As the countdown for the Biden-Putin Summit begins. Palki Sharma takes you through 5 Presidential encounters that shaped the US-Russia relationship over the years.

Gravitas: 5 US-Russia Presidential meetings that shaped history

They have called each other killers. Now Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will come face-to-face in Geneva. What can we expect from this "summit of adversaries"? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: A "summit of adversaries" in Geneva

The European Union decided to add the United States to its safe travel list. Non-essential travel from the US and other places had been banned in the EU in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic to avoid further contagion.

EU set to add United States to safe travel list

The nominee to be the top US&nbsp;diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday that Washington should develop its relationship with Taiwan in every sector, hours after China's largest reported incursion to date into the island's air defence identification zone. 
 
Daniel Kritenbrink said it was important for Washington to demonstrate its resolve to meet its 'rock-solid obligations' towards Taiwan in the face of pressure from China, which claims the self-governing island as its own territory. 
 
"It's ... incumbent upon us to further develop our robust relationship with Taiwan in every sector," Kritenbrink told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to be assistant secretary of state for East Asia. 
 
Earlier, Taiwan said 28 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered its air defense identification zone. 
 
The Group of Seven leaders issued a statement on Sunday scolding China for a series of issues and underscoring the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, comments that China called 'slander'. 
 
Kritenbrink, a career foreign service officer, who was most recently ambassador to Vietnam and a former deputy head of mission in China, was asked if Washington should switch from a long-standing stance of 'strategic ambiguity' to make a clear commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. 
 
He said the US&nbsp;'one-China' policy that formally recognises Beijing and not Taipei had ensured cross-strait stability and Taiwan's security for many decades. 
 
He added: "I do think that maintenance of that status quo and of that security is a dynamic situation. As the threat from (China) grows, as Beijing`s aggressive and bullying behavior vis-a-vis Taiwan grows, I think that our response has to be calibrated as well." 
 
Responding to a request for comment, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said Washington should 'stop elevating its relationship with the Taiwan region in any substantive way ... so as to avoid serious damage to China-US&nbsp;relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." 
 
Kritenbrink described China as the 'major challenge the United States faces today' and said new guidelines adopted by the Biden administration for Taiwan relations were 'significantly liberalized' and 'explicitly designed to further develop our relationships and our partnership'.&nbsp;He said Washington should continue to take steps to hold to account Chinese leaders responsible for what it calls genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region. 
 
"The ongoing genocide in Xinjiang shocks the conscience," he said. "We estimate more than 1 million Uyghurs have been forcibly detained, put into re-education camps, forced to provide labor, and many other disturbing allegations about how they are being treated," he said. 
 
"We need to continue to take steps using all the tools that the US&nbsp;government has at its disposal to hold to account the leaders who are carrying out these atrocities," Kritenbrink said. 
 
Liu repeated Chinese denials of abuses in Xinjiang, saying: "Facts have proved that there has never been any genocide in Xinjiang." 
 
In a tweet, Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch, called Kritenbrink's Xinjiang remarks a 'strong pledge',&nbsp;while adding: "Follow through critical." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The nominee to be the top US diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday that Washington should develop its relationship with Taiwan in every sector, hours after China's largest reported incursion to date into the island's air defence identification zone.

The nominee to be the top US diplomat for East Asia said on Tuesday that Washington should develop its relationship with Taiwan in every sector, hours after China's largest reported incursion to date into the island's air defence identification zone. Daniel Kritenbrink said it was important for Washington to demonstrate its resolve to meet its 'rock-solid obligations' towards Taiwan in the face of pressure from China, which claims the self-governing island as its own territory. "It's ... incumbent upon us to further develop our robust relationship with Taiwan in every sector," Kritenbrink told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination to be assistant secretary of state for East Asia. Earlier, Taiwan said 28 Chinese aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, entered its air defense identification zone. The Group of Seven leaders issued a statement on Sunday scolding China for a series of issues and underscoring the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, comments that China called 'slander'. Kritenbrink, a career foreign service officer, who was most recently ambassador to Vietnam and a former deputy head of mission in China, was asked if Washington should switch from a long-standing stance of 'strategic ambiguity' to make a clear commitment to defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack. He said the US 'one-China' policy that formally recognises Beijing and not Taipei had ensured cross-strait stability and Taiwan's security for many decades. He added: "I do think that maintenance of that status quo and of that security is a dynamic situation. As the threat from (China) grows, as Beijing`s aggressive and bullying behavior vis-a-vis Taiwan grows, I think that our response has to be calibrated as well." Responding to a request for comment, Chinese Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said Washington should 'stop elevating its relationship with the Taiwan region in any substantive way ... so as to avoid serious damage to China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." Kritenbrink described China as the 'major challenge the United States faces today' and said new guidelines adopted by the Biden administration for Taiwan relations were 'significantly liberalized' and 'explicitly designed to further develop our relationships and our partnership'. He said Washington should continue to take steps to hold to account Chinese leaders responsible for what it calls genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region. "The ongoing genocide in Xinjiang shocks the conscience," he said. "We estimate more than 1 million Uyghurs have been forcibly detained, put into re-education camps, forced to provide labor, and many other disturbing allegations about how they are being treated," he said. "We need to continue to take steps using all the tools that the US government has at its disposal to hold to account the leaders who are carrying out these atrocities," Kritenbrink said. Liu repeated Chinese denials of abuses in Xinjiang, saying: "Facts have proved that there has never been any genocide in Xinjiang." In a tweet, Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch, called Kritenbrink's Xinjiang remarks a 'strong pledge', while adding: "Follow through critical." (With inputs from agencies)

Biden's Asia nominee says US should develop Taiwan ties in every sector

Big tech critic Lina Khan has been appointed as a chair of the US Federal Trade Commission. News of Khan’s appointment came hours after the Senate confirmed her for a seat on the FTC by a vote of 69-28.

US: Biden picks big tech critic Lina Khan as Federal Trade Commission chair

US&nbsp;Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas said on Tuesday the US&nbsp;southern border is not open to irregular migration, adding the Biden administration is developing 'lawful pathways' aimed at slowing the flow of people at the border. 
 
The Homeland Security secretary's remarks during a visit to Mexico City come amid months of high migration that has become an early policy challenge for US&nbsp;President Joe Biden, as hundreds of thousands of people flee violence and poverty in Central America and parts of Mexico. 
 
Mayorkas said both Mexico and the United States were working to curtail irregular migration. 
 
"We have challenged one another," he told a news conference. "It`s not just a question of the US&nbsp;asking of Mexico, it's a matter of what we both can do." 
 
Echoing Vice President Kamala Harris's comments to migrants during a visit to Guatemala last week, he said the government has sent a clear message to migrants: 'Do not come." 
 
He emphasised that the government is working on alternatives he described as 'lawful pathways',&nbsp;listing programmes, such as temporary worker visas and US&nbsp;investment to tackle violence, corruption and weak economies in the countries with high migration rates. 
 
