In Pics | Several vigils in US on the anniversary of the deadly Capitol riots

<p>To strengthen defence ties, the United States and Japan look to sign two pacts soon.</p>

<p>The two nations, who are looking to deepen defence cooperation,&nbsp;will ink a new five-year agreement soon to share the cost of the American military presence in the country, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-national-in-us-steals-agricultural-tech-pleads-guilty-to-economic-espionage-442777">Chinese national in US steals agricultural tech, pleads guilty</a></strong></p>

<p>The leader was speaking at the outset of a virtual conference, which was held between the US and Japanese foreign and defence ministers on Thursday. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The two nations will also sign a deal to collaborate closely in research and development of defence-related technologies, which may include ways to counter threats from hypersonic weapons, said Blinken. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who joined virtually from home as he is recovering from a COVID-19 infection, said the US-Japan alliance is highly important. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-non-woke-social-media-app-rivalling-the-biased-big-tech-to-launch-soon-442778" hreflang="en">Trump's 'non-woke' social media app rivalling the 'biased' big-tech to launch soon</a></strong></p>

<p>"We're meeting against a backdrop of increased tensions and challenges to the free, stable and secure Indo-Pacific region that we both seek challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear ambitions and by the coercive and aggressive behaviour of the People's Republic of China," Austin said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"We remain grateful for the support that Japan continues to provide US forces deployed there and for an extraordinary level of mutual cooperation across the full spectrum of military capabilities," he added. &nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em></p>


To strengthen defence ties, the United States and Japan look to sign two pacts soon. The two nations, who are looking to deepen defence cooperation, will ink a new five-year agreement soon to share the cost of the American military presence in the country, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

To strengthen defence ties, the United States and Japan look to sign two pacts soon. The two nations, who are looking to deepen defence cooperation, will ink a new five-year agreement soon to share the cost of the American military presence in the country, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Also Read: Chinese national in US steals agricultural tech, pleads guilty The leader was speaking at the outset of a virtual conference, which was held between the US and Japanese foreign and defence ministers on Thursday. The two nations will also sign a deal to collaborate closely in research and development of defence-related technologies, which may include ways to counter threats from hypersonic weapons, said Blinken. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who joined virtually from home as he is recovering from a COVID-19 infection, said the US-Japan alliance is highly important. Also Read: Trump's 'non-woke' social media app rivalling the 'biased' big-tech to launch soon "We're meeting against a backdrop of increased tensions and challenges to the free, stable and secure Indo-Pacific region that we both seek challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear ambitions and by the coercive and aggressive behaviour of the People's Republic of China," Austin said. "We remain grateful for the support that Japan continues to provide US forces deployed there and for an extraordinary level of mutual cooperation across the full spectrum of military capabilities," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

To strengthen ties, US, Japan look to ink crucial defence pacts soon

<p>The deadly coronavirus pandemic has not only affected the healthcare systems but has also put a major strain on the global economy. In a recent development, it was revealed that the US economy added only 199,000 jobs in December. Also, the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 per cent. This comes as a major setback for analysts as they had expected a massive gain n payrolls.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Labor Department report further revealed that the number of unemployed people dropped by 483,000 in December and by 4.5 million in the entire 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Increases were seen in job gains for November and October. As per the data, the economy gained an average of 537,000 positions a month in 2021.</p>

<p>Michael Pearce, senior US economist with capital economics, in a report said, "The muted 199,000 gain in non-farm payrolls and the more muted increase in labor force participation suggest that worker shortages were becoming a bigger restraint on employment growth, even before the Omicron surge in infections, which could knock hundreds of thousands off payrolls in January."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-chinas-zero-covid-strategy-what-it-is-how-it-functions-and-does-it-work-442865"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Explainer: China's 'zero covid' strategy; what it is, how it functions and does it work?</strong></a></p>

<p>This comes at a time when consumer prices in the US surged by 6.8 per cent in November for the first time in decades. This was the highest annual inflation rate since June 1982.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Inflation has been a matter of concern since the pandemic has hit the globe.</p>

<p>The energy index saw a surge of 3.5 per cent in November as the gasoline index increased by 6.1 per cent. The food index saw an increase of 0.7 per cent as the index for food at home rose 0.8 per cent.</p>

<p>Acknowledging the current scenario, US President Joe Biden said, "Today's numbers reflect the pressures that economies around the world are facing as we emerge from a global pandemic, prices are rising."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Deeming inflation as "a real bump in the road," he said that "price and cost increase are slowing, although not as quickly as we'd like."&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The deadly coronavirus pandemic has not only affected the healthcare systems but has also put a major strain on the global economy. In a recent development, it was revealed that the US economy added only 199,000 jobs in December.

