One year on, the key battles of the Russia-Ukraine war

<p>If photo opportunities could stop wars and resolve complex diplomatic tangles, they would have done so long ago. This is the thought that comes to me after US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit&nbsp;to Kyiv and promised more military aid for Ukraine and more economic sanctions against Russia to end their war that is reaching its first anniversary this week.</p>

<p>This is not exactly a happy marriage for us to be celebrating anniversaries but there is much in Biden's body language that invites dark humour. There's a lot that it did not reveal, including the complicated nature of the situation that has put all of Europe in economic and political turmoil, apart from the United States' own poor track record as a global supercop.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Biden declares ‘Kyiv stands’ in surprise visit to Ukraine</strong></p>

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<p>The imagery of refugees literally falling off a flying aircraft while trying to escape the return of the Taliban after the departure of US troops from Afghanistan will remain as rich as that of the naked girl running after a Vietnam War bombing incident. Both are photographs that tell us of flaming American failure. Diplomatic hell paved with Uncle Sam's good intentions can make many a historian or military expert's career. But peace? No, sir.</p>

<p>Biden walking the streets of Kyiv and patting President Volodymyr Zelensky on the back like a patronising baseball coach would have looked good had this been an American university playoff. Sadly, this is a different arena far removed from the Transatlantic insurance that an ocean in the middle offers for the wonks at the State Department. &nbsp;Joe Biden is not GI Joe. There is no American blood falling on Ukraine's fertile soil.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/biden-in-ukraine-a-perfect-photo-op-but-why-now-is-it-too-little-too-late-563977">Biden in Ukraine: A perfect photo-op, but why now? Is it too little, too late?</a></strong></p>

<p>The big question is: Who will bell the cat a.k.a. Vladimir Putin? As things stand, the Russia-Ukraine war is in a situation that would in typical diplospeak be described as a stalemate, logjam or gridlock. There is no end in sight, and there is no clue on what is going on inside Putin's mind, as Biden himself elegantly admitted. &nbsp;Somalia, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Iran stand testimony to the limits of a lapsed superpower. But I would not waste words like 'stalemate' on a situation where blood is flowing every day. Moscow and Europe have economic guns pointing to each other's head thanks to the fuel linkages and geographic proximity between the two. Putin's hold over his country shows no sign of weakening significantly. Moscow cannot capture Kyiv or the hearts of Ukrainians. Putin's stated military objective of "de-Nazification" of Ukraine is either non-existent or was achieved months ago. In the practical world of wise diplomacy, Putin would be offered an honourable exit with some assurances so that sovereign Ukraine can resume its poise without everyday bloodshed or constant fear. That might also lead to loud sighs of relief from Scandinavia. For all that, what we need is enlightened diplomacy, not bumbling bravado.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/ukraine-and-pakistan-friends-enemies-or-frenemies-564017">Ukraine and Pakistan: Friends, enemies or frenemies?</a></strong></p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi came closest to a somewhat credible response when he muttered something about this not being an era of wars to Putin. Was that a flash in the diplomatic pan? The smartest thing would now be for beleaguered European Union or its prime economic engine, Germany, to reach out to India and do something meaningful to truly figure out what Putin wants and give him an honourable exit and/or assurance package. &nbsp;India's G-20 presidency offers a pinhole for light to enter the dark tunnel behind Biden's photogenic overtures. India's rivalry or coldness towards China, and Beijing's own reticence in being too involved in things away from its borders may well earn some brownie points for it to bridge a horrible trust deficit between the West and Moscow. Involving Japan in the equation might give peace a further nudge.</p>

<p>There is a limit to which a neutral country can get involved in this, but the EU, Scandinavia, Russia and Ukraine itself have the most skin in the game and therefore the imperative for action. &nbsp;India can perhaps walk its talk as the voice of the Global South in the G-20 grouping by actually talking to the real Global South -- the vast comity of nations in the UN General Assembly below the glass ceiling above which sits the fractured Security Council whose influential members are inept powers lacking credibility or a spirit of consensus.</p>

<p>Giving peace a chance may be a better idea than war games behind glossy photo ops.</p>

<p><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

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If photo opportunities could stop wars and resolve complex diplomatic tangles, they would have done so long ago. This is the thought that comes to me after US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv and promised more military aid for Ukraine and more economic sanctions against Russia to end their war that is reaching its first anniversary this week.

If photo opportunities could stop wars and resolve complex diplomatic tangles, they would have done so long ago. This is the thought that comes to me after US President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Kyiv and promised more military aid for Ukraine and more economic sanctions against Russia to end their war that is reaching its first anniversary this week. This is not exactly a happy marriage for us to be celebrating anniversaries but there is much in Biden's body language that invites dark humour. There's a lot that it did not reveal, including the complicated nature of the situation that has put all of Europe in economic and political turmoil, apart from the United States' own poor track record as a global supercop. Watch | Biden declares ‘Kyiv stands’ in surprise visit to Ukraine × The imagery of refugees literally falling off a flying aircraft while trying to escape the return of the Taliban after the departure of US troops from Afghanistan will remain as rich as that of the naked girl running after a Vietnam War bombing incident. Both are photographs that tell us of flaming American failure. Diplomatic hell paved with Uncle Sam's good intentions can make many a historian or military expert's career. But peace? No, sir. Biden walking the streets of Kyiv and patting President Volodymyr Zelensky on the back like a patronising baseball coach would have looked good had this been an American university playoff. Sadly, this is a different arena far removed from the Transatlantic insurance that an ocean in the middle offers for the wonks at the State Department. Joe Biden is not GI Joe. There is no American blood falling on Ukraine's fertile soil. Also Read | Biden in Ukraine: A perfect photo-op, but why now? Is it too little, too late? The big question is: Who will bell the cat a.k.a. Vladimir Putin? As things stand, the Russia-Ukraine war is in a situation that would in typical diplospeak be described as a stalemate, logjam or gridlock. There is no end in sight, and there is no clue on what is going on inside Putin's mind, as Biden himself elegantly admitted. Somalia, Afghanistan, Vietnam and Iran stand testimony to the limits of a lapsed superpower. But I would not waste words like 'stalemate' on a situation where blood is flowing every day. Moscow and Europe have economic guns pointing to each other's head thanks to the fuel linkages and geographic proximity between the two. Putin's hold over his country shows no sign of weakening significantly. Moscow cannot capture Kyiv or the hearts of Ukrainians. Putin's stated military objective of "de-Nazification" of Ukraine is either non-existent or was achieved months ago. In the practical world of wise diplomacy, Putin would be offered an honourable exit with some assurances so that sovereign Ukraine can resume its poise without everyday bloodshed or constant fear. That might also lead to loud sighs of relief from Scandinavia. For all that, what we need is enlightened diplomacy, not bumbling bravado. Also Read | Ukraine and Pakistan: Friends, enemies or frenemies? Prime Minister Narendra Modi came closest to a somewhat credible response when he muttered something about this not being an era of wars to Putin. Was that a flash in the diplomatic pan? The smartest thing would now be for beleaguered European Union or its prime economic engine, Germany, to reach out to India and do something meaningful to truly figure out what Putin wants and give him an honourable exit and/or assurance package. India's G-20 presidency offers a pinhole for light to enter the dark tunnel behind Biden's photogenic overtures. India's rivalry or coldness towards China, and Beijing's own reticence in being too involved in things away from its borders may well earn some brownie points for it to bridge a horrible trust deficit between the West and Moscow. Involving Japan in the equation might give peace a further nudge. There is a limit to which a neutral country can get involved in this, but the EU, Scandinavia, Russia and Ukraine itself have the most skin in the game and therefore the imperative for action. India can perhaps walk its talk as the voice of the Global South in the G-20 grouping by actually talking to the real Global South -- the vast comity of nations in the UN General Assembly below the glass ceiling above which sits the fractured Security Council whose influential members are inept powers lacking credibility or a spirit of consensus. Giving peace a chance may be a better idea than war games behind glossy photo ops. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 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 gives war a chance in Kyiv, but it is time to talk peace in Ukraine

As US President Joe Biden visited Ukraine to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, China's top diplomat Wang Yi is due to visit Russia. According to reports, the Chinese diplomat is likely to visit Moscow on Tuesday.

Top Chinese Diplomat Wang Yi to visit Russia to discuss Ukraine War | World News | WION

<p>The Ukraine conflict has displaced 14 million people, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday (February 21) as he lamented the human cost of the war, which is set to complete a year on February 24. In the last 12 months, according to the UN, at least 8,000 people have died and over 13,000 people have been injured. Around 18 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, he said, as the country faces electricity and water shortages during the cold winter months. “These numbers, which we are publishing today, lay bare the loss and suffering inflicted on people since Russia’s armed attack began on 24 February last year; suffering I saw for myself first hand when I visited Ukraine in December. And our data are only the tip of the iceberg," Türk was quoted as saying in a official statement as he described the toll on civilians as "unbearable".</p>

<p>Around 90.3 per cent of civilian casualties have been caused by explosive weapons with wide area effects, including artillery shells, cruise and ballistic missiles, and air strikes. A majority of these strikes took place in populated areas. The casualties are likely much higher.</p>

<p>“The very young to the very old have all been affected. Students have seen their education halted or disrupted by attacks on educational facilities, while older people and people with disabilities have faced immense challenges, in some cases unable to reach bomb shelters or having to spend prolonged periods in basements in conditions affecting their health," the UN Human Rights Chief said. Many civilians were killed when they were performing daily tasks, such as collecting water and buying food."</p>

<p>“This senseless war has reverberated across the world. Higher costs of food and fuel as a result have deepened misery on a global scale, especially among those who were already the most vulnerable.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch: <strong>Here’s how much the Ukraine war is expected to cost Germany by the end of 2023</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Putin blames western nations yet again</strong><br />
Days before the Ukraine war enters the second year, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday lashed out at the United States and other nations, supporting Ukraine, over sanctions against Moscow. "As I said, the West has turned against Russia not only a military and information force, but also an economic one. But it has not achieved its goals anywhere and it will not. Moreover, those who initiated the sanctions have punished themselves, caused price increases, job losses, business closures and an energy crisis in their countries. And they tell their own citizens, and we hear that: that the Russians are to blame for everything," he said, stepping up the attacks against western nations.</p>

<p><br />
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/ukraine-and-pakistan-friends-enemies-or-frenemies-564017">Opinion| Ukraine and Pakistan: Friends, enemies or frenemies?</a></p>

<p>His comments come a day after US President Joe Biden's surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as he met Volodymyr Zelensky in a show of support.</p>

<p><em><strong>(With inputs from agencies)</strong></em></p>

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The Ukraine conflict has displaced 14 million people, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday (February 21) as he lamented the human cost of the war, which is set to complete a year on February 24.

