US military spokesperson Colonel Wayne Marotto has said that American forces in Syria launched “self-defence” artillery attacks on Monday after being hit by a barrage of missiles.

The exchange of fire came a day after the Pentagon launched three strikes in eastern Syria and western Iraq, which it claimed were directed at pro-Iran militants.

The attack on Monday evening resulted in no injuries, according to a US military spokesman.

This is a vital and strategic location, and US forces supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces have a base here.

"US Forces in Syria, while under multiple rocket attack, acted in self-defence and conducted counter-battery artillery fire at rocket launching positions," wrote Colonel Wayne Marotto, the spokesperson for the US-led Coalition to defeat ISIS.

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Initial report: At approx. 7:44 PM local time, U.S. Forces in Syria were attacked by multiple rockets. There are no injuries and damage is being assessed. We will provide updates when we have more information.
— OIR Spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto (@OIRSpox) <a href="https://twitter.com/OIRSpox/status/1409596661698117632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
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“There are no injuries and damage is being assessed,” Marotto wrote.

Footage broadcast by Syrian state news agency SANA shows rockets allegedly being fired towards a US military base at the Al-Omar oil field in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province. 
 
Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-carries-out-air-strikes-in-iraq-and-syria-target-iran-backed-militia-groups-394356/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

SANA did not say who was behind the rocket fire, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed it on pro-Iranian militias. 
 
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-have-drones-with-7000-km-range-says-irans-top-commander-394311">We have drones with 7,000 km range, says Iran's top commander</a>

The development came less than 24 hours after the US launched airstrikes against three targets it said were used by pro-Iran groups in eastern Syria and western Iraq.

(With inputs from agencies)

US military spokesperson Colonel Wayne Marotto has said that American forces in Syria launched “self-defence” artillery attacks on Monday after being hit by a barrage of missiles.

US military spokesperson Colonel Wayne Marotto has said that American forces in Syria launched “self-defence” artillery attacks on Monday after being hit by a barrage of missiles. The exchange of fire came a day after the Pentagon launched three strikes in eastern Syria and western Iraq, which it claimed were directed at pro-Iran militants. The attack on Monday evening resulted in no injuries, according to a US military spokesman. This is a vital and strategic location, and US forces supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces have a base here. "US Forces in Syria, while under multiple rocket attack, acted in self-defence and conducted counter-battery artillery fire at rocket launching positions," wrote Colonel Wayne Marotto, the spokesperson for the US-led Coalition to defeat ISIS. Initial report: At approx. 7:44 PM local time, U.S. Forces in Syria were attacked by multiple rockets. There are no injuries and damage is being assessed. We will provide updates when we have more information. — OIR Spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto (@OIRSpox) June 28, 2021 × “There are no injuries and damage is being assessed,” Marotto wrote. Footage broadcast by Syrian state news agency SANA shows rockets allegedly being fired towards a US military base at the Al-Omar oil field in eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province. Watch: SANA did not say who was behind the rocket fire, but the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blamed it on pro-Iranian militias. Also Read | We have drones with 7,000 km range, says Iran's top commander The development came less than 24 hours after the US launched airstrikes against three targets it said were used by pro-Iran groups in eastern Syria and western Iraq. (With inputs from agencies)

US army retaliates after Iran-backed militias target American base in eastern Syria

More than 100 people gathered for a beach vigil Monday night to commemorate victims and those still missing after last week’s condo collapse near Miami.

Family members, friends and residents sat cross-legged in the sand, holding glow-in-the-dark candle sticks and white roses as the sound of waves filled the air. People remained mostly silent as they grieved at the end of the fifth day of a harrowing search for survivors. Hopes have been dimming and frustration has built around the slow pace of rescue efforts.

A half-circle formed around Michelle Cash and her husband, Rich Gausman, who led a “sound healing” session on the beach behind the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club. “Hope” was spelled in the nearby sand with wet seaweed and candlesticks.

As the session went on, people wiped away tears. Others clasped their hands in prayer. A cool breeze offered reprieve from the sweltering heat.

“The pain, the suffering that has been going on in this community will never be understood. Days will pass, months will pass, America, the world will forget about this,” said Leo Soto, 26, who started a makeshift memorial wall near the collapse site. “We have to live through this. We’ll never forget about this.”

Naomi Romo and Alfredo Garcia of Miami brought three bouquets of flowers to the vigil. Romo was in the same graduating class as Nicky Langesfeld, who lived in Unit 804 and is among those missing. Although Romo said she did not know Langesfeld well, she often passed her in the hallway when they both attended Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High School.

“It’s a person that you grew up seeing. I’ve seen her since middle school,” said Romo, a 25-year-old therapist. “Everything has been a shock. I’m just here to give any kind of support that I can offer.”

More than 100 people gathered for a beach vigil Monday night to commemorate victims and those still missing after last week’s condo collapse near Miami. Family members, friends and residents sat cross-legged in the sand, holding glow-in-the-dark candle sticks and white roses as the sound of waves filled the air.

More than 100 people gathered for a beach vigil Monday night to commemorate victims and those still missing after last week’s condo collapse near Miami. Family members, friends and residents sat cross-legged in the sand, holding glow-in-the-dark candle sticks and white roses as the sound of waves filled the air. People remained mostly silent as they grieved at the end of the fifth day of a harrowing search for survivors. Hopes have been dimming and frustration has built around the slow pace of rescue efforts. A half-circle formed around Michelle Cash and her husband, Rich Gausman, who led a “sound healing” session on the beach behind the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club. “Hope” was spelled in the nearby sand with wet seaweed and candlesticks. As the session went on, people wiped away tears. Others clasped their hands in prayer. A cool breeze offered reprieve from the sweltering heat. “The pain, the suffering that has been going on in this community will never be understood. Days will pass, months will pass, America, the world will forget about this,” said Leo Soto, 26, who started a makeshift memorial wall near the collapse site. “We have to live through this. We’ll never forget about this.” Naomi Romo and Alfredo Garcia of Miami brought three bouquets of flowers to the vigil. Romo was in the same graduating class as Nicky Langesfeld, who lived in Unit 804 and is among those missing. Although Romo said she did not know Langesfeld well, she often passed her in the hallway when they both attended Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High School. “It’s a person that you grew up seeing. I’ve seen her since middle school,” said Romo, a 25-year-old therapist. “Everything has been a shock. I’m just here to give any kind of support that I can offer.”

Victims and those missing in condo collapse are remembered at a beach vigil

Russia checked the readiness of its air defence system in Crimea, the peninsula it annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Ukraine and NATO countries held military drills in the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday. 
 
The Sea Breeze military drills follow a rise in tensions between NATO and Moscow, which said last week it had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of a British warship to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea. Britain rejected Russia's account of the incident.

In the military exercise in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine, more than&nbsp;30 countries are taking part, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills.

Russia says Crimea is its territory, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine.

Russia's embassy in Washington called last week for the drills to be cancelled, and the Russian defence ministry said it would react if necessary to protect its own national security.

Sea Breeze 2021 will last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft. US missile destroyer USS Ross and the US Marine Corps will take part.

Ukraine says the main goal is to gain experience in joint actions during multinational peacekeeping and security operations.

Relations between Kyiv and Moscow plummeted after Russia seized Crimea and over Russia's support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine.

Tension rose again this year when Russia massed troops on the border with Ukraine, where some of them remain along with their equipment.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia checked the readiness of its air defence system in Crimea, the peninsula it annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Ukraine and NATO countries held military drills in the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday.

Russia checked the readiness of its air defence system in Crimea, the peninsula it annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Ukraine and NATO countries held military drills in the Black Sea, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday. The Sea Breeze military drills follow a rise in tensions between NATO and Moscow, which said last week it had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of a British warship to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea. Britain rejected Russia's account of the incident. In the military exercise in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine, more than 30 countries are taking part, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills. Russia says Crimea is its territory, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine. Russia's embassy in Washington called last week for the drills to be cancelled, and the Russian defence ministry said it would react if necessary to protect its own national security. Sea Breeze 2021 will last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft. US missile destroyer USS Ross and the US Marine Corps will take part. Ukraine says the main goal is to gain experience in joint actions during multinational peacekeeping and security operations. Relations between Kyiv and Moscow plummeted after Russia seized Crimea and over Russia's support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. Tension rose again this year when Russia massed troops on the border with Ukraine, where some of them remain along with their equipment. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia checks Crimea air defence system as Ukraine, US start Black Sea drills: Interfax

The United States hopes for more stable and profitable relations with Russia but if the latter continues to 'attack', then Washington will respond, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday. 
 
"If Russia continues to attack us, or to act as it did with the SolarWind attacks, the intrusions into our elections and the aggression against Navalny, then we will respond," he told Italian daily La Repubblica. 
 
Blinken, who was in Rome for a meeting on international efforts to combat Islamist militia, was referring to cyberattacks and the role of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-us-to-start-black-sea-military-drills-despite-russian-protest-394463">Ukraine, US to start Black Sea military drills despite Russian protest</a> 
 
Earlier this month, US&nbsp;President Joe Biden told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Geneva that certain critical infrastructure should be 'off-limits' to cyberattacks. 
 
