A senior Chinese diplomat has said that the US's Indo-Pacific strategy is as “dangerous” as NATO's eastward expansion in Europe resulting in Russia's military offensive against Ukraine.

China's Foreign Ministry issues dire warning to QUAD as it toughens stand on Taiwan

President Joe Biden warned of intelligence pointing to a growing Russian cyber threat and he urged US businesses to "immediately" prepare defenses.

President Joe Biden warns of Russian cyberattacks on US businesses

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced new visa restrictions on Chinese officials for their actions to repress ethnic and religious minorities both inside and outside the country.

US puts new sanctions on China for harassing ethnic minorities

Russia has summoned US ambassador John Sullivan in protest after President Joe Biden called Vladimir Putin a 'war criminal'. Moscow also warned that bilateral ties between US and Russia are on the verge of rupture.

Russia summons Washington's envoy to Moscow John Sullivan

Justice Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving member of the U.S. Supreme Court, was hospitalized with an infection Friday after experiencing flulike symptoms, the court said in a statement Sunday.

Thomas was being treated with intravenous antibiotics at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, the statement said.

“His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two,” it said.

Patricia McCabe, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court, said that Thomas’ illness was not COVID-19 or related to the coronavirus.

The statement said that Thomas would “participate in the consideration and discussion of any cases for which he is not present on the basis of the briefs, transcripts and audio of the oral arguments.”

All of the nine Supreme Court justices have been vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. At least two justices, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, have previously contracted the virus. Justices are regularly tested for the virus, in accordance with court protocol.

Thomas, 73, was nominated by President George H.W. Bush and was seated Oct. 23, 1991, making him the court’s most senior conservative member. He is its second-oldest member, after Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who in January announced his retirement.

In his resignation letter, Breyer said he intended to retire after the court completed its current term this summer, generally in late June or early July, “assuming that by then my successor has been nominated and confirmed.”

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, President Joe Biden’s nominee to replace Breyer, serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She was nominated to that position last year by Biden.

On Monday, the same day that the Supreme Court reconvenes, the Senate Judiciary Committee will open its hearings on her nomination.

Few Republicans are expected to support Jackson, echoing her federal appeals court nomination, in which only three Republicans voted for her confirmation.

In the days leading up to the start of the committee hearings for her Supreme Court bid, conservative lawmakers — including the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell; and Sen. Josh Hawley of Arizona — have escalated criticism about Jackson’s record as a public defender.

If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.

Justice Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving member of the U.S. Supreme Court, was hospitalized with an infection Friday after experiencing flulike symptoms, the court said in a statement Sunday.

Justice Clarence Thomas, the longest-serving member of the U.S. Supreme Court, was hospitalized with an infection Friday after experiencing flulike symptoms, the court said in a statement Sunday. Thomas was being treated with intravenous antibiotics at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, the statement said. “His symptoms are abating, he is resting comfortably, and he expects to be released from the hospital in a day or two,” it said. Patricia McCabe, a spokesperson for the Supreme Court, said that Thomas’ illness was not COVID-19 or related to the coronavirus. The statement said that Thomas would “participate in the consideration and discussion of any cases for which he is not present on the basis of the briefs, transcripts and audio of the oral arguments.” All of the nine Supreme Court justices have been vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. At least two justices, Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, have previously contracted the virus. Justices are regularly tested for the virus, in accordance with court protocol. Thomas, 73, was nominated by President George H.W. Bush and was seated Oct. 23, 1991, making him the court’s most senior conservative member. He is its second-oldest member, after Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who in January announced his retirement. In his resignation letter, Breyer said he intended to retire after the court completed its current term this summer, generally in late June or early July, “assuming that by then my successor has been nominated and confirmed.” Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, 51, President Joe Biden’s nominee to replace Breyer, serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She was nominated to that position last year by Biden. On Monday, the same day that the Supreme Court reconvenes, the Senate Judiciary Committee will open its hearings on her nomination. Few Republicans are expected to support Jackson, echoing her federal appeals court nomination, in which only three Republicans voted for her confirmation. In the days leading up to the start of the committee hearings for her Supreme Court bid, conservative lawmakers — including the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell; and Sen. Josh Hawley of Arizona — have escalated criticism about Jackson’s record as a public defender. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court justice.

US SC judge Justice Clarence Thomas hospitalised with flu-like symptoms, court says

The United States has formally determined that violence committed against the Rohingya minority by Myanmar's military amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity.

US determines Myanmar Junta committed genocide against Rohingya

After being called ‘gay’, a dog has been dumped by owner at an animal shelter in the US. &nbsp;

The animal, who is called Fezco, seems to have been left at rehoming shelter after it tried to "hump" another male dog, the refuge for animals said. &nbsp;

On its Facebook page, the animal shelter, which is based in Stanly County, North Carolina, US, shared the plight of the animal. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyiv-is-safe-czech-zoo-names-newborn-eastern-black-rhino-after-ukrainian-capital-to-show-support-463980" hreflang="en">Kyiv is safe: Czech zoo names newborn eastern black rhino after Ukrainian capital to show support</a>

A local TV station WCCB Charlotte urged animal lovers to provide a home for the animal. &nbsp;&nbsp;

During the broadcast, the channel also assured the public that they were certain a home would be found for Fezco soon. &nbsp;

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Fezco was dumped at a North Carolina animal shelter for being gay. His owners ditched him after they saw Fezco humping another male dog. ASPCA: Mounting or thrusting is normal play behavior for pets. Scientific America: Homosexual behavior has been noted in 1,500 animal species. <a href="https://t.co/HC6Fj6NF0r">pic.twitter.com/HC6Fj6NF0r</a>
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeSington/status/1505561449564815360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The dog seems to be about four to five years old. It is described as weighing around 50 pounds or 23 kg. The animal likes to be around people. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/just-like-humans-elephants-experience-stress-while-being-alone-says-study-463844" hreflang="en">Just like humans, elephants also experience stress while being alone, says study</a>

Fezco likes other animals too and is a "good boy". The animal shelter has also asked people to "step up" and take care of him temporarily before he gets adopted. &nbsp;

The presenters looked hopeful that the dog would find a foster home soon. They concluded by saying that they were sure "that guy will find a home really quick". &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After being called ‘gay’, a dog has been dumped by owner at an animal shelter in the US. The animal, who is called Fezco, seems to have been left at rehoming shelter after it tried to "hump" another male dog, the refuge for animals said.

After being called ‘gay’, a dog has been dumped by owner at an animal shelter in the US. The animal, who is called Fezco, seems to have been left at rehoming shelter after it tried to "hump" another male dog, the refuge for animals said. On its Facebook page, the animal shelter, which is based in Stanly County, North Carolina, US, shared the plight of the animal. Also Read: Kyiv is safe: Czech zoo names newborn eastern black rhino after Ukrainian capital to show support A local TV station WCCB Charlotte urged animal lovers to provide a home for the animal. During the broadcast, the channel also assured the public that they were certain a home would be found for Fezco soon. Fezco was dumped at a North Carolina animal shelter for being gay. His owners ditched him after they saw Fezco humping another male dog. ASPCA: Mounting or thrusting is normal play behavior for pets. Scientific America: Homosexual behavior has been noted in 1,500 animal species. pic.twitter.com/HC6Fj6NF0r — Mike Sington (@MikeSington) March 20, 2022 × The dog seems to be about four to five years old. It is described as weighing around 50 pounds or 23 kg. The animal likes to be around people. Also Read: Just like humans, elephants also experience stress while being alone, says study Fezco likes other animals too and is a "good boy". The animal shelter has also asked people to "step up" and take care of him temporarily before he gets adopted. The presenters looked hopeful that the dog would find a foster home soon. They concluded by saying that they were sure "that guy will find a home really quick". (With inputs from agencies)

