Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday praised India for reducing fuel prices. He lauded India for not buckling under "US pressure" and buying discounted oil from Russia. Imran Khan claimed that when he was in power, his government was working out such a solution with the help of an independent foreign policy.

He slammed Pakistan Muslim League (N)-led government for "running around like a headless chicken with the economy in a tailspin".

"Despite being part of the Quad, India sustained pressure from the US and bought discounted Russian oil to provide relief to the masses. This is what our govt was working to achieve with the help of an independent foreign policy," Imran Khan tweeted while retweeting an information about reduction of the petrol and diesel prices in India.&nbsp;

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Despite being part of the Quad, India sustained pressure from the US and bought discounted Russian oil to provide relief to the masses. This is what our govt was working to achieve with the help of an independent foreign policy. 
1/2 <a href="https://t.co/O7O8wFS8jn">pic.twitter.com/O7O8wFS8jn</a>
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1528059598145454083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Indian government has reduced the price of petrol by Rs 9.5 per litre and Diesel by Rs 7 per litre.

Imran Khan, during his last days in office had claimed that there was 'foreign conspiracy' to oust him. He had even named the US. Pakistan government under current PM Shehbaz Sharif is in a damage control mode with the US with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari travelling to the country.

Imran Khan said "Mir Jafars and Mir Sadiqs" bowed to the external pressure forcing a regime change, and "are now running around like a headless chicken with the economy in a tailspin."

"For our govt, Pakistan`s interest was supreme but unfortunately the local Mir Jafars &amp; Mir Sadiqs bowed to external pressure forcing a regime change, and are now running around like a headless chicken with the economy in a tailspin," the former PM tweeted.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday praised India for reducing fuel prices. He lauded India for not buckling under "US pressure" and buying discounted oil from Russia.

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan on Saturday praised India for reducing fuel prices. He lauded India for not buckling under "US pressure" and buying discounted oil from Russia. Imran Khan claimed that when he was in power, his government was working out such a solution with the help of an independent foreign policy. He slammed Pakistan Muslim League (N)-led government for "running around like a headless chicken with the economy in a tailspin". "Despite being part of the Quad, India sustained pressure from the US and bought discounted Russian oil to provide relief to the masses. This is what our govt was working to achieve with the help of an independent foreign policy," Imran Khan tweeted while retweeting an information about reduction of the petrol and diesel prices in India. Despite being part of the Quad, India sustained pressure from the US and bought discounted Russian oil to provide relief to the masses. This is what our govt was working to achieve with the help of an independent foreign policy. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/O7O8wFS8jn — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) May 21, 2022 × Indian government has reduced the price of petrol by Rs 9.5 per litre and Diesel by Rs 7 per litre. Imran Khan, during his last days in office had claimed that there was 'foreign conspiracy' to oust him. He had even named the US. Pakistan government under current PM Shehbaz Sharif is in a damage control mode with the US with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari travelling to the country. Imran Khan said "Mir Jafars and Mir Sadiqs" bowed to the external pressure forcing a regime change, and "are now running around like a headless chicken with the economy in a tailspin." "For our govt, Pakistan`s interest was supreme but unfortunately the local Mir Jafars & Mir Sadiqs bowed to external pressure forcing a regime change, and are now running around like a headless chicken with the economy in a tailspin," the former PM tweeted. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Imran Khan praises India for reducing fuel prices, defying 'US pressure'

These days mass shooters do not stop at planning out their brutal attacks. They also create plans to livestream their massacres. Can sites exercise more control over livestreams?

The horror of livestreamed carnage: Tech's hard lessons from mass killings

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Seok-Youl agreed to hold bigger military operations and deploy more US weapons if necessary to deter North Korea. Talks between the leaders were focused on North Korea nuclearisation threat.

South Korea-US to expand military operations; leaders express concern over North Korea

Ahead of the Quad summit 2022 in Japan, India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra briefed the media on what can be expected from the much-anticipated meet. For more perspective, we're joined by Amb. Gurjit Singh, Former Indian Ambassador to ASEAN and diplomat in Japan.

Indian PM Modi to visit Japan: What's on the agenda?

Indian Prime Minister will visit Japan for Quad Summit 2022 and meanwhile, Indian foreign ministry held a press briefing on the same. Indian foreign secretary said, PM Modi will address Indian community in Japan and will meet Japanese business leaders.

'Quad working on constructive agenda', says Indian Foreign Secy on Indian PM Modi's visit to Japan

Quadrilateral security dialogue members are all set to gather in Tokyo, the grouping includes India, Australia, United States and Japan. The Ukraine-Russia war is likely to dominate the talks. Indian Foreign Secretary briefed the media about Indian PM Narendra Modi's Japan visit. Watch WION's ground report from the heart of the summit.

Quad Summit 2022: Russia-Ukraine war to dominate talks

After mass shootings killed and wounded people grocery shopping, going to church and simply living their lives last weekend, the nation marked a milestone of 1 million deaths from COVID-19. The number, once unthinkable, is now an irreversible reality in the United States like the persistent reality of gun violence that kills tens of thousands of people a year.

Americans have always tolerated high rates of death among certain segments of society. But the sheer numbers of deaths from preventable causes, and the apparent acceptance that no policy change is on the horizon, raises the question: Has mass death become accepted in America.