The deadly coronavirus pandemic has not only affected the healthcare systems but has also put a major strain on the global economy. In a recent development, it was revealed that the US economy added only 199,000 jobs in December. Also, the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 per cent. This comes as a major setback for analysts as they had expected a massive gain n payrolls. A Labor Department report further revealed that the number of unemployed people dropped by 483,000 in December and by 4.5 million in the entire 2021. Increases were seen in job gains for November and October. As per the data, the economy gained an average of 537,000 positions a month in 2021. Michael Pearce, senior US economist with capital economics, in a report said, "The muted 199,000 gain in non-farm payrolls and the more muted increase in labor force participation suggest that worker shortages were becoming a bigger restraint on employment growth, even before the Omicron surge in infections, which could knock hundreds of thousands off payrolls in January." Also read | Explainer: China's 'zero covid' strategy; what it is, how it functions and does it work? This comes at a time when consumer prices in the US surged by 6.8 per cent in November for the first time in decades. This was the highest annual inflation rate since June 1982. Inflation has been a matter of concern since the pandemic has hit the globe. The energy index saw a surge of 3.5 per cent in November as the gasoline index increased by 6.1 per cent. The food index saw an increase of 0.7 per cent as the index for food at home rose 0.8 per cent. Acknowledging the current scenario, US President Joe Biden said, "Today's numbers reflect the pressures that economies around the world are facing as we emerge from a global pandemic, prices are rising." Deeming inflation as "a real bump in the road," he said that "price and cost increase are slowing, although not as quickly as we'd like." (With inputs from agencies)

In a major setback to analysts, US added only 199,000 jobs in December

On the eve of the capital insurrection anniversary, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recollected the trauma of that day.

US: The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recollect the trauma of the Capitol insurrection

In defense cooperation, the United States and Japan have agreed to collaborate on several new ventures, this includes developing hypersonic and space-based weaponry and a new deal on sharing the cost of US troops in Japan.

US, Japan renew deal to share costs of US troops, vow defence cooperation to counter Chinese threat

In a bit to deepen defence cooperation, the United States and Japan have agreed to collaborate on several new ventures. This includes developing hypersonic and space-based weaponry and a new deal on sharing the cost of US troops in Japan.

US, Japan collaborate on new ventures, including developing hypersonic & space-based weaponry

US & Japan strengthen defence ties by signing 2 new defence deals

US stocks fell sharply yesterday with NASDAQ plunging more than three percent in its biggest one-day percentage drop since February.

NASDAQ posts biggest one-day drop since February last year

<p>A shocking video that has surfaced on the internet shows a man in Florida trying to strangle a woman using his shoelace. Identified as Aaron K. Quinones, the man has now been charged with attempted felony murder. In the video, the man can be seen punching the woman multiple times as she struggles to somehow save her life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The incident took place at a Miami-Dade transit bus stop around 11 am on January 2. It was captured by a surveillance camera. As per the police, the 27-years-old fled the scene after a man entered and tried to save the woman.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>At the beginning of the video, Aaron can be seen standing behind the woman, pretending to tie his shoe. Suddenly, he takes off the lace as he casually sneaks up behind the victim.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He then tried to pull the lace around her neck, attempting to strangle her. Just when Aaron starts to get aggressive with the victim, a man comes in and interferes, trying to protect the woman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"A good samaritan stepped in to stop the attack, and the subject fled on foot. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and treated the victim on scene. &nbsp;Officers patrolling the area located the subject matching the description provided by the dispatcher. The subject was arrested and charged accordingly. Officers want to speak to the good samaritan, who was not on the scene when they arrived," read a statement by the police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The investigation is still ongoing.</p>


A shocking video that has surfaced on the internet shows a man in Florida trying to strangle a woman using his shoelace. Identified as Aaron K. Quinones, the man has now been charged with attempted felony murder.

A shocking video that has surfaced on the internet shows a man in Florida trying to strangle a woman using his shoelace. Identified as Aaron K. Quinones, the man has now been charged with attempted felony murder. In the video, the man can be seen punching the woman multiple times as she struggles to somehow save her life. The incident took place at a Miami-Dade transit bus stop around 11 am on January 2. It was captured by a surveillance camera. As per the police, the 27-years-old fled the scene after a man entered and tried to save the woman. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ONLY in DADE (@onlyindade) × At the beginning of the video, Aaron can be seen standing behind the woman, pretending to tie his shoe. Suddenly, he takes off the lace as he casually sneaks up behind the victim. He then tried to pull the lace around her neck, attempting to strangle her. Just when Aaron starts to get aggressive with the victim, a man comes in and interferes, trying to protect the woman. "A good samaritan stepped in to stop the attack, and the subject fled on foot. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded and treated the victim on scene. Officers patrolling the area located the subject matching the description provided by the dispatcher. The subject was arrested and charged accordingly. Officers want to speak to the good samaritan, who was not on the scene when they arrived," read a statement by the police. The investigation is still ongoing.

