US President Joe Biden welcomed K-pop band BTS to the White House for discussions on anti-Asian hate crimes in America. What does this invite reveal about the power of K-pop? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Joe Biden welcomes BTS to the White House

The United States and Taiwan announced the launch of a new initiative to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen economic ties. It appears like a clear challenge to China. Reacting to the same, Beijing said that it "firmly" opposes the trade talks. Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said that the country always opposes any official exchanges between "any country and the Taiwan region of China".&nbsp;

On Wednesday (June 1), the United States and Taiwan announced the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade. The initiative comes a week after an agreement United President Joe Biden announced with 12 Asian economies, which excluded Taiwan. It didn't include China either.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-residents-spent-2-months-locked-up-but-china-bans-media-from-calling-it-a-lockdown-484410">Shanghai residents spent 2 months 'locked' up, but China bans media from calling it a 'lockdown'</a>

In an online briefing, Feng said, "The United States should prudently handle trade and economic ties with Taiwan to avoid sending a wrong message to Taiwan separatists."&nbsp;

On one side, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, on the other side, the US has been trying to bolster its influence in the region to counter Beijing.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;More seek gun training in Taiwan as Ukraine invasion fuels China fears

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/more-seek-gun-training-in-taiwan-as-ukraine-invasion-fuels-china-fears-484311/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

As recently, Biden had said that the US would respond "militarily" if China attacked Taiwan. However, there was no policy change announced in this regard.&nbsp;

The US officials said that discussions on June 1 with Taiwan will not involve tariffs or market access as the items that would require congressional approval.&nbsp;

In a statement, the US Trade Representative said that "both sides will work at pace... to develop an ambitious roadmap for negotiations for reaching agreements with high-standard commitments and economically meaningful outcomes."&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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">here</a>.

The United States and Taiwan announced the launch of a new initiative to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen economic ties. It appears like a clear challenge to China.

The United States and Taiwan announced the launch of a new initiative to strengthen bilateral relations and deepen economic ties. It appears like a clear challenge to China. Reacting to the same, Beijing said that it "firmly" opposes the trade talks. Chinese commerce ministry spokesman Gao Feng said that the country always opposes any official exchanges between "any country and the Taiwan region of China". On Wednesday (June 1), the United States and Taiwan announced the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade. The initiative comes a week after an agreement United President Joe Biden announced with 12 Asian economies, which excluded Taiwan. It didn't include China either. ALSO READ | Shanghai residents spent 2 months 'locked' up, but China bans media from calling it a 'lockdown' In an online briefing, Feng said, "The United States should prudently handle trade and economic ties with Taiwan to avoid sending a wrong message to Taiwan separatists." On one side, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, on the other side, the US has been trying to bolster its influence in the region to counter Beijing. WATCH | More seek gun training in Taiwan as Ukraine invasion fuels China fears × As recently, Biden had said that the US would respond "militarily" if China attacked Taiwan. However, there was no policy change announced in this regard. The US officials said that discussions on June 1 with Taiwan will not involve tariffs or market access as the items that would require congressional approval. In a statement, the US Trade Representative said that "both sides will work at pace... to develop an ambitious roadmap for negotiations for reaching agreements with high-standard commitments and economically meaningful outcomes." 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.

China 'firmly opposes' US-Taiwan trade initiative

The Biden administration has waived off $5.8 billion in student loan debt for 560,000 borrowers who were defrauded by the now-defunct network Corinthian Colleges.

Making the announcement on Wednesday, the Department of Education described it as “the largest single loan discharge the department has made in history.”

Vice President Kamala Harris had initialled sued Corinthian when she was California’s attorney general after it came to the fore that these for-profit institutions engaged in widespread misconduct, deception, and other illegal practices.

Corinthian was founded in 1995, and by 2010, it had enrolled more than 100,000 students across 100 campuses. It was eventually closed in April 2015.

The Department of Education found that Corinthian Colleges misled prospective students about the ability to transfer credits and falsified its job placement rate.

"As of today, every student deceived, defrauded, and driven into debt by Corinthian Colleges can rest assured that the Biden-Harris administration has their back and will discharge their federal student loans," US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.

"For far too long, Corinthian engaged in the wholesale financial exploitation of students, misleading them into taking on more and more debt to pay for promises they would never keep. While our actions today will relieve Corinthian Colleges' victims of their burdens, the Department of Education is actively ramping up oversight to better protect today's students from tactics and make sure that for-profit institutions – and the corporations that own them – never again get away with such abuse."

The latest move to relax student loans comes as the White House has been reportedly mulling whether to move ahead with broad-based student loan forgiveness.

Most recently, officials were leaning toward wiping out $10,000 for all borrowers who earn below $150,000, CNBC reported.

During his campaign trail, Biden proposed cancelling a minimum of $10,000 in student debt per person as a response to the pandemic, as well as forgiving all undergraduate tuition-related federal student debt from two- and four-year public colleges and universities for those borrowers earning up to $125,000 a year.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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">here</a>.

The Biden administration has waived off $5.8 billion in student loan debt for 560,000 borrowers who were defrauded by the now-defunct network Corinthian Colleges.

The Biden administration has waived off $5.8 billion in student loan debt for 560,000 borrowers who were defrauded by the now-defunct network Corinthian Colleges. Making the announcement on Wednesday, the Department of Education described it as “the largest single loan discharge the department has made in history.” Vice President Kamala Harris had initialled sued Corinthian when she was California’s attorney general after it came to the fore that these for-profit institutions engaged in widespread misconduct, deception, and other illegal practices. Corinthian was founded in 1995, and by 2010, it had enrolled more than 100,000 students across 100 campuses. It was eventually closed in April 2015. The Department of Education found that Corinthian Colleges misled prospective students about the ability to transfer credits and falsified its job placement rate. "As of today, every student deceived, defrauded, and driven into debt by Corinthian Colleges can rest assured that the Biden-Harris administration has their back and will discharge their federal student loans," US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement. "For far too long, Corinthian engaged in the wholesale financial exploitation of students, misleading them into taking on more and more debt to pay for promises they would never keep. While our actions today will relieve Corinthian Colleges' victims of their burdens, the Department of Education is actively ramping up oversight to better protect today's students from tactics and make sure that for-profit institutions – and the corporations that own them – never again get away with such abuse." The latest move to relax student loans comes as the White House has been reportedly mulling whether to move ahead with broad-based student loan forgiveness. Most recently, officials were leaning toward wiping out $10,000 for all borrowers who earn below $150,000, CNBC reported. During his campaign trail, Biden proposed cancelling a minimum of $10,000 in student debt per person as a response to the pandemic, as well as forgiving all undergraduate tuition-related federal student debt from two- and four-year public colleges and universities for those borrowers earning up to $125,000 a year. (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.

Biden administration waives off $5.8 billion in student loans from college that Harris once sued

American President Joe Biden might arrive in West Asia this month. American officials are planning a trip to the region where Joe Biden is likely to meet with his allies in the Gulf.

