Former President Donald Trump chastised President Joe Biden for his nuclear "Armageddon" comments at a rally over the weekend. He said, 'stupid people do not have a clue'.

Donald Trump takes jibe at Biden, says 'stupid people do not have a clue'

Former United States president Donald Trump has called for an immediate "peaceful end" to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which started this year on February 24 when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a "special military operation" in the neighbouring country.

Donald Trump: 'World War III' is a possibility due to Biden's 'stupid' approach

Former President Donald Trump chastised President Joe Biden for his nuclear "Armageddon" comments at a rally over the weekend.

Former US President Trump slams Biden for nuclear 'Armageddon' comments at Arizona rally

Donald Trump: 'World War III' is a possibility due to Biden's 'stupid'

Top United States officials have reportedly had an in-person meeting with the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha.

According to CNN, this was the first meeting of US officials with the Taliban since the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul in late July.

The meeting that took place on Saturday saw the presence of CIA’s deputy director and the top State Department official responsible for Afghanistan and Taliban’s head of intelligence, Abdul Haq Wasiq, two officials familiar with the development told CNN.

“The presence of CIA Deputy Director David Cohen and the Taliban’s Abdul Haq Wasiq at the meeting on Saturday indicates an emphasis on counterterrorism,” the report said.

The meeting comes after the White House last month termed cooperation with the Taliban on counterterrorism as “a work in progress.”

Zawahiri was killed in a drone strike in Kabul. He was found to be residing in a safe house that had ties to the deputy leader of the Taliban.

US officials had claimed that the home belonged to an aide of Sirajuddin Haqqani, a top deputy of the Taliban's supreme leader Mullah Haibatallah Akhundzada.

While the Taliban had angrily condemned the operation, the US officials accused the militant group of knowing about Zawahiri’s whereabouts.

The meeting on counterterrorism comes at a time when Afghanistan is facing an insurgency from the Islamic State offshoot, called ISIS-K, and has witnessed blasts and attacks.

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Beth Sanner, a former Deputy Director of National Intelligence who led Afghanistan analysis at the CIA, told CNN, “The Taliban are struggling to prevent ISIS-K attacks, making them look feckless, particularly in Kabul."

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“[Cohen] is likely to deliver a firm message that we will conduct more strikes as we did against Zawahiri if we find that al Qaeda members in Afghanistan are supporting operations that threaten the US or its allies,” Sanner said.

“ISIS-K now poses an internal Afghan threat, to the Taliban and to sectarian stability given ISIS-K’s focus on killing Shias, but there is some reasonable concern that ISIS-K could ultimately turn its sights on external plotting if the Taliban is unable to contain them.”

(With inputs from agencies)

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Top United States officials have reportedly had an in-person meeting with the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha. According to CNN, this was the first meeting of US officials with the Taliban since the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul in late July.

Top United States officials have reportedly had an in-person meeting with the Taliban in the Qatari capital of Doha. According to CNN, this was the first meeting of US officials with the Taliban since the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul in late July. The meeting that took place on Saturday saw the presence of CIA’s deputy director and the top State Department official responsible for Afghanistan and Taliban’s head of intelligence, Abdul Haq Wasiq, two officials familiar with the development told CNN. “The presence of CIA Deputy Director David Cohen and the Taliban’s Abdul Haq Wasiq at the meeting on Saturday indicates an emphasis on counterterrorism,” the report said. The meeting comes after the White House last month termed cooperation with the Taliban on counterterrorism as “a work in progress.” Zawahiri was killed in a drone strike in Kabul. He was found to be residing in a safe house that had ties to the deputy leader of the Taliban. US officials had claimed that the home belonged to an aide of Sirajuddin Haqqani, a top deputy of the Taliban's supreme leader Mullah Haibatallah Akhundzada. While the Taliban had angrily condemned the operation, the US officials accused the militant group of knowing about Zawahiri’s whereabouts. The meeting on counterterrorism comes at a time when Afghanistan is facing an insurgency from the Islamic State offshoot, called ISIS-K, and has witnessed blasts and attacks. Also read | China responds angrily after US announces chip export restrictions Beth Sanner, a former Deputy Director of National Intelligence who led Afghanistan analysis at the CIA, told CNN, “The Taliban are struggling to prevent ISIS-K attacks, making them look feckless, particularly in Kabul." Also read | Iranian state TV hacked during live broadcast with anti-regime message “[Cohen] is likely to deliver a firm message that we will conduct more strikes as we did against Zawahiri if we find that al Qaeda members in Afghanistan are supporting operations that threaten the US or its allies,” Sanner said. “ISIS-K now poses an internal Afghan threat, to the Taliban and to sectarian stability given ISIS-K’s focus on killing Shias, but there is some reasonable concern that ISIS-K could ultimately turn its sights on external plotting if the Taliban is unable to contain them.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US officials hold first in-person meet with Taliban months after Zawahiri’s killing: Report

If reports are to be believed, the White House is spending as much as $265,000 in salaries to fend off the legal battles coming its way. According to a New York Post report, the Joe Biden administration is expecting a flurry of subpoenas as the opposition targets the government for its mishandling of the Covid pandemic, the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the Hunter Biden saga.

If reports are to be believed, the White House is spending as much as $265,000 in salaries to fend off the legal battles coming its way. According to a New York Post report, the Joe Biden administration is expecting a flurry of subpoenas as the opposition targets the government for its mishandling of the Covid pandemic, the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the Hunter Biden saga. The White House has swung into preparations already. According to official records, Biden poached Richard A. Sauber, a top attorney from the Department of Veterans Affairs, to act as his deputy counsel and handle oversight probes. Moreover, to keep the communication channels clear and non-messy, the White House also hired Ian Sams who led Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign in 2020. Both individuals are set to pocket $155,000 and $110,000 respectively. Read more: White House clarifies Biden's 'Armageddon' remark, says no indications Russia preparing to use nukes With the midterm election less than a month away and Democrats likely to lose the House, the expenditures and the staff is expected to balloon further as the GOP goes on an offensive. “Americans deserve transparency from President Biden about his family’s suspicious business dealings. But instead of providing transparency, the White House is hiring staff at the American taxpayers’ expense to stonewall congressional oversight and accountability," said Republican leader James Comer. Read more: Poll: Biden, his party struggle ahead of midterms, as most Dems look elsewhere for 2024 Comer might be heading the House Oversight Committee soon if Republicans manage to win the House in the upcoming election. He has been actively batting to launch a campaign against the Democrats for their expenditure which is being footed by the public. President Joe Biden has his hands full already with an economy that is certainly not in a healthy shape. Add to it the recent revelations by a report which suggest that his son Hunter Biden may be prosecuted by the FBI for tax crimes. Read more: FBI has enough evidence to prosecute Hunter Biden for tax crimes, report says Hunter Biden’s business dealings and consultancies in Ukraine and China have been the subject of scrutiny for a long time, besides inviting questions about the ethics of his connections to foreign businesses given his father’s political influence. Trump was impeached by the US House of Representatives in 2019 for trying to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into digging up what he alleged was compromising information on Hunter Biden. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Biden administration splurging $265,000 to protect itself from legal troubles

Ahead of the mid-term elections, US President Joe Biden has pardoned all Americans convicted of simple possession of marijuana. Molly Gambhir tells you how this might give the democrats a boost.

