<p>US President Joe Biden’s pet dog Commander has bitten several Secret Service agents, and even sent one victim to a hospital, US media reported citing internal emails obtained by a watchdog group.</p>

<p>Between October 2022 and January 2023, the German Shepherd, who first arrived at the White House as a puppy in 2021, has bitten 10 agents.</p>

<p>These details were obtained by conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch after it sought information through the Freedom of Information Act.</p>

<p>Among the information provided includes 194 pages of emails and texts where the Secret Service agents and officials described aggressive encounters with Commander.</p>

<h2><strong>10 dog biting incidents</strong></h2>

<p>In one of the incidents, CNN citing the emails reported that First Lady Jill Biden had difficulty in “controlling” the dog while it was chasing a Secret Service staff member.</p>

<p>"The First Lady couldn't regain control of Commander and he continued to circle me. I believe it's only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit," an email about a Secret Service official said.</p>

<p>Then on November 3, an officer was bitten twice by Commander, and he had to use a steel cart as a shield to protect himself from the third attack. The official said that he was in immense pain after the incident.</p>

<p>The next month, when Biden was walking the dog without a leash in the Kennedy Garden, the canine ran towards an agent and bit him twice.</p>

<p>The agent had bite marks in his left forearm and on the thumb. The emails stated that Biden "seemed concerned" about the special agent, who continued to work the rest of the&nbsp;shift.</p>

<h2><strong>'Biden family working to better situation'</strong></h2>

<p>White House said that the Biden family is “working through ways to make this situation better for everyone”.</p>

<p>“The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets,” said Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for the first lady.</p>

<p>“They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise,” she said.</p>

<p>“According to the Secret Service, each incident referenced was treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed. The President and First Lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family, and the country safe.”</p>

<h2><strong>Secret Service reacts&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that the agency is aware of the dog biting incidents and added that they are not responsible for training the president’s dogs.</p>

<p>Executive residence staff handle walking the dog, with agents occasionally following close behind, he said.</p>

<p>“While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first family’s pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets,” he said, according to New York Times.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-coup-attempt-in-nigeria-presidential-palace-sealed-off-military-being-mobilised-619600">Another coup attempt in Niger? President Mohamed Bazou detained by guards</a></p>

<p>This isn’t the first time that concerns have been raised against Biden’s dogs’ aggressive behaviours.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/tucker-carlson-claims-to-know-fox-news-fired-him-under-dominion-settlement-619635">Tucker Carlson claims he 'knows' Fox News fired him under Dominion settlement</a></p>

<p>Biden’s other German Shephard— Major—was sent to Biden’s family friends after getting involved in a “biting incident” with a White House staff member.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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US President Joe Biden’s pet dog Commander has bitten several Secret Service agents, and even sent one victim to a hospital, US media reported citing internal emails obtained by a watchdog group.

US President Joe Biden’s pet dog Commander has bitten several Secret Service agents, and even sent one victim to a hospital, US media reported citing internal emails obtained by a watchdog group. Between October 2022 and January 2023, the German Shepherd, who first arrived at the White House as a puppy in 2021, has bitten 10 agents. These details were obtained by conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch after it sought information through the Freedom of Information Act. Among the information provided includes 194 pages of emails and texts where the Secret Service agents and officials described aggressive encounters with Commander. 10 dog biting incidents In one of the incidents, CNN citing the emails reported that First Lady Jill Biden had difficulty in “controlling” the dog while it was chasing a Secret Service staff member. "The First Lady couldn't regain control of Commander and he continued to circle me. I believe it's only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit," an email about a Secret Service official said. Then on November 3, an officer was bitten twice by Commander, and he had to use a steel cart as a shield to protect himself from the third attack. The official said that he was in immense pain after the incident. The next month, when Biden was walking the dog without a leash in the Kennedy Garden, the canine ran towards an agent and bit him twice. The agent had bite marks in his left forearm and on the thumb. The emails stated that Biden "seemed concerned" about the special agent, who continued to work the rest of the shift. 'Biden family working to better situation' White House said that the Biden family is “working through ways to make this situation better for everyone”. “The White House complex is a unique and often stressful environment for family pets,” said Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for the first lady. “They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise,” she said. “According to the Secret Service, each incident referenced was treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed. The President and First Lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family, and the country safe.” Secret Service reacts Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that the agency is aware of the dog biting incidents and added that they are not responsible for training the president’s dogs. Executive residence staff handle walking the dog, with agents occasionally following close behind, he said. “While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first family’s pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets,” he said, according to New York Times. Also read | Another coup attempt in Niger? President Mohamed Bazou detained by guards This isn’t the first time that concerns have been raised against Biden’s dogs’ aggressive behaviours. Also read | Tucker Carlson claims he 'knows' Fox News fired him under Dominion settlement Biden’s other German Shephard— Major—was sent to Biden’s family friends after getting involved in a “biting incident” with a White House staff member. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US: President Joe Biden’s pet dog, Commander, attacked and bit Secret Service agents

US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden is once again under scrutiny. Two whistleblowers have testified against Hunter in an ongoing investigation for tax evasion. This investigation was not only targeting Hunter but also holds ramifications for the president of the Internal Revenue Service.

Hunter Biden faces fresh set of challenges, his lawyer accused of misleading clerk

US President Joe Biden's dog has now under the scanner for dangerous behaviour, a conservative watchdog group called Judicial Watchdog, obtained documents from the Department of Homeland Security.

US President Joe Biden's German Shepherd 'Commander' bites 10 times in 4 months | World News | WION

The son of U.S. President Joe Biden is making headlines once again. Hunter Biden's former best friend Devon Archer made a startling revelation. Devon revealed that Hunter Biden often put his father on speakerphone with his business partners.

Did Hunter Biden put then VP Joe Biden on speakerphone with foreign business partners?

<p>Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's aide has been imprisoned for nine years on "extremism" charges. On Monday, Navalny's organisation announced that Vadim Ostanin has been jailed in the latest case sidelining critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Vadim Ostanin?</strong></h2>

<p>Reuters reports that Ostanin was the head of opposition leader Navalny's office in Barnaul.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the jailed opposition leader's team, he carried out "legal political work".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ostanin was detained in December 2021 and Navalny's team alleges that he was pressured by investigators to confess to being guilty. However, he refused.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-critic-alexei-navalny-faces-decades-in-prison-for-rehabilitating-nazi-ideology-and-other-crimes-605858">Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny faces decades in prison for 'rehabilitating Nazi ideology' and other crimes</a></strong></p>

<p>AFP reports that he has now been sentenced in the Siberian city for "participating in an extremist" organisation. As Russia intensified its crackdown on people and organisations&nbsp;in dissent of the Russian President,&nbsp;Alexei Navalny's organisations were banned.</p>

<p>Ostanin, who is a trained lawyer, is now awaiting a verdict on the new "extremist" charges. If found guilty, he could see his jail term extended by another 20 years.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia's crackdown on Putin critics</strong></h2>

<p>Ever since the Russia-Ukraine war began with Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a "special military operation" on February 24th, 2022, authorities in Moscow have clamped down heavily on any signs of dissent.</p>

<p>Taking the crackdown on freedom to a new level, as per AFP, Russia has shut down independent media and in 2021, as the crackdown intensified, Navalny's organisations were banned.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-drone-attacks-destroy-odesas-grain-depot-ukraine-618938">Russian drones destroyed Odesa’s grain depot: Ukraine</a></strong></p>

<p>In a similar charge, earlier this month, Lilia Chanysheva, another ally of the jailed Kremlin critic, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Chanysheva is the former coordinator of Navalny's headquarters in Ufa in central Russia.</p>

<p>This new case against the opposition leader comes amidst an escalated crackdown in Moscow, where over a year into the country's offensive in Ukraine, numerous key opposition figures, like Alexei Navalny, have been put behind bars or are in exile.</p>

<h2><strong>Rough treatment</strong></h2>

<p>Many jailed figures, including Navalny, have alleged that they're being kept in deplorable conditions. Ostanin too has described his detention in Barnaul as unsanitary, saying that there were insects and rodents like rats in his cell.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per Navalny's team, Ostanin has lost some 15 kilogrammes (33 pounds) while in custody. He has allegedly also suffered from back and neck pain, and was denied access to medication for his ailments.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's aide has been imprisoned for nine years on "extremism" charges. On Monday, Navalny's organisation announced that Vadim Ostanin has been jailed in the latest case sidelining critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's aide has been imprisoned for nine years on "extremism" charges. On Monday, Navalny's organisation announced that Vadim Ostanin has been jailed in the latest case sidelining critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Who is Vadim Ostanin? Reuters reports that Ostanin was the head of opposition leader Navalny's office in Barnaul. As per the jailed opposition leader's team, he carried out "legal political work". Ostanin was detained in December 2021 and Navalny's team alleges that he was pressured by investigators to confess to being guilty. However, he refused. Also read | Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny faces decades in prison for 'rehabilitating Nazi ideology' and other crimes AFP reports that he has now been sentenced in the Siberian city for "participating in an extremist" organisation. As Russia intensified its crackdown on people and organisations in dissent of the Russian President, Alexei Navalny's organisations were banned. Ostanin, who is a trained lawyer, is now awaiting a verdict on the new "extremist" charges. If found guilty, he could see his jail term extended by another 20 years. Russia's crackdown on Putin critics Ever since the Russia-Ukraine war began with Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a "special military operation" on February 24th, 2022, authorities in Moscow have clamped down heavily on any signs of dissent. Taking the crackdown on freedom to a new level, as per AFP, Russia has shut down independent media and in 2021, as the crackdown intensified, Navalny's organisations were banned. Also read | Russian drones destroyed Odesa’s grain depot: Ukraine In a similar charge, earlier this month, Lilia Chanysheva, another ally of the jailed Kremlin critic, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. Chanysheva is the former coordinator of Navalny's headquarters in Ufa in central Russia. This new case against the opposition leader comes amidst an escalated crackdown in Moscow, where over a year into the country's offensive in Ukraine, numerous key opposition figures, like Alexei Navalny, have been put behind bars or are in exile. Rough treatment Many jailed figures, including Navalny, have alleged that they're being kept in deplorable conditions. Ostanin too has described his detention in Barnaul as unsanitary, saying that there were insects and rodents like rats in his cell. As per Navalny's team, Ostanin has lost some 15 kilogrammes (33 pounds) while in custody. He has allegedly also suffered from back and neck pain, and was denied access to medication for his ailments. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Crackdown on Putin critics: Navalny’s aide imprisoned for 'participating in an extremist' organisation