"We are devoted and dedicated to bringing different types of relief," Mayorkas said. 
 
Critics said the US&nbsp;government was sending mixed messages that could fuel further migration, after Harris described the United States as a safe haven for asylum seekers only days after warning migrants they would be turned back at the border. 
 
Mayorkas noted that Title 42, a COVID-19 health order implemented under former US&nbsp;President Donald Trump to slow migration during the pandemic, would remain in place as long as needed for public health reasons. 
 
Biden has faced growing pressure from migrant advocates and health experts to end the policy as more evidence emerges that migrants are being expelled into danger in Mexico. 
 
Mayorkas added that his department would be prepared to address border issues once the order is lifted. 
 
"It's not a tool of immigration policy," he said. 
 
In meetings with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and other top Mexican officials, Mayorkas also discussed speeding up vaccinations at the border amid efforts to phase out pandemic-related travel restrictions. 
 
The United States is not considering requiring a so-called vaccine passport for crossings, he said. 
 
Biden on Tuesday picked Latino lawyer and former US&nbsp;senator Ken Salazar as ambassador for Mexico, whose role includes working to limit migration from Central America. 
 
Salazar in 2017 criticized Trump's migration policies, saying border relations were about 'building trust, not walls'. 
 
Trump on Tuesday said he would visit the Texas-Mexico border this month with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, after both complained about a rise in migrants crossing into the United States. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

US Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas said on Tuesday the US southern border is not open to irregular migration, adding the Biden administration is developing 'lawful pathways' aimed at slowing the flow of people at the border.

US Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas said on Tuesday the US southern border is not open to irregular migration, adding the Biden administration is developing 'lawful pathways' aimed at slowing the flow of people at the border. The Homeland Security secretary's remarks during a visit to Mexico City come amid months of high migration that has become an early policy challenge for US President Joe Biden, as hundreds of thousands of people flee violence and poverty in Central America and parts of Mexico. Mayorkas said both Mexico and the United States were working to curtail irregular migration. "We have challenged one another," he told a news conference. "It`s not just a question of the US asking of Mexico, it's a matter of what we both can do." Echoing Vice President Kamala Harris's comments to migrants during a visit to Guatemala last week, he said the government has sent a clear message to migrants: 'Do not come." He emphasised that the government is working on alternatives he described as 'lawful pathways', listing programmes, such as temporary worker visas and US investment to tackle violence, corruption and weak economies in the countries with high migration rates. "We are devoted and dedicated to bringing different types of relief," Mayorkas said. Critics said the US government was sending mixed messages that could fuel further migration, after Harris described the United States as a safe haven for asylum seekers only days after warning migrants they would be turned back at the border. Mayorkas noted that Title 42, a COVID-19 health order implemented under former US President Donald Trump to slow migration during the pandemic, would remain in place as long as needed for public health reasons. Biden has faced growing pressure from migrant advocates and health experts to end the policy as more evidence emerges that migrants are being expelled into danger in Mexico. Mayorkas added that his department would be prepared to address border issues once the order is lifted. "It's not a tool of immigration policy," he said. In meetings with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and other top Mexican officials, Mayorkas also discussed speeding up vaccinations at the border amid efforts to phase out pandemic-related travel restrictions. The United States is not considering requiring a so-called vaccine passport for crossings, he said. Biden on Tuesday picked Latino lawyer and former US senator Ken Salazar as ambassador for Mexico, whose role includes working to limit migration from Central America. Salazar in 2017 criticized Trump's migration policies, saying border relations were about 'building trust, not walls'. Trump on Tuesday said he would visit the Texas-Mexico border this month with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, after both complained about a rise in migrants crossing into the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

Homeland Security chief says US-Mexico border not open

As the US military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan in the coming weeks, the Biden administration says it is adding staff to hurry up the visa process for Afghans, who worked for the US&nbsp;government and want to flee to avoid Taliban reprisals. 
 
But for refugee advocates and members of Congress, the effort still isn't enough to ensure that Afghans, who worked as US&nbsp;military translators, guides and in other roles aren't persecuted in large numbers in the months ahead. 
 
"I want the White House's hair on fire," said Maine Senator Angus King, an independent, who caucuses with President Joe Biden's Democratic Party. 
 
"What do I want them to do next? I want them to do everything within their power to solve this problem." 
 
Fighting has increased across Afghanistan ahead of the September&nbsp;11 deadline for withdrawal, which will end a two-decade US-led NATO troop presence since the Taliban were forced from power in the wake of the 2001 attacks on the United States. 
 
Afghans, who worked for the United States during America's longest war, fear the insurgency will target them and their families, retribution for helping foreign forces. 
 
With the final pullout expected as early as mid-July, there appears to be a mismatch between the expectations of refugee advocates and what the Biden administration says is realistic given the legal and practical requirements to process special immigrant visas. 
 
The administration says it has already doubled the number of staff processing cases in Kabul and tripled personnel reviewing petitions at US&nbsp;Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
 
It also plans a five-fold increase in the number of staff in the State Department working on the visas in Washington, a senior administration official said. 
 
"All of these changes have resulted in, over the last couple of months, the largest number of cases processed in the history of the programme in any 60-day period," the official said, speaking about the plans on condition of anonymity. 
 
The plan is to process at least 1,000-1,400 visa applications for Afghans, who worked for the United States, not including their families, every month. By contrast, the US&nbsp;government says, it issued only 237 such visas in the last three months of 2020. 
 
But even with the new effort, the administration says there's a limit to how fast a 14-step, multiple-agency process can move without changes to legislation. If all goes well, a visa could be processed in nine to 12 months. 
 
"Other than that, the 'brute force' approach of just more bodies has gone about as far as it can," a second US&nbsp;official said. 
 
The administration supports legislation in Congress that would allow Afghans to do a medical check upon arriving in the United States, instead of in Afghanistan. It is also supports legislation eliminating the requirement for a specific petition at the Department of Homeland Security. 
 
"That would be another two months that we could shave off," the first official said. 
 
Political talks between the government and the Taliban have largely stalled and it's unclear how the Afghan security forces will perform after troops depart. The Taliban have assured Afghans, who worked with foreign forces of their safety. 
 
But as the clock ticks down, Afghans, who have applied for visas, are becoming increasingly concerned. 
 
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reassured Congress last week of his commitment to Afghans, who worked with the United States, but also suggested any threats to their safety might not be immediate. 
 
"I wouldn't necessarily equate the departure of our forces in July, August, or by early September with some kind of immediate deterioration in the situation," Blinken said. 
 
Blinken acknowledged there were 18,000 Afghans 'in the pipeline' for potential visas. Half of them have expressed interest but haven't yet filled out the necessary forms, he said. 
 
Senator Patrick Leahy, recalling the chaos in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975 when he was a junior senator, said the matter was urgent. 
 
"They're going to have a target on their back," Leahy said. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

As the US military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan in the coming weeks, the Biden administration says it is adding staff to hurry up the visa process for Afghans, who worked for the US government and want to flee to avoid Taliban reprisals.