Gravitas: Biden's woos a major vote back ahead of Mid-Terms | Latest English News | WION

Gravitas: Biden's woos a major vote back ahead of Mid-Terms

As arguments over politics in America’s two-party system grow hostile, political scientists have produced a string of studies and surveys to probe the potential of widespread political violence or even civil war. Such fears are understandable in a country that has more guns than people (332 million inhabitants, 434 million guns). Concern grew after the January 6 storming of the US&nbsp;Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump who believed Democrats had rigged the elections and stolen victory from their leader.

One survey, in particular, stood out for me. It was conducted by the research firm Ipsos for the Violence Prevention Research Program of the University of California, Davis, which described it as the first of its kind to explore the 8,620 participants’ “personal willingness to engage in specific political violence scenarios.”

Key results

50.1 per cent agreed that “in the next several years there will be civil war in the United States.” 67.2 per cent saw a serious threat to American democracy. 42.4 per cent agreed that having a strong leader for America is more important than having a democracy. A similar percentage thought that native-born white people are being replaced by immigrants. And one in five thought that political violence is sometimes justifiable.

The survey was conducted four months before America’s midterm elections which will decide whether the Democratic Party can maintain its narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. 435 seats in the House and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested.

As the elections, scheduled on November 8 draws&nbsp;closer, rhetoric on both sides of the political divide has become ever more heated. President Joe Biden described the most vocal strain of the Republican Party as “semi-fascism.” Majorities in both parties, according to the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based think tank, view members of the other party as immoral, dishonest, and closed-minded.

This ranks relatively low on the toxic insult score. A study published in the Journal of Democracy by Rachel Kleinfeld, an expert on troubled democracies, found that both Democrats and Republicans harboured high levels of “dehumanising thought”.&nbsp;39 per cent of Democrats and 41 per cent of Republicans saw the other side as “downright evil". 16 per cent of Democrats and 20 per cent of Republicans said their opponents were “like animals.”

A history of political violence

Such feelings, she said, can point to psychological levels of violence, although this is a politely phrased understatement. The 1994 genocide in Rwanda was partly driven by radio broadcasts calling for the extermination of Tutsi “cockroaches.” During the holocaust, Nazis referred to Jews as “rats” and "subhuman".

Kleinfeld points out that political violence has a long history in the United States. In the late 1960s and 1970s, far-left groups carried out bombings and kidnappings. From the late 1970s, political violence began shifting to the right in the form of white supremacists, anti-abortion and militia groups.

In the past few years, government efforts to suppress and counter right-wing violence have primarily&nbsp;focused on groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Patriot Front. Drawing from the Global Terrorism Database and FBI statistics, Kleinfeld found that people committing right-wing violence often differ from the image of the typical terrorist.

“They often hold jobs, are married and have children, “ she found. “Those who attend church or belong to community groups are more likely to hold violent, conspiratorial beliefs. These are not isolated ‘lone wolves’, they are part of a broad community that echoes their ideas.”

Talks of civil war become mainstream

Only a few years ago, talk of widespread political violence or a second civil war was confined to the darkest corners of the Internet. No longer. It has become mainstream since followers of Donald Trump, many wearing sweatshirts saying MAGA CIVIL WAR January 6, 2021, stormed the Capitol to stop, for the first time in American history, the peaceful transfer of power.

In late August, Biden added to the steadily heating rhetoric in advance of the elections by singling out ”MAGA Republicans,” essentially Trump’s base, as followers of a philosophy “like semi-fascism.” (MAGA stands for Make America Great Again, the slogan that helped Trump win the 2016 elections).

Though Biden referred to just a part of the Republican Party, establishment party leaders promptly declared he had besmirched the entire party and more than 70 million Americans who voted for Trump. The temperature in America’s toxic political environment promptly became even hotter.

One of the most discussed contributions to the debate over the prospect of political violence has been a book titled 'How civil wars start and How to stop them'. The author, Barbara F. Walters, is a professor of International Relations at the University of California, San Diego, and serves on an advisory council run by the Central Intelligence Agency called the Political Instability Task Force.

In her book, which made it onto the New York Times bestseller list earlier this year, she cites examples from Iraq, Syria, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, South Africa and the Philippines.

The task force looked at a wide range of variables, including poverty, ethnic diversity, population size, inequality and corruption to help researchers make predictions. To their surprise, the best predictors of instability were not poverty and income but a political system in the middle.

How does the United States fare in this way of looking at instability?

Walters comes to a sobering conclusion, “We are closer to civil war than any of us would like to believe.”

(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.)

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&nbsp;

As arguments over politics in America’s two-party system grow hostile, political scientists have produced a string of studies and surveys to probe the potential of widespread political violence or even civil war.

As arguments over politics in America’s two-party system grow hostile, political scientists have produced a string of studies and surveys to probe the potential of widespread political violence or even civil war. Such fears are understandable in a country that has more guns than people (332 million inhabitants, 434 million guns). Concern grew after the January 6 storming of the US Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump who believed Democrats had rigged the elections and stolen victory from their leader. One survey, in particular, stood out for me. It was conducted by the research firm Ipsos for the Violence Prevention Research Program of the University of California, Davis, which described it as the first of its kind to explore the 8,620 participants’ “personal willingness to engage in specific political violence scenarios.” Key results 50.1 per cent agreed that “in the next several years there will be civil war in the United States.” 67.2 per cent saw a serious threat to American democracy. 42.4 per cent agreed that having a strong leader for America is more important than having a democracy. A similar percentage thought that native-born white people are being replaced by immigrants. And one in five thought that political violence is sometimes justifiable. The survey was conducted four months before America’s midterm elections which will decide whether the Democratic Party can maintain its narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. 435 seats in the House and 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate will be contested. As the elections, scheduled on November 8 draws closer, rhetoric on both sides of the political divide has become ever more heated. President Joe Biden described the most vocal strain of the Republican Party as “semi-fascism.” Majorities in both parties, according to the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based think tank, view members of the other party as immoral, dishonest, and closed-minded. This ranks relatively low on the toxic insult score. A study published in the Journal of Democracy by Rachel Kleinfeld, an expert on troubled democracies, found that both Democrats and Republicans harboured high levels of “dehumanising thought”. 39 per cent of Democrats and 41 per cent of Republicans saw the other side as “downright evil". 16 per cent of Democrats and 20 per cent of Republicans said their opponents were “like animals.” A history of political violence Such feelings, she said, can point to psychological levels of violence, although this is a politely phrased understatement. The 1994 genocide in Rwanda was partly driven by radio broadcasts calling for the extermination of Tutsi “cockroaches.” During the holocaust, Nazis referred to Jews as “rats” and "subhuman". Kleinfeld points out that political violence has a long history in the United States. In the late 1960s and 1970s, far-left groups carried out bombings and kidnappings. From the late 1970s, political violence began shifting to the right in the form of white supremacists, anti-abortion and militia groups. In the past few years, government efforts to suppress and counter right-wing violence have primarily focused on groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Patriot Front. Drawing from the Global Terrorism Database and FBI statistics, Kleinfeld found that people committing right-wing violence often differ from the image of the typical terrorist. “They often hold jobs, are married and have children, “ she found. “Those who attend church or belong to community groups are more likely to hold violent, conspiratorial beliefs. These are not isolated ‘lone wolves’, they are part of a broad community that echoes their ideas.” Talks of civil war become mainstream Only a few years ago, talk of widespread political violence or a second civil war was confined to the darkest corners of the Internet. No longer. It has become mainstream since followers of Donald Trump, many wearing sweatshirts saying MAGA CIVIL WAR January 6, 2021, stormed the Capitol to stop, for the first time in American history, the peaceful transfer of power. In late August, Biden added to the steadily heating rhetoric in advance of the elections by singling out ”MAGA Republicans,” essentially Trump’s base, as followers of a philosophy “like semi-fascism.” (MAGA stands for Make America Great Again, the slogan that helped Trump win the 2016 elections). Though Biden referred to just a part of the Republican Party, establishment party leaders promptly declared he had besmirched the entire party and more than 70 million Americans who voted for Trump. The temperature in America’s toxic political environment promptly became even hotter. One of the most discussed contributions to the debate over the prospect of political violence has been a book titled 'How civil wars start and How to stop them'. The author, Barbara F. Walters, is a professor of International Relations at the University of California, San Diego, and serves on an advisory council run by the Central Intelligence Agency called the Political Instability Task Force. In her book, which made it onto the New York Times bestseller list earlier this year, she cites examples from Iraq, Syria, Yugoslavia, Ireland, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, South Africa and the Philippines. The task force looked at a wide range of variables, including poverty, ethnic diversity, population size, inequality and corruption to help researchers make predictions. To their surprise, the best predictors of instability were not poverty and income but a political system in the middle. How does the United States fare in this way of looking at instability? Walters comes to a sobering conclusion, “We are closer to civil war than any of us would like to believe.” (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.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Dark days ahead for America? Is a civil war brewing?