"I think the evidence is unmistakable and quite clear. We will tolerate an enormous amount of carnage, suffering and death in the U.S., because we have over the past two years. We have over our history,"&nbsp;says Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist and professor at Yale who was a leading member of the AIDS advocacy group ACT UP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pandemic-effect-us-economy-set-to-outpace-china-first-time-since-1976-481005">Pandemic effect: US economy set to outpace China first time since 1976</a>

"If I thought the AIDS epidemic was bad, the American response to COVID-19 has sort of...It's a form of the American grotesque, right?"&nbsp;Gonsalves says. Really, a million people are dead&nbsp;And you're going to talk to me about your need to get back to normal, when for the most part most of us have been living pretty reasonable lives for the past six months.

Certain communities have always borne the brunt of higher death rates. There are profound racial and class inequalities in the United States, and our tolerance of death is partly based on who is at risk, says Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, a sociology professor who studies mortality at the University of Minnesota.

"Some people's deaths matter a lot more than others, "she laments. "I think that's what we're seeing in this really brutal way with this coincidence of timing."

In Buffalo, the alleged shooter was a racist bent on killing Black people, according to authorities. The family of 86-year-old Ruth Whitfield, one of the 10 people killed, channelled the grief and frustration of millions as they demanded action.

You expect us to keep doing this over and over and over again over again, forgive and forget,&nbsp;her son, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, Jr, said. "While people we elect and trust in offices around this country do their best not to protect us, not to consider us equal."

That sense&nbsp;that politicians have done little even as the violence repeats itself is shared by many Americans. It's a feeling encapsulated by the thoughts and prayers&nbsp;offered to victims of gun violence by politicians unwilling to change policies, according to Martha Lincoln, an anthropology professor at San Francisco State University.

"I don't think that most Americans feel good about it. I think most Americans would like to see real action from their leaders in the culture about these pervasive issues,"&nbsp;says Lincoln, who sees a similar political vacuum around COVID-19.

With COVID-19, American society has even come to accept the deaths of children from a preventable cause. Pediatrician Dr Mark W Kline wrote in a guest column for The Advocate newspaper that more than 1,500 children have died from COVID-19, and recalled a time in pediatrics when children were not supposed to die.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Biggest Covid scam in the world?

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"There was no acceptable pediatric body count,"&nbsp;he wrote. "At least, not before the first pandemic of the social media age, COVID-19, changed everything."

Gun violence is such a part of life in America now that we organise our lives around its inevitability, says Sonali Rajan, a Columbia University professor who researches school violence. Children do lockdown drills at school. And in about half the states, Rajan says, teachers can carry firearms. She notes that an estimated 100,000 people are shot annually and some 40,000 will die.

She sees similar dynamics in the current response to COVID-19. Americans, she says, deserve to be able to commute to work without getting sick, or work somewhere without getting sick, or send their kids to school without them getting sick. 
It's important, she says, to ask what policies are being put forth by elected officials who have the power to attend to the health and the well-being of their constituents.

"It's remarkable how that responsibility has been sort of abdicated, is how I would describe it,"&nbsp;Rajan says.

The level of concern about deaths often depends on context, says Rajiv Sethi, an economics professor at Barnard College. He points to a rare but dramatic event such as an airplane crash, which does seem to matter to people.

Sethi notes there are more suicides from guns in America than there are homicides, an estimated 24,000 gun suicides compared with 19,000 homicides. But even though there are policy proposals that could help within the bounds of the Second Amendment, he says, the debate on guns is politically entrenched, causing 'paralysis.'

"It divides us when people think that there's nothing they can do," says Dr Megan Ranney of Brown University's School of Public Health.

Ranney points to false narratives spread by bad actors, such as denying that the deaths were preventable, or suggesting those who die deserved it. There is an emphasis in the United States on individual responsibility for one's health, Ranney says.

"It's not that we put less value on an individual life, but rather we're coming up against the limits of that approach,"&nbsp;she says. 
In truth, she says, any individual's death or disability affects the community.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-us-surpasses-1-million-covid-19-deaths-the-worlds-highest-known-total-480616">The US surpasses 1 million COVID-19 deaths, the world’s highest known total</a>

Similar debates happened in the last century about child labour laws, worker protections and reproductive rights, while in the 1980s during the AIDS crisis, there a lack of political will to address it in an environment where anti-gay discrimination was rampant.

Wrigley-Field notes activists were able to mobilise a movement that forced people to change the way they thought and forced politicians to change the way they operated.

"I don't think that those things are off the table now. It's just that it's not really clear if they're going to emerge,"&nbsp;Wrigley-Field says. "I don't think giving up is a permanent state of affairs. But I do think that's where we're at, right at this moment."

After mass shootings killed and wounded people grocery shopping, going to church and simply living their lives last weekend, the nation marked a milestone of 1 million deaths from COVID-19.

