Ethiopia staged a massive rally on Sunday in Addis Ababa to rail against the United States imposing restrictions on economic and security assistance over the conflict in the Tigray region.

Ethiopia protests against US over Tigray restrictions

The US President Joe Biden has taken a direct hit at China and Russia once again. While speaking at the US Memorial Day Biden has pledged to bring up the issue of Human Rights with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the June summit in Geneva.

Biden warns China and Russia on Human Rights violations

If President Joe Biden gets his way, it will soon be far easier to immigrate to the United States. There will be shorter, simpler forms and applicants will have to jump through fewer security hoops. Foreigners will have better opportunities to join their families and more chances to secure work visas.

A 46-page draft blueprint obtained by The New York Times maps out the Biden administration’s plans to significantly expand the legal immigration system, including methodically reversing the efforts to dismantle it by former President Donald Trump, who reduced the flow of foreign workers, families and refugees, erecting procedural barriers tougher to cross than his “big, beautiful wall.”

Because of Trump’s immigration policies, the average time it takes to approve employer-sponsored green cards has doubled. The backlog for citizenship applications is up 80% since 2014, to more than 900,000 cases. Approval for the U-visa program, which grants legal status for immigrants willing to help the police, has gone from five months to roughly five years.

In almost every case over the past four years, immigrating to the United States has become harder, more expensive and takes longer.

And while Biden made clear during his presidential campaign that he intended to undo much of his predecessor’s immigration legacy, the blueprint offers new details about how far-reaching the effort will be — not only rolling back Trump’s policies, but addressing backlogs and delays that plagued prior presidents.

The blueprint, dated May 3 and titled “D.H.S. Plan to Restore Trust in Our Legal Immigration System,” lists scores of initiatives intended to reopen the country to more immigrants, making good on the president’s promise to ensure America embraces its “character as a nation of opportunity and of welcome.”

“There are significant changes that need to be made to really open up all avenues of legal immigration,” said Felicia Escobar Carrillo, the chief of staff at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, of the efforts to reverse Trump’s agenda. “In the same way that they took a broad-stroke approach to closing off avenues, I think we want to take a broad approach toward opening up the legal avenues that have always been available but that they tried to put roadblocks up on.”

Since taking office four months ago, Biden has struggled with a historic surge in migration by Central American children and teenagers that has prompted some Republicans to accuse the president of flinging open the nation’s borders to people trying to enter the country illegally, a charge the White House rejects.

In fact, Biden does want to open the country to more immigrants. His ambition, as reflected in the blueprint, is to rebuild and expand the opportunities for foreigners to enter the United States — but to do so legally.

Divided into seven sections, the document offers detailed policy proposals that would help more foreigners move to the United States, including high-skilled workers, trafficking victims, the families of Americans living abroad, American Indians born in Canada, refugees, asylum-seekers and farmworkers. Immigrants who apply online could pay less in fees or even secure a waiver in an attempt to “reduce barriers” to immigration. And regulations would be overhauled to “encourage full participation by immigrants in our civic life.”

Even with a more restrictive and slower immigration system, about 1 million people obtained green cards in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic. Most had been waiting for years. In the final year of the Obama administration, 1.2 million people received green cards.

But if Biden accomplishes everything in the document, he will have gone further than just reversing the downward trend. He will have significantly increased opportunities for foreigners around the globe to come to the United States, embracing robust immigration even as a divisive, decadeslong political debate continues to rage over such a policy.

Most of the changes could be put into practice without passage of Biden’s proposed overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of people living in the United States illegally but has stalled in a bitterly divided Congress. While surveys show that most Americans support increased immigration, many Republican voters have eagerly backed Trump’s more restrictive policies.

White House officials declined to comment directly on the Homeland Security Department’s blueprint, saying that such documents go through many drafts and that decisions about specific steps to address legal immigration remain in flux. But they said the president remained committed to significantly rolling back the restrictions imposed by his predecessor.

That effort will take time and has not yet caught the public’s attention like the surge of crossings at the southwest border. But conservative activists who have for years demanded lower levels of legal immigration are vowing a fight to stop Biden and extract a political price for his actions.

“They just want to shovel people in here,” said Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, a former Virginia attorney general who served as the acting head of Citizenship and Immigration Services under Trump. “They are not running an immigration system for the benefit of America, and certainly not for the benefit of ordinary Americans. ”

Most research has shown that legal immigration to the United States has benefits for the country’s economy, especially at a time when the country’s population growth is slowing. But Cuccinelli and others who favor severe restrictions on immigration say it is obvious to them that letting foreigners compete for jobs — especially when the country is still recovering from an economic downturn like the one created by the pandemic — will hurt the prospects for American citizens.

“The No. 1 job for the immigration services is to make sure that immigration does not hurt Americans,” said Roy Beck, the founder of NumbersUSA, a group dedicated to far lower levels of legal immigration.

Motivated by that belief, Cuccinelli set in motion a transformation of the government’s legal immigration system during the Trump administration — changing his agency from one that confers benefits on foreigners into a “vetting agency,” in part by issuing numerous restrictions on offering asylum for immigrants and trying to raise fees.

The increased vetting, as well as travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic, helped contribute to the result the Trump administration had sought: The influx of immigrants slowed significantly, as winning legal approval to enter the United States became much harder.

With fewer immigrants coming through the pipeline, there has been less money to finance Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is supported almost entirely by fees paid by immigrants. Restoring the agency to full capacity is at the heart of Biden’s effort to expand legal immigration, according to the document and interviews with administration officials.

A central element of the blueprint is addressing backlogs in the immigration system.

The administration is planning to fast-track immigration applications by expanding virtual interviews and electronic filing, as well as limiting the requests for evidence from applicants. Biden has tapped Cass R. Sunstein, a former Obama administration official and legal scholar at Harvard Law School, to remake the immigration system so it is “more effective and less burdensome” than it has been in decades by “reducing paperwork and other administrative requirements.”

Biden wants to restore opportunities for foreign employees through the existing H-1B visa program, which is intended for workers with special skills. The administration also intends to create new pathways for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to “start-up businesses and create jobs for U.S. workers,” according to the document.

Officials are working on a regulation that could allow migrants to win asylum in the United States if they are victims of domestic violence or their relatives were persecuted. During the Trump era, Attorney General William Barr moved to end asylum protection for those who said they deserved it for those reasons.

Biden is also aiming to expand immigration opportunities for LGBTQ refugees from countries where they are persecuted or where same-sex marriages are not recognized.

In addition, he wants to revamp a program that provides a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally who help law enforcement by cooperating with police or testifying in court.

The waiting list for the U-Visa program has ballooned, leaving crime victims and survivors of domestic abuse vulnerable to abusers who may threaten to report them for deportation if they continue to talk to the police, said Leslye E. Orloff, director of the national immigrant women’s advocacy project at American University.

The Biden administration is considering extending protections to immigrants who cooperate even before they make it on the official waiting list for the visa, according to the document.

“They’re recognizing that there’s danger for these victims,” Orloff said.

Critics say the Biden administration is ignoring the negative consequences of their efforts. The H-1B program has been attacked as a loophole for tech companies to import cheap foreign workers to compete for jobs. Granting asylum to the victims of domestic abuse could open the door to accepting millions of additional people. And some Republicans say Biden should not loosen vetting of foreigners, though officials insist they will continue to screen for terrorists and other threats.

As the Biden administration pushes forward with the changes, officials appear willing to use emergency rules and presidential memos to avoid the lengthy regulatory process, in much the same way that Trump put his own agenda in place. But that could make Biden’s immigration legacy subject to a similar reversal by a Republican president in the future.

“The question looming over all of this work is how do you do this in a way that isn’t easily so capsized next time around,” said Doug Rand, a founder of Boundless Immigration, a technology company in Seattle that helps immigrants obtain green cards and citizenship.

Change could not come soon enough for Jenn Hawk, 37, who is living with her Argentine husband in Poland, where he works, even though her autistic son is in the Washington area with his father.

Because of delays in processing her husband’s immigration application, she is faced with a choice: stay in Poland with the man she married, or go back to the United States alone to be with her 10-year-old son.

Hawk filed to sponsor her husband’s immigration to the United States in October of 2020, spending $575 on the application. But they are facing a delay of more than 1 1/2 years before they can even submit their financial and medical information, let alone get an interview with an immigration officer.

“I just want to go home,” Hawk said. “It seems like they’re doing everything in their power to restrict that from being a possibility.”

If President Joe Biden gets his way, it will soon be far easier to immigrate to the United States. There will be shorter, simpler forms and applicants will have to jump through fewer security hoops.