US owner dumps dog at animal shelter after calling it ‘gay’  

A forgotten lottery ticket has made a US man super rich. Well, we are not kidding, it helped him win $8.9 million and become a multimillionaire. &nbsp;

The man, Wilbur Brown, who is from Oregon state of the US had bought the "26 for $25" Megabucks lottery ticket at the Moose Lodge in Springfield on Christmas Eve. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/recycled-plastic-bottles-pass-more-harmful-chemicals-into-contents-than-new-ones-warn-researchers-463736" hreflang="en">Recycled plastic bottles pass more harmful chemicals into contents than new ones, warn researchers</a>

The ticket allows players to buy into 26 consecutive drawings for just $25. It granted him access to drawings until February 19, 2022. &nbsp;

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Imagine walking around with $8.9 million in your pocket -- and not knowing it! 😲 Meet our latest Megabucks winner! <a href="https://t.co/DJRrHAz1R9">https://t.co/DJRrHAz1R9</a>
— Oregon Lottery (@oregon_lottery) <a href="https://twitter.com/oregon_lottery/status/1503779583761522697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Brown forgot about it after some days. "After the first few drawings, I'd check my ticket. Then I just kind of forgot about it and wasn't checking," Brown told the Oregon Lottery. &nbsp;

In February, Brown once again visited Moose Lodge. When he got his ticket scanned by the server. It said, "Large Lottery Winner." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chinese-researchers-claim-to-develop-satellite-killing-weapon-463714" hreflang="en">Chinese researchers claim to develop satellite-killing weapon</a>

Brown and his friends checked online to find out that he had won the $8.9 million jackpot. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The lucky numbers of Brown were 15, 33, 34, 40, 42, and 47, as per the Oregon Lottery. Brown chose the 30-year annuity option for the winnings. He will get a cheque of slightly over $200,000 after taxes every year until the prize gets paid out. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A forgotten lottery ticket has made a US man super rich. Well, we are not kidding, it helped him win $8.9 million and become a multimillionaire. The man, Wilbur Brown, who is from Oregon state of the US had bought the "26 for $25" Megabucks lottery ticket at the Moose Lodge in Springfield on Christmas Eve.

A forgotten lottery ticket has made a US man super rich. Well, we are not kidding, it helped him win $8.9 million and become a multimillionaire. The man, Wilbur Brown, who is from Oregon state of the US had bought the "26 for $25" Megabucks lottery ticket at the Moose Lodge in Springfield on Christmas Eve. Also Read: Recycled plastic bottles pass more harmful chemicals into contents than new ones, warn researchers The ticket allows players to buy into 26 consecutive drawings for just $25. It granted him access to drawings until February 19, 2022. Imagine walking around with $8.9 million in your pocket -- and not knowing it! 😲 Meet our latest Megabucks winner! https://t.co/DJRrHAz1R9 — Oregon Lottery (@oregon_lottery) March 15, 2022 × Brown forgot about it after some days. "After the first few drawings, I'd check my ticket. Then I just kind of forgot about it and wasn't checking," Brown told the Oregon Lottery. In February, Brown once again visited Moose Lodge. When he got his ticket scanned by the server. It said, "Large Lottery Winner." Also Read: Chinese researchers claim to develop satellite-killing weapon Brown and his friends checked online to find out that he had won the $8.9 million jackpot. The lucky numbers of Brown were 15, 33, 34, 40, 42, and 47, as per the Oregon Lottery. Brown chose the 30-year annuity option for the winnings. He will get a cheque of slightly over $200,000 after taxes every year until the prize gets paid out. (With inputs from agencies)

Forgotten lottery ticket helps US man win $8.9 million jackpot  

A mass shooting incident in United States' Arkansas city has left at least 1 killed & 20 injured. Several children have also been wounded.

US: Mass Shooting in Arkansas city leaves at least 1 killed & 20 injured

Lillie Walsh Dudley and Andy Dudley wanted to be homeowners. The couple, who have a 5-year-old son, had been renting in the South Slope neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn since 2014. They began looking for something to buy about three years ago.

“Even though we’re not rolling in money, we had a little bit of savings,” said Lillie Walsh Dudley, 41, who works in book publishing, as does Andy Dudley, 45. Still, not enough to buy in Brooklyn. “Anything we could possibly afford would be a stretch and a downgrade from our rental.”

Then the pandemic hit, and their apartment suddenly felt small and the city itself felt claustrophobic. The couple decided to try another house hunt.

This time, instead of looking in Brooklyn, they looked farther out — much farther. Their plan: Keep their rental and buy a second home about three hours away in the Catskills. In August 2020, they paid $221,000 for a move-in ready, 100-year-old house in Roxbury, New York.

A growing number of first-time buyers are doing what the Dudleys did — purchasing a second home while renting their main residence. Though there isn’t data to track this trend, real estate agents and industry observers say a combination of rapidly rising home prices and pandemic work-from-home flexibility has prompted some hopeful homeowners to skip the first step — owning a primary home — and go straight to buying a second home in a more affordable location.

Vacation home purchases in general boomed during the pandemic. In 2020, loan applications for vacation homes were up 30% from 2019, according to the most recently available data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. Zillow, a real estate website, looked at homes for sale in vacation and weekend destinations, and in January 2019 one-quarter of those markets had more page views per home than typical markets. By January 2022, half of them did.

Historically low interest rates and an unpredictable stock market have made real estate an appealing investment category during the past few years, said Richard K. Green, the director of the University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate. But rapid price appreciation has put homeownership out of reach for buyers who don’t already have equity in the market or very high income, particularly in already-pricey metro areas like New York and Los Angeles.

Indeed first-time homeownership nationwide has been falling dramatically. In 2009, first-timers made up 45% of the homebuying market, but by January 2022 they represented just 27%, according to the National Association of Realtors. And with median home prices up 13.7% from a year ago, the challenges are mounting.

“Even if you’re being paid really well, accumulating a down payment for a million-dollar house is really hard,” Green said. “But you want to own somewhere, you want to get into the market.”

Which is why some first-timers are getting creative. Virginia Alber-Glanstaetten, 51, and Becky Goodman, 35, who are renters in the Dumbo neighborhood in Brooklyn, said COVID-era lifestyle changes, including remote work, prompted them to buy their first home together near Provincetown, Massachusetts, where they have vacationed for years. Their budget of $800,000 for a primary home wouldn’t have gotten them much more space than they already had in Brooklyn, they said. But on Cape Cod, where they bought, there were more options within their budget, which was about $600,000 after setting aside enough to keep paying rent in Brooklyn.

In March 2021, they paid $605,000 for a 220-year-old fixer-upper on 1.3 acres in North Truro, Massachusetts. “Everyone in my family thought I was insane and that it was the backward way of doing things,” said Goodman.

The home they bought had long ago been converted from a single family into three separate units, which was part of the appeal. The couple plans to stay in one of the units while renting out the others as investment income. With their jobs still partially remote, they have been spending weeks at a time in Cape Cod, while keeping their rental as a home base closer to friends and work. (Goodman works in human resources and Alber-Glanstaetten works in health care advertising strategy.)

The appeal of living in multiple places has grown in recent years with an increase in “nomadic” living, says Austin Allison, CEO and co-founder of Pacaso, a company that sells a fractional ownership model for second homes, allowing buyers to purchase a share of a home to use occasionally. “We see a growing cohort of people who might buy four shares of four homes around the world,” he said.