After mass shootings killed and wounded people grocery shopping, going to church and simply living their lives last weekend, the nation marked a milestone of 1 million deaths from COVID-19. The number, once unthinkable, is now an irreversible reality in the United States like the persistent reality of gun violence that kills tens of thousands of people a year. Americans have always tolerated high rates of death among certain segments of society. But the sheer numbers of deaths from preventable causes, and the apparent acceptance that no policy change is on the horizon, raises the question: Has mass death become accepted in America. "I think the evidence is unmistakable and quite clear. We will tolerate an enormous amount of carnage, suffering and death in the U.S., because we have over the past two years. We have over our history," says Gregg Gonsalves, an epidemiologist and professor at Yale who was a leading member of the AIDS advocacy group ACT UP. Also read | Pandemic effect: US economy set to outpace China first time since 1976 "If I thought the AIDS epidemic was bad, the American response to COVID-19 has sort of...It's a form of the American grotesque, right?" Gonsalves says. Really, a million people are dead And you're going to talk to me about your need to get back to normal, when for the most part most of us have been living pretty reasonable lives for the past six months. Certain communities have always borne the brunt of higher death rates. There are profound racial and class inequalities in the United States, and our tolerance of death is partly based on who is at risk, says Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, a sociology professor who studies mortality at the University of Minnesota. "Some people's deaths matter a lot more than others, "she laments. "I think that's what we're seeing in this really brutal way with this coincidence of timing." In Buffalo, the alleged shooter was a racist bent on killing Black people, according to authorities. The family of 86-year-old Ruth Whitfield, one of the 10 people killed, channelled the grief and frustration of millions as they demanded action. You expect us to keep doing this over and over and over again over again, forgive and forget, her son, former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, Jr, said. "While people we elect and trust in offices around this country do their best not to protect us, not to consider us equal." That sense that politicians have done little even as the violence repeats itself is shared by many Americans. It's a feeling encapsulated by the thoughts and prayers offered to victims of gun violence by politicians unwilling to change policies, according to Martha Lincoln, an anthropology professor at San Francisco State University. "I don't think that most Americans feel good about it. I think most Americans would like to see real action from their leaders in the culture about these pervasive issues," says Lincoln, who sees a similar political vacuum around COVID-19. With COVID-19, American society has even come to accept the deaths of children from a preventable cause. Pediatrician Dr Mark W Kline wrote in a guest column for The Advocate newspaper that more than 1,500 children have died from COVID-19, and recalled a time in pediatrics when children were not supposed to die. Watch | Gravitas: Biggest Covid scam in the world? "There was no acceptable pediatric body count," he wrote. "At least, not before the first pandemic of the social media age, COVID-19, changed everything." Gun violence is such a part of life in America now that we organise our lives around its inevitability, says Sonali Rajan, a Columbia University professor who researches school violence. Children do lockdown drills at school. And in about half the states, Rajan says, teachers can carry firearms. She notes that an estimated 100,000 people are shot annually and some 40,000 will die. She sees similar dynamics in the current response to COVID-19. Americans, she says, deserve to be able to commute to work without getting sick, or work somewhere without getting sick, or send their kids to school without them getting sick. It's important, she says, to ask what policies are being put forth by elected officials who have the power to attend to the health and the well-being of their constituents. "It's remarkable how that responsibility has been sort of abdicated, is how I would describe it," Rajan says. The level of concern about deaths often depends on context, says Rajiv Sethi, an economics professor at Barnard College. He points to a rare but dramatic event such as an airplane crash, which does seem to matter to people. Sethi notes there are more suicides from guns in America than there are homicides, an estimated 24,000 gun suicides compared with 19,000 homicides. But even though there are policy proposals that could help within the bounds of the Second Amendment, he says, the debate on guns is politically entrenched, causing 'paralysis.' "It divides us when people think that there's nothing they can do," says Dr Megan Ranney of Brown University's School of Public Health. Ranney points to false narratives spread by bad actors, such as denying that the deaths were preventable, or suggesting those who die deserved it. There is an emphasis in the United States on individual responsibility for one's health, Ranney says. "It's not that we put less value on an individual life, but rather we're coming up against the limits of that approach," she says. In truth, she says, any individual's death or disability affects the community. Also read | The US surpasses 1 million COVID-19 deaths, the world’s highest known total Similar debates happened in the last century about child labour laws, worker protections and reproductive rights, while in the 1980s during the AIDS crisis, there a lack of political will to address it in an environment where anti-gay discrimination was rampant. Wrigley-Field notes activists were able to mobilise a movement that forced people to change the way they thought and forced politicians to change the way they operated. "I don't think that those things are off the table now. It's just that it's not really clear if they're going to emerge," Wrigley-Field says. "I don't think giving up is a permanent state of affairs. But I do think that's where we're at, right at this moment."

First Covid and now shootings: Is mass death now tolerated in America?

Quadrilateral security dialogue members are all set to gather in Tokyo, the grouping includes India, Australia, United States and Japan. Ukraine and Russia war tends to dominate the talks and India's stance on Russia's invasion to come under the lens. Watch this report by Palki Sharma Upadhyay, Managing Editor, WION.

Quad Summit 2022: India's stance on Russia's invasion to come under the lens

Explained: Baby formula shortage in US and what Biden administration is doing

The abortion rights fight in the United States has gone bigger now. Oklahoma has approved an anti-abortion bill that prohibits abortion completely.

US abortion rights fight gets bigger as Oklahoma approves anti-abortion bill

US President Joe Biden has embarked on his first trip to Asia. He is currently in South Korea. This is Biden's first trip to Asia as President and he will meet new leaders of South Korea and Japan.

South Korea: US President Joe Biden tours through a Samsung factory

U.S. President Joe Biden is traveling to South Korea and Japan, after hosting Southeast Asian leaders at the White House last week. The administration’s spotlight on Asia is a clear signal that the Indo-Pacific region remains its priority, even as it focuses on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For further analysis, we're joined by VOA's Correspondent, Jessica Stone.

WION-VOA Co-Production: Discussing Joe Biden's Asia tour & Baby formula shortage in US

Oklahoma has approved one of the most restrictive abortion bans in American history. The legalisation prohibits abortion from the moment of fertilization.