If President Joe Biden gets his way, it will soon be far easier to immigrate to the United States. There will be shorter, simpler forms and applicants will have to jump through fewer security hoops. Foreigners will have better opportunities to join their families and more chances to secure work visas. A 46-page draft blueprint obtained by The New York Times maps out the Biden administration’s plans to significantly expand the legal immigration system, including methodically reversing the efforts to dismantle it by former President Donald Trump, who reduced the flow of foreign workers, families and refugees, erecting procedural barriers tougher to cross than his “big, beautiful wall.” Because of Trump’s immigration policies, the average time it takes to approve employer-sponsored green cards has doubled. The backlog for citizenship applications is up 80% since 2014, to more than 900,000 cases. Approval for the U-visa program, which grants legal status for immigrants willing to help the police, has gone from five months to roughly five years. In almost every case over the past four years, immigrating to the United States has become harder, more expensive and takes longer. And while Biden made clear during his presidential campaign that he intended to undo much of his predecessor’s immigration legacy, the blueprint offers new details about how far-reaching the effort will be — not only rolling back Trump’s policies, but addressing backlogs and delays that plagued prior presidents. The blueprint, dated May 3 and titled “D.H.S. Plan to Restore Trust in Our Legal Immigration System,” lists scores of initiatives intended to reopen the country to more immigrants, making good on the president’s promise to ensure America embraces its “character as a nation of opportunity and of welcome.” “There are significant changes that need to be made to really open up all avenues of legal immigration,” said Felicia Escobar Carrillo, the chief of staff at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, of the efforts to reverse Trump’s agenda. “In the same way that they took a broad-stroke approach to closing off avenues, I think we want to take a broad approach toward opening up the legal avenues that have always been available but that they tried to put roadblocks up on.” Since taking office four months ago, Biden has struggled with a historic surge in migration by Central American children and teenagers that has prompted some Republicans to accuse the president of flinging open the nation’s borders to people trying to enter the country illegally, a charge the White House rejects. In fact, Biden does want to open the country to more immigrants. His ambition, as reflected in the blueprint, is to rebuild and expand the opportunities for foreigners to enter the United States — but to do so legally. Divided into seven sections, the document offers detailed policy proposals that would help more foreigners move to the United States, including high-skilled workers, trafficking victims, the families of Americans living abroad, American Indians born in Canada, refugees, asylum-seekers and farmworkers. Immigrants who apply online could pay less in fees or even secure a waiver in an attempt to “reduce barriers” to immigration. And regulations would be overhauled to “encourage full participation by immigrants in our civic life.” Even with a more restrictive and slower immigration system, about 1 million people obtained green cards in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic. Most had been waiting for years. In the final year of the Obama administration, 1.2 million people received green cards. But if Biden accomplishes everything in the document, he will have gone further than just reversing the downward trend. He will have significantly increased opportunities for foreigners around the globe to come to the United States, embracing robust immigration even as a divisive, decadeslong political debate continues to rage over such a policy. Most of the changes could be put into practice without passage of Biden’s proposed overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, which would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of people living in the United States illegally but has stalled in a bitterly divided Congress. While surveys show that most Americans support increased immigration, many Republican voters have eagerly backed Trump’s more restrictive policies. White House officials declined to comment directly on the Homeland Security Department’s blueprint, saying that such documents go through many drafts and that decisions about specific steps to address legal immigration remain in flux. But they said the president remained committed to significantly rolling back the restrictions imposed by his predecessor. That effort will take time and has not yet caught the public’s attention like the surge of crossings at the southwest border. But conservative activists who have for years demanded lower levels of legal immigration are vowing a fight to stop Biden and extract a political price for his actions. “They just want to shovel people in here,” said Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, a former Virginia attorney general who served as the acting head of Citizenship and Immigration Services under Trump. “They are not running an immigration system for the benefit of America, and certainly not for the benefit of ordinary Americans. ” Most research has shown that legal immigration to the United States has benefits for the country’s economy, especially at a time when the country’s population growth is slowing. But Cuccinelli and others who favor severe restrictions on immigration say it is obvious to them that letting foreigners compete for jobs — especially when the country is still recovering from an economic downturn like the one created by the pandemic — will hurt the prospects for American citizens. “The No. 1 job for the immigration services is to make sure that immigration does not hurt Americans,” said Roy Beck, the founder of NumbersUSA, a group dedicated to far lower levels of legal immigration. Motivated by that belief, Cuccinelli set in motion a transformation of the government’s legal immigration system during the Trump administration — changing his agency from one that confers benefits on foreigners into a “vetting agency,” in part by issuing numerous restrictions on offering asylum for immigrants and trying to raise fees. The increased vetting, as well as travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic, helped contribute to the result the Trump administration had sought: The influx of immigrants slowed significantly, as winning legal approval to enter the United States became much harder. With fewer immigrants coming through the pipeline, there has been less money to finance Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is supported almost entirely by fees paid by immigrants. Restoring the agency to full capacity is at the heart of Biden’s effort to expand legal immigration, according to the document and interviews with administration officials. A central element of the blueprint is addressing backlogs in the immigration system. The administration is planning to fast-track immigration applications by expanding virtual interviews and electronic filing, as well as limiting the requests for evidence from applicants. Biden has tapped Cass R. Sunstein, a former Obama administration official and legal scholar at Harvard Law School, to remake the immigration system so it is “more effective and less burdensome” than it has been in decades by “reducing paperwork and other administrative requirements.” Biden wants to restore opportunities for foreign employees through the existing H-1B visa program, which is intended for workers with special skills. The administration also intends to create new pathways for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to “start-up businesses and create jobs for U.S. workers,” according to the document. Officials are working on a regulation that could allow migrants to win asylum in the United States if they are victims of domestic violence or their relatives were persecuted. During the Trump era, Attorney General William Barr moved to end asylum protection for those who said they deserved it for those reasons. Biden is also aiming to expand immigration opportunities for LGBTQ refugees from countries where they are persecuted or where same-sex marriages are not recognized. In addition, he wants to revamp a program that provides a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally who help law enforcement by cooperating with police or testifying in court. The waiting list for the U-Visa program has ballooned, leaving crime victims and survivors of domestic abuse vulnerable to abusers who may threaten to report them for deportation if they continue to talk to the police, said Leslye E. Orloff, director of the national immigrant women’s advocacy project at American University. The Biden administration is considering extending protections to immigrants who cooperate even before they make it on the official waiting list for the visa, according to the document. “They’re recognizing that there’s danger for these victims,” Orloff said. Critics say the Biden administration is ignoring the negative consequences of their efforts. The H-1B program has been attacked as a loophole for tech companies to import cheap foreign workers to compete for jobs. Granting asylum to the victims of domestic abuse could open the door to accepting millions of additional people. And some Republicans say Biden should not loosen vetting of foreigners, though officials insist they will continue to screen for terrorists and other threats. As the Biden administration pushes forward with the changes, officials appear willing to use emergency rules and presidential memos to avoid the lengthy regulatory process, in much the same way that Trump put his own agenda in place. But that could make Biden’s immigration legacy subject to a similar reversal by a Republican president in the future. “The question looming over all of this work is how do you do this in a way that isn’t easily so capsized next time around,” said Doug Rand, a founder of Boundless Immigration, a technology company in Seattle that helps immigrants obtain green cards and citizenship. Change could not come soon enough for Jenn Hawk, 37, who is living with her Argentine husband in Poland, where he works, even though her autistic son is in the Washington area with his father. Because of delays in processing her husband’s immigration application, she is faced with a choice: stay in Poland with the man she married, or go back to the United States alone to be with her 10-year-old son. Hawk filed to sponsor her husband’s immigration to the United States in October of 2020, spending $575 on the application. But they are facing a delay of more than 1 1/2 years before they can even submit their financial and medical information, let alone get an interview with an immigration officer. “I just want to go home,” Hawk said. “It seems like they’re doing everything in their power to restrict that from being a possibility.”

Biden aims to rebuild and expand legal immigration

Memorial Day weekend is underway in the United States, and things are decidedly different for travellers than they were a year ago.

More than half of all adults in the United States have now been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A federal mandate requires travellers in aeroplanes or on public transportation to wear masks, although most airlines then were asking passengers to wear them. And many, many more people are likely to leave town for the holiday this year than in 2020.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-set-to-let-vaccinated-us-tourists-visit-this-summer-380444">EU set to let vaccinated US tourists visit this summer</a>

Darby LaJoye, the acting administrator at the Transportation Security Administration, said that the number of travellers at US airports has been increasing steadily during the spring, reaching nearly 1.9 million last Sunday, nearly eight times the figure for May 17, the comparable Sunday in 2020.

On Friday, the number of daily travellers topped 1.9 million, a level of travel not seen since March 2020, according to agency data released Saturday. The TSA predicted that airports would probably see 2 million passengers in a day over the holiday weekend, the latest crest in the recent waves of returning travellers. LaJoye said that the increasing number of passengers could lead to longer wait times at security checkpoints.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coming-soon-the-vaccine-passport-362262">Coming soon: The ‘Vaccine Passport’</a>

AAA, the automobile owners group, predicted earlier this month that, all told, more than 37 million people would travel 50 miles or more from Thursday to Monday, a 60 per cent increase from last year, though still 9 per cent below 2019. A great majority will travel by car.

“We will continue to see a very steady increase as we approach the summer travel season,” LaJoye said. “As vaccinations continue to rise and confidence continues to build, the nation’s planes, trains, buses and roads are going to be heavily traveled.”

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-it-safe-to-fly-during-the-pandemic-answers-from-the-experts-345896">Is it safe to fly during the pandemic? Answers from the experts</a>

To help control the spread of the virus, the TSA has erected acrylic barriers, installed new machines allowing some passengers to scan their own documents and adjusted the rules to allow passengers to have up to 12 ounces of hand sanitiser in their carry-on bags.

A year ago in the United States, there was no authorized coronavirus vaccine, mask requirements were left up to local officials and individual carriers, and air traffic was sparse.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-state-department-eases-travel-advisories-for-uk-israel-384211">US State Department eases travel advisories for UK, Israel</a>&nbsp;

Now, people 12 or older can get vaccinated, and those who choose to travel have a sense of their own safety that even the boldest voyagers last year did not. (Still, travelling, and many other activities, can be complicated for younger children and their families).

“Thanks to vaccines, tens of millions of Americans are able to get back to something closer to normal, visiting friends and family,” Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said this past week at a news conference.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccinated-people-can-resume-travel-at-low-risk-us-cdc-says-375133">Vaccinated people can resume travel at 'low risk', US CDC says</a>

This year’s holiday falls at a time when parts of the world, like the United States and the European Union, are progressively reopening their borders and allowing tourism to restart. But the virus continues to ravage other areas, notably India, South America and Southeast Asia, where vaccine supplies are scarce and worrisome virus variants have been detected.

As it happens, the average number of new cases being reported in the US is about the same now as it was around Memorial Day last year, about 23,000 a day, although testing was far scarcer as the pandemic initially hit. In each case, the figure had been declining from a peak in mid-April.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/citing-covid-risk-us-warns-against-travel-to-olympic-host-japan-387229">Citing Covid risk, US warns against travel to Olympic host Japan</a>

Last year, reports of revellers ignoring mask and social distancing rules over the holiday weekend were legion. Within weeks of some states reopening, virus cases were starting to surge to record levels. Jumps in virus cases have been seen after other holiday weekends, Walensky noted this past week.

Now that many people have been vaccinated, any virus outbreaks in the United States after the holiday will probably look different, according to Dr Wafaa El-Sadr, a public health researcher at Columbia University. She said she was concerned about “micro-epidemics” in vulnerable areas.

“We could potentially see these surges focused in specific communities where there’s low vaccination rates and low masking rates,” El-Sadr said.

Memorial Day weekend is underway in the United States, and things are decidedly different for travellers than they were a year ago. More than half of all adults in the United States have now been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Memorial Day weekend is underway in the United States, and things are decidedly different for travellers than they were a year ago. More than half of all adults in the United States have now been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A federal mandate requires travellers in aeroplanes or on public transportation to wear masks, although most airlines then were asking passengers to wear them. And many, many more people are likely to leave town for the holiday this year than in 2020. Also Read | EU set to let vaccinated US tourists visit this summer Darby LaJoye, the acting administrator at the Transportation Security Administration, said that the number of travellers at US airports has been increasing steadily during the spring, reaching nearly 1.9 million last Sunday, nearly eight times the figure for May 17, the comparable Sunday in 2020. On Friday, the number of daily travellers topped 1.9 million, a level of travel not seen since March 2020, according to agency data released Saturday. The TSA predicted that airports would probably see 2 million passengers in a day over the holiday weekend, the latest crest in the recent waves of returning travellers. LaJoye said that the increasing number of passengers could lead to longer wait times at security checkpoints. Also Read | Coming soon: The ‘Vaccine Passport’ AAA, the automobile owners group, predicted earlier this month that, all told, more than 37 million people would travel 50 miles or more from Thursday to Monday, a 60 per cent increase from last year, though still 9 per cent below 2019. A great majority will travel by car. “We will continue to see a very steady increase as we approach the summer travel season,” LaJoye said. “As vaccinations continue to rise and confidence continues to build, the nation’s planes, trains, buses and roads are going to be heavily traveled.” Also Read | Is it safe to fly during the pandemic? Answers from the experts To help control the spread of the virus, the TSA has erected acrylic barriers, installed new machines allowing some passengers to scan their own documents and adjusted the rules to allow passengers to have up to 12 ounces of hand sanitiser in their carry-on bags. A year ago in the United States, there was no authorized coronavirus vaccine, mask requirements were left up to local officials and individual carriers, and air traffic was sparse. Also Read | US State Department eases travel advisories for UK, Israel Now, people 12 or older can get vaccinated, and those who choose to travel have a sense of their own safety that even the boldest voyagers last year did not. (Still, travelling, and many other activities, can be complicated for younger children and their families). “Thanks to vaccines, tens of millions of Americans are able to get back to something closer to normal, visiting friends and family,” Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said this past week at a news conference. Also Read | Vaccinated people can resume travel at 'low risk', US CDC says This year’s holiday falls at a time when parts of the world, like the United States and the European Union, are progressively reopening their borders and allowing tourism to restart. But the virus continues to ravage other areas, notably India, South America and Southeast Asia, where vaccine supplies are scarce and worrisome virus variants have been detected. As it happens, the average number of new cases being reported in the US is about the same now as it was around Memorial Day last year, about 23,000 a day, although testing was far scarcer as the pandemic initially hit. In each case, the figure had been declining from a peak in mid-April. Also Read | Citing Covid risk, US warns against travel to Olympic host Japan Last year, reports of revellers ignoring mask and social distancing rules over the holiday weekend were legion. Within weeks of some states reopening, virus cases were starting to surge to record levels. Jumps in virus cases have been seen after other holiday weekends, Walensky noted this past week. Now that many people have been vaccinated, any virus outbreaks in the United States after the holiday will probably look different, according to Dr Wafaa El-Sadr, a public health researcher at Columbia University. She said she was concerned about “micro-epidemics” in vulnerable areas. “We could potentially see these surges focused in specific communities where there’s low vaccination rates and low masking rates,” El-Sadr said.