Watch: Man tries to strangle woman using his shoelace at US bus stop

<p>Over 1,700 US flights were cancelled on Wednesday (January 5), amid a surge in Omicron cases. The total number of flight cancellations since Christmas Eve has now reached approximately 20,000.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Christmas holidays are typically a peak time for air travel, but the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant has led to a sharp increase in Covid infections. This has forced several airlines to cancel flights.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to FlightAware, a total of 1,760 flights within, into or out of the US were cancelled. There were also delays in several airlines for US flights. Also, Southwest cancelled 531 flights on Wednesday and United cancelled 169 flights.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-update-cdc-suggests-pfizer-booster-shot-for-kids-aged-12-and-above-442658"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Omicron update: CDC suggests Pfizer booster shot for kids aged 12 and above</strong></a></p>

<p>This happened on the same day when the US set global record, reporting more than 1 million cases. Due to weekend tally delays, Monday's figures are usually higher than those of the weekend and may have been inflated by a three-day New Year's holiday weekend.</p>

<p>As of Monday evening, Johns Hopkins University reported that the rolling average over seven days, which experts deem more reliable, was 486,000 cases per day.</p>

<p>The Omicron variant accounted for around 59 per cent of cases in the US near the end of last year.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Over 1,700 US flights were cancelled on Wednesday (January 5), amid a surge in Omicron cases. The total number of flight cancellations since Christmas Eve has now reached approximately 20,000.

Over 1,700 US flights were cancelled on Wednesday (January 5), amid a surge in Omicron cases. The total number of flight cancellations since Christmas Eve has now reached approximately 20,000. The Christmas holidays are typically a peak time for air travel, but the rapid spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant has led to a sharp increase in Covid infections. This has forced several airlines to cancel flights. According to FlightAware, a total of 1,760 flights within, into or out of the US were cancelled. There were also delays in several airlines for US flights. Also, Southwest cancelled 531 flights on Wednesday and United cancelled 169 flights. Also read | Omicron update: CDC suggests Pfizer booster shot for kids aged 12 and above This happened on the same day when the US set global record, reporting more than 1 million cases. Due to weekend tally delays, Monday's figures are usually higher than those of the weekend and may have been inflated by a three-day New Year's holiday weekend. As of Monday evening, Johns Hopkins University reported that the rolling average over seven days, which experts deem more reliable, was 486,000 cases per day. The Omicron variant accounted for around 59 per cent of cases in the US near the end of last year. (With inputs from agencies)

As cases in US surge, 1,700 flights canceled taking the count to 20,000 since Christmas eve

How will January 6 come to be remembered in the years ahead- will it be remembered as a moment that accelerated the unraveling of the oldest greatest democracy in the world or a moment when we decided to secure and strengthen our democracy for generations to come?

Capitol Riots Anniversary: 'How will January 6 be remembered?' Asks Kamala Harris

Winter has arrived in Washington DC with full throttle packing heavy snow and strong winds as the thick winter snowstorm engulfed parts of the southeast and the mid-Atlantic region. Residents of Washington were forced to hit pause as were the president and other top government officials.

US President Joe Biden left stranded on Air Force One as Washington grapples with biggest snowstorm

US President Joe Biden will call out former President Donald Trump for 'singular responsibility' in provoking the rioters on the 6th of January last year in Capitol riots.

President Biden will call out former President Trump for 'singular responsibility' in Capitol Riots

Western leaders are stepping up warnings to Moscow ahead of security talks with Russia. Top US diplomat Antony Blinken has said that the upcoming talks will not succeed so long as there is a gun to Ukraine's head.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warns Russia ahead of talks over Ukraine

The number of Americans voluntarily quitting their jobs has surged to a record 4.5 million in November.

US: Rise in number of Americans quitting their jobs in the world's largest economy

Amid the ongoing semiconductor shortages globally, Toyota dethrones GM after nearly a century as it sells 2.332 million vehicles in the US in 2021.

Toyota dethrones GM after nearly a century as it sells 2.332 million vehicles in the US in 2021

Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo won't face criminal prosecution over allegations of groping, as Albany DA asks judge to dismiss criminal complaint.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo won't face criminal prosecution over allegation of groping

US President Joe Biden calls Pfizer COVID-19 pill a 'Game Changer' as the US increases order to 20 million amid a surge in cases.

US President Joe Biden calls Pfizer COVID-19 pill a 'Game Changer'

Amid a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases across the US, the authorities have reopened schools in New York City for children.

India reports over 37,000 people testing positive in the last 24 hours amid the Omicron threat

High ranking officials from the United States and NATO are set to hold talks with Russia next week but before that NATO's foreign ministers will be holding a press briefing via a video conference on Friday.

US, NATO to hold talks with Russia over military build-up in Ukraine

<p>New York’s prison system unjustly penalized more than 1,600 incarcerated people based on faulty drug tests, putting them in solitary confinement, delaying their parole hearings and denying them family visits, the New York state inspector general said in a damning report released Tuesday.</p>

<p>The arbitrary penalties were meted out across the state over an eight-month period in 2019, while the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision relied on improperly administered drug tests made by the company Microgenics, the report found. The tests led to “rampant false positive” results for buprenorphine, an opioid used to treat addiction, as well as synthetic cannabinoids.</p>

<p>“This stands as a heartbreaking example of how the absence of transparency can undermine due process and basic human rights,” Lucy Lang, the inspector general, said at a news conference Tuesday.</p>