Hunter Biden may face 10 criminal referrals as he violated the MANN act: Report

The 80-year-old president has started utilising shorter retractable stairs to access his plane after health concerns were raised when the president stumbled on the stairs to board his presidential aircraft. President Joe Biden has stepped up and found a solution to his stumbling problem.

US President Joe Biden uses shorter retractable staircase to board his plane

Admiral Lisa Franchetti has been nominated by U.S. President Joe Biden to lead the U.S. Navy. If confirmed, this would make Franchetti the first woman to occupy both of these positions and to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

US: President Joe Biden nominates admiral Lisa Franchetti as navy chief

<p>The intensifying chip wars for dominance in&nbsp;the semiconductor market were marked by a note of caution after the leaders of top US chipmakers told Biden administration to study the impact of restrictions on exports to China and pause before implementing new restrictions.</p>

<p>According to a report in Bloomberg, during meetings in Washington earlier this week, Intel's Pat Gelsinger, Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon warned that if US continues to control the exports of chips, it will harm the US dominance in the semiconductor industry.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/chip-war-intensifies-us-and-netherlands-impose-stricter-controls-on-chipmaking-equipment-sales-to-china-610417">Chip War Intensifies: U.S. and Netherlands impose stricter controls on chipmaking equipment sales to China</a></strong></p>

<p>No commitments were made by the Biden administration, report added.</p>

<h2><strong>US-China chip wars: What is happening?</strong></h2>

<p>Washington, citing supposed national security threats, has asked chipmakers to curb exports to China. The Biden administration has targeted the chip exports of the ones specifically made for the Chinese market.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The chip industry in the world's largest economy is thus currently navigating between the increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Calls for 'small yard, high fence' restrictions</strong></h2>

<p>US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that he agreed with the semiconductor company's executives that the approach must be a "small yard, high fence". But he added that the&nbsp;effectiveness of such approach&nbsp;is limited.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He defended Biden administration’s actions saying the measures were targeted and had virtually no impact on US-China trade for most semiconductor trade.</p>

<p>"The vast majority of sales of chips designed by the United States to China has continued unabated," he said at the Aspen Security Forum. "It continues to this day."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;US-China trade tensions escalating</strong></p>

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<p>"We are going to continue to look at very targeted, very specific restrictions on technology with national security and military applications and make judgments rigorously, carefully, methodically — and, yes, in deep consultation with our private sector," he said.</p>

<p>Companies like Qualcomm get more than 60 per cent of its revenue from China, where it supplies components to smartphone makers such as Xiaomi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Nvidia, China gives it a fifth of its annual sales.<br />
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The intensifying chip wars for dominance in the semiconductor market were marked by a note of caution after the leaders of top US chipmakers told Biden administration to study the impact of restrictions on exports to China and pause before implementing new restrictions.

The intensifying chip wars for dominance in the semiconductor market were marked by a note of caution after the leaders of top US chipmakers told Biden administration to study the impact of restrictions on exports to China and pause before implementing new restrictions. According to a report in Bloomberg, during meetings in Washington earlier this week, Intel's Pat Gelsinger, Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon warned that if US continues to control the exports of chips, it will harm the US dominance in the semiconductor industry. Also read | Chip War Intensifies: U.S. and Netherlands impose stricter controls on chipmaking equipment sales to China No commitments were made by the Biden administration, report added. US-China chip wars: What is happening? Washington, citing supposed national security threats, has asked chipmakers to curb exports to China. The Biden administration has targeted the chip exports of the ones specifically made for the Chinese market. The chip industry in the world's largest economy is thus currently navigating between the increasing tensions between Washington and Beijing. Calls for 'small yard, high fence' restrictions US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that he agreed with the semiconductor company's executives that the approach must be a "small yard, high fence". But he added that the effectiveness of such approach is limited. He defended Biden administration’s actions saying the measures were targeted and had virtually no impact on US-China trade for most semiconductor trade. "The vast majority of sales of chips designed by the United States to China has continued unabated," he said at the Aspen Security Forum. "It continues to this day." Also watch | US-China trade tensions escalating × "We are going to continue to look at very targeted, very specific restrictions on technology with national security and military applications and make judgments rigorously, carefully, methodically — and, yes, in deep consultation with our private sector," he said. Companies like Qualcomm get more than 60 per cent of its revenue from China, where it supplies components to smartphone makers such as Xiaomi. For Nvidia, China gives it a fifth of its annual sales. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US-China chip war intensifies amid calls for 'small yard, high fence' approach to contain Beijing

<p>United States President Joe Biden reportedly has been using "lower stairs" to board Air Force One and avoid falling on the staircase, according to a report published in Politico which emphasised the "intentional shift" in the efforts being made to make the travel of the president easier.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As reported by the Politico, two advisers of Biden have "privately acknowledged an intentional shift to steer the 80-year-old president to the lower stairs more often to make his travel easier and limit the possibility for missteps". The media outlet further emphasised that President Biden was sporting sneakers and not shoes recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republican-greene-marjorie-criticised-for-showing-explicit-photos-of-hunter-biden-at-congressional-hearing-617882">Republican Greene Marjorie criticised for showing explicit photos of Hunter Biden at congressional hearing</a></p>

<p>"The sneakers are another concession to comfort necessitated by age," reported Politico. "One person close to the president said Biden used to always resist wearing anything other than dress shoes, believing that any other footwear look was unpresidential. But he has eased up on that stance in recent months," the report added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked by Bloomberg’s Justin Sink about the changes reported by the media and if the president was facing "mobility problems", Jean-Pierre responded, "I don’t have any decision process to walk through. I’m sure there’s a protocol that’s used for the — for Air Force One. I just don’t have one."</p>

<h2><strong>Concerns over Biden's fitness</strong></h2>

<p>Multiple times, President Biden has tripped while walking up the stairs of Air Force One. The media outlet said that the president's aides have been doing everything they can to "limit situations where any signs of physical frailty might be on heightened display."</p>

<p>According to Politico, shorter stairs are generally used by presidents during bad weather.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Whistleblowers in Hunter Biden case testify before Congress</strong></p>

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<p>Concerns have been expressed by democrats, voters and President Biden's aides over the age of the president and his ability to continue a second term, as he campaigns for 2024 re-election. His age has been touted by President Biden as an advantage. While speaking to MSNBC in an interview in May, he said that he knows "more than the vast majority of people."</p>

<p>"Because I have acquired a hell of a lot of wisdom. I know more than the vast majority of people. I’m more experienced than anybody who has ever run for the office and I think I've proven myself to be honourable as well as also effective," Biden said.&nbsp;</p>

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United States President Joe Biden reportedly has been using "lower stairs" to board Air Force One and avoid falling on the staircase, according to a report published in Politico which emphasised the "intentional shift" in the efforts being made to make the travel of the president easier.