As the US military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan in the coming weeks, the Biden administration says it is adding staff to hurry up the visa process for Afghans, who worked for the US government and want to flee to avoid Taliban reprisals. But for refugee advocates and members of Congress, the effort still isn't enough to ensure that Afghans, who worked as US military translators, guides and in other roles aren't persecuted in large numbers in the months ahead. "I want the White House's hair on fire," said Maine Senator Angus King, an independent, who caucuses with President Joe Biden's Democratic Party. "What do I want them to do next? I want them to do everything within their power to solve this problem." Fighting has increased across Afghanistan ahead of the September 11 deadline for withdrawal, which will end a two-decade US-led NATO troop presence since the Taliban were forced from power in the wake of the 2001 attacks on the United States. Afghans, who worked for the United States during America's longest war, fear the insurgency will target them and their families, retribution for helping foreign forces. With the final pullout expected as early as mid-July, there appears to be a mismatch between the expectations of refugee advocates and what the Biden administration says is realistic given the legal and practical requirements to process special immigrant visas. The administration says it has already doubled the number of staff processing cases in Kabul and tripled personnel reviewing petitions at US Citizenship and Immigration Services. It also plans a five-fold increase in the number of staff in the State Department working on the visas in Washington, a senior administration official said. "All of these changes have resulted in, over the last couple of months, the largest number of cases processed in the history of the programme in any 60-day period," the official said, speaking about the plans on condition of anonymity. The plan is to process at least 1,000-1,400 visa applications for Afghans, who worked for the United States, not including their families, every month. By contrast, the US government says, it issued only 237 such visas in the last three months of 2020. But even with the new effort, the administration says there's a limit to how fast a 14-step, multiple-agency process can move without changes to legislation. If all goes well, a visa could be processed in nine to 12 months. "Other than that, the 'brute force' approach of just more bodies has gone about as far as it can," a second US official said. The administration supports legislation in Congress that would allow Afghans to do a medical check upon arriving in the United States, instead of in Afghanistan. It is also supports legislation eliminating the requirement for a specific petition at the Department of Homeland Security. "That would be another two months that we could shave off," the first official said. Political talks between the government and the Taliban have largely stalled and it's unclear how the Afghan security forces will perform after troops depart. The Taliban have assured Afghans, who worked with foreign forces of their safety. But as the clock ticks down, Afghans, who have applied for visas, are becoming increasingly concerned. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reassured Congress last week of his commitment to Afghans, who worked with the United States, but also suggested any threats to their safety might not be immediate. "I wouldn't necessarily equate the departure of our forces in July, August, or by early September with some kind of immediate deterioration in the situation," Blinken said. Blinken acknowledged there were 18,000 Afghans 'in the pipeline' for potential visas. Half of them have expressed interest but haven't yet filled out the necessary forms, he said. Senator Patrick Leahy, recalling the chaos in Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975 when he was a junior senator, said the matter was urgent. "They're going to have a target on their back," Leahy said. (With inputs from agencies)

US speeds visas for vulnerable Afghans as pullout looms, but Congress wants more

A study in the United States has concluded that people in 5 states had COVID-19 antibodies even before cases were confirmed. The research hints at the undetected spread of the virus.

Study: COVID-19 found in 5 states of US before first confirmed case reported

US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin kicked off a highly-anticipated summit. The leaders' first in-person meeting is taking place in Villa La Grange in Geneva.

Biden & Putin face off in Villa La Grange in Geneva

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Geneva for his summit with US President Joe Biden. Topics on the summit agenda include strategic stability, cybersecurity, climate change, the coronavirus pandemic, and the Arctic.

Russian President Putin arrives in Geneva for summit with Biden

Five police officers in Savannah, Georgia, have been fired after a Black man hanged himself while in custody in April, a death that three of them mocked in a text message exchange that contained a crude GIF, officials said this week.

The officers’ dismissal was announced by the Savannah Police Department on Monday. That same day the city’s police chief and mayor met with the family of William Harvey, who officers said hanged himself with his shoelaces on April 3 after officers questioned him at police headquarters as part of an investigation into an aggravated assault.

Harvey, 60, was found unresponsive in an interview room where he had been left alone. His death was ruled a suicide by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

But his family has faulted the police over the actions of officers leading up to and after his death. They said the police had neglected the warning signs that Harvey had been in distress, failed to activate all of the cameras that were in the room and later made light of the tragedy in a group text message exchange.

Roy W. Minter Jr., the Savannah police chief, said at a media briefing Tuesday that Harvey’s death could have been prevented if not for missteps of officers.

“I don’t think any of these officers had any malicious intent in what they did, but they made some poor decisions and didn’t follow department policy and procedure,” Minter said.

The punishment of the officers, who have not been charged with any crimes, came as police departments across the nation are facing intense scrutiny over misconduct and complaints of institutional racism after the death of George Floyd while in custody in Minneapolis.

“When you’re in the care custody of the police, you should be able to enter an interrogation room and emerge alive,” Francys Johnson, a lawyer for the Harvey family, said at a news conference Monday.

Harvey’s relatives said they would not rest until there was full transparency about what happened in the interview room and until justice was served.

“We’re not going to stop until we get all our questions answered,” Harvey’s son Michael Harvey said at the news conference. “Because we just want to know the truth.”

Two of the officers — Cpl. Silver Leuschner and Sgt. Michael Kerr — were fired over their response to the situation, the Savannah Police Department said. A third officer was suspended.

Officials said that Leuschner had breached the department’s conduct policy and had failed to turn on cameras during the encounter. They said that Kerr had breached his responsibilities as a supervisor. The officials did not elaborate.

Leuschner said in an email Tuesday night that at the time of Harvey’s death she was 15 minutes from headquarters at a hospital checking on a victim and that Kerr was also not in the building. She said that two patrol officers who had been sitting outside the interview room for 40 minutes and did not check on Harvey kept their jobs. A camera system in the interview room, she said, was not working properly.

“I was told, ‘This is political, so someone has to go,’ ” said Leuschner, who called herself a scapegoat.

Kerr could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday night.

It was not immediately clear if he and the other officers had lawyers. The Southern States Police Benevolent Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.

The three officers fired over the text message exchange mocking Harvey’s death were identified by the Savannah Police Department as Sgt. Christopher Hewett, Cpl. Erica Tremblay and Officer David Curtis.

In the text message exchange, obtained by the television station WSAV, one of the officers shared a GIF that showed a Black man hanging himself from a noose.

A person responding from an email address listed for Curtis declined to comment Tuesday night. Hewett and Tremblay could not be immediately reached for comment.

Minter said Tuesday that he had reviewed some of the officers’ body camera footage from the encounter with Harvey and that it was tough to watch.

“It’s been extremely heartbreaking to see the impact this particular situation has had on the Harvey family,” he said. “I hope and pray that they find some type of comfort knowing that the Savannah Police Department did what we had to do to hold members of our organization accountable.”