<p>The department started using the tests in January 2019, the report found. The manufacturer’s directions specified that a positive result should be confirmed with a second, more sensitive test, but officials neglected to do so as a matter of policy. Instead, they simply carried out the same test a second time to confirm the results.</p>

<p>The rate of positive tests immediately spiked, but the department failed to address widespread concerns among prisoners, their families and advocates that many of the results were false positives, the report found.</p>

<p>The report cited several examples of the grave consequences the tests had for prisoners. One woman at Albion Correctional Facility, near Rochester, New York, who had never tested positive for drug use during her two years in jail, suddenly tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids.</p>

<p>As punishment, she was confined to her cell for 40 days and placed in solitary confinement for 45 days. She lost her prison job and privileges like recreation time, receipt of packages and phone use for months. She was also denied visits with her three children.</p>

<p>The report also accused Microgenics representatives of presenting false or misleading information to prison officials. A review of internal company documents revealed that even ingesting over-the-counter antacids and the sweetener Stevia could potentially lead to false positives, but the company failed to disclose those possibilities, the report said.</p>

<p>The report faulted department officials for deciding to forgo the second test and found that a sales representative from Microgenics had exerted undue influence over the process.</p>

<p>It also found that the contract with the company most likely violated procurement guidelines and that the department “did not perform due diligence when contracting with Microgenics for its drug-testing systems, failing to understand that such tests were merely preliminary screening tests.”</p>

<p>During the eight-month period, more than 1,600 prisoners were punished over drug tests statewide, including 140 who were subjected to solitary confinement, leading to complaints from inmates across the state, Lang said.</p>

<p>Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, an advocacy group, brought the concerns of four incarcerated people who said they had been disciplined based on false positives to the department in June 2019. Later that summer, the department sent six positive test samples from other prisoners to another company for retesting, and five came back negative.</p>

<p>The department then brought its findings to the office of the inspector general. It later moved to expunge more than 2,500 disciplinary records that were based on the faulty drug tests.</p>

<p>Karen L. Murtagh, executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, said the impact of the penalties was difficult to overstate.</p>

<p>“The psychological and physical damage caused by solitary confinement, the loss of family visitation, the lack of proper programming, lost work-release and educational opportunities, all of which help combat recidivism, adds to the ledger for which we as a society need to take account,” she said.</p>

<p>Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises, an advocacy group that seeks to dismantle the prison industry, said the report illustrated the problems inherent in allowing private companies to profit from incarceration. She called for further review of prison contracts.</p>

<p>In a statement Tuesday, the department noted that its staff had cooperated with the inspector general’s investigation and adopted all its recommendations, which included ending solitary confinement in response to drug tests and improving drug test training and data collection.</p>

<p>Microgenics is a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a Massachusetts-based company. In a statement Tuesday, Ron O’Brien, a spokesperson for the company, said the instructions clearly state that the drug tests are only preliminary and that a more specific, alternative chemical method must be used to obtain a confirmed result.</p>

<p>“We have complete confidence in our product and, when it is used as directed, have no reason to believe there is any issue with its accuracy,” O’Brien said.</p>

<p>He added that the company had conducted its own investigation and did not believe that any Microgenics representatives provided “any intentionally false or misleading testimony” at disciplinary hearings, as alleged in the report.</p>

<p>The drug tests have spurred several lawsuits, including a federal class-action suit filed by Prisoners’ Legal Services and the law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward &amp; Maazel in 2019. The following year, Letitia James, the New York attorney general, filed suit on behalf of the Department of Corrections against Microgenics in Albany, alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit is pending.</p>

<p>The department now uses a preliminary drug-screening test known as the Premier Biotech Bio-Cup, and positive results are confirmed using a second method.</p>

<p>Lang, who was appointed inspector general in the fall, said that more than half the complaints her office receives involve the prison system.</p>

<p>“We are directing resources toward addressing those complaints as proactively as possible,” she said.</p>


New York’s prison system unjustly penalized more than 1,600 incarcerated people based on faulty drug tests, putting them in solitary confinement, delaying their parole hearings and denying them family visits, the New York state inspector general said in a damning report released Tuesday.