Here’s how holiday weekend travel in the US will be different from 2020

Ethiopian pro-government demonstrators denounced the United States on Sunday for imposing restrictions on aid over the Tigray conflict, at a massive rally organised by the authorities to show support for their positions.

More than 10,000 people attended the rally, some carrying banners written in English, Arabic and Amharic. Slogans included: "USA show us your neutrality", "Ethiopia doesn't need a caretaker", and "Fill the dam", a reference to a huge Nile dam opposed by Egypt and Sudan.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-rejects-us-allegations-of-ethnic-cleansing-in-tigray-370232">Ethiopia rejects US allegations of ethnic cleansing in Tigray</a>&nbsp;

The demonstration was larger than typical pro-government rallies, and the public criticism of the United States was rare.

Ethiopia is facing increasing international pressure over the conflict in Tigray, where it and neighbouring Eritrea sent troops last year to oust the regional authorities.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-alarmed-at-soldiers-detaining-displaced-from-tigray-camps-388006">UN alarmed at soldiers detaining displaced from Tigray camps</a>

A week ago, the United States imposed restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia over the conflict. Washington also said it would bar current or former Ethiopian or Eritrean officials it deems responsible for the crisis.

The filling of the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has also sparked international disputes. Ethiopia says the dam's electricity is needed to develop its economy; Sudan and Egypt say it violates their rights to the Nile waters down river.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-ethiopia-sudan-trade-blame-as-nile-dam-talks-fail-375849">Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan trade blame as Nile dam talks fail</a>

"We will never kneel down. The preconditions and travel restrictions by the US&nbsp;and its allies are completely unacceptable. It needs to be corrected," Adanech Abebe, mayor of Addis Ababa, told the rally organised by the Ministry of Youth.

Nejash Sheba, a 23-year old Addis Ababa trader and member of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party, told Reuters he had been told by local officials to organise people in his area, and had brought 100 others with him to the rally.

"I came here to show my support to Prosperity Party and to denounce the restrictions put on Ethiopia by America."

Ethiopian pro-government demonstrators denounced the United States on Sunday for imposing restrictions on aid over the Tigray conflict, at a massive rally organised by the authorities to show support for their positions.

Ethiopian pro-government demonstrators denounced the United States on Sunday for imposing restrictions on aid over the Tigray conflict, at a massive rally organised by the authorities to show support for their positions. More than 10,000 people attended the rally, some carrying banners written in English, Arabic and Amharic. Slogans included: "USA show us your neutrality", "Ethiopia doesn't need a caretaker", and "Fill the dam", a reference to a huge Nile dam opposed by Egypt and Sudan. Also Read | Ethiopia rejects US allegations of ethnic cleansing in Tigray The demonstration was larger than typical pro-government rallies, and the public criticism of the United States was rare. Ethiopia is facing increasing international pressure over the conflict in Tigray, where it and neighbouring Eritrea sent troops last year to oust the regional authorities. Also Read | UN alarmed at soldiers detaining displaced from Tigray camps A week ago, the United States imposed restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia over the conflict. Washington also said it would bar current or former Ethiopian or Eritrean officials it deems responsible for the crisis. The filling of the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has also sparked international disputes. Ethiopia says the dam's electricity is needed to develop its economy; Sudan and Egypt say it violates their rights to the Nile waters down river. Also Read | Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan trade blame as Nile dam talks fail "We will never kneel down. The preconditions and travel restrictions by the US and its allies are completely unacceptable. It needs to be corrected," Adanech Abebe, mayor of Addis Ababa, told the rally organised by the Ministry of Youth. Nejash Sheba, a 23-year old Addis Ababa trader and member of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party, told Reuters he had been told by local officials to organise people in his area, and had brought 100 others with him to the rally. "I came here to show my support to Prosperity Party and to denounce the restrictions put on Ethiopia by America."

Ethiopians criticise United States at pro-government rally

After four years when the National Endowment for the Arts lived under the threat of elimination, President Joe Biden on Friday proposed a 20% increase in the budget for the agency to $201 million.

If approved by Congress for the 2022 fiscal year, it would be the largest increase — in dollar terms — in the organization’s history, the agency said.

The proposal in Biden’s inaugural $6 trillion budget is a sharp turnaround from the years under President Donald Trump when, year after year, Trump proposed eliminating funding for the agency, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports public television and radio outlets around the country.

Still, it must survive congressional scrutiny. Though Trump’s budgets called for the elimination of the agency every year, its funding actually expanded a bit over the course of his term as arts advocates leaned on lawmakers to hold the line and save an agency that largely serves as a clearinghouse for grants to arts organizations across the country.

“President Biden’s budget represents a significant commitment to the arts and cultural sector and reflects the continued importance of arts organizations and cultural workers to the health and vitality of the country,” Ann Eilers, the agency’s acting chair, said in a statement.

The agency said that the “increased investment in the agency will allow it to provide critical support to the arts sector as it struggles to reopen, rehire workers, and generate arts activities that will help fuel the economy.”

The endowment had long been in the cross hairs of Republicans as a symbol of wasteful liberal largesse when, in 2017, Trump became the first president to make a formal proposal to eliminate it. That sparked active lobbying efforts by arts advocates, and the agency survived because of bipartisan support in Congress.

During the Trump years, the agency’s budget grew by about $17 million, to $167.5 million in 2021.

Biden has long been regarded as a consistent advocate for government funding for the arts. The American Alliance of Museums cheered Biden’s plan, saying in a statement it was “a welcome change from the past four years.”

The proposed spending plan is still tiny compared to the cultural budgets in European countries where financial support for the arts is viewed as a government function. For example, Britain’s culture ministry has annually spent more than $1 billion on the arts for years.

According to the endowment’s analysis, the Biden spending plan would be the largest single-year increase in its funding since the jump between 2009 and 2010 when its budget rose from $155 million to $167.5 million. It fell again the following year.

After four years when the National Endowment for the Arts lived under the threat of elimination, President Joe Biden on Friday proposed a 20% increase in the budget for the agency to $201 million.

After four years when the National Endowment for the Arts lived under the threat of elimination, President Joe Biden on Friday proposed a 20% increase in the budget for the agency to $201 million. If approved by Congress for the 2022 fiscal year, it would be the largest increase — in dollar terms — in the organization’s history, the agency said. The proposal in Biden’s inaugural $6 trillion budget is a sharp turnaround from the years under President Donald Trump when, year after year, Trump proposed eliminating funding for the agency, as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which supports public television and radio outlets around the country. Still, it must survive congressional scrutiny. Though Trump’s budgets called for the elimination of the agency every year, its funding actually expanded a bit over the course of his term as arts advocates leaned on lawmakers to hold the line and save an agency that largely serves as a clearinghouse for grants to arts organizations across the country. “President Biden’s budget represents a significant commitment to the arts and cultural sector and reflects the continued importance of arts organizations and cultural workers to the health and vitality of the country,” Ann Eilers, the agency’s acting chair, said in a statement. The agency said that the “increased investment in the agency will allow it to provide critical support to the arts sector as it struggles to reopen, rehire workers, and generate arts activities that will help fuel the economy.” The endowment had long been in the cross hairs of Republicans as a symbol of wasteful liberal largesse when, in 2017, Trump became the first president to make a formal proposal to eliminate it. That sparked active lobbying efforts by arts advocates, and the agency survived because of bipartisan support in Congress. During the Trump years, the agency’s budget grew by about $17 million, to $167.5 million in 2021. Biden has long been regarded as a consistent advocate for government funding for the arts. The American Alliance of Museums cheered Biden’s plan, saying in a statement it was “a welcome change from the past four years.” The proposed spending plan is still tiny compared to the cultural budgets in European countries where financial support for the arts is viewed as a government function. For example, Britain’s culture ministry has annually spent more than $1 billion on the arts for years. According to the endowment’s analysis, the Biden spending plan would be the largest single-year increase in its funding since the jump between 2009 and 2010 when its budget rose from $155 million to $167.5 million. It fell again the following year.

National Endowment for the Arts funding would rise under Biden plan

Ethiopian pro-government demonstrators denounced the United States on Sunday for imposing restrictions on aid over the Tigray conflict, at a massive rally organised by the authorities to show support for their positions. 
 
More than 10,000 people attended the rally, some carrying banners written in English, Arabic and Amharic. Slogans included: 'USA show us your neutrality', 'Ethiopia doesn't need a caretaker', and 'Fill the dam', a reference to a huge Nile dam opposed by Egypt and Sudan. 
 
The demonstration was larger than typical pro-government rallies, and the public criticism of the United States was rare. 
 
Ethiopia is facing increasing international pressure over the conflict in Tigray, where it and neighbouring Eritrea sent troops last year to oust the regional authorities. 
 
A week ago, the United States imposed restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia over the conflict. Washington also said it would bar current or former Ethiopian or Eritrean officials it deems responsible for the crisis. 
 
The filling of the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has also sparked international disputes. Ethiopia says the dam's electricity is needed to develop its economy; Sudan and Egypt say it violates their rights to Nile waters down river. 
 
"We will never kneel down. The preconditions and travel restrictions by the US&nbsp;and its allies are completely unacceptable. It needs to be corrected," Adanech Abebe, mayor of Addis Ababa, told the rally organised by the Ministry of Youth. 
 
Nejash Sheba, a 23-year-old Addis Ababa trader and member of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party, told Reuters, he had been told by local officials to organise people in his area, and had brought 100 others with him to the rally. 
 
"I came here to show my support to Prosperity Party and to denounce the restrictions put on Ethiopia by America."

Ethiopian pro-government demonstrators denounced the United States on Sunday for imposing restrictions on aid over the Tigray conflict, at a massive rally organised by the authorities to show support for their positions. More than 10,000 people attended the rally, some carrying banners written in English, Arabic and Amharic. Slogans included: 'USA show us your neutrality', 'Ethiopia doesn't need a caretaker', and 'Fill the dam', a reference to a huge Nile dam opposed by Egypt and Sudan. The demonstration was larger than typical pro-government rallies, and the public criticism of the United States was rare. Ethiopia is facing increasing international pressure over the conflict in Tigray, where it and neighbouring Eritrea sent troops last year to oust the regional authorities. A week ago, the United States imposed restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia over the conflict. Washington also said it would bar current or former Ethiopian or Eritrean officials it deems responsible for the crisis. The filling of the $4 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam has also sparked international disputes. Ethiopia says the dam's electricity is needed to develop its economy; Sudan and Egypt say it violates their rights to Nile waters down river. "We will never kneel down. The preconditions and travel restrictions by the US and its allies are completely unacceptable. It needs to be corrected," Adanech Abebe, mayor of Addis Ababa, told the rally organised by the Ministry of Youth. Nejash Sheba, a 23-year-old Addis Ababa trader and member of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party, told Reuters, he had been told by local officials to organise people in his area, and had brought 100 others with him to the rally. "I came here to show my support to Prosperity Party and to denounce the restrictions put on Ethiopia by America."