China was 'the most complicated'&nbsp;when it came to relations, Blinken added, but said the United States respected the different relations countries had with China and that it would not ask any of them to choose between the two countries, a Reuters report said. 
 
"It is, however, true that when we deal with China, as an opponent, a rival or a partner, we are much more effective if we act together," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-test-fires-new-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-report-394503">Russia test-fires new intercontinental ballistic missile: Report</a> 
 
Blinken also said that Italy had made important efforts in drafting legislation aimed at protecting its 5G network from 'unreliable sellers' and that it should continue to carry out checks should investments from other countries arrive. 
 
The United States has lobbied Italy and other European allies to avoid using equipment made by Huawei in their next- generation networks, saying the Chinese company could pose a security risk. Huawei has rejected the accusations. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The United States hopes for more stable and profitable relations with Russia but if the latter continues to 'attack', then Washington will respond, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday.

The United States hopes for more stable and profitable relations with Russia but if the latter continues to 'attack', then Washington will respond, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday. "If Russia continues to attack us, or to act as it did with the SolarWind attacks, the intrusions into our elections and the aggression against Navalny, then we will respond," he told Italian daily La Repubblica. Blinken, who was in Rome for a meeting on international efforts to combat Islamist militia, was referring to cyberattacks and the role of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Also Read: Ukraine, US to start Black Sea military drills despite Russian protest Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden told Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Geneva that certain critical infrastructure should be 'off-limits' to cyberattacks. China was 'the most complicated' when it came to relations, Blinken added, but said the United States respected the different relations countries had with China and that it would not ask any of them to choose between the two countries, a Reuters report said. "It is, however, true that when we deal with China, as an opponent, a rival or a partner, we are much more effective if we act together," he added. Also Read: Russia test-fires new intercontinental ballistic missile: Report Blinken also said that Italy had made important efforts in drafting legislation aimed at protecting its 5G network from 'unreliable sellers' and that it should continue to carry out checks should investments from other countries arrive. The United States has lobbied Italy and other European allies to avoid using equipment made by Huawei in their next- generation networks, saying the Chinese company could pose a security risk. Huawei has rejected the accusations. (With inputs from agencies)

US eyes more stable, profitable ties with Russia, Blinken tells paper

Defending champion Novak Djokovic overcame an early fright to fend off British teenager Jack Draper 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 and launch his quest for a sixth title as Wimbledon returned after a two-year absence on Monday.

The first match on Centre Court since Djokovic's nailbiting victory over Roger Federer in the 2019 final -- 716 days ago -- was a classic David versus Goliath clash.

And while there was to be no dream Grand Slam debut for 19-year-old Draper, the match proved the perfect way to bring Centre Court back to life after it's enforced silence.

Djokovic has never lost a Grand Slam match to a player ranked as low as world number 253 Draper, but looked a little stunned as he struggled to find his footing on the greasy turf and contain the fearless hitting of the Briton.

Grand Slam main draw debutant Draper broke serve in the third game and made a mockery of his inexperience to win the opening set to huge roars from the crowd.

Twice Djokovic found himself on his backside in the first set and with the roof closed because of the rain that delayed play on the outside courts, the stage looked perfect for a Wimbledon shock of monumental proportions.

But Djokovic is not a 19-times Grand Slam champion for nothing and the Serb quickly snuffed out the danger, levelling the match by dominating a 26-minute second set.

When Draper completely missed an overhead to drop serve in the second set, Djokovic roared in relief.

From that point on it was straightforward enough for Djokovic who looked immaculate as he completed his victory.

"It feels great seeing everyone and being back on the most sacred tennis court in the world," Djokovic, who is bidding to win a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title, said on court.

"It was very sad last year that Wimbledon was cancelled but really glad the sport is back."

Defending champion Novak Djokovic overcame an early fright to fend off British teenager Jack Draper 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 and launch his quest for a sixth title as Wimbledon returned after a two-year absence on Monday.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic overcame an early fright to fend off British teenager Jack Draper 4-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 and launch his quest for a sixth title as Wimbledon returned after a two-year absence on Monday. The first match on Centre Court since Djokovic's nailbiting victory over Roger Federer in the 2019 final -- 716 days ago -- was a classic David versus Goliath clash. And while there was to be no dream Grand Slam debut for 19-year-old Draper, the match proved the perfect way to bring Centre Court back to life after it's enforced silence. Djokovic has never lost a Grand Slam match to a player ranked as low as world number 253 Draper, but looked a little stunned as he struggled to find his footing on the greasy turf and contain the fearless hitting of the Briton. Grand Slam main draw debutant Draper broke serve in the third game and made a mockery of his inexperience to win the opening set to huge roars from the crowd. Twice Djokovic found himself on his backside in the first set and with the roof closed because of the rain that delayed play on the outside courts, the stage looked perfect for a Wimbledon shock of monumental proportions. But Djokovic is not a 19-times Grand Slam champion for nothing and the Serb quickly snuffed out the danger, levelling the match by dominating a 26-minute second set. When Draper completely missed an overhead to drop serve in the second set, Djokovic roared in relief. From that point on it was straightforward enough for Djokovic who looked immaculate as he completed his victory. "It feels great seeing everyone and being back on the most sacred tennis court in the world," Djokovic, who is bidding to win a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam title, said on court. "It was very sad last year that Wimbledon was cancelled but really glad the sport is back."

Top 10 World News: Iraq lashes out at US, Russia tests new missile, more

Republic Day Parade 2024: We are only days away from celebrating India’s 75th Republic Day. Indians all over the country are pumped up to watch the annual grand parade in New Delhi. Our men and women in uniforms are also braving the chilly weather and practising for the show&nbsp;on the capital’s iconic Kartavya Path.

As the ritual of the day always has been since 1950 to invite the head of state of a foreign country as chief guest, this year India has invited France’s President Emmanuel Macron to grace the Republic Day parade with his presence.&nbsp;

The invitation to Macron is not just for pomp and show but has underlying geopolitical meaning to it.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-dark-ages-in-south-asia-2800-year-old-settlement-discovered-in-pm-modis-hometown-vadnagar-680744">No 'Dark Ages' in South Asia? 2800-year-old settlement discovered in PM Modi's hometown Vadnagar</a>

As we all wait for the day to watch tricolour balloons in the blue sky of New Delhi with the roaring sounds of Tejas and Sukhoi aircraft, here is a complete guide on buying tickets to the Republic Day Parade 2024.

<h2>Republic Day Parade 2024: Time and other details</h2>

Date: January 26

Day: Friday

Time of parade: 9:30-10:00 am

Parade path: Vijay Chowk to India Gate&nbsp;

Parade distance: 5 km

Venue: Kartavya Path, New Delhi&nbsp;

<h2>Republic Day Parade 2024: Special features&nbsp;</h2>

This Republic Day, there will be two all-women contingents in the parade. The first, with 144 personnel, includes 60 soldiers from the Army and the rest from the Indian Air Force and Navy, featuring Agniveer soldiers.&nbsp;

The second contingent, led by women doctors, consists of nurses from the Armed Forces Medical Services.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/do-not-panic-indian-airlines-slipped-this-note-to-passenger-stuck-in-loo-for-entire-trip-680766">'Do not panic': Indian airlines slipped THIS note to passenger stuck in loo&nbsp;for entire trip</a>

Delhi Police will also feature an all-women contingent this year, for the first time in the force’s history.

<h2>Republic Day Parade 2024: Ticket prices</h2>

Indian nationals can take reserved or unreserved sets that are priced at ₹500 or ₹20 respectively. However, the booking for tickets started on January 10. The tickets will be available until January 25 but a limited number of tickets will be available per day.

<h2>Republic Day Parade 2024: How to buy tickets online, a step-to-step guide</h2>

1. Visit the Ministry of Defence’s official web portal at www.aamantran.mod.gov.in.

2. Login or create a new account.&nbsp;

3. Fill in personal details such as name, birthdate, mobile number, etc. Verify the authentication code sent to the registered mobile number (OTP).

4. Choose the desired event from the options that include the FDR Republic Day Parade, Republic Day Parade, and Beating the Retreat.&nbsp;

5. For verification purposes, provide attendee information and upload an original Photo ID.

6. Secure tickets by completing the online payment process.

<h2>Republic Day Parade 2024: How to buy tickets offline</h2>

Offline tickets will be available at IDTC Travel Counters, the Government of India Tourist Office and DTDC Counters.

Moreover, Departmental Sale Counters will sell the tickets from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily while the Parliament House Reception Office will sell the tickets from 11 am to 4 pm.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-vegetarian-man-served-dead-rat-at-mumbais-barbeque-nation-files-fir-over-companys-casual-response-680889">India: Vegetarian man 'served' dead rat at Mumbai's Barbeque Nation; files FIR over company's casual response</a>

The Government of India Tourist Office will remain closed on Sundays while the Parliament House Reception Office will remain closed on weekends and holidays.