Report: US President Joe Biden to visit West Asia

Korean boy band BTS visited the US to get meet President Joe Biden and discusses the raising anti-asian hate in the country. The seven members of the band met the President of US on Tuesday event but were keeping fans up to date with their US trip days before their big visit to the white house.

Korean boy band BTS visited the US to get meet President Joe Biden and discusses the raising anti-asian hate in the country. The seven members of the band met the President of US on Tuesday event but were keeping fans up to date with their US trip days before their big visit to the white house. Here's a round-up of all that BTS has been up to during their US trip. The meeting at the White House Band members J-Hope, RM, Suga, Jungkook, V, Jin and Jimin held a 35-minute long meeting with the US president on Tuesday and discussed anti-Asian hate crimes and Asian inclusion. In a video posted on the president's official Twitter handle, President Biden told the group that there has been a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the US in recent times. "Hate only hides. When good people talk about it and say how bad it is, it goes down," he said. "People care a lot about what you say, and what you are doing is good for all people. It's not just your good talent. It's the message you are communicating. It matters," Biden added. Group leader RM thanked the US president for signing recent legislation on combating COVID-19 hate crimes in the country. "We want to say thank you, sincerely, for your decision such as signing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law. So we just want to be a little help and we truly appreciate the White House and government's (efforts) trying to find solutions," he added. Before the meeting with the president, BTS joined White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at her briefing with reporters. Jimin said the band had been "devastated by the recent surge" of crime and intolerance against Asian Americans. "To put a stop to this and support the cause, we'd like to take this opportunity to voice ourselves once again," he said through an interpreter. Equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences, said Suga. "It's not wrong to be different," he added. Social media updates Prior to their visit to the White House, the seven band members were sharing posts and stories on the respective Instagram pages of their US visit. RM & J-Hope's seem to have enjoyed some time at a park. RM visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and he also shared a picture of him posing in front of a wall that read Philip Guston. RM and J-Hope shared similar photos in a park. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RM (@rkive) × J Hope in fact shared a round of selfies. One at the park, one straight out of bed, picture of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC which he visited during his day out. View this post on Instagram A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope) × Meanwhile, fellow bandmate V "plucked some clouds" as he tried indoor skydiving after arriving in the US. Eagle-eyed fans also spotted Jin, sitting next to V in the video clip as the two spread their wings and took off. The boys also played some golf. As V and Jin were seen practising their swing at a golf course. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jin of BTS (@jin) × While the boys spent the day separately or in group of two, they all met up for dinner at night. In the video Jungkook was heard saying that "Even when I take pictures of food, there's nothing I do with it" in Korean. j-hope Instagram Story pic.twitter.com/qnNVkUnqaN — BTS Charts & Translations⁷ (@charts_k) May 31, 2022 × The band is prepping to launch their new album 'Proof' which will be out on June 10. The band's agency Big Hit Music, shared the band's concept pictures.

From practising golf to visiting the White House, here's what BTS is up to in the US

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that US will provide more advanced rocket systems to Ukraine to strike "key targets" of Russian forces invading the country. He made the confirmation in an opinion piece in the New York Times on Tuesday.

"We have moved quickly to send Ukraine a significant amount of weaponry and ammunition so it can fight on the battlefield and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table," he wrote.

"We will provide the Ukrainians with more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable them to more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine,"

Though he mentioned provision of more advanced rocket systems, he did not exactly say which rocket systems will be provided.

Watch | Can EU find alternative to Russian oil and gas?

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/can-eu-find-alternate-to-russian-oil-and-gas-sources-483911/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

AFP reported quoting a US official that Himar multiple rocket systems will be provided to Ukraine. This, said the news agency,&nbsp; 
as ended days of speculation over the latest upgrade of military aid to Kyiv in its fight against Russia.

The Himars use precision-guided munitions, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters. The range is about 50 miles (80 kilometers), with Washington deciding against sending munitions with a far longer range.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-struck-nitric-acid-tank-in-ukraines-severodonetsk-governor-483956">Russia struck 'nitric acid tank' in Ukraine's Severodonetsk: Governor</a>

"These systems will be used by the Ukrainians to repel Russian advances on Ukrainian territory but they will not be used against Russia," the official said, as quoted by AFP.

(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 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that US will provide more advanced rocket systems to Ukraine to strike "key targets" of Russian forces invading the country.

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that US will provide more advanced rocket systems to Ukraine to strike "key targets" of Russian forces invading the country. He made the confirmation in an opinion piece in the New York Times on Tuesday. "We have moved quickly to send Ukraine a significant amount of weaponry and ammunition so it can fight on the battlefield and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table," he wrote. "We will provide the Ukrainians with more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable them to more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine," Though he mentioned provision of more advanced rocket systems, he did not exactly say which rocket systems will be provided. Watch | Can EU find alternative to Russian oil and gas? × AFP reported quoting a US official that Himar multiple rocket systems will be provided to Ukraine. This, said the news agency, as ended days of speculation over the latest upgrade of military aid to Kyiv in its fight against Russia. The Himars use precision-guided munitions, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters. The range is about 50 miles (80 kilometers), with Washington deciding against sending munitions with a far longer range. Also Read | Russia struck 'nitric acid tank' in Ukraine's Severodonetsk: Governor "These systems will be used by the Ukrainians to repel Russian advances on Ukrainian territory but they will not be used against Russia," the official said, as quoted by AFP. (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 to provide more advanced rocket systems to Ukraine, says Biden

BTS, the K-Pop supergroup, met US President Joe Biden and attended the White House press briefing on Tuesday May 31 (as per local time). The mega-popular music stars were due to meet US President Joe Biden when they dropped by at the briefing.

"While many of you may know BTS as Grammy-nominated international icons they also play an important role as youth ambassadors promoting a message of respect and positivity," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said introducing the band.

After the press briefing, the group met Biden to discuss hate crimes targetting Asians.

During the press briefing before the meet, all&nbsp;members of the supergroup spoke, mostly in Korean, barring RM who is the only member who is fluent in English.

"Hi, we're BTS and it is a great honor to be invited to the White House today to discuss the important issues of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian inclusion and diversity," he said. Rest of them spoke with the help of a translater.

"We were devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes, including Asian American hate crimes. To put a stop on this and support the cause, we'd like to take this opportunity to voice ourselves once again," the translator related. "We are here today thanks to our army -- our fans worldwide -- who have different nationalities and cultures and use different languages."

The meeting came as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander month in May drew to a close following a sharp upswing in hate crimes against the community in the past year.

Attacks against people of Asian descent have escalated as some politicians and pundits have encouraged Americans to blame China for COVID-19, amid other tensions.

The boy band's meeting with Biden was&nbsp;closed to media organisations.

(With agency inputs)

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">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

BTS, the K-Pop supergroup, met US President Joe Biden and attended the White House press briefing on Tuesday May 31 (as per local time). The mega-popular music stars were due to meet US President Joe Biden when they dropped by at the briefing.