A hat shop in the US state of Tennessee was hit with backlash on Saturday, one day after promoting a yellow star patch like those worn by Jews in Nazi-era Germany, labeled 'not vaccinated’.&nbsp;

It was the latest skirmish in the culture war surrounding Covid vaccination in the United States, which has suffered the highest death toll of any country in the pandemic.&nbsp;

Iconic American hatmaker Stetson said on Saturday, it would no longer do business with the Nashville shop HatWRKS, which was excoriated on social media and targeted by protesters.&nbsp;

On Friday, HatWRKS shared on its Instagram account a now-deleted photo announcing the arrival of the $5 patches. It showed a woman, reportedly the business owner, wearing a yellow Star of David with the message ‘not vaccinated' on her black T-shirt.&nbsp;

"Your Nazi star badges are perhaps the most offensive, anti-Semitic thing I've ever seen," one user posted on the business's Facebook page, summing up the social media outcry in response to the post, while others used the hashtag #HATEWORKS.&nbsp;

Local media showed a few dozen protesters outside the shop on Saturday, including some who held up a banner declaring "No Nazis in Nashville!"&nbsp;

And Stetson, known for its Western hats, said on Saturday that "as a result of the offensive content and opinions shared, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products to HatWRKS in Nashville."&nbsp;

The business, which regularly posted content on social media expressing views against coronavirus restrictions and Democratic President Joe Biden, replaced its controversial post with another one addressing its critics.&nbsp;

"People are so outraged by my post? But are you outraged with the tyranny the world is experiencing?" it said. "If you don't understand what is happening, that is on you, not me."&nbsp;

The HatWRKS controversy came the same week that Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly equated Covid mask mandates with Nazis forcing Jews to wear yellow stars.&nbsp;

"Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi's forced Jewish people to wear a gold star," the freshman Republican from Georgia tweeted about a business making its employees who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus wear a vaccination logo on their name badge.&nbsp;

She was sharply criticised by leaders of both political parties.&nbsp;

Biden on Friday deplored recent anti-Semitic attacks in the United States, saying in a statement: "We cannot allow the toxic combination of hatred, dangerous lies, and conspiracy theories to put our fellow Americans at risk."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A hat shop in the US state of Tennessee was hit with backlash on Saturday, one day after promoting a yellow star patch like those worn by Jews in Nazi-era Germany, labeled 'not vaccinated’.

A hat shop in the US state of Tennessee was hit with backlash on Saturday, one day after promoting a yellow star patch like those worn by Jews in Nazi-era Germany, labeled 'not vaccinated’. It was the latest skirmish in the culture war surrounding Covid vaccination in the United States, which has suffered the highest death toll of any country in the pandemic. Iconic American hatmaker Stetson said on Saturday, it would no longer do business with the Nashville shop HatWRKS, which was excoriated on social media and targeted by protesters. On Friday, HatWRKS shared on its Instagram account a now-deleted photo announcing the arrival of the $5 patches. It showed a woman, reportedly the business owner, wearing a yellow Star of David with the message ‘not vaccinated' on her black T-shirt. "Your Nazi star badges are perhaps the most offensive, anti-Semitic thing I've ever seen," one user posted on the business's Facebook page, summing up the social media outcry in response to the post, while others used the hashtag #HATEWORKS. Local media showed a few dozen protesters outside the shop on Saturday, including some who held up a banner declaring "No Nazis in Nashville!" And Stetson, known for its Western hats, said on Saturday that "as a result of the offensive content and opinions shared, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products to HatWRKS in Nashville." The business, which regularly posted content on social media expressing views against coronavirus restrictions and Democratic President Joe Biden, replaced its controversial post with another one addressing its critics. "People are so outraged by my post? But are you outraged with the tyranny the world is experiencing?" it said. "If you don't understand what is happening, that is on you, not me." The HatWRKS controversy came the same week that Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly equated Covid mask mandates with Nazis forcing Jews to wear yellow stars. "Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi's forced Jewish people to wear a gold star," the freshman Republican from Georgia tweeted about a business making its employees who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus wear a vaccination logo on their name badge. She was sharply criticised by leaders of both political parties. Biden on Friday deplored recent anti-Semitic attacks in the United States, saying in a statement: "We cannot allow the toxic combination of hatred, dangerous lies, and conspiracy theories to put our fellow Americans at risk." (With inputs from agencies)

Backlash against US shop selling 'yellow star' Covid badges 

The US government blocked imports of seafood on Friday from the entire fleet of a Chinese company that authorities say forced crew members to work in slave-like conditions that led to the deaths of several Indonesian fishermen last year.&nbsp;

Customs and Border Protection said it will place an immediate hold on any imports linked to the more than 30 vessels operated by Dalian Ocean Fishing, under a US law that bars goods suspected to have been produced with forced labour.&nbsp;

Imports from Dalian, which primarily fishes for tuna, have exceeded USD 20 million as recently as 2018. Shipments linked to the company have dropped over the past year to about USD 200,000, officials said.&nbsp;

"We will not tolerate any amount derived from forced labour," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters as he announced the measure.&nbsp;

CBP issued what is known as a withhold release order that halts shipments that have suspected links to forced labour, under a law that has been on the books for decades, ostensibly to protect US producers from unfair competition.&nbsp;

The law has been used with increased frequency in recent years, given the growing awareness of the prevalence of what is essentially modern-day slavery in a range of industries, with workers forced to work long hours for low pay, or none at all, and subjected to violence.&nbsp;

CBP found that Dalian's operations, across the fleet, met all 11 criteria for forced labour laid out by the International Labour Organisation, including the holding back of wages, inhumane conditions and physical intimidation, said John Leonard, the acting executive assistant commissioner of the agency's Office of Trade.&nbsp;

"This was a rather egregious example," Leonard said.&nbsp;

Both the State Department and Labour Department have also documented abusive conditions in the Chinese fishing industry, where mostly foreign crews often work 18 to 22 hours per day under abysmal conditions.&nbsp;

US authorities have used the Tariff Act of 1930 to halt imports from specific companies, individual fishing vessels and all cotton and tomato products from the Xinjiang region of China, where the Chinese government is waging a brutal assimilation campaign against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups.&nbsp;

The announcement on Friday marks the first time that the US has sought to block imports from a company's entire fishing fleet, a sign that the CBP's investigation found evidence of widespread abuse on Dalian vessels around the world.&nbsp;

Indonesia's government in May 2020 accused the company of 'inhuman' treatment of fishermen from that country, with dozens of men forced to work 18 hours a day for no pay or less than agreed upon. It said the conditions led to illnesses that killed at least three fishermen, whose bodies were cast overboard into the Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;

Dalian did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through its website.&nbsp;

The company has had recent financial troubles, but Leonard said it appears to be reorganising and planning to resume operations. "We need to be vigilant," he said. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The US government blocked imports of seafood on Friday from the entire fleet of a Chinese company that authorities say forced crew members to work in slave-like conditions that led to the deaths of several Indonesian fishermen last year.

The US government blocked imports of seafood on Friday from the entire fleet of a Chinese company that authorities say forced crew members to work in slave-like conditions that led to the deaths of several Indonesian fishermen last year. Customs and Border Protection said it will place an immediate hold on any imports linked to the more than 30 vessels operated by Dalian Ocean Fishing, under a US law that bars goods suspected to have been produced with forced labour. Imports from Dalian, which primarily fishes for tuna, have exceeded USD 20 million as recently as 2018. Shipments linked to the company have dropped over the past year to about USD 200,000, officials said. "We will not tolerate any amount derived from forced labour," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters as he announced the measure. CBP issued what is known as a withhold release order that halts shipments that have suspected links to forced labour, under a law that has been on the books for decades, ostensibly to protect US producers from unfair competition. The law has been used with increased frequency in recent years, given the growing awareness of the prevalence of what is essentially modern-day slavery in a range of industries, with workers forced to work long hours for low pay, or none at all, and subjected to violence. CBP found that Dalian's operations, across the fleet, met all 11 criteria for forced labour laid out by the International Labour Organisation, including the holding back of wages, inhumane conditions and physical intimidation, said John Leonard, the acting executive assistant commissioner of the agency's Office of Trade. "This was a rather egregious example," Leonard said. Both the State Department and Labour Department have also documented abusive conditions in the Chinese fishing industry, where mostly foreign crews often work 18 to 22 hours per day under abysmal conditions. US authorities have used the Tariff Act of 1930 to halt imports from specific companies, individual fishing vessels and all cotton and tomato products from the Xinjiang region of China, where the Chinese government is waging a brutal assimilation campaign against Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups. The announcement on Friday marks the first time that the US has sought to block imports from a company's entire fishing fleet, a sign that the CBP's investigation found evidence of widespread abuse on Dalian vessels around the world. Indonesia's government in May 2020 accused the company of 'inhuman' treatment of fishermen from that country, with dozens of men forced to work 18 hours a day for no pay or less than agreed upon. It said the conditions led to illnesses that killed at least three fishermen, whose bodies were cast overboard into the Pacific Ocean. Dalian did not immediately respond to a request for comment made through its website. The company has had recent financial troubles, but Leonard said it appears to be reorganising and planning to resume operations. "We need to be vigilant," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

US blocks seafood from Chinese fleet over crew mistreatment 

The White House says it believes US government agencies largely fended off the latest cyberespionage onslaught blamed on Russian intelligence operatives, saying the spear-phishing campaign should not further damage relations with Moscow ahead of next month's planned presidential summit.&nbsp;

Officials downplayed the cyber assault as 'basic phishing' in which hackers used malware-laden emails to target the computer systems of US and foreign government agencies, think tanks and humanitarian groups. Microsoft, which disclosed the effort on Friday, said it believed most of the e-mails were blocked by automated systems that marked them as spam.&nbsp;

As of Friday, the company said it was "not seeing evidence of any significant number of compromised organisations at this time?”&nbsp;

Even so, the revelation of a new spy campaign so close to the June 16 summit between President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin adds to the urgency of White House efforts to confront the Kremlin over aggressive cyber activity that criminal indictments and diplomatic sanctions have done little to deter.&nbsp;

"I don't think it'll create a new point of tension because the point of tension is already so big," said James Lewis, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.&nbsp;

"This clearly has to be on the summit agenda. The president has to lay down some markers ‘to make clear’ that the days when you people could do whatever you want are over."&nbsp;

The summit comes amid simmering tensions driven in part by election interference by Moscow and by a massive breach of US government agencies and private corporations by Russian elite cyber spies, who infected the software supply chain with malicious code. The US responded with sanctions last month, prompting the Kremlin to warn of retribution.&nbsp;

Asked on Friday whether the latest hacking effort would affect the Biden-Putin summit, principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, "We're going to move forward with that."&nbsp;

The US, which has previously called out Russia or criminal groups based there for hacking operations, did not blame anyone for the latest incident.&nbsp;

In this case, hackers gained access to an email marketing account of the US Agency for International Development, and masquerading as the government body, targeted about 3,000 email accounts at more than 150 different organizations. At least a quarter of them involved in international development, humanitarian and human rights work, Microsoft Vice President Tom Burt said in a blog post late on Thursday.&nbsp;

The company did not say what portion of the attempts may have led to successful intrusions but said in a separate technical blog post that most were blocked by automated systems that marked them as spam. The White House said even if an email eluded those systems, a user would still have to click on the link to activate the malicious payload.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The White House says it believes US government agencies largely fended off the latest cyberespionage onslaught blamed on Russian intelligence operatives, saying the spear-phishing campaign should not further damage relations with Moscow ahead of next month's planned presidential summit.