A day after United States President Joe Biden's warning over the risk of nuclear "Armageddon", the White House has come forward to clarify the remarks. Biden had said that the risk is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.&nbsp;

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday (October 7) that there are no indications "that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons."&nbsp;

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Karine further said that the US has seen no reason to adjust its own strategic nuclear posture and that Biden was just showing "how seriously" he is taking Russian President Vladimir Putin's rhetoric.&nbsp;

"We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture, nor do we have indications that Russia is preparing imminently to use nuclear weapons," Karine told reporters aboard Air Force One.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Blinken: US reviewing options on Saudi ties after OPEC+ cuts&nbsp;

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On being asked if Biden's alarming comment reflected new intelligence, she said "no." She added, "The president was speaking about concerns about Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons."&nbsp;

Reporters also asked the&nbsp;press secretary&nbsp;about Biden's assertion US was trying to find an "off ramp" for Putin to de-escalate in his invasion of&nbsp;Ukraine.&nbsp;

Jean-Pierre said the US position has not changed. "There is only one country responsible for this war," she said. "And that's Russia. They started this conflict and Mr Putin has the ability to stop this conflict today," she added.&nbsp;

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What did Biden say?&nbsp;

On Thursday, Biden spoke bluntly about the risks posed by Putin's veiled threats to deploy nuclear weapons in support of Russia's stumbling bid to annex large portions of Ukraine.&nbsp;

Biden said that for the "first time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat from the use of nuclear weapons if, in fact, things continue down the path they are going."&nbsp;

He referred to the nuclear standoff that occurred 60 years ago as a result of the Soviet Union stationing missiles in Cuba, which was within easy striking distance of the United States.&nbsp;

Since that time, "we have not faced the danger of Armageddon," Biden added.

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A day after United States President Joe Biden's warning over the risk of nuclear "Armageddon", the White House has come forward to clarify the remarks. Biden had said that the risk is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

A day after United States President Joe Biden's warning over the risk of nuclear "Armageddon", the White House has come forward to clarify the remarks. Biden had said that the risk is at the highest level since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday (October 7) that there are no indications "that Russia is preparing to imminently use nuclear weapons." ALSO READ | NYC at the edge of precipice, says mayor, declares state of emergency over migrant crisis Karine further said that the US has seen no reason to adjust its own strategic nuclear posture and that Biden was just showing "how seriously" he is taking Russian President Vladimir Putin's rhetoric. "We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture, nor do we have indications that Russia is preparing imminently to use nuclear weapons," Karine told reporters aboard Air Force One. WATCH | Blinken: US reviewing options on Saudi ties after OPEC+ cuts × On being asked if Biden's alarming comment reflected new intelligence, she said "no." She added, "The president was speaking about concerns about Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons." Reporters also asked the press secretary about Biden's assertion US was trying to find an "off ramp" for Putin to de-escalate in his invasion of Ukraine. Jean-Pierre said the US position has not changed. "There is only one country responsible for this war," she said. "And that's Russia. They started this conflict and Mr Putin has the ability to stop this conflict today," she added. ALSO READ | President Joe Biden signs executive order to implement US-EU data privacy framework What did Biden say? On Thursday, Biden spoke bluntly about the risks posed by Putin's veiled threats to deploy nuclear weapons in support of Russia's stumbling bid to annex large portions of Ukraine. Biden said that for the "first time since the Cuban missile crisis, we have a direct threat from the use of nuclear weapons if, in fact, things continue down the path they are going." He referred to the nuclear standoff that occurred 60 years ago as a result of the Soviet Union stationing missiles in Cuba, which was within easy striking distance of the United States. Since that time, "we have not faced the danger of Armageddon," Biden added. 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.

White House clarifies Biden's 'Armageddon' remark, says no indications Russia preparing to use nukes

The decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) to reduce oil output, according to President Biden, has left the government searching for "alternatives."&nbsp;

When asked if the United States would contemplate turning to the oil-rich country Venezuela, he told reporters, "There's a lot of alternatives.&nbsp;We are still debating our options."&nbsp;

A day after OPEC+ said it will reduce oil output by 2 million barrels per day, the president made the&nbsp;remarks.

Oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the UAE would benefit economically from the OPEC+ decision.&nbsp;

However, it also implies that when storage levels drop, petrol prices will probably increase.&nbsp;

According to reports published Wednesday night, the Biden administration was considering easing Venezuelan sanctions so that American oil corporations might restart production there.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asia-pacific-may-lose-title-as-worlds-largest-travel-region-post-pandemic-523081">Asia Pacific may lose title as world's largest travel region to Europe post-pandemic</a>

However, the White House refuted these assertions on Thursday, stating that "there are no plans to change our sanctions policy without constructive steps from the Maduro regime."&nbsp;

Prior to the Wednesday decision, the Biden administration allegedly made attempts to convince the Saudi authorities to maintain oil output.

(with inputs from agencies)

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The decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) to reduce oil output, according to President Biden, has left the government searching for "alternatives.

The decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) to reduce oil output, according to President Biden, has left the government searching for "alternatives." When asked if the United States would contemplate turning to the oil-rich country Venezuela, he told reporters, "There's a lot of alternatives. We are still debating our options." A day after OPEC+ said it will reduce oil output by 2 million barrels per day, the president made the remarks. Oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the UAE would benefit economically from the OPEC+ decision. However, it also implies that when storage levels drop, petrol prices will probably increase. According to reports published Wednesday night, the Biden administration was considering easing Venezuelan sanctions so that American oil corporations might restart production there. Also Read: Asia Pacific may lose title as world's largest travel region to Europe post-pandemic However, the White House refuted these assertions on Thursday, stating that "there are no plans to change our sanctions policy without constructive steps from the Maduro regime." Prior to the Wednesday decision, the Biden administration allegedly made attempts to convince the Saudi authorities to maintain oil output. (with inputs from agencies)

US looking for 'alternatives' after OPEC 'disappointment', may ease Venezuela sanctions

US President Joe Biden delivered a stark warning about the dangers behind Russian President Vladimir Putin’s nuclear threats as Moscow continues to face military setbacks in Ukraine.

