Taiwan's defence ministry has set up a working group to study the&nbsp;tactics&nbsp;of the&nbsp;war&nbsp;in&nbsp;Ukraine, including how the country has been able to hold out against Russia, and has been&nbsp;discussing&nbsp;this with the United States, its minister said on Thursday.

Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, has raised its alert level since the Russian invasion,&nbsp;wary of Beijing possibly making a similar move on the island, though it has reported no signs this is about to happen.

The possible impact of the&nbsp;war&nbsp;on China's military thinking on&nbsp;Taiwan, and how China could attack the island, has been widely debated in official circles in Taipei.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-forces-leaving-chernobyl-nuclear-site-have-been-infected-with-radiation-sickness-reports-467130">Russian forces leaving Chernobyl nuclear site hit by radiation sickness: Reports</a>

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of parliament, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said they had had "contact" with foreign countries to talk about how the&nbsp;war&nbsp;was being fought, and had set up their own working group to study it.

Topics&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;is following include Russia's poor military performance and&nbsp;Ukraine's resistance, he said.

"It is not only discussed in exchange meetings between the United States and&nbsp;Taiwan, but also discussed with other countries that have regular contacts with&nbsp;Taiwan," Chiu added, without giving details.

Taiwan's team on&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;includes academics from the National Defence University, he said.

"However, we will not make remarks rashly, but through internal discussions which are important, to get results that are helpful for building armaments and preparing for&nbsp;war."

While&nbsp;Taiwanese officials have seen many parallels in the&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;war&nbsp;and their own situation, including having their own giant neighbour with territorial ambitions, they have also pointed to major differences.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eyeing-russia-ukraine-conflict-taiwan-mulls-extending-compulsory-military-service-464968">Eyeing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Taiwan mulls extending compulsory military service</a>

Taiwan&nbsp;has talked, for example, of the "natural barrier" of the&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Strait which would make China putting troops on the ground much more difficult than Russia just crossing over its land border with&nbsp;Ukraine.

Taiwan&nbsp;also has a large and well-equipped air force, and is developing its own formidable missile strike capability.

China has been stepping up its military pressure against&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;over the past two years or so.

Taiwan&nbsp;rejects China's sovereignty claims, and says only the island's people can decide their future.

Watch |&nbsp;Ukraine war reverberates in Taiwan: Matsu islanders fear Chinese action

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-war-reverberates-in-taiwan-matsu-islanders-fear-chinese-action-465607/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Taiwan's defence ministry has set up a working group to study the tactics of the war in Ukraine, including how the country has been able to hold out against Russia, and has been discussing this with the United States, its minister said on Thursday.

Taiwan's defence ministry has set up a working group to study the tactics of the war in Ukraine, including how the country has been able to hold out against Russia, and has been discussing this with the United States, its minister said on Thursday. Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, has raised its alert level since the Russian invasion, wary of Beijing possibly making a similar move on the island, though it has reported no signs this is about to happen. The possible impact of the war on China's military thinking on Taiwan, and how China could attack the island, has been widely debated in official circles in Taipei. Also read | Russian forces leaving Chernobyl nuclear site hit by radiation sickness: Reports Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of parliament, Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said they had had "contact" with foreign countries to talk about how the war was being fought, and had set up their own working group to study it. Topics Taiwan is following include Russia's poor military performance and Ukraine's resistance, he said. "It is not only discussed in exchange meetings between the United States and Taiwan, but also discussed with other countries that have regular contacts with Taiwan," Chiu added, without giving details. Taiwan's team on Ukraine includes academics from the National Defence University, he said. "However, we will not make remarks rashly, but through internal discussions which are important, to get results that are helpful for building armaments and preparing for war." While Taiwanese officials have seen many parallels in the Ukraine war and their own situation, including having their own giant neighbour with territorial ambitions, they have also pointed to major differences. Also read | Eyeing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Taiwan mulls extending compulsory military service Taiwan has talked, for example, of the "natural barrier" of the Taiwan Strait which would make China putting troops on the ground much more difficult than Russia just crossing over its land border with Ukraine. Taiwan also has a large and well-equipped air force, and is developing its own formidable missile strike capability. China has been stepping up its military pressure against Taiwan over the past two years or so. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims, and says only the island's people can decide their future. Watch | Ukraine war reverberates in Taiwan: Matsu islanders fear Chinese action

Taiwan studying Ukraine war tactics, discussing with US, says defence minister

Oil&nbsp;prices&nbsp;plunged on Thursday on news that the United States was considering the&nbsp;release&nbsp;of up to 180 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve, the largest in the near 50-year history of the SPR.

Brent crude futures for May fell $4.11, or 3.6 per cent, to $109.34 a barrel by 0637 GMT. The May contract expires on Thursday and the most actively traded June futures were down $4.36 at $107.08, having earlier slid by more than $6.

US West Texas Intermediate futures for May delivery fell $5.33, or 4.9 per cent, to $102.49 a barrel after touching a low of $100.85.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-may-single-out-and-detain-us-citizens-state-dept-issues-another-travel-advisory-466846">‘Russia may single out and detain US citizens’: State Dept issues another travel advisory</a>

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden will give remarks later on Thursday regarding his administration's actions aimed at lowering gasoline prices that have risen to&nbsp;record&nbsp;highs since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.

Such a&nbsp;release&nbsp;would help the&nbsp;oil&nbsp;market to rebalance in 2022 by increasing supply by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) for six months, Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note.

"This would remain, however, a&nbsp;release&nbsp;of&nbsp;oil&nbsp;inventories, not a persistent source of supply for coming years. Such a&nbsp;release&nbsp;would therefore not resolve the structural supply deficit, years in the making."

International Energy Agency (IEA) member countries are due to meet on Friday at 1200 GMT to decide on a collective&nbsp;oil&nbsp;release, a spokesperson for New Zealand's energy minister said on Thursday.

News of the potential&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;release&nbsp;overshadowed a meeting set for Thursday between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia. The group known as OPEC+ is expected to stick to its deal to increase&nbsp;oil&nbsp;production gradually.

The&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;oil&nbsp;release&nbsp;could be effective in reducing wild volatility and curtail sharp upward movements, but&nbsp;prices&nbsp;need a long-term solution, said Avtar Sandu, a commodities manager at Phillip Futures.

Oil&nbsp;settled up around 3 per cent on Wednesday as peace talks stalled between Ukraine and Russia, which calls its actions a "special operation".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-germany-sounds-early-warning-over-russian-gas-supply-466972">Ukraine war: Germany sounds 'early warning' over Russian gas supply</a>

Russia is the world's second-largest&nbsp;oil&nbsp;exporter and Western sanctions imposed as punishment for the invasion have disrupted flows from the country.

In early March the Biden administration said it would sell 30 million barrels from the strategic reserve as part of a global&nbsp;release&nbsp;of 60 million barrels to lower&nbsp;prices.

In November the United States announced a plan to&nbsp;release&nbsp;50 million barrels from the SPR, mostly through exchanges where the buyer agrees to replace the&nbsp;oil&nbsp;later.