United States President Joe Biden reportedly has been using "lower stairs" to board Air Force One and avoid falling on the staircase, according to a report published in Politico which emphasised the "intentional shift" in the efforts being made to make the travel of the president easier. As reported by the Politico, two advisers of Biden have "privately acknowledged an intentional shift to steer the 80-year-old president to the lower stairs more often to make his travel easier and limit the possibility for missteps". The media outlet further emphasised that President Biden was sporting sneakers and not shoes recently. ALSO READ | Republican Greene Marjorie criticised for showing explicit photos of Hunter Biden at congressional hearing "The sneakers are another concession to comfort necessitated by age," reported Politico. "One person close to the president said Biden used to always resist wearing anything other than dress shoes, believing that any other footwear look was unpresidential. But he has eased up on that stance in recent months," the report added. When White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked by Bloomberg’s Justin Sink about the changes reported by the media and if the president was facing "mobility problems", Jean-Pierre responded, "I don’t have any decision process to walk through. I’m sure there’s a protocol that’s used for the — for Air Force One. I just don’t have one." Concerns over Biden's fitness Multiple times, President Biden has tripped while walking up the stairs of Air Force One. The media outlet said that the president's aides have been doing everything they can to "limit situations where any signs of physical frailty might be on heightened display." According to Politico, shorter stairs are generally used by presidents during bad weather. WATCH | Whistleblowers in Hunter Biden case testify before Congress Concerns have been expressed by democrats, voters and President Biden's aides over the age of the president and his ability to continue a second term, as he campaigns for 2024 re-election. His age has been touted by President Biden as an advantage. While speaking to MSNBC in an interview in May, he said that he knows "more than the vast majority of people." "Because I have acquired a hell of a lot of wisdom. I know more than the vast majority of people. I’m more experienced than anybody who has ever run for the office and I think I've proven myself to be honourable as well as also effective," Biden said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Biden orders 'lower stairs' on Air Force One, opts for loafers to avoid tripping

Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden under probe for tax felonies

<p>Talks to bring home thousands of Ukraine children that have been "abducted" by Russia have reportedly been underway since April.</p>

<p>On Wednesday, talking to Reuters, a source with knowledge of the discussions, confirmed a previous Finance Times report that Saudi Arabia and Turkey are trying to mediate the repatriation efforts and bring home Ukrainian children that have been taken to Russia, and placed in children's homes or even adopted by Russian families.</p>

<h2><strong>Talks going on for months</strong></h2>

<p>"The Turks and the Saudis especially have been showing an interest in bringing Ukrainian children back," the source told Reuters on the condition of anonymity.</p>

<p>As per the Reuters source, talks had been going on since April, but they could've started earlier.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/31-children-that-russia-stole-return-home-to-ukraine-580540">31 children that Russia 'stole' return home to Ukraine</a></strong></p>

<p>The individual reportedly failed to disclose the status of the talks. They, however, expressed doubt that a deal would be reached and said it would depend on Russian President Vladimir Putin accepting he's a "war criminal".</p>

<p>"For him to give (the children) back would mean that he agrees that he's a war criminal."</p>

<p>The source did not indicate to Reuters how the talks were going but expressed doubt that a deal would be reached because it would depend on Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>"For him to give (the children) back would mean that he agrees that he's a war criminal," the source said.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, quoting four people, a Financial Times report said that the discussions have been underway for several months.</p>

<h2><strong>Abduction of Ukrainian children</strong></h2>

<p>Ukraine has accused Russia of illegally carrying out the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian&nbsp;children. Russia has, however, denied the "abduction" allegation and says they were transported for their own safety, and to save the children from the horrors of the war.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-to-consider-ukraine-bound-ships-to-be-carrying-military-cargo-617577">Russia to consider Ukraine-bound ships to be carrying 'military cargo'</a></strong></p>

<p>In March, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war crime of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.&nbsp; At the time, another warrant on similar charges was also issued for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights.</p>

<p>As per Kyiv's estimates, nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since the beginning of the invasion. Of these only 385 children have been repatriated, show Ukrainian official figures.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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Talks to bring home thousands of Ukraine children that have been "abducted" by Russia have reportedly been underway since April. On Wednesday, talking to Reuters, a source with knowledge of the discussions, confirmed a previous Finance Times report that Saudi Arabia and Turkey are trying to mediate the repatriation efforts and bring home Ukrainian children that have been taken to Russia, and placed in children's homes or even adopted by Russian families.

Talks to bring home thousands of Ukraine children that have been "abducted" by Russia have reportedly been underway since April. On Wednesday, talking to Reuters, a source with knowledge of the discussions, confirmed a previous Finance Times report that Saudi Arabia and Turkey are trying to mediate the repatriation efforts and bring home Ukrainian children that have been taken to Russia, and placed in children's homes or even adopted by Russian families. Talks going on for months "The Turks and the Saudis especially have been showing an interest in bringing Ukrainian children back," the source told Reuters on the condition of anonymity. As per the Reuters source, talks had been going on since April, but they could've started earlier. Also read | 31 children that Russia 'stole' return home to Ukraine The individual reportedly failed to disclose the status of the talks. They, however, expressed doubt that a deal would be reached and said it would depend on Russian President Vladimir Putin accepting he's a "war criminal". "For him to give (the children) back would mean that he agrees that he's a war criminal." The source did not indicate to Reuters how the talks were going but expressed doubt that a deal would be reached because it would depend on Russian President Vladimir Putin. "For him to give (the children) back would mean that he agrees that he's a war criminal," the source said. On Tuesday, quoting four people, a Financial Times report said that the discussions have been underway for several months. Abduction of Ukrainian children Ukraine has accused Russia of illegally carrying out the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children. Russia has, however, denied the "abduction" allegation and says they were transported for their own safety, and to save the children from the horrors of the war. Also read | Russia to consider Ukraine-bound ships to be carrying 'military cargo' In March, the International Criminal Court announced an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war crime of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. At the time, another warrant on similar charges was also issued for Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's presidential commissioner for children's rights. As per Kyiv's estimates, nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since the beginning of the invasion. Of these only 385 children have been repatriated, show Ukrainian official figures. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Talks to bring back Ukrainian children 'abducted' by Russia on since April: Report

US President Joe Biden had formally extended an invitation to Israel's President Isaac Herzog to visit the White House. The invite came even as Washington's ties with the government in Israel remained icy. Israel's president is now in Washington. He is also expected to address a joint session on the US Congress in honour of Israel's 75th anniversary.

Isaac Herzog's high stake mission to Washington

<p>A report by the Times has shed light on former US President Donald Trump’s plans to rope in a female candidate for vice presidency as his running-mate should he land the 2024 Republican nomination. Trump parted ways with his former Vice President Mike Pence after he rejected his bid to delegitimise swing states that voted for his opponent Joe Biden.</p>

<p>For over the last few years, Trump and his supporters have sporadically vilified Pence, who has now launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. However, his campaign is languishing in third spot behind Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.</p>

<h2><strong>Who could be Trump’s female running-mate?</strong></h2>

<p>The Times report suggested three names who Trump could partner with -- Marjorie Taylor Greene, Elise Stefanik and Kristi Noem. Of these three, both Greene and Stefanik are fierce pro-MAGA stalwarts. Just last month, they introduced measures into the house attempting to expunge both of Trump’s impeachments.</p>

<p>However, experts are of the opinion they are too attached to the MAGA campaign that they may further end up ostracising a neutral electorate. On the other hand, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is being hailed as the most appealing to the general electorate. She is not just a staunch Trump loyalist but also has administrative experience as a governor since 2019. Much to the delight of Trump and his supporters, she has thrown her weight behind several right-wing measures.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Trump wants to have a female running-mate?</strong></h2>

<p>By choosing a female running-mate, Trump wants to improve his appeal among undecided young female voters. The 2020 election analysis showed that he performed poorly among women voters. He lagged far behind the support gathered by Joe Biden. Although his support among women voters is significantly higher this time—44 per cent against 39 per cent last year—he still lags behind Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to YouTube</strong></p>

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<p>He is hopeful that a female running-mate could further boost his popularity among young women and thus chances of him winning the 2024 elections.</p>

<h2><strong>Trump’s preferred choice</strong></h2>

<p>Trump would like to have a running-mate who is unquestionably loyal and who doesn’t harbour ambitions of overshadowing her boss while being content with background roles.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jared-kushner-testified-before-grand-jury-over-trumps-mindset-after-2020-election-615452"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Jared Kushner testified before grand jury on Trump`s mindset after 2020 election</strong></a></p>

<p>The Times quoted Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster, as saying in this regard, “The vice-president usually doesn’t matter but when the president is going to be in their eighties, that makes the choice more significant.”</p>

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A report by the Times has shed light on former US President Donald Trump’s plans to rope in a female candidate for vice presidency as his running-mate should he land the 2024 Republican nomination.

A report by the Times has shed light on former US President Donald Trump’s plans to rope in a female candidate for vice presidency as his running-mate should he land the 2024 Republican nomination. Trump parted ways with his former Vice President Mike Pence after he rejected his bid to delegitimise swing states that voted for his opponent Joe Biden. For over the last few years, Trump and his supporters have sporadically vilified Pence, who has now launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. However, his campaign is languishing in third spot behind Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Who could be Trump’s female running-mate? The Times report suggested three names who Trump could partner with -- Marjorie Taylor Greene, Elise Stefanik and Kristi Noem. Of these three, both Greene and Stefanik are fierce pro-MAGA stalwarts. Just last month, they introduced measures into the house attempting to expunge both of Trump’s impeachments. However, experts are of the opinion they are too attached to the MAGA campaign that they may further end up ostracising a neutral electorate. On the other hand, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is being hailed as the most appealing to the general electorate. She is not just a staunch Trump loyalist but also has administrative experience as a governor since 2019. Much to the delight of Trump and his supporters, she has thrown her weight behind several right-wing measures. Why Trump wants to have a female running-mate? By choosing a female running-mate, Trump wants to improve his appeal among undecided young female voters. The 2020 election analysis showed that he performed poorly among women voters. He lagged far behind the support gathered by Joe Biden. Although his support among women voters is significantly higher this time—44 per cent against 39 per cent last year—he still lags behind Biden. Watch: Former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to YouTube × He is hopeful that a female running-mate could further boost his popularity among young women and thus chances of him winning the 2024 elections. Trump’s preferred choice Trump would like to have a running-mate who is unquestionably loyal and who doesn’t harbour ambitions of overshadowing her boss while being content with background roles. Also read: Jared Kushner testified before grand jury on Trump`s mindset after 2020 election The Times quoted Frank Luntz, a Republican pollster, as saying in this regard, “The vice-president usually doesn’t matter but when the president is going to be in their eighties, that makes the choice more significant.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Trump looking for female running mate to extend appeal to women voters

