At least eight people were rushed to hospitals after being injured when an explosion Tuesday tore through the top floor of a Chicago apartment building.

At least eight injured in Chicago apartment building explosion

On Tuesday (Sept 20), nearly 50 people were accused of engaging in a massive COVID-19 fraud scam involving reportedly stealing up to $250 million from a federal initiative designed to feed children in Minneapolis.&nbsp;

Atty. General Merrick Garland, during a press conference, said that this is probably the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to dat.

The US Attorney for Minnesota described the plan as a "brazen scheme of staggering proportions," The New York Post reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-biden-says-covid-19-pandemic-in-us-is-over-517520">Also read |&nbsp;President Biden says COVID-19 pandemic in US 'is over'</a>

As per federal authorities, 47 defendants carried off the scam by taking advantage of loosened rules and oversight during the pandemic. The government accused all of them of using the money to buy expensive cars and homes in Minnesota, Ohio, and even Kenya and Turkey.

Authorities claim that the Minnesota-based charity Feeding Our Future took advantage of the shift in coronavirus&nbsp;regulations that permitted non-profit restaurants to participate in student meal assistance programmes.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/east-asia/hong-kong-flags-covid-19-quarantine-policy-change-wants-an-orderly-opening-up-517946">Also read |&nbsp;Hong Kong flags COVID-19 quarantine policy change, wants an orderly opening-up</a>

However, as per the accusations, Aimee Bock, the charity's founder, founded a network of individuals and groups to perpetrate as many as 250 fraudulent meals intended to feed children during the pandemic.

Prosecutors in a statement said, "These sites … fraudulently claimed to be serving meals to thousands of children a day within just days or weeks of being formed," The New York Post reported.&nbsp;Prosecutors additionally stated that a roster&nbsp;was made using the fake names of&nbsp;kids.

The defendants are charged with fabricating fake food receipts for food transactions and as well as attendance records that include names of kids who were served food.

(With inputs from agencies)

On Tuesday (Sept 20), nearly 50 people were accused of engaging in a massive COVID-19 fraud scam involving reportedly stealing up to $250 million from a federal initiative designed to feed children in Minneapolis.

On Tuesday (Sept 20), nearly 50 people were accused of engaging in a massive COVID-19 fraud scam involving reportedly stealing up to $250 million from a federal initiative designed to feed children in Minneapolis. Atty. General Merrick Garland, during a press conference, said that this is probably the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to dat. The US Attorney for Minnesota described the plan as a "brazen scheme of staggering proportions," The New York Post reported. Also read | President Biden says COVID-19 pandemic in US 'is over' As per federal authorities, 47 defendants carried off the scam by taking advantage of loosened rules and oversight during the pandemic. The government accused all of them of using the money to buy expensive cars and homes in Minnesota, Ohio, and even Kenya and Turkey. Authorities claim that the Minnesota-based charity Feeding Our Future took advantage of the shift in coronavirus regulations that permitted non-profit restaurants to participate in student meal assistance programmes. Also read | Hong Kong flags COVID-19 quarantine policy change, wants an orderly opening-up However, as per the accusations, Aimee Bock, the charity's founder, founded a network of individuals and groups to perpetrate as many as 250 fraudulent meals intended to feed children during the pandemic. Prosecutors in a statement said, "These sites … fraudulently claimed to be serving meals to thousands of children a day within just days or weeks of being formed," The New York Post reported. Prosecutors additionally stated that a roster was made using the fake names of kids. The defendants are charged with fabricating fake food receipts for food transactions and as well as attendance records that include names of kids who were served food. (With inputs from agencies)

Federal authorities charges 47 in Minneapolis in $250 million Covid fraud scheme 

Sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise across the United States. A trend that has alarmed Health officials and Sexual Health Advocates, they argue the country needs to do more to stop the spread of STDs.

Surge in sexually transmitted diseases in US

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi demanded US "guarantees" that it will not withdraw again from a nuclear deal if it is revived ahead of his debut visit to the United Nations.

Iranian President Raisi demands US 'guarantees' on nuclear deal

American Express is looking to hire around 1,500 people for technology roles, shrugging off fears of an economic slowdown that has prompted other US financial companies to cut jobs in recent months.

World Business Watch: American Express to hire 1,500 tech staff by year-end

Wall Street’s major indexes ended a choppy session on Monday as investors looked to this week’s policy meeting at the Federal Reserve and how aggressively it will raise prices.

World Business Watch: Wall Street ends choppy session higher with firm focus on Fed

Taliban regime in Afghanistan on Monday (September 19) freed Mark Freirich, an American engineer in a prisoner swap. US in turn released Taliban-linked Afghan tribal leader Bashir Noorzai. US President Joe Biden granted clemency to the convicted drug smuggler who was detained since 2005.

Freirich was abducted in 2020 while working in Afghanistan. The prisoner exchange took place at Kabul airport.

Biden said Frerichs' release was the culmination of work by US officials and other governments. His administration has been under pressure from the families of Americans detained by hostile foreign governments and Biden says he wants to increase efforts for their release.

"Bringing the negotiations that led to Mark’s freedom to a successful resolution required difficult decisions, which I did not take lightly," Biden said in a statement, without confirming the release of Noorzai.

Reuters quoted an unnamed US official who said that Noorzai was given clemency by Biden.

Noorzai was detained under charges of drug smuggling of more than USD 50 million.

He was found guilty following a jury trial in New York in September 2008 and sentenced to life in prison in 2009.

Noorzai's lawyer had denied that his client was a drug dealer and argued that the charges should be dismissed because US&nbsp;officials duped him into believing he would not be arrested.

Frerichs is an engineer and US&nbsp;Navy veteran from Lombard, Illinois, who worked in Afghanistan for a decade on development projects. He was kidnapped in February 2020.

(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>.

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Taliban regime in Afghanistan on Monday (September 19) freed Mark Freirich, an American engineer in a prisoner swap. US in turn released Taliban-linked Afghan tribal leader Bashir Noorzai.