"If it turns out to be as much as that, it would be significant and so would certainly help to a certain extent to fill the shortfall, but not all of it," said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING, referring to the 180 million barrels figure.

"Another key question is whether this volume would be part of a wider coordinated&nbsp;release. I guess we need to also see if this would be a straightforward&nbsp;release&nbsp;or an exchange."

The&nbsp;release&nbsp;comes after&nbsp;U.S. commercial&nbsp;oil&nbsp;inventories fell by 3.4 million barrels in the week to March 25, surpassing forecasts of a 1 million barrel drop. At the same time, implied demand for gasoline and distillates declined.

The slower demand came as&nbsp;U.S. production rose by 100,000 bpd to 11.7 million bpd after stagnating at 11.6 million bpd since early February.

Watch |&nbsp;India: New Delhi continues to buy Russian oil, US may restrict other countries' oil purchase

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-new-delhi-continues-to-buy-russian-oil-us-may-restrict-other-countries-oil-purchase-467042/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Oil prices plunged on Thursday on news that the United States was considering the release of up to 180 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve, the largest in the near 50-year history of the SPR.

Oil prices plunged on Thursday on news that the United States was considering the release of up to 180 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve, the largest in the near 50-year history of the SPR. Brent crude futures for May fell $4.11, or 3.6 per cent, to $109.34 a barrel by 0637 GMT. The May contract expires on Thursday and the most actively traded June futures were down $4.36 at $107.08, having earlier slid by more than $6. US West Texas Intermediate futures for May delivery fell $5.33, or 4.9 per cent, to $102.49 a barrel after touching a low of $100.85. Also read | ‘Russia may single out and detain US citizens’: State Dept issues another travel advisory US President Joe Biden will give remarks later on Thursday regarding his administration's actions aimed at lowering gasoline prices that have risen to record highs since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Such a release would help the oil market to rebalance in 2022 by increasing supply by 1 million barrels per day (bpd) for six months, Goldman Sachs analysts said in a note. "This would remain, however, a release of oil inventories, not a persistent source of supply for coming years. Such a release would therefore not resolve the structural supply deficit, years in the making." International Energy Agency (IEA) member countries are due to meet on Friday at 1200 GMT to decide on a collective oil release, a spokesperson for New Zealand's energy minister said on Thursday. News of the potential U.S. release overshadowed a meeting set for Thursday between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia. The group known as OPEC+ is expected to stick to its deal to increase oil production gradually. The U.S. oil release could be effective in reducing wild volatility and curtail sharp upward movements, but prices need a long-term solution, said Avtar Sandu, a commodities manager at Phillip Futures. Oil settled up around 3 per cent on Wednesday as peace talks stalled between Ukraine and Russia, which calls its actions a "special operation". Also read | Ukraine war: Germany sounds 'early warning' over Russian gas supply Russia is the world's second-largest oil exporter and Western sanctions imposed as punishment for the invasion have disrupted flows from the country. In early March the Biden administration said it would sell 30 million barrels from the strategic reserve as part of a global release of 60 million barrels to lower prices. In November the United States announced a plan to release 50 million barrels from the SPR, mostly through exchanges where the buyer agrees to replace the oil later. "If it turns out to be as much as that, it would be significant and so would certainly help to a certain extent to fill the shortfall, but not all of it," said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING, referring to the 180 million barrels figure. "Another key question is whether this volume would be part of a wider coordinated release. I guess we need to also see if this would be a straightforward release or an exchange." The release comes after U.S. commercial oil inventories fell by 3.4 million barrels in the week to March 25, surpassing forecasts of a 1 million barrel drop. At the same time, implied demand for gasoline and distillates declined. The slower demand came as U.S. production rose by 100,000 bpd to 11.7 million bpd after stagnating at 11.6 million bpd since early February. Watch | India: New Delhi continues to buy Russian oil, US may restrict other countries' oil purchase

Oil prices dive as US considers record reserves release

Major US and foreign automakers have backed environmental protection agencies new tougher vehicle emission regulations in a court challenge brought by some states.

Automakers back US government's vehicle emissions rules

The world powers are competing to dominate the Arctic region. Russia's Arctic gas ambitions are at risk. New orders for special vessels to ship fuel are in doubt.

World powers compete to dominate the Arctic

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden signed a bill making lynching a federal hate crime, putting an end to more than a century of delays in criminalising the symbol of what he called "pure terror."

The new law will punish anyone convicted of lynching for up to 30 years, ending what researchers say was an unbroken history of impunity over the thousands of lynchings that took place between the end of the Civil War and 1950.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-in-ukraine-enhances-eus-resolve-to-act-in-indo-pacific-says-top-diplomat-gabriele-466800" hreflang="en">War in Ukraine enhances EU's resolve to act in Indo Pacific, says top diplomat Gabriele</a>

The bill is named after the tragically murdered 14-year-old black teen Bill Emmett Till, who sparked the civil rights movement during the 1950s.

President Biden was joined at the Rose Garden ceremony by Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the first Black female vice president, and Michelle Duster, the great-granddaughter of anti-lynching activist and pioneering Black journalist Ida B. Wells.

Biden said lynching was "pure terror," noting the horrific practice of killing mostly black Americans in public, often in front of enthusiastic white crowds in the post-slavery United States.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-still-doubts-that-russia-is-serious-in-talks-with-ukraine-blinken-466765" hreflang="en">United States still doubts that Russia is serious in talks with Ukraine: Blinken</a>

However, Biden warned that "racial hate isn't an old problem, it's a persistent problem," stating that "hate never goes away, it only hides."

VP Harris also warned that "lynching is not a relic of the past."

"Racial acts of terror still occur in our nation," she said.&nbsp;

Earlier this month the Senate had unanimously passed this bill. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that the long delay has proven to be "a stain on America".

Watch |&nbsp;U.S. President Joe Biden says Asia-Pacific is still a priority as he hosts Singapore PM Loong

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-president-joe-biden-says-asia-pacific-is-still-a-priority-as-he-hosts-singapore-pm-loong-466806/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In August 1955, Bill Emmett Till was abducted and murdered while visiting relatives in the US southern state of Mississippi. The mutilated body of the teenager was discovered three days later in a nearby river.

This was in response to a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, alleging that he had propositioned her in a store and touched her on the arm, hand, and waist.&nbsp;

The mother of Till famously demanded that her son's remains be displayed in an open casket so that everyone could see what had been done.

A white Mississippi jury acquitted two men charged with murder, Roy Bryant, Carolyn Bryant's husband, and J W Milam, his half-brother. Later, the pair admitted that they had killed the boy in a magazine interview.

(WIth inputs from agencies)

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden signed a bill making lynching a federal hate crime, putting an end to more than a century of delays in criminalising the symbol of what he called "pure terror.