New York’s prison system unjustly penalized more than 1,600 incarcerated people based on faulty drug tests, putting them in solitary confinement, delaying their parole hearings and denying them family visits, the New York state inspector general said in a damning report released Tuesday. The arbitrary penalties were meted out across the state over an eight-month period in 2019, while the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision relied on improperly administered drug tests made by the company Microgenics, the report found. The tests led to “rampant false positive” results for buprenorphine, an opioid used to treat addiction, as well as synthetic cannabinoids. “This stands as a heartbreaking example of how the absence of transparency can undermine due process and basic human rights,” Lucy Lang, the inspector general, said at a news conference Tuesday. The department started using the tests in January 2019, the report found. The manufacturer’s directions specified that a positive result should be confirmed with a second, more sensitive test, but officials neglected to do so as a matter of policy. Instead, they simply carried out the same test a second time to confirm the results. The rate of positive tests immediately spiked, but the department failed to address widespread concerns among prisoners, their families and advocates that many of the results were false positives, the report found. The report cited several examples of the grave consequences the tests had for prisoners. One woman at Albion Correctional Facility, near Rochester, New York, who had never tested positive for drug use during her two years in jail, suddenly tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids. As punishment, she was confined to her cell for 40 days and placed in solitary confinement for 45 days. She lost her prison job and privileges like recreation time, receipt of packages and phone use for months. She was also denied visits with her three children. The report also accused Microgenics representatives of presenting false or misleading information to prison officials. A review of internal company documents revealed that even ingesting over-the-counter antacids and the sweetener Stevia could potentially lead to false positives, but the company failed to disclose those possibilities, the report said. The report faulted department officials for deciding to forgo the second test and found that a sales representative from Microgenics had exerted undue influence over the process. It also found that the contract with the company most likely violated procurement guidelines and that the department “did not perform due diligence when contracting with Microgenics for its drug-testing systems, failing to understand that such tests were merely preliminary screening tests.” During the eight-month period, more than 1,600 prisoners were punished over drug tests statewide, including 140 who were subjected to solitary confinement, leading to complaints from inmates across the state, Lang said. Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, an advocacy group, brought the concerns of four incarcerated people who said they had been disciplined based on false positives to the department in June 2019. Later that summer, the department sent six positive test samples from other prisoners to another company for retesting, and five came back negative. The department then brought its findings to the office of the inspector general. It later moved to expunge more than 2,500 disciplinary records that were based on the faulty drug tests. Karen L. Murtagh, executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, said the impact of the penalties was difficult to overstate. “The psychological and physical damage caused by solitary confinement, the loss of family visitation, the lack of proper programming, lost work-release and educational opportunities, all of which help combat recidivism, adds to the ledger for which we as a society need to take account,” she said. Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises, an advocacy group that seeks to dismantle the prison industry, said the report illustrated the problems inherent in allowing private companies to profit from incarceration. She called for further review of prison contracts. In a statement Tuesday, the department noted that its staff had cooperated with the inspector general’s investigation and adopted all its recommendations, which included ending solitary confinement in response to drug tests and improving drug test training and data collection. Microgenics is a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a Massachusetts-based company. In a statement Tuesday, Ron O’Brien, a spokesperson for the company, said the instructions clearly state that the drug tests are only preliminary and that a more specific, alternative chemical method must be used to obtain a confirmed result. “We have complete confidence in our product and, when it is used as directed, have no reason to believe there is any issue with its accuracy,” O’Brien said. He added that the company had conducted its own investigation and did not believe that any Microgenics representatives provided “any intentionally false or misleading testimony” at disciplinary hearings, as alleged in the report. The drug tests have spurred several lawsuits, including a federal class-action suit filed by Prisoners’ Legal Services and the law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel in 2019. The following year, Letitia James, the New York attorney general, filed suit on behalf of the Department of Corrections against Microgenics in Albany, alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit is pending. The department now uses a preliminary drug-screening test known as the Premier Biotech Bio-Cup, and positive results are confirmed using a second method. Lang, who was appointed inspector general in the fall, said that more than half the complaints her office receives involve the prison system. “We are directing resources toward addressing those complaints as proactively as possible,” she said.

New York prisons punished 1,600 based on faulty drug tests, report finds

A fierce wildfire had engulfed the US state of Colorado, injuring at least half a dozen people with more than 1000 homes that are feared to have been destroyed.

Hundreds of homeowners in colorado return to their wildfire-ravaged homes

<p>A record number of COVID-19 cases has been reported in the US, United Kingdom, France, and Australia as the WHO warned that Omicron's rapid spread could lead to the spread of new, more dangerous variants.</p>

<p>On Tuesday, Britain reached 200,000 cases for the first time, Australia posted almost 50,000, and France tallied over 270,000, easily surpassing their previous records.</p>

<p>A global record was set on Monday by the United States with 1,080,211 cases reported, dwarfing even the high numbers of these countries.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-silver-bullets-australia-reports-record-high-in-covid-19-cases-hospitalisations-surge-442377" hreflang="en">'No silver bullets': Australia reports record high in COVID-19 cases; hospitalisations surge</a></strong></p>

<p>Due to weekend tally delays, Monday's figures are usually higher than those of the weekend and may have been inflated by a three-day New Year's holiday weekend.</p>

<p>As of Monday evening, Johns Hopkins University reported that the rolling average over seven days, which experts deem more reliable, was 486,000 cases per day.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/omicron">Omicron variant</a>, the most transmissible to date, accounted for around 59 per cent of cases in the United States near the end of last year.</p>

<p>Deaths and hospitalizations due to Omicron have been lower across the world, which raises hopes that the virus could be evolving into a relatively benign seasonal illness.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-is-the-new-ihu-variant-discovered-in-france-442349" hreflang="en">Explained: What is the new 'IHU' variant discovered in France?</a></strong></p>

<p>In Europe, the World Health Organization sounded an ominous note of caution on Tuesday, warning that the soaring infection rates could have the opposite effect.</p>

