As far as wild animals go, the western burrowing owl is a tolerant neighbor to humans. When new houses and roads are built next to the tunnels that they call home, these owls put up with the noise and carry on hunting the insects and rodents that they eat. But the owls are increasingly on a collision course with humanity.

Developers are always looking for more land to build on, and in places like Southern California, that means moving into the owls’ habitats. To date, most builders have displaced owls by collapsing their burrows, forcing them to find a new place to live nearby. Even so, in heavily urbanized environments, the birds often have nowhere to go, putting the species’ future at risk.

As a result, wildlife officials working with developers are increasingly collecting and transplanting the owls to distant new areas that conservationists think will meet their needs. Evidence that this technique works has been thin, though. New research published Thursday in the journal Animal Conservation shows it can be very effective if the birds are tricked into believing there are already other burrowing owls near the places where they are transplanted.

Ronald Swaisgood, of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and a member of the research team that produced the report, knew that developers were setting aside land for displaced birds, but noted that there was little follow-up work on how the owls were doing.

“Nobody had any idea if these mitigation measures were even working,” he said.

Aware that the birds were being considered for classification as endangered in California, Swaisgood was keen to intervene. He and other conservationists felt as if nothing was going to stop the property development, which included new solar energy farms. Given the complex situation, he and his team collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to run an experiment with owls that were on land that was going to be bulldozed in the greater San Diego area.

To understand whether the owl transplants were effective, the researchers set up special doors on the burrows of the colonies that allowed the owls to leave but not return. Once the owls were out, all 44 were collected and moved to a new location that already had burrows for them. To help these translocated owls cope, they were kept in acclimation enclosures for 30 days before being released. Of this group, half were exposed to a bit of trickery.

The researchers knew from previous work with other species, such as black rhinos, vultures and kangaroo rats, that animals are more likely to settle when they are led to believe that members of their kind are nearby.

With this in mind, for half of the birds, the team splattered nontoxic white latex paint on the rocks around burrows in the new location that looked like bird poop. They did this because burrowing owls have a tendency to defecate near burrow entrances, and this technique makes the sites look inhabited. To further support this illusion, an outdoor speaker was set up at these sites to periodically play burrowing owl calls during the week before the animals were released from their acclimation enclosures, and during the following week.

All of this ecological duplicity paid off. The 22 birds that were translocated to sites with white paint and calls quickly settled in while the other 22 owls all wandered off, often making perilous journeys of more than 5 miles before finding a suitable habitat.

The findings are being warmly received by other ecologists.

The idea of transplants has long created something of a quandary for experts in the field of ecology, said Dan Blumstein, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was not involved in the study.

“There’s been this assumption that if endangered animals are just moved elsewhere they are going to be fine, but that’s clearly not always true,” he said. “Experiments like this are essential for figuring out what works and what does not.”

Blumstein and Swaisgood both hope to see transplants of other species studied in a similar way to ensure that scientists’ good intentions are not resulting in unnecessary hardship for species that are already on the brink.

As far as wild animals go, the western burrowing owl is a tolerant neighbor to humans. When new houses and roads are built next to the tunnels that they call home, these owls put up with the noise and carry on hunting the insects and rodents that they eat.