The Ukraine conflict has displaced 14 million people, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday (February 21) as he lamented the human cost of the war, which is set to complete a year on February 24. In the last 12 months, according to the UN, at least 8,000 people have died and over 13,000 people have been injured. Around 18 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, he said, as the country faces electricity and water shortages during the cold winter months. “These numbers, which we are publishing today, lay bare the loss and suffering inflicted on people since Russia’s armed attack began on 24 February last year; suffering I saw for myself first hand when I visited Ukraine in December. And our data are only the tip of the iceberg," Türk was quoted as saying in a official statement as he described the toll on civilians as "unbearable". Around 90.3 per cent of civilian casualties have been caused by explosive weapons with wide area effects, including artillery shells, cruise and ballistic missiles, and air strikes. A majority of these strikes took place in populated areas. The casualties are likely much higher. “The very young to the very old have all been affected. Students have seen their education halted or disrupted by attacks on educational facilities, while older people and people with disabilities have faced immense challenges, in some cases unable to reach bomb shelters or having to spend prolonged periods in basements in conditions affecting their health," the UN Human Rights Chief said. Many civilians were killed when they were performing daily tasks, such as collecting water and buying food." “This senseless war has reverberated across the world. Higher costs of food and fuel as a result have deepened misery on a global scale, especially among those who were already the most vulnerable. Watch: Here’s how much the Ukraine war is expected to cost Germany by the end of 2023 × Putin blames western nations yet again Days before the Ukraine war enters the second year, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday lashed out at the United States and other nations, supporting Ukraine, over sanctions against Moscow. "As I said, the West has turned against Russia not only a military and information force, but also an economic one. But it has not achieved its goals anywhere and it will not. Moreover, those who initiated the sanctions have punished themselves, caused price increases, job losses, business closures and an energy crisis in their countries. And they tell their own citizens, and we hear that: that the Russians are to blame for everything," he said, stepping up the attacks against western nations. Also read: Opinion| Ukraine and Pakistan: Friends, enemies or frenemies? His comments come a day after US President Joe Biden's surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as he met Volodymyr Zelensky in a show of support. (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.

'Tip of iceberg': UN reveals data linked to human cost of Ukraine war

<p>A bizarre episode recently unfolded between actress Aubrey Plaza and the United States President Joe Biden when she learned that there was a note&nbsp;he was referring to, while addressing her. Both Aubrey and Joe grew up in the state of Delaware which became a topic of conversation every time the two crossed each other’s paths. After this happened a couple of times, <em>The White Lotus</em> actress got suspicious that there were notes, the latter was referring to.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Addressing this, Aubrey said, "We shot ['Parks and Recreation'] at the White House when he was the Vice-President, and they gave us a tour of the Vice-President’s office. Whenever I see him, he always tells me the same story. His first wife went to the same high school that I went to, so he always tells me about how he used to wait outside the convent for her, because it’s an all-girls Catholic school—and it’s a very sweet story, but I’ve heard it a lot. I was, like, 'I know, Joe! She went to Ursuline!”</p>

<p>"But then, later, I saw a note on his desk that had been written by his assistant on official White House stationery that said, 'Aubrey Plaza' —underlined— 'Wilmington, Delaware. You met her at the Joe Biden youth-leadership conference when she was sixteen.' There were bullet points about me. And I was, like, 'I knew it! He doesn’t remember me at all!' But that’s how politicians are, you know?”</p>

<p>She didn’t let this pass though. Aubrey kept that note so that Joe Biden’s team will have to come up with a new briefing. Revealing how she did it, Aubrey said, "I pocketed it, and Mike Schur, the creator of <em>Parks and Rec</em>, was horrified. He was like, 'You cannot steal from the White House!' And I was, like, 'I don’t give a s***! I know what he did! He didn’t know me!'”</p>

<p>"I stole it right off his desk. And there’s got to be cameras in the White House. But they didn’t do anything to me,” she added.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


A bizarre episode recently unfolded between actress Aubrey Plaza and the United States President Joe Biden when she learned that there was a note he was referring to, while addressing her.

A bizarre episode recently unfolded between actress Aubrey Plaza and the United States President Joe Biden when she learned that there was a note he was referring to, while addressing her. Both Aubrey and Joe grew up in the state of Delaware which became a topic of conversation every time the two crossed each other’s paths. After this happened a couple of times, The White Lotus actress got suspicious that there were notes, the latter was referring to. Addressing this, Aubrey said, "We shot ['Parks and Recreation'] at the White House when he was the Vice-President, and they gave us a tour of the Vice-President’s office. Whenever I see him, he always tells me the same story. His first wife went to the same high school that I went to, so he always tells me about how he used to wait outside the convent for her, because it’s an all-girls Catholic school—and it’s a very sweet story, but I’ve heard it a lot. I was, like, 'I know, Joe! She went to Ursuline!” "But then, later, I saw a note on his desk that had been written by his assistant on official White House stationery that said, 'Aubrey Plaza' —underlined— 'Wilmington, Delaware. You met her at the Joe Biden youth-leadership conference when she was sixteen.' There were bullet points about me. And I was, like, 'I knew it! He doesn’t remember me at all!' But that’s how politicians are, you know?” She didn’t let this pass though. Aubrey kept that note so that Joe Biden’s team will have to come up with a new briefing. Revealing how she did it, Aubrey said, "I pocketed it, and Mike Schur, the creator of Parks and Rec, was horrified. He was like, 'You cannot steal from the White House!' And I was, like, 'I don’t give a s***! I know what he did! He didn’t know me!'” "I stole it right off his desk. And there’s got to be cameras in the White House. But they didn’t do anything to me,” she added.

This is why actress Aubrey Plaza had to steal from Joe Biden’s desk

China says it is 'deeply worried' over Ukraine conflict

<p>Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia's war in Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has landed in Kyiv on a surprise visit. This is his first visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded the European country on 24 February last year.</p>

<p>This development comes as he visited neighbouring Poland to hold talks with President Andrzej Duda. Upon his arrival, Joe Biden was seen with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;The trip to Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Monday was made in a covert fashion by the US president. Biden along with other US officials took an hour-long train ride from the border of Poland to arrive in Kyiv. The visit was not disclosed citing security concerns.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US President Joe Biden during his visit to Ukraine vowed his "unflagging commitment" to the war-torn country.&nbsp;"I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine's democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," Biden said.</p>

<p>In reciprocity, Ukraine President Zelensky hailed Biden's visit as an "extremely important sign of support."&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per AFP news agency, air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv during Biden's visit. Biden was next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky coming out of a church when the sirens rang out, without causing any panic, the reports added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden's visit to Ukraine was repeatedly denied by US officials earlier.&nbsp;In a White House press release, Biden confirmed that he will "announce another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems, and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments."</p>

<p>Moreover, he also pledged to announce additional sanctions later this week against elites and companies that are "trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine"</p>

<p>The release also confirmed that the US president will travel to Poland to meet President Duda and the leaders of our Eastern Flank Allies, as well as deliver remarks on how the United States will continue "to rally the world to support the people of Ukraine and the core values of human rights and dignity in the UN Charter that unite us worldwide."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Over the last year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support – and that support will endure.</p>
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1627611943270858753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>United States and the other European allies have ramped up their support for Ukraine in recent months. At the Munich Security Conference, the US formally declared that Russia has committed crimes against humanity.&nbsp;This visit is important abroad and holds great prominence as far as domestic politics is concerned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The newly elected US House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, and some of his fellow Republican lawmakers have demanded an end to what they call “a blank check” for the war effort.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Amid security concerns, US President <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> arrives in Ukraine on a surprise visit, sending a strong message to Russia and China<a href="https://twitter.com/AnanyaDutta97?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnanyaDutta97</a> brings you this report<a href="https://twitter.com/AnasMallick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnasMallick</a> joins with more details from Kyiv<br />
<br />
LIVE TV: <a href="https://t.co/iSR65rNilR">https://t.co/iSR65rNilR</a> <a href="https://t.co/XtaZEPzyas">pic.twitter.com/XtaZEPzyas</a></p>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1627613882020950018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Biden's visit is also catching eye-balls as his visit comes when the war is active in Ukraine with attack and counterattack taking place from both sides. The US President is not being accompanied by the kind of American troops who were there while guarding the then US presidents when visited Iraq and Afghanistan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Top US officials like US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also made a visit to Kyiv in September. Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, travelled to Ukraine in November.</p>

<p><em>(This is a developing story.)</em></p>

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Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia's war in Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has landed in Kyiv on a surprise visit. This is his first visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded the European country on 24 February last year.

Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia's war in Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has landed in Kyiv on a surprise visit. This is his first visit to Ukraine since Russia invaded the European country on 24 February last year. This development comes as he visited neighbouring Poland to hold talks with President Andrzej Duda. Upon his arrival, Joe Biden was seen with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The trip to Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Monday was made in a covert fashion by the US president. Biden along with other US officials took an hour-long train ride from the border of Poland to arrive in Kyiv. The visit was not disclosed citing security concerns. US President Joe Biden during his visit to Ukraine vowed his "unflagging commitment" to the war-torn country. "I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelensky and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine's democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," Biden said. In reciprocity, Ukraine President Zelensky hailed Biden's visit as an "extremely important sign of support." As per AFP news agency, air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv during Biden's visit. Biden was next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky coming out of a church when the sirens rang out, without causing any panic, the reports added. Biden's visit to Ukraine was repeatedly denied by US officials earlier. In a White House press release, Biden confirmed that he will "announce another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armour systems, and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments." Moreover, he also pledged to announce additional sanctions later this week against elites and companies that are "trying to evade or backfill Russia’s war machine" The release also confirmed that the US president will travel to Poland to meet President Duda and the leaders of our Eastern Flank Allies, as well as deliver remarks on how the United States will continue "to rally the world to support the people of Ukraine and the core values of human rights and dignity in the UN Charter that unite us worldwide." Over the last year, the United States has built a coalition of nations from the Atlantic to the Pacific to help defend Ukraine with unprecedented military, economic, and humanitarian support – and that support will endure. — President Biden (@POTUS) February 20, 2023 × United States and the other European allies have ramped up their support for Ukraine in recent months. At the Munich Security Conference, the US formally declared that Russia has committed crimes against humanity. This visit is important abroad and holds great prominence as far as domestic politics is concerned. The newly elected US House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, and some of his fellow Republican lawmakers have demanded an end to what they call “a blank check” for the war effort. Amid security concerns, US President @JoeBiden arrives in Ukraine on a surprise visit, sending a strong message to Russia and China@AnanyaDutta97 brings you this report@AnasMallick joins with more details from Kyiv LIVE TV: https://t.co/iSR65rNilR pic.twitter.com/XtaZEPzyas — WION (@WIONews) February 20, 2023 × Biden's visit is also catching eye-balls as his visit comes when the war is active in Ukraine with attack and counterattack taking place from both sides. The US President is not being accompanied by the kind of American troops who were there while guarding the then US presidents when visited Iraq and Afghanistan. Top US officials like US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also made a visit to Kyiv in September. Jake Sullivan, the president’s national security adviser, travelled to Ukraine in November. (This is a developing story.) 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 President Joe Biden visits Kyiv unannounced, pledges more arms supplies for Ukraine

<p>A former White House physician slammed&nbsp;the latest health report of the United States President Joe Biden and asked to end the "cover-up". US Representative Ronny Jackson, who served the Trump and Obama administrations, called the recent health report of Biden "alarming" and alleged that it doesn't mention the "declining" mental health of the US president.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 80-year-old was declared "fit for duty" by his doctor earlier this week. It was the final annual medical check-up before he is expected to declare he's running for re-election in 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, said in a letter published by the White House, "President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-reminds-france-of-napoleon-slams-emmanuel-macron-for-regime-change-remark-563666">Russia slams Emmanuel Macron for his remarks, says Moscow remembers Napoleon’s fate</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>But Jackson told US-based Fox News that the report was nothing but a "cover-up". As per the report, Biden remains "fit for duty" and can fully execute all of his responsibilities without any "exemptions or accommodations".&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted Jackson said, "The majority of Americans can see that Biden's mental health is in total decline, yet there is no transparency from the White House on what’s going on, if anything, to address this issue and his inability to do his job."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;China and its growing alliances: Is China uniting all of US' foes?&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>He said that the written physical exam report released by Biden's physician apparently confirms that this administration is still adamant about "concealing the truth". He said that the report doesn't mention Biden's "deteriorating mental health".&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said, "This is alarming, considering I have already sent three letters to the White House demanding that Biden receive a cognitive test and that the results be made public, all of which have been ignored. Everyone can see something is wrong — the cover-up needs to end."&nbsp;</p>

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A former White House physician slammed the latest health report of the United States President Joe Biden and asked to end the "cover-up". US Representative Ronny Jackson, who served the Trump and Obama administrations, called the recent health report of Biden "alarming" and alleged that it doesn't mention the "declining" mental health of the US president.