Some say it’s like having the best of both worlds. “The Cape Cod house has become this really beautiful escape,” said Goodman. “And we like having our resident footprint here in the city and doing the things we love here.”

Dylan Beaumont, 33, who owns a house in the Catskills and rents in Manhattan, put it this way: “If I’m up here for a week or a week and a half, it’s like, ‘I want to go to the city and get Thai food and see some friends,’” he said. “Then you get sick of the city, and you come up here and go hiking.” He and his fiancee, Susanah Zeffiro, 32, purchased in Margaretville, New York, in August 2020, pivoting from their original, pre-pandemic plan to buy a place in the city.

They paid $565,000 for the Catskills home and have spent more time there than they initially thought they would, with the prolonged nature of the pandemic. Beaumont and Zeffiro’s jobs in advertising are still partially remote, but they often have to meet with clients in the city or travel for work. “I love the balance,” Beaumont said.

But first-time buyers can face unique challenges when it comes to owning a home in a rural location, especially those more used to apartment living. Beaumont’s house is on about 20 acres and, at one point, he and Zeffiro discovered there was an underground oil tank on the property, which they had to have removed — a problem that would not have come up had they bought a condo in Manhattan.

They’ve also had smaller headaches to deal with, like replacing the hot water heater, dishwasher and the washer and dryer. “We’re learning lots of first-time homebuyer lessons here,” Beaumont said.

Alber-Glanstaetten and Goodman described their Cape Cod house as “ramshackle with a vision.” Renovations are ongoing, which means they often have to travel last-minute for contractor meetings and troubleshooting. “As first-time buyers we had no idea what we were getting into,” said Alber-Glanstaetten.

Although the cost of buying in a rural area can be significantly lower than in the city, the pandemic buying spree has meant competition has been fierce. Last year, first-time buyers Anna Lewkowska and Alex McKean bought a second home in Yucca Valley, California, near Joshua Tree National Park. They put in offers on three different houses before landing the winning bid on a two-bedroom, 1 1/2 bathroom house with about 2,000 square feet and panoramic views. They paid $517,000 — more than $120,000 over the list price.

That’s still a fraction of what it would have cost them to own a home in Santa Monica, California, where the median price today is $1.9 million, according to Realtor.com. Lewkowska, 31, who owns a talent management business, and McKean, 32, who works in product management for a pipe manufacturing company, said they love where they live near the beach in Santa Monica, but they knew homeownership was not affordable there. “We know that real estate is a great investment,” said Lewkowska. “But here in Los Angeles, it’s extremely expensive.”

They’ve spent the past year going back and forth between the two places while renovating the Yucca Valley property, doing some of the work themselves. They’ve dubbed the house the Mandarin Escape and describe the design style as “modern retro” with gold fixtures and a sunset, ‘70s color theme. The plan is to rent it out on Airbnb, starting later this spring. Lewkowska said they think they can charge between $250 and $1,000 a night, depending on the season. “It was the basic economics of it, for us,” McKean said.

Other first-timers are buying second homes now with the idea of moving into them later on. Jackie Puerta, a 48-year-old ultrasound technician who lives in North Bergen, New Jersey, said she became enamored with Miami in the ’80s watching “Miami Vice,” the TV show. Earlier this year, she bought a 16th-floor condo in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood for $310,000. She spent the first few weeks staying at the condo on an air mattress. “Just to wake up to that view, it was all worth it,” she said.

Though her job is in New York, she plans to move to Florida within the next two years. Until then, she’s renting the place to long-term tenants to cover her mortgage and other monthly expenses. “I’m very surprised that I pulled this off,” she said. “I always wanted to do it.”

One unexpected benefit of such arrangements? First-time second-home buyers say it can reaffirm how convenient rental life can be. “It’s opened my eyes to what a luxury renting is,” said Beaumont. “It’s like, hey, my washing machine is broken. And a person just comes and fixes it.”

Dudley, the Park Slope renter who owns a Catskills house, said one of the things they like about their arrangement is that they didn’t have to leave her landlady, who Dudley described as a “gem of a human” who takes great care of their apartment and has never raised the rent.

Though there’s no guarantee, some have used the equity they’ve built in their second home to purchase a primary home. Abbey Londer, 36, and Ahmed Bharoocha, 38, recently took out a home equity line of credit on a house they own in Big Bear, California, to buy a primary home in Monrovia, California, just outside of Los Angeles. “I never really imagined I’d ever be able to own anything in LA proper,” said Londer. In 2019, the longtime renters paid $425,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Big Bear, about two hours away. The house rents for between $350 and $950 a night, depending on the season, according to Londer. That income came in handy during the beginning of the pandemic, when her job in live events and her husband’s work as an actor and stand-up comedian dried up for several months.

Last year, the couple, who have a 4-year-old and an 8-month-old, paid $1.36 million for a 2,000-square-foot circa-1911 Craftsman home. “I didn’t even know this was achievable,” Londer said. “Buying that house in Big Bear was a life-changing thing for us.”

Lillie Walsh Dudley and Andy Dudley wanted to be homeowners. The couple, who have a 5-year-old son, had been renting in the South Slope neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn since 2014.