BTS, the K-Pop supergroup, met US President Joe Biden and attended the White House press briefing on Tuesday May 31 (as per local time). The mega-popular music stars were due to meet US President Joe Biden when they dropped by at the briefing. "While many of you may know BTS as Grammy-nominated international icons they also play an important role as youth ambassadors promoting a message of respect and positivity," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said introducing the band. After the press briefing, the group met Biden to discuss hate crimes targetting Asians. During the press briefing before the meet, all members of the supergroup spoke, mostly in Korean, barring RM who is the only member who is fluent in English. "Hi, we're BTS and it is a great honor to be invited to the White House today to discuss the important issues of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian inclusion and diversity," he said. Rest of them spoke with the help of a translater. "We were devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes, including Asian American hate crimes. To put a stop on this and support the cause, we'd like to take this opportunity to voice ourselves once again," the translator related. "We are here today thanks to our army -- our fans worldwide -- who have different nationalities and cultures and use different languages." The meeting came as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander month in May drew to a close following a sharp upswing in hate crimes against the community in the past year. Attacks against people of Asian descent have escalated as some politicians and pundits have encouraged Americans to blame China for COVID-19, amid other tensions. The boy band's meeting with Biden was closed to media organisations. (With agency inputs) 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 ×

BTS, K-Pop supergroup, meets Biden, drop by during White House press briefing

THE U.S. WILL HELP UKRAINE BE IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE POSITION AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. WE DO NOT WANT TO PROLONG THE WAR JUST TO INFLICT PAIN ON RUSSIA.

The invasion Vladimir Putin thought would last days is now in its fourth month. The Ukrainian people surprised Russia and inspired the world with their sacrifice, grit and battlefield success. The free world and many other nations, led by the United States, rallied to Ukraine’s side with unprecedented military, humanitarian and financial support.

As the war goes on, I want to be clear about the aims of the United States in these efforts.

America’s goal is straightforward: We want to see a democratic, independent, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine with the means to deter and defend itself against further aggression.

As President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has said, ultimately this war “will only definitively end through diplomacy.” Every negotiation reflects the facts on the ground. We have moved quickly to send Ukraine a significant amount of weaponry and ammunition so it can fight on the battlefield and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table.

That’s why I’ve decided that we will provide the Ukrainians with more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable them to more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine.

We will continue cooperating with our allies and partners on Russian sanctions, the toughest ever imposed on a major economy. We will continue providing Ukraine with advanced weaponry, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger antiaircraft missiles, powerful artillery and precision rocket systems, radars, unmanned aerial vehicles, Mi-17 helicopters and ammunition. We will also send&nbsp;billions more in financial assistance, as authorized by Congress. We will work with our allies and partners to address the global food crisis that Russia’s aggression is worsening. And we will help our European allies and others reduce their dependence on Russian fossil fuels, and speed our transition to a clean energy future.

We will also continue reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank with forces and capabilities from the United States and other allies. And just recently, I welcomed Finland’s and Sweden’s applications to join NATO, a move that will strengthen overall U.S. and trans-Atlantic security by adding two democratic and highly capable military partners.

We do not seek a war between NATO and Russia. As much as I disagree with Mr. Putin, and find his actions an outrage, the United States will not try to bring about his ouster in Moscow. So long as the United States or our allies are not attacked, we will not be directly engaged in this conflict, either by sending American troops to fight in Ukraine or by attacking Russian forces. We are not encouraging or enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders. We do not want to prolong the war just to inflict pain on Russia.

My principle throughout this crisis has been “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” I will not pressure the Ukrainian government — in private or public — to make any territorial concessions. It would be wrong and contrary to well-settled principles to do so.

Ukraine’s talks with Russia are not stalled because Ukraine has turned its back on diplomacy. They are stalled because Russia continues to wage a war to take control of as much of Ukraine as it can. The United States will continue to work to strengthen Ukraine and support its efforts to achieve a negotiated end to the conflict.

Unprovoked aggression, the bombing of maternity hospitals and centers of culture, and the forced displacement of millions of people makes the war in Ukraine a profound moral issue. I met with Ukrainian refugees in Poland — women and children who were unsure what their lives would be, and whether the loved ones who stayed behind in Ukraine would be OK. No person of conscience could be unmoved by the devastation of these horrors.

Standing by Ukraine in its hour of need is not just the right thing to do. It is in our vital national interests to ensure a peaceful and stable Europe and to make it clear that might does not make right. If Russia does not pay a heavy price for its actions, it will send a message to other would-be aggressors that they too can seize territory and subjugate other countries. It will put the survival of other peaceful democracies at risk. And it could mark the end of the rules-based international order and open the door to aggression elsewhere, with catastrophic consequences the world over.

I know many people around the world are concerned about the use of nuclear weapons. We currently see no indication that Russia has intent to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, though Russia’s occasional rhetoric to rattle the nuclear saber is itself dangerous and extremely irresponsible. Let me be clear: Any use of nuclear weapons in this conflict on any scale would be completely unacceptable to us as well as the rest of the world and would entail severe consequences.

Americans will stay the course with the Ukrainian people because we understand that freedom is not free. That’s what we have always done whenever the enemies of freedom seek to bully and oppress innocent people, and it is what we are doing now. Vladimir Putin did not expect this degree of unity or the strength of our response. He was mistaken. If he expects that we will waver or fracture in the months to come, he is equally mistaken.

THE U.S. WILL HELP UKRAINE BE IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE POSITION AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. WE DO NOT WANT TO PROLONG THE WAR JUST TO INFLICT PAIN ON RUSSIA. The invasion Vladimir Putin thought would last days is now in its fourth month.