A former White House physician slammed the latest health report of the United States President Joe Biden and asked to end the "cover-up". US Representative Ronny Jackson, who served the Trump and Obama administrations, called the recent health report of Biden "alarming" and alleged that it doesn't mention the "declining" mental health of the US president. The 80-year-old was declared "fit for duty" by his doctor earlier this week. It was the final annual medical check-up before he is expected to declare he's running for re-election in 2024. Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, said in a letter published by the White House, "President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief." ALSO READ | Russia slams Emmanuel Macron for his remarks, says Moscow remembers Napoleon’s fate But Jackson told US-based Fox News that the report was nothing but a "cover-up". As per the report, Biden remains "fit for duty" and can fully execute all of his responsibilities without any "exemptions or accommodations". As quoted Jackson said, "The majority of Americans can see that Biden's mental health is in total decline, yet there is no transparency from the White House on what’s going on, if anything, to address this issue and his inability to do his job." WATCH | China and its growing alliances: Is China uniting all of US' foes? × He said that the written physical exam report released by Biden's physician apparently confirms that this administration is still adamant about "concealing the truth". He said that the report doesn't mention Biden's "deteriorating mental health". He said, "This is alarming, considering I have already sent three letters to the White House demanding that Biden receive a cognitive test and that the results be made public, all of which have been ignored. Everyone can see something is wrong — the cover-up needs to end." 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.

'This cover-up needs to end': Former White House doctor slams Joe Biden's health report

<p>United States President Joe Biden will not be entering Ukraine during a visit to Poland next week to mark the Russia-Ukraine war's one-year anniversary.</p>

<p>On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden will visit Warsaw, Poland, where he had delivered a speech last year at the Royal Castle of the city, extending his support to the defence efforts of Ukraine.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-talk-to-xi-in-wake-of-balloon-shoot-down-by-us-562889">US President Biden to talk to China's Xi in wake of balloon controversy</a></p>

<p>Jean-Pierre added that the president will hold talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda and will also meet leaders of NATO “eastern flank” nations to “reaffirm the United States' unwavering support for the security of the alliance”. Biden will also deliver a speech to commemorate the war's first anniversary.</p>

<p>National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Biden will discuss the bilateral relationship between US and Poland in his meeting with Duda as well as the two nations' “collective efforts to support Ukraine and to bolster Nato’s deterrence”.</p>

<p>“The two leaders will discuss Poland's important logistical role ... in helping us facilitate deliveries of military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine from not only the United States but from our allies and partners,” he stated.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | U.S. President Joe Biden defends taking down aerial objects</strong></p>

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<p>He further stated that Biden will also thank Poland for allowing US troops to station there since the time the war started. When asked if Biden would cross into Ukraine while travelling to Poland, Kirby replied: “No”.</p>

<p>Although the White House has denied any plans for the president to visit Ukraine when he visits the region next week, Kyiv has been visited by other NATO leaders since the war began last year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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United States President Joe Biden will not be entering Ukraine during a visit to Poland next week to mark the Russia-Ukraine war's one-year anniversary. On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden will visit Warsaw, Poland, where he had delivered a speech last year at the Royal Castle of the city, extending his support to the defence efforts of Ukraine.

United States President Joe Biden will not be entering Ukraine during a visit to Poland next week to mark the Russia-Ukraine war's one-year anniversary. On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Biden will visit Warsaw, Poland, where he had delivered a speech last year at the Royal Castle of the city, extending his support to the defence efforts of Ukraine. ALSO READ | US President Biden to talk to China's Xi in wake of balloon controversy Jean-Pierre added that the president will hold talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda and will also meet leaders of NATO “eastern flank” nations to “reaffirm the United States' unwavering support for the security of the alliance”. Biden will also deliver a speech to commemorate the war's first anniversary. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Biden will discuss the bilateral relationship between US and Poland in his meeting with Duda as well as the two nations' “collective efforts to support Ukraine and to bolster Nato’s deterrence”. “The two leaders will discuss Poland's important logistical role ... in helping us facilitate deliveries of military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine from not only the United States but from our allies and partners,” he stated. WATCH | U.S. President Joe Biden defends taking down aerial objects He further stated that Biden will also thank Poland for allowing US troops to station there since the time the war started. When asked if Biden would cross into Ukraine while travelling to Poland, Kirby replied: “No”. Although the White House has denied any plans for the president to visit Ukraine when he visits the region next week, Kyiv has been visited by other NATO leaders since the war began last year. (With inputs from agencies) 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

US President Biden to not cross into Ukraine during his Poland visit

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<p>US President Joe Biden seemingly lost his cool and lashed out at a reporter when asked about his family's relationship business relationships with China, in the backdrop of the Chinese spy balloon drama.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Are you compromised by your family’s business relationships in China?” a reporter asked, to which a visibly agitated Biden replied, “Give me a break, man,” before walking off, shrugging other questions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As another reporter egged Biden to respond to the criticism coming his way, the Democrat leader returned and gave a little sermon on 'politeness'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"You can come to my office and ask a question where we have more polite people," he said.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">REPORTER: Are you compromised by your family's business relationships?<br />
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BIDEN: Give me a break, man <a href="https://t.co/Eq7tjuwZLU">pic.twitter.com/Eq7tjuwZLU</a></p>
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1626300870810914816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Biden and his government have come under increasing scrutiny ever since the 'spy balloon' saga became an international controversy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-defends-shooting-down-spy-balloon-559999"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;US President Joe Biden defends shooting down 'spy' balloon</strong></a></p>

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<p>The US president, during the brief media interaction, said the balloons shot down by the US authorities were likely tied to 'private companies, recreation or research institution'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, earlier this month, during the State of the Union address, Biden took&nbsp;a swipe at Beijing, in an attempt to send a strong message to Congress and voters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world," he said, adding, "But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/make-no-mistake-us-will-act-if-china-threatens-its-sovereignty-says-joe-biden-559838" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: ‘Make no mistake’, US will act if China threatens its sovereignty, says Joe Biden</strong></a></p>

<p>The tensions have flared between the two sparring countries after a Chinese spy balloon managed to float across the US airspace for days.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was shot down by the US military off the coast of South Carolina but not before becoming a major talking point.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since then, several more balloons have been shot down with a few being dubbed as UFOs as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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US President Joe Biden seemingly lost his cool and lashed out at a reporter when asked about his family's relationship business relationships with China, in the backdrop of the Chinese spy balloon drama.

US President Joe Biden seemingly lost his cool and lashed out at a reporter when asked about his family's relationship business relationships with China, in the backdrop of the Chinese spy balloon drama. “Are you compromised by your family’s business relationships in China?” a reporter asked, to which a visibly agitated Biden replied, “Give me a break, man,” before walking off, shrugging other questions. As another reporter egged Biden to respond to the criticism coming his way, the Democrat leader returned and gave a little sermon on 'politeness'. "You can come to my office and ask a question where we have more polite people," he said. REPORTER: Are you compromised by your family's business relationships? BIDEN: Give me a break, man pic.twitter.com/Eq7tjuwZLU — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 16, 2023 × Biden and his government have come under increasing scrutiny ever since the 'spy balloon' saga became an international controversy. WATCH | US President Joe Biden defends shooting down 'spy' balloon × The US president, during the brief media interaction, said the balloons shot down by the US authorities were likely tied to 'private companies, recreation or research institution'. However, earlier this month, during the State of the Union address, Biden took a swipe at Beijing, in an attempt to send a strong message to Congress and voters. "I am committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world," he said, adding, "But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did." Read more: ‘Make no mistake’, US will act if China threatens its sovereignty, says Joe Biden The tensions have flared between the two sparring countries after a Chinese spy balloon managed to float across the US airspace for days. It was shot down by the US military off the coast of South Carolina but not before becoming a major talking point. Since then, several more balloons have been shot down with a few being dubbed as UFOs as well. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

WATCH | 'Give me a break man...': US President Joe Biden lashes out when asked questions about China

<p>United States President Joe Biden on Thursday said that he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the wake of the shooting down of a Chinese balloon by the US Air Force earlier this month, which Washington claimed to be a high-tech Chinese spy device.</p>

<p>"I expect to be speaking with President Xi and... we're going to get to the bottom of this," Biden said, in the most extensive public remark made by him since the incident that took place on February 4.</p>

<p>While emphasising that the United States is "not looking for a new Cold War”, Biden said, "I make no apologies for taking down that balloon." "We'll always act to protect the interests of the American people and the security of the American people,” he added.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-charges-us-of-flowing-balloons-over-xinjiang-tibet-says-will-adopt-countermeasures-562500">Destroyed Chinese balloon aimed for Guam, Hawaii, claims US official</a></p>

<p>The United States has remained in a state of alarm since a huge white Chinese balloon was spotted flying over various secret nuclear weapons sites. China has claimed that the balloon is just a stray weather research craft, however, US officials claim that they have conclusive evidence that the balloon was a spy device.</p>

<p>The shooting down of the balloon created a diplomatic rift between the two countries with Secretary of State Antony Blinken's China visit getting abruptly cancelled. Beijing called Washington's actions an overreaction and claimed that there have been numerous incidents of US balloons flying over Chinese territory.</p>

<p>"We don't yet know exactly what these three objects were. Nothing right now suggests they're related to China's spy balloon programme or... surveillance vehicles from any other countries. The intelligence community's current assessment is that these three objects are most likely balloons tied to private companies" or research projects, said Biden.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | WION Speed News: China calls on U.S. to manage differences over spy balloon</strong></p>

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<p>However, "if any object presents a threat to the safety, security (of) the American people I will take it down," he added.</p>

<p>Resetting relations with China has become a top priority of Biden, which Washinton calls its biggest competitor. Biden and Xi have earlier expressed their wish to establish "guard rails" to avoid their superpower competition from becoming a conflict.</p>

<p>Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday had said that the two countries have not "stopped communicating and trying to understand each other".</p>

<p>In the last two weeks, Biden added that his government has been "continuing to engage with China". "We seek competition, not conflict. This episode underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between our diplomats and our military professionals,” he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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United States President Joe Biden on Thursday said that he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the wake of the shooting down of a Chinese balloon by the US Air Force earlier this month, which Washington claimed to be a high-tech Chinese spy device.