Five police officers in Savannah, Georgia, have been fired after a Black man hanged himself while in custody in April, a death that three of them mocked in a text message exchange that contained a crude GIF, officials said this week.

Five police officers in Savannah, Georgia, have been fired after a Black man hanged himself while in custody in April, a death that three of them mocked in a text message exchange that contained a crude GIF, officials said this week. The officers’ dismissal was announced by the Savannah Police Department on Monday. That same day the city’s police chief and mayor met with the family of William Harvey, who officers said hanged himself with his shoelaces on April 3 after officers questioned him at police headquarters as part of an investigation into an aggravated assault. Harvey, 60, was found unresponsive in an interview room where he had been left alone. His death was ruled a suicide by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. But his family has faulted the police over the actions of officers leading up to and after his death. They said the police had neglected the warning signs that Harvey had been in distress, failed to activate all of the cameras that were in the room and later made light of the tragedy in a group text message exchange. Roy W. Minter Jr., the Savannah police chief, said at a media briefing Tuesday that Harvey’s death could have been prevented if not for missteps of officers. “I don’t think any of these officers had any malicious intent in what they did, but they made some poor decisions and didn’t follow department policy and procedure,” Minter said. The punishment of the officers, who have not been charged with any crimes, came as police departments across the nation are facing intense scrutiny over misconduct and complaints of institutional racism after the death of George Floyd while in custody in Minneapolis. “When you’re in the care custody of the police, you should be able to enter an interrogation room and emerge alive,” Francys Johnson, a lawyer for the Harvey family, said at a news conference Monday. Harvey’s relatives said they would not rest until there was full transparency about what happened in the interview room and until justice was served. “We’re not going to stop until we get all our questions answered,” Harvey’s son Michael Harvey said at the news conference. “Because we just want to know the truth.” Two of the officers — Cpl. Silver Leuschner and Sgt. Michael Kerr — were fired over their response to the situation, the Savannah Police Department said. A third officer was suspended. Officials said that Leuschner had breached the department’s conduct policy and had failed to turn on cameras during the encounter. They said that Kerr had breached his responsibilities as a supervisor. The officials did not elaborate. Leuschner said in an email Tuesday night that at the time of Harvey’s death she was 15 minutes from headquarters at a hospital checking on a victim and that Kerr was also not in the building. She said that two patrol officers who had been sitting outside the interview room for 40 minutes and did not check on Harvey kept their jobs. A camera system in the interview room, she said, was not working properly. “I was told, ‘This is political, so someone has to go,’ ” said Leuschner, who called herself a scapegoat. Kerr could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday night. It was not immediately clear if he and the other officers had lawyers. The Southern States Police Benevolent Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night. The three officers fired over the text message exchange mocking Harvey’s death were identified by the Savannah Police Department as Sgt. Christopher Hewett, Cpl. Erica Tremblay and Officer David Curtis. In the text message exchange, obtained by the television station WSAV, one of the officers shared a GIF that showed a Black man hanging himself from a noose. A person responding from an email address listed for Curtis declined to comment Tuesday night. Hewett and Tremblay could not be immediately reached for comment. Minter said Tuesday that he had reviewed some of the officers’ body camera footage from the encounter with Harvey and that it was tough to watch. “It’s been extremely heartbreaking to see the impact this particular situation has had on the Harvey family,” he said. “I hope and pray that they find some type of comfort knowing that the Savannah Police Department did what we had to do to hold members of our organization accountable.”

5 police officers are fired after a man in custody hangs himself

The heat wave, which stretches like a blob over much of the western third of the US map, extends east to west from Wyoming to California, and north to south from Idaho to Arizona.

Record-breaking heat wave continues across western US

US&nbsp;and Canadian officials are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss how to eventually lift pandemic-related border restrictions between the two countries, but no immediate action is expected, media reports said citing sources briefed on the matter. 
 
US&nbsp;and Canadian business leaders have voiced increasing concern about the ban on non-essential travel at land borders because of COVID-19 that was imposed in March 2020 and has been renewed on a monthly basis since. The measures, which also apply to the US-Mexico border, do not affect trade or other essential travel. 
 
The current restrictions are set to expire on June 21, but US&nbsp;and industry officials expect they will be extended again. 
 
On June 8, it was&nbsp;reported that the Biden administration was forming expert working groups with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and the United Kingdom to determine how best to safely restart travel after 15 months of pandemic restrictions. 
 
A meeting is expected to occur with Mexico later this week and meetings with the United Kingdom and EU are currently set for next week, but the timing could still shift, three people briefed on the meetings said. 
 
US&nbsp;restrictions prevent most non-US&nbsp;citizens, who have been in the United Kingdom, the 26 Schengen nations in Europe without border controls, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil within the last 14 days from traveling to the United States. 
 
It was previously reported that US&nbsp;and airline officials do not think US&nbsp;restrictions will be lifted until around July 4 at the earliest. 
 
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday, he has spoken with US&nbsp;President Joe Biden about how to lift the restrictions, but made clear no breakthrough has been achieved. 
 
Two officials said the working groups are each expected to meet twice a month. 
 
Canada last week took a cautious first step, saying it was prepared to relax quarantine protocols for fully vaccinated citizens returning home starting in early July. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

US and Canadian officials are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss how to eventually lift pandemic-related border restrictions between the two countries, but no immediate action is expected, media reports said citing sources briefed on the matter.

US and Canadian officials are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss how to eventually lift pandemic-related border restrictions between the two countries, but no immediate action is expected, media reports said citing sources briefed on the matter. US and Canadian business leaders have voiced increasing concern about the ban on non-essential travel at land borders because of COVID-19 that was imposed in March 2020 and has been renewed on a monthly basis since. The measures, which also apply to the US-Mexico border, do not affect trade or other essential travel. The current restrictions are set to expire on June 21, but US and industry officials expect they will be extended again. On June 8, it was reported that the Biden administration was forming expert working groups with Canada, Mexico, the European Union and the United Kingdom to determine how best to safely restart travel after 15 months of pandemic restrictions. A meeting is expected to occur with Mexico later this week and meetings with the United Kingdom and EU are currently set for next week, but the timing could still shift, three people briefed on the meetings said. US restrictions prevent most non-US citizens, who have been in the United Kingdom, the 26 Schengen nations in Europe without border controls, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil within the last 14 days from traveling to the United States. It was previously reported that US and airline officials do not think US restrictions will be lifted until around July 4 at the earliest. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday, he has spoken with US President Joe Biden about how to lift the restrictions, but made clear no breakthrough has been achieved. Two officials said the working groups are each expected to meet twice a month. Canada last week took a cautious first step, saying it was prepared to relax quarantine protocols for fully vaccinated citizens returning home starting in early July. (With inputs from agencies)

US, Canada set to discuss lifting of border restrictions: Report

G7 nations have joined forces to counter China's Belt & Road initiative. They've launched B3W 'Build Back Better World' initiative led by the US govt. What does it offer & who will foot the bill? Palki Sharma explains.