THE U.S. WILL HELP UKRAINE BE IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE POSITION AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE. WE DO NOT WANT TO PROLONG THE WAR JUST TO INFLICT PAIN ON RUSSIA. The invasion Vladimir Putin thought would last days is now in its fourth month. The Ukrainian people surprised Russia and inspired the world with their sacrifice, grit and battlefield success. The free world and many other nations, led by the United States, rallied to Ukraine’s side with unprecedented military, humanitarian and financial support. As the war goes on, I want to be clear about the aims of the United States in these efforts. America’s goal is straightforward: We want to see a democratic, independent, sovereign and prosperous Ukraine with the means to deter and defend itself against further aggression. As President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has said, ultimately this war “will only definitively end through diplomacy.” Every negotiation reflects the facts on the ground. We have moved quickly to send Ukraine a significant amount of weaponry and ammunition so it can fight on the battlefield and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table. That’s why I’ve decided that we will provide the Ukrainians with more advanced rocket systems and munitions that will enable them to more precisely strike key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine. We will continue cooperating with our allies and partners on Russian sanctions, the toughest ever imposed on a major economy. We will continue providing Ukraine with advanced weaponry, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, Stinger antiaircraft missiles, powerful artillery and precision rocket systems, radars, unmanned aerial vehicles, Mi-17 helicopters and ammunition. We will also send billions more in financial assistance, as authorized by Congress. We will work with our allies and partners to address the global food crisis that Russia’s aggression is worsening. And we will help our European allies and others reduce their dependence on Russian fossil fuels, and speed our transition to a clean energy future. We will also continue reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank with forces and capabilities from the United States and other allies. And just recently, I welcomed Finland’s and Sweden’s applications to join NATO, a move that will strengthen overall U.S. and trans-Atlantic security by adding two democratic and highly capable military partners. We do not seek a war between NATO and Russia. As much as I disagree with Mr. Putin, and find his actions an outrage, the United States will not try to bring about his ouster in Moscow. So long as the United States or our allies are not attacked, we will not be directly engaged in this conflict, either by sending American troops to fight in Ukraine or by attacking Russian forces. We are not encouraging or enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders. We do not want to prolong the war just to inflict pain on Russia. My principle throughout this crisis has been “Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.” I will not pressure the Ukrainian government — in private or public — to make any territorial concessions. It would be wrong and contrary to well-settled principles to do so. Ukraine’s talks with Russia are not stalled because Ukraine has turned its back on diplomacy. They are stalled because Russia continues to wage a war to take control of as much of Ukraine as it can. The United States will continue to work to strengthen Ukraine and support its efforts to achieve a negotiated end to the conflict. Unprovoked aggression, the bombing of maternity hospitals and centers of culture, and the forced displacement of millions of people makes the war in Ukraine a profound moral issue. I met with Ukrainian refugees in Poland — women and children who were unsure what their lives would be, and whether the loved ones who stayed behind in Ukraine would be OK. No person of conscience could be unmoved by the devastation of these horrors. Standing by Ukraine in its hour of need is not just the right thing to do. It is in our vital national interests to ensure a peaceful and stable Europe and to make it clear that might does not make right. If Russia does not pay a heavy price for its actions, it will send a message to other would-be aggressors that they too can seize territory and subjugate other countries. It will put the survival of other peaceful democracies at risk. And it could mark the end of the rules-based international order and open the door to aggression elsewhere, with catastrophic consequences the world over. I know many people around the world are concerned about the use of nuclear weapons. We currently see no indication that Russia has intent to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, though Russia’s occasional rhetoric to rattle the nuclear saber is itself dangerous and extremely irresponsible. Let me be clear: Any use of nuclear weapons in this conflict on any scale would be completely unacceptable to us as well as the rest of the world and would entail severe consequences. Americans will stay the course with the Ukrainian people because we understand that freedom is not free. That’s what we have always done whenever the enemies of freedom seek to bully and oppress innocent people, and it is what we are doing now. Vladimir Putin did not expect this degree of unity or the strength of our response. He was mistaken. If he expects that we will waver or fracture in the months to come, he is equally mistaken.

President Biden: What America will and will not do in Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has agreed to provide Ukraine with advanced rocket systems that can strike with precision at long-range Russian targets as part of a $700 million weapons package expected to be unveiled on Wednesday.

US President Joe Biden agrees to provide Ukraine with longer range missiles

US President Joe Biden welcomed New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to the White House on Tuesday to discuss economic ties and gun control.

US President Biden meets with New Zealand PM Ardern, discusses gun control

President Joe Biden will host the Prime Minister of New Zealand at the White House today, the leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing engagements in the Indo-Pacific region, this meeting holds greater importance as New Zealand has raised concerns about China's presence in the region.

Indo-Pacific: US President Joe Biden to meet New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern

President Joe Biden said Monday that the US won't supply Ukraine with long-range rocket systems that can hit Russian territory. Biden did not elaborate on which specific long-range rocket systems the US had ruled out sending.

US President Joe Biden says 'won't send rockets that could reach Russia'

The extremely popular K-Pop band BTS is all set to meet President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. All members of the band had arrived in the United States by May 29 and they have been constantly sharing photos and videos from their US trip on social media.

The extremely popular K-Pop band BTS is all set to meet President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday, May 31, 2022. All members of the band had arrived in the United States by May 29 and they have been constantly sharing photos and videos from their US trip on social media. RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook will be meeting the US President Joe Biden for the first time at at the White House’s Oval Office. And, they will discuss Asian hate crimes that plagues the country and what can be done to prevent it. Together, they will also celebrate AANHPI Heritage month, otherwise known as Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander month. But before they begin some serious discussion with the POTUS, the boy band took some time off their busy schedule to travel in the United States. And, as usual, they didn't forget to share glimpses of their trip with their fans. RM took to his Instagram handle on Monday and shared pictures from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He also shared a few selfies from a park and left everyone gushing. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RM (@rkive) J-Hope took to his social media handle to share a series of selfies from his day out. In his photo dump post, he also shared a picture of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. In the caption, he added two peace hand sign emojis. View this post on Instagram A post shared by jhope (@uarmyhope) Jin also shared a video from the trip on his Instagram account. In the caption, he wrote in Korean, "Hahahahahahahahaha I think throwing it with your hands will go farther." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jin of BTS (@jin) Also read: Tom Hanks reveals Queen Elizabeth's 'cocktail of choice' during Elvis promotions The boy band is currently also preparing for the release of their new album 'Proof', which is scheduled to drop on June 10. BTS' agency Big Hit Music took to social media on Monday to share new concept photos of the members, featuring them in a veil theme.

BTS' RM and J-hope give glimpses of their US trip ahead of White House visit

The US President has visited a memorial to the 19 students and two teachers killed in a mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas earlier this week.

Texas Elementary School Shooting: US President Joe Biden visits Uvalde, promises to 'do something'

Amid growing public anger, the US Justice Department said it will probe the police response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were killed.

This comes amid mounting criticism that police didn’t act soon enough to apprehend the shooter. The gunman spent more than an hour inside the school before he was ultimately killed by a tactical unit, despite officers' earlier arrival at the scene.

"The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day, and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events," DOJ spokesman Anthony Coley&nbsp;announced in a statement&nbsp;on Sunday.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing will conduct the review and publish a report with its findings after the review concludes, the department said.

The justice department’s response came hours after US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden arrived in Uvalde to pay their respects to the victims of the attack.

Watch |&nbsp;Texas school massacre: 'More kids die because of guns than motor crashes'

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/texas-school-massacre-more-kids-die-because-of-guns-than-motor-crashes-482998/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Speaking from the White House on Tuesday in the hours after the Uvalde attack, the president made an urgent call for action on gun safety.

"As a nation we have to ask, 'When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Biden said. "When in God's name are we going to do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?"