<p>"The more Omicron spreads, the more it transmits and the more it replicates, the more likely it is to throw out a new variant," said WHO senior emergencies officer Catherine Smallwood.</p>

<p>"Now, Omicron is lethal, it can cause death... maybe a little bit less than Delta, but who's to say what the next variant might throw out," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Even in well-capacitated, sophisticated health systems, there are real struggles that are happening at the moment."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rising-omicron-cases-may-lead-to-more-dangerous-variants-warns-who-442321" hreflang="en">Rising Omicron cases may lead to more dangerous variants, warns WHO</a></strong></p>

<p>In Britain, where the government announced Tuesday that hospitals were on "war footing" due to staff shortages, such a scenario has long been feared.</p>

<p>In the wake of a record number of 218,724 cases in 24 hours in the UK, President Boris Johnson promised action to plug staff shortages in the worst-hit areas, including the recruitment of medical volunteers backed by army support.</p>

<p>Johnson also said another nationwide lockdown is unlikely in England defending his decision not to increase restrictions over the festive season unlike other parts of the country.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Omicron: Australia's COVID-19 infections have hit a record high for the third consecutive day</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/omicron-australias-covid-19-infections-have-hit-a-record-high-for-the-third-consecutive-day-442360/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>With over 47,700 cases, Australia has also smashed its previous caseload record.</p>

<p>Rich nations have rushed to give their populations the third booster shot in an effort to curb the rising cases, while the poorest nations have only been able to receive the first.</p>

<p>Ahead of the pack, Israel has already begun rolling out the fourth dose last week.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A record number of COVID-19 cases has been reported in the US, United Kingdom, France, and Australia as the WHO warned that Omicron's rapid spread could lead to the spread of new, more dangerous variants.

A record number of COVID-19 cases has been reported in the US, United Kingdom, France, and Australia as the WHO warned that Omicron's rapid spread could lead to the spread of new, more dangerous variants. On Tuesday, Britain reached 200,000 cases for the first time, Australia posted almost 50,000, and France tallied over 270,000, easily surpassing their previous records. A global record was set on Monday by the United States with 1,080,211 cases reported, dwarfing even the high numbers of these countries. Also read | 'No silver bullets': Australia reports record high in COVID-19 cases; hospitalisations surge Due to weekend tally delays, Monday's figures are usually higher than those of the weekend and may have been inflated by a three-day New Year's holiday weekend. As of Monday evening, Johns Hopkins University reported that the rolling average over seven days, which experts deem more reliable, was 486,000 cases per day. The Omicron variant, the most transmissible to date, accounted for around 59 per cent of cases in the United States near the end of last year. Deaths and hospitalizations due to Omicron have been lower across the world, which raises hopes that the virus could be evolving into a relatively benign seasonal illness. Also read | Explained: What is the new 'IHU' variant discovered in France? In Europe, the World Health Organization sounded an ominous note of caution on Tuesday, warning that the soaring infection rates could have the opposite effect. "The more Omicron spreads, the more it transmits and the more it replicates, the more likely it is to throw out a new variant," said WHO senior emergencies officer Catherine Smallwood. "Now, Omicron is lethal, it can cause death... maybe a little bit less than Delta, but who's to say what the next variant might throw out," she added. "Even in well-capacitated, sophisticated health systems, there are real struggles that are happening at the moment." Also read | Rising Omicron cases may lead to more dangerous variants, warns WHO In Britain, where the government announced Tuesday that hospitals were on "war footing" due to staff shortages, such a scenario has long been feared. In the wake of a record number of 218,724 cases in 24 hours in the UK, President Boris Johnson promised action to plug staff shortages in the worst-hit areas, including the recruitment of medical volunteers backed by army support. Johnson also said another nationwide lockdown is unlikely in England defending his decision not to increase restrictions over the festive season unlike other parts of the country. Watch | Omicron: Australia's COVID-19 infections have hit a record high for the third consecutive day With over 47,700 cases, Australia has also smashed its previous caseload record. Rich nations have rushed to give their populations the third booster shot in an effort to curb the rising cases, while the poorest nations have only been able to receive the first. Ahead of the pack, Israel has already begun rolling out the fourth dose last week. (With inputs from agencies)

US sets global record, reports more than 1 million cases; UK, Australia, France also break previous records

<p>US President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings have hit a record high in December, according to a new poll, as the voters expressed frustration over his handling of Covid pandemic and the economy.</p>

<p>According to new CNBC/Change Research poll, 56 per cent of voters disapproved of Biden’s job, an uptick from 54 per cent in September and 49 per cent in April.</p>

<p>The December reading is the worst ratings of his presidency as he approaches the end of his first year in office.</p>

<p>His approval rating now stands at 44 per cent.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-bidens-approval-ratings-continue-to-fall-show-opinion-polls-416925">US President Biden’s approval ratings continue to fall, show opinion polls</a></p>

<p>The poll indicated that 60 per cent of respondents disapproved of Biden’s handling of the economy and 55 per cent disapproved of his pandemic response.</p>