As far as wild animals go, the western burrowing owl is a tolerant neighbor to humans. When new houses and roads are built next to the tunnels that they call home, these owls put up with the noise and carry on hunting the insects and rodents that they eat. But the owls are increasingly on a collision course with humanity. Developers are always looking for more land to build on, and in places like Southern California, that means moving into the owls’ habitats. To date, most builders have displaced owls by collapsing their burrows, forcing them to find a new place to live nearby. Even so, in heavily urbanized environments, the birds often have nowhere to go, putting the species’ future at risk. As a result, wildlife officials working with developers are increasingly collecting and transplanting the owls to distant new areas that conservationists think will meet their needs. Evidence that this technique works has been thin, though. New research published Thursday in the journal Animal Conservation shows it can be very effective if the birds are tricked into believing there are already other burrowing owls near the places where they are transplanted. Ronald Swaisgood, of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and a member of the research team that produced the report, knew that developers were setting aside land for displaced birds, but noted that there was little follow-up work on how the owls were doing. “Nobody had any idea if these mitigation measures were even working,” he said. Aware that the birds were being considered for classification as endangered in California, Swaisgood was keen to intervene. He and other conservationists felt as if nothing was going to stop the property development, which included new solar energy farms. Given the complex situation, he and his team collaborated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to run an experiment with owls that were on land that was going to be bulldozed in the greater San Diego area. To understand whether the owl transplants were effective, the researchers set up special doors on the burrows of the colonies that allowed the owls to leave but not return. Once the owls were out, all 44 were collected and moved to a new location that already had burrows for them. To help these translocated owls cope, they were kept in acclimation enclosures for 30 days before being released. Of this group, half were exposed to a bit of trickery. The researchers knew from previous work with other species, such as black rhinos, vultures and kangaroo rats, that animals are more likely to settle when they are led to believe that members of their kind are nearby. With this in mind, for half of the birds, the team splattered nontoxic white latex paint on the rocks around burrows in the new location that looked like bird poop. They did this because burrowing owls have a tendency to defecate near burrow entrances, and this technique makes the sites look inhabited. To further support this illusion, an outdoor speaker was set up at these sites to periodically play burrowing owl calls during the week before the animals were released from their acclimation enclosures, and during the following week. All of this ecological duplicity paid off. The 22 birds that were translocated to sites with white paint and calls quickly settled in while the other 22 owls all wandered off, often making perilous journeys of more than 5 miles before finding a suitable habitat. The findings are being warmly received by other ecologists. The idea of transplants has long created something of a quandary for experts in the field of ecology, said Dan Blumstein, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who was not involved in the study. “There’s been this assumption that if endangered animals are just moved elsewhere they are going to be fine, but that’s clearly not always true,” he said. “Experiments like this are essential for figuring out what works and what does not.” Blumstein and Swaisgood both hope to see transplants of other species studied in a similar way to ensure that scientists’ good intentions are not resulting in unnecessary hardship for species that are already on the brink.

Two simple tricks that help owls stay in their new homes

With coronavirus still spreading, several researchers are making strenuous efforts to come up with new and advanced ways of detecting the virus. &nbsp;

One such team of scientists in the US has developed a highly sensitive Covid test, which relies only on low-tech kit and a smartphone. It could be used as a quicker and cheaper alternative to PCR testing. &nbsp;

This 25-minute saliva test provides a highly reliable platform for testing at the workplace or home, as per the team of researchers. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explainer-what-is-new-coronavirus-neocov-that-kills-1-in-3-patients-find-out-the-truth-448684" hreflang="en">Explainer: What is new coronavirus NeoCov&nbsp;that kills 1 in 3 patients? Find out the truth</a>

This test only needs a basic lab kit, which includes a cardboard box, a small hot plate and LED light. This whole package can cost less than £75 ($100). &nbsp;

The cost of the whole test including the reagents is about a 10th of a PCR test. This is also cheaper than a lateral flow test. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The findings of the study have been published in JAMA Network Open journal. &nbsp;

This test uses a process, which is called Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (Lamp), to amplify viral RNA in the saliva and detect specific target genes. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/now-robot-conducts-surgery-on-pigs-successfully-without-any-help-448430" hreflang="en">Now, robot conducts surgery on pigs successfully without any help</a>

The freely available app uses a smartphone’s camera to identify colour changes indicating a chemical reaction and determines a diagnosis in just 25 minutes. On testing 50 patients with coronavirus, it matched PCR testing for sensitivity. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“As new Covid variants emerge globally, testing and detection remain essential to pandemic control efforts,” said Dr Michael Mahan of the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is also the lead author of the study. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

With coronavirus still spreading, several researchers are making strenuous efforts to come up with new and advanced ways of detecting the virus. One such team of scientists in the US has developed a highly sensitive Covid test, which relies only on low-tech kit and a smartphone.