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<p>US President Joe Biden on Thursday (July 13) suggested Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin could be in danger after he attempted a coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. Speaking to reporters in Helsinki, Biden even gave cautionary advice, disguised as a joke to Prigozhin: Beware of poisoning.</p>

<p>“If I were he, I’d be careful what I ate. I would keep an eye on my menu," said Biden. He was possibly referring to countless instances of Russian security services using nerve agents and polonium to poison and kill enemies of Putin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden added that during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the world leaders discussed uncertainty around the impact on Russian operations in Ukraine, following the mutiny.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Putin on Wagner Group's future</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Wagner PMC was formally non-existent now, following the coup attempt.</p>

<p>When questioned about the organisation's future, from the point of view of the Russian legislation, Putin said, "Wagner PMC does not exist".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The president explained that Moscow had&nbsp;no law on private military companies and, therefore, "there is no such legal entity".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The [Wagner] Group exists, but it is judicially non-existent," Kommersant’s special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov quoted Putin as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The formal legalisation is a separate issue that should be addressed by the State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament] and the government. It’s a complicated issue."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putins-claims-of-funding-wagner-group-likely-to-make-it-easier-to-try-him-for-war-crimes-experts-611014" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | Putin's claims of funding Wagner group likely makes it easier to try him for war crimes: Experts</strong></a></p>

<p>He added that the controversy surrounding the mercenary group was "very simple and clear" for members of Russian society.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Wagner’s ordinary members were fighting with dignity… so it is very regrettable that they became embroiled into these events," said the president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, after the mutiny, Prigozhin initially moved to Belarus to avoid the wrath of Putin. But Moscow this week informed that the president held a three-hour meeting with the Wagner Group head and other commanders.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-is-russias-wagner-group-setting-up-a-secret-training-base-in-belarus-610683"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: Is Russia's Wagner group setting up a secret training base in Belarus?</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why the coup?</strong></h2>

<p>The mercenary group had remained on the fringes since its inception in 2014. However, after the war with Ukraine&nbsp;dragged on, Putin turned towards Prigozhin for support. Initially, Wagner Group made concise inroads, hurting the Ukrainian side heavily.</p>

<p>But soon, Prigozhin started to lambast the Russian military and higher authorities for failing to provide his forces with enough resources.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While&nbsp;Prigozhin refrained from directly criticising Putin for the major part, he went for the jugular last month when his troops nearly marched upon Moscow within hours. Before the coup could grow,&nbsp;Prigozhin realised his mistake and chickened out.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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US President Joe Biden on Thursday (July 13) suggested Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin could be in danger after he attempted a coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday (July 13) suggested Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin could be in danger after he attempted a coup against Russian President Vladimir Putin last month. Speaking to reporters in Helsinki, Biden even gave cautionary advice, disguised as a joke to Prigozhin: Beware of poisoning. “If I were he, I’d be careful what I ate. I would keep an eye on my menu," said Biden. He was possibly referring to countless instances of Russian security services using nerve agents and polonium to poison and kill enemies of Putin. Biden added that during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the world leaders discussed uncertainty around the impact on Russian operations in Ukraine, following the mutiny. Putin on Wagner Group's future Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Wagner PMC was formally non-existent now, following the coup attempt. When questioned about the organisation's future, from the point of view of the Russian legislation, Putin said, "Wagner PMC does not exist". The president explained that Moscow had no law on private military companies and, therefore, "there is no such legal entity". "The [Wagner] Group exists, but it is judicially non-existent," Kommersant’s special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov quoted Putin as saying. "The formal legalisation is a separate issue that should be addressed by the State Duma [the lower chamber of the Russian parliament] and the government. It’s a complicated issue." Also read | Putin's claims of funding Wagner group likely makes it easier to try him for war crimes: Experts He added that the controversy surrounding the mercenary group was "very simple and clear" for members of Russian society. "Wagner’s ordinary members were fighting with dignity… so it is very regrettable that they became embroiled into these events," said the president. Notably, after the mutiny, Prigozhin initially moved to Belarus to avoid the wrath of Putin. But Moscow this week informed that the president held a three-hour meeting with the Wagner Group head and other commanders. WATCH | Gravitas: Is Russia's Wagner group setting up a secret training base in Belarus? × Why the coup? The mercenary group had remained on the fringes since its inception in 2014. However, after the war with Ukraine dragged on, Putin turned towards Prigozhin for support. Initially, Wagner Group made concise inroads, hurting the Ukrainian side heavily. But soon, Prigozhin started to lambast the Russian military and higher authorities for failing to provide his forces with enough resources. While Prigozhin refrained from directly criticising Putin for the major part, he went for the jugular last month when his troops nearly marched upon Moscow within hours. Before the coup could grow, Prigozhin realised his mistake and chickened out. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Biden suggests Wagner chief be 'careful' of poisoning as Putin formally disbands mercenary outfit

As the turmoil in Ukraine looms over the future of the continent, President Joe Biden concluded his European tour in Finland, where he met with NATO's newest member and other Nordic officials. President Joe Biden visited Finland's capital to reassure NATO's newest member of the alliance's commitment and to reassure European allies that a change in U.S. administration would not threaten the continent.

WION-VOA Co-Production: US President Joe Biden wraps up Nordic summit

It seems there won't be any respite from the rising debt level for the United States. The US treasury department has said that that the federal government's deficit has nearly tripled since October 2022.

No relief from huge debts for the US, federal deficit rises 170% | World DNA

<p data-testid="paragraph-0">US&nbsp;President Joe Biden's administration will cancel $39 billion in student debt for more than 804,000 borrowers, the Education Department said on Friday, describing the relief as the result of a "fix" to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-1">Borrowers will be eligible for forgiveness if they have made either 20 or 25 years of monthly IDR payments, the department said. The IDR program caps payment requirements for lower-income borrowers and forgives their remaining balance after a set number of years.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-2">The department said the relief addresses what it described as "historical inaccuracies" in the count of payments that qualify toward forgiveness under IDR plans.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-3">"For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness," Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-4">Biden has said he will pursue new measures to provide student loan relief to Americans after the Supreme Court&nbsp;blocked&nbsp;his plan to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in debt.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-5">The Education Department has launched a regulatory "rulemaking" process to pursue his $430 billion loan relief plan. That process is expected to take months.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-5"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pay-issues-strike-again-950-ground-workers-at-gatwick-airport-set-to-stage-eight-day-protest-615595">UK: Pay issues strike again, 950 ground workers at Gatwick airport set to stage eight-day protest</a></p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-6">Friday's relatively smaller relief falls under a separate, payment count adjustment program that the Biden administration announced in April last year, the department said.</p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-6"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/musk-owned-twitter-starts-sharing-ad-revenue-with-verified-creators-615320">Twitter starts sharing advertising revenue with verified creators</a></p>

<p data-testid="paragraph-7">In a statement, Vice President Kamala Harris said the administration "will continue to fight to make sure Americans can access high-quality postsecondary education without taking on the burden of unmanageable student loan debt."</p>

<p>Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru and Rami Ayyub in Washington Editing by Christina Fincher, Chizu Nomiyama and Frances Kerry</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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US President Joe Biden's administration will cancel $39 billion in student debt for more than 804,000 borrowers, the Education Department said on Friday, describing the relief as the result of a "fix" to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans.

US President Joe Biden's administration will cancel $39 billion in student debt for more than 804,000 borrowers, the Education Department said on Friday, describing the relief as the result of a "fix" to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. Borrowers will be eligible for forgiveness if they have made either 20 or 25 years of monthly IDR payments, the department said. The IDR program caps payment requirements for lower-income borrowers and forgives their remaining balance after a set number of years. The department said the relief addresses what it described as "historical inaccuracies" in the count of payments that qualify toward forgiveness under IDR plans. "For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness," Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. Biden has said he will pursue new measures to provide student loan relief to Americans after the Supreme Court blocked his plan to cancel hundreds of billions of dollars in debt. The Education Department has launched a regulatory "rulemaking" process to pursue his $430 billion loan relief plan. That process is expected to take months. Also read | UK: Pay issues strike again, 950 ground workers at Gatwick airport set to stage eight-day protest Friday's relatively smaller relief falls under a separate, payment count adjustment program that the Biden administration announced in April last year, the department said. Also read | Twitter starts sharing advertising revenue with verified creators In a statement, Vice President Kamala Harris said the administration "will continue to fight to make sure Americans can access high-quality postsecondary education without taking on the burden of unmanageable student loan debt." Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru and Rami Ayyub in Washington Editing by Christina Fincher, Chizu Nomiyama and Frances Kerry WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Joe Biden forgives $39 bln in US student debt for over 800,000 borrowers

US President Joe Biden claimed Vladimir Putin has already lost the fight with the neighbouring country and expressed the hope that Ukraine's counteroffensive would drive Russia to the bargaining table. "The war is already lost for Putin. Putin has a serious issue, Biden said during a press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, according to AFP. He has no chance of triumphing in the conflict in Ukraine, said Biden.