The White House says it believes US government agencies largely fended off the latest cyberespionage onslaught blamed on Russian intelligence operatives, saying the spear-phishing campaign should not further damage relations with Moscow ahead of next month's planned presidential summit. Officials downplayed the cyber assault as 'basic phishing' in which hackers used malware-laden emails to target the computer systems of US and foreign government agencies, think tanks and humanitarian groups. Microsoft, which disclosed the effort on Friday, said it believed most of the e-mails were blocked by automated systems that marked them as spam. As of Friday, the company said it was "not seeing evidence of any significant number of compromised organisations at this time?” Even so, the revelation of a new spy campaign so close to the June 16 summit between President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin adds to the urgency of White House efforts to confront the Kremlin over aggressive cyber activity that criminal indictments and diplomatic sanctions have done little to deter. "I don't think it'll create a new point of tension because the point of tension is already so big," said James Lewis, a senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "This clearly has to be on the summit agenda. The president has to lay down some markers ‘to make clear’ that the days when you people could do whatever you want are over." The summit comes amid simmering tensions driven in part by election interference by Moscow and by a massive breach of US government agencies and private corporations by Russian elite cyber spies, who infected the software supply chain with malicious code. The US responded with sanctions last month, prompting the Kremlin to warn of retribution. Asked on Friday whether the latest hacking effort would affect the Biden-Putin summit, principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, "We're going to move forward with that." The US, which has previously called out Russia or criminal groups based there for hacking operations, did not blame anyone for the latest incident. In this case, hackers gained access to an email marketing account of the US Agency for International Development, and masquerading as the government body, targeted about 3,000 email accounts at more than 150 different organizations. At least a quarter of them involved in international development, humanitarian and human rights work, Microsoft Vice President Tom Burt said in a blog post late on Thursday. The company did not say what portion of the attempts may have led to successful intrusions but said in a separate technical blog post that most were blocked by automated systems that marked them as spam. The White House said even if an email eluded those systems, a user would still have to click on the link to activate the malicious payload. (With inputs from agencies)

US says agencies largely fended off latest Russian hack 

Why is Dr. S Jaishankar in America? Who all is the foreign minister meeting? What is being discussed? Palki Sharma tells you about the significance of the visit.

Gravitas: Why is Dr. Jaishankar in America?

Will you accept a robot for a President? People in 30 countries - including China, US, and UK want to replace lawmakers with Artificial Intelligence. What does this tell us about our future? Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas | Study: People want to replace lawmakers with A.I.

The Biden administration said on Friday, it is drawing up a list of targeted sanctions against key members of the Belarusian government following the former Soviet republic's forced landing of a passenger jet and arrest of a journalist on board.&nbsp;

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States was also suspending a 2019 agreement between Washington and Minsk that allowed carriers from each country to use the other's airspace, and taking other actions against the government of President Alexander Lukashenko.&nbsp;

In a statement, she called on Lukashenko to allow a credible international investigation into the events of May 23, when the Ryanair passenger jet flying from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Minsk.&nbsp;

Belarusian authorities scrambled a fighter jet and flagged what turned out to be a false bomb alert to force the plane to land, then detained an opposition journalist who was on board, drawing condemnation from Europe and the United States.&nbsp;

Psaki said the United States, with the EU and other allies, was developing a list of targeted sanctions against key members of Lukashenko's government 'associated with ongoing abuses of human rights and corruption, the falsification of the 2020 election, and the events of May 23'.&nbsp;

The United States last year, imposed sanctions on eight Belarus officials over an August 2020 election that the West said was rigged.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that sanctions against Belarus were 'in play', without giving details.&nbsp;

The Treasury Department will develop an executive order for Biden to sign that will provide increased authorities to impose sanctions on elements of Lukashenko's government, and the United States will re-impose 'full blocking sanctions' on nine Belarusian state-owned enterprises on June 3, prohibiting US persons from dealing with those businesses.&nbsp;

Last month, the United States revoked an authorisation for certain transactions with the nine sanctioned state-owned enterprises over alleged human rights violations and abuses.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

The Biden administration said on Friday, it is drawing up a list of targeted sanctions against key members of the Belarusian government following the former Soviet republic's forced landing of a passenger jet and arrest of a journalist on board.

The Biden administration said on Friday, it is drawing up a list of targeted sanctions against key members of the Belarusian government following the former Soviet republic's forced landing of a passenger jet and arrest of a journalist on board. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States was also suspending a 2019 agreement between Washington and Minsk that allowed carriers from each country to use the other's airspace, and taking other actions against the government of President Alexander Lukashenko. In a statement, she called on Lukashenko to allow a credible international investigation into the events of May 23, when the Ryanair passenger jet flying from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Minsk. Belarusian authorities scrambled a fighter jet and flagged what turned out to be a false bomb alert to force the plane to land, then detained an opposition journalist who was on board, drawing condemnation from Europe and the United States. Psaki said the United States, with the EU and other allies, was developing a list of targeted sanctions against key members of Lukashenko's government 'associated with ongoing abuses of human rights and corruption, the falsification of the 2020 election, and the events of May 23'. The United States last year, imposed sanctions on eight Belarus officials over an August 2020 election that the West said was rigged. President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that sanctions against Belarus were 'in play', without giving details. The Treasury Department will develop an executive order for Biden to sign that will provide increased authorities to impose sanctions on elements of Lukashenko's government, and the United States will re-impose 'full blocking sanctions' on nine Belarusian state-owned enterprises on June 3, prohibiting US persons from dealing with those businesses. Last month, the United States revoked an authorisation for certain transactions with the nine sanctioned state-owned enterprises over alleged human rights violations and abuses. (With inputs from agencies)

US drawing up targeted sanctions on Belarus officials after plane incident 

Why is Pakistan building a new base near Afghanistan? Is it for American troops? The US wants to retain some assets in Afghanistan's neighbourhood. Will Pakistan host American soldiers? Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: Will American soldiers watch Afghanistan from Pakistan?

The United States told Russia on Thursday it will not rejoin the&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Skies&nbsp;arms control pact, which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries, a US official said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was confirming a report by the Associated Press.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-pulls-out-of-open-skies-treaty-russia-says-it-will-affect-all-members-300258">US pulls out of Open Skies treaty; Russia says it will affect all members</a>

US&nbsp;Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman conveyed the decision to her Russian counterpart the official said, saying US&nbsp;allies in the NATO Western security alliance and other partners had been informed.

The United States left the&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Skies&nbsp;arms control and verification treaty in November, accusing Russia of violating it, something Moscow denied.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-parliaments-lower-house-votes-to-exit-from-open-skies-treaty-386020">Russian parliament's lower house votes to exit from Open Skies Treaty</a>

The Russian government, which in January announced plans to leave the pact, on May 11 submitted legislation to parliament to formalize its departure. At that time, a Kremlin spokesman said one reason was that the United States was still able to receive information acquired via the treaty from its NATO allies.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-pulls-out-from-open-skies-treaty-from-russia-300289/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The treaty, which was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 2002, permits nations to carry out short-notice, unarmed surveillance flights over the entire territory of the other parties.

The purpose of the treaty, which allows nations to collect information on one another’s military forces, is to increase transparency and build confidence among countries.

The United States told Russia on Thursday it will not rejoin the Open Skies arms control pact, which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries, a US official said.

The United States told Russia on Thursday it will not rejoin the Open Skies arms control pact, which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member countries, a US official said. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was confirming a report by the Associated Press. Also Read | US pulls out of Open Skies treaty; Russia says it will affect all members US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman conveyed the decision to her Russian counterpart the official said, saying US allies in the NATO Western security alliance and other partners had been informed. The United States left the Open Skies arms control and verification treaty in November, accusing Russia of violating it, something Moscow denied. Also Read | Russian parliament's lower house votes to exit from Open Skies Treaty The Russian government, which in January announced plans to leave the pact, on May 11 submitted legislation to parliament to formalize its departure. At that time, a Kremlin spokesman said one reason was that the United States was still able to receive information acquired via the treaty from its NATO allies. The treaty, which was signed in 1992 and entered into force in 2002, permits nations to carry out short-notice, unarmed surveillance flights over the entire territory of the other parties. The purpose of the treaty, which allows nations to collect information on one another’s military forces, is to increase transparency and build confidence among countries.

US tells Russia it will not rejoin Open Skies arms control pact

25 May marked the one-year anniversary of the Minneapolis man George Floyd in police custody that sparked worldwide protests that we know as the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Even after the incident, US lawmakers have failed to pass comprehensive Police reform legislation. WION brings you a report.

One year after Floyd's death: Family urges to pass Police reform bill

US President Joe Biden has asked his intelligence agencies to "redouble" efforts to find the origins of the Wuhan virus. The White House hasn't ruled out the "lab leak" theory. What does America know about the pandemic's origins? Palki Sharma brings you a report?

Gravitas: What the United States knows about COVID-19

Australia&nbsp;was due Friday to shut its embassy in Afghanistan, highlighting the security fears for foreign missions and their local workers as US-led troops pull out of the war-torn country.

With President Joe Biden's September 11 deadline looming, nations are weighing how they might operate without the security blanket provided by US and NATO forces while scrambling to work out what to do with thousands of Afghan staff who fear being marked as collaborators by the Taliban.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-troop-pullout-proceeding-slightly-ahead-of-schedule-in-afghanistan-us-defence-secretary-austin-informs-congress-388017">US troop pullout proceeding 'slightly' ahead of schedule in Afghanistan, US defence secretary Austin informs Congress</a>

Kabul-based political analyst Sayed Nasir Musawi told AFP he expected more foreign missions to close shop in coming months.

"Western countries are not fully sure about the continuation and survival of the incumbent government," he said.

The Afghan government insists it can keep the Taliban at bay, but the insurgents have made huge gains in the countryside over the past months and engage daily with local security forces.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-warn-afghan-neighbours-against-allowing-us-bases-387551">Taliban warn Afghan neighbours against allowing US bases</a>&nbsp;

The Taliban are now present in almost every Afghan province, have full or partial control of thousands of districts, and have effectively encircled several cities, a similar situation to 1996 when they took over most of the country.

Their tactics have spurred speculation they are waiting for the last US troops to leave before launching all-out attacks to retake power by force.

Announcing the embassy closure earlier this week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there was an "increasingly uncertain security environment".

'Abandoned once again'

The Taliban tried to calm foreign missions, telling AFP earlier this week they can "continue their operations as usual", but their track record is still fresh in the memory.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-vows-to-ensure-security-of-foreign-missions-387267">Afghanistan vows to ensure security of foreign missions</a>

When the Islamist hardliners seized control of Kabul in 1996 they entered the United Nations compound and abducted the country's former leader, Najibullah Ahmadzai, who they brutally tortured and murdered.

Two years later the Taliban oversaw the killing of 10 Iranian diplomats at their consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Still, Musawi had some hope.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hasty-us-withdrawal-a-blow-to-afghan-peace-process-says-china-385452">Hasty US withdrawal a blow to Afghan peace process, says China</a>

"I think&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;will not close their embassy forever in Afghanistan," he said.

"After the peace talks become clear between the government and the Taliban, or the current government might agree to power sharing with the Taliban,&nbsp;in that case&nbsp;Australia&nbsp;will re-open its embassy."

The Telegraph newspaper, meanwhile, reported Friday that Britain was preparing to relocate hundreds of embassy workers and their families to avoid a "Saigon moment", the panicked 1975 helicopter evacuation of the US embassy in South Vietnam as the Viet Cong and communist forces seized the city.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-us-begins-withdrawing-troops-from-the-forever-war-381935">Afghanistan: US begins withdrawing troops from the 'forever war'</a>

The UK has expanded its scheme giving military interpreters asylum, the newspaper said and was offering residency to embassy staff who might be at risk.

Washington said late Thursday it was "rapidly" formulating plans to evacuate potentially thousands who worked for coalition forces in Afghanistan over the past two decades.