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden signed a bill making lynching a federal hate crime, putting an end to more than a century of delays in criminalising the symbol of what he called "pure terror." The new law will punish anyone convicted of lynching for up to 30 years, ending what researchers say was an unbroken history of impunity over the thousands of lynchings that took place between the end of the Civil War and 1950. Also read | War in Ukraine enhances EU's resolve to act in Indo Pacific, says top diplomat Gabriele The bill is named after the tragically murdered 14-year-old black teen Bill Emmett Till, who sparked the civil rights movement during the 1950s. President Biden was joined at the Rose Garden ceremony by Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the first Black female vice president, and Michelle Duster, the great-granddaughter of anti-lynching activist and pioneering Black journalist Ida B. Wells. Biden said lynching was "pure terror," noting the horrific practice of killing mostly black Americans in public, often in front of enthusiastic white crowds in the post-slavery United States. Also read | United States still doubts that Russia is serious in talks with Ukraine: Blinken However, Biden warned that "racial hate isn't an old problem, it's a persistent problem," stating that "hate never goes away, it only hides." VP Harris also warned that "lynching is not a relic of the past." "Racial acts of terror still occur in our nation," she said. Earlier this month the Senate had unanimously passed this bill. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that the long delay has proven to be "a stain on America". Watch | U.S. President Joe Biden says Asia-Pacific is still a priority as he hosts Singapore PM Loong In August 1955, Bill Emmett Till was abducted and murdered while visiting relatives in the US southern state of Mississippi. The mutilated body of the teenager was discovered three days later in a nearby river. This was in response to a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, alleging that he had propositioned her in a store and touched her on the arm, hand, and waist. The mother of Till famously demanded that her son's remains be displayed in an open casket so that everyone could see what had been done. A white Mississippi jury acquitted two men charged with murder, Roy Bryant, Carolyn Bryant's husband, and J W Milam, his half-brother. Later, the pair admitted that they had killed the boy in a magazine interview. (WIth inputs from agencies)

Biden makes the 'pure terror' of lynching a federal crime

U.S. President Joe Biden has called the Asia-Pacific as he hosted Singapore PM Loong. Both U.S. and Singapore condemned Russia's war.

U.S. President Joe Biden says Asia-Pacific is still a priority as he hosts Singapore PM Loong

The International space station that so many of us often forget was launched way back in 1998 and has long been a symbol of US-Russian collaboration, now it's interesting to see how will Russia's invasion of Ukraine change things up in space?

Ukraine-Russia conflict: Can USA & Russia cooperate in space?

U.S. President Biden signed a historic anti-lynching law which makes lynching a federal crime in the U.S. now. It is named after 14-year-old Emmett Till who was brutally murdered in a racist attack in Mississippi in 1955.

Lynching is now a federal crime in U.S. as Joe Biden signs historic anti-lynching law

Job exits in the US rose to 4.35 million in February, as the phenomenon known as 'The Great Resignation' continues. There were 11.27 million openings in the month. The labour shortage has left businesses struggling to find staff, despite offering higher wages.

The great resignation continues: 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs

The United States is preparing to take on the BA.2 variant of COVID-19 by allowing people aged 50 & above to receive a booster dose.

U.S: People aged 50 & above to get a booster dose to prepare for BA.2 variant

Amid the ongoing chip shortage worldwide, The U.S. Senate has approved a $52 billion chips bill. The chip shortage has disrupted production.

U.S. Senate approves $52 billion chips bill to curb chip shortage woes

Wealthy Americans may have to shell out more soon as the World's largest economy unveiled a minimum income tax for billionaires. It is a part of President Joe Biden's budget proposal for the current year.

U.S. President Biden's budget blueprint for 2023: Biden proposes a 20% tax on the rich

As the pandemic fades away, there is a huge rebound in airline travel. Amid this massive recovery, Jetblue plans to add 5,000 jobs in New York.

Jetblue to add 5,000 jobs in New York amid a rebound in airline travel post-pandemic

U.S. President Biden's budget blueprint for 2023: Higher taxes on the rich, lower deficits

USA's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Sunday issued a warning on Sunday alerting everyone about G1-class geomagnetic storm or solar storm. This storm had a K-index of 5. This, said the alert,&nbsp;may have caused Aurora borealis to be visible from few states in the US.

What are auroras?

Our Sun constantly gives out a stream of highly charged, magnetic particles. Solar storms refer to Coronal Mass Ejections (CME). In the case of a solar storm, a flood of magnetic particles travels in the direction of our planet.&nbsp;

Our Earth's atmosphere protects us from harmful effects of these magnetic particles emitted by the Sun. But these particles are able to interact with magnetic field of the Earth. This interaction results in what is visible from the surface of the Earth as aurora.

Though the NOAA gave an alert about the strong solar storm, NASA and NOAA differed in their predictions as to when the storm would impact the Earth.

“Fast Hit or Slow? An Earth-directed #solarstorm is on its way to Earth, but NASA &amp; NOAA predictions disagree on impact time. NASA says the impact will be near midnight on March 28, but NOAA believes 18 hours earlier. Either way #aurora could reach to mid-latitudes!" tweeted popular space weather forecaster Dr Tamitha Skov a few days ago.

USA's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Sunday issued a warning on Sunday alerting everyone about G1-class geomagnetic storm or solar storm.

USA's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Sunday issued a warning on Sunday alerting everyone about G1-class geomagnetic storm or solar storm. This storm had a K-index of 5. This, said the alert, may have caused Aurora borealis to be visible from few states in the US. What are auroras? Our Sun constantly gives out a stream of highly charged, magnetic particles. Solar storms refer to Coronal Mass Ejections (CME). In the case of a solar storm, a flood of magnetic particles travels in the direction of our planet. Our Earth's atmosphere protects us from harmful effects of these magnetic particles emitted by the Sun. But these particles are able to interact with magnetic field of the Earth. This interaction results in what is visible from the surface of the Earth as aurora. Though the NOAA gave an alert about the strong solar storm, NASA and NOAA differed in their predictions as to when the storm would impact the Earth. “Fast Hit or Slow? An Earth-directed #solarstorm is on its way to Earth, but NASA & NOAA predictions disagree on impact time. NASA says the impact will be near midnight on March 28, but NOAA believes 18 hours earlier. Either way #aurora could reach to mid-latitudes!" tweeted popular space weather forecaster Dr Tamitha Skov a few days ago.

A solar storm may have caused auroras in the US

Israel hosted foreign ministers from the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco and the U.S. at a desert retreat in the Negev. Will the summit begin a new era in Arab-Israel relations? Is America's dominance in West Asia coming to an end?

Historic Israeli-Arab Summit: The U.S. attempts to pacify miffed allies

Climate change has impacted the aviation sector in the U.S. and hot air makes it harder for a plane to fly. Under hot conditions, planes take more fuel to take off, airlines are planning for a hotter future.

Climate change impacts aviation sector, hot air makes it harder for plane to fly

The war in Ukraine has triggered a rise in the sale of weapons. Estimates say military spending could go up by 50% in the Next 5 years. The U.S. is one of the few countries benefiting from this rise in demand for weapons. Which are the rest? Listen in to Palki Sharma

Gravitas: Shares of defence companies soar amidst Ukraine war

&nbsp;A&nbsp;US&nbsp;representative&nbsp;will join a&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;with Chinese, Russian and Pakistan envoys on&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;this week, Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Chinese special envoy for&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;Yue Xiaoyong will host this&nbsp;meeting, said Wang Wenbin, a ministry spokesman.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-communist-party-calls-united-states-culprit-behind-ukraine-crisis-466612">Chinese Communist Party calls United States 'culprit' behind Ukraine crisis</a>

US&nbsp;embassy in&nbsp;China&nbsp;did not immediately give a comment.