Joe Biden offers stark 'Armageddon' warning on dangers of Putin's nuclear threats

President Joe Biden took steps to overhaul US policy on marijuana on Thursday by pardoning thousands of people with federal offenses for simple marijuana possession and initiating a review of how the drug is classified.

Joe Biden announces steps to overhaul US policy on marijuana

The first time since the cold war, a potential nuclear threat is gripping the world. The Russia-Ukraine war is now taking a dangerous course, something that the US President Joe Biden calls an 'armageddon' threat.

Biden's 'Nuclear Armageddon' warning: 'Putin is not joking with his Nuclear threats'

United States President Joe Biden on Friday (October 7) signed an executive order, which is designed to protect the privacy of personal data transfers between the EU and America.

United States President Joe Biden on Friday (October 7) signed an executive order, which is designed to protect the privacy of personal data transfers between the EU and America. The order will also address European concerns about US intelligence collection activities. While responding, the European Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said that the signature "marks a significant step in our determination to restore safe and free transatlantic data flows". Reynders tweeted: "Today’s signing of the Executive Order by @POTUS marks a significant step in our determination to restore safe & free transatlantic data flows. Thank you @SecRaimondo & AG Garland for the excellent collaboration. We will now start the work for proposing a new #AdequacyDecision". Today’s signing of the Executive Order by @POTUS marks a significant step in our determination to restore safe & free transatlantic data flows. Thank you @SecRaimondo & AG Garland for the excellent collaboration. We will now start the work for proposing a new #AdequacyDecision pic.twitter.com/mUTPrvkaTb — Didier Reynders (@dreynders) October 7, 2022 × The White House said that the presidential order provides a new legal foundation for trans-Atlantic data flows, which are vital to the digital economy. Now the next process is expected to take several months as the order will be subject to review and ratification by the European Commission. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told reporters: "This is a culmination of our joint efforts to restore trust and stability to trans-Atlantic data flows. It will enable a continued flow of data that underpins more than a trillion dollars in cross-border trade and investment every year." ALSO READ | Nobel Peace Prize 2022 winners: Who are the human rights activists in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine? WATCH | WION Dispatch: Israel rejects Lebanon's maritime deal × What was the need for such an order? The executive order addresses issues that the Court of Justice of the European Union raised when it determined that the earlier Privacy Shield structure did not offer sufficient security, the White House said. US tech giants have faced a barrage of lawsuits from EU privacy activists concerned about the ability of US intelligence services to access the personal data of Europeans. Europe's top court has invalidated previous arrangements after hearing complaints that US laws violate the fundamental rights of EU citizens. (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.

President Joe Biden signs executive order to implement US-EU data privacy framework

United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the world is currently facing a major threat of “nuclear Armageddon” and it is currently at its worst since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

The observation came days after Russia confirmed that they can use nuclear weapons in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine. With Ukraine reclaiming some regions after eight months of war, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that they can use nuclear weapons to claim victory.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zaporizhzhia-power-plant-is-a-ukrainian-facility-says-head-of-un-nuclear-watchdog-523122" hreflang="en">Zaporizhzhia plant is a Ukrainian facility, says head of UN nuclear watchdog</a>

During a fundraiser for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden said that Putin was not joking “when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.”

&nbsp;“We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis."

While Russia has said that they will only use the nuclear weapons in an extreme situation and will try to keep the casualties to a minimum, Biden did not seem convinced with the promises.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-top-islamic-state-terrorists-killed-in-us-air-raids-conducted-in-syria-523162" hreflang="en">Two top Islamic State terrorists killed in US air raids conducted in Syria</a>

“I don’t there is any such a thing as the ability to easily use a tactical weapon and not end up with Armageddon,” Biden said while discussing the threats that the modern world currently faces.

Meanwhile, the US ambassador to the United Nations – Linda Thomas-Greenfield – accused Russia of exploiting African resources in order to fund their war in Ukraine.

"One of the most immediate and growing concerns in Africa is the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group strategy of exploiting the natural resources of the Central African Republic, Mali and Sudan, as well as other countries. These actions are thoroughly documented and irrefutable. And we know these ill-gotten gains are used to fund Moscow's war machine in Africa, the Middle East, and Ukraine."

"And rather than being a transparent partner and improving security, Wagner exploits client states who pay for their heavy-handed security services in gold, diamonds, timber and other natural resources. This is part of Wagner Group's business model. Make no mistake: people across Africa are paying a heavy price for the Wagner Group's exploitative practices and human rights violations," she said.

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United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the world is currently facing a major threat of “nuclear Armageddon” and it is currently at its worst since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.

United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the world is currently facing a major threat of “nuclear Armageddon” and it is currently at its worst since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. The observation came days after Russia confirmed that they can use nuclear weapons in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine. With Ukraine reclaiming some regions after eight months of war, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that they can use nuclear weapons to claim victory. Also read | Zaporizhzhia plant is a Ukrainian facility, says head of UN nuclear watchdog During a fundraiser for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Biden said that Putin was not joking “when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons or biological or chemical weapons.” “We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis." While Russia has said that they will only use the nuclear weapons in an extreme situation and will try to keep the casualties to a minimum, Biden did not seem convinced with the promises. Also read | Two top Islamic State terrorists killed in US air raids conducted in Syria “I don’t there is any such a thing as the ability to easily use a tactical weapon and not end up with Armageddon,” Biden said while discussing the threats that the modern world currently faces. Meanwhile, the US ambassador to the United Nations – Linda Thomas-Greenfield – accused Russia of exploiting African resources in order to fund their war in Ukraine. "One of the most immediate and growing concerns in Africa is the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group strategy of exploiting the natural resources of the Central African Republic, Mali and Sudan, as well as other countries. These actions are thoroughly documented and irrefutable. And we know these ill-gotten gains are used to fund Moscow's war machine in Africa, the Middle East, and Ukraine." "And rather than being a transparent partner and improving security, Wagner exploits client states who pay for their heavy-handed security services in gold, diamonds, timber and other natural resources. This is part of Wagner Group's business model. Make no mistake: people across Africa are paying a heavy price for the Wagner Group's exploitative practices and human rights violations," she said.

Nuclear 'Armageddon' threat highest for first time since Cuban Missile Crisis, says Joe Biden

United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the government will be pardoning all individuals with prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana.

This is a move that was taken with an intention to decrease the pressure on the country’s prison system and also to cut down on the number of marijuana-related arrests in places where it is legal.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-requests-halt-on-legal-proceedings-in-twitter-dispute-case-523146">Elon Musk requests halt on legal proceedings in Twitter dispute case</a>

“There are thousands of people who have prior federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions,” Biden said in a statement.

“Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates,” he added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zaporizhzhia-power-plant-is-a-ukrainian-facility-says-head-of-un-nuclear-watchdog-523122" hreflang="en">Zaporizhzhia plant is a Ukrainian facility, says head of UN nuclear watchdog</a>

“It’s time that we right these wrongs,” Biden said on Thursday according to Reuters.