"We recognize that there are a significant amount of Afghans that supported the United States and supported the coalition, and that they could be at risk," said Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley.

"We recognize that a very important task is to ensure that we remain faithful to them, and that we do what is necessary to ensure their protection and, if necessary, get them out of the country if that is what they want to do."

Still, thousands of Afghans are scrambling for visas or asylum, and one group was due to hold a demonstration near the fortified green zone in the capital later Friday to press their claims.

"The closure of Australian embassy in Kabul is not good news for Afghans," said Ahmad Rashed, 25, a bank employee.

"I believe, more embassies and NGOs might stop their operations in Afghanistan and I feel we will be abandoned once again," he told AFP.

Australia was due Friday to shut its embassy in Afghanistan, highlighting the security fears for foreign missions and their local workers as US-led troops pull out of the war-torn country.

Australia was due Friday to shut its embassy in Afghanistan, highlighting the security fears for foreign missions and their local workers as US-led troops pull out of the war-torn country. With President Joe Biden's September 11 deadline looming, nations are weighing how they might operate without the security blanket provided by US and NATO forces while scrambling to work out what to do with thousands of Afghan staff who fear being marked as collaborators by the Taliban. Also Read | US troop pullout proceeding 'slightly' ahead of schedule in Afghanistan, US defence secretary Austin informs Congress Kabul-based political analyst Sayed Nasir Musawi told AFP he expected more foreign missions to close shop in coming months. "Western countries are not fully sure about the continuation and survival of the incumbent government," he said. The Afghan government insists it can keep the Taliban at bay, but the insurgents have made huge gains in the countryside over the past months and engage daily with local security forces. Also Read | Taliban warn Afghan neighbours against allowing US bases The Taliban are now present in almost every Afghan province, have full or partial control of thousands of districts, and have effectively encircled several cities, a similar situation to 1996 when they took over most of the country. Their tactics have spurred speculation they are waiting for the last US troops to leave before launching all-out attacks to retake power by force. Announcing the embassy closure earlier this week, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there was an "increasingly uncertain security environment". 'Abandoned once again' The Taliban tried to calm foreign missions, telling AFP earlier this week they can "continue their operations as usual", but their track record is still fresh in the memory. Also Read | Afghanistan vows to ensure security of foreign missions When the Islamist hardliners seized control of Kabul in 1996 they entered the United Nations compound and abducted the country's former leader, Najibullah Ahmadzai, who they brutally tortured and murdered. Two years later the Taliban oversaw the killing of 10 Iranian diplomats at their consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif. Still, Musawi had some hope. Also Read | Hasty US withdrawal a blow to Afghan peace process, says China "I think Australia will not close their embassy forever in Afghanistan," he said. "After the peace talks become clear between the government and the Taliban, or the current government might agree to power sharing with the Taliban, in that case Australia will re-open its embassy." The Telegraph newspaper, meanwhile, reported Friday that Britain was preparing to relocate hundreds of embassy workers and their families to avoid a "Saigon moment", the panicked 1975 helicopter evacuation of the US embassy in South Vietnam as the Viet Cong and communist forces seized the city. Also Read | Afghanistan: US begins withdrawing troops from the 'forever war' The UK has expanded its scheme giving military interpreters asylum, the newspaper said and was offering residency to embassy staff who might be at risk. Washington said late Thursday it was "rapidly" formulating plans to evacuate potentially thousands who worked for coalition forces in Afghanistan over the past two decades. "We recognize that there are a significant amount of Afghans that supported the United States and supported the coalition, and that they could be at risk," said Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley. "We recognize that a very important task is to ensure that we remain faithful to them, and that we do what is necessary to ensure their protection and, if necessary, get them out of the country if that is what they want to do." Still, thousands of Afghans are scrambling for visas or asylum, and one group was due to hold a demonstration near the fortified green zone in the capital later Friday to press their claims. "The closure of Australian embassy in Kabul is not good news for Afghans," said Ahmad Rashed, 25, a bank employee. "I believe, more embassies and NGOs might stop their operations in Afghanistan and I feel we will be abandoned once again," he told AFP.

Australia shutters embassy in Afghanistan, sparking exodus fears

Russia said on Friday a US decision not to rejoin the&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Skies&nbsp;arms control pact, which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member states, is a "political mistake" ahead of a summit between the countries' presidents.

The original US decision to quit the pact was taken last year by the administration of US President Donald Trump, but Moscow had hoped his successor Joe Biden would reverse it.

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On Thursday, however, the Biden administration informed Moscow that it would not re-enter the pact, accusing Russia of violating it, something Moscow denied.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, said on Friday that Washington's move was a missed opportunity to bolster security in Europe.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-pulls-out-of-open-skies-treaty-russia-says-it-will-affect-all-members-300258">US pulls out of Open Skies treaty; Russia says it will affect all members</a>

"The US has made another political mistake, inflicting a new blow to the European security system," TASS quoted him as saying. "We gave them a good chance, which they did not take. They continue circulating fabrications about Russia's violations of this agreement, which is completely absurd."

Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regretted the US decision, saying the&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Skies&nbsp;accord would lose much of its utility without the participation of Russia and the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Biden are due to hold a summit in Geneva next month and Ryabkov was cited as saying that the US refusal to rejoin&nbsp;Open&nbsp;Skies&nbsp;did not create an atmosphere conducive to arms control discussions at the summit.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-parliaments-lower-house-votes-to-exit-from-open-skies-treaty-386020">Russian parliament's lower house votes to exit from Open Skies Treaty</a>

In January, Russia announced its own plans to leave the pact, and the government submitted legislation to parliament this month to formalise its departure.

At that time, a Kremlin spokesman said one reason was that the United States was still able to receive information acquired via the treaty from its NATO allies.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nato-to-discuss-open-skies-treaty-after-us-announces-withdrawal-300411">NATO to discuss Open Skies treaty after US announces withdrawal</a>

US officials have said Russia has violated the pact's terms by restricting US overflights of Russia's neighbour Georgia and the Russian enclave in Kaliningrad on the Baltic coast. Russia denies committing any violations.

The treaty, which was signed in 1992 and took effect in 2002, allows countries to conduct short-notice, unarmed surveillance flights over the entire territory of other parties and collect information on one another's military forces.

Its objective is to increase transparency and build confidence among countries.

Russia said on Friday a US decision not to rejoin the Open Skies arms control pact, which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member states, is a "political mistake" ahead of a summit between the countries' presidents.

Russia said on Friday a US decision not to rejoin the Open Skies arms control pact, which allows unarmed surveillance flights over member states, is a "political mistake" ahead of a summit between the countries' presidents. The original US decision to quit the pact was taken last year by the administration of US President Donald Trump, but Moscow had hoped his successor Joe Biden would reverse it. On Thursday, however, the Biden administration informed Moscow that it would not re-enter the pact, accusing Russia of violating it, something Moscow denied. Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's deputy foreign minister, said on Friday that Washington's move was a missed opportunity to bolster security in Europe. Also Read | US pulls out of Open Skies treaty; Russia says it will affect all members "The US has made another political mistake, inflicting a new blow to the European security system," TASS quoted him as saying. "We gave them a good chance, which they did not take. They continue circulating fabrications about Russia's violations of this agreement, which is completely absurd." Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regretted the US decision, saying the Open Skies accord would lose much of its utility without the participation of Russia and the United States. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Biden are due to hold a summit in Geneva next month and Ryabkov was cited as saying that the US refusal to rejoin Open Skies did not create an atmosphere conducive to arms control discussions at the summit. Also Read | Russian parliament's lower house votes to exit from Open Skies Treaty In January, Russia announced its own plans to leave the pact, and the government submitted legislation to parliament this month to formalise its departure. At that time, a Kremlin spokesman said one reason was that the United States was still able to receive information acquired via the treaty from its NATO allies. Also Read | NATO to discuss Open Skies treaty after US announces withdrawal US officials have said Russia has violated the pact's terms by restricting US overflights of Russia's neighbour Georgia and the Russian enclave in Kaliningrad on the Baltic coast. Russia denies committing any violations. The treaty, which was signed in 1992 and took effect in 2002, allows countries to conduct short-notice, unarmed surveillance flights over the entire territory of other parties and collect information on one another's military forces. Its objective is to increase transparency and build confidence among countries.

Russia says US decision not to rejoin Open Skies arms pact is 'political mistake'

In light of the ongoing investigation into the origin of the deadly Coronavirus, social media giant Facebook has decided to lift the ban on posts that claim COVID-19 was the result of man-made and / or "lab leaks".

Facebook allow posts suggesting COVID-19 'lab origin' as US probes virus origin

The United States (US) and allies on Thursday called on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to probe Belarus plane incident in which a Rayanair plane was forced to land, reported Reuters quoting a source. Belarus denies any coercion.

The 36-nation governing council of ICAO met&nbsp;in order to examine demands for a probe. Poland, Ireland, Britain, Germany and Canada also backed the call for a probe.

On Sunday, Belarus sent fighter jet to force Athens-Vilnius (Lithuania) passenger plane to land in Belarus. A dissident onboard the plane was then detained. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

The incident sparked international outrage and calls for sanctions against Belarus. Minsk accused the West of using the episode to wage "hybrid war."

Belarus told the meeting that the airliner had not been forced down.

The plane was ordered to land minutes before it was due to leave Belarusian airspace.

Lithuania asked why passengers on board the plane had not been evacuated after landing, which is the normal practice for bomb scares, said the source.

The ICAO meeting was due to end at 1 pm ET (1700 GMT) but might not have an agreed statement ready until Friday, spokesman Anthony Philbin said by email. The council has limited powers of investigation.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States (US) and allies on Thursday called on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to probe Belarus plane incident in which a Rayanair plane was forced to land, reported Reuters quoting a source.

The United States (US) and allies on Thursday called on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to probe Belarus plane incident in which a Rayanair plane was forced to land, reported Reuters quoting a source. Belarus denies any coercion. The 36-nation governing council of ICAO met in order to examine demands for a probe. Poland, Ireland, Britain, Germany and Canada also backed the call for a probe. On Sunday, Belarus sent fighter jet to force Athens-Vilnius (Lithuania) passenger plane to land in Belarus. A dissident onboard the plane was then detained. The incident sparked international outrage and calls for sanctions against Belarus. Minsk accused the West of using the episode to wage "hybrid war." Belarus told the meeting that the airliner had not been forced down. The plane was ordered to land minutes before it was due to leave Belarusian airspace. Lithuania asked why passengers on board the plane had not been evacuated after landing, which is the normal practice for bomb scares, said the source. The ICAO meeting was due to end at 1 pm ET (1700 GMT) but might not have an agreed statement ready until Friday, spokesman Anthony Philbin said by email. The council has limited powers of investigation. (With inputs from agencies)

UN aviation body may probe Belarus plane forced landing incident

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said the Chinese government is continuing to undermine democratic institutions in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;and called on People's Republic of China and&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;authorities to release and drop charges against all people charged under the national security law.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-to-approve-beijing-drafted-curbs-on-elections-387507">Hong Kong to approve Beijing-drafted curbs on elections</a>

Blinken in a statement said that measures passed by the&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;Legislative Council on Thursday "severely constrains people in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;from meaningfully participating in their own governance and having their voices heard."

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said the Chinese government is continuing to undermine democratic institutions in Hong Kong and called on People's Republic of China and Hong Kong authorities to release and drop charges against all people charged under the national security law.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said the Chinese government is continuing to undermine democratic institutions in Hong Kong and called on People's Republic of China and Hong Kong authorities to release and drop charges against all people charged under the national security law. Also Read | Hong Kong to approve Beijing-drafted curbs on elections Blinken in a statement said that measures passed by the Hong Kong Legislative Council on Thursday "severely constrains people in Hong Kong from meaningfully participating in their own governance and having their voices heard."