Most restrictive abortion ban in US, Oklahoma approves anti-abortion bill

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto met his US counterpart Antony Blinken. Is Pakistan, and US trying to mend ties? Bilawal Bhutto Zardari responds to WION's questions and talked about competing with India.

Pakistan FM's maiden U.S. visit: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari responds to WION's questions

In an attempt to mend ties, Pakistan’s new Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said at the United Nations on Thursday that he wants a more broad-based relationship with the US, media reports said. The Pakistani leader also blamed India for 'particularly complicated' ties between the two neighbours. The remarks came during the leader’s first visit to the United States as foreign minister. &nbsp;

"Our relationship with the United States has been colored too much by the geopolitical context in our region, and particularly by the events and circumstances in Afghanistan. We would like to pivot away from a transactory relationship, a one-point agenda relationship, to a more broad-based relationship with a particular emphasis on trade," the FM told reporters. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/diverting-attention-as-pak-faces-turmoil-at-home-fm-bilawal-rakes-up-jk-issue-in-meet-with-un-chief-480242" hreflang="en">Diverting attention? As Pak faces turmoil at home, FM Bilawal rakes up J&amp;K issue in meet with UN chief</a>

"Pakistan is not insecure about our relationship with the United States and we believe that the world is big enough for both Pakistan and India to exist," the minister said on being asked about competing with India when it comes to ties with Washington. &nbsp;

On relationship with India, Bilawal said the ties had been "particularly complicated" by decision of New Delhi to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. At the moment, the "practical space" for dialogue, economic activity and diplomacy is "very limited", said the minister. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto meets US counterpart Antony Blinken

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"As far as the question of our relationship with India is concerned, it is particularly complicated" by their recent actions in Kashmir, firstly the decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and secondly, the decision of the delimitation commission on Jammu and Kashmir, Bilawal said.

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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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In an attempt to mend ties, Pakistan’s new Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said at the United Nations on Thursday that he wants a more broad-based relationship with the US, media reports said.

In an attempt to mend ties, Pakistan’s new Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said at the United Nations on Thursday that he wants a more broad-based relationship with the US, media reports said. The Pakistani leader also blamed India for 'particularly complicated' ties between the two neighbours. The remarks came during the leader’s first visit to the United States as foreign minister. "Our relationship with the United States has been colored too much by the geopolitical context in our region, and particularly by the events and circumstances in Afghanistan. We would like to pivot away from a transactory relationship, a one-point agenda relationship, to a more broad-based relationship with a particular emphasis on trade," the FM told reporters. Also Read: Diverting attention? As Pak faces turmoil at home, FM Bilawal rakes up J&K issue in meet with UN chief "Pakistan is not insecure about our relationship with the United States and we believe that the world is big enough for both Pakistan and India to exist," the minister said on being asked about competing with India when it comes to ties with Washington. On relationship with India, Bilawal said the ties had been "particularly complicated" by decision of New Delhi to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. At the moment, the "practical space" for dialogue, economic activity and diplomacy is "very limited", said the minister. Watch: Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto meets US counterpart Antony Blinken × "As far as the question of our relationship with India is concerned, it is particularly complicated" by their recent actions in Kashmir, firstly the decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and secondly, the decision of the delimitation commission on Jammu and Kashmir, Bilawal said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (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. ×

Foreign Minister Bilawal looks to mend relations with US, blames New Delhi for 'complicated' Indo-Pak ties

A team of US politicians is heading to Europe to try and calm tensions over the Northern Ireland post-Brexit protocol. The group of nine representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties kicks off a six-day trip.

US: Nancy Pelosi warns to not alter Northern Ireland deal

Remains of a world war 2 US airman has been found in Thailand. The discovered remains were sent back to the United States.

Remains of WWII US airman found in Thailand: Discovered remains sent to the US

Nordic countries Sweden and Finland have applied for NATO membership. However, Turkey is the lone roadblock to their NATO bids. US President Biden said that new NATO members are not a threat.

US President Joe Biden: New NATO members are not a threat

Reports suggest that US President Joe Biden will soon meet the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman. According to that report, the Biden administration officials are in talks with the Saudis for potential in-person meeting while Biden is overseas next month

Biden vowed to make Saudi Prince MBS 'a Pariah'

Joe Biden is heading to Asia for a Pacific pivot amid the war in Europe. Biden is hoping to sell his new Indo-Pacific Economic forum as an alternative to China's BRI. What challenges await Biden in the Indo-Pacific? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Joe Biden heads to Asia: What's on the agenda?

The US government now plans to send planes to bring baby formula from overseas. The dangerous shortage is forcing parents to turn towards potentially dangerous alternatives. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: America's dangerous shortage of baby formula

American aerospace giant&nbsp;Boeing's&nbsp;Starliner&nbsp;capsule was heading for the&nbsp;International Space Station&nbsp;Thursday, in a critical uncrewed test flight that followed years of failures and false starts.

The spacecraft encountered some&nbsp;propulsion&nbsp;troubles early in its journey, with two thrusters responsible for orbital maneuvering failing for unclear reasons but NASA officials said the mission remained&nbsp;on&nbsp;track.

The Orbital Test Flight 2 (OFT-2) mission blasted off at 6:54 pm Eastern Time (2254 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the spaceship fixed atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-astronaut-team-departs-iss-to-come-back-to-earth-476702">NASA astronaut team departs ISS to come back to Earth</a>

Its success is key to repairing&nbsp;Boeing's frayed reputation after the first bid, back in 2019, failed to dock with the&nbsp;ISS&nbsp;due to software bugs one that led to it burning too much fuel to reach its destination, and another that could have destroyed the vehicle during re-entry.