Biden has also urged governors of the states where marijuana is now legal to follow suit and make sure that no one is kept in the prisons due to just one offense. There are still some states where it is not legal but the president asked the authorities to show a bit of leniency.

Marijuana is currently classified in schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act under federal law but Biden asked the secretary of Health and Human Services to reconsider the classification.

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United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the government will be pardoning all individuals with prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana.

United States President Joe Biden said on Thursday that the government will be pardoning all individuals with prior federal offenses of simple possession of marijuana. This is a move that was taken with an intention to decrease the pressure on the country’s prison system and also to cut down on the number of marijuana-related arrests in places where it is legal. Also read | Elon Musk requests halt on legal proceedings in Twitter dispute case “There are thousands of people who have prior federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions,” Biden said in a statement. “Sending people to prison for possessing marijuana has upended too many lives and incarcerated people for conduct that many states no longer prohibit. Criminal records for marijuana possession have also imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. And while white and Black and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionate rates,” he added. Also read | Zaporizhzhia plant is a Ukrainian facility, says head of UN nuclear watchdog “It’s time that we right these wrongs,” Biden said on Thursday according to Reuters. Biden has also urged governors of the states where marijuana is now legal to follow suit and make sure that no one is kept in the prisons due to just one offense. There are still some states where it is not legal but the president asked the authorities to show a bit of leniency. Marijuana is currently classified in schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act under federal law but Biden asked the secretary of Health and Human Services to reconsider the classification.

Joe Biden pardons thousands with federal convictions of marijuana possession

US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden is on Federal Bureau of Investigation’s radar. According to the media reports, the probe agency has gathered enough evidence to charge him with tax crimes and making a false statement to buy a gun.

US: President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden on FBI's radar for tax crimes

United States President Joe Biden has been caught on a live mic as he dropped the F-bomb during his visit to Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.&nbsp;

A hot mic picked up Biden jokingly saying "no one f***s with Biden". He said it during an informal chat with the mayor of Fort Myers Beach Ray Murphy on Wednesday (October 5).&nbsp;

Although the conversation was quite difficult to hear, but Murphy mentioned it in a telephonic interview with US-based media outlet NBC. He laughed it off, stating "It was not directed at anybody. It was just two guys talking."&nbsp;

During his visit after the devastating hurricane, the US president presented was seen united with vocal critic and Florida's Republican governor Ron DeSantis. They surveyed the extent of damages from the hurricane.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-ukriane-among-other-to-abstain-as-un-human-rights-council-rejects-debate-on-xinjiang-523103">India, Ukraine among 11 nations to abstain as UNHRC rejects debate on Xinjiang</a>&nbsp;

Watch the video here:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Democrats are praising this… 
 
Pathetic. The truth is it shows Biden’s extreme ARROGANCE and it’s completely UNPRESIDENTIAL 
 
Think about it: 
 
No one f*cks with a Biden—including the FBI, CIA, and DOJ 
 
It says nothing good about the U.S. and is a slap in the face to every American <a href="https://t.co/rRFQcbCSh2">pic.twitter.com/rRFQcbCSh2</a>
— LionHearted (@LionHearted76) <a href="https://twitter.com/LionHearted76/status/1577777674096984064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

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Accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, the US president boarded a helicopter at Fort Myers for the aerial inspection.&nbsp;

In a speech after witnessing the destruction, Biden said: "Everything - this historic and titanic, unimaginable storm ripped it to pieces. You've got to start from scratch."&nbsp;

As per the authorities, at least 93 people died in Hurricane Ian. Some US television networks citing local officials reported that more than 100 died.

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United States President Joe Biden has been caught on a live mic as he dropped the F-bomb during his visit to Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. A hot mic picked up Biden jokingly saying "no one f***s with Biden".

United States President Joe Biden has been caught on a live mic as he dropped the F-bomb during his visit to Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. A hot mic picked up Biden jokingly saying "no one f***s with Biden". He said it during an informal chat with the mayor of Fort Myers Beach Ray Murphy on Wednesday (October 5). Although the conversation was quite difficult to hear, but Murphy mentioned it in a telephonic interview with US-based media outlet NBC. He laughed it off, stating "It was not directed at anybody. It was just two guys talking." During his visit after the devastating hurricane, the US president presented was seen united with vocal critic and Florida's Republican governor Ron DeSantis. They surveyed the extent of damages from the hurricane. ALSO READ | India, Ukraine among 11 nations to abstain as UNHRC rejects debate on Xinjiang Watch the video here: Democrats are praising this… Pathetic. The truth is it shows Biden’s extreme ARROGANCE and it’s completely UNPRESIDENTIAL Think about it: No one f*cks with a Biden—including the FBI, CIA, and DOJ It says nothing good about the U.S. and is a slap in the face to every American pic.twitter.com/rRFQcbCSh2 — LionHearted (@LionHearted76) October 5, 2022 × ALSO READ | North Korean warplanes conduct bombing drill, South scrambles fighter jets in response Accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, the US president boarded a helicopter at Fort Myers for the aerial inspection. In a speech after witnessing the destruction, Biden said: "Everything - this historic and titanic, unimaginable storm ripped it to pieces. You've got to start from scratch." As per the authorities, at least 93 people died in Hurricane Ian. Some US television networks citing local officials reported that more than 100 died. 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.

WATCH: Hot mic picks F-bomb as US president jokingly says 'no one f***s with Biden'

US President Joe Biden flew over the devastation left by Hurricane Ian in Florida on Wednesday that marked a truce with bitter Republican critic and potential 2024 opponent, Governor Ron DeSantis.

US President Joe Biden visits hurricane-hit Florida to review destruction

United States President Joe Biden travelled to Florida on Wednesday to take account of the situation in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. According to CNN, Biden has pledged to assist the state with funds and aid to recover from the devastation and will also meet with Governor Ron DeSantis.

The storm, which was considered to be the deadliest in the recent American history, claimed more than 100 lives and ended up displacing around 400,000 people from their homes and businesses.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/poland-open-to-host-nuclear-weapons-on-its-soil-to-deter-russia-reports-522764" hreflang="en">Poland approached US with offer to host its nuclear weapons: Reports</a>

During the hurricane, more than 2.8 million people were left without electricity and right now, the state is trying to repair the grids once again. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell also said that it will take billions of dollars to complete the required repairs.

"We are still very much in the lifesaving and stabilization mode. They are just beginning the assessments of what the actual extent of damages to the infrastructure. It's going to be in the billions," Criswell told reporters on Air Force One according to Reuters.

The White House said that Biden surveyed the affected areas – including Fort Myers and other neighbouring areas – from a helicopter and spoke to all the important state officials.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trio-awarded-nobel-for-development-of-click-chemistry-522693">Scientist trio awarded Nobel Prize for pioneering work on 'click chemistry'</a>

The devastation and the subsequent repairs to the infrastructure of the state has become a major talking point all around the country and it is expected to feature heavily in the run up to the mid-term elections.

"Today we have one job and only one job, and that's to make sure the people in Florida get everything they need to fully, thoroughly recover," Biden said.

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United States President Joe Biden travelled to Florida on Wednesday to take account of the situation in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. According to CNN, Biden has pledged to assist the state with funds and aid to recover from the devastation and will also meet with Governor Ron DeSantis.