The envoys&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;takes place while foreign ministers from&nbsp;Afghanistan's neighbours&nbsp;meet on Wednesday and Thursday in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui, Wang said.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-hard-liners-turning-back-the-clock-in-afghanistan-466610">&nbsp;Taliban hardliners turning back the clock in Afghanistan</a>

The ministerial&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;will be chaired by&nbsp;China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and&nbsp;attended by&nbsp;Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi together with diplomats from Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Qatar.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Global Headlines: Taliban issue new diktat

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-global-headlines-taliban-issue-new-diktat-466497/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A US representative will join a meeting with Chinese, Russian and Pakistan envoys on Afghanistan this week, Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday. Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiaoyong will host this meeting, said Wang Wenbin, a ministry spokesman.

A US representative will join a meeting with Chinese, Russian and Pakistan envoys on Afghanistan this week, Chinese foreign ministry said on Tuesday. Chinese special envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiaoyong will host this meeting, said Wang Wenbin, a ministry spokesman. Also read | Chinese Communist Party calls United States 'culprit' behind Ukraine crisis US embassy in China did not immediately give a comment. The envoys meeting takes place while foreign ministers from Afghanistan's neighbours meet on Wednesday and Thursday in the eastern Chinese province of Anhui, Wang said. Also read | Taliban hardliners turning back the clock in Afghanistan The ministerial meeting will be chaired by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and attended by Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi together with diplomats from Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Qatar. Watch | Gravitas Global Headlines: Taliban issue new diktat

China says U.S. representative will attend Afghanistan meeting in China

Seven Indian-origin persons have been charged by US federal authorities with insider trading in a scheme through which they made over a million dollars in illegal profits.

Hari Prasad Sure, 34, Lokesh Lagudu, 31 and Chotu Prabhu Tej Pulagam, 29, are friends and worked as software engineers at Twilio, a San Francisco-based cloud computing communications company, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday.

The complaint said Mr Sure tipped his close friend Dileep Kumar Reddy Kamujula, 35, who successfully traded in Twilio's options. Mr Lagudu similarly tipped his girlfriend Sai Nekkalapudi, 30 with whom he lived, and he also tipped his former roommate and close friend Abhishek Dharmapurikar, 33. Mr Pulagam tipped his brother Chetan Prabhu Pulagam, 31. All the seven defendants live in California.

The SEC announced insider trading charges against the seven individuals for allegedly generating more than USD 1 million in collective profits by insider trading ahead of Twilio's positive first quarter 2020 earnings announcement on May 6, 2020.

According to the SEC's complaint, Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam had access to various databases relevant to Twilio's reporting of revenue.

As alleged, around March 2020, they learned through the databases that Twilio's customers had increased their usage of the company's products and services in response to health measures taken in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and concluded in a joint chat that Twilio's stock price would "rise for sure."

The SEC's complaint alleges that despite receiving a company policy that prohibited them from insider trading, Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam knowingly tipped off, or used the brokerage accounts of Mr Kamujula, Ms Nekkalapudi, Mr Dharmapurikar and Chetan Pulagam to trade Twilio options and stock in advance of its May 6, 2020 earnings announcement while in possession of the confidential information concerning customer usage.

According to the complaint, the scheme generated more than USD 1 million in illegal trading profits.

The SEC complaint said that Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam "communicated at times in Telugu, a language used frequently in parts of India." From late March to early May 2020, they engaged in discussions about the upcoming earnings announcement within a private chat channel they created at Twilio.

"On several occasions between late March and early May 2020, before Twilio's public earnings announcement, Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam used internal chat channels to discuss in Telugu whether Twilio might exceed market expectations in its quarterly report of earnings, due in May 2020."

The complaint said that "armed with valuable inside information", they had obtained from Twilio, Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam began passing tips to their family and friends through phone calls and in-person visits in advance of Twilio's earnings announcement on May 6, 2020.

"We allege that this insider trading ring took advantage of valuable revenue information related to the pandemic at a San Francisco tech company," said Monique C. Winkler, Acting Regional Director of the SEC's San Francisco Regional Office.

"We are holding these alleged tippers and tippees accountable for their roles in the scheme." The SEC complaint added that Mr Kamujula, Ms Nekkalapudi, Mr Dharmapurikar, and Chetan Pulagam were themselves employees of other publicly traded companies, and they understood it was improper for the insiders to tip another person to trade securities on the basis of material, nonpublic information. Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam used their friends and family to profit personally from their insider trading scheme and to avoid detection.

On May 4, 2020 (just two days before the scheduled Twilio earnings announcement), Mr Sure, Mr Pulagam, and Mr Chotu Pulagam discussed in the chat channel their anticipation that Twilio's stock price, which was then trading around USD 110 per share, would dramatically increase following the earnings announcement and readied themselves to sell their own company restricted stock units post-announcement.

"Sure noted "[l]ooks like [the stock price] is going to be $150," to which Chotu Pulagam responded "Millionaireeee," the complaint said.

The SEC's complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, charges each of the defendants with violating anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act. The US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California also announced criminal charges against Kamujula.

Seven Indian-origin persons have been charged by US federal authorities with insider trading in a scheme through which they made over a million dollars in illegal profits.