Lillie Walsh Dudley and Andy Dudley wanted to be homeowners. The couple, who have a 5-year-old son, had been renting in the South Slope neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn since 2014. They began looking for something to buy about three years ago. “Even though we’re not rolling in money, we had a little bit of savings,” said Lillie Walsh Dudley, 41, who works in book publishing, as does Andy Dudley, 45. Still, not enough to buy in Brooklyn. “Anything we could possibly afford would be a stretch and a downgrade from our rental.” Then the pandemic hit, and their apartment suddenly felt small and the city itself felt claustrophobic. The couple decided to try another house hunt. This time, instead of looking in Brooklyn, they looked farther out — much farther. Their plan: Keep their rental and buy a second home about three hours away in the Catskills. In August 2020, they paid $221,000 for a move-in ready, 100-year-old house in Roxbury, New York. A growing number of first-time buyers are doing what the Dudleys did — purchasing a second home while renting their main residence. Though there isn’t data to track this trend, real estate agents and industry observers say a combination of rapidly rising home prices and pandemic work-from-home flexibility has prompted some hopeful homeowners to skip the first step — owning a primary home — and go straight to buying a second home in a more affordable location. Vacation home purchases in general boomed during the pandemic. In 2020, loan applications for vacation homes were up 30% from 2019, according to the most recently available data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. Zillow, a real estate website, looked at homes for sale in vacation and weekend destinations, and in January 2019 one-quarter of those markets had more page views per home than typical markets. By January 2022, half of them did. Historically low interest rates and an unpredictable stock market have made real estate an appealing investment category during the past few years, said Richard K. Green, the director of the University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate. But rapid price appreciation has put homeownership out of reach for buyers who don’t already have equity in the market or very high income, particularly in already-pricey metro areas like New York and Los Angeles. Indeed first-time homeownership nationwide has been falling dramatically. In 2009, first-timers made up 45% of the homebuying market, but by January 2022 they represented just 27%, according to the National Association of Realtors. And with median home prices up 13.7% from a year ago, the challenges are mounting. “Even if you’re being paid really well, accumulating a down payment for a million-dollar house is really hard,” Green said. “But you want to own somewhere, you want to get into the market.” Which is why some first-timers are getting creative. Virginia Alber-Glanstaetten, 51, and Becky Goodman, 35, who are renters in the Dumbo neighborhood in Brooklyn, said COVID-era lifestyle changes, including remote work, prompted them to buy their first home together near Provincetown, Massachusetts, where they have vacationed for years. Their budget of $800,000 for a primary home wouldn’t have gotten them much more space than they already had in Brooklyn, they said. But on Cape Cod, where they bought, there were more options within their budget, which was about $600,000 after setting aside enough to keep paying rent in Brooklyn. In March 2021, they paid $605,000 for a 220-year-old fixer-upper on 1.3 acres in North Truro, Massachusetts. “Everyone in my family thought I was insane and that it was the backward way of doing things,” said Goodman. The home they bought had long ago been converted from a single family into three separate units, which was part of the appeal. The couple plans to stay in one of the units while renting out the others as investment income. With their jobs still partially remote, they have been spending weeks at a time in Cape Cod, while keeping their rental as a home base closer to friends and work. (Goodman works in human resources and Alber-Glanstaetten works in health care advertising strategy.) The appeal of living in multiple places has grown in recent years with an increase in “nomadic” living, says Austin Allison, CEO and co-founder of Pacaso, a company that sells a fractional ownership model for second homes, allowing buyers to purchase a share of a home to use occasionally. “We see a growing cohort of people who might buy four shares of four homes around the world,” he said. Some say it’s like having the best of both worlds. “The Cape Cod house has become this really beautiful escape,” said Goodman. “And we like having our resident footprint here in the city and doing the things we love here.” Dylan Beaumont, 33, who owns a house in the Catskills and rents in Manhattan, put it this way: “If I’m up here for a week or a week and a half, it’s like, ‘I want to go to the city and get Thai food and see some friends,’” he said. “Then you get sick of the city, and you come up here and go hiking.” He and his fiancee, Susanah Zeffiro, 32, purchased in Margaretville, New York, in August 2020, pivoting from their original, pre-pandemic plan to buy a place in the city. They paid $565,000 for the Catskills home and have spent more time there than they initially thought they would, with the prolonged nature of the pandemic. Beaumont and Zeffiro’s jobs in advertising are still partially remote, but they often have to meet with clients in the city or travel for work. “I love the balance,” Beaumont said. But first-time buyers can face unique challenges when it comes to owning a home in a rural location, especially those more used to apartment living. Beaumont’s house is on about 20 acres and, at one point, he and Zeffiro discovered there was an underground oil tank on the property, which they had to have removed — a problem that would not have come up had they bought a condo in Manhattan. They’ve also had smaller headaches to deal with, like replacing the hot water heater, dishwasher and the washer and dryer. “We’re learning lots of first-time homebuyer lessons here,” Beaumont said. Alber-Glanstaetten and Goodman described their Cape Cod house as “ramshackle with a vision.” Renovations are ongoing, which means they often have to travel last-minute for contractor meetings and troubleshooting. “As first-time buyers we had no idea what we were getting into,” said Alber-Glanstaetten. Although the cost of buying in a rural area can be significantly lower than in the city, the pandemic buying spree has meant competition has been fierce. Last year, first-time buyers Anna Lewkowska and Alex McKean bought a second home in Yucca Valley, California, near Joshua Tree National Park. They put in offers on three different houses before landing the winning bid on a two-bedroom, 1 1/2 bathroom house with about 2,000 square feet and panoramic views. They paid $517,000 — more than $120,000 over the list price. That’s still a fraction of what it would have cost them to own a home in Santa Monica, California, where the median price today is $1.9 million, according to Realtor.com. Lewkowska, 31, who owns a talent management business, and McKean, 32, who works in product management for a pipe manufacturing company, said they love where they live near the beach in Santa Monica, but they knew homeownership was not affordable there. “We know that real estate is a great investment,” said Lewkowska. “But here in Los Angeles, it’s extremely expensive.” They’ve spent the past year going back and forth between the two places while renovating the Yucca Valley property, doing some of the work themselves. They’ve dubbed the house the Mandarin Escape and describe the design style as “modern retro” with gold fixtures and a sunset, ‘70s color theme. The plan is to rent it out on Airbnb, starting later this spring. Lewkowska said they think they can charge between $250 and $1,000 a night, depending on the season. “It was the basic economics of it, for us,” McKean said. Other first-timers are buying second homes now with the idea of moving into them later on. Jackie Puerta, a 48-year-old ultrasound technician who lives in North Bergen, New Jersey, said she became enamored with Miami in the ’80s watching “Miami Vice,” the TV show. Earlier this year, she bought a 16th-floor condo in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood for $310,000. She spent the first few weeks staying at the condo on an air mattress. “Just to wake up to that view, it was all worth it,” she said. Though her job is in New York, she plans to move to Florida within the next two years. Until then, she’s renting the place to long-term tenants to cover her mortgage and other monthly expenses. “I’m very surprised that I pulled this off,” she said. “I always wanted to do it.” One unexpected benefit of such arrangements? First-time second-home buyers say it can reaffirm how convenient rental life can be. “It’s opened my eyes to what a luxury renting is,” said Beaumont. “It’s like, hey, my washing machine is broken. And a person just comes and fixes it.” Dudley, the Park Slope renter who owns a Catskills house, said one of the things they like about their arrangement is that they didn’t have to leave her landlady, who Dudley described as a “gem of a human” who takes great care of their apartment and has never raised the rent. Though there’s no guarantee, some have used the equity they’ve built in their second home to purchase a primary home. Abbey Londer, 36, and Ahmed Bharoocha, 38, recently took out a home equity line of credit on a house they own in Big Bear, California, to buy a primary home in Monrovia, California, just outside of Los Angeles. “I never really imagined I’d ever be able to own anything in LA proper,” said Londer. In 2019, the longtime renters paid $425,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Big Bear, about two hours away. The house rents for between $350 and $950 a night, depending on the season, according to Londer. That income came in handy during the beginning of the pandemic, when her job in live events and her husband’s work as an actor and stand-up comedian dried up for several months. Last year, the couple, who have a 4-year-old and an 8-month-old, paid $1.36 million for a 2,000-square-foot circa-1911 Craftsman home. “I didn’t even know this was achievable,” Londer said. “Buying that house in Big Bear was a life-changing thing for us.”

When your second home is the first one you buy

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, both Russia and Ukraine are bating for talks to resolve the conflict. However, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the US is preventing Ukraine from accepting Moscow's demands.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: The US is preventing Kyiv from accepting Moscow's demands

During NATO drills, a US military plane crashed in Norway. Four American Marines have lost their lives in the tragic crash.

US Military plane crashes in Norway during NATO drills, 4 American Marines killed

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, global crude oil prices are soaring owing to economic sanctions on Russia. However, Russia is offering crude oil at discounted prices which India has decided to buy.

The US 'recognises' India's move to buy 3 million barrels of Russian crude oil

President Joe Biden said that the US has offered Ukraine $1bn in security aid, adding America will continue to give Ukraine weapons to fight and defend themselves. We are joined exclusively by Sarang Shidore, director of studies, Quincy institute to shed more light on this.