United States President Joe Biden travelled to Florida on Wednesday to take account of the situation in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. According to CNN, Biden has pledged to assist the state with funds and aid to recover from the devastation and will also meet with Governor Ron DeSantis. The storm, which was considered to be the deadliest in the recent American history, claimed more than 100 lives and ended up displacing around 400,000 people from their homes and businesses. Also read | Poland approached US with offer to host its nuclear weapons: Reports During the hurricane, more than 2.8 million people were left without electricity and right now, the state is trying to repair the grids once again. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell also said that it will take billions of dollars to complete the required repairs. "We are still very much in the lifesaving and stabilization mode. They are just beginning the assessments of what the actual extent of damages to the infrastructure. It's going to be in the billions," Criswell told reporters on Air Force One according to Reuters. The White House said that Biden surveyed the affected areas – including Fort Myers and other neighbouring areas – from a helicopter and spoke to all the important state officials. Also read | Scientist trio awarded Nobel Prize for pioneering work on 'click chemistry' The devastation and the subsequent repairs to the infrastructure of the state has become a major talking point all around the country and it is expected to feature heavily in the run up to the mid-term elections. "Today we have one job and only one job, and that's to make sure the people in Florida get everything they need to fully, thoroughly recover," Biden said.

Joe Biden surveys Hurricane Ian damage in Florida, pledges federal aid

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden and top White House officials announced new guidelines and grants to protect&nbsp;abortion&nbsp;and contraception rights on Tuesday. Biden met with doctors and politicians to discuss guidelines which will make abortion and contraception more accessible to the common people. According to Reuters, the government will be spending $6 million in new grants to protect access to reproductive healthcare services.

 
He further said that the overturning of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court has “curtailed the women’s rights” in the country. It has been 100 days since the judgement and Biden said that it is extremely important to protect abortion and contraception rights in the US.

At a meeting of the reproductive rights task force, Biden also said that the decision to make abortion harder to access for women in the US “has had frightening ripple effects in some states”.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twitter-confirms-elon-musk-buyout-offer-says-will-close-at-original-price-522496" hreflang="en">Twitter confirms Elon Musk buyout offer, says will close at original price</a>

"We're not going to sit by and let Republicans throughout the country enact extreme policies."

Following the overturning of Roe v Wade, several states passed laws which make abortion extremely hard to access for patients or makes the act almost illegal. There are also some states who are looking to add stricter laws in the future to treat abortion as a “crime similar to murder”.

&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-us-troops-launch-missiles-in-response-to-north-korea-tests-522498">South Korea, US troops launch missiles in response to North Korea tests</a>

“The Supreme Court decision created a health care crisis in America. What we are seeing in laws around our country is the criminalization of doctors and health care providers," US Vice President Kamala Harris told the reporters at the sidelines of the meeting with President Biden.

The issue has already become a major talking point ahead of the US mid-term elections and according to a poll, around 71 per cent of Americans did not agree with the judgement.

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US President Joe Biden and top White House officials announced new guidelines and grants to protect abortion and contraception rights on Tuesday. Biden met with doctors and politicians to discuss guidelines which will make abortion and contraception more accessible to the common people.

US President Joe Biden and top White House officials announced new guidelines and grants to protect abortion and contraception rights on Tuesday. Biden met with doctors and politicians to discuss guidelines which will make abortion and contraception more accessible to the common people. According to Reuters, the government will be spending $6 million in new grants to protect access to reproductive healthcare services. He further said that the overturning of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court has “curtailed the women’s rights” in the country. It has been 100 days since the judgement and Biden said that it is extremely important to protect abortion and contraception rights in the US. At a meeting of the reproductive rights task force, Biden also said that the decision to make abortion harder to access for women in the US “has had frightening ripple effects in some states”. Also read | Twitter confirms Elon Musk buyout offer, says will close at original price "We're not going to sit by and let Republicans throughout the country enact extreme policies." Following the overturning of Roe v Wade, several states passed laws which make abortion extremely hard to access for patients or makes the act almost illegal. There are also some states who are looking to add stricter laws in the future to treat abortion as a “crime similar to murder”. Also read | South Korea, US troops launch missiles in response to North Korea tests “The Supreme Court decision created a health care crisis in America. What we are seeing in laws around our country is the criminalization of doctors and health care providers," US Vice President Kamala Harris told the reporters at the sidelines of the meeting with President Biden. The issue has already become a major talking point ahead of the US mid-term elections and according to a poll, around 71 per cent of Americans did not agree with the judgement.

Biden announces new abortion guidelines, says new laws have had 'chilling impact' in some states

America's gross national debt has reached an unfortunate high of $31 trillion for the first time ever, revealed a Treasury Department report on Tuesday. The artificial borrowing cap Congress imposed on the US government is progressively getting closer as debt edges closer to the statutory ceiling of $31.4 trillion.

The debt threshold not only spells trouble for the nation's economy but also poses a problem for Joe Biden who will once again be running for President in 2024.&nbsp;

He had promised to reduce US budget deficits i.e., what government earns through tax revenue vs the money it spends by $1 trillion over a decade. However, as per estimates by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates, his policies have added nearly $5 trillion to the deficit since he took office in 2020.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;US: Job openings fall sharply to 10.053 MN in August, record National debt

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Even as President Joe Biden touts his administration's attempts to reduce the deficit and even introduced the so-called Inflation Reduction Act that attempts to tame a 40-year price increase, economists say that the latest debt numbers are a cause for concern.

This comes as higher borrowing costs replace the nation's historically low-interest rates as the Federal Reserve attempts to combat rapid inflation.

To combat the pandemic and finance tax cuts the government undertook record levels of borrowings, which due to the higher rates are making America's debt costly over time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zero-covid-a-crumbling-real-estate-market-and-more-chinese-economy-and-the-challenges-it-faces-522534" hreflang="en">Zero-Covid, a crumbling real estate market and more: Chinese economy and the challenges it faces</a>

As per estimates by the Peterson Foundation, higher rates could add around one trillion dollars to US federal government's interest payments this decade. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) May forecast&nbsp;that debt costs would reach a record $8.1 trillion.

If interest rates on the nation's debt increase by just one percentage point beyond what the CBO forecasts over the next few years, interest payments might surpass United States' national defence expenditure by 2029, reports the New York Times.

(With inputs from agencies)

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America's gross national debt has reached an unfortunate high of $31 trillion for the first time ever, revealed a Treasury Department report on Tuesday. The artificial borrowing cap Congress imposed on the US government is progressively getting closer as debt edges closer to the statutory ceiling of $31.