Seven Indian-origin persons have been charged by US federal authorities with insider trading in a scheme through which they made over a million dollars in illegal profits. Hari Prasad Sure, 34, Lokesh Lagudu, 31 and Chotu Prabhu Tej Pulagam, 29, are friends and worked as software engineers at Twilio, a San Francisco-based cloud computing communications company, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday. The complaint said Mr Sure tipped his close friend Dileep Kumar Reddy Kamujula, 35, who successfully traded in Twilio's options. Mr Lagudu similarly tipped his girlfriend Sai Nekkalapudi, 30 with whom he lived, and he also tipped his former roommate and close friend Abhishek Dharmapurikar, 33. Mr Pulagam tipped his brother Chetan Prabhu Pulagam, 31. All the seven defendants live in California. The SEC announced insider trading charges against the seven individuals for allegedly generating more than USD 1 million in collective profits by insider trading ahead of Twilio's positive first quarter 2020 earnings announcement on May 6, 2020. According to the SEC's complaint, Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam had access to various databases relevant to Twilio's reporting of revenue. As alleged, around March 2020, they learned through the databases that Twilio's customers had increased their usage of the company's products and services in response to health measures taken in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and concluded in a joint chat that Twilio's stock price would "rise for sure." The SEC's complaint alleges that despite receiving a company policy that prohibited them from insider trading, Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam knowingly tipped off, or used the brokerage accounts of Mr Kamujula, Ms Nekkalapudi, Mr Dharmapurikar and Chetan Pulagam to trade Twilio options and stock in advance of its May 6, 2020 earnings announcement while in possession of the confidential information concerning customer usage. According to the complaint, the scheme generated more than USD 1 million in illegal trading profits. The SEC complaint said that Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam "communicated at times in Telugu, a language used frequently in parts of India." From late March to early May 2020, they engaged in discussions about the upcoming earnings announcement within a private chat channel they created at Twilio. "On several occasions between late March and early May 2020, before Twilio's public earnings announcement, Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam used internal chat channels to discuss in Telugu whether Twilio might exceed market expectations in its quarterly report of earnings, due in May 2020." The complaint said that "armed with valuable inside information", they had obtained from Twilio, Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam began passing tips to their family and friends through phone calls and in-person visits in advance of Twilio's earnings announcement on May 6, 2020. "We allege that this insider trading ring took advantage of valuable revenue information related to the pandemic at a San Francisco tech company," said Monique C. Winkler, Acting Regional Director of the SEC's San Francisco Regional Office. "We are holding these alleged tippers and tippees accountable for their roles in the scheme." The SEC complaint added that Mr Kamujula, Ms Nekkalapudi, Mr Dharmapurikar, and Chetan Pulagam were themselves employees of other publicly traded companies, and they understood it was improper for the insiders to tip another person to trade securities on the basis of material, nonpublic information. Mr Sure, Mr Lagudu and Mr Chotu Pulagam used their friends and family to profit personally from their insider trading scheme and to avoid detection. On May 4, 2020 (just two days before the scheduled Twilio earnings announcement), Mr Sure, Mr Pulagam, and Mr Chotu Pulagam discussed in the chat channel their anticipation that Twilio's stock price, which was then trading around USD 110 per share, would dramatically increase following the earnings announcement and readied themselves to sell their own company restricted stock units post-announcement. "Sure noted "[l]ooks like [the stock price] is going to be $150," to which Chotu Pulagam responded "Millionaireeee," the complaint said. The SEC's complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, charges each of the defendants with violating anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act. The US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California also announced criminal charges against Kamujula.

7 Indian-origin techies booked insider trading worth $1 million in US

Art is a highly specialised field. Only experts get to become curators of art museums. But not anymore. Well, really as The Baltimore Museum of Art has given this job to 17 officers of its security team. &nbsp;

The exhibition named "Guarding the Art" displays 25 unique works, which have been selected by the members of the team. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/drinking-coffee-can-protect-heart-instead-of-triggering-ailments-help-to-live-longer-says-study-465642" hreflang="en">Drinking coffee can protect heart instead of triggering ailments, help to live longer, says study &nbsp;</a>

It is open from March 27 to July 10.&nbsp;The exhibition will give&nbsp;guests a glimpse into the world of art through the eyes of the guards, who watch over it.

So, wondering whose idea it was? The answer is Amy Elias, one of the museum's trustees. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;The US, allies discuss further oil release due to the rise in gas prices worldwide

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A conversation with a friend led to consider "how the guards spend more time with art than anyone else. And so, I went home at night and I thought, well, wouldn't it be interesting to hear from the guards about what pieces of work they find most meaningful?" Elias told CNN. &nbsp;

Rob Kempton, who has been a part of the BMA's security team since 2016, was elated at the opportunity. "I had never been a security guard before. But working at the BMA, being surrounded by art, was something that struck me as important," Kempton told CNN. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Art is a highly specialised field. Only experts get to become curators of art museums. But not anymore. Well, really as The Baltimore Museum of Art has given this job to 17 officers of its security team.

Art is a highly specialised field. Only experts get to become curators of art museums. But not anymore. Well, really as The Baltimore Museum of Art has given this job to 17 officers of its security team. The exhibition named "Guarding the Art" displays 25 unique works, which have been selected by the members of the team. Also Read: Drinking coffee can protect heart instead of triggering ailments, help to live longer, says study It is open from March 27 to July 10. The exhibition will give guests a glimpse into the world of art through the eyes of the guards, who watch over it. So, wondering whose idea it was? The answer is Amy Elias, one of the museum's trustees. Watch: The US, allies discuss further oil release due to the rise in gas prices worldwide × A conversation with a friend led to consider "how the guards spend more time with art than anyone else. And so, I went home at night and I thought, well, wouldn't it be interesting to hear from the guards about what pieces of work they find most meaningful?" Elias told CNN. Rob Kempton, who has been a part of the BMA's security team since 2016, was elated at the opportunity. "I had never been a security guard before. But working at the BMA, being surrounded by art, was something that struck me as important," Kempton told CNN. (With inputs from agencies)

Anything possible? Security guards turn art museum curators in US  

Chinese telecoms giant&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;on Monday reported&nbsp;record&nbsp;profit&nbsp;for&nbsp;2021&nbsp;despite&nbsp;being heavily hit by US&nbsp;sanctions.

The Chinese telecom company has been caught in the crosshairs of the US-China trade and technology standoff, with the administration of former President Donald Trump moving to cripple it over cybersecurity and espionage concerns.

Chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, also the daughter of CEO and founder Ren Zhengfei, appeared at a news conference in Shenzhen to publish the company's annual results for the first time since being held in Canada in 2018 on a US warrant.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anything-possible-security-guards-turn-art-museum-curators-in-us-466239">Anything possible? Security guards turn art museum curators in US&nbsp;</a>

Huawei&nbsp;posted a&nbsp;net&nbsp;profit&nbsp;of 113.7 billion yuan ($17.8 billion) last year, a rise of 76 percent on-year, but revenue slumped by around 29 percent as it grappled with US&nbsp;sanctions&nbsp;aimed at blocking access to key technology and supplies.

"Despite&nbsp;a revenue decline in&nbsp;2021, our ability to make a&nbsp;profit&nbsp;and generate cash flows is increasing, and we are more capable of dealing with uncertainty," Meng said in a statement Monday.

The company attributes its profitability to "improved product portfolios and more efficient internal operations", with a rise in&nbsp;net&nbsp;profit&nbsp;margin even with gains from the sale of its budget phone brand Honor excluded.

Huawei, a supplier of telecom&nbsp;networking&nbsp;gear and smartphone brand, has been struggling since Trump in 2018 launched a campaign to contain the company.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-telecom-giant-huawei-reportedly-helping-russia-to-stabilise-internet-network-459936">Chinese telecom giant Huawei reportedly helping Russia to stabilise internet network</a>

Smartphone sales stalled after the US cut&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;off from key parts and barred it from using Google's Android services.

Last year&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;logged 243 billion yuan in consumer business sales -- almost 50 percent down from 2020.

Huawei&nbsp;has instead tried to shore up other parts of its business, refocusing on the Chinese market and diversifying to encompass enterprise and cloud computing, along with other business segments related to 5G networks.

Watch |&nbsp;High fuel fines for US automakers not meeting fuel economy rules

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Chinese telecoms giant Huawei on Monday reported record profit for 2021 despite being heavily hit by US sanctions. The Chinese telecom company has been caught in the crosshairs of the US-China trade and technology standoff, with the administration of former President Donald Trump moving to cripple it over cybersecurity and espionage concerns.

