and climate change.

“We should be included in that package,” said Sharry of America’s Voice.

Biden’s immigration efforts face even more headwinds than those of Obama and Bush.

Many Republican senators who had been supporters of immigration — including John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona; Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker of Tennessee; Orrin Hatch of Utah; Dean Heller of Nevada; and others — have left the Senate. Others, like Marco Rubio of Florida and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who helped negotiate previous immigration packages, shifted right in the Trump years.

Kerri Talbot, deputy director of the Immigration Hub, said that it was clear to many of the groups that Republicans cannot be counted on to support a broad overhaul of immigration without the kind of extreme measures that Trump insisted upon during his presidency. She said that pursuing smaller, popular measures like providing legalization for Dreamers would put Republicans on the spot.

“We’re always open to having a broader discussion, but absent that, we want to move forward with pieces that can pass,” she said. “We would love to have bipartisanship. I’d love to have that conversation again. But it’s really up to Republicans.”

Praeli said she and others who have fought over immigration for years believed it was time to “put the ‘W’s’ on the board” by granting a path to citizenship to as many people as they can.

“We’re in a different moment,” said Praeli, who became a citizen in 2015 after living in the United States for years without legal permission following her arrival as a small child. “We can see that Trump is no longer here, but Trumpism did not go away.”

President Joe Biden has said repeatedly that he wants to create a path to citizenship for all of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

President Joe Biden has said repeatedly that he wants to create a path to citizenship for all of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally. But even as he prepares to push hard for the broadest possible overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, he and his aides have started to signal openness to more targeted approaches that could win citizenship for smaller, discrete groups of immigrants living in the United States without legal permission. At a CNN town hall Tuesday, he said such efforts would be acceptable “in the meantime.” In a private telephone call with activists Wednesday, top immigration aides to Biden said they supported what they called a “multiple trains” strategy, which could target citizenship for “Dreamers,” the young immigrants brought into the country illegally as children; farmworkers who have toiled for years in U.S. fields; and others. Smaller bills could move forward as the president tries to build support for the broader legislation, which is scheduled to be introduced Thursday, according to two people who were on the call. If he chooses to move step by step, Biden appears unlikely to anger the most powerful pro-immigration groups, which are embracing a more pragmatic strategy after spectacular defeats under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. For more than two decades, activists have tried and failed to secure passage of a broad overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws that would create a path to citizenship for most immigrants living in the United States without legal permission, a faster path for Dreamers, expanded visa access for highly skilled workers and a new program for seasonal agricultural laborers. They are betting that Biden will struggle even more than his predecessors did to win support from a Republican Party that became more anti-immigrant during the Trump administration. While the activists are willing to let Biden try for a bipartisan deal this year, they have warned that they will not wait forever. “We want 11 million people legalized. That is our North Star,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice and a veteran of immigration wars in the nation’s capital for more than 30 years. “But we can’t come home empty-handed. We’re not going to adopt an all-or-nothing approach. We have to achieve a breakthrough.” For those like Sharry, that is a major shift, and it could herald fierce debates over whether Democrats should use parliamentary tactics in the Senate to ram through individual immigration measures without any Republican support. The activists are mobilizing on behalf of separate bills that would legalize Dreamers, farmworkers, immigrants granted temporary status after fleeing war and natural disasters, and “essential workers” living in the United States illegally who have been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Publicly, the White House is insisting that Congress should pass the president’s broad immigration overhaul. Jen Psaki, White House press secretary, said this week that Biden was pushing for comprehensive changes because “they all need to be addressed — that’s why he proposed them together.” And the chief backers of Biden’s legislation in Congress — Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Linda Sanchez of California — say abandoning the broader effort before it has even begun would be a mistake. Menendez and Sanchez are expected to reveal details about the president’s legislation Thursday morning after it is introduced in the House. A Democratic aide familiar with the legislation said if immigration activists ask for only “half a loaf,” they should not be surprised when they end up going home with just a single slice of bread. “We have an economic and moral imperative to pass big, bold and inclusive immigration reform — reform that leaves no one behind,” Menendez said Wednesday evening. He criticized advocates for not being willing to fight for legislation that would eventually legalize all the country’s immigrant population. “We must not start with concessions out of the gate. We are not going to start with 2 million undocumented people instead of 11 million,” he said. “We will never win an argument that we don’t have the courage to make. We must make our case for bold, inclusive and lasting immigration reform.” How to successfully revamp the nation’s immigration system has for decades eluded policymakers in Washington. The last time a major immigration bill was signed into law was in 1990, when President George Bush expanded legal immigration into the United States, before an explosion of illegal crossings at the southwestern border in the following 20 years. The surge in illegal border crossings prompted demands for increased enforcement from conservatives even as backlogs in legal immigration created a growing crisis for businesses looking for workers and for families seeking refuge in the United States from violence and disasters at home. For nearly three decades, those in favor of immigration have argued for a single, comprehensive bill with elements that could unite Democrats and Republicans, labor unions and big businesses, security-minded conservatives and liberal immigration supporters. Such bills — which were introduced in 2001, 2006, 2007 and 2013 — centered around a trade-off: amped-up border security and immigration law enforcement in exchange for a path to citizenship for people living in the United States without legal permission. They also included increases in the number of temporary workers allowed into the United States, more resources for processing asylum applications, new opportunities for high-skilled workers from other countries, some limits on immigration based on family ties, and protections for people living in the United States illegally who arrived as children. But none of those efforts succeeded. Despite support from Bush, the Senate and House failed to reach a compromise in 2006, and legislation in 2007 was defeated in the Senate. In 2013, Obama secured bipartisan Senate passage of an immigration overhaul, 68-32, only to see it ignored by the Republican-controlled House. Over the past four years, some of the conservative side of the equation — border security — was secured by President Donald Trump in the form of tough restrictions on asylum-seekers and partial construction of Trump’s border wall. Biden won the presidency in part by pledging that he would bring back bipartisanship and saying that his long-standing relationships in the Senate would help him bridge the partisan divides that have grown deeper in recent years. Psaki said the president has outlined “the tenets of what we think the proposal should look like” in the hopes of addressing the root causes of immigration problems. But immigration advocates say the history of failure is driving a change in strategy this year. “You’re talking about a fight that we’ve had for over three decades at this point,” said Lorella Praeli, president of Community Change Action. “I’m not interested in a dance. I’m committed to seeing this through and delivering on concrete changes.” Praeli and other proponents praised Biden, Menendez and Sanchez for their broader bill. But they also called on the president to promise that he would also use a budgetary tool known as reconciliation to enact smaller components of the legislation even as he pushes ahead with the larger effort. Under Senate rules, legislation that significantly affects the nation’s budget can be passed with only a majority vote, avoiding filibuster rules that require the support of 60 senators. With the current 50-50 Senate, that would give Democrats the ability to pass reconciliation bills without Republican support and with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tiebreaking vote — if they can stay united. Immigration proponents say some more targeted efforts to legalize some immigrants living in the United State illegally would pass muster under the sometimes baffling rules of reconciliation, which are supposed to bar pure policy measures from bills that are supposed to deal with government taxation and spending. Because newly legalized residents would affect tax revenue and government benefits, the groups say immigration legislation could be tailored as budget measures. Reconciliation is already being used to muscle through Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package, but another budget measure is expected to address infrastructure funding and climate change. “We should be included in that package,” said Sharry of America’s Voice. Biden’s immigration efforts face even more headwinds than those of Obama and Bush. Many Republican senators who had been supporters of immigration — including John McCain and Jeff Flake of Arizona; Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker of Tennessee; Orrin Hatch of Utah; Dean Heller of Nevada; and others — have left the Senate. Others, like Marco Rubio of Florida and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who helped negotiate previous immigration packages, shifted right in the Trump years. Kerri Talbot, deputy director of the Immigration Hub, said that it was clear to many of the groups that Republicans cannot be counted on to support a broad overhaul of immigration without the kind of extreme measures that Trump insisted upon during his presidency. She said that pursuing smaller, popular measures like providing legalization for Dreamers would put Republicans on the spot. “We’re always open to having a broader discussion, but absent that, we want to move forward with pieces that can pass,” she said. “We would love to have bipartisanship. I’d love to have that conversation again. But it’s really up to Republicans.” Praeli said she and others who have fought over immigration for years believed it was time to “put the ‘W’s’ on the board” by granting a path to citizenship to as many people as they can. “We’re in a different moment,” said Praeli, who became a citizen in 2015 after living in the United States for years without legal permission following her arrival as a small child. “We can see that Trump is no longer here, but Trumpism did not go away.”