America's gross national debt has reached an unfortunate high of $31 trillion for the first time ever, revealed a Treasury Department report on Tuesday. The artificial borrowing cap Congress imposed on the US government is progressively getting closer as debt edges closer to the statutory ceiling of $31.4 trillion. The debt threshold not only spells trouble for the nation's economy but also poses a problem for Joe Biden who will once again be running for President in 2024. He had promised to reduce US budget deficits i.e., what government earns through tax revenue vs the money it spends by $1 trillion over a decade. However, as per estimates by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates, his policies have added nearly $5 trillion to the deficit since he took office in 2020. Watch | US: Job openings fall sharply to 10.053 MN in August, record National debt Even as President Joe Biden touts his administration's attempts to reduce the deficit and even introduced the so-called Inflation Reduction Act that attempts to tame a 40-year price increase, economists say that the latest debt numbers are a cause for concern. This comes as higher borrowing costs replace the nation's historically low-interest rates as the Federal Reserve attempts to combat rapid inflation. To combat the pandemic and finance tax cuts the government undertook record levels of borrowings, which due to the higher rates are making America's debt costly over time. Also read | Zero-Covid, a crumbling real estate market and more: Chinese economy and the challenges it faces As per estimates by the Peterson Foundation, higher rates could add around one trillion dollars to US federal government's interest payments this decade. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) May forecast that debt costs would reach a record $8.1 trillion. If interest rates on the nation's debt increase by just one percentage point beyond what the CBO forecasts over the next few years, interest payments might surpass United States' national defence expenditure by 2029, reports the New York Times. (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.

US debt reaches all-time high of $31 trillion, by 2029 interest payments may overtake defence expenditure

US President Joe Biden’s approval ratings tanked to 40 per cent this week, which is the lowest for his presidency, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll showed.

The poll, done over the course of two days and published on Tuesday, found that only 40 per cent of the Americans have given thumbs up to Biden’s performance. Last week, the approval rate hovered at 41 per cent.

The poll was conducted online across the United States, where 1,003 persons, including 448 Democrats and 383 Republicans, were surveyed.

The low ratings will most likely deal a major blow to Democrats ahead of the midterm elections, and also to Biden who has reportedly himself expressed interest in running for a second term.

According to NBC News, Biden told the Reverend Al Sharpton—Democratic supporter and talk show host—that he is planning to run again for the 2024 presidency during a private conversation at the White House last month.

Later that day, Sharpton informed his not-for-profit National Action Network (NAN) staff in Washington about Biden’s intention.

One of the staff of NAN later revealed this information to the media.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-doctors-say-new-abortion-laws-have-chilling-impact-on-us-522500" hreflang="en">Biden announces new abortion guidelines, says new laws have had 'chilling impact' in some states</a>

“I’m going to do it again,” Biden is said to have told Sharpton as he posed for a photograph in the Roosevelt Room.

It was later confirmed by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre&nbsp;on Tuesday saying that Biden “intends” to seek a second term.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-moves-supreme-court-over-mar-a-lago-search-and-seizure-of-materials-marked-classified-by-fbi-522502" hreflang="en">Trump moves Supreme Court over seizure of materials marked 'classified' by FBI</a>

At that meeting, the 79-year-old leader met with leaders of civil rights organisations on September 2, apart from Sharpton, the White House said in a readout&nbsp;from that meeting.

“The group discussed their shared commitment to advancing legislation protecting voting rights and to combating hate-fuelled violence,” the readout said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US President Joe Biden’s approval ratings tanked to 40 per cent this week, which is the lowest for his presidency, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll showed. The poll, done over the course of two days and published on Tuesday, found that only 40 per cent of the Americans have given thumbs up to Biden’s performance.

US President Joe Biden’s approval ratings tanked to 40 per cent this week, which is the lowest for his presidency, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll showed. The poll, done over the course of two days and published on Tuesday, found that only 40 per cent of the Americans have given thumbs up to Biden’s performance. Last week, the approval rate hovered at 41 per cent. The poll was conducted online across the United States, where 1,003 persons, including 448 Democrats and 383 Republicans, were surveyed. The low ratings will most likely deal a major blow to Democrats ahead of the midterm elections, and also to Biden who has reportedly himself expressed interest in running for a second term. According to NBC News, Biden told the Reverend Al Sharpton—Democratic supporter and talk show host—that he is planning to run again for the 2024 presidency during a private conversation at the White House last month. Later that day, Sharpton informed his not-for-profit National Action Network (NAN) staff in Washington about Biden’s intention. One of the staff of NAN later revealed this information to the media. Also read | Biden announces new abortion guidelines, says new laws have had 'chilling impact' in some states “I’m going to do it again,” Biden is said to have told Sharpton as he posed for a photograph in the Roosevelt Room. It was later confirmed by White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday saying that Biden “intends” to seek a second term. Also read | Trump moves Supreme Court over seizure of materials marked 'classified' by FBI At that meeting, the 79-year-old leader met with leaders of civil rights organisations on September 2, apart from Sharpton, the White House said in a readout from that meeting. “The group discussed their shared commitment to advancing legislation protecting voting rights and to combating hate-fuelled violence,” the readout said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US President Joe Biden intends to run for second term, but approval ratings fall

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news, top headlines and international breakings from all across the globe, stay tuned with Gravitas for more!

Gravitas Global Headlines: Joe Biden vows to impose 'further costs' on Iran

It's been over a 100 days since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 decision which legalized abortion nationwide. In the latest, President Joe Biden has said he will not let Republicans enact extreme policies in the country.

US: President Joe Biden unveils new measures on abortion access

The US President Joe Biden held a telephonic conversation with the Ukrainian President Zelensky. The call took place a few days after the Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed annexation of four regions of Ukraine.

US-Ukraine Support Updates: Four Himars launchers, munitions part of aid

According to the White House, US President Joe Biden informed his counterpart in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday that a further $625 million in military aid, including four HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, is on the way.&nbsp;

A fresh $625 million security support package, including more weapons and equipment such as HIMARS, artillery systems and ammunition, and armoured vehicles, was offered by Biden, according to a statement.&nbsp;

The pro-Western nation of Ukraine now has 16 HIMARS systems, which are regarded as one of its most potent weapons in the battle against a major eight-month-old Russian invasion.
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As long as necessary, Biden's government would "continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression for as long as it takes," he said.&nbsp;

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He said "the United States will never recognize Russia's purported annexation" of another four Ukrainian regions.

According to the State Department, more than $16.8 billion in aid has been delivered to Ukraine since the invasion began on February 24.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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According to the White House, US President Joe Biden informed his counterpart in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday that a further $625 million in military aid, including four HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, is on the way.

According to the White House, US President Joe Biden informed his counterpart in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on Tuesday that a further $625 million in military aid, including four HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, is on the way. A fresh $625 million security support package, including more weapons and equipment such as HIMARS, artillery systems and ammunition, and armoured vehicles, was offered by Biden, according to a statement. The pro-Western nation of Ukraine now has 16 HIMARS systems, which are regarded as one of its most potent weapons in the battle against a major eight-month-old Russian invasion. As long as necessary, Biden's government would "continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression for as long as it takes," he said. Also Read: Satirical publication 'The Onion' defends right to parody in US supreme court He said "the United States will never recognize Russia's purported annexation" of another four Ukrainian regions. According to the State Department, more than $16.8 billion in aid has been delivered to Ukraine since the invasion began on February 24. (with inputs from agencies)

Biden sending $625 mn aid, four HIMARS rocket launchers to Ukraine

In response to Iran's brutal crackdown&nbsp;on protests spurred by Mahsa Amini's death, the United States would impose "further costs," President Joe Biden said, prompting Iran to call the United States "hypocritical" on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Amini, 22, was declared dead on September 16, just a few days after the infamous morality police had jailed the Iranian Kurd for allegedly breaking the law mandating women to dress modestly and wear hijabs.&nbsp;

The greatest wave of protests to hit Iran in three years, as well as a response by the authorities that resulted in hundreds of protestors being killed and more than 1,000 being detained, were spurred by outrage over her death.