1.&nbsp;Visit an authorised offline outlet or designated ticket counter for Republic Day events.

2.&nbsp;Provide identity proof and fill out a physical form with personal details including name, birth date, mobile number, etc.

3.&nbsp;Choose the desired event from the options that include FDR Republic Day Parade, Republic Day Parade, Beating the Retreat

4.&nbsp;For verification purposes, provide attendee information and provide a photocopy of the original Photo ID.

5.&nbsp;Secure tickets by completing the payment process,

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Republic Day Parade 2024: We are only days away from celebrating India’s 75th Republic Day. Indians all over the country are pumped up to watch the annual grand parade in New Delhi.

Republic Day Parade 2024: We are only days away from celebrating India’s 75th Republic Day. Indians all over the country are pumped up to watch the annual grand parade in New Delhi. Our men and women in uniforms are also braving the chilly weather and practising for the show on the capital’s iconic Kartavya Path. As the ritual of the day always has been since 1950 to invite the head of state of a foreign country as chief guest, this year India has invited France’s President Emmanuel Macron to grace the Republic Day parade with his presence. The invitation to Macron is not just for pomp and show but has underlying geopolitical meaning to it. Also Read | No 'Dark Ages' in South Asia? 2800-year-old settlement discovered in PM Modi's hometown Vadnagar As we all wait for the day to watch tricolour balloons in the blue sky of New Delhi with the roaring sounds of Tejas and Sukhoi aircraft, here is a complete guide on buying tickets to the Republic Day Parade 2024. Republic Day Parade 2024: Time and other details Date: January 26 Day: Friday Time of parade: 9:30-10:00 am Parade path: Vijay Chowk to India Gate Parade distance: 5 km Venue: Kartavya Path, New Delhi Republic Day Parade 2024: Special features This Republic Day, there will be two all-women contingents in the parade. The first, with 144 personnel, includes 60 soldiers from the Army and the rest from the Indian Air Force and Navy, featuring Agniveer soldiers. The second contingent, led by women doctors, consists of nurses from the Armed Forces Medical Services. Also Read | 'Do not panic': Indian airlines slipped THIS note to passenger stuck in loo for entire trip Delhi Police will also feature an all-women contingent this year, for the first time in the force’s history. Republic Day Parade 2024: Ticket prices Indian nationals can take reserved or unreserved sets that are priced at ₹500 or ₹20 respectively. However, the booking for tickets started on January 10. The tickets will be available until January 25 but a limited number of tickets will be available per day. Republic Day Parade 2024: How to buy tickets online, a step-to-step guide 1. Visit the Ministry of Defence’s official web portal at www.aamantran.mod.gov.in. 2. Login or create a new account. 3. Fill in personal details such as name, birthdate, mobile number, etc. Verify the authentication code sent to the registered mobile number (OTP). 4. Choose the desired event from the options that include the FDR Republic Day Parade, Republic Day Parade, and Beating the Retreat. 5. For verification purposes, provide attendee information and upload an original Photo ID. 6. Secure tickets by completing the online payment process. Republic Day Parade 2024: How to buy tickets offline Offline tickets will be available at IDTC Travel Counters, the Government of India Tourist Office and DTDC Counters. Moreover, Departmental Sale Counters will sell the tickets from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily while the Parliament House Reception Office will sell the tickets from 11 am to 4 pm. Also Read | India: Vegetarian man 'served' dead rat at Mumbai's Barbeque Nation; files FIR over company's casual response The Government of India Tourist Office will remain closed on Sundays while the Parliament House Reception Office will remain closed on weekends and holidays. 1. Visit an authorised offline outlet or designated ticket counter for Republic Day events. 2. Provide identity proof and fill out a physical form with personal details including name, birth date, mobile number, etc. 3. Choose the desired event from the options that include FDR Republic Day Parade, Republic Day Parade, Beating the Retreat 4. For verification purposes, provide attendee information and provide a photocopy of the original Photo ID. 5. Secure tickets by completing the payment process, (With inputs from agencies)

US carries out air strikes against Iran-backed militia in Iraq, Syria 

The United States Air Force (USAF) attacks on eastern Syria near the Iraqi border killed at least five Iran-backed militia fighters on Monday. According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "at least 5 Iran-backed Iraqi militia fighters were killed and numerous more were wounded in an attack by US bombers.

The United States Air Force (USAF) attacks on eastern Syria near the Iraqi border killed at least five Iran-backed militia fighters on Monday. According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "at least 5 Iran-backed Iraqi militia fighters were killed and numerous more were wounded in an attack by US bombers." According to the US Department of Defence, US combat aircraft have hit Iranian-backed insurgents' positions in the Syrian-Iraqi border region. Watch: The war monitor also confirmed the news that military positions were among the targets attacked. The strikes are the second such US attack on Iran-backed militias in Syria since President Joe Biden came to power, according to the Pentagon. Also Read | We have drones with 7,000 km range, says Iran's top commander "At President Biden's direction, US military forces earlier this evening conducted defensive precision airstrikes against facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups in the Iraq-Syria border region. The targets were selected because these facilities are utilized by Iran-backed militias that are engaged in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks against US personnel and facilities in Iraq," the Pentagon said in a statement late on Sunday. Also read: Secret UK defence documents found at a bus stop in Kent "Specifically, the US strikes targeted operational and weapons storage facilities at two locations in Syria and one location in Iraq, both of which lie close to the border between those countries. Several Iran-backed militia groups, including Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), used these facilities," the statement added. In recent months, US interests in Iraq have been repeatedly attacked, with the US regularly blaming Iran-linked Iraqi militias for rocket and other assaults against US forces stationed in Iraq. According to the Observatory, US strikes on facilities used by Iran-backed militia groups in east Syria killed more than 20 combatants in February. The strikes were in response for a rocket attack in Iraq that killed one civilian contractor and injured a US military member and other coalition troops, according to the Pentagon. (With inputs from agencies)

Five militia fighters killed in US strikes near Syria-Iraq border

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that 10,000 Islamic State fighters continue to be held in detention in camps run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and that this situation was 'untenable'. 
 
Speaking at the opening of a meeting in Rome to renew international efforts to combat the Islamist militia, Blinken said Washington continued to urge countries, including the 78 member countries of the coalition against Islamic State, to take back their citizens, who had joined the group. 
 
"This situation is simply untenable. It just can't persist indefinitely. The United States continues to urge countries of origin, including coalition partners, to repatriate, rehabilitate, and where applicable, prosecute their citizens," Blinken said in his opening remarks. 
 
Another key element of defeating Islamic State on a permanent basis required addressing the threats from the group outside Iraq and Syria, and namely in Africa, Blinken said. 
 
Originally an offshoot of al Qaeda, Islamic State seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria from 2014, imposing a reign of terror with public beheadings and attacks by supporters abroad. 
 
Islamic State was declared militarily defeated in 2017 but has since waged a steady insurgency across parts of northern Iraq and a porous border with neighbouring Syria. 
 
Recent months have witnessed more than 25 deadly attacks that Iraqi officials attribute to Islamic State militants. The January bombing of a crowded Baghdad market killed more than 30 people. 
 
Militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have also grown stronger in recent years, despite the deployment of thousands of regional, Western and UN&nbsp;troops across West Africa's Sahel region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that 10,000 Islamic State fighters continue to be held in detention in camps run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and that this situation was 'untenable'.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that 10,000 Islamic State fighters continue to be held in detention in camps run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and that this situation was 'untenable'. Speaking at the opening of a meeting in Rome to renew international efforts to combat the Islamist militia, Blinken said Washington continued to urge countries, including the 78 member countries of the coalition against Islamic State, to take back their citizens, who had joined the group. "This situation is simply untenable. It just can't persist indefinitely. The United States continues to urge countries of origin, including coalition partners, to repatriate, rehabilitate, and where applicable, prosecute their citizens," Blinken said in his opening remarks. Another key element of defeating Islamic State on a permanent basis required addressing the threats from the group outside Iraq and Syria, and namely in Africa, Blinken said. Originally an offshoot of al Qaeda, Islamic State seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria from 2014, imposing a reign of terror with public beheadings and attacks by supporters abroad. Islamic State was declared militarily defeated in 2017 but has since waged a steady insurgency across parts of northern Iraq and a porous border with neighbouring Syria. Recent months have witnessed more than 25 deadly attacks that Iraqi officials attribute to Islamic State militants. The January bombing of a crowded Baghdad market killed more than 30 people. Militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have also grown stronger in recent years, despite the deployment of thousands of regional, Western and UN troops across West Africa's Sahel region.

Blinken: 'Untenable' for 10,000 IS fighters still to be held in Syria

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has told Boeing that its planned 777X is not yet ready for a significant certification step and warned it "realistically" will not certify the airplane until mid-to-late 2023.

World Business Watch: US FAA says no realistic approval before mid-2023 for Boeing 777X

A key witness whose testimony was used in the indictment of Julian Assange has admitted to lying. Sigurdur Ingi Thordarson was recruited by US authorities to build a case against Assange after misleading them to believe he was previously a close associate of his.