<p>With regards to the economy, 72 per cent said they disapprove of Biden’s management of the price of everyday goods, and 66 per cent said they did not approve of the president's efforts to help their wallets.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-us-strategy-crumbled-in-afghanistan-as-bidens-approval-ratings-dive-406470">How US strategy crumbled in Afghanistan as Biden's approval ratings dive</a></p>

<p>Additionally, 46 per cent of respondents said the stock market is doing “not so good” or “poor” despite one of the market's best years in decades, according to CNBC.</p>

<p>Regarding vaccine mandates, the survey also indicated that 50 per cent said Biden had gone too far. 26 per cent said the administration had the right approach, and 24 per cent said it had not gone far enough.</p>

<p>The survey included 1,895 respondents from Dec. 17 through Dec. 20. Its margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Biden’s inability to garner credit for one of the stock market’s best years in living memory is symptomatic of a larger problem for Democrats in 2022: The party can’t seem to convince voters that things are better than they were 12 months ago, the CNBC report concluded.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>


US President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings have hit a record high in December, according to a new poll, as the voters expressed frustration over his handling of Covid pandemic and the economy.

US President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings have hit a record high in December, according to a new poll, as the voters expressed frustration over his handling of Covid pandemic and the economy. According to new CNBC/Change Research poll, 56 per cent of voters disapproved of Biden’s job, an uptick from 54 per cent in September and 49 per cent in April. The December reading is the worst ratings of his presidency as he approaches the end of his first year in office. His approval rating now stands at 44 per cent. Also read | US President Biden’s approval ratings continue to fall, show opinion polls The poll indicated that 60 per cent of respondents disapproved of Biden’s handling of the economy and 55 per cent disapproved of his pandemic response. With regards to the economy, 72 per cent said they disapprove of Biden’s management of the price of everyday goods, and 66 per cent said they did not approve of the president's efforts to help their wallets. Also read | How US strategy crumbled in Afghanistan as Biden's approval ratings dive Additionally, 46 per cent of respondents said the stock market is doing “not so good” or “poor” despite one of the market's best years in decades, according to CNBC. Regarding vaccine mandates, the survey also indicated that 50 per cent said Biden had gone too far. 26 per cent said the administration had the right approach, and 24 per cent said it had not gone far enough. The survey included 1,895 respondents from Dec. 17 through Dec. 20. Its margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Biden’s inability to garner credit for one of the stock market’s best years in living memory is symptomatic of a larger problem for Democrats in 2022: The party can’t seem to convince voters that things are better than they were 12 months ago, the CNBC report concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings hit record low, voters unhappy with Covid handling, economy

<p>Despite modest progress during negotiations in Vienna, the United States hopes to build on that this week, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday amid efforts to revive a 2015 agreement.</p>

<p>With that agreement, championed by former President Barack Obama, Iran was relieved from crippling sanctions in exchange for halting its nuclear programme. However, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, a year after he took office.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-launches-research-cargos-into-space-amid-stalled-nuclear-talks-441140">Iran launches 'research cargos into space' amid stalled nuclear talks</a></strong></p>

<p>Iran has since stepped up its nuclear activities, amassing a stockpile of highly enriched uranium, violating many of the nuclear restrictions in the deal and going well beyond them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tehran, however maintains that it has never pursued the development of nuclear weapons. Its atomic program has further escalated the stakes despite Iran's claims that it only pursues peaceful nuclear activities.</p>

<p>During the negotiations for the nuclear deal, the UN's nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran had begun enriching uranium up to 20 per cent purity at an underground facility at Fordo, a site that was not permitted to enrich uranium under the deal.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-condemns-irans-space-launch-amid-nuclear-deal-talks-calls-it-regrettable-441524">France condemns Iran's space launch amid nuclear deal talks, calls it 'regrettable'</a></strong></p>

<p>Under the latest round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, Iranian diplomats are once again seeking to lift US sanctions again.</p>

<p>"There was some modest progress in the talks last week. We hope to build on that this week," Price told reporters.</p>

<p>“Sanctions relief and the steps that the United States would take… when it comes to sanctions together with the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take if we were to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA – that’s really at the heart of the negotiations that are ongoing in Vienna right now."</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US, Russian officials coordinate in a bit to salvage 2015 Iran nuclear deal</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-russian-officials-coordinate-in-a-bit-to-salvage-2015-iran-nuclear-deal-441121/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Iran last week took a hard stance, suggesting that everything that had been discussed during previous diplomatic rounds could be renegotiated.</p>

<p>The Vienna talks last week marked the participation of Iran's new hard-line government for the first time in more than five months.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Despite modest progress during negotiations in Vienna, the United States hopes to build on that this week, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday amid efforts to revive a 2015 agreement.