In a statement, Biden stated that "this week, the United States will be imposing further costs on perpetrators of violence against peaceful protesters. We will continue holding Iranian officials accountable and supporting the rights of Iranians to protest freely."&nbsp;

Biden expressed "grave concern" about reports of the escalating crackdown on protestors and asserted that Washington supported "all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery."&nbsp;

Following the use of tear gas and paintball guns by Iranian riot police against hundreds of students shouting "woman, life, liberty" on Sunday night at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology, rights organisations expressed grave concern. Video footage also showed detainees being taken away with fabric hoods covering their heads.

The US president made no mention of any potential penalties against Iran, which is currently the target of punishing US economic measures partly because of its contentious nuclear programme.&nbsp;

Iran called the US president's use of human rights as justification for further punitive measures "hypocritical."&nbsp;

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Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the top leader of Iran, had Monday accused his country's bitter enemies Israel and the United States of inciting the demonstrations.

With the aid of certain treacherous Iranians overseas, the riots "were engineered by America and the occupying, false Zionist regime, as well as their paid agents," Khomeini said.&nbsp;

Diplomatic efforts to resurrect a 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and foreign nations have been overshadowed by the turmoil after they came near to success in recent months before stalling once more.

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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In response to Iran's brutal crackdown on protests spurred by Mahsa Amini's death, the United States would impose "further costs," President Joe Biden said, prompting Iran to call the United States "hypocritical" on Tuesday.

In response to Iran's brutal crackdown on protests spurred by Mahsa Amini's death, the United States would impose "further costs," President Joe Biden said, prompting Iran to call the United States "hypocritical" on Tuesday. Amini, 22, was declared dead on September 16, just a few days after the infamous morality police had jailed the Iranian Kurd for allegedly breaking the law mandating women to dress modestly and wear hijabs. The greatest wave of protests to hit Iran in three years, as well as a response by the authorities that resulted in hundreds of protestors being killed and more than 1,000 being detained, were spurred by outrage over her death. In a statement, Biden stated that "this week, the United States will be imposing further costs on perpetrators of violence against peaceful protesters. We will continue holding Iranian officials accountable and supporting the rights of Iranians to protest freely." Biden expressed "grave concern" about reports of the escalating crackdown on protestors and asserted that Washington supported "all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery." Following the use of tear gas and paintball guns by Iranian riot police against hundreds of students shouting "woman, life, liberty" on Sunday night at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology, rights organisations expressed grave concern. Video footage also showed detainees being taken away with fabric hoods covering their heads. The US president made no mention of any potential penalties against Iran, which is currently the target of punishing US economic measures partly because of its contentious nuclear programme. Iran called the US president's use of human rights as justification for further punitive measures "hypocritical." Also Read: North Korea conducts longest-range missile test yet over Japan Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the top leader of Iran, had Monday accused his country's bitter enemies Israel and the United States of inciting the demonstrations. With the aid of certain treacherous Iranians overseas, the riots "were engineered by America and the occupying, false Zionist regime, as well as their paid agents," Khomeini said. Diplomatic efforts to resurrect a 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and foreign nations have been overshadowed by the turmoil after they came near to success in recent months before stalling once more. (with inputs from agencies)

US to impose 'further costs' on Iran for crackdown on Amini protests: Biden

US President Joe Biden traveled to Puerto Rico Monday to meet with victims who were pummeled by Hurricane Fiona two weeks ago. The president announced more than $60 million in funding to help coastal areas rebuild better prepared for severe storms.

US President Joe Biden assures monetary aid for hurricane-hit Puerto Rico

The United States will impose “further costs” on the Iranian officials responsible for violence during the anti-government protests in the middle eastern country following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, President Joe Biden said on Monday according to Reuters.

The 22-year-old Amini was arrested by the Iranian morality police for breaching the hijab law of the country and within a few hours, she died after sustaining serious injuries.

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In the official statement, Biden said he was "gravely concerned about reports of the intensifying violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Iran" and promised to come up with a swift response.

"This week, the United States will be imposing further costs on perpetrators of violence against peaceful protesters. We will continue holding Iranian officials accountable and supporting the rights of Iranians to protest freely," Biden said during the official briefing.

"The United States stands with Iranian women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery," he added while speaking about the role in the military in quashing the protests.

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As per Reuters, on Monday,&nbsp;Canada also announced&nbsp;that it will be imposing fresh sanctions on the nation for alleged human rights violations including the death of Amini.

The fresh impositions add on to existing sanctions and include in the list 25 individuals and nine entities. These include officials from &nbsp;Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the ministry of intelligence and security.

In a statement, the Canadian government said: "These sanctions are in response to gross human rights violations that have been committed in Iran, including its systematic persecution of women and in particular, the egregious actions committed by Iran's so-called 'Morality Police,' which led to the death of Mahsa Amini while under their custody."&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;US, Canada imposes fresh sanctions against Iran citing death of Mahsa Amini

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After Amini’s death, protests were held all around Iran with a number of women showing their dissent by taking off their hijabs and cutting their hair. According to official data, 130 people have been killed in the protests till now after the Iranian army intervened in the past few days.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday that the students in Iran are "rightly enraged" and these are the reasons why young people in Iran leave the country in large numbers.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United States will impose “further costs” on the Iranian officials responsible for violence during the anti-government protests in the middle eastern country following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, President Joe Biden said on Monday according to Reuters.

The United States will impose “further costs” on the Iranian officials responsible for violence during the anti-government protests in the middle eastern country following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, President Joe Biden said on Monday according to Reuters. The 22-year-old Amini was arrested by the Iranian morality police for breaching the hijab law of the country and within a few hours, she died after sustaining serious injuries. Also read | Russia’s State Duma ratifies documents on annexation of Ukrainian territories In the official statement, Biden said he was "gravely concerned about reports of the intensifying violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Iran" and promised to come up with a swift response. "This week, the United States will be imposing further costs on perpetrators of violence against peaceful protesters. We will continue holding Iranian officials accountable and supporting the rights of Iranians to protest freely," Biden said during the official briefing. "The United States stands with Iranian women and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery," he added while speaking about the role in the military in quashing the protests. Also read | Donald Trump sues CNN for defamation, seeks damages worth $ 475 million As per Reuters, on Monday, Canada also announced that it will be imposing fresh sanctions on the nation for alleged human rights violations including the death of Amini. The fresh impositions add on to existing sanctions and include in the list 25 individuals and nine entities. These include officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the ministry of intelligence and security. In a statement, the Canadian government said: "These sanctions are in response to gross human rights violations that have been committed in Iran, including its systematic persecution of women and in particular, the egregious actions committed by Iran's so-called 'Morality Police,' which led to the death of Mahsa Amini while under their custody." Watch | US, Canada imposes fresh sanctions against Iran citing death of Mahsa Amini After Amini’s death, protests were held all around Iran with a number of women showing their dissent by taking off their hijabs and cutting their hair. According to official data, 130 people have been killed in the protests till now after the Iranian army intervened in the past few days. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday that the students in Iran are "rightly enraged" and these are the reasons why young people in Iran leave the country in large numbers. (With inputs from agencies)

Anti-hijab protest crackdown: US, Canada announce imposing 'further costs' on Iran

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