Taliban regime in Afghanistan on Monday (September 19) freed Mark Freirich, an American engineer in a prisoner swap. US in turn released Taliban-linked Afghan tribal leader Bashir Noorzai. US President Joe Biden granted clemency to the convicted drug smuggler who was detained since 2005. Freirich was abducted in 2020 while working in Afghanistan. The prisoner exchange took place at Kabul airport. Biden said Frerichs' release was the culmination of work by US officials and other governments. His administration has been under pressure from the families of Americans detained by hostile foreign governments and Biden says he wants to increase efforts for their release. "Bringing the negotiations that led to Mark’s freedom to a successful resolution required difficult decisions, which I did not take lightly," Biden said in a statement, without confirming the release of Noorzai. Reuters quoted an unnamed US official who said that Noorzai was given clemency by Biden. Noorzai was detained under charges of drug smuggling of more than USD 50 million. He was found guilty following a jury trial in New York in September 2008 and sentenced to life in prison in 2009. Noorzai's lawyer had denied that his client was a drug dealer and argued that the charges should be dismissed because US officials duped him into believing he would not be arrested. Frerichs is an engineer and US Navy veteran from Lombard, Illinois, who worked in Afghanistan for a decade on development projects. He was kidnapped in February 2020. (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 ×

Taliban release US engineer in a prisoner swap

A sharp rise in the cases of common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States, in 2021 has reportedly alarmed some health officials and sexual health advocates. According to the data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of infections has increased for several STDs including, gonorrhoea and syphilis while the cases of HIV have also surged.&nbsp;

The cases of infections like syphilis rose by 26% between 2020 and 2021, with the data indicating at least 52,354 cases of primary and secondary syphilis that were reported last year. This was the highest rate of infections recorded since 1991, while the total number of cases reached its highest since 1948. This is being compared to the 7% rise in syphilis infections between 2019 and 2020.&nbsp;

According to the data from CDC, the rate of syphilis infections is the greatest among American Indian and Alaska Native persons. While men who have sex with other men are disproportionately affected by these infections. There was an overall 4.4% of increase from 2020 to 2021, in the rates of the three common STDs including chlamydia and gonorrhoea.&nbsp;

Syphilis particularly can be a concerning infection, as the bacterial disease can surface as genital sores but can worsen over time with severe symptoms and death if left untreated. On the other hand, there was a 16% rise in the cases of HIV last year, reports indicate. “We must work collectively to rebuild, innovate, and expand STI prevention in the US – to close existing gaps, create lasting change and realize this vision,” said CDC’s director of STD prevention, Leandro Mena, in a statement.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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CDC STD Director, Dr. Leandro Mena, opens <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STDConf22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STDConf22</a> by sharing key principles for turning the STI epidemic around: 
• Increase accountability – CDC &amp; STI programs can’t do it alone 
• Re-envision STI prevention services 
• Drive innovation <a href="https://t.co/X3ASvwDXDc">pic.twitter.com/X3ASvwDXDc</a>
— CDC STD (@CDCSTD) <a href="https://twitter.com/CDCSTD/status/1571893645783044097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Mena’s remarks were made Monday, during the 2022 STD Prevention Conference, by the CDC and the National Coalition of STD Directors. The conference will be held virtually this year between September 19-22, during which experts reportedly discuss the ongoing epidemics, emerging research and new prevention efforts in the US.&nbsp;

The cases of syphilis had reached a historic low in the early 2000s, however, since then they have increased almost every year. Additionally, the global outbreak of monkeypox has worsened the situation already deteriorating situation and has further highlighted the gaps in the system concerning the diseases that spread mostly through sex. The executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, David Harvey has reportedly called the situation “out of control”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/std-cases-in-us-including-syphilis-rose-during-pandemic-cdc-report-470645">Cases of syphilis, other STDs rose in US during Covid pandemic: CDC report</a>

Mena said that experts are also working on new approaches, such as home-test kits for some STDs which would make it easier for people to know if they have any STDs and take necessary precautions to stop the spread of the infections.&nbsp;

During an interview, Mike Saag, an infectious disease expert at the University of Alabama in Birmingham said, “It’s pretty simple. More sexually transmitted infections occur when people are having more unprotected sex.” Reportedly, he indicated that the core part of any effort to stop the spread of STDs must encourage and increase the use of condoms.

Experts have also indicated that there can be several causes for this increase in STDs, some attributing it to inadequate funding which has led to less testing and prevention efforts and the spread may have gotten worse especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when there was a delay in diagnosis and treatment.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A sharp rise in the cases of common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States, in 2021 has reportedly alarmed some health officials and sexual health advocates.

A sharp rise in the cases of common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States, in 2021 has reportedly alarmed some health officials and sexual health advocates. According to the data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of infections has increased for several STDs including, gonorrhoea and syphilis while the cases of HIV have also surged. The cases of infections like syphilis rose by 26% between 2020 and 2021, with the data indicating at least 52,354 cases of primary and secondary syphilis that were reported last year. This was the highest rate of infections recorded since 1991, while the total number of cases reached its highest since 1948. This is being compared to the 7% rise in syphilis infections between 2019 and 2020. According to the data from CDC, the rate of syphilis infections is the greatest among American Indian and Alaska Native persons. While men who have sex with other men are disproportionately affected by these infections. There was an overall 4.4% of increase from 2020 to 2021, in the rates of the three common STDs including chlamydia and gonorrhoea. Syphilis particularly can be a concerning infection, as the bacterial disease can surface as genital sores but can worsen over time with severe symptoms and death if left untreated. On the other hand, there was a 16% rise in the cases of HIV last year, reports indicate. “We must work collectively to rebuild, innovate, and expand STI prevention in the US – to close existing gaps, create lasting change and realize this vision,” said CDC’s director of STD prevention, Leandro Mena, in a statement. CDC STD Director, Dr. Leandro Mena, opens #STDConf22 by sharing key principles for turning the STI epidemic around: • Increase accountability – CDC & STI programs can’t do it alone • Re-envision STI prevention services • Drive innovation pic.twitter.com/X3ASvwDXDc — CDC STD (@CDCSTD) September 19, 2022 × Mena’s remarks were made Monday, during the 2022 STD Prevention Conference, by the CDC and the National Coalition of STD Directors. The conference will be held virtually this year between September 19-22, during which experts reportedly discuss the ongoing epidemics, emerging research and new prevention efforts in the US. The cases of syphilis had reached a historic low in the early 2000s, however, since then they have increased almost every year. Additionally, the global outbreak of monkeypox has worsened the situation already deteriorating situation and has further highlighted the gaps in the system concerning the diseases that spread mostly through sex. The executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, David Harvey has reportedly called the situation “out of control”. ALSO READ: Cases of syphilis, other STDs rose in US during Covid pandemic: CDC report Mena said that experts are also working on new approaches, such as home-test kits for some STDs which would make it easier for people to know if they have any STDs and take necessary precautions to stop the spread of the infections. During an interview, Mike Saag, an infectious disease expert at the University of Alabama in Birmingham said, “It’s pretty simple. More sexually transmitted infections occur when people are having more unprotected sex.” Reportedly, he indicated that the core part of any effort to stop the spread of STDs must encourage and increase the use of condoms. Experts have also indicated that there can be several causes for this increase in STDs, some attributing it to inadequate funding which has led to less testing and prevention efforts and the spread may have gotten worse especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when there was a delay in diagnosis and treatment. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Out of control’: 26% rise in cases of syphilis and other STDs in US

United States&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken will seek to establish a new community of Atlantic countries on Tuesday by investing an additional $100 million in programmes that promote the environment and marine security, as reported by AFP.&nbsp;

Blinken will collaborate with counterparts from Angola, Brazil, Ghana, Portugal, and Senegal in New York for the UN General Assembly as part of a new alliance of about 10 nations, a senior State Department official said.&nbsp;