Machine guns, body armour, helmets- US to send more arms to Ukraine | Sarang Shidore Exclusive

A Honduran judge has ruled that former President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez should be extradited to the United States where he will face weapons charges and charges of drug trafficking.<o:p></o:p>

The supreme court of Honduras gave their ruling on Wednesday and it was announced on their official Twitter page that it has decided to allow the US request for extradition.<o:p></o:p>

Hernandez was accused by prosecutors for the southern district of New York in the recent years for funding his political career with money that he earned from drug trafficking and in exchange for protecting various shipments. However, Hernandez has denied all charges till now.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/everything-we-know-about-the-new-covid-19-variant-found-in-israel-463112">Everything we know about the new COVID-19 variant found in Israel</a>

According to The Guardian, the former first lady of Honduras Ana García Carías told journalists that she is confident that the truth would eventually come out and her husband be exonerated.<o:p></o:p>

“I regret that this happens to someone who has been an ally [of the US],” she said. “I ask myself, from this point on who else will want to work to combat drug trafficking in any country of the region or Honduras. If today they do this to the one who put himself out there, what can we expect?”<o:p></o:p>

Before the decision was announced, a court spokesman, Melvin Duarte, briefed the press about the activities inside the court. “In general terms he argued about the motives that have led to this extradition process against him, which he and his wife have said publicly,” Duarte said.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ukraine-to-get-us-stingers-javelin-anti-armour-systems-is-it-a-gamechanger-463142" hreflang="en">Ukraine to get US Stingers, Javelin, anti-armour systems; is it a gamechanger?</a>

Hernandez will have an opportunity to appeal against the extradition decision.<o:p></o:p>

“We still have an appeal that must be examined,” said Iván Martínez, one of Hernández’s lawyers. “We have three days to analyse the decision taken today and make our case in line with law.”<o:p></o:p>

A Honduran judge has ruled that former President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez should be extradited to the United States where he will face weapons charges and charges of drug trafficking.

A Honduran judge has ruled that former President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernandez should be extradited to the United States where he will face weapons charges and charges of drug trafficking. The supreme court of Honduras gave their ruling on Wednesday and it was announced on their official Twitter page that it has decided to allow the US request for extradition. Hernandez was accused by prosecutors for the southern district of New York in the recent years for funding his political career with money that he earned from drug trafficking and in exchange for protecting various shipments. However, Hernandez has denied all charges till now. Also read | Everything we know about the new COVID-19 variant found in Israel According to The Guardian, the former first lady of Honduras Ana García Carías told journalists that she is confident that the truth would eventually come out and her husband be exonerated. “I regret that this happens to someone who has been an ally [of the US],” she said. “I ask myself, from this point on who else will want to work to combat drug trafficking in any country of the region or Honduras. If today they do this to the one who put himself out there, what can we expect?” Before the decision was announced, a court spokesman, Melvin Duarte, briefed the press about the activities inside the court. “In general terms he argued about the motives that have led to this extradition process against him, which he and his wife have said publicly,” Duarte said. Also read | Ukraine to get US Stingers, Javelin, anti-armour systems; is it a gamechanger? Hernandez will have an opportunity to appeal against the extradition decision. “We still have an appeal that must be examined,” said Iván Martínez, one of Hernández’s lawyers. “We have three days to analyse the decision taken today and make our case in line with law.”

Judge grants US extradition request for former Honduras president

The United States has voiced its concern on Thursday as China may help Russia with military equipment. &nbsp;

This comes as the advance of Russian troops seems to have been halted at several locations in Ukraine. &nbsp;

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has entered its fourth week. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/targeting-civilians-is-a-war-crime-antony-blinken-believes-russia-guilty-of-committing-war-crimes-463292">Antony Blinken believes Russia guilty of committing war crimes</a>

The capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, is witnessing Russian shelling as rescuers in the port of Mariupol dug survivors from the rubble. &nbsp;&nbsp;

For peace talks, the officials of the two countries met again but to no avail. They said that their positions remained far apart. &nbsp;

Russia's assault has faltered since invasion began, said Western sources and Ukrainian officials. &nbsp;

Despite sanctions and setbacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not shown any sign of relenting. Russia seems to have been counting on China to help it fight off blows to its economy. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/deepfake-video-of-ukraine-president-zelensky-shared-online-463184" hreflang="en">Deepfake video of Ukraine President Zelensky shared online</a>

The United States is also concerned that China is "considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine," US secretary of state Antony Blinken said. &nbsp;

In a call on Friday, President Joe Biden will tell China's President Xi Jinping that Beijing "will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs," Blinken added. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States has voiced its concern on Thursday as China may help Russia with military equipment. This comes as the advance of Russian troops seems to have been halted at several locations in Ukraine.

The United States has voiced its concern on Thursday as China may help Russia with military equipment. This comes as the advance of Russian troops seems to have been halted at several locations in Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has entered its fourth week. Also Read: Antony Blinken believes Russia guilty of committing war crimes The capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, is witnessing Russian shelling as rescuers in the port of Mariupol dug survivors from the rubble. For peace talks, the officials of the two countries met again but to no avail. They said that their positions remained far apart. Russia's assault has faltered since invasion began, said Western sources and Ukrainian officials. Despite sanctions and setbacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not shown any sign of relenting. Russia seems to have been counting on China to help it fight off blows to its economy. Also Read: Deepfake video of Ukraine President Zelensky shared online The United States is also concerned that China is "considering directly assisting Russia with military equipment to use in Ukraine," US secretary of state Antony Blinken said. In a call on Friday, President Joe Biden will tell China's President Xi Jinping that Beijing "will bear responsibility for any actions it takes to support Russia's aggression, and we will not hesitate to impose costs," Blinken added. (With inputs from agencies)

As Russia's advance halts in Ukraine, US warns China over backing Putin

With the aim to help Ukraine, a small business in Chicago organised two fundraisers and raised over $160,000 by selling Lego mini-figures of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Motolov cocktails. &nbsp;

Ukraine is facing a tough time since the beginning of the Russian invasion. It has witnessed widespread destruction, deaths, refugee crisis, etc. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-russias-advance-halts-in-ukraine-us-warns-china-over-backing-putin-463300">As Russia's advance halts in Ukraine, US warns China over backing Putin</a>

The business, which sells custom Lego products, is called Citizen Brick. The fundraisers were held on March 5 and 16. &nbsp;

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Chicago-based Citizen Brick, which makes custom LEGO minifigs, is doing its part in a unique and creative way. On Instagram in early March, they announced a special President Volodymyr Zelenskyy minifig and little Molotov cocktails, with all proceeds going to support Ukraine. <a href="https://t.co/WHW0GsfNbW">pic.twitter.com/WHW0GsfNbW</a>
— arnim f. lighting (@arnimf) <a href="https://twitter.com/arnimf/status/1504708848506048512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Joe Trupia, owner, Citizen Brick, told the Washington Examiner, it would donate the money to the non-profit organisation Direct Relief as it was "top ranked in the NYTimes list of charities helping Ukraine." &nbsp;

"I think he's emerged as a heroic figure in this situation. I think we responded to his bravery in the face of an invasion. We don't usually make political figures, but he has kind of a distinctive appearance that translated well to minifigure," Trupia said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-ukraine-conflict-intensifies-russian-president-vladimir-putin-issues-warning-to-traitors-463306">Russian President Vladimir Putin issues warning to 'traitors'</a>

The figures of Zelensky and Motolov cocktail were sold for $100 and $10, respectively. The first fundraiser fetched $16,540, as per the Facebook page of the business. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A second fundraiser was held as there was "overwhelming interest" with just the Zelensky figure. It garnered $145,388 in donations, the firm said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

With the aim to help Ukraine, a small business in Chicago organised two fundraisers and raised over $160,000 by selling Lego mini-figures of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Motolov cocktails.