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-school-shooting-husband-of-killed-teacher-dies-of-heart-attack-482505">Texas school shooting: Husband of killed teacher dies of heart attack</a>

The latest mass shooting has prompted growing calls for gun control measures at a time when the country has already faced two back-to-back gun attacks within 10 days. Though Republicans have opposed tightening rules.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/smeared-blood-of-classmate-to-act-dead-texas-school-shooting-survivors-recall-the-dreadful-day-482917">‘Smeared classmate's blood and acted dead’: Texas school shooting survivors recall the dreadful day</a>

The US has now surpassed 200 mass shootings since the beginning of 2022, reports BBC.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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">here</a>.

Amid growing public anger, the US Justice Department said it will probe the police response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were killed.

Amid growing public anger, the US Justice Department said it will probe the police response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and two teachers were killed. This comes amid mounting criticism that police didn’t act soon enough to apprehend the shooter. The gunman spent more than an hour inside the school before he was ultimately killed by a tactical unit, despite officers' earlier arrival at the scene. "The goal of the review is to provide an independent account of law enforcement actions and responses that day, and to identify lessons learned and best practices to help first responders prepare for and respond to active shooter events," DOJ spokesman Anthony Coley announced in a statement on Sunday. The Office of Community Oriented Policing will conduct the review and publish a report with its findings after the review concludes, the department said. The justice department’s response came hours after US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden arrived in Uvalde to pay their respects to the victims of the attack. Watch | Texas school massacre: 'More kids die because of guns than motor crashes' Speaking from the White House on Tuesday in the hours after the Uvalde attack, the president made an urgent call for action on gun safety. "As a nation we have to ask, 'When in God's name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Biden said. "When in God's name are we going to do what we all know in our gut needs to be done?" Also read | Texas school shooting: Husband of killed teacher dies of heart attack The latest mass shooting has prompted growing calls for gun control measures at a time when the country has already faced two back-to-back gun attacks within 10 days. Though Republicans have opposed tightening rules. Also read | ‘Smeared classmate's blood and acted dead’: Texas school shooting survivors recall the dreadful day The US has now surpassed 200 mass shootings since the beginning of 2022, reports BBC. (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.

Amid public outcry, US govt to review police response to Texas school shooting

Amid Russian forces' aggressive approach in eastern Ukraine, the United States President Joe Biden on Monday (May 30) said that he would not send rocket systems to Ukraine that can reach Russia. While speaking to reporters after arriving back at the White House after a weekend in Delaware, "Biden said, "We are not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that can strike into Russia."&nbsp;

"There's a constitution. I can't dictate this stuff. I can do the things I've done, and any executive action I can take I continue to take, but I can't outlaw a weapon, I can't change the background checks. I can't do that, and you know, my whole career I've been doing it," he added.&nbsp;

In the east, the Russian forces have advanced closer to the centre of the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk. The city has been under bombardment for weeks. Lugansk governor Sergiy Gaiday said on Telegram: "The Russians are advancing into the middle of Severodonetsk. The fighting continues. The situation is very difficult."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-enriched-uranium-18-times-over-limit-warns-iaea-483605">Iran's enriched uranium 18 times over limit, warns IAEA</a>

Importantly, Severodonetsk is the easternmost city still in Ukrainian hands. It has been understood that capturing it would give Russia de-facto control over Lugansk, one of two eastern regions that make up the coveted Donbas.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky multiple times urged Western countries to supply advanced weapons to face Russia after it invaded Ukraine on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin in late February.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/immortal-portion-of-love-kim-jong-uns-message-on-vaccines-to-north-koreans-483585">'Immortal potion of love': Kim Jong Un's message on vaccines to North Koreans</a>

WATCH |&nbsp;Discussions on oil embargo: European Union holds two-day summit in Brussels

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/discussions-on-oil-embargo-european-union-holds-two-day-summit-in-brussels-483616/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Zelensky's advisor Mykhailo Podoliak tweeted recently: "If the West really wants Ukraine's victory, maybe it is time to give us long-range MLRS? It is hard to fight when you are attacked from a 70 km (43 miles) distance and have nothing to fight back with."&nbsp;

Ukraine has received extensive US military aid but says it needs long-range rockets equivalent to what Moscow's forces use. Recently, the US announced another $40 billion assistance package amid speculation it included such weapons.&nbsp;

To counter Moscow, Kyiv has asked the US for mobile batteries for long-range rockets, the M270 MLRS and the M142 Himars. They can launch multiple rockets at the same time with a range of up to 187 miles.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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">here</a>.

Amid Russian forces' aggressive approach in eastern Ukraine, the United States President Joe Biden on Monday (May 30) said that he would not send rocket systems to Ukraine that can reach Russia.

Amid Russian forces' aggressive approach in eastern Ukraine, the United States President Joe Biden on Monday (May 30) said that he would not send rocket systems to Ukraine that can reach Russia. While speaking to reporters after arriving back at the White House after a weekend in Delaware, "Biden said, "We are not going to send to Ukraine rocket systems that can strike into Russia." "There's a constitution. I can't dictate this stuff. I can do the things I've done, and any executive action I can take I continue to take, but I can't outlaw a weapon, I can't change the background checks. I can't do that, and you know, my whole career I've been doing it," he added. In the east, the Russian forces have advanced closer to the centre of the eastern Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk. The city has been under bombardment for weeks. Lugansk governor Sergiy Gaiday said on Telegram: "The Russians are advancing into the middle of Severodonetsk. The fighting continues. The situation is very difficult." ALSO READ | Iran's enriched uranium 18 times over limit, warns IAEA Importantly, Severodonetsk is the easternmost city still in Ukrainian hands. It has been understood that capturing it would give Russia de-facto control over Lugansk, one of two eastern regions that make up the coveted Donbas. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky multiple times urged Western countries to supply advanced weapons to face Russia after it invaded Ukraine on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin in late February. ALSO READ | 'Immortal potion of love': Kim Jong Un's message on vaccines to North Koreans WATCH | Discussions on oil embargo: European Union holds two-day summit in Brussels × Zelensky's advisor Mykhailo Podoliak tweeted recently: "If the West really wants Ukraine's victory, maybe it is time to give us long-range MLRS? It is hard to fight when you are attacked from a 70 km (43 miles) distance and have nothing to fight back with." Ukraine has received extensive US military aid but says it needs long-range rockets equivalent to what Moscow's forces use. Recently, the US announced another $40 billion assistance package amid speculation it included such weapons. To counter Moscow, Kyiv has asked the US for mobile batteries for long-range rockets, the M270 MLRS and the M142 Himars. They can launch multiple rockets at the same time with a range of up to 187 miles. 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.

Joe Biden says US will not send Ukraine rocket systems that can reach Russia

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited memorials at the Robb Elementary School and tried to comfort families in the south Texas town of Uvalde after the nation's deadliest school shooting in a decade.

They both visited a memorial of 21 white crosses, one for each of those killed, and paid respects to the makeshift shrines of the victims.

After this, they attended Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller tried to assuage the fears of the youngsters by saying “You have seen the news, you have witnessed the tears of your parents, friends.”&nbsp;

“You are the best reminders to us that the lives of the little ones are important,” he added.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-gun-terror-in-america-482979/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

During Biden's visit, the crowd outside the church chanted “do something”, to which he pledged: “We will.”