"The United States hopes to work with Atlantic countries to develop a new framework for regular Atlantic cooperation, through which our countries can establish and carry out a shared approach to advancing our shared goals in the region," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The programme comes at a time when President Joe Biden's administration is focusing more on international environmental cooperation, especially ocean health.&nbsp;

The Pacific is already a top concern for the government since it is thought that with China's rapid ascent, there could be war there.&nbsp;

The new Atlantic grouping, according to the official, will work to create a "sustainable ocean economy" and support ocean health, especially by addressing climate change and marine habitats.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-controlled-zaporizhzhia-region-may-stage-referendum-to-join-russia-in-coming-days-518094">Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia region may stage referendum to join Russia in 'coming days'</a>

Additionally, it will consider how to strengthen marine governance, such as by enhancing collaboration on search and rescue missions and countering piracy.&nbsp;

The Biden administration will invest an additional $100 million in the endeavour the next year, subject to legislative approval, on top of the $400 million it currently spends a year on maritime activities in the Atlantic, the official said.&nbsp;

The project involves Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro — a business ally and longtime sceptic of climate change — is behind in the polls as he runs for re-election weeks before elections in the Atlantic giant.

(with inputs from agencies)

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United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will seek to establish a new community of Atlantic countries on Tuesday by investing an additional $100 million in programmes that promote the environment and marine security, as reported by AFP.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will seek to establish a new community of Atlantic countries on Tuesday by investing an additional $100 million in programmes that promote the environment and marine security, as reported by AFP. Blinken will collaborate with counterparts from Angola, Brazil, Ghana, Portugal, and Senegal in New York for the UN General Assembly as part of a new alliance of about 10 nations, a senior State Department official said. "The United States hopes to work with Atlantic countries to develop a new framework for regular Atlantic cooperation, through which our countries can establish and carry out a shared approach to advancing our shared goals in the region," the official said on condition of anonymity. The programme comes at a time when President Joe Biden's administration is focusing more on international environmental cooperation, especially ocean health. The Pacific is already a top concern for the government since it is thought that with China's rapid ascent, there could be war there. The new Atlantic grouping, according to the official, will work to create a "sustainable ocean economy" and support ocean health, especially by addressing climate change and marine habitats. Also Read: Russia-controlled Zaporizhzhia region may stage referendum to join Russia in 'coming days' Additionally, it will consider how to strengthen marine governance, such as by enhancing collaboration on search and rescue missions and countering piracy. The Biden administration will invest an additional $100 million in the endeavour the next year, subject to legislative approval, on top of the $400 million it currently spends a year on maritime activities in the Atlantic, the official said. The project involves Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro — a business ally and longtime sceptic of climate change — is behind in the polls as he runs for re-election weeks before elections in the Atlantic giant. (with inputs from agencies)

US proposes new Atlantic Ocean cooperation with $100 mn in  initiatives

Former President Donald Trump appeared to more fully embrace QAnon on Saturday, playing a song at a political rally in Ohio that prompted attendees to respond with a salute in reference to the cultlike conspiracy theory’s theme song.

While speaking in Youngstown in support of J.D. Vance, whom he has endorsed as Ohio’s Republican nominee for the Senate, Trump delivered a dark address about the decline of the U.S. over music that was all but identical to a song called “Wwg1wga” — an abbreviation for the QAnon slogan, “Where we go one, we go all.”

As Trump spoke, scores of people in the crowd raised fingers in the air in an apparent reference to the “1” in what they thought was the song’s title. It was the first time in the memory of some Trump aides that such a display had occurred at one of his rallies.

Aides to Trump said the song played at the rally was called “Mirrors,” and it was selected for use in a video that Trump played at conservative meeting CPAC and posted on his social media site, Truth Social. But it sounds strikingly like the QAnon theme song.

Taylor Budowich, a spokesperson for Trump, said, “The fake news, in a pathetic attempt to create controversy and divide America, is brewing up another conspiracy about a royalty-free song from a popular audio library platform.” 
 
Last week Trump posted an image of himself on Truth Social wearing a Q pin on his lapel and under a slogan reading “The Storm is Coming.” Adherents to QAnon believe that the “storm” is the moment when Trump will retake power after vanquishing his enemies, having them arrested and potentially executed on live TV. 
 
ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-storm-is-coming-donald-trump-amplifies-qanon-conspiracy-theories-516950">'The storm is coming': Donald Trump amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories</a> 
 
Trump’s speech in Ohio had an apocalyptic tone and seemed intended to delegitimize officials in the FBI and Justice Department who are involved in investigations into both his handling of sensitive government documents removed from the White House and the role that he and allies played in trying to overturn the 2020 election.

Addressing the conflict in Ukraine, Trump also warned that the United States “may end up in World War III.” Assailing reporters, as he often does, he said that there was “no fair press any longer” and repeated his frequent refrain that the news media is “truly the enemy of the people.”

Former President Donald Trump appeared to more fully embrace QAnon on Saturday, playing a song at a political rally in Ohio that prompted attendees to respond with a salute in reference to the cultlike conspiracy theory’s theme song.

Former President Donald Trump appeared to more fully embrace QAnon on Saturday, playing a song at a political rally in Ohio that prompted attendees to respond with a salute in reference to the cultlike conspiracy theory’s theme song. While speaking in Youngstown in support of J.D. Vance, whom he has endorsed as Ohio’s Republican nominee for the Senate, Trump delivered a dark address about the decline of the U.S. over music that was all but identical to a song called “Wwg1wga” — an abbreviation for the QAnon slogan, “Where we go one, we go all.” As Trump spoke, scores of people in the crowd raised fingers in the air in an apparent reference to the “1” in what they thought was the song’s title. It was the first time in the memory of some Trump aides that such a display had occurred at one of his rallies. Aides to Trump said the song played at the rally was called “Mirrors,” and it was selected for use in a video that Trump played at conservative meeting CPAC and posted on his social media site, Truth Social. But it sounds strikingly like the QAnon theme song. Taylor Budowich, a spokesperson for Trump, said, “The fake news, in a pathetic attempt to create controversy and divide America, is brewing up another conspiracy about a royalty-free song from a popular audio library platform.” Last week Trump posted an image of himself on Truth Social wearing a Q pin on his lapel and under a slogan reading “The Storm is Coming.” Adherents to QAnon believe that the “storm” is the moment when Trump will retake power after vanquishing his enemies, having them arrested and potentially executed on live TV. ALSO READ: 'The storm is coming': Donald Trump amplifies QAnon conspiracy theories Trump’s speech in Ohio had an apocalyptic tone and seemed intended to delegitimize officials in the FBI and Justice Department who are involved in investigations into both his handling of sensitive government documents removed from the White House and the role that he and allies played in trying to overturn the 2020 election. Addressing the conflict in Ukraine, Trump also warned that the United States “may end up in World War III.” Assailing reporters, as he often does, he said that there was “no fair press any longer” and repeated his frequent refrain that the news media is “truly the enemy of the people.”