United States President Joe Biden on Thursday said that he will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the wake of the shooting down of a Chinese balloon by the US Air Force earlier this month, which Washington claimed to be a high-tech Chinese spy device. "I expect to be speaking with President Xi and... we're going to get to the bottom of this," Biden said, in the most extensive public remark made by him since the incident that took place on February 4. While emphasising that the United States is "not looking for a new Cold War”, Biden said, "I make no apologies for taking down that balloon." "We'll always act to protect the interests of the American people and the security of the American people,” he added. ALSO READ | Destroyed Chinese balloon aimed for Guam, Hawaii, claims US official The United States has remained in a state of alarm since a huge white Chinese balloon was spotted flying over various secret nuclear weapons sites. China has claimed that the balloon is just a stray weather research craft, however, US officials claim that they have conclusive evidence that the balloon was a spy device. The shooting down of the balloon created a diplomatic rift between the two countries with Secretary of State Antony Blinken's China visit getting abruptly cancelled. Beijing called Washington's actions an overreaction and claimed that there have been numerous incidents of US balloons flying over Chinese territory. "We don't yet know exactly what these three objects were. Nothing right now suggests they're related to China's spy balloon programme or... surveillance vehicles from any other countries. The intelligence community's current assessment is that these three objects are most likely balloons tied to private companies" or research projects, said Biden. WATCH | WION Speed News: China calls on U.S. to manage differences over spy balloon However, "if any object presents a threat to the safety, security (of) the American people I will take it down," he added. Resetting relations with China has become a top priority of Biden, which Washinton calls its biggest competitor. Biden and Xi have earlier expressed their wish to establish "guard rails" to avoid their superpower competition from becoming a conflict. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday had said that the two countries have not "stopped communicating and trying to understand each other". In the last two weeks, Biden added that his government has been "continuing to engage with China". "We seek competition, not conflict. This episode underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between our diplomats and our military professionals,” he said. (With inputs from agencies) 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

US President Biden to talk to China's Xi in wake of balloon controversy

<p>United States President Joe Biden's doctor declared him "fit for duty" on Thursday after his final annual medical check-up was over as the leader is expected to run for re-election in 2024 when he will turn 82.</p>

<p>The much-awaited report after the elaborate testing highlighted a few minor health issues but said that Biden is not suffering from any serious physical or neurological health problems.</p>

<p>"President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief," said Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, in a letter published by the White House.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-talk-to-xi-in-wake-of-balloon-shoot-down-by-us-562889">US President Biden to talk to China's Xi in wake of balloon controversy</a></p>

<p>"The president remains fit for duty, and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations,” the letter added.</p>

<p>The oldest-ever&nbsp;US president&nbsp;Biden spent the morning hours finishing the series of tests which he began at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre.</p>

<p>O'Connor's letter presented a glowing picture of Biden who has been benefitting from healthy living habits. "The president does not use any tobacco products, does not drink alcohol, and he continues to work out at least five days a week," the letter stated.</p>

<p>Biden is six feet (1.83 metres) tall and weighs around 178 pounds (nearly 80.7 kg). The report also notes that Biden was suffering from Covid-19 in 2022 and again had a rebound infection, but he received the vaccinations and "has not experienced any residual symptoms which may be considered 'long Covid'."</p>

<p>O'Connor said that two health issues, which were observed in the previous medical examination held in November 2021 remain mostly the same.</p>

<p>One medical issue is gastroesophageal reflux which results in frequent coughing and the other is Biden's stiff walking because of "wear and tear" in his spine.</p>

<p>"The President's gait remains stiff, but has not worsened since last year," said O'Connor.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | US&nbsp;President Joe Biden defends taking down aerial objects</strong></p>

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<p>The doctor further stated that "an extremely detailed neurological exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis."</p>

<p>Speaking about Biden spending "a good deal of time in the sun in his youth," O'Connor said that the president has received regular treatment for removal of non-melanoma, localised skin cancer.</p>

<p>"One small lesion on the President's chest was excised today and sent for traditional biopsy," the doctor said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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United States President Joe Biden's doctor declared him "fit for duty" on Thursday after his final annual medical check-up was over as the leader is expected to run for re-election in 2024 when he will turn 82.

United States President Joe Biden's doctor declared him "fit for duty" on Thursday after his final annual medical check-up was over as the leader is expected to run for re-election in 2024 when he will turn 82. The much-awaited report after the elaborate testing highlighted a few minor health issues but said that Biden is not suffering from any serious physical or neurological health problems. "President Biden remains a healthy, vigorous, 80-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those of as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief," said Biden's physician, Kevin O'Connor, in a letter published by the White House. ALSO READ | US President Biden to talk to China's Xi in wake of balloon controversy "The president remains fit for duty, and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations,” the letter added. The oldest-ever US president Biden spent the morning hours finishing the series of tests which he began at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre. O'Connor's letter presented a glowing picture of Biden who has been benefitting from healthy living habits. "The president does not use any tobacco products, does not drink alcohol, and he continues to work out at least five days a week," the letter stated. Biden is six feet (1.83 metres) tall and weighs around 178 pounds (nearly 80.7 kg). The report also notes that Biden was suffering from Covid-19 in 2022 and again had a rebound infection, but he received the vaccinations and "has not experienced any residual symptoms which may be considered 'long Covid'." O'Connor said that two health issues, which were observed in the previous medical examination held in November 2021 remain mostly the same. One medical issue is gastroesophageal reflux which results in frequent coughing and the other is Biden's stiff walking because of "wear and tear" in his spine. "The President's gait remains stiff, but has not worsened since last year," said O'Connor. WATCH | US President Joe Biden defends taking down aerial objects The doctor further stated that "an extremely detailed neurological exam was again reassuring in that there were no findings which would be consistent with any cerebellar or other central neurological disorder, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or ascending lateral sclerosis." Speaking about Biden spending "a good deal of time in the sun in his youth," O'Connor said that the president has received regular treatment for removal of non-melanoma, localised skin cancer. "One small lesion on the President's chest was excised today and sent for traditional biopsy," the doctor said. (With inputs from agencies) 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, 80, declared medically 'fit' ahead of 2024 campaign

President Joe Biden stated on Thursday that he plans to meet with President Xi Jinping of China about what the US believes to be a Chinese surveillance balloon that was shot down by an American fighter jet earlier this month after flying over the US.

U.S. President Joe Biden defends taking down aerial objects

Jim Biden, the younger brother of U.S. President Joe Biden, is under scrutiny for negotiating a $140 million settlement on behalf of an American company with the Saudi Arabian government. The settlement happed back in 2012. Molly Gambhir explains.

Gravitas: Biden's brother's secret Saudi deal

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<p>US President Joe Biden said on Thursday (February 16) that if any aerial object is seen as a threat to the nation, he won't hesitate to bring it down. Biden also said that the other three objects that were shot down last week weren't related to China.&nbsp;“We don’t yet know exactly what these three objects were but nothing right now suggests they were related to China’s spy balloon program or that they were surveillance vehicles from any other country,” Biden said.</p>

<p>The balloon saga has escalated tensions between US and China. It started with the spotting of a white-coloured Chinese balloon flying in US airspace last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US authorities tracked it for a couple of days and eventually scrambled fighter jets to shoot it down. They recovered debris to analyse the balloon, which was suspected to be a Chinese spying object.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Biden told the White House press briefing, "We acted out of an abundance of caution" at an opportunity that allowed the US to take down the objects safely."&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the suspected spy balloon, the US also shot down two other unidentified objects, a total of three in one week - a "high-altitude object" was shot down when it was flying over Alaska and one was shot down over Canada.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia- Ukraine war: One year into war, who stands where?&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>During the media address, the US president said that he ordered the military to take down unidentified objects over the weekend because of their danger to commercial air traffic. Biden mentioned that they could not "rule out the surveillance risk of sensitive facilities".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden said, "The intelligence community's current assessment is that these three ones were most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions studying weather or conducting other scientific research."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Biden expects 'to be talking to Xi'</strong></h2>

<p>Biden said that he is planning to have a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said, "I expect to be speaking with President Xi and I hope we are going to get to the bottom of this."&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>He added: "We seek competition, not conflict with China. We're not looking for a new Cold War."</p>

<p>However, he also said that he makes "no apologies and we will compete".&nbsp;</p>

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US President Joe Biden said on Thursday (February 16) that if any aerial object is seen as a threat to the nation, he won't hesitate to bring it down. Biden also said that the other three objects that were shot down last week weren't related to China.

US President Joe Biden said on Thursday (February 16) that if any aerial object is seen as a threat to the nation, he won't hesitate to bring it down. Biden also said that the other three objects that were shot down last week weren't related to China. “We don’t yet know exactly what these three objects were but nothing right now suggests they were related to China’s spy balloon program or that they were surveillance vehicles from any other country,” Biden said. The balloon saga has escalated tensions between US and China. It started with the spotting of a white-coloured Chinese balloon flying in US airspace last week. The US authorities tracked it for a couple of days and eventually scrambled fighter jets to shoot it down. They recovered debris to analyse the balloon, which was suspected to be a Chinese spying object. ALSO READ | Greece and Bulgaria come together, sign energy deal to reduce dependence on Russia Biden told the White House press briefing, "We acted out of an abundance of caution" at an opportunity that allowed the US to take down the objects safely." After the suspected spy balloon, the US also shot down two other unidentified objects, a total of three in one week - a "high-altitude object" was shot down when it was flying over Alaska and one was shot down over Canada. WATCH | Russia- Ukraine war: One year into war, who stands where? × During the media address, the US president said that he ordered the military to take down unidentified objects over the weekend because of their danger to commercial air traffic. Biden mentioned that they could not "rule out the surveillance risk of sensitive facilities". Biden said, "The intelligence community's current assessment is that these three ones were most likely balloons tied to private companies, recreation or research institutions studying weather or conducting other scientific research." Biden expects 'to be talking to Xi' Biden said that he is planning to have a conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said, "I expect to be speaking with President Xi and I hope we are going to get to the bottom of this." He added: "We seek competition, not conflict with China. We're not looking for a new Cold War." However, he also said that he makes "no apologies and we will compete". 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.