Gravitas: G7 nations join forces to counter China's BRI

Accused of racism and brutality, American cops are finding it hard to recruit newcomers. Departments are reporting a 45% rise in retirements after calls to defund the police. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Why no one wants to be a cop in America

Geneva prepares for the biggest meeting between US President Joe Biden & Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Both leaders talk tough ahead of the meeting. Biden vows to lay down red lines whereas Putin calls US allegations farcical.

US President Biden and Russian leader Putin to meet in Geneva

The United States will grant $115 million in cooperation aid to El Salvador to slow migration from the Central American country, Samantha Power, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said on Monday. 
 
"We can work with local partners in Central America to expand opportunities for youth and help them get away from violence," Power said at a conference on migration at the Central American University, where she announced the aid initiative. 
 
The money will include $50 million for security, $35 million for programmes to counter violence against women and $30 million in job training, Power said. 
 
USAID says it will also contribute $12 million for small and medium-sized businesses in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador that were affected by coronavirus-related lockdowns. 
 
The Biden administration has pledged to invest $4 billion to address the root causes of migration from Central America. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The United States will grant $115 million in cooperation aid to El Salvador to slow migration from the Central American country, Samantha Power, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said on Monday.

The United States will grant $115 million in cooperation aid to El Salvador to slow migration from the Central American country, Samantha Power, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said on Monday. "We can work with local partners in Central America to expand opportunities for youth and help them get away from violence," Power said at a conference on migration at the Central American University, where she announced the aid initiative. The money will include $50 million for security, $35 million for programmes to counter violence against women and $30 million in job training, Power said. USAID says it will also contribute $12 million for small and medium-sized businesses in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador that were affected by coronavirus-related lockdowns. The Biden administration has pledged to invest $4 billion to address the root causes of migration from Central America. (With inputs from agencies)

USAID to grant $115 million in aid to El Salvador to stem migration

US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will meet face-to-face on June 16 in Geneva. The summit will take place at the end of Biden's visit to Europe and after he has met with America‘s allies in NATO and the European Union.

Biden & Putin to hold bilateral meet in Geneva on June 16

US President Joe Biden meets European Union leaders ahead of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The United States and European Union have agreed to a five-year truce on their long-running dispute over subsidies to aircraft manufacturers.

US President Biden meets European Union leaders after NATO summit

US President Joe Biden is in Brussels and would be attending an EU summit to rebuilt transatlantic relations. European sources said that the EU and US have agreed to prolong a truce in their 17-year Airbus-Boeing row for five years.

Biden to meet EU leaders: EU-US agree to prolong Airbus-Boeing tariff truce

China's mission to the European Union urged NATO on Tuesday to stop exaggerating the 'China threat theory' after the group's leaders warned that the country presents 'systemic challenges'. 
 
NATO leaders on Monday had taken a forceful stance towards Beijing in a communique at United States President Joe Biden's first summit with the alliance. 
 
"China's stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security," NATO leaders had said. 
 
The new US&nbsp;president has urged his fellow NATO leaders to stand up to China's authoritarianism and growing military might, a change of focus for an alliance created to defend Europe from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. 
 
The NATO statement 'slandered' China's peaceful development, misjudged the international situation, and indicated a 'Cold War mentality',&nbsp;said China's response, posted on the mission's website. 
 
China is always committed to peaceful development, it said. 
 
"We will not pose a 'systemic challenge' to anyone, but if anyone wants to pose a 'systemic challenge' to us, we will not remain indifferent." 
 
G7 nations meeting in Britain over the weekend scolded China over human rights in its Xinjiang region, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and demanded a full investigation of the origins of the coronavirus in China. 
 
China's embassy in London said it was resolutely opposed to mentions of Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which it said distorted the facts and exposed the 'sinister intentions of a few countries such as the United States'.

China's mission to the European Union urged NATO on Tuesday to stop exaggerating the 'China threat theory' after the group's leaders warned that the country presents 'systemic challenges'.

China's mission to the European Union urged NATO on Tuesday to stop exaggerating the 'China threat theory' after the group's leaders warned that the country presents 'systemic challenges'. NATO leaders on Monday had taken a forceful stance towards Beijing in a communique at United States President Joe Biden's first summit with the alliance. "China's stated ambitions and assertive behaviour present systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and to areas relevant to alliance security," NATO leaders had said. The new US president has urged his fellow NATO leaders to stand up to China's authoritarianism and growing military might, a change of focus for an alliance created to defend Europe from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The NATO statement 'slandered' China's peaceful development, misjudged the international situation, and indicated a 'Cold War mentality', said China's response, posted on the mission's website. China is always committed to peaceful development, it said. "We will not pose a 'systemic challenge' to anyone, but if anyone wants to pose a 'systemic challenge' to us, we will not remain indifferent." G7 nations meeting in Britain over the weekend scolded China over human rights in its Xinjiang region, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and demanded a full investigation of the origins of the coronavirus in China. China's embassy in London said it was resolutely opposed to mentions of Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which it said distorted the facts and exposed the 'sinister intentions of a few countries such as the United States'.

China urges NATO to stop exaggerating 'China threat theory'

A US&nbsp;aircraft carrier group led by the USS Ronald Reagan has entered the South China Sea as part of a routine mission, the US&nbsp;Navy said on Tuesday, at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, which claims most the disputed waterway. 
 
China frequently objects to US&nbsp;military missions in the South China Sea saying they do not help promote peace or stability, and the announcement follows China blasting the Group of Seven nations for a statement scolding Beijing over a range of issues. 
 
"While in the South China Sea, the strike group is conducting maritime security operations, which include flight operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units," the US&nbsp;Navy said. 
 
"Carrier operations in the South China Sea are part of the US&nbsp;Navy's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific." 
 
The carrier is being accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh and the guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey, it added. 
 
China has ramped up its military presence in the South China Sea in recent years, including building artificial islands and air bases. 
 
The South China Sea has become one of many flashpoints in the testy relationship between China and the United States, with Washington rejecting what it calls unlawful territorial claims by Beijing in the resource-rich waters. 
 
US&nbsp;warships have passed through the South China Sea with increasing frequency in recent years, in a show of force against the Chinese claims.

A US aircraft carrier group led by the USS Ronald Reagan has entered the South China Sea as part of a routine mission, the US Navy said on Tuesday, at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, which claims most the disputed waterway.