Trump rally plays music resembling QAnon song, and crowds react

Last week, on Wednesday, an 89-year-old woman and her 12-year-old grandson were attacked by two pit bulls at their home west of Denver, said family members. The former succumbed to her injuries and passed away on Sunday while the latter has been released from the hospital and is recovering, the media reported on Monday.&nbsp;

According to the police, the two were attacked on September 15&nbsp;afternoon and when the officers arrived at the scene of the crime they saw blood outside, leading into the house. They found the woman in the backyard being mauled by the dogs and while they used stun guns and less-lethal shotguns the police were unable to separate the dogs from the victim without an additional number of officers.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-pitbull-mauls-woman-to-death-owner-drops-off-dog-to-municipality-van-497358">Watch| Pitbull mauls woman to death, owner drops off dog to municipality van</a>

Reportedly the victims’ names have not been released. The boy managed to escape the attack and was seeking refuge at the neighbour’s house. Subsequently, they were both airlifted, and the boy was sent to a local children's hospital while the woman was admitted to the hospital with critical injuries. Both the dogs have since been euthanized, said the police. Notably, the City of Gold does not have any laws for banning certain breeds of dogs.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Last week, on Wednesday, an 89-year-old woman and her 12-year-old grandson were attacked by two pit bulls at their home west of Denver, said family members. The former succumbed to her injuries and passed away on Sunday while the latter has been released from the hospital and is recovering, the media reported on Monday.

Last week, on Wednesday, an 89-year-old woman and her 12-year-old grandson were attacked by two pit bulls at their home west of Denver, said family members. The former succumbed to her injuries and passed away on Sunday while the latter has been released from the hospital and is recovering, the media reported on Monday. According to the police, the two were attacked on September 15 afternoon and when the officers arrived at the scene of the crime they saw blood outside, leading into the house. They found the woman in the backyard being mauled by the dogs and while they used stun guns and less-lethal shotguns the police were unable to separate the dogs from the victim without an additional number of officers. ALSO WATCH: Watch| Pitbull mauls woman to death, owner drops off dog to municipality van Reportedly the victims’ names have not been released. The boy managed to escape the attack and was seeking refuge at the neighbour’s house. Subsequently, they were both airlifted, and the boy was sent to a local children's hospital while the woman was admitted to the hospital with critical injuries. Both the dogs have since been euthanized, said the police. Notably, the City of Gold does not have any laws for banning certain breeds of dogs. (With inputs from agencies)

US: An 89-year-old woman dies after being mauled by pit bulls in Denver

Taking controversial remarks in a Sunday night television interview, President Biden said US forces will defend Taiwan in the events the island is attacked by china. It's his most explicit statement on the issue drawing an angry response from China.

Biden: US to defend Taiwan if China attacks

An American navy veteran detained in Afghanistan since 2020 was released by the Taliban in exchange for an ally who spent 17 years in a US jail for heroin smuggling.

WION Fineprint | Taliban, United States swap prisoners | Aghan druglord swapped for US Navy veteran

Iranian president Ibrahim Raisi has demanded guarantees from the United States that it will not withdraw again from a nuclear deal if revived. He said, he can't trust the United States.

'Can't trust the US,' says Iranian president Ibrahim Raisi on nuclear deal

Taking controversial remarks in a Sunday night television interview, President Biden said US forces will defend Taiwan in the events the island is attacked by China. It's his most explicit statement on the issue drawing an angry response from China.

US would defend Taiwan in 'unprecedented attack' says US President Joe Biden

The US has offered to break a truce between Armenia and Azerbaijan - the countries involved in violent clashes last week that killed 286 people on both sides. The US' Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday, hosted foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the sidelines of UNGA meet.

US' Antony Blinken hosts Azerbaijan, Armenia delegations

The world's largest economy, the United States of America is struggling with a 40-year high inflation. US federal reserve is poised to unleash another interest rate hike on Wednesday after the latest data showed a worrying US inflation picture.

World Business Watch: US Fed reserve set for another rate hike on Wednesday

Russia has completed installation of Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft on Sunday, on Launch Pad 31 (Vostok) of the Baikonur Space Center. A Soyuz-2.1a rocket carrying the Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft will blast off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on September 21.

Russia completes Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft installation at launchpad

The ties between United States and Russia are at their lowest due to the ongoing war in Ukraine but for their space program it seems the battle on the ground is not having any impact on the program.

US-Russia: Foes on ground, Friends in Space?

Texas governor has sent another busload of migrants to Kamala Harris's home in Washington DC. As per reports, 50 migrants have arrived including a month-old-baby.

US: 2nd batch of migrants sent to Kamala Harris's home; fight over border security takes ugly turn

US President Joe Biden has now stated that US forces will defend the Taiwan from the 'unprecedented attack' from China but would not encourage independence as it is Taiwan's own decision. WION's correspondent Susan Tehrani brings you more.

WION Dispatch | 'Will defend Taiwan but not encourage independence,' says Joe Biden

The Covid pandemic in the United States is over, according to US President Joe Biden in an interview&nbsp;on Sunday.

The remarks were indicative of the current state of much of US society, given that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepali-trader-dies-by-suicide-after-incurring-loss-due-to-china-border-blockade-517473">Covid restrictions</a> have been largely lifted nationwide and travel has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

"The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with Covid. We're still doing a lot of work on it..., but the pandemic is over," Biden told CBS news programme&nbsp;"60 Minutes" in an interview taped as he walked the floor of the Detroit Auto Show last week.

"If you notice, no one's wearing masks," Biden said, gesturing around the hall.

"Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it's changing."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xi-jinping-warned-of-investor-fallout-by-joe-biden-if-china-backs-russias-war-517490">Biden warns Jinping, says US forces would help defend Taiwan against China</a>

However, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-let-up-in-taking-back-ukrainian-towns-volodymyr-zelensky-517507">president's</a> comments come just a few weeks after his government requested billions of dollars in financing from Congress to continue its testing and vaccination operations through a projected fall wave.

The self-described "car guy" Biden's trip to Michigan last week raised awareness of the Detroit event, which is being conducted for the first time since 2019.