With the aim to help Ukraine, a small business in Chicago organised two fundraisers and raised over $160,000 by selling Lego mini-figures of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Motolov cocktails. Ukraine is facing a tough time since the beginning of the Russian invasion. It has witnessed widespread destruction, deaths, refugee crisis, etc. Also Read: As Russia's advance halts in Ukraine, US warns China over backing Putin The business, which sells custom Lego products, is called Citizen Brick. The fundraisers were held on March 5 and 16. Chicago-based Citizen Brick, which makes custom LEGO minifigs, is doing its part in a unique and creative way. On Instagram in early March, they announced a special President Volodymyr Zelenskyy minifig and little Molotov cocktails, with all proceeds going to support Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/WHW0GsfNbW — arnim f. lighting (@arnimf) March 18, 2022 × Joe Trupia, owner, Citizen Brick, told the Washington Examiner, it would donate the money to the non-profit organisation Direct Relief as it was "top ranked in the NYTimes list of charities helping Ukraine." "I think he's emerged as a heroic figure in this situation. I think we responded to his bravery in the face of an invasion. We don't usually make political figures, but he has kind of a distinctive appearance that translated well to minifigure," Trupia said. Also Read: Russian President Vladimir Putin issues warning to 'traitors' The figures of Zelensky and Motolov cocktail were sold for $100 and $10, respectively. The first fundraiser fetched $16,540, as per the Facebook page of the business. A second fundraiser was held as there was "overwhelming interest" with just the Zelensky figure. It garnered $145,388 in donations, the firm said. (With inputs from agencies)

US firm sells Zelensky, Motolov cocktails’ Legos, raises $160,000 for Ukraine

Covid is not over yet. Dr Anthony Fauci, who is US President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, has said that the country may witness another spike in coronavirus cases. &nbsp;

Fauci has said there will be a need for people to get a fourth dose of Covid vaccines. On Thursday, Fauci briefed House Democrats on the issue. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moderna-seeks-fda-authorization-for-second-covid-booster-for-all-adults-463367" hreflang="en">Moderna seeks FDA authorisation for second COVID-19 booster for all adults</a>

On the same day, Biden announced that Jeff Zients would be replaced by Dr Ashish Jha as COVID-19 response coordinator. Jha is the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. &nbsp;

“I would predict that we are going to see a bit of an increase, or at least a flattening out and plateauing of the diminution of cases. And the question is, how do we deal with that?" Fauci told Bloomberg. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-us-secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-accuses-uk-of-paying-blood-money-to-iran-for-nationals-release-463360" hreflang="en">Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo accuses UK of paying “blood money” to Iran for nationals’ release</a>

As per Fauci, three factors are fueling the rise in cases in Europe and the United Kingdom, which has already been seen in the United States: the BA.2 "stealth" subvariant of Omicron, diminishing protection from the vaccines administered and loosened restrictions. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Sooner or later, we will need a fourth. We are obviously going in the right direction. We have to be really careful and not declare total victory prematurely. I do believe we will be able to settle into a degree of normality,” Fauci said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Covid is not over yet. Dr Anthony Fauci, who is US President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, has said that the country may witness another spike in coronavirus cases.

Covid is not over yet. Dr Anthony Fauci, who is US President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, has said that the country may witness another spike in coronavirus cases. Fauci has said there will be a need for people to get a fourth dose of Covid vaccines. On Thursday, Fauci briefed House Democrats on the issue. Also Read: Moderna seeks FDA authorisation for second COVID-19 booster for all adults On the same day, Biden announced that Jeff Zients would be replaced by Dr Ashish Jha as COVID-19 response coordinator. Jha is the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health. “I would predict that we are going to see a bit of an increase, or at least a flattening out and plateauing of the diminution of cases. And the question is, how do we deal with that?" Fauci told Bloomberg. Also Read: Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo accuses UK of paying “blood money” to Iran for nationals’ release As per Fauci, three factors are fueling the rise in cases in Europe and the United Kingdom, which has already been seen in the United States: the BA.2 "stealth" subvariant of Omicron, diminishing protection from the vaccines administered and loosened restrictions. "Sooner or later, we will need a fourth. We are obviously going in the right direction. We have to be really careful and not declare total victory prematurely. I do believe we will be able to settle into a degree of normality,” Fauci said. (With inputs from agencies)

Not over yet? US may witness another rise in Covid cases, predicts Dr Anthony Fauci

A 13-year-old boy was driving a pickup truck that collided with a van carrying a college golf team in west&nbsp;Texas, killing nine people, officials said Thursday.

Six members of the New Mexico-based University of the Southwest golf team were killed in Tuesday night's crash along with their coach, according to police.

The 13-year-old boy and his 38-year-old father who was riding in the pickup truck also died in the accident, which occurred near Andrews,&nbsp;Texas.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-watchdog-sues-facebook-owner-meta-over-scam-advertisements-463328">&nbsp;Australian watchdog sues Facebook-owner Meta over scam advertisements</a>

According to the&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;Department of Public Safety, the Dodge 2500 pickup veered into the oncoming lane, colliding head on with the van.

Both vehicles caught fire.

Bruce Landsberg, the vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, was quoted by KWES TV in Odessa,&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;as saying the minor was behind the wheel of the pickup truck at the time of the accident.

The 13-year-old was violating&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;law. A resident may obtain a learner's permit in the state beginning at the age of 15 which allows them to drive with a licensed adult over 21.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-vows-tax-cuts-benefits-shake-up-in-election-manifesto-463323">&nbsp;Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron vows tax cuts, benefits shake-up in election manifesto</a>

Landsberg was also quoted by KWES TV as saying the pickup's left front tire appears to have blown out before the crash, which occurred with both vehicles traveling at high speed.

Two University of the Southwest students, both Canadians, are in hospital in critical condition.

A 13-year-old boy was driving a pickup truck that collided with a van carrying a college golf team in west Texas, killing nine people, officials said Thursday. Six members of the New Mexico-based University of the Southwest golf team were killed in Tuesday night's crash along with their coach, according to police.

A 13-year-old boy was driving a pickup truck that collided with a van carrying a college golf team in west Texas, killing nine people, officials said Thursday. Six members of the New Mexico-based University of the Southwest golf team were killed in Tuesday night's crash along with their coach, according to police. The 13-year-old boy and his 38-year-old father who was riding in the pickup truck also died in the accident, which occurred near Andrews, Texas. Also read | Australian watchdog sues Facebook-owner Meta over scam advertisements According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Dodge 2500 pickup veered into the oncoming lane, colliding head on with the van. Both vehicles caught fire. Bruce Landsberg, the vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, was quoted by KWES TV in Odessa, Texas as saying the minor was behind the wheel of the pickup truck at the time of the accident. The 13-year-old was violating Texas law. A resident may obtain a learner's permit in the state beginning at the age of 15 which allows them to drive with a licensed adult over 21. Also read | Emmanuel Macron vows tax cuts, benefits shake-up in election manifesto Landsberg was also quoted by KWES TV as saying the pickup's left front tire appears to have blown out before the crash, which occurred with both vehicles traveling at high speed. Two University of the Southwest students, both Canadians, are in hospital in critical condition.

A 13-year-old was driving truck in Texas crash that killed nine people

Washington said Wednesday it was "close" to a&nbsp;deal&nbsp;with&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;on reviving a 2015 pact that saw Western powers provide sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on&nbsp;Tehran's&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;programme, the latest sign of advancement following prolonged deadlock.

Days after Russian demands seemed to jeopardize talks in Vienna over restoring the pact, this week has seen multiple positive signals that an accord may at last be within reach, including the release of two British Iranians Wednesday after years of detention in&nbsp;Iran, and word that outstanding issues have narrowed to just two.

The negotiations began last April between Britain, China, France, Germany,&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and Russia, with the United States taking part indirectly.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-talks-of-remaining-two-issues-to-revive-nuclear-deal-462988">Iran talks of remaining 'two issues' to revive nuclear deal</a>

Now a successful resolution appears more viable than at any point in years.