Won't hesitate to shoot down anything that threatens US, says Biden

<p>US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Poland from February 20-22 to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, Belarus wants Biden to be in Minsk instead as the country's President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who is a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, wants to "end the war".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lukashenko has extended an invitation to Biden to visit Minsk and expressed his willingness to mediate between Russia and US.&nbsp;Speaking to the media, Lukashenko said, "Why is Biden going to Poland?”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/the-real-reason-why-microsoft-backed-openai-developing-customizable-chatgpt-563016">The real reason why Microsoft-backed OpenAI developing customisable ChatGPT</a></p>

<p>He reportedly asked why Biden has decided to go to Poland and&nbsp;said&nbsp;Belarus is "willing to host him in Minsk". Lukashenko said that he is ready to have a "serious conversation" with Biden and Putin if US "wants peace in Ukraine".&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Belarusian president revealed that he is "ready to hold a joint meeting with Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden".<br />
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"Even Putin will fly over to Minsk for the trilateral meeting: two ‘aggressors’ and a ‘peace loving’ president. Why not? For the sake of ending the war. If he wants to stop the war," he reportedly said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that if Biden is to visit Poland, he can also visit Minsk as it is not too far away.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/portugal-announces-to-end-golden-visa-downsizes-airbnb-rentals-to-address-local-housing-crises-562999">Portugal announces to end Golden Visa, downsizes Airbnb rentals to address local housing crises</a></p>

<p>"Poland is nearby, I will send a plane, if anything, a Boeing for him, and we will host him. We have international airports. His Air Force One can land here. Clinton visited us once. Here, in your presence, the three of us... I guarantee you that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin will come... will sit down and solve the problem. We will be able to solve all the issues here."</p>

<p>It is pertinent to note that Belarus helped Russia earlier by letting Moscow's troops to Ukraine through its 1,000-kilometre Ukrainian-Belarusian border.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-rocket-boosters-fail-to-fire-resulting-in-cancellation-of-launch-562993">Japan: Rocket boosters fail to fire, resulting in cancellation of launch</a></p>

<p>Minsk has also claimed on several occasions that Ukrainian drones have entered Belarus however, there is no evidence to date to substantiate these claims. In the latest, Belarus said that the country would in "no way" send its troops into Ukraine unless it is attacked.&nbsp;</p>

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US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Poland from February 20-22 to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, Belarus wants Biden to be in Minsk instead as the country's President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who is a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, wants to "end the war".

US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Poland from February 20-22 to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, Belarus wants Biden to be in Minsk instead as the country's President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who is a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, wants to "end the war". Lukashenko has extended an invitation to Biden to visit Minsk and expressed his willingness to mediate between Russia and US. Speaking to the media, Lukashenko said, "Why is Biden going to Poland?” Also Read | The real reason why Microsoft-backed OpenAI developing customisable ChatGPT He reportedly asked why Biden has decided to go to Poland and said Belarus is "willing to host him in Minsk". Lukashenko said that he is ready to have a "serious conversation" with Biden and Putin if US "wants peace in Ukraine". The Belarusian president revealed that he is "ready to hold a joint meeting with Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden". "Even Putin will fly over to Minsk for the trilateral meeting: two ‘aggressors’ and a ‘peace loving’ president. Why not? For the sake of ending the war. If he wants to stop the war," he reportedly said. He said that if Biden is to visit Poland, he can also visit Minsk as it is not too far away. Also Read | Portugal announces to end Golden Visa, downsizes Airbnb rentals to address local housing crises "Poland is nearby, I will send a plane, if anything, a Boeing for him, and we will host him. We have international airports. His Air Force One can land here. Clinton visited us once. Here, in your presence, the three of us... I guarantee you that Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin will come... will sit down and solve the problem. We will be able to solve all the issues here." It is pertinent to note that Belarus helped Russia earlier by letting Moscow's troops to Ukraine through its 1,000-kilometre Ukrainian-Belarusian border. Watch | Japan: Rocket boosters fail to fire, resulting in cancellation of launch Minsk has also claimed on several occasions that Ukrainian drones have entered Belarus however, there is no evidence to date to substantiate these claims. In the latest, Belarus said that the country would in "no way" send its troops into Ukraine unless it is attacked. 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.

Why is Biden going to Poland, should come to Minsk to ‘end the war’: Belarusian president

<p>Movie based on the life of civil rights activist, Emmett Till, got praised at its White House screening. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu, the film <em>Till</em>&nbsp;is about Emmett Till’s murder by racists and his mother’s fight for justice. Praising the film, the United States President Joe Biden said, “To everyone involved in this film, to paraphrase Maya Angelou: People will never forget how you make them feel.&nbsp;You know, you have that artist’s gift of making us feel our common humanity.”</p>

<p>The film is on the life of Emmett Till’s death in Mississippi almost 70 years ago, and the determination of Mamie Till-Mobley to open her son’s casket at his funeral and show the world the brutality with which he was murdered. Released theatrically in October, <em>Till</em>&nbsp;stars Danielle Deadwyler as Till-Mobley and Jalyn Hall as Emmett. Director Chukwu co-wrote the script with Michael Reilly and Keith Beauchamp.</p>

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<p>“Only with truth comes healing and justice and repair and another step forward in the — for that promise we all made but have never reached: a more perfect union,” Joe Biden said to the audience before the screening. “But we’ve never fully given up on it. That’s why we can’t just choose to learn what we want to know and we have to learn what we should know. &nbsp;We should know everything about our history. &nbsp;And that’s the — great nations do. &nbsp;Great nations. &nbsp;And we’re a great nation. And that’s why history matters so much. You know, that’s why this film matters so much,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Late last year, Till and Till-Mobley were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award the body can give. &nbsp;</p>

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Movie based on the life of civil rights activist, Emmett Till, got praised at its White House screening. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu, the film Till is about Emmett Till’s murder by racists and his mother’s fight for justice.

Movie based on the life of civil rights activist, Emmett Till, got praised at its White House screening. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu, the film Till is about Emmett Till’s murder by racists and his mother’s fight for justice. Praising the film, the United States President Joe Biden said, “To everyone involved in this film, to paraphrase Maya Angelou: People will never forget how you make them feel. You know, you have that artist’s gift of making us feel our common humanity.” The film is on the life of Emmett Till’s death in Mississippi almost 70 years ago, and the determination of Mamie Till-Mobley to open her son’s casket at his funeral and show the world the brutality with which he was murdered. Released theatrically in October, Till stars Danielle Deadwyler as Till-Mobley and Jalyn Hall as Emmett. Director Chukwu co-wrote the script with Michael Reilly and Keith Beauchamp. “Only with truth comes healing and justice and repair and another step forward in the — for that promise we all made but have never reached: a more perfect union,” Joe Biden said to the audience before the screening. “But we’ve never fully given up on it. That’s why we can’t just choose to learn what we want to know and we have to learn what we should know. We should know everything about our history. And that’s the — great nations do. Great nations. And we’re a great nation. And that’s why history matters so much. You know, that’s why this film matters so much,” he added. Late last year, Till and Till-Mobley were posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award the body can give.

Joe Biden praises Till, film on lynching of civil rights activist, at its White House screening

President Joe Biden’s visit to Poland later this month, to mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, will be a “historic moment” that will emphasise the strength of Polish-U.S, relations and of Washington’s support for Ukraine, says US ambassador Mark Brzezinski.

Will U.S. President Joe Biden visit Ukraine?

<p>A routine medical checkup will be completed by Joe Biden on Thursday which is an important step for the oldest-ever president of the United States before he flights for reelection in 2024.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The White House has confirmed that it will be releasing the report made by the president's doctor, similar to the way his previous checkup was done in 2021. &nbsp;</p>

<p>This time, with the Republican 2024 campaign already taking off, people will scrutinise the report more closely.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Despite receiving bad poll ratings, Biden has expressed his intent to run again, increasing the chances of a rematch of his predecessor Donald Trump, who has already announced his candidacy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-carried-searches-at-university-of-delaware-in-biden-classified-documents-probe-562688">FBI carried searches at University of Delaware in Biden classified documents probe</a></p>

<p>"That's my intention, I think, but I haven't made that decision firmly yet," he stated in a PBS interview.</p>

<p>The last checkup of Biden was on November 19, 2021, when the president underwent a complete examination, which included a colonoscopy under general anaesthesia.</p>

<p>For the period of one hour and 25 minutes, he transferred his powers to Vice President Kamala Harris, as she became the first woman to hold the presidential prerogative in the history of the United States.</p>

<p>Biden's doctor Kevin O'Connor had earlier presented him as a healthy man who is fit to carry out his presidential duties.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | U.S. President Joe Biden's brother Jim Biden under GOP scanner</strong></p>

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<p>However, he also pointed out his relatively minor signs of old age, and noted a stiffer gait of Biden, stating that it is a mild nerve condition which affects the feet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Connor also mentioned the frequent cough Biden suffers due to gastroesophageal reflux. Biden does not drink or smoke and plays sports and never had any major health concerns after he went through brain surgery in 1988.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Last July, he tested positive for Covid-19 but did not suffer any serious disease.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A routine medical checkup will be completed by Joe Biden on Thursday which is an important step for the oldest-ever president of the United States before he flights for reelection in 2024.

A routine medical checkup will be completed by Joe Biden on Thursday which is an important step for the oldest-ever president of the United States before he flights for reelection in 2024. The White House has confirmed that it will be releasing the report made by the president's doctor, similar to the way his previous checkup was done in 2021. This time, with the Republican 2024 campaign already taking off, people will scrutinise the report more closely. Despite receiving bad poll ratings, Biden has expressed his intent to run again, increasing the chances of a rematch of his predecessor Donald Trump, who has already announced his candidacy. ALSO READ | FBI carried searches at University of Delaware in Biden classified documents probe "That's my intention, I think, but I haven't made that decision firmly yet," he stated in a PBS interview. The last checkup of Biden was on November 19, 2021, when the president underwent a complete examination, which included a colonoscopy under general anaesthesia. For the period of one hour and 25 minutes, he transferred his powers to Vice President Kamala Harris, as she became the first woman to hold the presidential prerogative in the history of the United States. Biden's doctor Kevin O'Connor had earlier presented him as a healthy man who is fit to carry out his presidential duties. WATCH | U.S. President Joe Biden's brother Jim Biden under GOP scanner However, he also pointed out his relatively minor signs of old age, and noted a stiffer gait of Biden, stating that it is a mild nerve condition which affects the feet. Connor also mentioned the frequent cough Biden suffers due to gastroesophageal reflux. Biden does not drink or smoke and plays sports and never had any major health concerns after he went through brain surgery in 1988. Last July, he tested positive for Covid-19 but did not suffer any serious disease. (With inputs from agencies) 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

80-year-old Biden to get medical checkup before the upcoming 2024 bid

The Republicans in the United States House of Representatives are continuing with their investigations into the dealings of U.S. President Joe Biden's family. Now, they have made their very first official request for documents related to Joe Biden's son.