At the request of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, the US Department of Justice has announced it would review local law enforcement's slow response to the attack has sparked fury and mounted pressure over the decision by Uvalde's law enforcement agencies to allow the shooter to remain in a classroom for nearly an hour.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/americas-love-for-military-style-weapons-and-ar-15-the-assault-rifle-used-in-texas-school-shooting-482652">Also see |&nbsp;America's love for military-style weapons and AR-15, the assault rifle used in Texas school shooting</a>

While officers waited in the hallway of Robb Elementary School, children inside the room made panicked and continuously made 911 calls for help.

After shooting his grandmother, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered the school on Tuesday with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and killed 21 people including 19 children and two teachers. However, his grandmother survived.

During his tenure, Biden has visited three mass shooting sites including earlier this month when he visited Buffalo, New York, after a gunman killed 10 Black people in a Saturday afternoon attack at a grocery store.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1">&amp;times;</iframe></div>

&nbsp;
</div>

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited memorials at the Robb Elementary School and tried to comfort families in the south Texas town of Uvalde after the nation's deadliest school shooting in a decade.

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visited memorials at the Robb Elementary School and tried to comfort families in the south Texas town of Uvalde after the nation's deadliest school shooting in a decade. They both visited a memorial of 21 white crosses, one for each of those killed, and paid respects to the makeshift shrines of the victims. After this, they attended Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller tried to assuage the fears of the youngsters by saying “You have seen the news, you have witnessed the tears of your parents, friends.” “You are the best reminders to us that the lives of the little ones are important,” he added. During Biden's visit, the crowd outside the church chanted “do something”, to which he pledged: “We will.” At the request of Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, the US Department of Justice has announced it would review local law enforcement's slow response to the attack has sparked fury and mounted pressure over the decision by Uvalde's law enforcement agencies to allow the shooter to remain in a classroom for nearly an hour. Also see | America's love for military-style weapons and AR-15, the assault rifle used in Texas school shooting While officers waited in the hallway of Robb Elementary School, children inside the room made panicked and continuously made 911 calls for help. After shooting his grandmother, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered the school on Tuesday with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and killed 21 people including 19 children and two teachers. However, his grandmother survived. During his tenure, Biden has visited three mass shooting sites including earlier this month when he visited Buffalo, New York, after a gunman killed 10 Black people in a Saturday afternoon attack at a grocery store. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Texas shooting: Biden visits Uvalde, pays tribute to victims

Ukraine war: Russia pummels eastern towns in bid to encircle Ukrainian forces

US President Joe Biden on Friday (May 27) told Naval Academy graduates that their job will be to ensure maritime freedom in South China Sea. He was spaking before 1200 graduate cadets in Annapolis, Maryland. He told them that they were entering military service at a time of many global challenges.

"You'll defend the international rules of the road, underwrite the future of the Indo-Pacific that is free and open, ensure freedom of navigation of the South China Sea and beyond, and make sure the sea lanes remain open and secure," he said.

"These long-standing basic maritime principles are the bedrock of a global economy and global stability. You're going to help get together our allies in Europe and with our allies in the Indo-Pacific," Biden added.

China claims the entirety of South China Sea citing ancient claims. This has brought it at odds with other countries in the region. US has sought to contest&nbsp;Chinese claims.

During his speech Biden also spoke about situation in Europe where Ukraine is battling Russian invasion. Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempt to divide Europe had backfired.

Biden, who helped form a coalition of nations to oppose Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had harsh words for Putin and said his attempt to divide NATO allies had failed.

"Not only is he trying to take over Ukraine, he’s literally trying to wipe out the culture and identity of the Ukrainian people. Attacking schools, nurseries, hospitals, museums, with no other purpose than to eliminate a culture," Biden said.

Putin tried to "Finland-ize" Europe but "instead he NATO-ized all of Europe," said Biden, a reference to neutral nations Finland and Sweden's plans to join the alliance.

(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 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden on Friday (May 27) told Naval Academy graduates that their job will be to ensure maritime freedom in South China Sea. He was spaking before 1200 graduate cadets in Annapolis, Maryland.

US President Joe Biden on Friday (May 27) told Naval Academy graduates that their job will be to ensure maritime freedom in South China Sea. He was spaking before 1200 graduate cadets in Annapolis, Maryland. He told them that they were entering military service at a time of many global challenges. "You'll defend the international rules of the road, underwrite the future of the Indo-Pacific that is free and open, ensure freedom of navigation of the South China Sea and beyond, and make sure the sea lanes remain open and secure," he said. "These long-standing basic maritime principles are the bedrock of a global economy and global stability. You're going to help get together our allies in Europe and with our allies in the Indo-Pacific," Biden added. China claims the entirety of South China Sea citing ancient claims. This has brought it at odds with other countries in the region. US has sought to contest Chinese claims. During his speech Biden also spoke about situation in Europe where Ukraine is battling Russian invasion. Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's attempt to divide Europe had backfired. Biden, who helped form a coalition of nations to oppose Russia's invasion of Ukraine, had harsh words for Putin and said his attempt to divide NATO allies had failed. "Not only is he trying to take over Ukraine, he’s literally trying to wipe out the culture and identity of the Ukrainian people. Attacking schools, nurseries, hospitals, museums, with no other purpose than to eliminate a culture," Biden said. Putin tried to "Finland-ize" Europe but "instead he NATO-ized all of Europe," said Biden, a reference to neutral nations Finland and Sweden's plans to join the alliance. (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 ×

Ensure maritime freedom in South China Sea, Biden tells naval graduates

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has outlined how the Biden administration is approaching relations with China, calling Beijing a “long-term challenge” to what he called “universal values that have sustained so much of the world’s progress over the past 75 years.” For more analysis, we're joined by VOA's Correspondent, Jessica Stone.

WION-VOA Co-Production: Blinken outlines US-China relations | Business Elites met in Davos for WEF

US President Joe Biden will travel to Uvalde on Sunday to grieve with and console the families of the victims of Texas elementary school shooting. The mass shooting, carried out by a lone 18-year-old gunman, left 19 children and two teachers dead.

Texas School Shooting: US President Joe Biden to visit Uvalde on Sunday to mourn victims

Deadliest school mass shootings in United States in past 10 years

North Korea has launched three ballistic missiles, including one thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), towards the sea hours after President US Joe Biden wrapped up his trip to Asia.

North Korea fires three missiles including banned ICBM as  Biden ended Asia trip

Deadliest school mass shootings in United States in the last decade

North Korea has launched three ballistic missiles, including one thought to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), towards the sea hours after President Joe Biden wrapped up his trip to Asia.

North Korea test fires three missiles hours after US President Biden leaves Asia

When Joe Biden assumed the office he promised to fight gun violence but little seems to have changed since then. The US accounts for more than half of all of the gun violence deaths in the world. Watch this special report to know more.