Blinken says Chinese government continues to undermine Hong Kong democratic institutions

The Lab Leak Theory is getting bigger & serious. The US is seeking 'Phase 2' of an investigation into Wuhan Virus origins. WHO's top virologist Marion Koopmans says a 'follow-up' probe is needed. Where are things headed? Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: US seeks 'Phase 2' of investigation into COVID-origins

United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered allies to determine the origin of the virus that causes COVID-19, with US intelligence agencies following potentially rival theories, including the possibility of a laboratory crash in China.

US President Joe Biden orders to 'redouble' efforts in COVID-19 origin probe

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a two-day Middle East mission on Wednesday, winning valuable diplomatic support and pledges of millions of dollars from Arab allies as he proceeded to end the ceasefire that ended the 11-day war Israel and militant Hamas ruler of the Gaza Strip.

US Secy of State wraps up his West Asia visit followed Egypt-brokered ceasefire

Top US and Chinese trade officials have held their first "candid" talks since Joe Biden became president, the two sides said Thursday, as Washington scrutinises whether Beijing is sticking to a key agreement forged during a bruising tariffs battle between the economic superpowers.

Trade relations between the two will be a major plank in the new US leader's foreign and economic policy as he looks to maintain the pressure on China imposed by predecessor Donald Trump, while looking to tread a more diplomatic line.

The countries signed a so-called "phase one" pact in January last year, in which Beijing pledged to increase its purchases of American products and services by at least $200 billion through 2020 and 2021.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/closed-door-spy-trial-of-australian-writer-lawful-and-reasonable-china-387741" hreflang="en">Closed-door spy trial of Australian writer 'lawful and reasonable': China</a>

The deal came at the end of long-running negotiations during a trade war that saw each hit the other with punitive tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods and damaged relations.

But top US trade negotiator Katherine Tai has said she is analysing whether the terms of the pact have been met by China, with some experts saying Beijing is falling up to 40 percent short on its agreement.

On Thursday, China's commerce ministry said Vice Premier Liu He and Tai held "candid, pragmatic" talks and "constructive exchanges in an attitude of equality and mutual respect".

Under the agreement, the pair are meant to check in every six months on the progress of the agreement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-biden-orders-us-intelligence-to-redouble-efforts-to-collect-information-on-covid-19-origin-387626" hreflang="en">President Biden orders US intelligence to 'redouble efforts' to collect information on COVID-19 origin</a>

It commits China to buying tens of billions of dollars' worth of American agricultural goods — from pork and beef to blueberries and avocados — &nbsp;energy and services in exchange for slashing Trump's tariffs on $120 billion of imports from China.

The deal also knits China into guarantees to protect intellectual property — addressing a major US gripe that patents, trademarks and copyright are routinely flouted by Chinese businesses — while also ensuring American banks and insurers have wider access to China's financial markets.

However, it did not deal with a 25 percent levy on a further $250 billion of Chinese goods remains, which is potential target of a long-trailed "phase two" deal.

A short statement from the Office of the US Trade Representative confirmed the "introductory virtual meeting" between Tai and He.&nbsp;

"During their candid exchange," Tai laid out the "guiding principles of the Biden-Harris Administration's worker-centred trade policy... while also raising issues of concern," the statement added.

The White House has not rowed back on Trump's tough trade position, insisting it will keep tariffs in place for now as it looks to reboot the US economy after the pandemic crisis.

On its side, China has maintained duties on some imports from the United States.

Early on, Trump's trade war bit hard into many sectors of Chinese manufacturing -- raising prices of everything from imported shoes to packaging.

But China's tit-for-tat response also ripped into US jobs and businesses.&nbsp;

While most global economies continue to find their way out of the virus-induced crisis, China is well on the recovery road -- having managed to largely contain the disease -- with exports soaring thanks to worldwide demand for medical masks and protective gear.

Top US and Chinese trade officials have held their first "candid" talks since Joe Biden became president, the two sides said Thursday, as Washington scrutinises whether Beijing is sticking to a key agreement forged during a bruising tariffs battle between the economic superpowers.

Top US and Chinese trade officials have held their first "candid" talks since Joe Biden became president, the two sides said Thursday, as Washington scrutinises whether Beijing is sticking to a key agreement forged during a bruising tariffs battle between the economic superpowers. Trade relations between the two will be a major plank in the new US leader's foreign and economic policy as he looks to maintain the pressure on China imposed by predecessor Donald Trump, while looking to tread a more diplomatic line. The countries signed a so-called "phase one" pact in January last year, in which Beijing pledged to increase its purchases of American products and services by at least $200 billion through 2020 and 2021. Also read | Closed-door spy trial of Australian writer 'lawful and reasonable': China The deal came at the end of long-running negotiations during a trade war that saw each hit the other with punitive tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods and damaged relations. But top US trade negotiator Katherine Tai has said she is analysing whether the terms of the pact have been met by China, with some experts saying Beijing is falling up to 40 percent short on its agreement. On Thursday, China's commerce ministry said Vice Premier Liu He and Tai held "candid, pragmatic" talks and "constructive exchanges in an attitude of equality and mutual respect". Under the agreement, the pair are meant to check in every six months on the progress of the agreement. Also read | President Biden orders US intelligence to 'redouble efforts' to collect information on COVID-19 origin It commits China to buying tens of billions of dollars' worth of American agricultural goods — from pork and beef to blueberries and avocados — energy and services in exchange for slashing Trump's tariffs on $120 billion of imports from China. The deal also knits China into guarantees to protect intellectual property — addressing a major US gripe that patents, trademarks and copyright are routinely flouted by Chinese businesses — while also ensuring American banks and insurers have wider access to China's financial markets. However, it did not deal with a 25 percent levy on a further $250 billion of Chinese goods remains, which is potential target of a long-trailed "phase two" deal. A short statement from the Office of the US Trade Representative confirmed the "introductory virtual meeting" between Tai and He. "During their candid exchange," Tai laid out the "guiding principles of the Biden-Harris Administration's worker-centred trade policy... while also raising issues of concern," the statement added. The White House has not rowed back on Trump's tough trade position, insisting it will keep tariffs in place for now as it looks to reboot the US economy after the pandemic crisis. On its side, China has maintained duties on some imports from the United States. Early on, Trump's trade war bit hard into many sectors of Chinese manufacturing -- raising prices of everything from imported shoes to packaging. But China's tit-for-tat response also ripped into US jobs and businesses. While most global economies continue to find their way out of the virus-induced crisis, China is well on the recovery road -- having managed to largely contain the disease -- with exports soaring thanks to worldwide demand for medical masks and protective gear.

Top China, US trade officials hold 'candid' first talks

Long dismissed as a kooky conspiracy theory favored by the far right, the idea that Covid emerged from a lab leak in Wuhan has been gaining increasing momentum in the United States.&nbsp;

The government's position has shifted to agnosticism in recent weeks, with top pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky both saying they are open to all possibilities.&nbsp;

"We need to get to the bottom of this and we need a completely transparent process from China, we need the WHO (World Health Organization) to assist in that matter," senior White House Covid advisor Andy Slavitt said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The demand for more investigation is in stark contrast to the start of the pandemic, when scientists quickly came together around the idea that the virus crossed over from bats via an intermediary animal.&nbsp;

The problem is, this link still hasn't been found, Scott Gottlieb, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration, told CNBC on Monday -- and not for want of trying.&nbsp;

Previous coronaviruses that crossed over to humans, SARS and MERS, were quickly traced back to civets and camels. &nbsp;

"The question for a lot of people is going to be when are too many coincidences too much?" added Gottlieb.&nbsp;

Citing a US intelligence report, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that a trio from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalised with a seasonal illness in November 2019.&nbsp;

China disclosed the existence of an outbreak of pneumonia cases in Wuhan to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019.&nbsp;

Beijing dismissed the Journal report as "totally untrue."&nbsp;

On Tuesday, the United States and other countries called for a more in-depth probe into the pandemic's origins, after an international mission to China earlier this year proved inconclusive.&nbsp;

A long-delayed report by a team of experts dispatched by the WHO to Wuhan and their Chinese counterparts drew no firm conclusions on the origins of the pandemic.&nbsp;

It said that a natural origin was the most probable scenario, and that a theory involving the virus leaking from a laboratory was "extremely unlikely."&nbsp;

After the report was released, however, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus himself insisted all theories remained on the table.&nbsp;

And calls from scientists for more transparency are growing.&nbsp;

"We must take hypotheses about both natural and laboratory spillovers seriously until we have sufficient data," a group of researchers from top US universities wrote in a letter published by the journal Science in mid-May.&nbsp;

The virus has claimed more than 3.4 million lives worldwide and determining how it passed to humans is considered crucial in preventing the next pandemic.&nbsp;

Long dismissed as a kooky conspiracy theory favored by the far right, the idea that Covid emerged from a lab leak in Wuhan has been gaining increasing momentum in the United States.

Long dismissed as a kooky conspiracy theory favored by the far right, the idea that Covid emerged from a lab leak in Wuhan has been gaining increasing momentum in the United States. The government's position has shifted to agnosticism in recent weeks, with top pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director Rochelle Walensky both saying they are open to all possibilities. "We need to get to the bottom of this and we need a completely transparent process from China, we need the WHO (World Health Organization) to assist in that matter," senior White House Covid advisor Andy Slavitt said on Tuesday. The demand for more investigation is in stark contrast to the start of the pandemic, when scientists quickly came together around the idea that the virus crossed over from bats via an intermediary animal. The problem is, this link still hasn't been found, Scott Gottlieb, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration, told CNBC on Monday -- and not for want of trying. Previous coronaviruses that crossed over to humans, SARS and MERS, were quickly traced back to civets and camels. "The question for a lot of people is going to be when are too many coincidences too much?" added Gottlieb. Citing a US intelligence report, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that a trio from the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalised with a seasonal illness in November 2019. China disclosed the existence of an outbreak of pneumonia cases in Wuhan to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. Beijing dismissed the Journal report as "totally untrue." On Tuesday, the United States and other countries called for a more in-depth probe into the pandemic's origins, after an international mission to China earlier this year proved inconclusive. A long-delayed report by a team of experts dispatched by the WHO to Wuhan and their Chinese counterparts drew no firm conclusions on the origins of the pandemic. It said that a natural origin was the most probable scenario, and that a theory involving the virus leaking from a laboratory was "extremely unlikely." After the report was released, however, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus himself insisted all theories remained on the table. And calls from scientists for more transparency are growing. "We must take hypotheses about both natural and laboratory spillovers seriously until we have sufficient data," a group of researchers from top US universities wrote in a letter published by the journal Science in mid-May. The virus has claimed more than 3.4 million lives worldwide and determining how it passed to humans is considered crucial in preventing the next pandemic.