Julian Assange Case: Key witness admits to lying in testimony to help FBI

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israel's new Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met in Rome on Sunday. Yair Lipid opened the meeting with a reference to past mistakes made by Israel and an aim to fix them together.

Antony Blinken meets Yair Lipid in Rome to fix 'mistakes' made in past

In response to drone attacks against US personnel and facilities in Iraq, America has carried out airstrikes against Iran-backed militia in Iraq and Syria. At least 5 Iran-backed Iraqi militia fighters have been killed and several others wounded in the attack.

US carries out air strikes in Iraq and Syria, target Iran-backed militia groups

Ukraine and the United States will start a military exercise involving more than 30 countries in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine on Monday, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills. 
 
Sea Breeze 2021 follows a rise in tensions between NATO and Moscow, which said last week it had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of a British warship to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea. Britain rejected Russia's account of the incident. 
 
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and says it is Russian territory, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine. 
 
Russia's embassy in Washington called last week for the drills to be cancelled, and the Russian defence ministry said it would react if necessary to protect its own national security. 
 
Sea Breeze 2021 will last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft. US&nbsp;missile destroyer USS Ross and the US&nbsp;Marine Corps will take part. 
 
Ukraine says the main goal is to gain experience in joint actions during multinational peacekeeping and security operations. 
 
Relations between Kyiv and Moscow plummeted after Russia seized Crimea and over Russia's support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. 
 
Tension rose again this year when Russia massed troops on the border with Ukraine, where some of them remain along with their equipment.

Ukraine and the United States will start a military exercise involving more than 30 countries in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine on Monday, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills.

Ukraine and the United States will start a military exercise involving more than 30 countries in the Black Sea and southern Ukraine on Monday, despite Russian calls to cancel the drills. Sea Breeze 2021 follows a rise in tensions between NATO and Moscow, which said last week it had fired warning shots and dropped bombs in the path of a British warship to chase it out of Black Sea waters off the coast of Crimea. Britain rejected Russia's account of the incident. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and says it is Russian territory, but the peninsula is internationally recognised as part of Ukraine. Russia's embassy in Washington called last week for the drills to be cancelled, and the Russian defence ministry said it would react if necessary to protect its own national security. Sea Breeze 2021 will last two weeks and involve about 5,000 military personnel from NATO and other allies, and around 30 ships and 40 aircraft. US missile destroyer USS Ross and the US Marine Corps will take part. Ukraine says the main goal is to gain experience in joint actions during multinational peacekeeping and security operations. Relations between Kyiv and Moscow plummeted after Russia seized Crimea and over Russia's support for a separatist rebellion in eastern Ukraine. Tension rose again this year when Russia massed troops on the border with Ukraine, where some of them remain along with their equipment.

Ukraine, US to start Black Sea military drills despite Russian protest

Israel has serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal being put together in Vienna, new foreign minister Yair Lapid told his American counterpart, as he pledged to fix 'the mistakes made' in US-Israeli relations in recent years. 
 
In their first face-to-face meeting since Israel's new government was sworn in two weeks ago, US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Lapid had a very positive and warm discussion, according to US&nbsp;officials. 
 
The main topics were the nuclear deal and Israel's normalisation accords with Gulf Arab states, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza and the status of East Jerusalem, a topic that helped fuel the latest wave of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians in May. 
 
"Israel has some serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal that is being put together in Vienna. We believe the way to discuss those disagreements is through direct and professional conversations, not in press conferences," Lapid said, in brief remarks ahead of the meeting in Rome. 
 
Iran and the United States have been holding indirect talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers that imposed restrictions on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. 
 
Blinken told Lapid that Washington would remain in close contact with Israel over the Iran negotiations, US&nbsp;officials said. 
 
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a nationalist atop a cross-partisan coalition, has hewed to the opposition of his conservative predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, whose caps on projects with bomb-making potential Israel deemed too lax. 
 
Netanyahu's particularly close ties with Trump followed an acrimonious relationship with his predecessor Barack Obama, which some critics said had alienated Democrats and compromised US&nbsp;bipartisan support for Israel. 
 
Biden, since taking office on January&nbsp;20, has repeatedly expressed Washington's support for Israel but has been more measured in his approach than Trump. 
 
Lapid acknowledged the need for repair. "In the past few years, mistakes were made. Israel's bipartisan standing was hurt. We will fix those mistakes together." 
 
Blinken also reiterated to Lapid Washington's concerns over Israeli attempts to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and the status of the city's al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, US&nbsp;officials said. 
 
Blinken also conveyed to Lapid the necessity of getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza, where 250 Palestinians were killed and scores of buildings were destroyed last month by Israeli air strikes. 
 
Biden has worked to repair ties with the Palestinians and abandon what they said was the one-sided US&nbsp;policy towards the conflict. His administration has pledged to resume hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and humanitarian assistance and work towards reopening the Palestinians' diplomatic mission in Washington.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel has serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal being put together in Vienna, new foreign minister Yair Lapid told his American counterpart, as he pledged to fix 'the mistakes made' in US-Israeli relations in recent years.

Israel has serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal being put together in Vienna, new foreign minister Yair Lapid told his American counterpart, as he pledged to fix 'the mistakes made' in US-Israeli relations in recent years. In their first face-to-face meeting since Israel's new government was sworn in two weeks ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Lapid had a very positive and warm discussion, according to US officials. The main topics were the nuclear deal and Israel's normalisation accords with Gulf Arab states, as well as humanitarian aid to Gaza and the status of East Jerusalem, a topic that helped fuel the latest wave of violence between the Israelis and Palestinians in May. "Israel has some serious reservations about the Iran nuclear deal that is being put together in Vienna. We believe the way to discuss those disagreements is through direct and professional conversations, not in press conferences," Lapid said, in brief remarks ahead of the meeting in Rome. Iran and the United States have been holding indirect talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers that imposed restrictions on Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting international sanctions. Blinken told Lapid that Washington would remain in close contact with Israel over the Iran negotiations, US officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a nationalist atop a cross-partisan coalition, has hewed to the opposition of his conservative predecessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, whose caps on projects with bomb-making potential Israel deemed too lax. Netanyahu's particularly close ties with Trump followed an acrimonious relationship with his predecessor Barack Obama, which some critics said had alienated Democrats and compromised US bipartisan support for Israel. Biden, since taking office on January 20, has repeatedly expressed Washington's support for Israel but has been more measured in his approach than Trump. Lapid acknowledged the need for repair. "In the past few years, mistakes were made. Israel's bipartisan standing was hurt. We will fix those mistakes together." Blinken also reiterated to Lapid Washington's concerns over Israeli attempts to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and the status of the city's al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan, US officials said. Blinken also conveyed to Lapid the necessity of getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza, where 250 Palestinians were killed and scores of buildings were destroyed last month by Israeli air strikes. Biden has worked to repair ties with the Palestinians and abandon what they said was the one-sided US policy towards the conflict. His administration has pledged to resume hundreds of millions of dollars in economic and humanitarian assistance and work towards reopening the Palestinians' diplomatic mission in Washington. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel tells US it has serious reservations about Iran nuclear deal

India has overtaken the US in the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While India launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16, and has administered over 323.6&nbsp;million&nbsp;doses till date, the US which started its inoculation drive on December 14, 2020 has given over 323.3&nbsp;million&nbsp;doses.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"India achieves another milestone in COVID-19 vaccination and overtakes USA in total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered," the ministry said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India's cumulative vaccination coverage exceeded 323.6&nbsp;million&nbsp;on Sunday. A total of 32,36,63,297 vaccine doses have been administered through 43,21,898 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Monday, the ministry said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It said 17,21,268 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the data, so far 1,01,98,257 healthcare workers have taken the first dose while 72,07,617 have taken the second dose.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As many as 1,74,42,767 frontline workers have received the first dose while 93,99,319 have taken the second&nbsp;dose.&nbsp;In&nbsp;the 18-44 age group, 8,46,51,696 individuals have taken then first dose, while 19,01,190 have received the second dose.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the 45-59 age group, 8,71,11,445 people have been administered the first dose, while 1,48,12,349 have taken the second dose.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Besides, 6,75,29,713 people aged above 60 years have received the first dose, while, 2,34,08,944 have taken the second dose.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The new phase of&nbsp;universalisation&nbsp;of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from June 21.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

India has overtaken the US in the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. While India launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16, and has administered over 323.