Biden signals he’s flexible on immigration overhaul

US President Joe Biden is facing his first foreign policy challenge - Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the US of supporting Kurdish militants - after 13 citizens were killed. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Joe Biden faces his first foreign policy challenge

The President is expected to field questions on a number of issues as his administration, lawmakers and business leaders debate how to defeat the coronavirus.

Joe Biden in Wisconsin to pitch COVID relief package

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded “action, not words” from the United States, while referring to the prospect of renewing 2015’s nuclear deal.

Iran has set next week as the deadline for US President Biden to reverse sanctions that were imposed by Donald Trump. If the US fails to meet the deadline, Iran will begin taking drastic steps that violate the deal, including a ban on short-notice inspections by UN nuclear watchdog.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-irans-supreme-leader-khamenei-posts-trump-like-golfer-image-358615/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We have heard many nice words and promises which in practice have been broken and opposite actions have been taken. Words and promises are no good. This time (we want) only action from the other side, and we will also act," Khamenei said during a televised speech.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/twitter-suspends-account-linked-to-khameneis-website-clarifies-its-fake-and-not-his-358646" hreflang="en">Twitter suspends account linked to Khamenei's website, clarifies it's fake and not his</a>

Biden intends to revive the pact as part of which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions. Seen as a major achievement for Obama-era, the deal was abandoned by Trump in 2018.

Both Iran and the US agree that the deal should be revived, but remain at odds over how to begin the process.&nbsp; Iran has said that the US must first lift sanctions from the Trump era, while the US expects Tehran to first return to the deal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/drone-on-trump-playing-golf-irans-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-vows-soleimani-revenge-358548" hreflang="en">Drone on Trump playing golf? Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vows Soleimani revenge</a>

The country has been violating the deal since the sanctions were reimposed. Over the last few months, Iran has further breached the deal’s restrictions. Starting February 23, the country intends to end snap inspections that are undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). An agreement called “Additional Protocol” mandates the inspections.