US President Joe Biden: Putin has lost the war in Ukraine | Russia-Ukraine War

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<p>Gaffe-prone US President Joe Biden invited social media scrutiny yet again after he mistakenly referred to his Ukrainian counterpart as “Vladimir” during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Vladimir and I...I shouldn't be so familiar," said Biden during a press conference. However, Biden quickly realised his mistake and corrected himself in the following sentence.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Mr Zelensky and I talked about the kind of guarantees we could make in the meantime when I was in Ukraine and when we met in other places," said Biden.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">🚨🌎 Biden calls ‘Zelensky’ - VLADIMIR 🤡🚨<br />
<br />
Simply unbelievable. <a href="https://t.co/Iqo2omXIrj">pic.twitter.com/Iqo2omXIrj</a></p>
— Concerned Citizen (@cotupacs) <a href="https://twitter.com/cotupacs/status/1679152227141795842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Not Biden's first gaffe</strong></h2>

<p>This is not the first instance when Biden has committed such an error. Last month, a confused Biden mistook Iraq for Ukraine twice in under 12 hours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Putin is clearly losing the war in Iraq," said Biden during one of his correspondence with the reporters in the White House.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Similarly, during his State of the Union address last year, Biden referred to "Ukrainians" as "Iranians".</p>

<p>"Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people," Biden said.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-president-joe-biden-falls-on-stage-599840"><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: US President Joe Biden falls on stage</strong></a></p>

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<p>Prior to attending the NATO Summit, Biden travelled to the UK where he met King Charles III for the first time since the latter's coronation. During the meeting outside Windsor Castle, Biden appeared dazed as he walked in front of the monarch, considered a breach of protocol. Later, he started talking at length with one of the soldiers much to the agitation of King Charles III.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the king's insistence, Biden continued speaking to the guard. It was only after a few moments that Biden took the monarch's cue and decided to follow him, away from the lineup of soldiers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-confused-us-president-joe-biden-whisked-away-by-king-charles-iii-614136" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | Confused US President Joe Biden whisked away by King Charles III</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Biden refuses NATO membership for Ukraine&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>In an interview with CNN, Biden seemingly confirmed that Ukraine will not receive NATO membership unless the war with Russia was over.</p>

<p>“I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,” said Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“For example, if you did that, then, you know – and I mean what I say – we’re determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It’s a commitment that we’ve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we’re all in war. We’re at war with Russia, if that were the case.”</p>

<p>The communique released by NATO heads of state and governments participating in the meeting&nbsp;stated that Ukraine would only join the alliance "when allies agree and conditions are met".&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Gaffe-prone US President Joe Biden invited social media scrutiny yet again after he mistakenly referred to his Ukrainian counterpart as “Vladimir” during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Gaffe-prone US President Joe Biden invited social media scrutiny yet again after he mistakenly referred to his Ukrainian counterpart as “Vladimir” during the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. "Vladimir and I...I shouldn't be so familiar," said Biden during a press conference. However, Biden quickly realised his mistake and corrected himself in the following sentence. "Mr Zelensky and I talked about the kind of guarantees we could make in the meantime when I was in Ukraine and when we met in other places," said Biden. 🚨🌎 Biden calls ‘Zelensky’ - VLADIMIR 🤡🚨 Simply unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/Iqo2omXIrj — Concerned Citizen (@cotupacs) July 12, 2023 × Not Biden's first gaffe This is not the first instance when Biden has committed such an error. Last month, a confused Biden mistook Iraq for Ukraine twice in under 12 hours. "Putin is clearly losing the war in Iraq," said Biden during one of his correspondence with the reporters in the White House. Similarly, during his State of the Union address last year, Biden referred to "Ukrainians" as "Iranians". "Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people," Biden said. WATCH | Gravitas: US President Joe Biden falls on stage × Prior to attending the NATO Summit, Biden travelled to the UK where he met King Charles III for the first time since the latter's coronation. During the meeting outside Windsor Castle, Biden appeared dazed as he walked in front of the monarch, considered a breach of protocol. Later, he started talking at length with one of the soldiers much to the agitation of King Charles III. Despite the king's insistence, Biden continued speaking to the guard. It was only after a few moments that Biden took the monarch's cue and decided to follow him, away from the lineup of soldiers. WATCH | Confused US President Joe Biden whisked away by King Charles III Biden refuses NATO membership for Ukraine In an interview with CNN, Biden seemingly confirmed that Ukraine will not receive NATO membership unless the war with Russia was over. “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,” said Biden. “For example, if you did that, then, you know – and I mean what I say – we’re determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It’s a commitment that we’ve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we’re all in war. We’re at war with Russia, if that were the case.” The communique released by NATO heads of state and governments participating in the meeting stated that Ukraine would only join the alliance "when allies agree and conditions are met". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Biden commits another gaffe, calls Zelensky 'Vladimir' at NATO Summit

<p>Republican congressman and doctor Greg Murphy called out United States President Joe Biden for getting "so much Botox" while slamming the re-election bid of the incumbent president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>North Carolina's representative Greg Murphy, who was formerly a professor of surgery and chief of the division of urology at the East Carolina University School of Medicine, while talking about the health of the president, stated that Biden had undergone “so much filler” and "so much plastic surgery".</p>

<p>Biden has been facing questions related to his health since he made the announcement that he intends to contest elections for a second term. Joe Biden is the oldest president to date in the history of the United States and will turn 86 till he completes a potential second stint as the president in the White House.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-skips-nato-dinner-meet-due-to-hectic-workload-614747">US President Joe Biden skipped NATO dinner meet due to ‘hectic workload’: Report</a></p>

<p>The concerns regarding Biden's physical and mental health have been brushed off by him, who stated that his mind was "focused".</p>

<p>“I no more think of myself as being as old as I am than a fly. There's not things that I don't do now that I did before, whether it's physical or mental—or anything else,” he had earlier stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to Fox News, Greg Murphy said, "Let's look at Joe. He's had so much plastic surgery, so much Botox, so much filler. That's on the outside. I deal in a surgical field that has a lot of older patients and so I have seen patients through the year decline mentally—it's just a fact, it's what happens."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rep. Greg Murphy to Maria Bartiromo: "Let's look at Joe. He's had so much plastic surgery, so much botox, so much filler." <a href="https://t.co/uFQNKtQbM5">pic.twitter.com/uFQNKtQbM5</a></p>
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1679106714455404544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Earlier claims of Biden undergoing plastic surgery</strong></h2>

<p>The alleged "outbursts" of Joe Biden at staff spoke of "a form of dementia," as Biden would be "frustrated" by his inability to communicate his thoughts, alleged the Republican.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The claims regarding Joe Biden undergoing plastic surgery were made even earlier. In 2019, in the Washington Examiner, various cosmetic surgeons said that scars visible on the side of Biden's cheeks were "obvious" signs of a facelift.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Biden greets NATO's newest member, Finland</strong></p>

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<p>"Oh he's had a facelift, there's no question," said Arthur Perry, a plastic surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Columbia University, while speaking to the outlet. Meanwhile, a cosmetic surgeon based in New York, Cap Lesesne, said in the article, "The problem with Biden's surgery is that it's obvious. I've operated on several high-profile individuals, and I'd never let them look like that. Those are classic facelift scars. It's probably been over a year. I kind of feel bad for him. He should have had those scars removed."</p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for&nbsp;wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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Republican congressman and doctor Greg Murphy called out United States President Joe Biden for getting "so much Botox" while slamming the re-election bid of the incumbent president.

Republican congressman and doctor Greg Murphy called out United States President Joe Biden for getting "so much Botox" while slamming the re-election bid of the incumbent president. North Carolina's representative Greg Murphy, who was formerly a professor of surgery and chief of the division of urology at the East Carolina University School of Medicine, while talking about the health of the president, stated that Biden had undergone “so much filler” and "so much plastic surgery". Biden has been facing questions related to his health since he made the announcement that he intends to contest elections for a second term. Joe Biden is the oldest president to date in the history of the United States and will turn 86 till he completes a potential second stint as the president in the White House. ALSO READ | US President Joe Biden skipped NATO dinner meet due to ‘hectic workload’: Report The concerns regarding Biden's physical and mental health have been brushed off by him, who stated that his mind was "focused". “I no more think of myself as being as old as I am than a fly. There's not things that I don't do now that I did before, whether it's physical or mental—or anything else,” he had earlier stated. Speaking to Fox News, Greg Murphy said, "Let's look at Joe. He's had so much plastic surgery, so much Botox, so much filler. That's on the outside. I deal in a surgical field that has a lot of older patients and so I have seen patients through the year decline mentally—it's just a fact, it's what happens." Rep. Greg Murphy to Maria Bartiromo: "Let's look at Joe. He's had so much plastic surgery, so much botox, so much filler." pic.twitter.com/uFQNKtQbM5 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 12, 2023 × Earlier claims of Biden undergoing plastic surgery The alleged "outbursts" of Joe Biden at staff spoke of "a form of dementia," as Biden would be "frustrated" by his inability to communicate his thoughts, alleged the Republican. The claims regarding Joe Biden undergoing plastic surgery were made even earlier. In 2019, in the Washington Examiner, various cosmetic surgeons said that scars visible on the side of Biden's cheeks were "obvious" signs of a facelift. WATCH | Biden greets NATO's newest member, Finland "Oh he's had a facelift, there's no question," said Arthur Perry, a plastic surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Columbia University, while speaking to the outlet. Meanwhile, a cosmetic surgeon based in New York, Cap Lesesne, said in the article, "The problem with Biden's surgery is that it's obvious. I've operated on several high-profile individuals, and I'd never let them look like that. Those are classic facelift scars. It's probably been over a year. I kind of feel bad for him. He should have had those scars removed." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'So much Botox': US President Biden called out for getting plastic surgery