A second try was scheduled in August of last year, but&nbsp;Starliner&nbsp;was rolled back from the launchpad to address sticky valves that weren't opening as they should, and the capsule was eventually sent back to the factory for fixes.

At a post-launch press conference, senior NASA official Steve Sitch said: "Overall, the spacecraft is doing really well," but he also flagged two anomalies that engineers were now working to understand.

The first was that two out of 12 orbital maneuvering and attitude control (OMAC) thrusters located&nbsp;on&nbsp;Starliner's aft side had initially fired but then shut down, forcing a third to take up their slack.

The second issue was that a device known as a sublimator responsible for cooling the spacecraft was initially slow to get started.

NASA is looking to certify&nbsp;Starliner&nbsp;as a second "taxi" service for its astronauts to the space station,&nbsp;a role that Elon Musk's SpaceX has provided since succeeding in a test mission for its Dragon capsule in 2020.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Russia quits the International Space Station

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Seeking redemption

Both companies were awarded fixed-price contracts&nbsp;$4.2 billion to&nbsp;Boeing, and $2.6 billion to SpaceX in 2014, shortly after the end of the Space Shuttle program, during a time when the United States was left reliant&nbsp;on&nbsp;Russian Soyuz rockets for rides to the orbital outpost.&nbsp;

Boeing, with its hundred-year history, was considered by many as the sure shot, while then-upstart SpaceX was less proven.&nbsp;

In reality, it was SpaceX that rocketed ahead, and recently sent its fourth routine crew to the research platform while&nbsp;Boeing's development delays have cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars.

Starliner&nbsp;should dock with the&nbsp;ISS&nbsp;about 24 hours after launch, and deliver more than 500 pounds (226 kilograms) of cargo, including food and provisions such as clothes and sleeping bags for the current crew&nbsp;on&nbsp;the station.

Its sole passenger is a mannequin named Rosie the Rocketeer a play&nbsp;on&nbsp;the World War II campaign icon Rosie the Riveter whose job is to collect flight data with her sensors in order to learn what human astronauts would experience.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-spacex-capsule-returns-to-earth-after-six-months-mission-476783">In Pics: SpaceX crew returns to Earth after six-month mission</a>

"We are a little jealous of Rosie," said NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, who is expected to be among the first crew selected for a manned demonstration mission should OFT-2 succeed.

The gumdrop-shaped capsule will spend about five to ten days in space, then undock and return to Earth, using giant parachutes to land in the desert of the western United States.&nbsp;

NASA sees a second provider to low Earth orbit as a vital backup, should SpaceX encounter&nbsp;problems.&nbsp;

"It's a really critical step for us and moving towards having two routinely flying crewed vehicles who can bring our crew to and from&nbsp;ISS," Dana Weigel, deputy program manager for the&nbsp;ISS, told reporters this week.&nbsp;

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American aerospace giant Boeing's Starliner capsule was heading for the International Space Station Thursday, in a critical uncrewed test flight that followed years of failures and false starts.

American aerospace giant Boeing's Starliner capsule was heading for the International Space Station Thursday, in a critical uncrewed test flight that followed years of failures and false starts. The spacecraft encountered some propulsion troubles early in its journey, with two thrusters responsible for orbital maneuvering failing for unclear reasons but NASA officials said the mission remained on track. The Orbital Test Flight 2 (OFT-2) mission blasted off at 6:54 pm Eastern Time (2254 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with the spaceship fixed atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Also read | NASA astronaut team departs ISS to come back to Earth Its success is key to repairing Boeing's frayed reputation after the first bid, back in 2019, failed to dock with the ISS due to software bugs one that led to it burning too much fuel to reach its destination, and another that could have destroyed the vehicle during re-entry. A second try was scheduled in August of last year, but Starliner was rolled back from the launchpad to address sticky valves that weren't opening as they should, and the capsule was eventually sent back to the factory for fixes. At a post-launch press conference, senior NASA official Steve Sitch said: "Overall, the spacecraft is doing really well," but he also flagged two anomalies that engineers were now working to understand. The first was that two out of 12 orbital maneuvering and attitude control (OMAC) thrusters located on Starliner's aft side had initially fired but then shut down, forcing a third to take up their slack. The second issue was that a device known as a sublimator responsible for cooling the spacecraft was initially slow to get started. NASA is looking to certify Starliner as a second "taxi" service for its astronauts to the space station, a role that Elon Musk's SpaceX has provided since succeeding in a test mission for its Dragon capsule in 2020. Watch | Gravitas: Russia quits the International Space Station Seeking redemption Both companies were awarded fixed-price contracts $4.2 billion to Boeing, and $2.6 billion to SpaceX in 2014, shortly after the end of the Space Shuttle program, during a time when the United States was left reliant on Russian Soyuz rockets for rides to the orbital outpost. Boeing, with its hundred-year history, was considered by many as the sure shot, while then-upstart SpaceX was less proven. In reality, it was SpaceX that rocketed ahead, and recently sent its fourth routine crew to the research platform while Boeing's development delays have cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars. Starliner should dock with the ISS about 24 hours after launch, and deliver more than 500 pounds (226 kilograms) of cargo, including food and provisions such as clothes and sleeping bags for the current crew on the station. Its sole passenger is a mannequin named Rosie the Rocketeer a play on the World War II campaign icon Rosie the Riveter whose job is to collect flight data with her sensors in order to learn what human astronauts would experience. Also read | In Pics: SpaceX crew returns to Earth after six-month mission "We are a little jealous of Rosie," said NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, who is expected to be among the first crew selected for a manned demonstration mission should OFT-2 succeed. The gumdrop-shaped capsule will spend about five to ten days in space, then undock and return to Earth, using giant parachutes to land in the desert of the western United States. NASA sees a second provider to low Earth orbit as a vital backup, should SpaceX encounter problems. "It's a really critical step for us and moving towards having two routinely flying crewed vehicles who can bring our crew to and from ISS," Dana Weigel, deputy program manager for the ISS, told reporters this week. 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.