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei on Monday reported record profit for 2021 despite being heavily hit by US sanctions. The Chinese telecom company has been caught in the crosshairs of the US-China trade and technology standoff, with the administration of former President Donald Trump moving to cripple it over cybersecurity and espionage concerns. Chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, also the daughter of CEO and founder Ren Zhengfei, appeared at a news conference in Shenzhen to publish the company's annual results for the first time since being held in Canada in 2018 on a US warrant. Also read | Anything possible? Security guards turn art museum curators in US Huawei posted a net profit of 113.7 billion yuan ($17.8 billion) last year, a rise of 76 percent on-year, but revenue slumped by around 29 percent as it grappled with US sanctions aimed at blocking access to key technology and supplies. "Despite a revenue decline in 2021, our ability to make a profit and generate cash flows is increasing, and we are more capable of dealing with uncertainty," Meng said in a statement Monday. The company attributes its profitability to "improved product portfolios and more efficient internal operations", with a rise in net profit margin even with gains from the sale of its budget phone brand Honor excluded. Huawei, a supplier of telecom networking gear and smartphone brand, has been struggling since Trump in 2018 launched a campaign to contain the company. Also read | Chinese telecom giant Huawei reportedly helping Russia to stabilise internet network Smartphone sales stalled after the US cut Huawei off from key parts and barred it from using Google's Android services. Last year Huawei logged 243 billion yuan in consumer business sales -- almost 50 percent down from 2020. Huawei has instead tried to shore up other parts of its business, refocusing on the Chinese market and diversifying to encompass enterprise and cloud computing, along with other business segments related to 5G networks. Watch | High fuel fines for US automakers not meeting fuel economy rules

Huawei reports record net profit in 2021 despite US sanctions

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday added Russia's AO&nbsp;Kaspersky&nbsp;Lab,&nbsp;China&nbsp;Telecom&nbsp;(Americas) Corp and&nbsp;China&nbsp;Mobile International&nbsp;USA to its&nbsp;list&nbsp;of communications equipment and service providers deemed&nbsp;threats to&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;national&nbsp;security.

The regulator last year designated five Chinese companies including Huawei Technologies Co and ZTE Corp as the first&nbsp;firms&nbsp;on the&nbsp;list, which was mandated under a 2019 law.&nbsp;Kaspersky&nbsp;is the first Russian company&nbsp;listed.

FCC&nbsp;Commissioner Brendan Carr said the new designations "will help secure our networks from&nbsp;threats posed by Chinese and Russian state-backed entities seeking to engage in espionage and otherwise harm America’s interests."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-cancels-license-of-china-owned-telecom-company-462991">US cancels license of China-owned telecom company</a>

U.S. officials have long said that running&nbsp;Kaspersky&nbsp;software could open American networks to malign activity from Moscow and banned&nbsp;Kaspersky's flagship antivirus product from federal networks in 2017. Moscow-based&nbsp;Kaspersky&nbsp;has consistently denied being a tool of the Russian government,

In naming&nbsp;Kaspersky, the&nbsp;FCC&nbsp;announcement did not cite Russia's invasion of Ukraine or recent warnings by President Joe Biden of potential cyberattacks by Russia in response to&nbsp;U.S. sanctions and support of Ukraine.

Kaspersky&nbsp;said in a statement that it was disappointed in the&nbsp;FCC&nbsp;decision, arguing it was "made on political grounds." The move was “unsubstantiated and is a response to the geopolitical climate rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of&nbsp;Kaspersky’s products and services," the company said.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington said Friday that the&nbsp;FCC&nbsp;"abused state power and maliciously attacked Chinese&nbsp;telecom&nbsp;operators again without factual basis. The&nbsp;U.S. should immediately stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies.

"China&nbsp;will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," it added.

The Chinese companies did not immediately comment.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-telecom-giant-huawei-reportedly-helping-russia-to-stabilise-internet-network-459936">Chinese telecom giant Huawei reportedly helping Russia to stabilise internet network</a>

In October, the&nbsp;FCC&nbsp;revoked the&nbsp;U.S. authorization for&nbsp;China&nbsp;Telecom&nbsp;(Americas), saying it "is subject to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government."&nbsp;

The&nbsp;FCC&nbsp;cited its prior decisions to deny or revoke the Chinese&nbsp;telecom&nbsp;companies' ability to operate in United States in its decision to add them to the&nbsp;threat&nbsp;list.

The&nbsp;FCC&nbsp;also revoked the&nbsp;U.S. authorizations of&nbsp;China&nbsp;Unicom and Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet.

In 2019, the&nbsp;FCC&nbsp;rejected&nbsp;China&nbsp;Mobile's bid to provide&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;telecommunications services, citing&nbsp;national&nbsp;security&nbsp;risks.

Inclusion on the "covered&nbsp;list" means money from the&nbsp;FCC’s $8 billion annual Universal Service Fund may not be used to purchase or maintain products from the companies. The fund supports&nbsp;telecommunications for rural areas, low-income consumers, and facilities such as schools, libraries and hospitals.

The&nbsp;FCC&nbsp;last year also named Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Dahua Technology as&nbsp;security&nbsp;threats.

FCC&nbsp;Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency worked closely with&nbsp;U.S.&nbsp;national&nbsp;security&nbsp;agencies to update the&nbsp;list&nbsp;and will add additional companies if warranted.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: YouTube blocks WION for reporting Russian statement

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday added Russia's AO Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom (Americas) Corp and China Mobile International USA to its list of communications equipment and service providers deemed threats to U.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday added Russia's AO Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom (Americas) Corp and China Mobile International USA to its list of communications equipment and service providers deemed threats to U.S. national security. The regulator last year designated five Chinese companies including Huawei Technologies Co and ZTE Corp as the first firms on the list, which was mandated under a 2019 law. Kaspersky is the first Russian company listed. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said the new designations "will help secure our networks from threats posed by Chinese and Russian state-backed entities seeking to engage in espionage and otherwise harm America’s interests." Also read | US cancels license of China-owned telecom company U.S. officials have long said that running Kaspersky software could open American networks to malign activity from Moscow and banned Kaspersky's flagship antivirus product from federal networks in 2017. Moscow-based Kaspersky has consistently denied being a tool of the Russian government, In naming Kaspersky, the FCC announcement did not cite Russia's invasion of Ukraine or recent warnings by President Joe Biden of potential cyberattacks by Russia in response to U.S. sanctions and support of Ukraine. Kaspersky said in a statement that it was disappointed in the FCC decision, arguing it was "made on political grounds." The move was “unsubstantiated and is a response to the geopolitical climate rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kaspersky’s products and services," the company said. The Chinese Embassy in Washington said Friday that the FCC "abused state power and maliciously attacked Chinese telecom operators again without factual basis. The U.S. should immediately stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies. "China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies," it added. The Chinese companies did not immediately comment. Also read | Chinese telecom giant Huawei reportedly helping Russia to stabilise internet network In October, the FCC revoked the U.S. authorization for China Telecom (Americas), saying it "is subject to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government." The FCC cited its prior decisions to deny or revoke the Chinese telecom companies' ability to operate in United States in its decision to add them to the threat list. The FCC also revoked the U.S. authorizations of China Unicom and Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet. In 2019, the FCC rejected China Mobile's bid to provide U.S. telecommunications services, citing national security risks. Inclusion on the "covered list" means money from the FCC’s $8 billion annual Universal Service Fund may not be used to purchase or maintain products from the companies. The fund supports telecommunications for rural areas, low-income consumers, and facilities such as schools, libraries and hospitals. The FCC last year also named Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Dahua Technology as security threats. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency worked closely with U.S. national security agencies to update the list and will add additional companies if warranted. Watch | Gravitas: YouTube blocks WION for reporting Russian statement