A US aircraft carrier group led by the USS Ronald Reagan has entered the South China Sea as part of a routine mission, the US Navy said on Tuesday, at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, which claims most the disputed waterway. China frequently objects to US military missions in the South China Sea saying they do not help promote peace or stability, and the announcement follows China blasting the Group of Seven nations for a statement scolding Beijing over a range of issues. "While in the South China Sea, the strike group is conducting maritime security operations, which include flight operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises, and coordinated tactical training between surface and air units," the US Navy said. "Carrier operations in the South China Sea are part of the US Navy's routine presence in the Indo-Pacific." The carrier is being accompanied by the guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh and the guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey, it added. China has ramped up its military presence in the South China Sea in recent years, including building artificial islands and air bases. The South China Sea has become one of many flashpoints in the testy relationship between China and the United States, with Washington rejecting what it calls unlawful territorial claims by Beijing in the resource-rich waters. US warships have passed through the South China Sea with increasing frequency in recent years, in a show of force against the Chinese claims.

US Navy says carrier group operating in South China Sea

The United States passed 6,00,000 Covid-19 deaths on Monday, about 15 per cent of the world's total coronavirus fatalities of around 40 lakh

US crosses grim milestone of 600,000 covid-19 deaths

Ahead of the Wednesday’s Biden-Putin summit, US President Joe Biden says he will lay down 'red lines' to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in their meeting, calling him 'tough' and 'a worthy adversary'.&nbsp;

When a reporter asked if he still believes Putin is 'a killer', Biden didn't immediately answer. The question was asked at a news conference on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels.&nbsp;

But he issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny would hurt Russia’s relationships with the rest of the world.&nbsp;

“Navalny’s death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights,” said Biden.&nbsp;

Biden-Putin meet&nbsp;

Biden will meet Putin for the first time since becoming president in Geneva summit. He has also declined to say how he'll measure the success of the meeting.&nbsp;

As US president prepares to meet one on one with Putin, the White House insists that the Geneva summit does not amount to a reward for Russian president, placing him on a par with the United States.&nbsp;

The meeting will actually be a businesslike review of the bilateral relationship. US president will raise several pressing concerns but will also seek areas where Russia and the United States can work together.&nbsp;

US President also said the NATO alliance remains 'strong', adding that Russia and China 'are seeking to drive a wedge in transatlantic solidarity'. &nbsp;

From Ukraine&nbsp;

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky Monday said US President Joe Biden should have met him before his high-profile summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin as they could resolve nothing on Ukraine without Kiev at the table.&nbsp;

The 43-year-old leader spoke to journalists as the US and Russian presidents prepare to hold their first summit meeting in Geneva on Wednesday. "It would be better to have this meeting before the summit of the two presidents," Zelensky said in an interview.&nbsp;

Transatlantic ties&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden will intensify efforts to renew transatlantic relations on Tuesday, meeting with European Union leaders to cool trade tensions and join forces to beat COVID-19, uphold democracy and hold back climate change.&nbsp;

Biden's summit in Brussels with the presidents of the EU's executive and the Council that represents the bloc's 27 member states is also expected to affirm Western solidarity in the face of the assertiveness of both Russia and China.&nbsp;

Congratulates Bennett &nbsp;

US President Joe Biden on Sunday called incoming Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and congratulated him. An alliance of parties led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid on Sunday ousted Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and ended his 12-year rule. Benjamin Netanyahu is the longest-serving premier of Israel.&nbsp;

"I congratulate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and all the members of the new Israeli cabinet," Biden said in a statement issued shortly before the call.&nbsp;

Syria Libya tangle&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden on Monday (Indian time) appeared to mistake Syria for Libya at news conference after G7 summit in the UK. He appeared to make the mistake twice.&nbsp;

He was describing how the US and Russia can work together for the welfare of people of Libya (instead of Syria). In Syria, both US and Russia are involved in a decade-long civil conflict.&nbsp;

Talks with Erdoğan&nbsp;

Biden also met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels. He told members of the press that the two 'had a very good meeting’, but refused to answer any other reporter questions during a quick photo opportunity following the discussion.&nbsp;

Ahead of the meeting, Erdogan said talks with Biden would be 'very broad' but he focused on the dispute over Ankara's acquisition of a Russian air defence system, which led to Turkey being removed from the F-35 fighter programme and sanctions on defence industry officials.&nbsp;

The US says the S-400 missiles, which Turkey purchased in 2019, pose a threat to NATO's integrated air defence and has demanded Ankara abandon the $2.5 billion system.&nbsp;

He also described Biden's recognition of the killings of Armenian Ottoman citizens during World War I as genocide in April as 'very negative' and an 'approach that has seriously upset us’. Turkey denies the deportations and massacres that began in 1915 and killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians amounted to genocide.&nbsp;

Tackling China &nbsp;

The US president has urged his fellow NATO leaders to stand up to China's authoritarianism and growing military might, a change of focus for an alliance created to defend Europe from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.&nbsp;

The language in the summit's final communique, which will now set the path for alliance policy, comes a day after the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations issued a statement on human rights in China and Taiwan that Beijing said slandered its reputation.&nbsp;

Capitol Riots&nbsp;

President Joe Biden says US allies were 'shocked' and 'surprised' by the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, but they nevertheless are unconcerned about American leadership on the world stage. Biden also urged Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as the country approaches a milestone of 600,000 deaths.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of the Wednesday’s Biden-Putin summit, US President Joe Biden says he will lay down 'red lines' to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in their meeting, calling him 'tough' and 'a worthy adversary'.

Ahead of the Wednesday’s Biden-Putin summit, US President Joe Biden says he will lay down 'red lines' to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in their meeting, calling him 'tough' and 'a worthy adversary'. When a reporter asked if he still believes Putin is 'a killer', Biden didn't immediately answer. The question was asked at a news conference on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels. But he issued a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the death of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny would hurt Russia’s relationships with the rest of the world. “Navalny’s death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights,” said Biden. Biden-Putin meet Biden will meet Putin for the first time since becoming president in Geneva summit. He has also declined to say how he'll measure the success of the meeting. As US president prepares to meet one on one with Putin, the White House insists that the Geneva summit does not amount to a reward for Russian president, placing him on a par with the United States. The meeting will actually be a businesslike review of the bilateral relationship. US president will raise several pressing concerns but will also seek areas where Russia and the United States can work together. US President also said the NATO alliance remains 'strong', adding that Russia and China 'are seeking to drive a wedge in transatlantic solidarity'. From Ukraine Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky Monday said US President Joe Biden should have met him before his high-profile summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin as they could resolve nothing on Ukraine without Kiev at the table. The 43-year-old leader spoke to journalists as the US and Russian presidents prepare to hold their first summit meeting in Geneva on Wednesday. "It would be better to have this meeting before the summit of the two presidents," Zelensky said in an interview. Transatlantic ties US President Joe Biden will intensify efforts to renew transatlantic relations on Tuesday, meeting with European Union leaders to cool trade tensions and join forces to beat COVID-19, uphold democracy and hold back climate change. Biden's summit in Brussels with the presidents of the EU's executive and the Council that represents the bloc's 27 member states is also expected to affirm Western solidarity in the face of the assertiveness of both Russia and China. Congratulates Bennett US President Joe Biden on Sunday called incoming Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and congratulated him. An alliance of parties led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid on Sunday ousted Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu and ended his 12-year rule. Benjamin Netanyahu is the longest-serving premier of Israel. "I congratulate Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, and all the members of the new Israeli cabinet," Biden said in a statement issued shortly before the call. Syria Libya tangle US President Joe Biden on Monday (Indian time) appeared to mistake Syria for Libya at news conference after G7 summit in the UK. He appeared to make the mistake twice. He was describing how the US and Russia can work together for the welfare of people of Libya (instead of Syria). In Syria, both US and Russia are involved in a decade-long civil conflict. Talks with Erdoğan Biden also met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Brussels. He told members of the press that the two 'had a very good meeting’, but refused to answer any other reporter questions during a quick photo opportunity following the discussion. Ahead of the meeting, Erdogan said talks with Biden would be 'very broad' but he focused on the dispute over Ankara's acquisition of a Russian air defence system, which led to Turkey being removed from the F-35 fighter programme and sanctions on defence industry officials. The US says the S-400 missiles, which Turkey purchased in 2019, pose a threat to NATO's integrated air defence and has demanded Ankara abandon the $2.5 billion system. He also described Biden's recognition of the killings of Armenian Ottoman citizens during World War I as genocide in April as 'very negative' and an 'approach that has seriously upset us’. Turkey denies the deportations and massacres that began in 1915 and killed an estimated 1.5 million Armenians amounted to genocide. Tackling China The US president has urged his fellow NATO leaders to stand up to China's authoritarianism and growing military might, a change of focus for an alliance created to defend Europe from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The language in the summit's final communique, which will now set the path for alliance policy, comes a day after the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations issued a statement on human rights in China and Taiwan that Beijing said slandered its reputation. Capitol Riots President Joe Biden says US allies were 'shocked' and 'surprised' by the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, but they nevertheless are unconcerned about American leadership on the world stage. Biden also urged Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as the country approaches a milestone of 600,000 deaths. (With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden looks to strengthen relationships, tackle adversaries