Boeing's Starliner encounters propulsion problems on way to ISS

With the G7 and the US looking to support Ukraine through aid, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that the industrial Donbas region has been ‘completely destroyed’ by the Russian forces, media reports said. The leader also accused Russia of carrying out senseless bombardments in its offensive. In a late-night video address, Zelensky said, "It is hell there - and that is not an exaggeration.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

Around 12 people were killed in brutal and absolutely senseless bombardment of Severodonetsk on Thursday. “(There are) constant strikes on the Odesa region, on the cities of central Ukraine. The Donbas is completely destroyed. This is a deliberate and criminal attempt to kill as many Ukrainians as possible, to destroy as many houses, social facilities and enterprises as possible," the president added. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-send-additional-military-aid-of-100-million-to-help-ukraine-in-ongoing-conflict-480560" hreflang="en">US to send additional military aid of $100 mn to help Ukraine in conflict</a>

This comes as the Group of Seven has agreed to provide Ukraine with $18.4 billion to help pay its bills on Thursday. These funds would speed up victory for the nation, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. &nbsp;

At the G7 finance leaders' meeting in Germany, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told reporters, "The message was, 'We stand behind Ukraine. We're going to pull together with the resources that they need to get through this.'" &nbsp;&nbsp;

The US Senate has also sent a USD 40 billion Ukraine package, which was approved with an 86-11 vote, for final congressional approval on Thursday. It will provide economic, military and food aid to Ukraine and other US allies. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In a written statement, Biden said, "I applaud the Congress for sending a clear bipartisan message to the world that the people of the United States stand together with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and freedom." &nbsp;&nbsp;

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(With inputs from agencies)

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With the G7 and the US looking to support Ukraine through aid, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that the industrial Donbas region has been ‘completely destroyed’ by the Russian forces, media reports said.

With the G7 and the US looking to support Ukraine through aid, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that the industrial Donbas region has been ‘completely destroyed’ by the Russian forces, media reports said. The leader also accused Russia of carrying out senseless bombardments in its offensive. In a late-night video address, Zelensky said, "It is hell there - and that is not an exaggeration.” Around 12 people were killed in brutal and absolutely senseless bombardment of Severodonetsk on Thursday. “(There are) constant strikes on the Odesa region, on the cities of central Ukraine. The Donbas is completely destroyed. This is a deliberate and criminal attempt to kill as many Ukrainians as possible, to destroy as many houses, social facilities and enterprises as possible," the president added. Also Read: US to send additional military aid of $100 mn to help Ukraine in conflict This comes as the Group of Seven has agreed to provide Ukraine with $18.4 billion to help pay its bills on Thursday. These funds would speed up victory for the nation, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. At the G7 finance leaders' meeting in Germany, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told reporters, "The message was, 'We stand behind Ukraine. We're going to pull together with the resources that they need to get through this.'" The US Senate has also sent a USD 40 billion Ukraine package, which was approved with an 86-11 vote, for final congressional approval on Thursday. It will provide economic, military and food aid to Ukraine and other US allies. In a written statement, Biden said, "I applaud the Congress for sending a clear bipartisan message to the world that the people of the United States stand together with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their democracy and freedom." WATCH WION LIVE HERE (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. ×

As G7, US look to help Ukraine with aid, President Zelensky says Donbas region completely destroyed

US President Joe Biden kick-started his first leg of the Asian tour with his visit to South Korea on Friday as Washington looks to boost its alliance in the region which has been witnessing rising Chinese commercial and military power.

Notably, this is Biden’s first trip to the Asian region after he became the president.

The president landed at the Osan Air Base, south of Seoul. He is expected to hold talks with his recently elected counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol on some pressing issues, including North Korea.

Moreover, there are reports that North Korea may be using his trip to test an underground nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile.

According to CNN, which has quoted officials, Pyongyang has been getting ready to fuel an intercontinental ballistic missile, one of the key final stages in preparing for a test launch.

The White House said it has prepared for all contingencies, including a test occurring while Biden is on the Korean peninsula.

Biden will also visit US and South Korean troops, but will not make the traditional presidential trek to the fortified frontier known as the DMZ between South and North Korea, the White House said.

Hours ahead of Biden arriving, Suk-yeol signalled a warm welcome, tweeting: "A mountain shows its way to the summit to those who seek it. I am confident the ROK-US alliance that seeks to uphold the values of democracy and human rights shall only elevate in the future."

After his three-day trip, Biden will next travel to Japan for bilateral talks with the country's prime minister Fumio Kishida.