Despite modest progress during negotiations in Vienna, the United States hopes to build on that this week, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday amid efforts to revive a 2015 agreement. With that agreement, championed by former President Barack Obama, Iran was relieved from crippling sanctions in exchange for halting its nuclear programme. However, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, a year after he took office. Also read | Iran launches 'research cargos into space' amid stalled nuclear talks Iran has since stepped up its nuclear activities, amassing a stockpile of highly enriched uranium, violating many of the nuclear restrictions in the deal and going well beyond them. Tehran, however maintains that it has never pursued the development of nuclear weapons. Its atomic program has further escalated the stakes despite Iran's claims that it only pursues peaceful nuclear activities. During the negotiations for the nuclear deal, the UN's nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran had begun enriching uranium up to 20 per cent purity at an underground facility at Fordo, a site that was not permitted to enrich uranium under the deal. Also read | France condemns Iran's space launch amid nuclear deal talks, calls it 'regrettable' Under the latest round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, Iranian diplomats are once again seeking to lift US sanctions again. "There was some modest progress in the talks last week. We hope to build on that this week," Price told reporters. “Sanctions relief and the steps that the United States would take… when it comes to sanctions together with the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take if we were to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA – that’s really at the heart of the negotiations that are ongoing in Vienna right now." Watch: US, Russian officials coordinate in a bit to salvage 2015 Iran nuclear deal Iran last week took a hard stance, suggesting that everything that had been discussed during previous diplomatic rounds could be renegotiated. The Vienna talks last week marked the participation of Iran's new hard-line government for the first time in more than five months. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran nuclear talks: US hopeful of building on negotiations progress this week

A US judge has rejected BlackBerry Ltd's bid to dismiss a long-running lawsuit claiming it defrauded shareholders by inflating the success and profitability of its BlackBerry 10 smartphones, and said the class-action case could go to trial this fall.

BlackBerry loses bid to dismiss lawsuit in US, fall trial possible

A US-based doctor has claimed that, the fast-spreading Omicron variant is “nothing more than a seasonal cold virus” and has warned against "overreaction and over-reach".

'Omicron is nothing more than a seasonal cold virus', claims US-based doctor

The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised the use of a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, and reduced the wait time between initial vaccination and an extra dose from six months to five months for all ages.

US FDA authorises Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster for children ages 12 to 15

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, accused of espionage by the USA and held in Belmarsh Prison outside the British capital London, received a political asylum offer from Mexico.

Mexico offers political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

Leaders of the five major nuclear powers- Russia, China, the United States, Britain and France have adopted a joint statement in which they affirmed that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.

P5 nations reaffirm a goal of a nuke-free world

<p>US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tested positive for Covid. The leader is experiencing mild symptoms and has been quarantining at home. &nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement on Sunday night, 68-year-old Austin said that he plans to attend key meetings and discussions virtually in the coming week 'to the degree possible’. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"I have informed my leadership team of my positive test result, as well as the President," Austin said. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-speak-with-ukraine-leader-after-warning-russia-not-to-invade-441817" hreflang="en">Biden to speak with Ukraine president on heels of warning to Russia against invasion</a></strong></p>

<p>"My staff has begun contact tracing and testing of all those with whom I have come into contact over the last week," Austin added. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The development is one of the Biden administration’s most high-profile breakthrough coronavirus infections. &nbsp;</p>

<p>He said that he was fully vaccinated and also received a booster dose in October. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"The vaccines work and will remain a military medical requirement for our workforce. I continue to encourage everyone eligible for a booster shot to get one. This remains a readiness issue," the defense secretary said. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-man-enters-7-eleven-for-chocolate-milk-exits-with-1-million-platinum-jackpot-441792" hreflang="en">US man enters 7-Eleven for chocolate milk, exits with $1 million platinum jackpot</a></strong></p>

<p>Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had contracted COVID-19. Psaki had said that a family member had tested positive for the coronavirus, and her report also came positive later. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>In a statement, she had written, "Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home. &nbsp;</p>

<p>"I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the 10-day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution," Psaki added. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tested positive for Covid. The leader is experiencing mild symptoms and has been quarantining at home. In a statement on Sunday night, 68-year-old Austin said that he plans to attend key meetings and discussions virtually in the coming week 'to the degree possible’.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tested positive for Covid. The leader is experiencing mild symptoms and has been quarantining at home. In a statement on Sunday night, 68-year-old Austin said that he plans to attend key meetings and discussions virtually in the coming week 'to the degree possible’. "I have informed my leadership team of my positive test result, as well as the President," Austin said. Also Read: Biden to speak with Ukraine president on heels of warning to Russia against invasion "My staff has begun contact tracing and testing of all those with whom I have come into contact over the last week," Austin added. The development is one of the Biden administration’s most high-profile breakthrough coronavirus infections. He said that he was fully vaccinated and also received a booster dose in October. "The vaccines work and will remain a military medical requirement for our workforce. I continue to encourage everyone eligible for a booster shot to get one. This remains a readiness issue," the defense secretary said. Also Read: US man enters 7-Eleven for chocolate milk, exits with $1 million platinum jackpot Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had contracted COVID-19. Psaki had said that a family member had tested positive for the coronavirus, and her report also came positive later. In a statement, she had written, "Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home. "I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the 10-day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution," Psaki added. (With inputs from agencies)

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tests positive for Covid, experiences mild symptoms

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