Covid lab origin theory gains traction in United States 

Tesla Inc said on Tuesday that&nbsp;it will drop a radar sensor in favour of a camera-focused Autopilot system for its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America starting this month.&nbsp;

The move came amid growing scrutiny by regulators and media about the safety of what Tesla dubs 'Autopilot' and 'Full Self-Driving (FSD)' features, following a series of crashes.&nbsp;

"Pure vision Autopilot is now rolling out in North America," CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet.&nbsp;

He said it plans to release an improved 'FSD beta V9.0' based on the pure vision system about three weeks later.&nbsp;

"FSD subscription will be enabled around the same time," he said.&nbsp;

In October, Tesla rolled out the test version of its new FSD system to a limited number of people, enabling cars to navigate on city streets in semi-autonomous mode as well as highways. A wider launch has been delayed.&nbsp;

While most companies like Waymo equip autonomous cars with cameras paired with sensors like lidars and radars, Tesla relied on cameras and one radar to detect and analyse objects.&nbsp;

Tesla's approach helped reduce costs and commercialise its driver assistant features, but experts and other companies have raised safety concerns.&nbsp;

Tesla said the transition to a camera-focused system may result in limitations of some features, such as lane-centering and parking assistance, saying those functions will be restored via software updates 'in the weeks ahead’.&nbsp;

All new Model S and Model X cars, as well as all vehicles built for markets outside North America, will still be equipped with a radar, Tesla said.&nbsp;

A radar sensor uses radio waves and sensors to detect objects.&nbsp;

In March, Tesla told California regulators, it might not achieve full self-driving technology by the end of 2021.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Tesla Inc said on Tuesday that it will drop a radar sensor in favour of a camera-focused Autopilot system for its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America starting this month.

Tesla Inc said on Tuesday that it will drop a radar sensor in favour of a camera-focused Autopilot system for its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in North America starting this month. The move came amid growing scrutiny by regulators and media about the safety of what Tesla dubs 'Autopilot' and 'Full Self-Driving (FSD)' features, following a series of crashes. "Pure vision Autopilot is now rolling out in North America," CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet. He said it plans to release an improved 'FSD beta V9.0' based on the pure vision system about three weeks later. "FSD subscription will be enabled around the same time," he said. In October, Tesla rolled out the test version of its new FSD system to a limited number of people, enabling cars to navigate on city streets in semi-autonomous mode as well as highways. A wider launch has been delayed. While most companies like Waymo equip autonomous cars with cameras paired with sensors like lidars and radars, Tesla relied on cameras and one radar to detect and analyse objects. Tesla's approach helped reduce costs and commercialise its driver assistant features, but experts and other companies have raised safety concerns. Tesla said the transition to a camera-focused system may result in limitations of some features, such as lane-centering and parking assistance, saying those functions will be restored via software updates 'in the weeks ahead’. All new Model S and Model X cars, as well as all vehicles built for markets outside North America, will still be equipped with a radar, Tesla said. A radar sensor uses radio waves and sensors to detect objects. In March, Tesla told California regulators, it might not achieve full self-driving technology by the end of 2021. (With inputs from agencies)

Tesla doubles down on camera-based Autopilot amid growing scrutiny 

The overall global COVID-19 caseload has topped 167.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.48 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.&nbsp;

In its latest update on Wednesday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 167,628,424 and 3,481,199, respectively.&nbsp;

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 33,165,808 and 590,922, respectively, according to the CSSE.&nbsp;

In terms of infections, India follows in the second place with 26,948,874 cases.&nbsp;

The other worst countries with over 3 million cases are Brazil (16,194,209), France (5,670,486), Turkey (5,203,385), Russia (4,960,174), the UK (4,483,177), Italy (4,197,892), Germany (3,662,568), Spain (3,652,879), Argentina (3,586,736) and Colombia (3,270,614), the CSSE figures showed.&nbsp;

In terms of deaths, Brazil comes second with 452,031 fatalities.&nbsp;

Nations with a death toll of over 100,000 are India (307,231), Mexico (221,963), the UK (128,001), Italy (125,501), Russia (117,197) and France (109,040).&nbsp;

The overall global COVID-19 caseload has topped 167.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.48 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

The overall global COVID-19 caseload has topped 167.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.48 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University. In its latest update on Wednesday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 167,628,424 and 3,481,199, respectively. The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 33,165,808 and 590,922, respectively, according to the CSSE. In terms of infections, India follows in the second place with 26,948,874 cases. The other worst countries with over 3 million cases are Brazil (16,194,209), France (5,670,486), Turkey (5,203,385), Russia (4,960,174), the UK (4,483,177), Italy (4,197,892), Germany (3,662,568), Spain (3,652,879), Argentina (3,586,736) and Colombia (3,270,614), the CSSE figures showed. In terms of deaths, Brazil comes second with 452,031 fatalities. Nations with a death toll of over 100,000 are India (307,231), Mexico (221,963), the UK (128,001), Italy (125,501), Russia (117,197) and France (109,040).

Global COVID-19 caseload tops 167.6 mn 

Airlines re-routed flights to avoid Belarus's airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board.&nbsp;

Western nations accused Belarus of hijacking and piracy over the interception of the Ryanair plane as it crossed the country on a flight from Greece to Lithuania, and diplomats said France, Ireland and Estonia would raise the incident at a private meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday.&nbsp;

"The behaviour of the Belarus regime is outrageous, illegal, and completely unacceptable ... we also condemn this kind of dangerous interference in civil aviation," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters.&nbsp;

A video released overnight showed 26-year-old Roman Protasevich, who was pulled from the passenger plane after Belarus scrambled a warplane to escort it to Minsk on Sunday, confessing to having organised anti-government demonstrations.&nbsp;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the video was 'concerning'. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko must pay a 'bitter price' for detaining Protasevich.&nbsp;

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the footage showed Protasevich had been tortured.&nbsp;

"He said that he was treated lawfully, but he's clearly beaten and under pressure. There is no doubt that he was tortured. He was taken hostage," she told a news conference in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.&nbsp;

Belarus did not immediately comment on the torture allegation but has consistently denied abusing detainees.&nbsp;

Rights groups have documented hundreds of cases of what they describe as abuse and forced confessions during a crackdown on pro-democracy opponents of Lukashenko since last year.&nbsp;

Lukashenko, whose opponents accuse him of rigging an August 2020 election, has so far shrugged off Western sanctions, which mostly consist of barring various officials from travelling or doing business in the United States and EU.&nbsp;

The Belarusian leader enjoys financial and security support from Russia.&nbsp;

The White House said President Joe Biden would discuss the incident with Russian President Vladimir Putin at their summit next month, but added the United States did not believe Moscow had played any role in it.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Belarusian authorities on Tuesday released a transcript of a conversation between the plane and an air traffic controller in which the pilot repeatedly questioned information about the threat before agreeing to land at Minsk.&nbsp;

The transcript, which could not be verified independently, differs from excerpts previously released by Belarus state TV, which had suggested the pilot had asked to land in Minsk, rather than that the controller had advised him to do so.&nbsp;

In response to Minsk's actions, the European air traffic control agency, Eurocontrol, recommended that EU and British carriers that fly over Belarus should re-route via the Baltic states.&nbsp;

Britain also said it was banning Belarusian airlines from entering its airspace.&nbsp;

European Union leaders at a summit on Monday had called for airlines based in the 27-member bloc to halt flights over Belarusian airspace, which is along a major corridor connecting Europe and Asia and earns hard currency from overflight rights.&nbsp;

Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air France, LOT and Singapore Airlines were among carriers that announced they would stop flying over Belarus.&nbsp;

Belgium's Charles Michel, who chairs EU summits, tweeted 'Europe in action', with a picture of a flight tracker map of the continent showing no planes flying over Belarus.&nbsp;

EU leaders also directed officials to draw up unspecified new sanctions against Belarus, and to work out a way to ban Belarusian airlines from the bloc's skies.&nbsp;

Belarus's neighbour, Ukraine, announced a ban on flights to or from Belarus, and on its own airlines using Belarusian airspace.&nbsp;

"If we let this go, tomorrow Alexander Lukashenko will go further and do something even more arrogant, more cruel," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Airlines re-routed flights to avoid Belarus's airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board.

Airlines re-routed flights to avoid Belarus's airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes faced a possible ban from Europe, as international outrage mounted over Minsk forcing down a jetliner and arresting a dissident journalist on board. Western nations accused Belarus of hijacking and piracy over the interception of the Ryanair plane as it crossed the country on a flight from Greece to Lithuania, and diplomats said France, Ireland and Estonia would raise the incident at a private meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday. "The behaviour of the Belarus regime is outrageous, illegal, and completely unacceptable ... we also condemn this kind of dangerous interference in civil aviation," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters. A video released overnight showed 26-year-old Roman Protasevich, who was pulled from the passenger plane after Belarus scrambled a warplane to escort it to Minsk on Sunday, confessing to having organised anti-government demonstrations. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the video was 'concerning'. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko must pay a 'bitter price' for detaining Protasevich. Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the footage showed Protasevich had been tortured. "He said that he was treated lawfully, but he's clearly beaten and under pressure. There is no doubt that he was tortured. He was taken hostage," she told a news conference in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Belarus did not immediately comment on the torture allegation but has consistently denied abusing detainees. Rights groups have documented hundreds of cases of what they describe as abuse and forced confessions during a crackdown on pro-democracy opponents of Lukashenko since last year. Lukashenko, whose opponents accuse him of rigging an August 2020 election, has so far shrugged off Western sanctions, which mostly consist of barring various officials from travelling or doing business in the United States and EU. The Belarusian leader enjoys financial and security support from Russia. The White House said President Joe Biden would discuss the incident with Russian President Vladimir Putin at their summit next month, but added the United States did not believe Moscow had played any role in it. Meanwhile, Belarusian authorities on Tuesday released a transcript of a conversation between the plane and an air traffic controller in which the pilot repeatedly questioned information about the threat before agreeing to land at Minsk. The transcript, which could not be verified independently, differs from excerpts previously released by Belarus state TV, which had suggested the pilot had asked to land in Minsk, rather than that the controller had advised him to do so. In response to Minsk's actions, the European air traffic control agency, Eurocontrol, recommended that EU and British carriers that fly over Belarus should re-route via the Baltic states. Britain also said it was banning Belarusian airlines from entering its airspace. European Union leaders at a summit on Monday had called for airlines based in the 27-member bloc to halt flights over Belarusian airspace, which is along a major corridor connecting Europe and Asia and earns hard currency from overflight rights. Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air France, LOT and Singapore Airlines were among carriers that announced they would stop flying over Belarus. Belgium's Charles Michel, who chairs EU summits, tweeted 'Europe in action', with a picture of a flight tracker map of the continent showing no planes flying over Belarus. EU leaders also directed officials to draw up unspecified new sanctions against Belarus, and to work out a way to ban Belarusian airlines from the bloc's skies. Belarus's neighbour, Ukraine, announced a ban on flights to or from Belarus, and on its own airlines using Belarusian airspace. "If we let this go, tomorrow Alexander Lukashenko will go further and do something even more arrogant, more cruel," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Airlines re-route to avoid Belarus, opposition says journalist beaten 

China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock.&nbsp;

"The US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a final order vacating the US Department of Defense's designation of the company as a CCMC," the smartphone maker said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. It said the order was made on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"The company reiterates that it is an open, transparent, publicly traded, independently operated and managed corporation," Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun said in the statement.&nbsp;

A court filing showed earlier in May that the US&nbsp;Defence&nbsp;Department would remove Xiaomi from a government blacklist, marking a reversal by the Biden administration of one of Donald Trump's last jabs at Beijing before exiting office.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock.

China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday a US court has removed the company's designation as a Communist Chinese Military Company (CCMC) and lifted all restrictions on US persons buying or holding its stock. "The US District Court for the District of Columbia issued a final order vacating the US Department of Defense's designation of the company as a CCMC," the smartphone maker said in a filing to the Hong Kong bourse. It said the order was made on Tuesday. "The company reiterates that it is an open, transparent, publicly traded, independently operated and managed corporation," Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun said in the statement. A court filing showed earlier in May that the US Defence Department would remove Xiaomi from a government blacklist, marking a reversal by the Biden administration of one of Donald Trump's last jabs at Beijing before exiting office. (With inputs from agencies)

China's Xiaomi says US has formally lifted securities ban 

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