India has overtaken the US in the total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered so far, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. While India launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16, and has administered over 323.6 million doses till date, the US which started its inoculation drive on December 14, 2020 has given over 323.3 million doses. "India achieves another milestone in COVID-19 vaccination and overtakes USA in total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered," the ministry said. India's cumulative vaccination coverage exceeded 323.6 million on Sunday. A total of 32,36,63,297 vaccine doses have been administered through 43,21,898 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am on Monday, the ministry said. It said 17,21,268 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours. According to the data, so far 1,01,98,257 healthcare workers have taken the first dose while 72,07,617 have taken the second dose. As many as 1,74,42,767 frontline workers have received the first dose while 93,99,319 have taken the second dose. In the 18-44 age group, 8,46,51,696 individuals have taken then first dose, while 19,01,190 have received the second dose. In the 45-59 age group, 8,71,11,445 people have been administered the first dose, while 1,48,12,349 have taken the second dose. Besides, 6,75,29,713 people aged above 60 years have received the first dose, while, 2,34,08,944 have taken the second dose. The new phase of universalisation of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from June 21. (With inputs from agencies)

India overtakes US in total number of vaccines administered: Govt  

Five people died in a&nbsp;hot&nbsp;air&nbsp;balloon&nbsp;accident&nbsp;in Albuquerque, in the southwestern United States, the city's police announced Saturday.

The&nbsp;accident&nbsp;caused power outages in the area for several hours after the&nbsp;balloon&nbsp;came into contact with a power line.&nbsp;

"Unfortunately, 4 individuals died as a result of their wounds from the&nbsp;hot&nbsp;air&nbsp;balloon&nbsp;crash," Albuquerque police said on Twitter, adding that one person was taken to a hospital in critical condition.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-cdu-chancellor-candidate-nord-stream-could-be-halted-if-russia-abuses-it-394200">Also Read |&nbsp;German CDU chancellor candidate: Nord Stream could be halted if Russia abuses it</a>

Authorities said later Saturday that the adult male had died of his injuries.

"Our prayers go out to the friends and family of all five people who tragically lost their lives," police said on Twitter.

Early Saturday morning, some 13,000 people were without power because of the&nbsp;accident, local utility PNM tweeted.

Power was later restored to all affected customers, it said.&nbsp;

Five people died in a hot air balloon accident in Albuquerque, in the southwestern United States, the city's police announced Saturday. The accident caused power outages in the area for several hours after the balloon came into contact with a power line.

Five people died in a hot air balloon accident in Albuquerque, in the southwestern United States, the city's police announced Saturday. The accident caused power outages in the area for several hours after the balloon came into contact with a power line. "Unfortunately, 4 individuals died as a result of their wounds from the hot air balloon crash," Albuquerque police said on Twitter, adding that one person was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Also Read | German CDU chancellor candidate: Nord Stream could be halted if Russia abuses it Authorities said later Saturday that the adult male had died of his injuries. "Our prayers go out to the friends and family of all five people who tragically lost their lives," police said on Twitter. Early Saturday morning, some 13,000 people were without power because of the accident, local utility PNM tweeted. Power was later restored to all affected customers, it said.

Five die in US hot air balloon accident

The recent dismissal of a white New York professor for reading aloud the "N-word" from a Mark Twain novel has shone a spotlight on the use of&nbsp;racial&nbsp;slurs&nbsp;in&nbsp;American&nbsp;classrooms.

It has renewed a long-standing debate about how books from some of the United States' most famous authors should be taught during an age of reckoning with&nbsp;racial&nbsp;injustice.

After years of hearing the term read from the texts of writers such as Twain and William Faulkner, students are increasingly taking a stand.

"There was no reason that I should have to go to my class and hear that slur," said Dylan Gilbert recalling the time in 2019 when her white English teacher at the University of Michigan uttered the term while reciting a passage from Faulkner.

Gilbert, who is Black, walked out of class.

"It felt like a reminder that even though I had gotten into Michigan I would still not be afforded the same opportunity for a safe learning environment as my white peers," she told AFP.

The issue came into sharp focus again last month when Hannah Berliner Fischthal, who is white, departed St. John's University in Queens, NYC.&nbsp;

She apologized after upsetting several students by pronouncing the&nbsp;racial&nbsp;slur out loud while reading an extract from Twain's 1894 book "Pudd'nhead Wilson" -- having first explained the context for the word in Twain's text and saying she hoped it would not cause offence.

The incident came after another professor, also white, this time at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania was dismissed for using the&nbsp;slur during a course.

"The word has such a history and such a psychological-emotional impact that just hearing the word, for some people, can be disruptive," said Arizona State University English professor Neal Lester, who is Black.

Derived from a Latin word, it became widely used in 18th Century America, partly to dehumanize African Americans and cast them as an inferior race.

Lester says he never says the word in his classroom.&nbsp;

Vershawn Young, a Black communications professor, takes a different view.

When, in June 2020, his employer, the University of Waterloo, announced that the word was banned on campus, Young refused to adhere to the new rule.

"When reading from a text, I say the word," he told AFP. "When students quote the text, they too are free to speak what they read. However, they also may replace the word with its euphemism. What they can't do is ignore it."

Young says he always prepares his students that it is coming so they aren't shocked.&nbsp;

"Outside of quotes, I do not use the word because I recognize my authority in relation to the multiple sensitivities that my students embody," he added.

Censorship

In an article in The Conversation last year, Young wrote that the ban on his campus censored Black professors like himself.

"I belong to multiple Black communities, where we use the N-word in six or seven culturally rich ways," he wrote, adding that banning it "serves the purposes of white supremacy."

In recent decades it has been culturally acceptable for Black people to use the word. It is regularly heard in discussions, movies or music, hip-hop songs being the most obvious example.&nbsp;

"Hearing a non-black person say the N-word is always offensive and harmful to me," said Gilbert, the student who objected to her white teacher using it.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-former-finance-minister-javid-appointed-as-health-minister-394201">Also Read |&nbsp;UK's former finance minister Javid appointed as health minister</a>

"(But) I have no problem with Black people saying (it). In my personal opinion the word is never violent or threatening to me when it comes out of Black person's mouth," she added.

Wendy Kaminer, a lawyer and writer who used to be an&nbsp;American&nbsp;Civil Liberties Union board member, said "the distinction between quoting a&nbsp;racial&nbsp;slur and using a&nbsp;racial&nbsp;slur has been completely erased."

"I think that's quite problematic," she told AFP.

Kaminer says the disappearance of the word from university campuses is part of a wider trend that started in the 1990s of banning other terms, including relating to sexuality and minorities.

She&nbsp;thinks the United States, where freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution, is moving towards a more western European approach to the regulation of what people can and can't say.

For Lester, the Arizona State University professor, the answer is to talk about the word and its complex history without uttering it.

"I've had many conversations in class around the word without actually saying it," she said.&nbsp;

"That in and of itself is not a huge intellectual gymnastics routine."

The recent dismissal of a white New York professor for reading aloud the "N-word" from a Mark Twain novel has shone a spotlight on the use of racial slurs in American classrooms.

The recent dismissal of a white New York professor for reading aloud the "N-word" from a Mark Twain novel has shone a spotlight on the use of racial slurs in American classrooms. It has renewed a long-standing debate about how books from some of the United States' most famous authors should be taught during an age of reckoning with racial injustice. After years of hearing the term read from the texts of writers such as Twain and William Faulkner, students are increasingly taking a stand. "There was no reason that I should have to go to my class and hear that slur," said Dylan Gilbert recalling the time in 2019 when her white English teacher at the University of Michigan uttered the term while reciting a passage from Faulkner. Gilbert, who is Black, walked out of class. "It felt like a reminder that even though I had gotten into Michigan I would still not be afforded the same opportunity for a safe learning environment as my white peers," she told AFP. The issue came into sharp focus again last month when Hannah Berliner Fischthal, who is white, departed St. John's University in Queens, NYC. She apologized after upsetting several students by pronouncing the racial slur out loud while reading an extract from Twain's 1894 book "Pudd'nhead Wilson" -- having first explained the context for the word in Twain's text and saying she hoped it would not cause offence. The incident came after another professor, also white, this time at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania was dismissed for using the slur during a course. "The word has such a history and such a psychological-emotional impact that just hearing the word, for some people, can be disruptive," said Arizona State University English professor Neal Lester, who is Black. Derived from a Latin word, it became widely used in 18th Century America, partly to dehumanize African Americans and cast them as an inferior race. Lester says he never says the word in his classroom. Vershawn Young, a Black communications professor, takes a different view. When, in June 2020, his employer, the University of Waterloo, announced that the word was banned on campus, Young refused to adhere to the new rule. "When reading from a text, I say the word," he told AFP. "When students quote the text, they too are free to speak what they read. However, they also may replace the word with its euphemism. What they can't do is ignore it." Young says he always prepares his students that it is coming so they aren't shocked. "Outside of quotes, I do not use the word because I recognize my authority in relation to the multiple sensitivities that my students embody," he added. Censorship In an article in The Conversation last year, Young wrote that the ban on his campus censored Black professors like himself. "I belong to multiple Black communities, where we use the N-word in six or seven culturally rich ways," he wrote, adding that banning it "serves the purposes of white supremacy." In recent decades it has been culturally acceptable for Black people to use the word. It is regularly heard in discussions, movies or music, hip-hop songs being the most obvious example. "Hearing a non-black person say the N-word is always offensive and harmful to me," said Gilbert, the student who objected to her white teacher using it. Also Read | UK's former finance minister Javid appointed as health minister "(But) I have no problem with Black people saying (it). In my personal opinion the word is never violent or threatening to me when it comes out of Black person's mouth," she added. Wendy Kaminer, a lawyer and writer who used to be an American Civil Liberties Union board member, said "the distinction between quoting a racial slur and using a racial slur has been completely erased." "I think that's quite problematic," she told AFP. Kaminer says the disappearance of the word from university campuses is part of a wider trend that started in the 1990s of banning other terms, including relating to sexuality and minorities. She thinks the United States, where freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution, is moving towards a more western European approach to the regulation of what people can and can't say. For Lester, the Arizona State University professor, the answer is to talk about the word and its complex history without uttering it. "I've had many conversations in class around the word without actually saying it," she said. "That in and of itself is not a huge intellectual gymnastics routine."