Biden emphasised recent legislation approved to promote US automakers' transition to electric vehicles in a keynote speech, as well as significant new investments in semiconductor production.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Covid pandemic in the United States is over, according to US President Joe Biden in an interview on Sunday. The remarks were indicative of the current state of much of US society, given that Covid restrictions have been largely lifted nationwide and travel has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The Covid pandemic in the United States is over, according to US President Joe Biden in an interview on Sunday. The remarks were indicative of the current state of much of US society, given that Covid restrictions have been largely lifted nationwide and travel has returned to pre-pandemic levels. "The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with Covid. We're still doing a lot of work on it..., but the pandemic is over," Biden told CBS news programme "60 Minutes" in an interview taped as he walked the floor of the Detroit Auto Show last week. "If you notice, no one's wearing masks," Biden said, gesturing around the hall. "Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it's changing." Also read | Biden warns Jinping, says US forces would help defend Taiwan against China However, the president's comments come just a few weeks after his government requested billions of dollars in financing from Congress to continue its testing and vaccination operations through a projected fall wave. The self-described "car guy" Biden's trip to Michigan last week raised awareness of the Detroit event, which is being conducted for the first time since 2019. Biden emphasised recent legislation approved to promote US automakers' transition to electric vehicles in a keynote speech, as well as significant new investments in semiconductor production. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION live TV here:

President Biden says COVID-19 pandemic in US 'is over'

A top Taliban official named Haji Bashir Noorzai has been released after decades in American custody and arrived in Kabul on Monday, according to a Taliban spokesperson.

He was one of the final Afghans detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, according to sources in the Afghan state media.

According to the Taliban's acting foreign minister, the US freed the official on Monday in exchange for the Taliban releasing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-academy-award-winner-woody-allen-planning-to-retire-at-86-from-filmmaking-to-focus-on-first-novel-517392">American</a> engineer Mark Frerichs.

"Honorable Haji Bashir was released after two decades of imprisonment and arrived in Kabul today," said Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesperson based in Doha, in a Tweet.

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The&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-world-leaders-wholl-be-attending-queen-elizabeth-iis-funeral-517300">Afghan</a> tribal chief named&nbsp;Bashir Noorzai was detained and accused of bringing more than $50 million worth of heroin into the United States.&nbsp;

Later, Noorzai's attorney denied that his client was a drug dealer and argued that the accusations against him should be dropped since American government agents had deceived him into thinking he would not be detained.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/where-is-masood-azhar-pakistan-says-ungoverned-spaces-within-afghanistan-safe-havens-for-terrorists-516731">Where is Masood Azhar? Pakistan says 'ungoverned spaces' in Afghanistan safe havens for terrorists</a>

At a press conference in Kabul, acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi informed the media that they had traded Frerichs on Monday morning and received Haji Bashir Noorzai, who had spent decades in American detention after being accused of drug offences.

Engineer Frerichs, a veteran of the U.S. Navy from Lombard, Illinois, spent ten years working on development projects in Afghanistan. He was kidnapped at the start of February 2020.

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Mark Frerichs, a contractor from Illinois, who was kidnapped in January 2020 in the Afghan capital, Kabul has now been released. AP

The swap raises pertinent questions on the Taliban-US re-engagement post&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/killing-of-al-qaeda-leader-taliban-claims-us-drones-used-pakistan-airspace-511105">Ayman al-Zawahiri's killing </a>in July. Additionally, US's bowing down to Taliban's demands and the Taliban's arm-twisting tactics also form important realms of discussion&nbsp;here.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A top Taliban official named Haji Bashir Noorzai has been released after decades in American custody and arrived in Kabul on Monday, according to a Taliban spokesperson.

A top Taliban official named Haji Bashir Noorzai has been released after decades in American custody and arrived in Kabul on Monday, according to a Taliban spokesperson. He was one of the final Afghans detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, according to sources in the Afghan state media. According to the Taliban's acting foreign minister, the US freed the official on Monday in exchange for the Taliban releasing American engineer Mark Frerichs. "Honorable Haji Bashir was released after two decades of imprisonment and arrived in Kabul today," said Mohammad Naeem, a Taliban spokesperson based in Doha, in a Tweet. pic.twitter.com/pWCeTFApfX — AhmadullahMuttaqi.احمدالله متقي (@Ahmadmuttaqi01) September 19, 2022 × The Afghan tribal chief named Bashir Noorzai was detained and accused of bringing more than $50 million worth of heroin into the United States. Later, Noorzai's attorney denied that his client was a drug dealer and argued that the accusations against him should be dropped since American government agents had deceived him into thinking he would not be detained. Also read | Where is Masood Azhar? Pakistan says 'ungoverned spaces' in Afghanistan safe havens for terrorists At a press conference in Kabul, acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi informed the media that they had traded Frerichs on Monday morning and received Haji Bashir Noorzai, who had spent decades in American detention after being accused of drug offences. Engineer Frerichs, a veteran of the U.S. Navy from Lombard, Illinois, spent ten years working on development projects in Afghanistan. He was kidnapped at the start of February 2020. Mark Frerichs, a contractor from Illinois, who was kidnapped in January 2020 in the Afghan capital, Kabul has now been released. AP The swap raises pertinent questions on the Taliban-US re-engagement post Ayman al-Zawahiri's killing in July. Additionally, US's bowing down to Taliban's demands and the Taliban's arm-twisting tactics also form important realms of discussion here. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE here:

Engineer in exchange for narco-terrorist: Taliban-US prisoner swap raises questions over re-engagement

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned what she described as an "illegal" attack by Azerbaijan on Armenia that sparked the worst fighting since their 2020 war. Pelosi was on a three-day visit to Yerevan.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi slams Azerbaijan's 'illegal' attacks during Armenia visit

Taiwanese journalist Paul Huang said that statements like what US President Joe Biden has made helps strengthen public confidence. However, he also said that immediately after the Ukraine war Taiwanese public confidence in US military collapsed.

'It helps strengthen public confidence,' Taiwan's Paul Huang on Biden's 'defend Taiwan' statement

The US vice president's house in Washington, DC, receives another busload of nearly 50 migrants, including a month-old infant, as part of the latest unannounced cross-country transfer by Republican-led states.

The Texas governor, considering most of them to be Venezuelan, dropped off the migrants outside of the Naval Observatory, the traditional residence of Kamala Harris, US Vice President. A similar group of migrants flew to Massachusetts, sent by the Florida governor.

With these transfers, Democratic politicians and immigrant activists demanded to look into possible human trafficking offences. The vice president accused the Republican elected leaders of playing games involving human lives.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dont-dont-dont-biden-warns-putin-to-not-use-nuclear-or-chemical-weapons-against-ukraine-517269">Also read |&nbsp;'Don't. Don't. Don't,' Biden warns Putin to not use nuclear or chemical weapons against Ukraine</a>

In conversation with Vice News, Harris said, "I think it is the height of irresponsibility much less, just frankly a dereliction of duty when you are an elected leader, to play those kinds of games with human life, and human beings, The Guardian reported.

Similar instances of sending migrants to other states and vice president's residences have occurred. Last week, Abbott, Texas's governor, sent three full buses to New York and also sent 100 migrants to Harris's residence on Thursday (Sept 15).