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded “action, not words” from the United States, while referring to the prospect of renewing 2015’s nuclear deal.

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded “action, not words” from the United States, while referring to the prospect of renewing 2015’s nuclear deal. Iran has set next week as the deadline for US President Biden to reverse sanctions that were imposed by Donald Trump. If the US fails to meet the deadline, Iran will begin taking drastic steps that violate the deal, including a ban on short-notice inspections by UN nuclear watchdog. "We have heard many nice words and promises which in practice have been broken and opposite actions have been taken. Words and promises are no good. This time (we want) only action from the other side, and we will also act," Khamenei said during a televised speech. Also read: Twitter suspends account linked to Khamenei's website, clarifies it's fake and not his Biden intends to revive the pact as part of which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions. Seen as a major achievement for Obama-era, the deal was abandoned by Trump in 2018. Both Iran and the US agree that the deal should be revived, but remain at odds over how to begin the process. Iran has said that the US must first lift sanctions from the Trump era, while the US expects Tehran to first return to the deal. Also read: Drone on Trump playing golf? Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vows Soleimani revenge The country has been violating the deal since the sanctions were reimposed. Over the last few months, Iran has further breached the deal’s restrictions. Starting February 23, the country intends to end snap inspections that are undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). An agreement called “Additional Protocol” mandates the inspections.

To revive nuclear deal, Iran's Khamenei demands 'action, not words' from Biden

A New York-based school is being condemned for&nbsp;asking&nbsp;parents to rate their 'whiteness', detailing eight supposed stages for the ''tool for action''.

The graphic, sent out by the school's principal of&nbsp;East Side Community School in New York City, was shared on social networking platform Twitter after which it went viral. It was written by&nbsp;Northwestern University associate professor Barnor Hesse.

Also read-<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-supremacists-greatest-domestic-terror-threat-in-america-biden-364201">White supremacists greatest domestic terror threat in America: Biden</a>

The graphic by Slow Factory Foundation says, ''There is a regime of whiteness, and there are action-oriented white identities. People who identify with whiteness are one of these. It's about time we build an ethnography of whiteness since white people have been the ones writing about and governing others.''

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
SCOOP: The principal of East Side Community School in New York sent white parents this "tool for action," which tells them they must become "white traitors" and then advocate for full "white abolition." 
 
This is the new language of public education. <a href="https://t.co/0XA3xUpcuT">pic.twitter.com/0XA3xUpcuT</a>
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) <a href="https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1361370106283003907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
More genocide talk <a href="https://t.co/5DVmNcTJ54">https://t.co/5DVmNcTJ54</a>
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1361525664562765824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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We need to end the public school monopoly of Wokist bureaucrats to save the concept of education. <a href="https://t.co/a4tnVASvR2">https://t.co/a4tnVASvR2</a>
— Andrew Follett (@AndrewCFollett) <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewCFollett/status/1361484779313631237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Earlier,&nbsp;President&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-wants-us-congress-to-reform-american-gun-laws-363630">Biden</a>&nbsp;in a town hall meeting on Wednesday said that "white supremacists are the greatest domestic terror threat in America."

"It's complex, it's wide-ranging, and it's real,"&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-says-trump-did-not-do-his-job-on-coronavirus-vaccination-program-urges-patience-363295">Biden</a>&nbsp;said on the white supremacists' issue, adding, "I would make sure that my Justice Department and the Civil Rights Division is focused heavily on those very folks, and I would make sure that we, in fact, focus on how to deal with the rise of white supremacy."

The US president said those who support the white supremacists are "demented" and "dangerous."

A New York-based school is being condemned for asking parents to rate their 'whiteness', detailing eight supposed stages for the ''tool for action''. The graphic, sent out by the school's principal of East Side Community School in New York City, was shared on social networking platform Twitter after which it went viral.

A New York-based school is being condemned for asking parents to rate their 'whiteness', detailing eight supposed stages for the ''tool for action''. The graphic, sent out by the school's principal of East Side Community School in New York City, was shared on social networking platform Twitter after which it went viral. It was written by Northwestern University associate professor Barnor Hesse. Also read-White supremacists greatest domestic terror threat in America: Biden The graphic by Slow Factory Foundation says, ''There is a regime of whiteness, and there are action-oriented white identities. People who identify with whiteness are one of these. It's about time we build an ethnography of whiteness since white people have been the ones writing about and governing others.'' SCOOP: The principal of East Side Community School in New York sent white parents this "tool for action," which tells them they must become "white traitors" and then advocate for full "white abolition." This is the new language of public education. pic.twitter.com/0XA3xUpcuT — Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) February 15, 2021 × More genocide talk https://t.co/5DVmNcTJ54 — Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 16, 2021 × We need to end the public school monopoly of Wokist bureaucrats to save the concept of education. https://t.co/a4tnVASvR2 — Andrew Follett (@AndrewCFollett) February 16, 2021 × Earlier, President Biden in a town hall meeting on Wednesday said that "white supremacists are the greatest domestic terror threat in America." "It's complex, it's wide-ranging, and it's real," Biden said on the white supremacists' issue, adding, "I would make sure that my Justice Department and the Civil Rights Division is focused heavily on those very folks, and I would make sure that we, in fact, focus on how to deal with the rise of white supremacy." The US president said those who support the white supremacists are "demented" and "dangerous."