Classrooms grapple with racial slurs in classic American novels

Pharma giant Johnson and Johnson, accused of fuelling the deadly US opioid crisis has reached a USD 230 million settlement with the state of New York. The company has confirmed that it will stop making or selling opioids in the US.

The agreement allowed Johnson &amp; Johnson to resolve litigation over its role in the epidemic which has killed more than half a million people since 1999, according to a statement from New York attorney general Letitia James. The agreement was announced on Saturday (US time).

For its part, in a separate statement J&amp;J said the settlement allowed it to avoid a trial that was scheduled to begin Monday, and said the group had "made the business decision in 2020 to discontinue all of its prescription pain medications in the United States."

The settlement "is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the company," it said, noting that other nationwide legal proceedings are underway, including a trial in California.

The prosecutor's statement said the company would spread the payments over nine years.

J&amp;J could also pay an additional $30 million in the first year if the state enacts new legislation creating an opioid settlement fund.&nbsp;

"The opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc on countless communities across New York state and the rest of the nation, leaving millions still addicted to dangerous and deadly opioids," James said in the statement.&nbsp;

"Johnson &amp; Johnson helped fuel this fire, but today they're committing to leaving the opioid business -- not only in New York, but across the entire country," she added.&nbsp;

That includes both manufacturing and selling opioids, James' statement said. Johnson &amp; Johnson stressed it had made the decision before the settlement was reached.&nbsp;

The $230 million will be aimed at prevention, treatment and education efforts on the dangers of the substances in New York state.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Pharma giant Johnson and Johnson, accused of fuelling the deadly US opioid crisis has reached a USD 230 million settlement with the state of New York. The company has confirmed that it will stop making or selling opioids in the US.

Pharma giant Johnson and Johnson, accused of fuelling the deadly US opioid crisis has reached a USD 230 million settlement with the state of New York. The company has confirmed that it will stop making or selling opioids in the US. The agreement allowed Johnson & Johnson to resolve litigation over its role in the epidemic which has killed more than half a million people since 1999, according to a statement from New York attorney general Letitia James. The agreement was announced on Saturday (US time). For its part, in a separate statement J&J said the settlement allowed it to avoid a trial that was scheduled to begin Monday, and said the group had "made the business decision in 2020 to discontinue all of its prescription pain medications in the United States." The settlement "is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the company," it said, noting that other nationwide legal proceedings are underway, including a trial in California. The prosecutor's statement said the company would spread the payments over nine years. J&J could also pay an additional $30 million in the first year if the state enacts new legislation creating an opioid settlement fund. "The opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc on countless communities across New York state and the rest of the nation, leaving millions still addicted to dangerous and deadly opioids," James said in the statement. "Johnson & Johnson helped fuel this fire, but today they're committing to leaving the opioid business -- not only in New York, but across the entire country," she added. That includes both manufacturing and selling opioids, James' statement said. Johnson & Johnson stressed it had made the decision before the settlement was reached. The $230 million will be aimed at prevention, treatment and education efforts on the dangers of the substances in New York state. (With inputs from agencies)

J&J to stop selling opioids in US, reaches USD 230 mn settlement

The Taliban is gaining ground across key districts in Afghanistan while the US is moving ahead with the pullback of the military forces from Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan drawdown: Challenges ahead of Afghan government

IN PICS | Thousands turn out for Pride marches all across the globe

IN PICS | US celebrates Derek Chauvin verdict and justice to George Floyd

Vice President Kamala Harris visited a border patrol facility near the US-Mexico border on Friday and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies. 
 
The visit, her first since becoming vice president five months ago, came amid a rise in migrants caught crossing the border, which has sparked outrage from Republicans, who favour the stricter immigration policies implemented by former President Donald Trump. 
 
President Joe Biden, a Democrat, tasked Harris with spearheading his administration's handling of the broader issue of people fleeing Central American countries for the United States. She visited Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month. 
 
"This issue cannot be reduced to a political issue. We're talking about children, we're talking about families, we're talking about suffering. And our approach has to be thoughtful and effective," Harris said at the conclusion of her short trip. 
 
US&nbsp;authorities have made more than one million arrests of migrants at the US-Mexico border so far in fiscal year 2021, according to preliminary figures. 
 
Republicans have criticised Biden for rolling back restrictive Trump-era immigration policies even as arrests of migrants at the US-Mexico border have reached 20-year highs in recent months. They have also criticised Harris for not visiting the border sooner. 
 
Harris was accompanied in El Paso by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin and Democratic Representative from Texas Veronica Escobar, who called the El Paso area the new "Ellis Island," a reference to the famed area in New York Harbour that processed millions of immigrants as they entered the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Immigration, and particularly the arrival of asylum seekers at the US&nbsp;southern border, has been a hot-button issue for decades. Multiple attempts to reform US&nbsp;laws and create a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrants living in the country illegally have failed in Congress. 
 
Democrats and activists have pressed Biden to further scale back enforcement and ensure humane treatment of migrant children and families arriving at the border.

During the trip, Harris also met with advocates, who urged her administration to end a Trump-era policy that allows US&nbsp;authorities to rapidly expel migrants to Mexico or their home countries, according to one of the participants, Fernando Garcia, the executive director at the El Paso-based Border Network for Human Rights. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Vice President Kamala Harris visited a border patrol facility near the US-Mexico border on Friday and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited a border patrol facility near the US-Mexico border on Friday and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies. The visit, her first since becoming vice president five months ago, came amid a rise in migrants caught crossing the border, which has sparked outrage from Republicans, who favour the stricter immigration policies implemented by former President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, tasked Harris with spearheading his administration's handling of the broader issue of people fleeing Central American countries for the United States. She visited Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month. "This issue cannot be reduced to a political issue. We're talking about children, we're talking about families, we're talking about suffering. And our approach has to be thoughtful and effective," Harris said at the conclusion of her short trip. US authorities have made more than one million arrests of migrants at the US-Mexico border so far in fiscal year 2021, according to preliminary figures. Republicans have criticised Biden for rolling back restrictive Trump-era immigration policies even as arrests of migrants at the US-Mexico border have reached 20-year highs in recent months. They have also criticised Harris for not visiting the border sooner. Harris was accompanied in El Paso by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin and Democratic Representative from Texas Veronica Escobar, who called the El Paso area the new "Ellis Island," a reference to the famed area in New York Harbour that processed millions of immigrants as they entered the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Immigration, and particularly the arrival of asylum seekers at the US southern border, has been a hot-button issue for decades. Multiple attempts to reform US laws and create a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrants living in the country illegally have failed in Congress. Democrats and activists have pressed Biden to further scale back enforcement and ensure humane treatment of migrant children and families arriving at the border. During the trip, Harris also met with advocates, who urged her administration to end a Trump-era policy that allows US authorities to rapidly expel migrants to Mexico or their home countries, according to one of the participants, Fernando Garcia, the executive director at the El Paso-based Border Network for Human Rights. (With inputs from agencies)

Drop politics to fix immigration, Harris says at US-Mexico border

US President Joe Biden on Friday designated the&nbsp;Pulse&nbsp;gay&nbsp;nightclub&nbsp;in Orlando, Florida, a national memorial, to honor the 49 people killed in a 2016 mass shooting.

"We'll never fully recover, but we'll remember," Biden said as he signed legislation establishing Florida's National&nbsp;Pulse&nbsp;Memorial, joined by survivors of the shooting and lawmakers who worked on the measure.

"May ... no president ever have to sign another monument like this."

A gunman stormed the popular venue, opening fire with an AR-15-style assault rifle and pistol in one of the most lethal modern mass shootings in the United States.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chauvin-gets-22-12-years-in-prison-for-george-floyds-death-394037">Also Read |&nbsp;Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death</a>

Biden, in a shift from his Republican predecessor, has sought to emphasize equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, officially recognizing Pride Month with a June 1 proclamation and nominating LGBTQ officials to top U.S. government posts, among other actions.

The Democratic president has also pressed for full rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, including passage of the Equality Act in Congress, noting that protections are lacking in many U.S. states.

"Our presence this afternoon makes a very strong statement: Pride is back at the White House," Biden said, after being introduced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is openly gay, and a young transgender man, Ashton Mota.