U.S. President Joe Biden's brother Jim Biden under GOP scanner

<p>In a move that could help turn Tesla into the universal "filling station" of the electric vehicle (EV) era, Tesla will open part of its US charging network to rivals. The deal is part of a $7.5 billion US program to expand EV use and cut carbon emissions.However, experts believe this will risk eroding a competitive edge for vehicles made by Tesla, which has exclusive access to the biggest network of high-speed superchargers in the United States.</p>

<p>By late 2024, Tesla would open 3,500 new and existing superchargers along highway corridors to non-Tesla customers. It would also offer 4,000 slower chargers at locations like hotels and restaurants.Tesla would be eligible for a subsidy - including retrofitting its existing fleet - if its chargers allow other vehicles with a Federally backed charging standard called CCS to charge.</p>

<p>The US administration said Tesla had not committed to adopting CCS as its standard but must comply with the requirements to qualify for Federal funds. Tesla currently has 17,711 superchargers, accounting for about 60 per cent of the total US fast chargers, which can add hundreds of miles of driving range in an hour or less.</p>

<p><b>A win-win?</b></p>

<p>The US government's initiative to access Tesla's network significantly boosts the administration's initiative to create 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, up from 130,000 currently. There are also nearly 10,000 "destination" chargers with Tesla plugs that can recharge a vehicle overnight.</p>

<p>According to Reuters, Tesla tweeted, "select Tesla Superchargers across the US will soon be open to all EVs."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Select Tesla Superchargers across the US will soon be open to all EVs</p>
— Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) <a href="https://twitter.com/TeslaCharging/status/1625798923704225793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Tesla announced on Twitter that it would open its chargers, but it did not specify when, where, or how. By the end of 2024, Tesla claimed, it had already planned to double the size of its US Supercharger network.</p>

<p>A Reuters report showed US President Joe Biden tweeted that the plan to open a "big part" of Tesla's network to all drivers was a "big deal" and would "make a big difference."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In building our EV charging network, we have to ensure that as many chargers work for as many drivers as possible.<br />
<br />
To that end, <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> will open a big part of <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a>'s network up to all drivers.<br />
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That's a big deal, and it'll make a big difference. <a href="https://t.co/hb6pyVhtbg">https://t.co/hb6pyVhtbg</a></p>
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1625983221279125504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Chief Executive Elon Musk said, "Thank you, Tesla is happy to support other EVs via our Supercharger network."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Tesla Superchargers almost everywhere <a href="https://t.co/W0LcSq5qJE">https://t.co/W0LcSq5qJE</a></p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1625970749755502592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>But according to Reuters, analysts stated that while opening up its networks would increase funding and revenue for Tesla, it might also reduce the brand's uniqueness and make it more difficult for the manufacturer to maintain the network.</p>

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In a move that could help turn Tesla into the universal "filling station" of the electric vehicle (EV) era, Tesla will open part of its US charging network to rivals.

In a move that could help turn Tesla into the universal "filling station" of the electric vehicle (EV) era, Tesla will open part of its US charging network to rivals. The deal is part of a $7.5 billion US program to expand EV use and cut carbon emissions.However, experts believe this will risk eroding a competitive edge for vehicles made by Tesla, which has exclusive access to the biggest network of high-speed superchargers in the United States. By late 2024, Tesla would open 3,500 new and existing superchargers along highway corridors to non-Tesla customers. It would also offer 4,000 slower chargers at locations like hotels and restaurants.Tesla would be eligible for a subsidy - including retrofitting its existing fleet - if its chargers allow other vehicles with a Federally backed charging standard called CCS to charge. The US administration said Tesla had not committed to adopting CCS as its standard but must comply with the requirements to qualify for Federal funds. Tesla currently has 17,711 superchargers, accounting for about 60 per cent of the total US fast chargers, which can add hundreds of miles of driving range in an hour or less. A win-win? The US government's initiative to access Tesla's network significantly boosts the administration's initiative to create 500,000 EV chargers by 2030, up from 130,000 currently. There are also nearly 10,000 "destination" chargers with Tesla plugs that can recharge a vehicle overnight. According to Reuters, Tesla tweeted, "select Tesla Superchargers across the US will soon be open to all EVs." Select Tesla Superchargers across the US will soon be open to all EVs — Tesla Charging (@TeslaCharging) February 15, 2023 × Tesla announced on Twitter that it would open its chargers, but it did not specify when, where, or how. By the end of 2024, Tesla claimed, it had already planned to double the size of its US Supercharger network. A Reuters report showed US President Joe Biden tweeted that the plan to open a "big part" of Tesla's network to all drivers was a "big deal" and would "make a big difference." In building our EV charging network, we have to ensure that as many chargers work for as many drivers as possible. To that end, @elonmusk will open a big part of @Tesla's network up to all drivers. That's a big deal, and it'll make a big difference. https://t.co/hb6pyVhtbg — President Biden (@POTUS) February 15, 2023 × Chief Executive Elon Musk said, "Thank you, Tesla is happy to support other EVs via our Supercharger network." Tesla Superchargers almost everywhere https://t.co/W0LcSq5qJE — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 15, 2023 × But according to Reuters, analysts stated that while opening up its networks would increase funding and revenue for Tesla, it might also reduce the brand's uniqueness and make it more difficult for the manufacturer to maintain the network. 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.

Will Tesla turn into the universal EV 'filling station'?

<p>Several western leaders like US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have hailed Air India’s decision to buy planes from Airbus, and Boeing.</p>

<p>The Indian airline has signed letters of intent with Airbus and Boeing to acquire a mix of widebody and single-aisle aircraft. The deal was announced during a virtual meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressing their support.</p>

<p>In his address, PM Modi highlighted the rapid expansion of the civil aviation market in India, which will encourage greater connectivity between India and the rest of the world, in turn boosting tourism and business in the country.</p>

<p>"The agreement between Air India and Airbus is also an important milestone for the Indo-French Strategic Partnership. The India-France partnership is playing a direct role in ensuring the stability and balance in the international order and the multilateral system," he said.</p>

<p>The order includes 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777-9s widebody aircraft, along with 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. The A350 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines, while the B777/787s will use engines from GE Aerospace.</p>

<h2><strong>India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing</strong></h2>

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<p>Later in the day, PM Modi and US President Biden held a telephonic conversation in which they welcomed the announcement of the agreement between Air India and Boeing. They called it a "shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries," as per the Indian readout.</p>

<p>The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the deepening of the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. PM Modi is expected to travel to the US in June.</p>

<p>A statement from the White House noted that "this purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree. This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership."</p>

<p>UK PM Sunak and Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch also welcomed the deal.</p>

<p>"This landmark deal between Air India, Airbus and Rolls-Royce demonstrates that the sky's the limit for the UK's thriving aerospace sector. By building trade ties with growing economic powers like India, we will ensure UK businesses remain at the forefront of global growth and innovation," Sunak stated.</p>

<p>The announcement will create new highly skilled jobs in Wales and Derbyshire, he added.</p>

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Several western leaders like US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have hailed Air India’s decision to buy planes from Airbus, and Boeing.

Several western leaders like US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, have hailed Air India’s decision to buy planes from Airbus, and Boeing. The Indian airline has signed letters of intent with Airbus and Boeing to acquire a mix of widebody and single-aisle aircraft. The deal was announced during a virtual meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also expressing their support. In his address, PM Modi highlighted the rapid expansion of the civil aviation market in India, which will encourage greater connectivity between India and the rest of the world, in turn boosting tourism and business in the country. "The agreement between Air India and Airbus is also an important milestone for the Indo-French Strategic Partnership. The India-France partnership is playing a direct role in ensuring the stability and balance in the international order and the multilateral system," he said. The order includes 40 Airbus A350s, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777-9s widebody aircraft, along with 210 Airbus A320/321 Neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX single-aisle aircraft. The A350 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce engines, while the B777/787s will use engines from GE Aerospace. India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing Later in the day, PM Modi and US President Biden held a telephonic conversation in which they welcomed the announcement of the agreement between Air India and Boeing. They called it a "shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries," as per the Indian readout. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the deepening of the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. PM Modi is expected to travel to the US in June. A statement from the White House noted that "this purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree. This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership." UK PM Sunak and Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch also welcomed the deal. "This landmark deal between Air India, Airbus and Rolls-Royce demonstrates that the sky's the limit for the UK's thriving aerospace sector. By building trade ties with growing economic powers like India, we will ensure UK businesses remain at the forefront of global growth and innovation," Sunak stated. The announcement will create new highly skilled jobs in Wales and Derbyshire, he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Western leaders hail billion-dollar Air India, Airbus, Boeing announcement

US President Joe Biden had a telephonic conversation with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a jumbo deal between Air India and Boeing. During the interaction, PM Modi expressed satisfaction at the deepening of India-US global strategic partnership.

Air India to buy over 200 Boeing planes, deal is biggest in aviation history

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday and welcomed the landmark deal between Air India and Boeing as a “shining example of mutually beneficial co-operation”, as per media reports.</p>

<p>The deals for a record purchase of 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing were unveiled by Air India on Tuesday, accelerating the national emblem's rebirth under its new owners Tata Group as the United States and Europe appreciated the deepening political and economic ties with India.</p>

<p>The provisional deals include 250 planes from Airbus and 220 from Boeing, breaking previous records of any such deal by a single airline as Air India competes with domestic giant IndiGo to provide service to a nation that will soon become the largest population in the world.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/air-india-signs-historic-deal-to-purchase-250-aircraft-from-airbus-its-first-purchase-order-in-17-years-561920">Air India signs 'historic' deal to purchase 250 aircraft from Airbus; its first purchase order in 17 years</a></p>

<p>The agreement was called “historic” by Biden. Tata Chairman N Chandrasekaran said that the Airbus order includes 40 A350 widebody aircraft and 210 A320neo narrowbody planes which Air India will use to fly "ultra-long routes", said Tata Chairman N Chandrasekaran.</p>

<p>Boeing will provide 190 737 MAX, 10 mini-jumbo 777X and 20 of its 787 Dreamliners.</p>

<p>An Airbus executive said that along with another 25 Airbus jets which will be leased to meet immediate needs, the airline's overall acquisition will reach 495 jets.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing</strong></p>

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<p>The deal's political and economic importance, which involved the former flag bearer of India, was highlighted by Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.</p>

<p>The order placed by Air India's order tops the combined deal of American Airlines which included 460 Airbus and Boeing planes, almost a decade ago.</p>

<p>British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that new jobs will be created by the deal between Air India, Airbus and Rolls-Royce.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday and welcomed the landmark deal between Air India and Boeing as a “shining example of mutually beneficial co-operation”, as per media reports.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday and welcomed the landmark deal between Air India and Boeing as a “shining example of mutually beneficial co-operation”, as per media reports. The deals for a record purchase of 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing were unveiled by Air India on Tuesday, accelerating the national emblem's rebirth under its new owners Tata Group as the United States and Europe appreciated the deepening political and economic ties with India. The provisional deals include 250 planes from Airbus and 220 from Boeing, breaking previous records of any such deal by a single airline as Air India competes with domestic giant IndiGo to provide service to a nation that will soon become the largest population in the world. ALSO READ | Air India signs 'historic' deal to purchase 250 aircraft from Airbus; its first purchase order in 17 years The agreement was called “historic” by Biden. Tata Chairman N Chandrasekaran said that the Airbus order includes 40 A350 widebody aircraft and 210 A320neo narrowbody planes which Air India will use to fly "ultra-long routes", said Tata Chairman N Chandrasekaran. Boeing will provide 190 737 MAX, 10 mini-jumbo 777X and 20 of its 787 Dreamliners. An Airbus executive said that along with another 25 Airbus jets which will be leased to meet immediate needs, the airline's overall acquisition will reach 495 jets. WATCH | India: Air India seals order for 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing The deal's political and economic importance, which involved the former flag bearer of India, was highlighted by Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. The order placed by Air India's order tops the combined deal of American Airlines which included 460 Airbus and Boeing planes, almost a decade ago. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that new jobs will be created by the deal between Air India, Airbus and Rolls-Royce. (With inputs from agencies) 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