The US and the European Union are expected to support a renewed push into investigating the origins of Covid-19 after conflicting assessments about where the outbreak started

After US and EU, UK calls for probe into Covid origins

Taiwan will be a 'force for good' and continue to seek even greater international support, the presidential office said, after the Chinese-claimed island won unprecedented backing from the Group of Seven of major democracies. 
 
The G7 leaders on Sunday scolded China over human rights in Xinjiang, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. 
 
Taiwan presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang said this was the first time the G7 leaders' communique has stressed the importance of peace and stability in the strait and first time since its founding there was 'content friendly to Taiwan', expressing deep thanks for the support. 
 
Taiwan and G7 member countries share basic values, such as democracy, freedom, and human rights, he added. 
 
"Taiwan will certainly adhere to its role as a responsible member of the region, and it will also firmly defend the democratic system and safeguard shared universal values," Chang said. 
 
Taiwan will continue to deepen its partnership with G7 states and other like-minded countries and strive for greater support from the international community, he said. 
 
Taiwan will also 'firmly contribute the greatest force for good' for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Chang added. 
 
China has stepped up its pressure against democratically-run Taiwan in recent months, with regular military drills near the island as it tries to assert Beijing's sovereignty. 
 
While most countries, including G7 members, have no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the grouping along with other Western allies have been bolstering their backing for the island. 
 
That includes calling for Taiwan to be given proper access to the World Health Organization during the coronavirus pandemic. Taiwan is not a member due to Chinese objections, which considers it merely one of its provinces with no right to the trappings of a state. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan will be a 'force for good' and continue to seek even greater international support, the presidential office said, after the Chinese-claimed island won unprecedented backing from the Group of Seven of major democracies.

Taiwan will be a 'force for good' and continue to seek even greater international support, the presidential office said, after the Chinese-claimed island won unprecedented backing from the Group of Seven of major democracies. The G7 leaders on Sunday scolded China over human rights in Xinjiang, called for Hong Kong to keep a high degree of autonomy and underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan presidential office spokesman Xavier Chang said this was the first time the G7 leaders' communique has stressed the importance of peace and stability in the strait and first time since its founding there was 'content friendly to Taiwan', expressing deep thanks for the support. Taiwan and G7 member countries share basic values, such as democracy, freedom, and human rights, he added. "Taiwan will certainly adhere to its role as a responsible member of the region, and it will also firmly defend the democratic system and safeguard shared universal values," Chang said. Taiwan will continue to deepen its partnership with G7 states and other like-minded countries and strive for greater support from the international community, he said. Taiwan will also 'firmly contribute the greatest force for good' for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Chang added. China has stepped up its pressure against democratically-run Taiwan in recent months, with regular military drills near the island as it tries to assert Beijing's sovereignty. While most countries, including G7 members, have no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the grouping along with other Western allies have been bolstering their backing for the island. That includes calling for Taiwan to be given proper access to the World Health Organization during the coronavirus pandemic. Taiwan is not a member due to Chinese objections, which considers it merely one of its provinces with no right to the trappings of a state. (With inputs from agencies)

Taiwan says will be 'force for good' after unprecedented G7 support

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he expects this week's summit with US President Joe Biden will help establish constructive dialogues between the two countries. Putin also added that Russia would be ready to hand over cybercriminals to the United States if Washington did the same for Moscow.

Putin says Russia ready to handover cybercriminals to US

Western states in the US have been dealing with the increase in wildfires. Environmentalists have been concerned about the toxin chemicals released from burned homes into the soil. A non-profit organization in California is using mushrooms to clean up the environment. WION brings you a report.

Fighting the impact of US wildfires with mushrooms

Lithuania told a summit of NATO leaders on Monday that Russia was trying to 'swallow' Belarus and that the Western military alliance needed to be united in deterring Moscow. 
 
"Belarus is losing the last elements of the independence, and those trends are very dangerous," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on arriving to the talks. 
 
"I would expect that (US) President Biden will send a very clear message about the decisiveness and unity of NATO, and will react with very clear messages to what is happening," he said, adding that NATO won't have closer ties with Russia for as long as Moscow does not change its course.

Recently,&nbsp;according to the Russian military, the country's defence forces started large-scale drills in the central part of the Pacific Ocean.

The Russian defence ministry said, "an operational exercise of the fleet’s combined arms forces is running in the distant maritime zone."

The Russian military exercise involves submarines and missile cruiser including the anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Panteleyev and the MiG-31 interceptor.

Russia has sent twenty warships including support vessels for the exercise along with the frigate "Marshal Shaposhnikov". The Russian navy will also showcase the Tu-142mz long-range anti-submarine aircraft during the exercise.

The Russian defence military's move comes as NATO launched one of its biggest air and missile exercise named “At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield” involving ten nations off Norway and Scotland last month.

NATO said part of the exercise was to 'detect and track' missiles at 20,000 km per hour.

"Ships will also defend against an array of anti-ship and other sub and supersonic missiles," NATO declared.

The NATO exercise ended on June 3 as several nations including France, Germany, Italy, UK, the US and Belgium took part.