After signing the legislation, Biden noted that half of U.S. states do not have specific protections for LGBTQ+ Americans and their families. "We must protect the gains we've made," he said.

In Florida, authorities branded the 2016 shooting an act of Islamist extremism by a 29-year-old U.S. citizen of Afghan descent. But civil rights activists said the massacre was also a hate crime targeting gay men and Latinos frequenting the club.

The new Orlando site will join other memorials including the National AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco and New York City's Stonewall Inn, a national monument commemorating what is seen as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement following riots after police raided the gay bar in 1969.

Biden has sought to reverse course from former President Donald Trump, who did not officially recognize Pride month.

He has ordered federal agencies to protect LGBTQ people under federal anti-discrimination laws. He also reversed a Trump-era ban on transgender people openly serving in the U.S. military and on flying rainbow Pride flags at U.S. embassies.

US President Joe Biden on Friday designated the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, a national memorial, to honor the 49 people killed in a 2016 mass shooting.

US President Joe Biden on Friday designated the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, a national memorial, to honor the 49 people killed in a 2016 mass shooting. "We'll never fully recover, but we'll remember," Biden said as he signed legislation establishing Florida's National Pulse Memorial, joined by survivors of the shooting and lawmakers who worked on the measure. "May ... no president ever have to sign another monument like this." A gunman stormed the popular venue, opening fire with an AR-15-style assault rifle and pistol in one of the most lethal modern mass shootings in the United States. Also Read | Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death Biden, in a shift from his Republican predecessor, has sought to emphasize equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, officially recognizing Pride Month with a June 1 proclamation and nominating LGBTQ officials to top U.S. government posts, among other actions. The Democratic president has also pressed for full rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, including passage of the Equality Act in Congress, noting that protections are lacking in many U.S. states. "Our presence this afternoon makes a very strong statement: Pride is back at the White House," Biden said, after being introduced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is openly gay, and a young transgender man, Ashton Mota. After signing the legislation, Biden noted that half of U.S. states do not have specific protections for LGBTQ+ Americans and their families. "We must protect the gains we've made," he said. In Florida, authorities branded the 2016 shooting an act of Islamist extremism by a 29-year-old U.S. citizen of Afghan descent. But civil rights activists said the massacre was also a hate crime targeting gay men and Latinos frequenting the club. The new Orlando site will join other memorials including the National AIDS Memorial Grove in San Francisco and New York City's Stonewall Inn, a national monument commemorating what is seen as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement following riots after police raided the gay bar in 1969. Biden has sought to reverse course from former President Donald Trump, who did not officially recognize Pride month. He has ordered federal agencies to protect LGBTQ people under federal anti-discrimination laws. He also reversed a Trump-era ban on transgender people openly serving in the U.S. military and on flying rainbow Pride flags at U.S. embassies.

'Pride is back at the White House,' Biden says, signing Pulse nightclub bill

The US Justice Department announced Friday it was suing the state of&nbsp;Georgia&nbsp;over new election laws it charged would discriminate against African Americans.

The laws were passed in March by the Republican-dominated state legislature after Democrat Joe Biden stunned Republican incumbent Donald Trump by capturing&nbsp;Georgia&nbsp;in the November 2020 presidential election, helped in part by a strong turnout of Black voters.

The Justice Department charged that the new laws were passed with discriminatory intent with little study or debate, and would make voting harder in largely Black precincts compared to predominantly white areas.

"The rights of all citizens to vote are the central pillars of our democracy," said Attorney General Merrick Garland.

"Our complaint alleges that recent changes to&nbsp;Georgia's election laws were enacted with the purpose of denying or abridging the right of Black Georgians to vote on account of their race or color," Garland said.

US Justice Department challenges Georgia voting rules

He said the department was studying new voting legislation in other states and would also sue if constitutional violations were seen.

"We will not hesitate to act," he said.

Collision course&nbsp;

The eruption of the coronavirus pandemic in the middle of an election year saw many states expand early voting and voting by mail, making it easier for the public to obtain and deliver ballots.

While that benefitted both parties, some Republicans including Trump believe it was to their disadvantage, and have pushed for tighter restrictions on how, when and where Americans can vote.

Trump continues to allege vote fraud in&nbsp;Georgia, but despite reviews, investigations and recounts, no significant fraud or irregularity has been uncovered.

The decision to sue in federal court put the Justice Department on a collision course with several Republican-led states attempting to enact new voting laws in the wake of last year's election.

Voting practices in the United States are mostly governed by individual states, as long as they respect constitutional equal rights principles.

If the department wins, the laws are judged illegal -- but the states can appeal all the way to the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

Earlier this week, the Biden administration failed in an effort to pass legislation in Congress to protect voting rights and expand ballot access, as Republicans in the narrowly split Senate united to keep the bill from moving forward.

Garland also announced that the Justice Department is ordering federal prosecutors around the country to prosecute cases of threats against voting officials and poll volunteers, amid a "dramatic increase" in such incidents.

Republicans accused Democrats of using the lawsuit to pursue their own power.

"Joe Biden is now weaponizing the Justice Department to attack election integrity," said Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in a statement.

Trump meanwhile repeated his unproven claims of ballot fraud.

"It should be the other way around!" Trump said in a statement

"The people of&nbsp;Georgia&nbsp;should sue the State, and their elected officials, for running a corrupt and rigged 2020 presidential election."

The US Justice Department announced Friday it was suing the state of Georgia over new election laws it charged would discriminate against African Americans. The laws were passed in March by the Republican-dominated state legislature after Democrat Joe Biden stunned Republican incumbent Donald Trump by capturing Georgia in the November 2020 presidential election, helped in part by a strong turnout of Black voters.

The US Justice Department announced Friday it was suing the state of Georgia over new election laws it charged would discriminate against African Americans. The laws were passed in March by the Republican-dominated state legislature after Democrat Joe Biden stunned Republican incumbent Donald Trump by capturing Georgia in the November 2020 presidential election, helped in part by a strong turnout of Black voters. The Justice Department charged that the new laws were passed with discriminatory intent with little study or debate, and would make voting harder in largely Black precincts compared to predominantly white areas. "The rights of all citizens to vote are the central pillars of our democracy," said Attorney General Merrick Garland. "Our complaint alleges that recent changes to Georgia's election laws were enacted with the purpose of denying or abridging the right of Black Georgians to vote on account of their race or color," Garland said. US Justice Department challenges Georgia voting rules He said the department was studying new voting legislation in other states and would also sue if constitutional violations were seen. "We will not hesitate to act," he said. Collision course The eruption of the coronavirus pandemic in the middle of an election year saw many states expand early voting and voting by mail, making it easier for the public to obtain and deliver ballots. While that benefitted both parties, some Republicans including Trump believe it was to their disadvantage, and have pushed for tighter restrictions on how, when and where Americans can vote. Trump continues to allege vote fraud in Georgia, but despite reviews, investigations and recounts, no significant fraud or irregularity has been uncovered. The decision to sue in federal court put the Justice Department on a collision course with several Republican-led states attempting to enact new voting laws in the wake of last year's election. Voting practices in the United States are mostly governed by individual states, as long as they respect constitutional equal rights principles. If the department wins, the laws are judged illegal -- but the states can appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. Earlier this week, the Biden administration failed in an effort to pass legislation in Congress to protect voting rights and expand ballot access, as Republicans in the narrowly split Senate united to keep the bill from moving forward. Garland also announced that the Justice Department is ordering federal prosecutors around the country to prosecute cases of threats against voting officials and poll volunteers, amid a "dramatic increase" in such incidents. Republicans accused Democrats of using the lawsuit to pursue their own power. "Joe Biden is now weaponizing the Justice Department to attack election integrity," said Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in a statement. Trump meanwhile repeated his unproven claims of ballot fraud. "It should be the other way around!" Trump said in a statement "The people of Georgia should sue the State, and their elected officials, for running a corrupt and rigged 2020 presidential election."

US Justice Department challenges Georgia voting rules

The US government was unable to determine if more than 140 unidentified flying objects were atmospheric events or extraterrestrial in origin, claims a new report released by the nation’s top intelligence official.