School in New York asks parents to rate their 'whiteness'

A day after the social networking app Parler came back online on the internet, its interim CEO has invited Donald Trump and the US President Joe Biden to join the world of Parler.

During an interview with the local news network Fox News, Parler's new interim CEO, Mark Meckler, said he would welcome the former US President and the current President to create accounts on Parler.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/social-networking-app-parler-relaunches-after-capitol-riot-controversy-363922">Social networking app Parler relaunches after Capitol riot controversy</a>

"What Parler’s really about is being a public square, and a public square is where anybody can come, they can say what they want as long as it’s legal. And Donald Trump hasn’t said anything illegal, as far as I’m aware. He certainly didn’t on Twitter, didn’t on Facebook or any of the other places that he was banned," Meckler said.

This statement has caught the attention not only because Trump and Biden are known rivals, with Trump often being looked at as the sore loser, but also because Trump was one of the main reason behind Parler's temporary suspension.

Parler is a social networking platform that was taken off the internet due to its alleged involvement in the Capitol riots that took place on January 06.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/hacker-reveals-massive-data-leak-in-social-networking-app-parler-after-us-capitol-siege-356183">Hacker reveals massive data leak in social networking app Parler after US Capitol siege</a>

It was alleged that Parler played the main role and acted as a source of communication for the supporters of Trump who then carried out the riots in the US Capitol building.

Following the allegation, Apple and Google had pulled the app from their download platforms and Amazon's web hosting, too, cut ties with the social networking app.

"Parler was built to offer a social media platform that protects free speech and values privacy and civil discourse,"&nbsp;Meckler issued a statement.

A day after the social networking app Parler came back online on the internet, its interim CEO has invited Donald Trump and the US President Joe Biden to join the world of Parler.

A day after the social networking app Parler came back online on the internet, its interim CEO has invited Donald Trump and the US President Joe Biden to join the world of Parler. During an interview with the local news network Fox News, Parler's new interim CEO, Mark Meckler, said he would welcome the former US President and the current President to create accounts on Parler. Also read| Social networking app Parler relaunches after Capitol riot controversy "What Parler’s really about is being a public square, and a public square is where anybody can come, they can say what they want as long as it’s legal. And Donald Trump hasn’t said anything illegal, as far as I’m aware. He certainly didn’t on Twitter, didn’t on Facebook or any of the other places that he was banned," Meckler said. This statement has caught the attention not only because Trump and Biden are known rivals, with Trump often being looked at as the sore loser, but also because Trump was one of the main reason behind Parler's temporary suspension. Parler is a social networking platform that was taken off the internet due to its alleged involvement in the Capitol riots that took place on January 06. Also read| Hacker reveals massive data leak in social networking app Parler after US Capitol siege It was alleged that Parler played the main role and acted as a source of communication for the supporters of Trump who then carried out the riots in the US Capitol building. Following the allegation, Apple and Google had pulled the app from their download platforms and Amazon's web hosting, too, cut ties with the social networking app. "Parler was built to offer a social media platform that protects free speech and values privacy and civil discourse," Meckler issued a statement.

Parler's interim CEO invites Trump and Biden for 'civil discourse'

Increasing the number of vaccines allocated to Wisconsin and Milwaukee County will help with increasing equitable distribution

Joe Biden gives July end deadline for vaccination drive

The Defence Ministers of NATO will be meeting virtually for the first time under Joe Biden's Presidency. The summit will focus on the situation in Afghanistan.

WION Fineprint: NATO Defence Ministers to meet virtually

Talking about the impeachment trial of the former US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, the UK Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/boris-johnson">Boris Johnson</a> characterised the whole incident as "toings and froings and all the kerfuffle".

In an interview with a US network, CBS, the UK PM, on Sunday, talked about how the horrifying US Capitol riots that took place on January 06.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-biden-reacts-on-trumps-acquittal-says-democracy-is-fragile-363495" hreflang="en">President Biden reacts on Trump's acquittal, says 'democracy is fragile'</a>

Johnson condemned the Capitol attack but showed confidence in American democracy.

"The clear message that we get from the proceedings in America is that after all the toings and froings and all the kerfuffle, American democracy is strong and the American constitution is strong and robust," he said.

However, Johnson's message has been overshadowed by the newly-elected US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden's</a> decreasing faith in American democracy. Urging Americans to defend the democracy, Biden said, "We must be ever vigilant … each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-trump-an-escape-not-an-exoneration-363539" hreflang="en">For Trump, an escape, not an exoneration</a>

These messages have come after the US Senate acquitted Trump for the second time in his impeachment trials.

Trump was accused of inciting violence in the Capitol riots by motivating his supporters to go and "fight like hell" in the US Capitol on January 06 when Biden's win against Trump in the US elections was being conformed.

His supporters marched to the Capitol and destroyed federal property and the idea of democracy while chanting "Hang Mike Pence" and aiming to attack all senators supporting Biden, and opposing Trump.