<p>Was it a Freudian slip? During a press briefing on Monday, the US State Department spokesperson made a controversial statement and claimed that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has been a "strategic failure" for Ukraine.</p>

<p>Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, mistakenly made this assertion not once, but twice, before admitting that he was out of touch due to his absence from the podium for a week.</p>

<h2><strong>The gaffe</strong></h2>

<p>While holding the press briefing on Monday, Miller was asked about the 500 days of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the role of the United Nations' "almost 200 member nations" in the conflict.</p>

<p>In reply, Miller as per the transcript available on the US State Department Website said: "We believe the war has been a strategic failure for Ukraine.&nbsp;The Secretary [of State Antony Blinken] spoke to this in a speech he gave in Helsinki last month, I believe it was."</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-timeframe-for-ukraines-nato-membership-despite-zelenskys-scathing-criticism-of-absurd-delays-614458">No timeframe for Ukraine's NATO membership despite Zelensky's scathing criticism of 'absurd' delays</a></strong></p>

<p>His gaffe was immediately pointed out, with a reporter asking him "A strategic failure for Russia or for Ukraine?".</p>

<p>Thanking the reporter for the correction, the spokesperson once again said that the strategic failure lies with Ukraine.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>"I'm sorry, a – excuse me, a strategic failure for Ukraine. Thank you for the correction."</p>

<p>Watch a video of the press briefing here:</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">STATE DEPT. SPOX MILLER: "We believe the war has been a strategic failure for Ukraine..."<br />
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PRESS: "Don't you mean 'a strategic failure for Russia?'"<br />
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MILLER: "I'm sorry — excuse me — a strategic failure for Ukraine! Thank you for the correction!" <a href="https://t.co/o7uIpTlBSq">pic.twitter.com/o7uIpTlBSq</a></p>
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) <a href="https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1678469603968557061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The slip of the tongue by the US State Department spokesperson has ignited a debate about the true nature of Ukraine's war with Russia and the US's role in it.</p>

<h2><strong>The controversy stemming from Miller's gaffe</strong></h2>

<p>Miller's blunder has quickly gained attention on Twitter. Users have begun questioning the US support for Ukraine and are suggesting that Miller's slip of the tongue revealed a deeper truth.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-leader-praises-elon-musk-and-twitter-over-threads-for-freedom-of-speech-614440">Taliban leader praises Elon Musk and Twitter over Threads for 'freedom of speech'</a></strong></p>

<p>Some argue that despite the subsequent correction, the repeated mistake by Miller raises doubts about the US's stance on the conflict. A few Twitter users called for Miller's resignation and questioned the continued financial aid sent to Ukraine.</p>

<h2><strong>Biden administration's series of blunders</strong></h2>

<p>This incident, as per The Daily Caller, is just one in a series of blunders that have plagued the Biden administration.</p>

<p>President Joe Biden himself recently made an accidental revelation about the shortage of conventional artillery shells in the US military, which he said led to the decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine instead.</p>

<p>Speaking to CNN, the US president was defending his turnaround decision to provide deadly cluster munitions to Ukraine and said: "This is a war relating to munitions. And they're (Ukraine) running out of that ammunition, and we're low on it."</p>

<p>Additionally, Biden mistakenly claimed on two occasions within 24 hours that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "losing the war in Iraq" and had become "a bit of a pariah around the world."</p>


Was it a Freudian slip? During a press briefing on Monday, the US State Department spokesperson made a controversial statement and claimed that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has been a "strategic failure" for Ukraine.

Was it a Freudian slip? During a press briefing on Monday, the US State Department spokesperson made a controversial statement and claimed that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has been a "strategic failure" for Ukraine. Matthew Miller, the department's spokesperson, mistakenly made this assertion not once, but twice, before admitting that he was out of touch due to his absence from the podium for a week. The gaffe While holding the press briefing on Monday, Miller was asked about the 500 days of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the role of the United Nations' "almost 200 member nations" in the conflict. In reply, Miller as per the transcript available on the US State Department Website said: "We believe the war has been a strategic failure for Ukraine. The Secretary [of State Antony Blinken] spoke to this in a speech he gave in Helsinki last month, I believe it was." Also read | No timeframe for Ukraine's NATO membership despite Zelensky's scathing criticism of 'absurd' delays His gaffe was immediately pointed out, with a reporter asking him "A strategic failure for Russia or for Ukraine?". Thanking the reporter for the correction, the spokesperson once again said that the strategic failure lies with Ukraine. "I'm sorry, a – excuse me, a strategic failure for Ukraine. Thank you for the correction." Watch a video of the press briefing here: STATE DEPT. SPOX MILLER: "We believe the war has been a strategic failure for Ukraine..." PRESS: "Don't you mean 'a strategic failure for Russia?'" MILLER: "I'm sorry — excuse me — a strategic failure for Ukraine! Thank you for the correction!" pic.twitter.com/o7uIpTlBSq — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 10, 2023 × The slip of the tongue by the US State Department spokesperson has ignited a debate about the true nature of Ukraine's war with Russia and the US's role in it. The controversy stemming from Miller's gaffe Miller's blunder has quickly gained attention on Twitter. Users have begun questioning the US support for Ukraine and are suggesting that Miller's slip of the tongue revealed a deeper truth. Also read | Taliban leader praises Elon Musk and Twitter over Threads for 'freedom of speech' Some argue that despite the subsequent correction, the repeated mistake by Miller raises doubts about the US's stance on the conflict. A few Twitter users called for Miller's resignation and questioned the continued financial aid sent to Ukraine. Biden administration's series of blunders This incident, as per The Daily Caller, is just one in a series of blunders that have plagued the Biden administration. President Joe Biden himself recently made an accidental revelation about the shortage of conventional artillery shells in the US military, which he said led to the decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine instead. Speaking to CNN, the US president was defending his turnaround decision to provide deadly cluster munitions to Ukraine and said: "This is a war relating to munitions. And they're (Ukraine) running out of that ammunition, and we're low on it." Additionally, Biden mistakenly claimed on two occasions within 24 hours that Russian President Vladimir Putin was "losing the war in Iraq" and had become "a bit of a pariah around the world."

Freudian slip? US official says, twice, war with Russia 'strategic failure' for Ukraine

<p>US President Joe Biden had to skip Tuesday’s NATO dinner with other world leaders because of ongoing workload issues, the White House said.</p>

<p>According to FoxNews, Biden had RSVP'd “no” to NATO summit dinner with others, making it the third time for him to skip dinner with world leaders during an international trip.</p>

<p>The White House said the US president has four full days of work ahead of him, and he will also be delivering a speech, hence he could not attend the dinner.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Biden will be meeting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky after the conclusion of the NATO-Ukraine council meeting.</p>

<p>The bilateral meeting will take place at 3.45 pm (local time) in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.</p>

<p>This comes days after Biden said that Ukraine cannot join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in the current timeframe and its bid is contingent upon ending the war with Russia.</p>

<h2><strong>Biden against Ukraine joining NATO</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking to CNN ahead of his NATO trip, Biden had said that it was “premature" to allow Ukraine to join the alliance in the middle of a war and that the process could take place only after a peace agreement with Russia was in place.</p>

<p>Biden added that the US and its NATO allies would continue to back President Volodymyr Zelensky by providing the necessary military aid that is needed to end the war.</p>

<p>“I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war," Biden said.</p>

<p>“For example, if you did that, then, you know – and I mean what I say – we’re determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It’s a commitment that we’ve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we’re all in war. We’re at war with Russia, if that were the case,"&nbsp;the US president added.</p>

<p>Biden’s concerns stem from the fact that Ukraine joining NATO would bring all the member alliance closer to the war with Russia due to a clause in its charter.</p>

<p>Article 5 of NATO's charter states that if one member is attacked, it is deemed to be an assault on all and hence all others must come to its defence.</p>

<h2><strong>Understands concerns raised on NATO bid:&nbsp;Zelensky </strong></h2>

<p>During a press conference at the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Zelensky addressed the concerns raised by some people over Kyiv joining NATO, saying that "nobody is willing to have a world war".</p>

<p>He agreed that Ukraine cannot be a member of the alliance while a war is going on within its border. But, he adds, "signals are important".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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US President Joe Biden had to skip Tuesday’s NATO dinner with other world leaders because of ongoing workload issues, the White House said. According to FoxNews, Biden had RSVP'd “no” to NATO summit dinner with others, making it the third time for him to skip dinner with world leaders during an international trip.