"We are&nbsp;close&nbsp;to a possible&nbsp;deal, but we're not there yet," said State Department spokesman Ned Price. "We do think the remaining issues can be bridged."

Speaking to reporters, Price declined to confirm&nbsp;Tehran's claim that there were just a pair of final issues to be sorted out, down from four, before agreeing to restore the six-party Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which aimed to prevent&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;from developing&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;weapons.

But he said the issues are surmountable, although the 11-month-old talks "are at a very delicate stage."

"There is little time remaining given the&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;advancements that&nbsp;Tehran&nbsp;has made" toward developing&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;weapons that would undermine any agreement, he said.

The EU diplomat chairing the Vienna talks, Enrique Mora, told reporters last week that delegations were down to negotiating the footnotes of the text, but progress stalled when Moscow demanded guarantees that Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine would not affect its trade with&nbsp;Iran.

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated Tuesday that Russia had received "written guarantees" from Washington.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tehran-warned-iraq-often-about-threats-posed-to-iran-foreign-ministry-462111">Tehran warned Iraq often about threats posed to Iran: Foreign ministry</a>

Relieved

That news was followed Wednesday by&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;releasing two British-Iranians, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, taken as another sign of diplomatic thaw.&nbsp;

"I'm relieved that the problems were solved" allowing Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release, her husband Richard Ratcliffe told AFP at the family home. "The first thing she always wanted to do was me make her a cup of tea."

UK lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, who represents the north London district where Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family lives, tweeted a photo of her constituent smiling on board a plane.

"It's been 6 long years -- and I can't believe I can FINALLY share this photo," she wrote.

The increasingly positive signs have led some to hope the revival of the 2015&nbsp;deal&nbsp;may be just days away, with one diplomatic source saying the process was on "the right track".

However, the same source warned that "we have to be cautious".

With good reason: negotiations over&nbsp;Iran's&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;programme have been littered with missed deadlines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-foiled-sabotage-by-an-israeli-recruited-network-at-a-nuclear-facility-462400">Iran says it foiled sabotage by an Israeli-recruited network at a nuclear facility</a>

The&nbsp;deal&nbsp;began to fall apart in 2018 when then-US president Donald Trump dramatically withdrew from it and went on to reimpose swinging economic sanctions on&nbsp;Iran.

That led&nbsp;Tehran&nbsp;to exceed the limits on its&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;activity laid down in the&nbsp;deal.

Iran&nbsp;said Wednesday there were two remaining sticking points in Vienna, including an "economic guarantee" in case a future US administration repeats Trump's abrogation.

Another source&nbsp;close&nbsp;to the talks said the other issue was the status of&nbsp;Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has branded a terrorist organization.

Too big to fail

According to analyst Henry Rome from the Eurasia Group, these problems are "unlikely to prove insurmountable".&nbsp;

"Both the US and&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;want a&nbsp;deal, and the latter probably used some diplomatic capital to persuade Russia to back off its confrontational stance," Rome added.

"It is now clear that Russia's tactical gambit to leverage the&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;nuclear&nbsp;deal&nbsp;to punch a hole in western sanctions regime over the crisis in Ukraine&nbsp;did not work," said Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group.

Too much energy and political capital have been expended, and the&nbsp;deal&nbsp;"is now too big to fail," Vaez said.

As ever with the talks, there is always a possibility of last-minute complications.

"There may yet be some theatrics, with&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;trying to leverage high oil prices to win several additional concessions," said Rome.

In addition, on Wednesday the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report giving fresh details of advances in&nbsp;Iran's production of uranium metal, which could bedevil implementation of a&nbsp;deal.

Watch |&nbsp;West warns Russia over Iran Nuclear Deal

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&nbsp;

Washington said Wednesday it was "close" to a deal with Iran on reviving a 2015 pact that saw Western powers provide sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear programme, the latest sign of advancement following prolonged deadlock.

Washington said Wednesday it was "close" to a deal with Iran on reviving a 2015 pact that saw Western powers provide sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear programme, the latest sign of advancement following prolonged deadlock. Days after Russian demands seemed to jeopardize talks in Vienna over restoring the pact, this week has seen multiple positive signals that an accord may at last be within reach, including the release of two British Iranians Wednesday after years of detention in Iran, and word that outstanding issues have narrowed to just two. The negotiations began last April between Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran and Russia, with the United States taking part indirectly. Also read | Iran talks of remaining 'two issues' to revive nuclear deal Now a successful resolution appears more viable than at any point in years. "We are close to a possible deal, but we're not there yet," said State Department spokesman Ned Price. "We do think the remaining issues can be bridged." Speaking to reporters, Price declined to confirm Tehran's claim that there were just a pair of final issues to be sorted out, down from four, before agreeing to restore the six-party Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which aimed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. But he said the issues are surmountable, although the 11-month-old talks "are at a very delicate stage." "There is little time remaining given the nuclear advancements that Tehran has made" toward developing nuclear weapons that would undermine any agreement, he said. The EU diplomat chairing the Vienna talks, Enrique Mora, told reporters last week that delegations were down to negotiating the footnotes of the text, but progress stalled when Moscow demanded guarantees that Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine would not affect its trade with Iran. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated Tuesday that Russia had received "written guarantees" from Washington. Also read | Tehran warned Iraq often about threats posed to Iran: Foreign ministry Relieved That news was followed Wednesday by Iran releasing two British-Iranians, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori, taken as another sign of diplomatic thaw. "I'm relieved that the problems were solved" allowing Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release, her husband Richard Ratcliffe told AFP at the family home. "The first thing she always wanted to do was me make her a cup of tea." UK lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, who represents the north London district where Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family lives, tweeted a photo of her constituent smiling on board a plane. "It's been 6 long years -- and I can't believe I can FINALLY share this photo," she wrote. The increasingly positive signs have led some to hope the revival of the 2015 deal may be just days away, with one diplomatic source saying the process was on "the right track". However, the same source warned that "we have to be cautious". With good reason: negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme have been littered with missed deadlines. Also read | Iran says it foiled sabotage by an Israeli-recruited network at a nuclear facility The deal began to fall apart in 2018 when then-US president Donald Trump dramatically withdrew from it and went on to reimpose swinging economic sanctions on Iran. That led Tehran to exceed the limits on its nuclear activity laid down in the deal. Iran said Wednesday there were two remaining sticking points in Vienna, including an "economic guarantee" in case a future US administration repeats Trump's abrogation. Another source close to the talks said the other issue was the status of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, which Washington has branded a terrorist organization. Too big to fail According to analyst Henry Rome from the Eurasia Group, these problems are "unlikely to prove insurmountable". "Both the US and Iran want a deal, and the latter probably used some diplomatic capital to persuade Russia to back off its confrontational stance," Rome added. "It is now clear that Russia's tactical gambit to leverage the Iran nuclear deal to punch a hole in western sanctions regime over the crisis in Ukraine did not work," said Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group. Too much energy and political capital have been expended, and the deal "is now too big to fail," Vaez said. As ever with the talks, there is always a possibility of last-minute complications. "There may yet be some theatrics, with Iran trying to leverage high oil prices to win several additional concessions," said Rome. In addition, on Wednesday the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report giving fresh details of advances in Iran's production of uranium metal, which could bedevil implementation of a deal. Watch | West warns Russia over Iran Nuclear Deal

Iran nuclear deal 'close', Tehran frees captives as obstacles narrow

The US Federal Reserve announced a 0.25 percent hike in its bench-mark short-term interest rate, launching a campaign to tackle the fastest inflation in four decades even as risks to economic growth mount.