The two chartered planes sent to Massachusets by Florida's governor, including infants, prompted the island's residents to hustle to help with food and other necessities for this unexpected influx of people. Further, Florida's governor, DeSantis, stated that all American communities, not just those near the border with Mexico, should share the load, saying Biden's border strategy was a failure. Abbott also supported and claimed to have sent migrants to "sanctuary cities."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-approval-rating-sees-a-jump-ahead-of-november-midterms-517013">Also read |&nbsp;Biden's approval rating sees a jump ahead of November midterms</a>

On the other hand, the president criticised the Republicans for using people as political props and stated that what they are doing was completely wrong.

According to several immigration organizations, these transfers are misled about their intended destinations, making Republican governors essentially traffickers. Racheal Rollins, US attorney for Massachusetts, promised to look into the matter for possible human trafficking.&nbsp;

Since April, Texas has bussed nearly 8,000 people to Washington, including Harris's residence, with 300 bussed to Chicago and over 2,000 to New York. Arizona also bused over 1,500 migrants to Washington.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The US vice president's house in Washington, DC, receives another busload of nearly 50 migrants, including a month-old infant, as part of the latest unannounced cross-country transfer by Republican-led states.

The US vice president's house in Washington, DC, receives another busload of nearly 50 migrants, including a month-old infant, as part of the latest unannounced cross-country transfer by Republican-led states. The Texas governor, considering most of them to be Venezuelan, dropped off the migrants outside of the Naval Observatory, the traditional residence of Kamala Harris, US Vice President. A similar group of migrants flew to Massachusetts, sent by the Florida governor. With these transfers, Democratic politicians and immigrant activists demanded to look into possible human trafficking offences. The vice president accused the Republican elected leaders of playing games involving human lives. Also read | 'Don't. Don't. Don't,' Biden warns Putin to not use nuclear or chemical weapons against Ukraine In conversation with Vice News, Harris said, "I think it is the height of irresponsibility much less, just frankly a dereliction of duty when you are an elected leader, to play those kinds of games with human life, and human beings, The Guardian reported. Similar instances of sending migrants to other states and vice president's residences have occurred. Last week, Abbott, Texas's governor, sent three full buses to New York and also sent 100 migrants to Harris's residence on Thursday (Sept 15). The two chartered planes sent to Massachusets by Florida's governor, including infants, prompted the island's residents to hustle to help with food and other necessities for this unexpected influx of people. Further, Florida's governor, DeSantis, stated that all American communities, not just those near the border with Mexico, should share the load, saying Biden's border strategy was a failure. Abbott also supported and claimed to have sent migrants to "sanctuary cities." Also read | Biden's approval rating sees a jump ahead of November midterms On the other hand, the president criticised the Republicans for using people as political props and stated that what they are doing was completely wrong. According to several immigration organizations, these transfers are misled about their intended destinations, making Republican governors essentially traffickers. Racheal Rollins, US attorney for Massachusetts, promised to look into the matter for possible human trafficking. Since April, Texas has bussed nearly 8,000 people to Washington, including Harris's residence, with 300 bussed to Chicago and over 2,000 to New York. Arizona also bused over 1,500 migrants to Washington. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

US: Republican-led states sends another group of migrants to VP Kamala Harris's residence & Massachusetts

The world's largest economy, the United States of America is struggling with a 40-year high inflation. US federal reserve is poised to unleash another interest rate hike after the latest data showed a worrying U.S inflation picture. An increase in the interest rate is expected on Wednesday.

US attempts to tackle 40-year-high inflation; hike in interest rate expected on Wednesday

Texas sends another busload of migrants to Kamala Harris's home

There is an improvement in US President Joe Biden's approval ratings from the lowest point this summer but citizens remain concerned about the state of the economy and how the president is dealing with the economic situation.

Joe Biden's approval ratings improve 2 months before mid-term polls

A federal judge has named Raymond Dearie, a senior US district judge as an independent arbiter to vet records seized by the FBI from Donald Trump’s Florida estate Mar-A-Lago in an ongoing criminal investigation.

Mar-A-Lago probe: US judge appoints special master to review seized Trump files

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US, created in 1947, has completed 75 years, with several notable achievements and some terrible failures that earned it bouquets of ridicule.&nbsp;

The agency’s emblem sets out the paradigms it aims to follow: the eagle representing alertness and strength, and the 16-point compass star for the convergence of intelligence data from around the world, but quite a few of its bloopers exposed how it floundered in abiding with the precepts. &nbsp;

The agency prospered during the Cold War so much that its actions often proved to be scandalous as it appropriated unbridled power and had no accountability due to the nature of its operations. Some of its blunders would leave readers bemused today for the sheer idiosyncrasies and frivolity of ideas, and had even then resulted in raucous criticism.&nbsp;

CIA has worked in enabling regime changes, assassinations and coups, from Latin America to Africa to the Middle East to Southeast Asia.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky had said, “It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently,” and the Central ‘Intelligence’ Agency seems to have taken it rather too seriously.

THE FIDEL CASTRO FIXATION&nbsp;

The most ridiculous of all CIA operations turned out to be the bizarre methods it repeatedly kept devising to snuff out the Cuban leader Fidel Castro, his brother Raul and Ernesto Che Guevara.&nbsp;

It is said that the CIA made 638 attempts to kill Castro, but failed every time and its ludicrous strategies became a laughing point. So much so that even Castro cracked a joke once on being offered a Galápagos turtle as a present and politely declined it on learning that it was likely to live only 100 years. “That’s the problem with pets. You get attached to them and then they die on you,” he famously said.&nbsp;

Its outlandish plots to kill Castro included exploding cigars, poisoned pens and booby-trapped seashells among others.&nbsp;

The assassination attempts, from 1959 to 2001, transcended eight presidencies, starting from the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration to Bill Clinton’s, but CIA’s ‘try and try, until you succeed’ dictum never paid off. &nbsp;

A 1967 report revealed that since Castro was fond of cigars, CIA came up with the idea of lacing one with explosives so that it would blow his face off after a few puffs, and then another of spiking it with botulinum, a toxin that attacks nerves, causes respiratory distress, muscle paralysis and leads to death. It recruited a double agent, gave him a box of Castro’s favourite cigars laced with the toxin, but it never worked, as it was conjectured that he had a tobacco-taster who took the first few drags to ensure his safety. And then Castro quit smoking!&nbsp;

Castro, also a keen scuba diver, loved to pick colourful seashells, which gave CIA brains the idea to place brightly painted seashells rigged with explosives at his favourite diving spots and wait for him to pick the molluscs and be doomed with a boom underwater. Even this didn’t work out, so then they devised a custom-made diving-suit infected with a deadly fungus. &nbsp;

When the indefatigable CIA learnt that Castro was an ice cream lover, it hatched a plan to place poison pills in his cone through a worker at his pet joint. The vial containing the poison was hidden in the freezer, but at the crucial moment, it could not be dislodged — it was frozen stuck!&nbsp;

The CIA roped in Castro’s former lover as a hitwoman and gave her poison pills, which she hid in her cold-cream jar, but they melted as did the chances of forcing them into Castro’s mouth while he slept.&nbsp;