US President Joe Biden had to skip Tuesday’s NATO dinner with other world leaders because of ongoing workload issues, the White House said. According to FoxNews, Biden had RSVP'd “no” to NATO summit dinner with others, making it the third time for him to skip dinner with world leaders during an international trip. The White House said the US president has four full days of work ahead of him, and he will also be delivering a speech, hence he could not attend the dinner. Meanwhile, Biden will be meeting Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky after the conclusion of the NATO-Ukraine council meeting. The bilateral meeting will take place at 3.45 pm (local time) in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. This comes days after Biden said that Ukraine cannot join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in the current timeframe and its bid is contingent upon ending the war with Russia. Biden against Ukraine joining NATO Speaking to CNN ahead of his NATO trip, Biden had said that it was “premature" to allow Ukraine to join the alliance in the middle of a war and that the process could take place only after a peace agreement with Russia was in place. Biden added that the US and its NATO allies would continue to back President Volodymyr Zelensky by providing the necessary military aid that is needed to end the war. “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war," Biden said. “For example, if you did that, then, you know – and I mean what I say – we’re determined to commit every inch of territory that is NATO territory. It’s a commitment that we’ve all made no matter what. If the war is going on, then we’re all in war. We’re at war with Russia, if that were the case," the US president added. Biden’s concerns stem from the fact that Ukraine joining NATO would bring all the member alliance closer to the war with Russia due to a clause in its charter. Article 5 of NATO's charter states that if one member is attacked, it is deemed to be an assault on all and hence all others must come to its defence. Understands concerns raised on NATO bid: Zelensky During a press conference at the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Zelensky addressed the concerns raised by some people over Kyiv joining NATO, saying that "nobody is willing to have a world war". He agreed that Ukraine cannot be a member of the alliance while a war is going on within its border. But, he adds, "signals are important". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US President Joe Biden skipped NATO dinner meet due to ‘hectic workload’: Report

<p>Gal Luft, the whistleblower responsible for exposing US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden of corruption, has been charged by the Department of Justice (DoJ). The federal prosecutors in New York charged Luft for acting as an "unregistered agent of China", with the GOP lawmakers terming it a pressure tactic.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Luft, a US-Israeli citizen, headed the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, a Maryland-based think tank and had a pivotal role in the Hunter Biden laptop probe. Apart from accusing him of acting as a Chinese mole, the 58-page&nbsp;indictment unsealed on Monday stated Luft was involved in&nbsp;arms trafficking and violated sanctions&nbsp;by brokering the sale of Chinese-made weapons and Iranian oil to China.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“As alleged, Gal Luft, a dual US-Israeli citizen and co-head of a Maryland think tank, engaged in multiple, serious criminal schemes. He subverted foreign agent registration laws in the United States to seek to promote Chinese policies by acting through a former high-ranking US Government official," said&nbsp;Damian Williams,&nbsp;US attorney for the Southern District of New York.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He acted as a broker in deals for dangerous weapons and Iranian oil, and he told multiple lies about his crimes to law enforcement," he&nbsp;added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-white-house-influence-hunter-biden-case-607970"><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: Did White House influence Hunter Biden case?</strong></a></p>

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<p>The prosecutors said they were working "vigorously"&nbsp;with law enforcement partners to detect and hold the likes of Luft answerable for attempting to "perpetrate malign foreign influence campaigns here in the US".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The indictment stated that Luft agreed to let&nbsp;former Hong Kong official Patrick Ho send $350,000 each year to his think tank in 2015. In return, Luft agreed to "recruit and educate" a former high-ranking US official to make public statements in the interest of China.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What did Luft claim?</strong></h2>

<p>Last week, the New York Post published a video wherein Luft said that in 2019 he provided evidence to the DoJ and FBI officials on Hunter Biden's shady dealings but since had become a scapegoat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“I, who volunteered to inform the US government about a potential security breach and about compromising information about a man vying to be the next president, am now being hunted by the very same people who I informed — and may have to live on the run for the rest of my life,” said Luft from an undisclosed location.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Luft in his expose had claimed that the state-controlled energy company&nbsp;China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC) paid Hunter Biden $100,000 a month and&nbsp;$65,000 to first brother Jim Biden. In exchange, the company got the Bidens FBI connections and used the family name to promote China's highly-ambitions Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) across the globe. Reportedly, the money was funnelled through&nbsp;Rob Walker, a Biden family associate.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-cocaine-row-trump-says-he-has-no-doubt-it-was-for-use-of-hunter-and-joe-biden-612516"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;White House cocaine row: Trump says he has no doubt it was for 'use of Hunter and Joe Biden'</strong></a></p>

<p>Notably, Luft was arrested in Cyprus in February this year but managed to flee after being released on bail. He remains at large and the DoJ is seeking information on his whereabouts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He's got a wealth of information. But they never followed up on that meeting.&nbsp;Instead, they arrested him in Cyprus to silence him," said&nbsp;Republican Senator Ron Johnson, accusing the government of cover-up.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Gal Luft, the whistleblower responsible for exposing US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden of corruption, has been charged by the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Gal Luft, the whistleblower responsible for exposing US President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden of corruption, has been charged by the Department of Justice (DoJ). The federal prosecutors in New York charged Luft for acting as an "unregistered agent of China", with the GOP lawmakers terming it a pressure tactic. Luft, a US-Israeli citizen, headed the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, a Maryland-based think tank and had a pivotal role in the Hunter Biden laptop probe. Apart from accusing him of acting as a Chinese mole, the 58-page indictment unsealed on Monday stated Luft was involved in arms trafficking and violated sanctions by brokering the sale of Chinese-made weapons and Iranian oil to China. “As alleged, Gal Luft, a dual US-Israeli citizen and co-head of a Maryland think tank, engaged in multiple, serious criminal schemes. He subverted foreign agent registration laws in the United States to seek to promote Chinese policies by acting through a former high-ranking US Government official," said Damian Williams, US attorney for the Southern District of New York. "He acted as a broker in deals for dangerous weapons and Iranian oil, and he told multiple lies about his crimes to law enforcement," he added. WATCH | Gravitas: Did White House influence Hunter Biden case? × The prosecutors said they were working "vigorously" with law enforcement partners to detect and hold the likes of Luft answerable for attempting to "perpetrate malign foreign influence campaigns here in the US". The indictment stated that Luft agreed to let former Hong Kong official Patrick Ho send $350,000 each year to his think tank in 2015. In return, Luft agreed to "recruit and educate" a former high-ranking US official to make public statements in the interest of China. What did Luft claim? Last week, the New York Post published a video wherein Luft said that in 2019 he provided evidence to the DoJ and FBI officials on Hunter Biden's shady dealings but since had become a scapegoat. “I, who volunteered to inform the US government about a potential security breach and about compromising information about a man vying to be the next president, am now being hunted by the very same people who I informed — and may have to live on the run for the rest of my life,” said Luft from an undisclosed location. Luft in his expose had claimed that the state-controlled energy company China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC) paid Hunter Biden $100,000 a month and $65,000 to first brother Jim Biden. In exchange, the company got the Bidens FBI connections and used the family name to promote China's highly-ambitions Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) across the globe. Reportedly, the money was funnelled through Rob Walker, a Biden family associate. Also read | White House cocaine row: Trump says he has no doubt it was for 'use of Hunter and Joe Biden' Notably, Luft was arrested in Cyprus in February this year but managed to flee after being released on bail. He remains at large and the DoJ is seeking information on his whereabouts. "He's got a wealth of information. But they never followed up on that meeting. Instead, they arrested him in Cyprus to silence him," said Republican Senator Ron Johnson, accusing the government of cover-up. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Missing whistleblower who exposed Bidens hit with federal charges of being China agent

<p>US President Joe Biden will hold a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit on Wednesday, media reports said citing an official familiar with the matter.&nbsp;Zelensky's meeting with Biden is a clear show of support for Ukraine amid Russian aggression and serves as a symbol of unity at the key summit that Moscow will be following keenly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that at the summit, which is set to kick off on 11 July in the Lithuanian capital, there will be decisions taken pertaining to Ukraine.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/investigation-into-greek-shipwreck-suggests-coastguard-responsible-for-sinking-report-613990">Investigation into Greek shipwreck suggests coastguard responsible for sinking: Report</a></p>

<p>"This includes a multi-year package of assistance. To transition from Soviet-era to NATO equipment and standards, making Ukraine’s forces fully interoperable with Allies. And covering critical needs like demining equipment, fuel, and medical supplies," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NATO boss also said that the bloc will upgrade its political ties with Ukraine. He said the Ukrainian president will join bloc members for the inaugural meeting of the new NATO-Ukraine Council.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-will-back-swedens-nato-bid-if-eu-embraces-ankara-says-erdogan-613983">'Turkey will back Sweden's NATO bid if EU embraces Ankara', says Erdogan</a></p>

<p>"Allies will address Ukraine’s path towards NATO membership. To continue supporting Ukraine and strengthening our own forces, we need to invest more in defence," he added while addressing a joint press conference alongside President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Focus on Russia's war in Ukraine and NATO membership</strong></h2>

<p>The NATO summit will prioritise discussions on Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, along with exploring potential avenues for the war-torn country to join the alliance.&nbsp;Key issues include the provision of additional military assistance to support its counter-offensive.</p>

<h2><strong>Biden's position on Ukraine's NATO membership</strong></h2>

<p>President Biden expressed reservations about Ukraine's immediate accession to NATO due to the ongoing conflict. “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,” Biden told CNN before embarking on his Europe trip.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | 'Safeguarding reefs': Theme of Florida Music Festival</strong></p>

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<p>Ukrainian president Zelensky has been seeking a "clear signal" for Ukraine's NATO membership.&nbsp;“It would be an important message to say that NATO is not afraid of Russia. Ukraine should get clear security guarantees while it is not in NATO. Only under these conditions, our meeting would be meaningful, otherwise, it’s just another politics,” Zelensky told ABC News regarding the upcoming summit in Lithuania.&nbsp;</p>

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US President Joe Biden will hold a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit on Wednesday, media reports said citing an official familiar with the matter.