Talking about the impeachment trial of the former US President Donald Trump, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson characterised the whole incident as "toings and froings and all the kerfuffle".

Talking about the impeachment trial of the former US President Donald Trump, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson characterised the whole incident as "toings and froings and all the kerfuffle". In an interview with a US network, CBS, the UK PM, on Sunday, talked about how the horrifying US Capitol riots that took place on January 06. Also read| President Biden reacts on Trump's acquittal, says 'democracy is fragile' Johnson condemned the Capitol attack but showed confidence in American democracy. "The clear message that we get from the proceedings in America is that after all the toings and froings and all the kerfuffle, American democracy is strong and the American constitution is strong and robust," he said. However, Johnson's message has been overshadowed by the newly-elected US President Joe Biden's decreasing faith in American democracy. Urging Americans to defend the democracy, Biden said, "We must be ever vigilant … each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies." Also read| For Trump, an escape, not an exoneration These messages have come after the US Senate acquitted Trump for the second time in his impeachment trials. Trump was accused of inciting violence in the Capitol riots by motivating his supporters to go and "fight like hell" in the US Capitol on January 06 when Biden's win against Trump in the US elections was being conformed. His supporters marched to the Capitol and destroyed federal property and the idea of democracy while chanting "Hang Mike Pence" and aiming to attack all senators supporting Biden, and opposing Trump.

'Toings, froings and kerfuffle': UK PM Boris Johnson reacts to Trump's impeachment trial

extreme weather conditions griped various parts of US on Sunday bringing heavy snowfall in the region. Thousands of people remained without power in the pacific northwest. A winter storm blankets parts of US . US President Joe Biden declared a federal emergency in Texas.

Winters storm brings snow, ice to Oklahoma, Texas

US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to enact "commonsense" gun law reforms. His Sunday statement came after three years after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

The Florida shooting had sparked outrage across the US and prompted fresh demands for firearms control.

Biden added he wants Congress to pass laws that would require background checks on all gun sales and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

"This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call," Biden said in a statement marking the Valentine's Day shooting in 2018 that left 17 people dead and brought fresh attention to America's lax gun laws.

"We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer."

The confessed school shooter, Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired between 100 and 150 rounds in a rampage that killed 14 students and three adult staff at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Biden said Congress must also eliminate "immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets."

Cruz was able to buy the assault rifle legally, despite having known mental health problems.

Earlier, with Donald Trump in the White House and the Republicans controlling the Senate at the time, legislation approved by the Democrats in the House of Representatives went nowhere.

To this end, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said the House would try again.

US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to enact "commonsense" gun law reforms. His Sunday statement came after three years after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to enact "commonsense" gun law reforms. His Sunday statement came after three years after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The Florida shooting had sparked outrage across the US and prompted fresh demands for firearms control. Biden added he wants Congress to pass laws that would require background checks on all gun sales and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. "This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call," Biden said in a statement marking the Valentine's Day shooting in 2018 that left 17 people dead and brought fresh attention to America's lax gun laws. "We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer." The confessed school shooter, Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired between 100 and 150 rounds in a rampage that killed 14 students and three adult staff at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Biden said Congress must also eliminate "immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets." Cruz was able to buy the assault rifle legally, despite having known mental health problems. Earlier, with Donald Trump in the White House and the Republicans controlling the Senate at the time, legislation approved by the Democrats in the House of Representatives went nowhere. To this end, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said the House would try again.

Biden wants US Congress to reform American gun laws

Reacting to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump's </a>acquittal in the impeachment trial in the Senate, US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden </a>on Saturday said the "substance" of the charges against the former president was not in "dispute", adding that the attack shows "democracy is fragile".&nbsp;

"While the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the substance of the charge is not in dispute," Biden said in a statement.&nbsp;

"This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-acquitted-by-us-senate-in-his-second-impeachment-trial-363474">Donald Trump acquitted by US Senate in his second impeachment trial</a>

Biden's comments come after the Senate voted 57-43 to acquit Trump who is facing his second impeachment trial.

The former Republican president was accused that he incited the mob that attacked the US Capitol on the day of the certification of Biden's election win.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, after his acquittal, Trump said the movement to "Make America Great Again" has just begun, suggesting not quitting politics and seeking another run for the presidency in 2024.&nbsp;

"Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," Trump in a statement said.&nbsp;

"In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people." 
&nbsp;

Reacting to Donald Trump's acquittal in the impeachment trial in the Senate, US President Joe Biden on Saturday said the "substance" of the charges against the former president was not in "dispute", adding that the attack shows "democracy is fragile".

Reacting to Donald Trump's acquittal in the impeachment trial in the Senate, US President Joe Biden on Saturday said the "substance" of the charges against the former president was not in "dispute", adding that the attack shows "democracy is fragile". "While the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the substance of the charge is not in dispute," Biden said in a statement. "This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant." Also read | Donald Trump acquitted by US Senate in his second impeachment trial Biden's comments come after the Senate voted 57-43 to acquit Trump who is facing his second impeachment trial. The former Republican president was accused that he incited the mob that attacked the US Capitol on the day of the certification of Biden's election win. Meanwhile, after his acquittal, Trump said the movement to "Make America Great Again" has just begun, suggesting not quitting politics and seeking another run for the presidency in 2024. "Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," Trump in a statement said. "In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people."