Lithuania told a summit of NATO leaders on Monday that Russia was trying to 'swallow' Belarus and that the Western military alliance needed to be united in deterring Moscow.

Lithuania told a summit of NATO leaders on Monday that Russia was trying to 'swallow' Belarus and that the Western military alliance needed to be united in deterring Moscow. "Belarus is losing the last elements of the independence, and those trends are very dangerous," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on arriving to the talks. "I would expect that (US) President Biden will send a very clear message about the decisiveness and unity of NATO, and will react with very clear messages to what is happening," he said, adding that NATO won't have closer ties with Russia for as long as Moscow does not change its course. Recently, according to the Russian military, the country's defence forces started large-scale drills in the central part of the Pacific Ocean. The Russian defence ministry said, "an operational exercise of the fleet’s combined arms forces is running in the distant maritime zone." The Russian military exercise involves submarines and missile cruiser including the anti-submarine warfare ship Admiral Panteleyev and the MiG-31 interceptor. Russia has sent twenty warships including support vessels for the exercise along with the frigate "Marshal Shaposhnikov". The Russian navy will also showcase the Tu-142mz long-range anti-submarine aircraft during the exercise. The Russian defence military's move comes as NATO launched one of its biggest air and missile exercise named “At-Sea-Demo/Formidable Shield” involving ten nations off Norway and Scotland last month. NATO said part of the exercise was to 'detect and track' missiles at 20,000 km per hour. "Ships will also defend against an array of anti-ship and other sub and supersonic missiles," NATO declared. The NATO exercise ended on June 3 as several nations including France, Germany, Italy, UK, the US and Belgium took part.

At NATO, Lithuania says Russia trying to 'swallow' Belarus

US&nbsp;citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. 
 
A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday. 
 
The United States had expressed concern over the detention of Nathan Maung and another US&nbsp;citizen, Daniel Fenster, by the military authorities in the Southeast Asian country.

US citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday.

US citizen Nathan Maung has been released from detention in Myanmar and is due to fly out of the country on Tuesday, his lawyer Tin Zar Oo told Reuters. A court dismissed the case against the editor at Kamayut Media after the plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit, Tin Zar Oo said on Monday. The United States had expressed concern over the detention of Nathan Maung and another US citizen, Daniel Fenster, by the military authorities in the Southeast Asian country.

US journalist Nathan Maung released from detention in Myanmar: Lawyer

It sounds like a real-life take on "Pinocchio" -- a US lobster fisherman says he was scooped into the mouth of a&nbsp;humpback&nbsp;whale Friday and yet lived to tell the story.&nbsp;

"I was in his closed mouth for about 30 to 40 seconds before he rose to the surface and spit me out," Michael Packard wrote on Facebook hours after his brush with the depths.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"A&nbsp;humpback&nbsp;whale tried to eat me," he added. "I am very bruised up but have no broken bones."&nbsp;

Packard's beyond-belief big fish yarn began, he told local paper Cape Cod Times, when he was diving for lobster off the coast of the northeastern state of Massachusetts.

"All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black," he said after being released from the hospital.

He was about 35 feet down (10 meters) and his first thought was that he had been attacked by a shark, but the lack of teeth and obvious wounds made him reconsider.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-unveils-pictures-by-martian-rover-on-red-planet-391000">Also Read |&nbsp;</a><a href="China unveils pictures by Martian rover on Red Planet">China unveils pictures by Martian rover on Red Planet</a>

Packard said he began to struggle -- but unlike in the classic children's tale "Pinocchio" there was no need to build a fire to secure his escape.

"I saw light, and he started throwing his head side-to-side and the next thing I knew I was outside (in the water)," Packard told the paper.

The story says Packard's fishing mate Josiah Mayo "saw the explosion of water as the whale surfaced and Packard was ejected," but doesn't include any quotes attributed to him.&nbsp;

Jooke Robbins, director of&nbsp;humpback&nbsp;whale studies at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, said she had no reason to doubt the account.&nbsp;

"I didn't think it was a hoax because I knew the people involved... So I have every reason to believe that what they say is true," she told AFP.&nbsp;

Robbins said she had never heard of an "accident" of this type, but "it may be that he (Packard) was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."&nbsp;

"When they (whales) fish... they rush forward, open their mouth and engulf the fish and the water very quickly," she said, adding they have largemouths, but throats so narrow they wouldn't be able to swallow a human. &nbsp;

The whale, which according to Mayo's description was on the young side, "may not be able to detect quickly enough that something is in the way."&nbsp;

Even if all the details weren't yet known, one thing was clear for Robbins: "It is important for people to be quite aware... And when they see a whale, keep a good distance. It's really important to give whales their space."&nbsp;

It sounds like a real-life take on "Pinocchio" -- a US lobster fisherman says he was scooped into the mouth of a humpback whale Friday and yet lived to tell the story.

It sounds like a real-life take on "Pinocchio" -- a US lobster fisherman says he was scooped into the mouth of a humpback whale Friday and yet lived to tell the story. "I was in his closed mouth for about 30 to 40 seconds before he rose to the surface and spit me out," Michael Packard wrote on Facebook hours after his brush with the depths. "A humpback whale tried to eat me," he added. "I am very bruised up but have no broken bones." Packard's beyond-belief big fish yarn began, he told local paper Cape Cod Times, when he was diving for lobster off the coast of the northeastern state of Massachusetts. "All of a sudden, I felt this huge shove and the next thing I knew it was completely black," he said after being released from the hospital. He was about 35 feet down (10 meters) and his first thought was that he had been attacked by a shark, but the lack of teeth and obvious wounds made him reconsider. Also Read | China unveils pictures by Martian rover on Red Planet Packard said he began to struggle -- but unlike in the classic children's tale "Pinocchio" there was no need to build a fire to secure his escape. "I saw light, and he started throwing his head side-to-side and the next thing I knew I was outside (in the water)," Packard told the paper. The story says Packard's fishing mate Josiah Mayo "saw the explosion of water as the whale surfaced and Packard was ejected," but doesn't include any quotes attributed to him. Jooke Robbins, director of humpback whale studies at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Massachusetts, said she had no reason to doubt the account. "I didn't think it was a hoax because I knew the people involved... So I have every reason to believe that what they say is true," she told AFP. Robbins said she had never heard of an "accident" of this type, but "it may be that he (Packard) was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." "When they (whales) fish... they rush forward, open their mouth and engulf the fish and the water very quickly," she said, adding they have largemouths, but throats so narrow they wouldn't be able to swallow a human. The whale, which according to Mayo's description was on the young side, "may not be able to detect quickly enough that something is in the way." Even if all the details weren't yet known, one thing was clear for Robbins: "It is important for people to be quite aware... And when they see a whale, keep a good distance. It's really important to give whales their space."

Humpback whale swallows US fisherman, then spits him out

us-1

Us, News on Us, stories on Us, articles on Us, Us stories at Wion, Us news, Us latest news

us 1