US President Joe Biden will hold a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit on Wednesday, media reports said citing an official familiar with the matter. Zelensky's meeting with Biden is a clear show of support for Ukraine amid Russian aggression and serves as a symbol of unity at the key summit that Moscow will be following keenly. Earlier on Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that at the summit, which is set to kick off on 11 July in the Lithuanian capital, there will be decisions taken pertaining to Ukraine. Also Read | Investigation into Greek shipwreck suggests coastguard responsible for sinking: Report "This includes a multi-year package of assistance. To transition from Soviet-era to NATO equipment and standards, making Ukraine’s forces fully interoperable with Allies. And covering critical needs like demining equipment, fuel, and medical supplies," he said. NATO boss also said that the bloc will upgrade its political ties with Ukraine. He said the Ukrainian president will join bloc members for the inaugural meeting of the new NATO-Ukraine Council. Also Read | 'Turkey will back Sweden's NATO bid if EU embraces Ankara', says Erdogan "Allies will address Ukraine’s path towards NATO membership. To continue supporting Ukraine and strengthening our own forces, we need to invest more in defence," he added while addressing a joint press conference alongside President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda. Focus on Russia's war in Ukraine and NATO membership The NATO summit will prioritise discussions on Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, along with exploring potential avenues for the war-torn country to join the alliance. Key issues include the provision of additional military assistance to support its counter-offensive. Biden's position on Ukraine's NATO membership President Biden expressed reservations about Ukraine's immediate accession to NATO due to the ongoing conflict. “I don’t think there is unanimity in NATO about whether or not to bring Ukraine into the NATO family now, at this moment, in the middle of a war,” Biden told CNN before embarking on his Europe trip. Watch | 'Safeguarding reefs': Theme of Florida Music Festival × Ukrainian president Zelensky has been seeking a "clear signal" for Ukraine's NATO membership. “It would be an important message to say that NATO is not afraid of Russia. Ukraine should get clear security guarantees while it is not in NATO. Only under these conditions, our meeting would be meaningful, otherwise, it’s just another politics,” Zelensky told ABC News regarding the upcoming summit in Lithuania. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Biden to meet Zelensky at NATO summit in show of support against Russian aggression

<p>US President Joe Biden provided ammo to his critics once again after he appeared dazed and confused during his visit to the United Kingdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden met King Charles III for the first time since the latter's coronation earlier this year. The US president had skipped the ceremony at the time, setting some bitterness between the two parties. On Monday, Biden paid a visit to the king but the headlines took a different turn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a video clip going viral on social media, the pair can be seen greeting each other and later taking part in the inspection of the guard outside Windsor Castle. Biden seemingly walked in front of the monarch, a breach of protocol, repeating the mistake of his predecessor Donald Trump when the Republican leader meted the same treatment to the late Queen Elizabeth II.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the end of the line, Biden stopped and started speaking to a guard.&nbsp;The conversation went at length and a visibly agitated King Charles III could be seen trying to lead Biden away from the guard. During the incident, Charles appeared to direct his anger at the guard before walking away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite the king's insistence, Biden continued speaking to the guard. It was only after a few moments that Biden looked back and forth between the monarch and the guard and decided to follow the king, away from the lineup of soldiers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After whisking the president away, Charles put his hand behind Biden's back. A few moments later, Biden also put his hand behind the king, sparking speculations that it was a breach of the protocols. However, a Buckingham Palace source told <em>People </em>that Biden did not break any protocol as the monarch was "entirely comfortable" with the encounter.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">How is this even real? King Charles has to show Biden where to go.<br />
<br />
We are a laughing stock. <a href="https://t.co/ZvWfAlbxeL">pic.twitter.com/ZvWfAlbxeL</a></p>
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanAFournier/status/1678435238907633664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>Netizens question Biden</strong></h2>

<p>The internet, however, was split on Biden's actions. A section took to Twitter, widely sharing the video and criticising Biden for once again looking absent-minded.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"How is this even real? King Charles has to show Biden where to go. We are a laughing stock," said one netizen while another added, "74-year-old King Charles has to lead 80-year-old Biden around."</p>

<p>Biden last had formal talks with Charles at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-president-joe-biden-falls-on-stage-599840"><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: US President Joe Biden falls on stage</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>God save the Queen, man</strong></h2>

<p>Last month, Biden left many puzzled after he concluded one of his speeches by remarking, "Alright? God save the Queen, man".&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/god-save-the-queen-man-biden-leaves-crowd-puzzled-with-mysterious-end-to-his-speech-watch-605379"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;‘God save the Queen, man,’ Biden leaves crowd puzzled with mysterious remarks, watch</strong></a></p>

<p>Todd Gillman, the White House correspondent for the Dallas Morning News, covered Biden's speech and admitted that he, along with other pool reporters present in the room, did not grasp the ‘intended’ meaning behind the phrase.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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US President Joe Biden provided ammo to his critics once again after he appeared dazed and confused during his visit to the United Kingdom. Biden met King Charles III for the first time since the latter's coronation earlier this year.

US President Joe Biden provided ammo to his critics once again after he appeared dazed and confused during his visit to the United Kingdom. Biden met King Charles III for the first time since the latter's coronation earlier this year. The US president had skipped the ceremony at the time, setting some bitterness between the two parties. On Monday, Biden paid a visit to the king but the headlines took a different turn. In a video clip going viral on social media, the pair can be seen greeting each other and later taking part in the inspection of the guard outside Windsor Castle. Biden seemingly walked in front of the monarch, a breach of protocol, repeating the mistake of his predecessor Donald Trump when the Republican leader meted the same treatment to the late Queen Elizabeth II. At the end of the line, Biden stopped and started speaking to a guard. The conversation went at length and a visibly agitated King Charles III could be seen trying to lead Biden away from the guard. During the incident, Charles appeared to direct his anger at the guard before walking away. Despite the king's insistence, Biden continued speaking to the guard. It was only after a few moments that Biden looked back and forth between the monarch and the guard and decided to follow the king, away from the lineup of soldiers. After whisking the president away, Charles put his hand behind Biden's back. A few moments later, Biden also put his hand behind the king, sparking speculations that it was a breach of the protocols. However, a Buckingham Palace source told People that Biden did not break any protocol as the monarch was "entirely comfortable" with the encounter. How is this even real? King Charles has to show Biden where to go. We are a laughing stock. pic.twitter.com/ZvWfAlbxeL — Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) July 10, 2023 × Netizens question Biden The internet, however, was split on Biden's actions. A section took to Twitter, widely sharing the video and criticising Biden for once again looking absent-minded. "How is this even real? King Charles has to show Biden where to go. We are a laughing stock," said one netizen while another added, "74-year-old King Charles has to lead 80-year-old Biden around." Biden last had formal talks with Charles at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021. WATCH | Gravitas: US President Joe Biden falls on stage × God save the Queen, man Last month, Biden left many puzzled after he concluded one of his speeches by remarking, "Alright? God save the Queen, man". Also read | ‘God save the Queen, man,’ Biden leaves crowd puzzled with mysterious remarks, watch Todd Gillman, the White House correspondent for the Dallas Morning News, covered Biden's speech and admitted that he, along with other pool reporters present in the room, did not grasp the ‘intended’ meaning behind the phrase. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | Confused US President Joe Biden whisked away by King Charles III

The European Union approves a new deal to allowing companies to transfer data between the EU and the United States seeking to end the legal uncertainties that have been plaguing thousands of companies.

US President Joe Biden welcomes US data transfer pact | World News | WION

The US President Joe Biden has defended what he called his very difficult decision to provide Cluster Munitions to Ukraine. In an interview, Biden said that Ukraine needed the controversial weapons to fight off the invading Russian troops.

US President Joe Biden defends supplying Ukraine with Cluster Bombs

All eyes are on Lithuania for the NATO summit because it's just 150 kilometres from Russia, the city has already been emboldened as well and several leaders among the 31 member nations are en route to the city including US President Joe Biden.

US President Joe Biden in London, to meet PM Rishi Sunak and King Charles

North Korea has blown the whistle against the US. The nation accused the US of violating its airspace by conducting surveillance flights. Pyongyang said it was exercising restraint but warned that it would shoot down such flights.

Why is North Korea accusing the US of 'NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL'?

US President Joe Biden visits UK on the eve of NATO summit in Lithuainia. Leaders of both countries discussed Washington's move to supply cluster bombs to Kyiv and trade between the super-powers.

Joe Biden discusses Ukraine with UK PM Rishi Sunak

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