Watch |&nbsp;US President Joe Biden in South Korea to reaffirm key alliance

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Apart from that, he will also be meeting the leaders of Japan, Australia and India for the Quad gathering and launch the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework&nbsp;(IPEF), an agreement that seeks to set standards on supply chains, worker protections, decarbonisation and anti-corruption.

Earlier this week at a White House reception, Biden said that his trip was intended "to affirm the importance of our Indo-Pacific alliances" and "celebrate the indispensable partnerships" in the region, including through cultural ties.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-send-additional-military-aid-of-100-million-to-help-ukraine-in-ongoing-conflict-480560" hreflang="en">US to send additional military aid of $100 million to help Ukraine in ongoing conflict</a>

Before his trip began, the White House said that Biden’s aim is to send a “powerful message” to China and others about what the world could look like if democracies “stand together to shape the rules of the road”.

&nbsp;Biden’s Asia trip is also “fundamentally about” building personal ties with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters en route to South Korea.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-looking-to-construct-military-bases-in-pakistan-report-480699" hreflang="en">China looking to construct military outposts in Pakistan: Report</a>

“In both cases, he’s looking for the opportunity to just spend time to get to know these leaders … so that when they need to pick up the phone in a crisis or to respond to a major world event, there’s a baseline of trust and understanding and almost like a common operating language,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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US President Joe Biden kick-started his first leg of the Asian tour with his visit to South Korea on Friday as Washington looks to boost its alliance in the region which has been witnessing rising Chinese commercial and military power.

US President Joe Biden kick-started his first leg of the Asian tour with his visit to South Korea on Friday as Washington looks to boost its alliance in the region which has been witnessing rising Chinese commercial and military power. Notably, this is Biden’s first trip to the Asian region after he became the president. The president landed at the Osan Air Base, south of Seoul. He is expected to hold talks with his recently elected counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol on some pressing issues, including North Korea. Moreover, there are reports that North Korea may be using his trip to test an underground nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile. According to CNN, which has quoted officials, Pyongyang has been getting ready to fuel an intercontinental ballistic missile, one of the key final stages in preparing for a test launch. The White House said it has prepared for all contingencies, including a test occurring while Biden is on the Korean peninsula. Biden will also visit US and South Korean troops, but will not make the traditional presidential trek to the fortified frontier known as the DMZ between South and North Korea, the White House said. Hours ahead of Biden arriving, Suk-yeol signalled a warm welcome, tweeting: "A mountain shows its way to the summit to those who seek it. I am confident the ROK-US alliance that seeks to uphold the values of democracy and human rights shall only elevate in the future." After his three-day trip, Biden will next travel to Japan for bilateral talks with the country's prime minister Fumio Kishida. Watch | US President Joe Biden in South Korea to reaffirm key alliance Apart from that, he will also be meeting the leaders of Japan, Australia and India for the Quad gathering and launch the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), an agreement that seeks to set standards on supply chains, worker protections, decarbonisation and anti-corruption. Earlier this week at a White House reception, Biden said that his trip was intended "to affirm the importance of our Indo-Pacific alliances" and "celebrate the indispensable partnerships" in the region, including through cultural ties. Also read | US to send additional military aid of $100 million to help Ukraine in ongoing conflict Before his trip began, the White House said that Biden’s aim is to send a “powerful message” to China and others about what the world could look like if democracies “stand together to shape the rules of the road”. Biden’s Asia trip is also “fundamentally about” building personal ties with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters en route to South Korea. Also read | China looking to construct military outposts in Pakistan: Report “In both cases, he’s looking for the opportunity to just spend time to get to know these leaders … so that when they need to pick up the phone in a crisis or to respond to a major world event, there’s a baseline of trust and understanding and almost like a common operating language,” he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US prez Joe Biden kick-starts his Asian trip to boost Indo-Pacific ties

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari defended former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's decision to visit Russia in the run-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Imran Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, the day when Russia's invasion of Ukraine started.

“As far as the former Prime Minister’s trip to Russia, I would absolutely defend the former prime minister of Pakistan. Pakistan's prime minister conducted that trip as part of his foreign policy and without knowing that — no one is psychic, no one has a sixth sense — there’s no way we could have possibly known that that would be the time the current conflict will start,” said Bilwal Bhutto-Zardari. He is on his maiden US visit.He was speaking at a press conference at United Nations headquarters on Thursday (May 20).

Imran Khan, who has been ousted from his office recently, had fired major salvos at US in his last days in the office. He had alleged a 'foreign conspiracy' to oust him. He mentioned US later on. He even said that he had documentary evidence of the conspiracy but was never able to come up with credible proof which supported his claims beyond doubt.

Bilwal Bhutto-Zardari's US visit is being seen by many as a damage-control exercise after Imran Khan's constant tirade against the US, which has been an ally of Pakistan right from Cold War years.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-secretary-of-state-antony-blinken-meets-pakistans-foreign-minister-bilawal-bhutto-zardari-480293">US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari</a>

Analysts have said they do not expect the United States to seek a significant broadening of ties with Pakistan`s new government, but to remain mostly focused on security cooperation, especially on counterterrorism and Afghanistan.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement on Wednesday after Blinken and Bhutto-Zardari met that the pair affirmed a "shared desire for a strong and prosperous bilateral relationship."