America & the rise of gun violence: Why does gun terror persist in the US?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Tokyo, has called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue a "force for good".

Vowing to stand together for a free and open Indo-Pacific, during the Quad summit Modi said the mutual trust and determination among the member countries is giving new energy to democratic forces.

Applauding Quad for moving ahead with a constructive agenda for the Indo-Pacific, Modi said it has gained a significant place on the world stage in a short span of time.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/quad-summit-2022-quad-has-a-lot-of-work-to-keep-indo-pacific-region-peaceful-says-biden-481660/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He held talks with Quad members US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australia's new prime minister, Anthony Albanese.

"We have increased coordination in areas of vaccine delivery, climate action, supply chain resilience, disaster response, economic cooperation, and adverse situations arising out of COVID-19 pandemic,'' Modi said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My remarks at the Quad Leaders Meeting in Tokyo. <a href="https://t.co/WzN5lC8J4v">https://t.co/WzN5lC8J4v</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1528914724049461248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Highlighting the significance of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), Modi said the initiative will ensure supply-chain resilience and digital trade.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-joins-hands-with-japan-for-security-challenges-looks-to-focus-on-commonalities-with-india-in-talks-481642">US joins hands with Japan for security, focuses on 'commonalities' with India</a>

Hailing the cooperation between the "close democratic partners" Modi said it is contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The second in-person Quad Summit was aimed at standing up to the increasing assertiveness of China in the Indo-Pacific region.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Tokyo, has called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue a "force for good". Vowing to stand together for a free and open Indo-Pacific, during the Quad summit Modi said the mutual trust and determination among the member countries is giving new energy to democratic forces.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Tokyo, has called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue a "force for good". Vowing to stand together for a free and open Indo-Pacific, during the Quad summit Modi said the mutual trust and determination among the member countries is giving new energy to democratic forces. Applauding Quad for moving ahead with a constructive agenda for the Indo-Pacific, Modi said it has gained a significant place on the world stage in a short span of time. He held talks with Quad members US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Australia's new prime minister, Anthony Albanese. "We have increased coordination in areas of vaccine delivery, climate action, supply chain resilience, disaster response, economic cooperation, and adverse situations arising out of COVID-19 pandemic,'' Modi said. My remarks at the Quad Leaders Meeting in Tokyo. https://t.co/WzN5lC8J4v — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2022 × Highlighting the significance of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), Modi said the initiative will ensure supply-chain resilience and digital trade. Also read | US joins hands with Japan for security, focuses on 'commonalities' with India Hailing the cooperation between the "close democratic partners" Modi said it is contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The second in-person Quad Summit was aimed at standing up to the increasing assertiveness of China in the Indo-Pacific region. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls Quad 'force for good'

As leaders of the four QUAD nation members met in Tokyo for the fourth meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, WION's Managing editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay had an exclusive conversation with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Speaking on the sidelines of the summit that took place on Tuesday (May 24), Abe talked about his country's nuclear policies and the prospect of hosting nuclear weapons for its ally the United States. In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the growing Chinese aggression towards Taiwan, Abe had earlier in February of this year suggested that Tokyo should consider hosting nuclear weapons.

When asked about his suggestion that Japan should host US nukes, Abe said "I think there is a strong alliance between US and Japan when it comes to the security of Japan, specifically with regards to the nuclear deterrence power US holds"

Watch |&nbsp;Is Japan open to hosting US nuclear weapons? Japan's longest-serving PM Shinzo Abe speaks to WION

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/is-japan-open-to-hosting-us-nuclear-weapons-japans-longest-serving-pm-shinzo-abe-speaks-to-wion-481800/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He added that there is a need to ensure that the system needs to be updated, and refined over time, but that a nuclear deterrent would also help ensure Japan's own safety.

Catch the exclusive conversation with Shinzo Abe on WION's Global Leadership Series, tonight at 2030 IST (8:30 pm).

Japan, which is the only country to have suffered through a nuclear attack, has for over a decade adhered to three non-nuclear principles; that it will not create, acquire, or allow nuclear weapons on its soil.

However, Abe said that Japan should now cast off the taboos surrounding the possession of nuclear weapons following the war in Europe.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-on-the-sidelines-of-quad-summit-2022-former-japanese-pm-shizo-abe-talks-to-wion-481752">Exclusive | On the sidelines of Quad Summit 2022, former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe talks to WION</a>

“We need to understand how security is maintained around the world and not consider it taboo to have an open discussion."

Abe's suggestion was quickly rejected by the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who said that given Japan's non-nuclear principles the idea is unacceptable.

Watch WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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">here</a>.

As leaders of the four QUAD nation members met in Tokyo for the fourth meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, WION's Managing editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay had an exclusive conversation with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

As leaders of the four QUAD nation members met in Tokyo for the fourth meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, WION's Managing editor Palki Sharma Upadhyay had an exclusive conversation with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Speaking on the sidelines of the summit that took place on Tuesday (May 24), Abe talked about his country's nuclear policies and the prospect of hosting nuclear weapons for its ally the United States. In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the growing Chinese aggression towards Taiwan, Abe had earlier in February of this year suggested that Tokyo should consider hosting nuclear weapons. When asked about his suggestion that Japan should host US nukes, Abe said "I think there is a strong alliance between US and Japan when it comes to the security of Japan, specifically with regards to the nuclear deterrence power US holds" Watch | Is Japan open to hosting US nuclear weapons? Japan's longest-serving PM Shinzo Abe speaks to WION He added that there is a need to ensure that the system needs to be updated, and refined over time, but that a nuclear deterrent would also help ensure Japan's own safety. Catch the exclusive conversation with Shinzo Abe on WION's Global Leadership Series, tonight at 2030 IST (8:30 pm). Japan, which is the only country to have suffered through a nuclear attack, has for over a decade adhered to three non-nuclear principles; that it will not create, acquire, or allow nuclear weapons on its soil. However, Abe said that Japan should now cast off the taboos surrounding the possession of nuclear weapons following the war in Europe. Also read | Exclusive | On the sidelines of Quad Summit 2022, former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe talks to WION “We need to understand how security is maintained around the world and not consider it taboo to have an open discussion." Abe's suggestion was quickly rejected by the current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who said that given Japan's non-nuclear principles the idea is unacceptable. 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.