US FCC adds Russia's Kaspersky, China telecom firms to national security threat list

The White House's deputy&nbsp;spokeswoman&nbsp;said Sunday she has tested&nbsp;positive&nbsp;for&nbsp;Covid-19 following a trip to Europe with President Joe&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;that she only joined because the senior press secretary canceled after getting her own&nbsp;positive&nbsp;test.

The announcement by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was the latest in a string of&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;cases among people who have spent time with&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;or people around him.

Jean-Pierre said she had a&nbsp;positive&nbsp;PCR test after returning in the early hours of Sunday to the United States with&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;from Brussels and Poland. But she said the president, who has been vaccinated and boosted, was not in danger.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-biden-not-seeking-regime-change-in-russia-clarifies-white-house-465824">&nbsp;President Biden not seeking regime change in Russia, clarifies White House</a>

"This afternoon... I took a PCR test. That test came back&nbsp;positive. I last saw the president during a socially distanced meeting yesterday, and the president is not considered a close contact as defined by CDC guidance," she said in a statement.

"I am sharing the news of my&nbsp;positive&nbsp;test today out of an abundance of transparency," said Jean-Pierre, who added that she is experiencing "mild symptoms" and has been fully vaccinated.

Last Tuesday, on the eve of&nbsp;Biden's departure, Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced she had received a&nbsp;positive&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;test. This required Jean-Pierre to fill in for Psaki on the high-profile trip, which included a series of summits in Belgium and a visit with US troops and Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wary-of-escalation-france-calls-for-restraint-after-bidens-butcher-jibe-466052">Wary of escalation, France calls for restraint after Biden's 'butcher' jibe</a>

Earlier this month,&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;attended a dinner in Washington where he met with Ireland's prime minister, Micheal Martin, who then abruptly left the gala after being informed of a&nbsp;positive&nbsp;Covid&nbsp;test.

The White House said that&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;had not spent enough time with Martin to be at risk and did not require more frequent testing.

Shortly before Martin's case, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, who regularly sees&nbsp;Biden, also tested&nbsp;positive&nbsp;for&nbsp;Covid-19.

Watch |&nbsp;Biden admin's course-correction over 'regime change in Russia' remark

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The White House's deputy spokeswoman said Sunday she has tested positive for Covid-19 following a trip to Europe with President Joe Biden that she only joined because the senior press secretary canceled after getting her own positive test.

The White House's deputy spokeswoman said Sunday she has tested positive for Covid-19 following a trip to Europe with President Joe Biden that she only joined because the senior press secretary canceled after getting her own positive test. The announcement by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was the latest in a string of Covid cases among people who have spent time with Biden or people around him. Jean-Pierre said she had a positive PCR test after returning in the early hours of Sunday to the United States with Biden from Brussels and Poland. But she said the president, who has been vaccinated and boosted, was not in danger. Also read | President Biden not seeking regime change in Russia, clarifies White House "This afternoon... I took a PCR test. That test came back positive. I last saw the president during a socially distanced meeting yesterday, and the president is not considered a close contact as defined by CDC guidance," she said in a statement. "I am sharing the news of my positive test today out of an abundance of transparency," said Jean-Pierre, who added that she is experiencing "mild symptoms" and has been fully vaccinated. Last Tuesday, on the eve of Biden's departure, Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced she had received a positive Covid test. This required Jean-Pierre to fill in for Psaki on the high-profile trip, which included a series of summits in Belgium and a visit with US troops and Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Also read | Wary of escalation, France calls for restraint after Biden's 'butcher' jibe Earlier this month, Biden attended a dinner in Washington where he met with Ireland's prime minister, Micheal Martin, who then abruptly left the gala after being informed of a positive Covid test. The White House said that Biden had not spent enough time with Martin to be at risk and did not require more frequent testing. Shortly before Martin's case, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, who regularly sees Biden, also tested positive for Covid-19. Watch | Biden admin's course-correction over 'regime change in Russia' remark

Another Biden spokeswoman tests positive for Covid

In this conversation with Strategic Analyst, John Erath said, "Russia is trying to create North, South Korea like divide in Ukraine". Watch this exclusive conversation on WION.

Day 32 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Is Moscow changing its strategy?

In an accident, a man was killed after he rammed his car into an 11-feet-long&nbsp;alligator in Florida, the United States. &nbsp;

The mishap occurred after midnight on Thursday, as per a statement of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-police-departments-take-pledge-to-raise-women-staff-to-30-by-2030-465955" hreflang="en">US police departments take pledge to raise women staff to 30% by 2030</a>

The driver, 59-year-old John Hopkins, was going east on County Road 672 in Lithia, which is about two miles west of County Road 39, when he accidently struck the alligator in the roadway. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The collision made the vehicle go off the road and fall into a ditch. A passing driver noticed the accident and called 911, the sheriff's office said. &nbsp;

When detectives arrived at the scene, Hopkins and the alligator were both dead. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlights Israel's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict

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In US, Florida and Louisiana have the largest alligator populations. Around 1.3 million wild alligators are present in Florida alone, as per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A representative of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office told CNN that car crashes involving alligators are "not common." &nbsp;

A standard fatal crash investigation will also be conducted by the sheriff's office to determine what factors may have led to the accident. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In an accident, a man was killed after he rammed his car into an 11-feet-long alligator in Florida, the United States. The mishap occurred after midnight on Thursday, as per a statement of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

In an accident, a man was killed after he rammed his car into an 11-feet-long alligator in Florida, the United States. The mishap occurred after midnight on Thursday, as per a statement of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. Also Read: US police departments take pledge to raise women staff to 30% by 2030 The driver, 59-year-old John Hopkins, was going east on County Road 672 in Lithia, which is about two miles west of County Road 39, when he accidently struck the alligator in the roadway. The collision made the vehicle go off the road and fall into a ditch. A passing driver noticed the accident and called 911, the sheriff's office said. When detectives arrived at the scene, Hopkins and the alligator were both dead. Watch: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlights Israel's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict × In US, Florida and Louisiana have the largest alligator populations. Around 1.3 million wild alligators are present in Florida alone, as per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. A representative of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office told CNN that car crashes involving alligators are "not common." A standard fatal crash investigation will also be conducted by the sheriff's office to determine what factors may have led to the accident. (With inputs from agencies)