President Biden reacts on Trump's acquittal, says 'democracy is fragile'

The US Senate acquitted Donald Trump on Saturday of the charge of inciting the January 6 assault on the US Capitol in an unprecedented second impeachment trial.

Trump's acquittal raises questions about what's next for the 74-year-old former president, the Republican Party and President Joe Biden.

Donald Trump

Although Trump's acquittal by the Senate was a near certainty, the verdict must have come as a relief to the former president.

In a statement, Trump denounced what he called a "witch hunt" and talked about the future.

"Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," he said.&nbsp;

"We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-acquitted-by-us-senate-in-his-second-impeachment-trial-363474">Donald Trump acquitted by US Senate in his second impeachment trial&nbsp;</a>

Trump has flirted with the idea of running for the White House again in 2024 and a conviction would have likely barred him from holding federal office again.

Since leaving the White House on January 20, Trump has been holed up in his Mar-a-Lago resort, deprived of the Twitter account he used to communicate with his many millions of followers.

Capri Cafaro, executive in residence at American University in Washington and a former Democratic member of the Ohio state senate, said the acquittal could be a "rallying cry" for Trump and his backers.

But, Cafaro added, "the legacy of Donald Trump for many at this point may be the events of January 6, regardless of acquittal."

"There will be Americans who think that Donald Trump had some kind of role," she said, and that could carry over to the real estate tycoon's activities in the private sector.

"It's almost like he has no choice but to continue to try to be in politics," she said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-lawyers-deny-he-incited-capitol-mob-363466">Trump’s lawyers deny he incited Capitol mob</a>

Wendy Schiller, a professor of political science at Brown University, agreed that Trump's future may be limited.

"If a corporation were to offer him a speaking appearance, the social media backlash would be swift and severe, with possible boycotts of their products," Schiller said.

"Even holding conferences or events at Trump properties will be a problem for large publicly traded companies, or companies that provide a direct to consumer product," she said.

The Republican Party

The fact that the vast majority of Senate Republicans voted to acquit Trump is a clear signal that he retains a grip on the GOP, the Grand Old Party.

"The party is his," Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his most fervent supporters, said last week. "It doesn't belong to anyone else."

But seven Republican senators voted to convict the former president and 10 Republican members of the House of Representatives voted last month to impeach him, including the party's third-ranking member, Liz Cheney, daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted for acquittal but said Trump was "practically and morally" responsible for the January 6 violence.

A number of Republicans have distanced themselves from the former president and are lining up to take their own shot at the White House in 2024.

Among them is former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who said Republicans were wrong for supporting Trump's campaign to reverse the election results, a course that led to the January 6 attack on Congress.

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&nbsp;

"He went down a path he shouldn't have, and we shouldn't have followed him," Haley said in an interview with Politico magazine.

Haley also dismissed speculation Trump will seek the presidency in 2024. "I don't think he can," she said. "He's fallen so far."

But the Republicans advocating a complete break with Trump are in the minority and most remain fearful of the power he holds over his base.

"GOP senators who vote to acquit may be protecting themselves against primary challenges from the more extreme wing of their party in 2022, or even 2024," Schiller said. "But they may simultaneously make themselves more vulnerable to defeat in the general election."

Cafaro said Republican lawmakers remaining faithful to Trump were making an "incredibly risky" gamble.

"They're making a decision based upon a snapshot in time that may not exist for them in two years," she said.

A group of anti-Trump former Republican officials has raised the idea of creating a center-right third party but it is unlikely to gain much traction.

Joe Biden

Trump's impeachment trial has been hanging over the start of Biden's presidency and the Democrats must be glad it took just five days.

The Senate will now be in a position to swiftly confirm Biden's cabinet appointees and work on his legislative agenda as the country struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic and severe economic woes.

"President Biden has done a very good job of separating himself from the impeachment trial proceedings and keep his messaging on the Covid-19 crisis and the accompanying economic crisis," Schiller said.

But Trump remains a force to be reckoned with.

"There's no saying that we're immune from more protests, demonstrations, activism from the far right," Cafaro said. "If and when that happens how Joe Biden deals with them will be something to watch."

The US Senate acquitted Donald Trump on Saturday of the charge of inciting the January 6 assault on the US Capitol in an unprecedented second impeachment trial. Trump's acquittal raises questions about what's next for the 74-year-old former president, the Republican Party and President Joe Biden.