Exclusive | Will Japan host US nukes? Here's what former PM Shinzo Abe has to say

As the head of states from Australia, India, Japan and the United States gathered for a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue group (QUAD), WION talked to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The exclusive conversation took place on the margins of the Tokyo Quad Summit as part of WION's Global Leadership Series.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-day-after-defending-taiwan-by-force-comment-biden-says-no-change-to-policy-of-strategic-ambiguity-481720" hreflang="en">A day after 'defending Taiwan by force' comment, Biden says no change to policy of strategic ambiguity</a>

During this exclusive interview, a wide range of topics were discussed, including the Indo-Pacific and Taiwan, as well as Japan's special relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is one of the founders of the QUAD alliance, spoke with Palki Sharma Upadhyay, WION's Managing Editor, about US President Joe Biden's stance on Taiwan and defending it by force.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Former Japan PM <a href="https://twitter.com/AbeShinzo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AbeShinzo</a> opens up on special relationship with Indian PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SaroyaHem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SaroyaHem</a> brings you this report by <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QuadSummit2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QuadSummit2022</a> 
 
Watch more: <a href="https://t.co/AXC5qRcEPB">https://t.co/AXC5qRcEPB</a> <a href="https://t.co/58u1lg80ty">pic.twitter.com/58u1lg80ty</a>
— WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1529017658015813632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The former Prime Minister of Japan had an interesting reaction to Biden's statement. He said that as per him the statement was by design, adding that the US President said what he did because he wanted to send out a message.

Local newspapers have described Biden as gaffe-prone. The White House also had to roll back the statement, adding that Washington's policy on Taiwan remains unchanged.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quad-summit-2022-maritime-security-initiative-to-track-dark-shipping-in-indo-pacific-481715" hreflang="en">Quad Summit 2022: Maritime security initiative to track ‘dark shipping’ in Indo-Pacific</a>

Talking about the possibility of China invading the island nation, Shinzo Abe said that he believes America's policy vis-à-vis Taiwan is undergoing a shift.

The exclusive interview will be aired at 2030 IST (8:30 pm). Stay tuned.

Watch WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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">here</a>.

As the head of states from Australia, India, Japan and the United States gathered for a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue group (QUAD), WION talked to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

As the head of states from Australia, India, Japan and the United States gathered for a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue group (QUAD), WION talked to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The exclusive conversation took place on the margins of the Tokyo Quad Summit as part of WION's Global Leadership Series. Also read | A day after 'defending Taiwan by force' comment, Biden says no change to policy of strategic ambiguity During this exclusive interview, a wide range of topics were discussed, including the Indo-Pacific and Taiwan, as well as Japan's special relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is one of the founders of the QUAD alliance, spoke with Palki Sharma Upadhyay, WION's Managing Editor, about US President Joe Biden's stance on Taiwan and defending it by force. Former Japan PM @AbeShinzo opens up on special relationship with Indian PM @narendramodi@SaroyaHem brings you this report by @palkisu#QuadSummit2022 Watch more: https://t.co/AXC5qRcEPB pic.twitter.com/58u1lg80ty — WION (@WIONews) May 24, 2022 × The former Prime Minister of Japan had an interesting reaction to Biden's statement. He said that as per him the statement was by design, adding that the US President said what he did because he wanted to send out a message. Local newspapers have described Biden as gaffe-prone. The White House also had to roll back the statement, adding that Washington's policy on Taiwan remains unchanged. Also read | Quad Summit 2022: Maritime security initiative to track ‘dark shipping’ in Indo-Pacific Talking about the possibility of China invading the island nation, Shinzo Abe said that he believes America's policy vis-à-vis Taiwan is undergoing a shift. The exclusive interview will be aired at 2030 IST (8:30 pm). Stay tuned. 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.

Exclusive | On the sidelines of Quad Summit 2022, former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe talks to WION

Just a day after making a remark about his country's readiness to use force to defend Taiwan against Chinese invasion, United States President Joe Biden noted that Washington's "strategic ambiguity" policy remains in effect.

While the United States is bound by law to give self-ruled Taiwan the ability to defend itself, it has traditionally adopted a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily to safeguard Taiwan in the case of a Chinese attack.

A convention that Biden appeared to violate on Monday.

Watch:&nbsp;China blows up replica of Taiwan's naval base

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-china-blows-up-replica-of-taiwans-naval-base-478751/embed" width="560"></iframe>

However, when asked on Tuesday if the United States' policy on Taiwan had changed, Biden replied, "No."

"The policy has not changed at all. I stated that when I made my statement yesterday," he remarked after a round of discussions with his Quad colleagues.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-says-would-be-willing-to-use-force-to-defend-taiwan-481385">Joe Biden says would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan</a>

The subject of Taiwan loomed large over a meeting in Tokyo of leaders from the Quad nations of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, who reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific area in the face of a more assertive China.

Taiwan is regarded by China as an inalienable part of its territory, and differences with Washington over Taiwan are the most sensitive issue in its relationship with the US.

Biden's remark seems to have angered Beijing, which said that Washington was "playing with fire."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-leaked-video-shows-chinese-commanders-devising-taiwan-invasion-plan-481477">Watch: Leaked video shows Chinese commanders discussing Taiwan invasion plan</a>

China has no place for compromise or concessions on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity, said a representative for the Chinese foreign ministry.

Some critics suggest that Biden misspoke or made yet another gaffe. Others believe that his remark carries no formal guarantee of security and only stands to risk accelerating Beijing's desire to act.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

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">here</a>.

Just a day after making a remark about his country's readiness to use force to defend Taiwan against Chinese invasion, United States President Joe Biden noted that Washington's "strategic ambiguity" policy remains in effect.

Just a day after making a remark about his country's readiness to use force to defend Taiwan against Chinese invasion, United States President Joe Biden noted that Washington's "strategic ambiguity" policy remains in effect. While the United States is bound by law to give self-ruled Taiwan the ability to defend itself, it has traditionally adopted a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether it would intervene militarily to safeguard Taiwan in the case of a Chinese attack. A convention that Biden appeared to violate on Monday. Watch: China blows up replica of Taiwan's naval base However, when asked on Tuesday if the United States' policy on Taiwan had changed, Biden replied, "No." "The policy has not changed at all. I stated that when I made my statement yesterday," he remarked after a round of discussions with his Quad colleagues. Also read | Joe Biden says would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan The subject of Taiwan loomed large over a meeting in Tokyo of leaders from the Quad nations of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, who reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific area in the face of a more assertive China. Taiwan is regarded by China as an inalienable part of its territory, and differences with Washington over Taiwan are the most sensitive issue in its relationship with the US. Biden's remark seems to have angered Beijing, which said that Washington was "playing with fire." Also read | Watch: Leaked video shows Chinese commanders discussing Taiwan invasion plan China has no place for compromise or concessions on issues concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity, said a representative for the Chinese foreign ministry. Some critics suggest that Biden misspoke or made yet another gaffe. Others believe that his remark carries no formal guarantee of security and only stands to risk accelerating Beijing's desire to act. (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.

A day after 'defending Taiwan by force' comment, Biden says no change to policy of strategic ambiguity

Biden tended to both business and security interests on the third day of his South Korean tour as he wrapped up his first leg of his five-day Asia visit

Biden's South Korea visit: Hyundai to open new factory in Georgia

joe-biden

Joe Biden, News on Joe Biden, stories on Joe Biden, articles on Joe Biden, Joe Biden stories at Wion, Joe Biden news, Joe Biden latest news

joe biden