(With inputs from agencies)

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Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari defended former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's decision to visit Russia in the run-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari defended former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's decision to visit Russia in the run-up to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Imran Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, the day when Russia's invasion of Ukraine started. “As far as the former Prime Minister’s trip to Russia, I would absolutely defend the former prime minister of Pakistan. Pakistan's prime minister conducted that trip as part of his foreign policy and without knowing that — no one is psychic, no one has a sixth sense — there’s no way we could have possibly known that that would be the time the current conflict will start,” said Bilwal Bhutto-Zardari. He is on his maiden US visit.He was speaking at a press conference at United Nations headquarters on Thursday (May 20). Imran Khan, who has been ousted from his office recently, had fired major salvos at US in his last days in the office. He had alleged a 'foreign conspiracy' to oust him. He mentioned US later on. He even said that he had documentary evidence of the conspiracy but was never able to come up with credible proof which supported his claims beyond doubt. Bilwal Bhutto-Zardari's US visit is being seen by many as a damage-control exercise after Imran Khan's constant tirade against the US, which has been an ally of Pakistan right from Cold War years. Also Read | US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Analysts have said they do not expect the United States to seek a significant broadening of ties with Pakistan`s new government, but to remain mostly focused on security cooperation, especially on counterterrorism and Afghanistan. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement on Wednesday after Blinken and Bhutto-Zardari met that the pair affirmed a "shared desire for a strong and prosperous bilateral relationship." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

'No one has sixth sense': Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari defends Imran Khan's Russia visit

US President Joe Biden has embarked on his first trip to Asia. He is currently in South Korea. Bilateral and the Quad summit are on the agenda.

US President Joe Biden in South Korea to reaffirm key alliance

US President Joe Biden has embarked on his first trip to Asia. He now arrived in South Korea. Bilaterals and the Quad summit are on the agenda.

US President Joe Biden's first Asia trip: Biden arrives in South Korea

The United States has approved Pfizer's booster shots for the 5-11 age group against COVID-19. The decision comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are increasing in the US.

The US approves Pfizer booster shots for the 5-11 age group against COVID-19

The US is going to send an additional military aid of $100 million to help Ukraine fight off Russian invasion, media reports said. The announcement of this move of the President Joe Biden’s administration was made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday. Since the beginning of the war, the US has been helping Ukraine by providing different kinds of weapons. &nbsp;

In sending this military aid to Ukraine, Biden is using his Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for the tenth time. The aid would account for the $100 million, which is remaining in the PDA funding. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-to-provide-extra-500-millions-euros-worth-of-military-support-to-ukraine-478592" hreflang="en">European Union to provide extra 500 million euros worth of military support to Ukraine</a>

The PDA authorises Biden to transfer excess weapons from US stocks without the approval of Congress in case of an emergency. &nbsp;

In a statement, Blinken said, "Ukraine's courageous defense forces remain firmly in the fight. The United States, as well as more than 40 Allies and partner countries, are working round the clock to expedite shipments of arms and equipment essential to Ukraine's defense." &nbsp;

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Around 18 more tactical vehicles, 18 additional 155 mm howitzers and three additional counter-artillery radars are being sent in the new defense package, said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby in a media briefing. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In total, US military assistance to Ukraine since the conflict began has reached about $3.9 billion in arms and equipment, said Blinken. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The US is going to send an additional military aid of $100 million to help Ukraine fight off Russian invasion, media reports said. The announcement of this move of the President Joe Biden’s administration was made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday.

The US is going to send an additional military aid of $100 million to help Ukraine fight off Russian invasion, media reports said. The announcement of this move of the President Joe Biden’s administration was made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday. Since the beginning of the war, the US has been helping Ukraine by providing different kinds of weapons. In sending this military aid to Ukraine, Biden is using his Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for the tenth time. The aid would account for the $100 million, which is remaining in the PDA funding. Also Read: European Union to provide extra 500 million euros worth of military support to Ukraine The PDA authorises Biden to transfer excess weapons from US stocks without the approval of Congress in case of an emergency. In a statement, Blinken said, "Ukraine's courageous defense forces remain firmly in the fight. The United States, as well as more than 40 Allies and partner countries, are working round the clock to expedite shipments of arms and equipment essential to Ukraine's defense." WATCH WION LIVE HERE Around 18 more tactical vehicles, 18 additional 155 mm howitzers and three additional counter-artillery radars are being sent in the new defense package, said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby in a media briefing. In total, US military assistance to Ukraine since the conflict began has reached about $3.9 billion in arms and equipment, said Blinken. (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. ×

US to send additional military aid of $100 million to help Ukraine in ongoing conflict

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is currently in the United States. He now defended former PM Imran Khan's Moscow visit.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto defends former PM Imran Khan's Moscow visit

The world is going through a food crisis amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The United States has now slammed Russia for amplifying the crisis.

The food crisis worsens across the globe: The US slams Russia for amplifying the crisis

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Imran Khan praises India for reducing fuel prices, defying 'US pressure'

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South Korea-US to expand military operations; leaders express concern over North Korea

Indian PM Modi to visit Japan: What's on the agenda?

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Quad Summit 2022: Russia-Ukraine war to dominate talks

First Covid and now shootings: Is mass death now tolerated in America?

Quad Summit 2022: India's stance on Russia's invasion to come under the lens

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WION-VOA Co-Production: Discussing Joe Biden's Asia tour & Baby formula shortage in US

Most restrictive abortion ban in US, Oklahoma approves anti-abortion bill

Most restrictive abortion ban in US, Oklahoma approves anti-abortion bill

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Boeing's Starliner encounters propulsion problems on way to ISS

As G7, US look to help Ukraine with aid, President Zelensky says Donbas region completely destroyed