The US government was unable to determine if more than 140 unidentified flying objects were atmospheric events or extraterrestrial in origin, claims a new report released by the nation’s top intelligence official. As per the report, there has been no evidence that the objects, which have been deemed as 'unidentified aerial phenomena' were in any way related to aliens. The report claimed, "Some UAP appeared to remain stationary in winds aloft, move against the wind, manoeuvre abruptly, or move at considerable speed, without discernible means of propulsion". It further added, "In a small number of cases, military aircraft systems processed radio frequency (RF) energy associated with UAP sightings". Observers have reported unusual movements and “flight characteristics” in 18 different incidents. The task force will now require to focus on 'additional analysis' on that small number of cases, the report claims. The report also talks about how there is public speculation about what information the government chose not to reveal. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson claimed that he had seen the report. He was quoted by The Washington Post saying that, "The hair stood up on the back of my neck,” he said in an interview. He also spoke with some of the pilots involved in the incidents it documented. “They know they saw something". Also Read | Chauvin gets 22 1/2 years in prison for George Floyd's death He also said that he had asked NASA's scientists to study the incidents that the report addressed and their potential explanations. NASA has a small office that works on searching for extraterrestrial life. In a statement, Sen. Mark R. Warner, who is also the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said, "Since then, the frequency of these incidents only appears to be increasing. The United States must be able to understand and mitigate threats to our pilots, whether they’re from drones or weather balloons or adversary intelligence capabilities. Today’s rather inconclusive report only marks the beginning of efforts to understand and illuminate what is causing these risks to aviation in many areas around the country and the world". The report highlights five categories of potential explanations for the object. The first is junk man-made objects cluttering the air, such as balloons or even plastic bags, that are mistaken for the craft. The second is the air itself. The third explanation is that the objects are some kind of craft designed by the US government or an American corporation. However, this explanation seemed unlikely. The fourth explanation deems the object to come from a foreign adversary. However, the task force said it lacked the data to indicate that the UAPs “are part of a foreign collection program or indicative of a major technological advancement by a potential adversary". Lastly, the fifth explanation states, “Other".

US unable to explain more than 140 unidentified flying objects

Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani faces the cold reality of the end of US military presence in Afghanistan Friday when he meets with President Joe Biden in the White House.

With his government under increasing threat from an emboldened Taliban insurgency, Ghani will be hoping for a significant commitment of US aid for his government, which will be without the on-the-ground support of US forces for the first time in nearly two decades.

But any hopes for a delay in America's exit from its longest war are likely to be snuffed.

Biden has ordered the departure of all US forces from Afghanistan by this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks that triggered the invasion, saying he believes that no more can be achieved.

The final pullout, announced in April, has moved fast and some speculate the exit of some 2,500 US troops and 16,000 civilian contractors could be mostly completed in July.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deaths-outnumber-births-in-britain-for-the-first-time-since-1976-393790">Also Read |&nbsp;Deaths outnumber births in Britain for the first time since 1976</a>

"This visit is first about our ongoing commitment and support to the Afghan people and to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday.

"The president will emphasize the need for unity, cohesion, and for the Afghan government to focus on key challenges Afghanistan faces."

Deep uncertainty as Taliban gain&nbsp;

Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, who is in charge of stalled negotiations with the Taliban on a power-sharing deal, arrived in Washington on Thursday as the rebels continued to gain ground in the country, both physically and propaganda-wise.

The looming US exit has left the country in a deep state of uncertainty, with many worried about the return to power of extremists who applied a brutal version of Islam to the population when they ruled from 1996-2001.

The Wall Street Journal reported that a new US intelligence report assesses that the Taliban could possibly capture Kabul within six months -- though other experts downplay that scenario, at least in the short-term.

Still, the situation is being compared to the US withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973.&nbsp;

Two years later, the South Vietnamese government that Washington had backed and then abandoned fell to North Vietnamese troops.

Enduring commitment

Still apparently hoping to slow the US pullout, Ghani and Abdullah met Thursday with members of Congress, many of whom criticize Biden's decision to leave -- even though the withdrawal actually began under his predecessor Donald Trump last year.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell urged Biden to delay the withdrawal after talks with the Afghan leaders.

"President Biden's decision to withdraw US forces leaves our Afghan partners alone to confront threats that his own top advisors acknowledge are&nbsp;grave&nbsp;and growing worse," McConnell said.

On Friday, Ghani and Abdullah will meet with Biden in the White House and, separately, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon.

"One of the things that we will certainly be talking with President Ghani about tomorrow is what the enduring commitment of the United States to his government is going to look like," said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.

Biden is expected to reaffirm billions of dollars in US aid for the country, and possibly make arrangements for US civilian contractors -- essential to keep the Afghan air force flying -- to remain there.

The United States will also provide three million doses of the Johnson &amp; Johnson coronavirus vaccine to Afghanistan to be shipped as soon as next week, according to Jean-Pierre.

Andrew Watkins, an Afghanistan expert at the International Crisis Group, said Ghani wants to show he has US support as the country's leader.

"Ghani doesn't have a lot of domestic legitimacy. His legitimacy comes maybe more than from any other source or any other factor from international recognition and support," Watkins said.

The US side, meanwhile, is likely to pressure Ghani and Abdullah to strike a power-sharing deal with the Taliban sooner rather than later.

"We believe that a negotiated political settlement is the best way to end the conflict," Jean-Pierre told journalists.&nbsp;

Possibly underscoring how uncomfortable the situation is for both sides, no press conference was planned.

Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani faces the cold reality of the end of US military presence in Afghanistan Friday when he meets with President Joe Biden in the White House.

Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani faces the cold reality of the end of US military presence in Afghanistan Friday when he meets with President Joe Biden in the White House. With his government under increasing threat from an emboldened Taliban insurgency, Ghani will be hoping for a significant commitment of US aid for his government, which will be without the on-the-ground support of US forces for the first time in nearly two decades. But any hopes for a delay in America's exit from its longest war are likely to be snuffed. Biden has ordered the departure of all US forces from Afghanistan by this year's 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks that triggered the invasion, saying he believes that no more can be achieved. The final pullout, announced in April, has moved fast and some speculate the exit of some 2,500 US troops and 16,000 civilian contractors could be mostly completed in July. Also Read | Deaths outnumber births in Britain for the first time since 1976 "This visit is first about our ongoing commitment and support to the Afghan people and to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces," White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday. "The president will emphasize the need for unity, cohesion, and for the Afghan government to focus on key challenges Afghanistan faces." Deep uncertainty as Taliban gain Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, who is in charge of stalled negotiations with the Taliban on a power-sharing deal, arrived in Washington on Thursday as the rebels continued to gain ground in the country, both physically and propaganda-wise. The looming US exit has left the country in a deep state of uncertainty, with many worried about the return to power of extremists who applied a brutal version of Islam to the population when they ruled from 1996-2001. The Wall Street Journal reported that a new US intelligence report assesses that the Taliban could possibly capture Kabul within six months -- though other experts downplay that scenario, at least in the short-term. Still, the situation is being compared to the US withdrawal from Vietnam in 1973. Two years later, the South Vietnamese government that Washington had backed and then abandoned fell to North Vietnamese troops. Enduring commitment Still apparently hoping to slow the US pullout, Ghani and Abdullah met Thursday with members of Congress, many of whom criticize Biden's decision to leave -- even though the withdrawal actually began under his predecessor Donald Trump last year. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell urged Biden to delay the withdrawal after talks with the Afghan leaders. "President Biden's decision to withdraw US forces leaves our Afghan partners alone to confront threats that his own top advisors acknowledge are grave and growing worse," McConnell said. On Friday, Ghani and Abdullah will meet with Biden in the White House and, separately, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon. "One of the things that we will certainly be talking with President Ghani about tomorrow is what the enduring commitment of the United States to his government is going to look like," said Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. Biden is expected to reaffirm billions of dollars in US aid for the country, and possibly make arrangements for US civilian contractors -- essential to keep the Afghan air force flying -- to remain there. The United States will also provide three million doses of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine to Afghanistan to be shipped as soon as next week, according to Jean-Pierre. Andrew Watkins, an Afghanistan expert at the International Crisis Group, said Ghani wants to show he has US support as the country's leader. "Ghani doesn't have a lot of domestic legitimacy. His legitimacy comes maybe more than from any other source or any other factor from international recognition and support," Watkins said. The US side, meanwhile, is likely to pressure Ghani and Abdullah to strike a power-sharing deal with the Taliban sooner rather than later. "We believe that a negotiated political settlement is the best way to end the conflict," Jean-Pierre told journalists. Possibly underscoring how uncomfortable the situation is for both sides, no press conference was planned.

Afghan leader Ashraf Ghani  to meet Joe Biden as US troop exit looms

Tensions are escalating between the United States and Iran yet again. US hacked Iranian news websites as nuclear talks are set to resume between the two countries. On The West Asia Post tonight, Ghadi Francis talks about what a new presidency could mean for US-Iran relations. Also on the show, a look at what it is like being queer in West Asia. For more such stories, keep watching the West Asia post with Ghadi Francis every Friday at 8:30 PM IST, only on WION.

The West Asia Post: What will Ebrahim Raisi mean for US?

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ahead of meeting President Joe Biden. Biden’s first meeting as president with Ghani will focus on Washington’s support for Afghanistan after troops withdrawal.

Afghan President Ghani met US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

US intelligence has said that the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul will fall to the resurgent Taliban group within six months of the departure of US and international troops, ahead of a White House meeting between President Joe Biden and top Afghan leaders Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah.

US Intel: Kabul could fall in 6 months after troops pullout | WION VOA Co-Production

US President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators announced that they’d reached a framework $1.2 trillion infrastructure deal. Senators agreed on a $973 billion package over five years with $559 billion in new funding.

Joe Biden agrees to $1.2 trillion infra deal with bipartisan backing

Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the US-Mexico border on Friday as the Biden administration faces intense scrutiny over its handling of an immigration surge.

US Vice President to visit US-Mexico border under immigration scrutiny

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