After ramming car into 11-feet-long alligator on roadway, 59-year-old man dies in US

With an aim to raise the representation of women in ranks to 30% by 2030, Memphis Police Department and the New York State Police have taken a pledge recently. &nbsp;

These agencies joined a coalition of 150 law enforcement agencies in the US and Canada, who had taken the oath last year. &nbsp;

The two departments took the initiative on the one-year anniversary of the endeavour on Friday. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iditarod-trail-sled-dog-race-3-mushers-shelter-dogs-in-winter-storm-get-penalised-465923" hreflang="en">'Iditarod Trail Sled Dog' race: 3 mushers shelter canines in winter storm, get penalised &nbsp;</a>

The 30×30 Initiative is a coalition of researchers, police leaders and professional organisations. It aims to spike the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30% by 2030. It also looks to ensure that policing culture and policies support women throughout their careers. &nbsp;

In recent weeks, four other police departments, such as Fresno, California; the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC; Indiana University at Bloomington; and the city of Bloomington in Indiana, took the pledge, as per Kym Craven, executive director, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE). &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlights Israel's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict

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The initiative is also affiliated with NAWLEE and the Policing Project at NYU School of Law. &nbsp;

“We started this with really no funding and just sheer will. We’ve now attracted some funding and we’re expanding our programming as a result of that. They come in steadily and we’re getting a real big diversity of agencies signing on now. Even smaller agencies are seeing that they can join the pledge,” Craven said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

With an aim to raise the representation of women in ranks to 30% by 2030, Memphis Police Department and the New York State Police have taken a pledge recently. These agencies joined a coalition of 150 law enforcement agencies in the US and Canada, who had taken the oath last year.

With an aim to raise the representation of women in ranks to 30% by 2030, Memphis Police Department and the New York State Police have taken a pledge recently. These agencies joined a coalition of 150 law enforcement agencies in the US and Canada, who had taken the oath last year. The two departments took the initiative on the one-year anniversary of the endeavour on Friday. Also Read: 'Iditarod Trail Sled Dog' race: 3 mushers shelter canines in winter storm, get penalised The 30×30 Initiative is a coalition of researchers, police leaders and professional organisations. It aims to spike the representation of women in police recruit classes to 30% by 2030. It also looks to ensure that policing culture and policies support women throughout their careers. In recent weeks, four other police departments, such as Fresno, California; the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC; Indiana University at Bloomington; and the city of Bloomington in Indiana, took the pledge, as per Kym Craven, executive director, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE). Watch: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlights Israel's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict × The initiative is also affiliated with NAWLEE and the Policing Project at NYU School of Law. “We started this with really no funding and just sheer will. We’ve now attracted some funding and we’re expanding our programming as a result of that. They come in steadily and we’re getting a real big diversity of agencies signing on now. Even smaller agencies are seeing that they can join the pledge,” Craven said. (With inputs from agencies)

US police departments take pledge to raise women staff to 30% by 2030

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel at present for attending 'landmark' talks. Iran Nuclear deal is also on the agenda.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlights Israel's role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's statement on Arab-Israeli relations

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel for 'landmark' talks

US&nbsp;Special Envoy for&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;Robert Malley said on Sunday that he was not confident that a&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;deal&nbsp;between world powers and&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;was imminent after 11 months of talks in Vienna that have stalled.

"I can't be confident it is imminent.. a few months ago we thought we were pretty close as well," Malley said at the Doha Forum international conference.

"The sooner we get back into the&nbsp;deal, which is in our interest, and presumably&nbsp;Iran's interest, the more faithfully we implement it."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/top-10-world-news-eu-says-nuclear-agreement-with-iran-very-close-and-more-465755">Top 10 world news: EU says nuclear agreement with Iran very close and more</a>

His assessment of negotiations in Vienna to revive a 2015&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;accord seemed to contradict Kamal Kharrazi, a senior advisor to&nbsp;Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"Yes, it's imminent. It depends on the political will of the United States," Kharrazi told the conference.

Then-US&nbsp;President Donald Trump abandoned the pact in 2018, prompting Tehran to start violating its&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;limits about a year later, and months of on-and-off talks to revive it paused in Vienna earlier this month after Russia presented a new obstacle.

Russia later said it had received written guarantees that it would be able to carry out its work as a party to the&nbsp;deal, suggesting Moscow could allow it to be resuscitated.

The failure of efforts to restore the pact could carry the risk of a regional war, or lead to more harsh Western sanctions on&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and continued upward pressure on world oil prices that are already high due to the Ukraine conflict, analysts say.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nuclear-agreement-with-iran-very-close-says-eu-465690">Nuclear agreement with Iran very close, says EU</a>

Kharrazi said it was vital for Washington to remove the foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) designation against&nbsp;Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"IRGC is a national army and a national army being listed as a terrorist group certainly is not acceptable," he said.

Tehran has also been pushing for guarantees that any future US&nbsp;president would not withdraw from the&nbsp;deal, which would curb Tehran's&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;programme in exchange for lifting tough sanctions which have hammered&nbsp;Iran's economy.

The extent to which sanctions would be rolled back is another sensitive subject.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Will Russia scuttle Iran nuclear deal?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-russia-scuttle-iran-nuclear-deal-462985/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley said on Sunday that he was not confident that a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran was imminent after 11 months of talks in Vienna that have stalled.

US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley said on Sunday that he was not confident that a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran was imminent after 11 months of talks in Vienna that have stalled. "I can't be confident it is imminent.. a few months ago we thought we were pretty close as well," Malley said at the Doha Forum international conference. "The sooner we get back into the deal, which is in our interest, and presumably Iran's interest, the more faithfully we implement it." Also read | Top 10 world news: EU says nuclear agreement with Iran very close and more His assessment of negotiations in Vienna to revive a 2015 nuclear accord seemed to contradict Kamal Kharrazi, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "Yes, it's imminent. It depends on the political will of the United States," Kharrazi told the conference. Then-US President Donald Trump abandoned the pact in 2018, prompting Tehran to start violating its nuclear limits about a year later, and months of on-and-off talks to revive it paused in Vienna earlier this month after Russia presented a new obstacle. Russia later said it had received written guarantees that it would be able to carry out its work as a party to the deal, suggesting Moscow could allow it to be resuscitated. The failure of efforts to restore the pact could carry the risk of a regional war, or lead to more harsh Western sanctions on Iran and continued upward pressure on world oil prices that are already high due to the Ukraine conflict, analysts say. Also read | Nuclear agreement with Iran very close, says EU Kharrazi said it was vital for Washington to remove the foreign terrorist organisation (FTO) designation against Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). "IRGC is a national army and a national army being listed as a terrorist group certainly is not acceptable," he said. Tehran has also been pushing for guarantees that any future US president would not withdraw from the deal, which would curb Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for lifting tough sanctions which have hammered Iran's economy. The extent to which sanctions would be rolled back is another sensitive subject. Watch | Gravitas: Will Russia scuttle Iran nuclear deal?

US envoy not confident Iran nuclear deal is imminent

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