PM Modi holds telephonic conversation with Joe Biden after Air India-Boeing deal

<p>The United States shot down another unidentified object, the third in the last one week, on Saturday (February 11), this time&nbsp;over Canada.&nbsp;The ongoing saga of these high-altitude flying objects started with the spotting of a white-coloured Chinese balloon flying in US airspace. The US authorities tracked the suspected spy balloon for a couple of days and eventually shot it down as soon as it was deemed safe and&nbsp;recovered the debris which is being analysed.</p>

<p>What makes the entire episode a big deal is that&nbsp;the US took unprecedented action to tackle the unidentified objects&nbsp;after considering safety threats and the president was fully involved in the operation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A US State Department official said that the Chinese spy balloon&nbsp;had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance". On condition of anonymity, the official told news agencies that the balloon had "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-f-22-fighter-jet-shoots-down-unidentified-object-over-northern-canada-561034">US F-22 fighter jet shoots down another ‘unidentified object’, over northern Canada</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>However, China said it was a civilian "airship" which was used for research. Beijing also commented on the shooting down of the balloon, saying that it tested "US sincerity in improving and stabilising China-US relations and its way of handling crises".&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Saturday, the US shot down a "high-altitude object" which was flying over Alaska. The operation was carried out on the orders of US President Joe Biden.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. <a href="https://twitter.com/NORADCommand?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NORADCommand</a> shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object.</p>
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1624527579116871681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America.</p>
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1624527581331554306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>What do we know about these balloons?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The US claims that the first Chinese balloon was meant more or less for "spying". Meanwhile, not much information has been shared by the US administration and Pentagon on the other two incidents.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said that the object shot down on Saturday was cylindrical, but she avoided saying anything definitively about its likely origin and purpose. So far, two recently spotted objects remain a mystery and the world knows little about them.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-shoots-down-high-altitude-object-hovering-over-alaska-biden-calls-it-success-560894">US shoots down 'high-altitude object', Biden calls it 'success', Justin Trudeau supports decision</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Anand said that the object shot down in the Yukon region was "small, cylindrical" and flying at an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet. It had unlawfully entered Canadian airspace and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flights.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US Department of Defense said that the&nbsp;US and Canadian planes flew together to take down the object on Saturday.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Why are these objects being spotted more than ever, especially by the US?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>A recent report by The Washington Post claimed that China has used these balloons to spy on other countries, including India and. Japan. But the spotting of these objects and shooting down has become common just recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the report, the officials said that these surveillance balloons have been spotted over five continents and are being operated in part by the People's Liberation Army air force. But the source-based report hasn't been confirmed by the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But why haven't other countries reported it? Does the US have specialised technology to spot such objects?&nbsp;</p>

<p>A source-based report by CNN claimed that the US has developed a method within the last one year to track China's spy balloon fleet. The report claimed that such incidents happened in the past also, but went&nbsp;undetected.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One such incident happened after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, and after that, the intelligence community "ran some of the balloon's signals through the American intelligence holdings and other data".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>What is NORAD?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Pentagon Spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement that Biden had authorised US fighter aircraft assigned to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) to work with Canada to take down a high-altitude airborne object over northern Canada.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NORAD is a combined organisation of the US and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and protection for both nations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese balloon saga has led to a diplomatic flare-up between the two superpowers, and misinformation may escalate the situation further.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, there's no official statement that can provide the exact origin of two unidentified objects. Authorities are looking for the debris, but the Northern Command said in a statement that the search and recovery operations for the remains of that object continued Saturday but were hindered by the Arctic "wind chill, snow, and limited daylight". &nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Statement from NORAD &amp; U.S. Northern Command <a href="https://t.co/aY1VXRCpEs">pic.twitter.com/aY1VXRCpEs</a></p>
— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) <a href="https://twitter.com/NORADCommand/status/1624596337890058240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The United States shot down another unidentified object, the third in the last one week, on Saturday (February 11), this time over Canada. The ongoing saga of these high-altitude flying objects started with the spotting of a white-coloured Chinese balloon flying in US airspace.

The United States shot down another unidentified object, the third in the last one week, on Saturday (February 11), this time over Canada. The ongoing saga of these high-altitude flying objects started with the spotting of a white-coloured Chinese balloon flying in US airspace. The US authorities tracked the suspected spy balloon for a couple of days and eventually shot it down as soon as it was deemed safe and recovered the debris which is being analysed. What makes the entire episode a big deal is that the US took unprecedented action to tackle the unidentified objects after considering safety threats and the president was fully involved in the operation. A US State Department official said that the Chinese spy balloon had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance". On condition of anonymity, the official told news agencies that the balloon had "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications." ALSO READ | US F-22 fighter jet shoots down another ‘unidentified object’, over northern Canada However, China said it was a civilian "airship" which was used for research. Beijing also commented on the shooting down of the balloon, saying that it tested "US sincerity in improving and stabilising China-US relations and its way of handling crises". On Saturday, the US shot down a "high-altitude object" which was flying over Alaska. The operation was carried out on the orders of US President Joe Biden. I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023 × I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023 × What do we know about these balloons? The US claims that the first Chinese balloon was meant more or less for "spying". Meanwhile, not much information has been shared by the US administration and Pentagon on the other two incidents. Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said that the object shot down on Saturday was cylindrical, but she avoided saying anything definitively about its likely origin and purpose. So far, two recently spotted objects remain a mystery and the world knows little about them. ALSO READ | US shoots down 'high-altitude object', Biden calls it 'success', Justin Trudeau supports decision Anand said that the object shot down in the Yukon region was "small, cylindrical" and flying at an altitude of approximately 40,000 feet. It had unlawfully entered Canadian airspace and posed a reasonable threat to the safety of civilian flights. The US Department of Defense said that the US and Canadian planes flew together to take down the object on Saturday. Why are these objects being spotted more than ever, especially by the US? A recent report by The Washington Post claimed that China has used these balloons to spy on other countries, including India and. Japan. But the spotting of these objects and shooting down has become common just recently. According to the report, the officials said that these surveillance balloons have been spotted over five continents and are being operated in part by the People's Liberation Army air force. But the source-based report hasn't been confirmed by the government. But why haven't other countries reported it? Does the US have specialised technology to spot such objects? A source-based report by CNN claimed that the US has developed a method within the last one year to track China's spy balloon fleet. The report claimed that such incidents happened in the past also, but went undetected. One such incident happened after President Joe Biden took office in 2021, and after that, the intelligence community "ran some of the balloon's signals through the American intelligence holdings and other data". Watch this report: × What is NORAD? Pentagon Spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement that Biden had authorised US fighter aircraft assigned to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) to work with Canada to take down a high-altitude airborne object over northern Canada. NORAD is a combined organisation of the US and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty and protection for both nations. The Chinese balloon saga has led to a diplomatic flare-up between the two superpowers, and misinformation may escalate the situation further. So far, there's no official statement that can provide the exact origin of two unidentified objects. Authorities are looking for the debris, but the Northern Command said in a statement that the search and recovery operations for the remains of that object continued Saturday but were hindered by the Arctic "wind chill, snow, and limited daylight". Statement from NORAD & U.S. Northern Command pic.twitter.com/aY1VXRCpEs — North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) February 12, 2023 × 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 shoots down another unidentified object: What are these & why are they being spotted more now?

<p>An American fighter jet shot down another ‘unidentified object’, this time spotted in Canada skies on Saturday (February 11). The operation took place hours after the US shot down a 'high-altitude object' which was flying over Alaska. Notably, this&nbsp;was the third object to have been shot down in the last few days.&nbsp;A week earlier, the American military had brought down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the South Carolina coast.</p>

<p>On Saturday, the US used an F-22 fighter jet to carry out the operation in which it downed the mysterious object, which was said to be cylindrical.<br />
<br />
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the object was shot down on Saturday over Yukon territory in north-west Canada. The Pentagon said that the object was first observed in Alaska the night before, and military officials closely tracked it.<br />
<br />
After the operation, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he ordered the takedown of the object. "Canadian and US aircraft were scrambled, and a US F-22 successfully fired at the object," Trudeau tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-shoots-down-high-altitude-object-hovering-over-alaska-biden-calls-it-success-560894">US shoots down 'high-altitude object', Biden calls it 'success', Justin Trudeau supports decision</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>Trudeau also confirmed that the shootdown took place over the Yukon territory in the country's north. He noted that the Canadian forces would recover and analyze the wreckage.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the latest&nbsp;in a series of mysterious air intrusions as the week-long balloon saga has intrigued people globally.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. <a href="https://twitter.com/NORADCommand?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NORADCommand</a> shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object.</p>
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1624527579116871681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America.</p>
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1624527581331554306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
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On being asked about the operation and details about the object, Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said it was cylindrical in shape, but she didn't speculate about the origin and purpose of the object.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She didn't directly connect it with China&nbsp;but minister mentioned that it was smaller than the Chinese balloon shot down off South Carolina's coast a week ago but was similar to it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Talking about the joint operation, Anand said it was flying at 40,000 feet and posed a risk to civilian air traffic when it was shot down at 3:41 EST (2041 GMT).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Anand told a news conference: "There is no reason to believe that the impact of the object in Canadian territory is of any public concern."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Pentagon: High-altitude object was the size of a small car&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>Pentagon Press Secretary Brig Gen Pat Ryder said the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) had detected the object over Alaska late on Friday evening and monitored it over the last 24 hours and President Joe Biden was continuously briefed by his national security team since its spotting.</p>

<p>“A US F-22 shot down the object in Canadian territory using an AIM 9X missile following close coordination between US and Canadian authorities,” Ryder added.<br />
<br />
The balloon saga started when a huge white-coloured Chinese balloon was shot down by American jets last weekend a few days after it was spotted in US airspace and tracked by authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US State Department had said that the so-called "Chinese spy balloon" had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance," including "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese balloon in the US airspace escalated the tensions between the US and China, but Beijing said that it was a civilian "airship" which was used for research, mainly meteorological purposes. The Chinese had claimed that the balloon had gone astray then.</p>

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An American fighter jet shot down another ‘unidentified object’, this time spotted in Canada skies on Saturday (February 11). The operation took place hours after the US shot down a 'high-altitude object' which was flying over Alaska.