Castro noticed her unusual behaviour and questioned her, and she admitted to the bid on his life. He allegedly handed her his pistol to finish the job, but she could not and they ended up making love —another CIA plot ending on a gratifying note for its bête noire.&nbsp;

Another CIA conspiracy was to use a superfine poisoned hypodermic needle concealed in a pen and the victim would not even notice the prick, but the Cuban official roped in for the job did not think much of the device and said the CIA should come up with something more sophisticated.&nbsp;

At times it seemed the CIA was more interested in bumping off the Cuban leader than protecting their own: the man given the pen-syringe was dispatched on his ‘mission’ on Nov. 22, 1963, the very day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. &nbsp;

Even American underworld figures from the mafia – still smarting at being kicked out of Cuba by Castro – were approached to carry out a hit. One would-be sniper was caught by security men at the University of Havana and a grenade attack at a baseball game was also foiled. &nbsp;

In 2000, about 90kg of high explosives were placed under the podium where Castro was due to speak during his visit to Panama, but his personal security team found it during checking.&nbsp;

The CIA also came up with non-fatal plans to discredit Castro by spraying an LSD aerosol near him during a broadcast which would lead to national humiliation as he freaked out on air. Then it planned to dust Castro’s shoes with thallium salts which would make his beard fall out while delivering a speech abroad. The trip was cancelled, and even this opportunity was lost.&nbsp;

The infamous Bay of Pigs invasion, in which the CIA trained, armed and funded 1400 exiled Cubans to attack Castro did not last days and John F Kennedy had to stop all air support and concede the embarrassing loss.&nbsp;

Castro, who is said to have used doubles and moved around the country constantly, survived all the assassination attempts, without even getting a scratch, and died of natural causes in 2016, at the ripe age of 90, finally giving respite to CIA.&nbsp;

OPERATION SHAKTI

Yet another colossal failure was on May 11, 1998, when under Operation Shakti, India detonated five underground atomic bombs and CIA was caught sleeping and stunned by how it was outsmarted by a third world nation. &nbsp;

India walked into the nuclear club with swag and the alert ‘eagle’ didn’t have a clue despite the billion-dollar satellites up in sky keeping a watch and much-bragged-about human intelligence.&nbsp; 
Relying on plain common sense, the Indian scientists only worked during the nights to evade the satellite detections, used camouflage to perfection, besides code words like White House for underground shafts. &nbsp;

"It is apparent that the Indians went to some lengths to conceal their activities and intentions," the ruffled CIA said later to explain the failure. &nbsp;

MK-ULTRA PROGRAMME: CIA'S QUEST FOR MIND CONTROL &nbsp;

During early Cold War, the CIA came to conclusion that Communists had discovered a drug or technique that allowed them to control human minds, and it began its own secret programme, called MK-ULTRA, the details of which read like a dystopian science fiction novel as it searched for mind control drugs and ways.&nbsp;

It drugged US and Canadian citizens with LSD and other psychoactive chemicals without their consent and subjected some to psychological torture ranging from electroshock to high doses of LSD.&nbsp; 
The illegal, unethical and dangerous programme ran from 1953 to 1964 and in 1973 CIA director ordered all related files to be destroyed.&nbsp;

9/11 TERROR ATTACK

The 9/11 attack is deemed the biggest failure of US intel agencies. The CIA failed to add to the ‘watch list’ two suspected al-Qaeda militants Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar it had been tracking since they attended a terrorist meeting in Malaysia on January 5, 2000. The error enabled them to enter US under their real names, rent apartment under real names, obtain driver’s licences, open bank accounts, purchase a car, and take flight lessons at a local school.&nbsp;

The commission appointed to probe the September 11 attacks revealed several glaring oversights and lapses in its report, including by the CIA.&nbsp;

WIKILEAKS VAULT 7&nbsp;

The CIA’s hacking team had started making cutting-edge cyber weapons to steal secrets from foreign governments but failed to monitor who had access to its information.&nbsp;

Former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who stole data from the Pentagon and State Department, and the former contractor Edward Snowden, who took information from the National Security Agency, exposed the secrets. &nbsp;

In March 2017, WikiLeaks published some of the CIA’s most valuable hacking tools, which it called Vault 7, revealing how the agency could break into foreign computer networks, or activate the camera or microphone on devices to eavesdrop on adversaries.&nbsp;

The rattled CIA then plotted to kill or kidnap WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange while he was holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, but has not succeeded so far.&nbsp;

POLITICISATION OF INTELLIGENCE&nbsp;

The information of a stock of “weapons of mass destruction” in the possession of Saddam Hussein’s regime collected by CIA was used by the Bush administration to justify the invasion of Iraq. The intel inputs were subsequently found baseless and critics condemned it as ‘politicisation’ of intelligence. &nbsp;

OTHER BLOOPERS

In 1990, US intel agencies were aware that Saddam Hussein was making unusual movements of armoured forces in his country, but didn't know and did nothing till he invaded Kuwait. &nbsp;

In 2003, CIA kidnapped Khaled El-Masri, a German and Lebanese citizen, mistaking him for a dreaded terrorist with the same name. He was flown to Afghanistan, where he was routinely interrogated, beaten, strip-searched, sodomised, and subjected to other cruel forms of inhumane treatment and torture. It took the smart detectives of the premier agency full four months to draw the conclusion that they had in fact picked up the wrong man. The CIA finally admitted his arrest was a mistake and released him. So much luck to the agency for bringing smiles on our faces, even as we wish it continues its stupendous endeavours, aborts terror attacks in time and saves lives as it has been scrupulously doing over the years.