The US Senate acquitted Donald Trump on Saturday of the charge of inciting the January 6 assault on the US Capitol in an unprecedented second impeachment trial. Trump's acquittal raises questions about what's next for the 74-year-old former president, the Republican Party and President Joe Biden. Donald Trump Although Trump's acquittal by the Senate was a near certainty, the verdict must have come as a relief to the former president. In a statement, Trump denounced what he called a "witch hunt" and talked about the future. "Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," he said. "We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future." Also Read | Donald Trump acquitted by US Senate in his second impeachment trial Trump has flirted with the idea of running for the White House again in 2024 and a conviction would have likely barred him from holding federal office again. Since leaving the White House on January 20, Trump has been holed up in his Mar-a-Lago resort, deprived of the Twitter account he used to communicate with his many millions of followers. Capri Cafaro, executive in residence at American University in Washington and a former Democratic member of the Ohio state senate, said the acquittal could be a "rallying cry" for Trump and his backers. But, Cafaro added, "the legacy of Donald Trump for many at this point may be the events of January 6, regardless of acquittal." "There will be Americans who think that Donald Trump had some kind of role," she said, and that could carry over to the real estate tycoon's activities in the private sector. "It's almost like he has no choice but to continue to try to be in politics," she said. Also Read | Trump’s lawyers deny he incited Capitol mob Wendy Schiller, a professor of political science at Brown University, agreed that Trump's future may be limited. "If a corporation were to offer him a speaking appearance, the social media backlash would be swift and severe, with possible boycotts of their products," Schiller said. "Even holding conferences or events at Trump properties will be a problem for large publicly traded companies, or companies that provide a direct to consumer product," she said. The Republican Party The fact that the vast majority of Senate Republicans voted to acquit Trump is a clear signal that he retains a grip on the GOP, the Grand Old Party. "The party is his," Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his most fervent supporters, said last week. "It doesn't belong to anyone else." But seven Republican senators voted to convict the former president and 10 Republican members of the House of Representatives voted last month to impeach him, including the party's third-ranking member, Liz Cheney, daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voted for acquittal but said Trump was "practically and morally" responsible for the January 6 violence. A number of Republicans have distanced themselves from the former president and are lining up to take their own shot at the White House in 2024. Among them is former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who said Republicans were wrong for supporting Trump's campaign to reverse the election results, a course that led to the January 6 attack on Congress. × "He went down a path he shouldn't have, and we shouldn't have followed him," Haley said in an interview with Politico magazine. Haley also dismissed speculation Trump will seek the presidency in 2024. "I don't think he can," she said. "He's fallen so far." But the Republicans advocating a complete break with Trump are in the minority and most remain fearful of the power he holds over his base. "GOP senators who vote to acquit may be protecting themselves against primary challenges from the more extreme wing of their party in 2022, or even 2024," Schiller said. "But they may simultaneously make themselves more vulnerable to defeat in the general election." Cafaro said Republican lawmakers remaining faithful to Trump were making an "incredibly risky" gamble. "They're making a decision based upon a snapshot in time that may not exist for them in two years," she said. A group of anti-Trump former Republican officials has raised the idea of creating a center-right third party but it is unlikely to gain much traction. Joe Biden Trump's impeachment trial has been hanging over the start of Biden's presidency and the Democrats must be glad it took just five days. The Senate will now be in a position to swiftly confirm Biden's cabinet appointees and work on his legislative agenda as the country struggles with the Covid-19 pandemic and severe economic woes. "President Biden has done a very good job of separating himself from the impeachment trial proceedings and keep his messaging on the Covid-19 crisis and the accompanying economic crisis," Schiller said. But Trump remains a force to be reckoned with. "There's no saying that we're immune from more protests, demonstrations, activism from the far right," Cafaro said. "If and when that happens how Joe Biden deals with them will be something to watch."

What's next for Trump, the Republican Party and Biden?

It's been a few weeks since the Joe Biden took over the White House as the US President, and the administration has already had its first resignation.

On Saturday, the White House accepted the resignation of a staffer who has been alleged of threatening to "destroy" a reporter who was trying to ask questions about his personal life.

White House Deputy Spokesman TJ Ducklo, as per local reports, called a Politico reporter, Tara Palmeri, who was persistently asking questions about his past relationship with another reporter from Axios, Alexi McCammond.

Ducklo threatened Palmeri by saying "I will destroy you" in a phone call, moments after Joe Biden took his oath as the President of the US on January 20.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-prolongs-trumps-impeachment-trial-allows-calling-of-witnesses-363447" hreflang="en">US Senate prolongs Trump's impeachment trial, allows calling of witnesses</a>

The local media house, Vanity Fair, alleged that Ducklo "made derogatory and misogynistic comments" towards Palmeri.

He was originally suspended for one week without pay, but the White House has now accepted his resignation, Jen Psaki, White House spokeswoman said.

"We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions," Psaki said.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-reaches-deal-closing-arguments-begin-in-trump-impeachment-trial-363469" hreflang="en">US Senate reaches deal, closing arguments begin in Trump impeachment trial</a>

Psaki also added that Ducklo has already personally called and apologised to the reporter. "No words can express my regret, my embarrassment, and my disgust for my behavior. I used language that no woman should ever have to hear from anyone, especially in a situation where she was just trying to do her job," Ducklo said. "It was language that was abhorrent, disrespectful and unacceptable."

He also regretted the action that led to embarrassing the Biden administration, he said he was "devastated to have embarrassed and disappointed my White House colleagues and President Biden."

It's been a few weeks since the Joe Biden took over the White House as the US President, and the administration has already had its first resignation. On Saturday, the White House accepted the resignation of a staffer who has been alleged of threatening to "destroy" a reporter who was trying to ask questions about his personal life.