An American fighter jet shot down another ‘unidentified object’, this time spotted in Canada skies on Saturday (February 11). The operation took place hours after the US shot down a 'high-altitude object' which was flying over Alaska. Notably, this was the third object to have been shot down in the last few days. A week earlier, the American military had brought down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the South Carolina coast. On Saturday, the US used an F-22 fighter jet to carry out the operation in which it downed the mysterious object, which was said to be cylindrical. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the object was shot down on Saturday over Yukon territory in north-west Canada. The Pentagon said that the object was first observed in Alaska the night before, and military officials closely tracked it. After the operation, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he ordered the takedown of the object. "Canadian and US aircraft were scrambled, and a US F-22 successfully fired at the object," Trudeau tweeted. ALSO READ | US shoots down 'high-altitude object', Biden calls it 'success', Justin Trudeau supports decision Trudeau also confirmed that the shootdown took place over the Yukon territory in the country's north. He noted that the Canadian forces would recover and analyze the wreckage. This is the latest in a series of mysterious air intrusions as the week-long balloon saga has intrigued people globally. I ordered the take down of an unidentified object that violated Canadian airspace. @NORADCommand shot down the object over the Yukon. Canadian and U.S. aircraft were scrambled, and a U.S. F-22 successfully fired at the object. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023 × I spoke with President Biden this afternoon. Canadian Forces will now recover and analyze the wreckage of the object. Thank you to NORAD for keeping the watch over North America. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 11, 2023 × On being asked about the operation and details about the object, Canadian Defence Minister Anita Anand said it was cylindrical in shape, but she didn't speculate about the origin and purpose of the object. She didn't directly connect it with China but minister mentioned that it was smaller than the Chinese balloon shot down off South Carolina's coast a week ago but was similar to it. Talking about the joint operation, Anand said it was flying at 40,000 feet and posed a risk to civilian air traffic when it was shot down at 3:41 EST (2041 GMT). Anand told a news conference: "There is no reason to believe that the impact of the object in Canadian territory is of any public concern." WATCH | Pentagon: High-altitude object was the size of a small car × Pentagon Press Secretary Brig Gen Pat Ryder said the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) had detected the object over Alaska late on Friday evening and monitored it over the last 24 hours and President Joe Biden was continuously briefed by his national security team since its spotting. “A US F-22 shot down the object in Canadian territory using an AIM 9X missile following close coordination between US and Canadian authorities,” Ryder added. The balloon saga started when a huge white-coloured Chinese balloon was shot down by American jets last weekend a few days after it was spotted in US airspace and tracked by authorities. US State Department had said that the so-called "Chinese spy balloon" had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance," including "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications." The Chinese balloon in the US airspace escalated the tensions between the US and China, but Beijing said that it was a civilian "airship" which was used for research, mainly meteorological purposes. The Chinese had claimed that the balloon had gone astray then. 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 F-22 fighter jet shoots down another ‘unidentified object’, over northern Canada

<p>United States President Joe Biden told CNN that the shooting down of the unidentified object which was flying over Alaska on Friday (February 10) "was a success".&nbsp;The order to take down the object, which was first detected on Thursday, was given to the US military by the commander-in-chief, the national security officials revealed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a media interaction on Friday, the White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the object was taken down because it was a threat to civil aviation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kirby said that the purpose and origin of the object were not known, but he mentioned that the “president ordered the military&nbsp;to down the object,&nbsp;which was floating at 40,000 feet.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>This comes after the recent hotly-debated spy balloon saga. A huge white-coloured Chinese balloon was shot down by American jets last weekend. &nbsp;</p>

<p>US State Department official said on Thursday that the so-called spy balloon had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance," including "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Chinese balloon in the US airspace escalated the tensions between the US and China, but Beijing said that it was a civilian "airship" which was used for research, mainly meteorological purposes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, giving details about the object, Kirby said that it was much smaller than the huge Chinese balloon that had crossed the US last week and was shot down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was "roughly the size of a small car," he said, adding that "we do not know who owns it, whether it was state-owned or corporate-owned".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>F-22 fighter jet shot it down&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>The US sent F-35s fighter jets to probe the object on Thursday. They also attempted to get details about the object but as per Kirby, the jets got "limited" information.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters that the object was travelling in a northeasterly direction when it was shot down.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ryder further said that an F-22 fighter jet from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska took down the object "at 1:45 p.m. eastern standard time today, within US sovereign airspace over US territorial water".&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Trudeau supports decision</strong></h2>

<p>Reacting to the US military's action, Justin Trudeau, the&nbsp;prime minister of neighbouring Canada&nbsp;said on Friday that he supported the decision.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trudeau tweeted: "This afternoon, an object that violated American airspace was brought down. I was briefed on the matter and supported the decision to take action. Our military and intelligence services will always work together, including through @NORADCommand, to keep people safe."&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">This afternoon, an object that violated American airspace was brought down. I was briefed on the matter and supported the decision to take action. Our military and intelligence services will always work together, including through <a href="https://twitter.com/NORADCommand?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NORADCommand</a>, to keep people safe.</p>
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1624166817831739406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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United States President Joe Biden told CNN that the shooting down of the unidentified object which was flying over Alaska on Friday (February 10) "was a success".

United States President Joe Biden told CNN that the shooting down of the unidentified object which was flying over Alaska on Friday (February 10) "was a success". The order to take down the object, which was first detected on Thursday, was given to the US military by the commander-in-chief, the national security officials revealed. In a media interaction on Friday, the White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that the object was taken down because it was a threat to civil aviation. Kirby said that the purpose and origin of the object were not known, but he mentioned that the “president ordered the military to down the object, which was floating at 40,000 feet.” Watch this report: × This comes after the recent hotly-debated spy balloon saga. A huge white-coloured Chinese balloon was shot down by American jets last weekend. US State Department official said on Thursday that the so-called spy balloon had equipment that was "clearly for intelligence surveillance," including "multiple antennas" that were "likely capable of collecting and geo-locating communications." The Chinese balloon in the US airspace escalated the tensions between the US and China, but Beijing said that it was a civilian "airship" which was used for research, mainly meteorological purposes. Meanwhile, giving details about the object, Kirby said that it was much smaller than the huge Chinese balloon that had crossed the US last week and was shot down. It was "roughly the size of a small car," he said, adding that "we do not know who owns it, whether it was state-owned or corporate-owned". F-22 fighter jet shot it down The US sent F-35s fighter jets to probe the object on Thursday. They also attempted to get details about the object but as per Kirby, the jets got "limited" information. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told reporters that the object was travelling in a northeasterly direction when it was shot down. Ryder further said that an F-22 fighter jet from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska took down the object "at 1:45 p.m. eastern standard time today, within US sovereign airspace over US territorial water". Trudeau supports decision Reacting to the US military's action, Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of neighbouring Canada said on Friday that he supported the decision. Trudeau tweeted: "This afternoon, an object that violated American airspace was brought down. I was briefed on the matter and supported the decision to take action. Our military and intelligence services will always work together, including through @NORADCommand, to keep people safe." This afternoon, an object that violated American airspace was brought down. I was briefed on the matter and supported the decision to take action. Our military and intelligence services will always work together, including through @NORADCommand, to keep people safe. — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 10, 2023 × 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 shoots down 'high-altitude object', Biden calls it 'success', Justin Trudeau supports decision

Joe biden will travel to Poland from 20th to 22nd february to mark the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The White House has said that the U.S. President would make it clear that U.S will continue to provide additional security and aid to the people of Ukraine.

US President to travel to Poland

<p>United States President Joe Biden, who has been facing criticism from some lawmakers, on Thursday said that according to him the suspected Chinese spy balloon, which was seen flying in the skies of the US before being shot down in the Atlantic Ocean, was not a major security breach.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden, who has tried to maintain good communications with China and keep the tensions with Beijing under control, in a Noticias Telemundo interview said that he has no regrets about not shooting down the Chinese balloon sooner.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-dismisses-questions-about-age-ahead-of-expected-2024-campaign-560252">US President Joe Biden dismisses questions about age ahead of expected 2024 campaign</a></p>

<p>"It's not a major breach. I mean, look, it's totally … it's a violation of international law. It's our airspace. And once it comes into our space, we can do what we want with it," said Biden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He stated that the US military officials were concerned if the balloon is shot down over land, the deflated balloon and its parts can fall into a populated area.</p>

<p>"This thing was gigantic. What happened if it came down and hit a school in a rural area? What happened if it came down? So I told them as soon as they could shoot it down, shoot it down. They made a wise decision. They shot it down over the water, they're recovering most of the parts, and they're good," Biden said.</p>

<p>On February 2, Biden ordered to shoot the balloon after it crossed into the northwestern United States but acquiesced to the request of the US military to not take any step till it was over water.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A US fighter jet shot down the 200-foot-tall (61-meter) balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. Efforts are being made by the US military to recover the parts of the balloon.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | US: Probe into Hunter Biden laptop saga</strong></p>

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<p>However, some Democrats and Republicans slammed Biden for not shooting down the balloon as soon as it was spotted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The officials had first detected the high-altitude surveillance balloon over Alaska on January 28.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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United States President Joe Biden, who has been facing criticism from some lawmakers, on Thursday said that according to him the suspected Chinese spy balloon, which was seen flying in the skies of the US before being shot down in the Atlantic Ocean, was not a major security breach.

United States President Joe Biden, who has been facing criticism from some lawmakers, on Thursday said that according to him the suspected Chinese spy balloon, which was seen flying in the skies of the US before being shot down in the Atlantic Ocean, was not a major security breach. Biden, who has tried to maintain good communications with China and keep the tensions with Beijing under control, in a Noticias Telemundo interview said that he has no regrets about not shooting down the Chinese balloon sooner. ALSO READ | US President Joe Biden dismisses questions about age ahead of expected 2024 campaign "It's not a major breach. I mean, look, it's totally … it's a violation of international law. It's our airspace. And once it comes into our space, we can do what we want with it," said Biden. He stated that the US military officials were concerned if the balloon is shot down over land, the deflated balloon and its parts can fall into a populated area. "This thing was gigantic. What happened if it came down and hit a school in a rural area? What happened if it came down? So I told them as soon as they could shoot it down, shoot it down. They made a wise decision. They shot it down over the water, they're recovering most of the parts, and they're good," Biden said. On February 2, Biden ordered to shoot the balloon after it crossed into the northwestern United States but acquiesced to the request of the US military to not take any step till it was over water. A US fighter jet shot down the 200-foot-tall (61-meter) balloon off the coast of South Carolina on February 4. Efforts are being made by the US military to recover the parts of the balloon. WATCH | US: Probe into Hunter Biden laptop saga However, some Democrats and Republicans slammed Biden for not shooting down the balloon as soon as it was spotted. The officials had first detected the high-altitude surveillance balloon over Alaska on January 28. (With inputs from agencies) 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

US President Biden calls suspected Chinese spy balloon 'not a major breach'

As President Joe Biden and his cabinet fanned out across the US this week to promote his agenda, Republicans launched investigations into his administration with the 118th Congress and now underway VOA's Congressional correspondent Catherine Gibson previews the GOP concerns about immigration, political favoritism and the handling of classified documents.

WION-VOA Co-Production: Biden classified documents probe, investigation launched

U.S. President Joe Biden delivered his second State-of-the-Union address to a joint sitting of U.S. Congress. During his speech, Biden touched upon economy, gun violence, drug-related deaths as well as tensions with China. Molly Gambhir explains.

Gravitas: Biden's State of the Union speech gets tepid response

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