(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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The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US, created in 1947, has completed 75 years, with several notable achievements and some terrible failures that earned it bouquets of ridicule.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US, created in 1947, has completed 75 years, with several notable achievements and some terrible failures that earned it bouquets of ridicule. The agency’s emblem sets out the paradigms it aims to follow: the eagle representing alertness and strength, and the 16-point compass star for the convergence of intelligence data from around the world, but quite a few of its bloopers exposed how it floundered in abiding with the precepts. The agency prospered during the Cold War so much that its actions often proved to be scandalous as it appropriated unbridled power and had no accountability due to the nature of its operations. Some of its blunders would leave readers bemused today for the sheer idiosyncrasies and frivolity of ideas, and had even then resulted in raucous criticism. CIA has worked in enabling regime changes, assassinations and coups, from Latin America to Africa to the Middle East to Southeast Asia. Fyodor Dostoyevsky had said, “It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently,” and the Central ‘Intelligence’ Agency seems to have taken it rather too seriously. THE FIDEL CASTRO FIXATION The most ridiculous of all CIA operations turned out to be the bizarre methods it repeatedly kept devising to snuff out the Cuban leader Fidel Castro, his brother Raul and Ernesto Che Guevara. It is said that the CIA made 638 attempts to kill Castro, but failed every time and its ludicrous strategies became a laughing point. So much so that even Castro cracked a joke once on being offered a Galápagos turtle as a present and politely declined it on learning that it was likely to live only 100 years. “That’s the problem with pets. You get attached to them and then they die on you,” he famously said. Its outlandish plots to kill Castro included exploding cigars, poisoned pens and booby-trapped seashells among others. The assassination attempts, from 1959 to 2001, transcended eight presidencies, starting from the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration to Bill Clinton’s, but CIA’s ‘try and try, until you succeed’ dictum never paid off. A 1967 report revealed that since Castro was fond of cigars, CIA came up with the idea of lacing one with explosives so that it would blow his face off after a few puffs, and then another of spiking it with botulinum, a toxin that attacks nerves, causes respiratory distress, muscle paralysis and leads to death. It recruited a double agent, gave him a box of Castro’s favourite cigars laced with the toxin, but it never worked, as it was conjectured that he had a tobacco-taster who took the first few drags to ensure his safety. And then Castro quit smoking! Castro, also a keen scuba diver, loved to pick colourful seashells, which gave CIA brains the idea to place brightly painted seashells rigged with explosives at his favourite diving spots and wait for him to pick the molluscs and be doomed with a boom underwater. Even this didn’t work out, so then they devised a custom-made diving-suit infected with a deadly fungus. When the indefatigable CIA learnt that Castro was an ice cream lover, it hatched a plan to place poison pills in his cone through a worker at his pet joint. The vial containing the poison was hidden in the freezer, but at the crucial moment, it could not be dislodged — it was frozen stuck! The CIA roped in Castro’s former lover as a hitwoman and gave her poison pills, which she hid in her cold-cream jar, but they melted as did the chances of forcing them into Castro’s mouth while he slept. Castro noticed her unusual behaviour and questioned her, and she admitted to the bid on his life. He allegedly handed her his pistol to finish the job, but she could not and they ended up making love —another CIA plot ending on a gratifying note for its bête noire. Another CIA conspiracy was to use a superfine poisoned hypodermic needle concealed in a pen and the victim would not even notice the prick, but the Cuban official roped in for the job did not think much of the device and said the CIA should come up with something more sophisticated. At times it seemed the CIA was more interested in bumping off the Cuban leader than protecting their own: the man given the pen-syringe was dispatched on his ‘mission’ on Nov. 22, 1963, the very day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Even American underworld figures from the mafia – still smarting at being kicked out of Cuba by Castro – were approached to carry out a hit. One would-be sniper was caught by security men at the University of Havana and a grenade attack at a baseball game was also foiled. In 2000, about 90kg of high explosives were placed under the podium where Castro was due to speak during his visit to Panama, but his personal security team found it during checking. The CIA also came up with non-fatal plans to discredit Castro by spraying an LSD aerosol near him during a broadcast which would lead to national humiliation as he freaked out on air. Then it planned to dust Castro’s shoes with thallium salts which would make his beard fall out while delivering a speech abroad. The trip was cancelled, and even this opportunity was lost. The infamous Bay of Pigs invasion, in which the CIA trained, armed and funded 1400 exiled Cubans to attack Castro did not last days and John F Kennedy had to stop all air support and concede the embarrassing loss. Castro, who is said to have used doubles and moved around the country constantly, survived all the assassination attempts, without even getting a scratch, and died of natural causes in 2016, at the ripe age of 90, finally giving respite to CIA. OPERATION SHAKTI Yet another colossal failure was on May 11, 1998, when under Operation Shakti, India detonated five underground atomic bombs and CIA was caught sleeping and stunned by how it was outsmarted by a third world nation. India walked into the nuclear club with swag and the alert ‘eagle’ didn’t have a clue despite the billion-dollar satellites up in sky keeping a watch and much-bragged-about human intelligence. Relying on plain common sense, the Indian scientists only worked during the nights to evade the satellite detections, used camouflage to perfection, besides code words like White House for underground shafts. "It is apparent that the Indians went to some lengths to conceal their activities and intentions," the ruffled CIA said later to explain the failure. MK-ULTRA PROGRAMME: CIA'S QUEST FOR MIND CONTROL During early Cold War, the CIA came to conclusion that Communists had discovered a drug or technique that allowed them to control human minds, and it began its own secret programme, called MK-ULTRA, the details of which read like a dystopian science fiction novel as it searched for mind control drugs and ways. It drugged US and Canadian citizens with LSD and other psychoactive chemicals without their consent and subjected some to psychological torture ranging from electroshock to high doses of LSD. The illegal, unethical and dangerous programme ran from 1953 to 1964 and in 1973 CIA director ordered all related files to be destroyed. 9/11 TERROR ATTACK The 9/11 attack is deemed the biggest failure of US intel agencies. The CIA failed to add to the ‘watch list’ two suspected al-Qaeda militants Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar it had been tracking since they attended a terrorist meeting in Malaysia on January 5, 2000. The error enabled them to enter US under their real names, rent apartment under real names, obtain driver’s licences, open bank accounts, purchase a car, and take flight lessons at a local school. The commission appointed to probe the September 11 attacks revealed several glaring oversights and lapses in its report, including by the CIA. WIKILEAKS VAULT 7 The CIA’s hacking team had started making cutting-edge cyber weapons to steal secrets from foreign governments but failed to monitor who had access to its information. Former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who stole data from the Pentagon and State Department, and the former contractor Edward Snowden, who took information from the National Security Agency, exposed the secrets. In March 2017, WikiLeaks published some of the CIA’s most valuable hacking tools, which it called Vault 7, revealing how the agency could break into foreign computer networks, or activate the camera or microphone on devices to eavesdrop on adversaries. The rattled CIA then plotted to kill or kidnap WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange while he was holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, but has not succeeded so far. POLITICISATION OF INTELLIGENCE The information of a stock of “weapons of mass destruction” in the possession of Saddam Hussein’s regime collected by CIA was used by the Bush administration to justify the invasion of Iraq. The intel inputs were subsequently found baseless and critics condemned it as ‘politicisation’ of intelligence. OTHER BLOOPERS In 1990, US intel agencies were aware that Saddam Hussein was making unusual movements of armoured forces in his country, but didn't know and did nothing till he invaded Kuwait. In 2003, CIA kidnapped Khaled El-Masri, a German and Lebanese citizen, mistaking him for a dreaded terrorist with the same name. He was flown to Afghanistan, where he was routinely interrogated, beaten, strip-searched, sodomised, and subjected to other cruel forms of inhumane treatment and torture. It took the smart detectives of the premier agency full four months to draw the conclusion that they had in fact picked up the wrong man. The CIA finally admitted his arrest was a mistake and released him. So much luck to the agency for bringing smiles on our faces, even as we wish it continues its stupendous endeavours, aborts terror attacks in time and saves lives as it has been scrupulously doing over the years. (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 You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

How intelligent is Central Intelligence Agency? CIA’s spotty record of 75 years

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