It's been a few weeks since the Joe Biden took over the White House as the US President, and the administration has already had its first resignation. On Saturday, the White House accepted the resignation of a staffer who has been alleged of threatening to "destroy" a reporter who was trying to ask questions about his personal life. White House Deputy Spokesman TJ Ducklo, as per local reports, called a Politico reporter, Tara Palmeri, who was persistently asking questions about his past relationship with another reporter from Axios, Alexi McCammond. Ducklo threatened Palmeri by saying "I will destroy you" in a phone call, moments after Joe Biden took his oath as the President of the US on January 20. Also read| US Senate prolongs Trump's impeachment trial, allows calling of witnesses The local media house, Vanity Fair, alleged that Ducklo "made derogatory and misogynistic comments" towards Palmeri. He was originally suspended for one week without pay, but the White House has now accepted his resignation, Jen Psaki, White House spokeswoman said. "We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions," Psaki said. Also read| US Senate reaches deal, closing arguments begin in Trump impeachment trial Psaki also added that Ducklo has already personally called and apologised to the reporter. "No words can express my regret, my embarrassment, and my disgust for my behavior. I used language that no woman should ever have to hear from anyone, especially in a situation where she was just trying to do her job," Ducklo said. "It was language that was abhorrent, disrespectful and unacceptable." He also regretted the action that led to embarrassing the Biden administration, he said he was "devastated to have embarrassed and disappointed my White House colleagues and President Biden."

Biden staffer resigns after threatening to 'destroy' reporter

Former US President Donald Trump was acquitted by US Senate in the impeachment trial. Majority of Senate republicans closed ranks to aquit Trump in his second impeachment trial. During the five-day trial, Democratic Senators argued strongly in favour of impeaching Donald Trump who is the only US President to have been impeached twice. It follows logically that this Trump's second acquittal.

Majority of the Republicans expectedly declared Trump not guilty. This was a sign of the powerful grip Trump still has on the Republican party.

But while the 57-43 majority that voted to convict fell short of the two-thirds needed in the Senate, seven Republicans joined with Democrats to seek Trump's conviction, making it the most bipartisan impeachment trial in US history.

Trump welcomed the verdict and denounced the proceedings as&nbsp;"yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country." He has been secluded in his Florida club since leaving the presidency.

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&nbsp;

Despite the stain of a second impeachment, Trump hinted at a possible political future, saying that "our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun."

"We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future," he said in a statement. 
Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on January 13, a week after the chaotic assault that stunned the nation and provoked widespread bipartisan outrage.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whats-next-for-trump-the-republican-party-and-biden-363484">What's next for Trump, the Republican Party and Biden?</a>

During the impeachment trial, Democratic Senators argued that Trump's behaviour was an&nbsp;"open and shut" case of impeachable conduct. They retraced how Trump spent two months repeating false allegations of election fraud before inciting his supporters to attack US Capitol building on January 6.

"He summoned his supporters to Washington, on the Ellipse, whipped them into a frenzy, and directed them at the Capitol," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-lawyers-deny-he-incited-capitol-mob-363466">Trump’s lawyers deny he incited Capitol mob</a>

The defense team swatted the evidence away, arguing that Trump's appeal to supporters to "fight like hell, at the rally that preceded the attack," was merely rhetorical.

But their central argument was that the Senate had no constitutional jurisdiction to try a former president. Most Republican senators agreed.

(With AFP inputs)

Former US President Donald Trump was acquitted by US Senate in the impeachment trial. Majority of Senate republicans closed ranks to aquit Trump in his second impeachment trial.

Former US President Donald Trump was acquitted by US Senate in the impeachment trial. Majority of Senate republicans closed ranks to aquit Trump in his second impeachment trial. During the five-day trial, Democratic Senators argued strongly in favour of impeaching Donald Trump who is the only US President to have been impeached twice. It follows logically that this Trump's second acquittal. Majority of the Republicans expectedly declared Trump not guilty. This was a sign of the powerful grip Trump still has on the Republican party. But while the 57-43 majority that voted to convict fell short of the two-thirds needed in the Senate, seven Republicans joined with Democrats to seek Trump's conviction, making it the most bipartisan impeachment trial in US history. Trump welcomed the verdict and denounced the proceedings as "yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our country." He has been secluded in his Florida club since leaving the presidency. × Despite the stain of a second impeachment, Trump hinted at a possible political future, saying that "our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun." "We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future," he said in a statement. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives on January 13, a week after the chaotic assault that stunned the nation and provoked widespread bipartisan outrage. Also Read | What's next for Trump, the Republican Party and Biden? During the impeachment trial, Democratic Senators argued that Trump's behaviour was an "open and shut" case of impeachable conduct. They retraced how Trump spent two months repeating false allegations of election fraud before inciting his supporters to attack US Capitol building on January 6. "He summoned his supporters to Washington, on the Ellipse, whipped them into a frenzy, and directed them at the Capitol," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote. Also Read | Trump’s lawyers deny he incited Capitol mob The defense team swatted the evidence away, arguing that Trump's appeal to supporters to "fight like hell, at the rally that preceded the attack," was merely rhetorical. But their central argument was that the Senate had no constitutional jurisdiction to try a former president. Most Republican senators agreed. (With AFP inputs)

Donald Trump acquitted by US Senate in his second impeachment trial 

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