US Fed lifts policy rate by 0.25%

President Joe Biden said that the US has offered Ukraine $1bn in security aid, adding America will continue to give Ukraine weapons to fight and defend themselves.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: US President Joe Biden announces $1bn arms aid to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an urgent plea to the United States as he addressed a special joint session of Congress via video. He called for the US to "do more" to help his country's fight against Russia.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict: President Zelensky calls on US to 'do more' to in his speech to Congress

The Russian onslaught is getting deadlier by the day and the Ukrainian resistance is getting fiercer. And the west continues to keep &nbsp;President Volodymyr Zelensky at an arm's length. But that could change as the Biden administration is going to arm Ukraine with killer drones.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden has announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine on Wednesday. &nbsp;Biden says America will continue to give Ukraine weapons to fight and defend itself.&nbsp;

"This new package on its own is going to provide unprecedented assistance to Ukraine, and includes 800 anti-aircraft systems," Biden said, to stop Russian planes and helicopters attacking Ukrainians.&nbsp;

In a landmark virtual address to the U.S Congress, Ukraine's leader on Wednesday made an emotive appeal to lawmakers for greater Western intervention against Russia. Zelensky invoked September 11 and Pearl Harbor during his impassioned address to the US Congress, imploring Washington to step up military aid and impose a no-fly zone to counter the Russian invasion closing in on Kyiv. But that request involves a direct engagement of NATO forces and has been repeatedly refused by the West.&nbsp;

<img alt="Drone" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4e898a67-800b-4a71-88da-06812645d435" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/AeroVironment%20image%202%20%281%29.PNG" />

(Image: AeroVironment)

Among the weaponry which Washington is sending, the most potent in the U.S made 'Switchblade' drones. These kamikaze drones are manufactured by AeroVironment, an American defence contractor. The small and lightweight drones are effectively remote-controlled bombs.

Anti-armour loitering munitions have more range and precision and cost less than present-day anti-tank weapons. It basically means the drone can orbit the battlefield until its ground controller guides it onto a target. The advantage of having loitering ammunition is that it has the ability to patrol for extended periods, remain hidden and then immediately strike stationary or moving targets.&nbsp;

With the west unwilling to provide its fighter jets, a proposal floated by Poland which was shot down by the U.S, the drones are a relatively cheap and very cost-effective means of destruction. The Ukrainian army has suffered heavy losses and it’s a David vs Goliath battle.

But these tactical drones are lightweight and can be launched from a tube-like mortar shell and require minimum handling &amp; training, unlike other weaponry.

The Switchblade 600 weighs 22 Kg and can hover over a target for 40 minutes before zooming down at speeds of 185kph. It is programmed and equipped to pierce armour and destroy a tank or an armoured vehicle. These Switchblades are designed to be easily portable, fitting into a rucksack and perfectly suits the Ukrainian army which along with the volunteers is giving a tough fight to the Russian troops.&nbsp;

Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reveals that the U.S is indeed providing advanced anti-aircraft weapon systems which would give Ukraine an edge as it's taken on a much superior adversary in Russia.&nbsp;

Moscow isn't taking the bonhomie between Ukraine &amp; West kindly. On Sunday, a barrage of Russian missiles hit a large Ukrainian base near the border with NATO member Poland. A local Ukrainian official said 35 people were killed and 134 were wounded.

Russia's defence ministry says a large number of weapons supplied by foreign nations were being stored at the sprawling training facility. The attack on the Yavoriv International Centre for Peacekeeping and Security, a base just 25 km from the Polish border. It had previously hosted NATO military instructors.&nbsp;

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Saturday (12th March 2022) said its troops could target supplies of Western weapons in Ukraine. He told the state television, 'We warned the United States that the orchestrated pumping of weapons from a number of countries is not just a dangerous move, it is a move that turns these convoys into legitimate targets'.&nbsp;

Clearly, Moscow has made its intent clear and with this latest move of providing Ukraine with weapons that could inflict heavy damage to the Russian forces, the tensions continue to only rise further.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Russian onslaught is getting deadlier by the day and the Ukrainian resistance is getting fiercer. And the west continues to keep President Volodymyr Zelensky at an arm's length.

The Russian onslaught is getting deadlier by the day and the Ukrainian resistance is getting fiercer. And the west continues to keep President Volodymyr Zelensky at an arm's length. But that could change as the Biden administration is going to arm Ukraine with killer drones. US President Joe Biden has announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine on Wednesday. Biden says America will continue to give Ukraine weapons to fight and defend itself. "This new package on its own is going to provide unprecedented assistance to Ukraine, and includes 800 anti-aircraft systems," Biden said, to stop Russian planes and helicopters attacking Ukrainians. In a landmark virtual address to the U.S Congress, Ukraine's leader on Wednesday made an emotive appeal to lawmakers for greater Western intervention against Russia. Zelensky invoked September 11 and Pearl Harbor during his impassioned address to the US Congress, imploring Washington to step up military aid and impose a no-fly zone to counter the Russian invasion closing in on Kyiv. But that request involves a direct engagement of NATO forces and has been repeatedly refused by the West. (Image: AeroVironment) Among the weaponry which Washington is sending, the most potent in the U.S made 'Switchblade' drones. These kamikaze drones are manufactured by AeroVironment, an American defence contractor. The small and lightweight drones are effectively remote-controlled bombs. Anti-armour loitering munitions have more range and precision and cost less than present-day anti-tank weapons. It basically means the drone can orbit the battlefield until its ground controller guides it onto a target. The advantage of having loitering ammunition is that it has the ability to patrol for extended periods, remain hidden and then immediately strike stationary or moving targets. With the west unwilling to provide its fighter jets, a proposal floated by Poland which was shot down by the U.S, the drones are a relatively cheap and very cost-effective means of destruction. The Ukrainian army has suffered heavy losses and it’s a David vs Goliath battle. But these tactical drones are lightweight and can be launched from a tube-like mortar shell and require minimum handling & training, unlike other weaponry. The Switchblade 600 weighs 22 Kg and can hover over a target for 40 minutes before zooming down at speeds of 185kph. It is programmed and equipped to pierce armour and destroy a tank or an armoured vehicle. These Switchblades are designed to be easily portable, fitting into a rucksack and perfectly suits the Ukrainian army which along with the volunteers is giving a tough fight to the Russian troops. Mike McCaul, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reveals that the U.S is indeed providing advanced anti-aircraft weapon systems which would give Ukraine an edge as it's taken on a much superior adversary in Russia. Moscow isn't taking the bonhomie between Ukraine & West kindly. On Sunday, a barrage of Russian missiles hit a large Ukrainian base near the border with NATO member Poland. A local Ukrainian official said 35 people were killed and 134 were wounded. Russia's defence ministry says a large number of weapons supplied by foreign nations were being stored at the sprawling training facility. The attack on the Yavoriv International Centre for Peacekeeping and Security, a base just 25 km from the Polish border. It had previously hosted NATO military instructors. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Saturday (12th March 2022) said its troops could target supplies of Western weapons in Ukraine. He told the state television, 'We warned the United States that the orchestrated pumping of weapons from a number of countries is not just a dangerous move, it is a move that turns these convoys into legitimate targets'. Clearly, Moscow has made its intent clear and with this latest move of providing Ukraine with weapons that could inflict heavy damage to the Russian forces, the tensions continue to only rise further. (With inputs from agencies)

US sending Switchblade drones to Ukraine

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