With coronavirus still spreading, several researchers are making strenuous efforts to come up with new and advanced ways of detecting the virus. One such team of scientists in the US has developed a highly sensitive Covid test, which relies only on low-tech kit and a smartphone. It could be used as a quicker and cheaper alternative to PCR testing. This 25-minute saliva test provides a highly reliable platform for testing at the workplace or home, as per the team of researchers. Also Read: Explainer: What is new coronavirus NeoCov that kills 1 in 3 patients? Find out the truth This test only needs a basic lab kit, which includes a cardboard box, a small hot plate and LED light. This whole package can cost less than £75 ($100). The cost of the whole test including the reagents is about a 10th of a PCR test. This is also cheaper than a lateral flow test. The findings of the study have been published in JAMA Network Open journal. This test uses a process, which is called Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (Lamp), to amplify viral RNA in the saliva and detect specific target genes. Also Read: Now, robot conducts surgery on pigs successfully without any help The freely available app uses a smartphone’s camera to identify colour changes indicating a chemical reaction and determines a diagnosis in just 25 minutes. On testing 50 patients with coronavirus, it matched PCR testing for sensitivity. “As new Covid variants emerge globally, testing and detection remain essential to pandemic control efforts,” said Dr Michael Mahan of the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is also the lead author of the study. (With inputs from agencies)

US scientists come up with cheap Covid test relying on low-tech kit, smartphone. Find out how does it work

There's no end to Lebanon's economic crisis in sight. In a bid to support the country, the United States has planned additional military aid.

Lebanon's economic crisis: US plans additional military aid of $67 million

The standoff between Ukraine, Russia and the West continues. The American president Joe Biden has spoken to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky and has assured support for Ukraine.

Amid standoff between Ukraine, Russia and the West, the US President Biden assures Kyiv of support

To further limit Chinese influence over American consumers and businesses. US Federal Communications Commission has now revoked the license for Chinese telecom operator China Unicom.

US FCC revokes license for the Chinese telecom operator China Unicom over espionage fears

A man convicted of double murder in the US has been put to death using lethal injection in Oklahoma. With this, he has become the first convict to be executed in the United States this year.

The US' first execution of 2022 is of a man who robbed a hotel for his girlfriend's bail money

India has raised with United States government attempts to desecrate Mahatma Gandhi's statue by Khalistani mob in Washington. This came after the mob attempted to desecrate the statue on India's Republic Day as a show of protest.

In response to questions at the weekly presser, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "There was also an attempt to desecrate the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Washington DC. We have taken up all these unfortunate incidents with the host governments and conveyed our concerns".&nbsp;

He further added, "We have requested a thorough investigation, action against all those involved and prevention of such incidents from happening in the future."

In the past, many attempts have been noticed for the desecration of Mahatma's statue in the US by extremist elements.&nbsp;

This has not just happened in Washington but similar instances have also taken place in front of the Indian consulate in Milan where Khalistani elements had put up their flag.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indian-man-gets-visa-to-visit-pakistani-brother-separated-during-partition-448547">Also read |&nbsp;Indian man gets visa to visit Pakistani brother separated during Partition</a>

Khalistanis have been active in several European countries, like Italy and the UK, where such kinds of activities have been noticed in the past as well.

The MEA spokesman highlighted that India attaches "utmost priority to the security of our diplomats abroad and the premises in which they work and live in" and "work closely with local authorities and host governments to ensure that adequate security is provided".

Many of these Khalistani elements have support from Pakistan as these protestors have been seen chanting pro-Pakistan slogans.

During PM Modi's visit to the US last year, Khalistani protestors were seen chanting pro-Pakistan slogans.&nbsp;

Interestingly, a strong social media presence has also been seen as videos of acts of desecration and acts of vandalisation in front of Indian missions have been instantly uploaded by Pro Khalistani anonymous Twitter handles.

India has raised with United States government attempts to desecrate Mahatma Gandhi's statue by Khalistani mob in Washington. This came after the mob attempted to desecrate the statue on India's Republic Day as a show of protest.

India has raised with United States government attempts to desecrate Mahatma Gandhi's statue by Khalistani mob in Washington. This came after the mob attempted to desecrate the statue on India's Republic Day as a show of protest. In response to questions at the weekly presser, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "There was also an attempt to desecrate the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Washington DC. We have taken up all these unfortunate incidents with the host governments and conveyed our concerns". He further added, "We have requested a thorough investigation, action against all those involved and prevention of such incidents from happening in the future." In the past, many attempts have been noticed for the desecration of Mahatma's statue in the US by extremist elements. This has not just happened in Washington but similar instances have also taken place in front of the Indian consulate in Milan where Khalistani elements had put up their flag. Also read | Indian man gets visa to visit Pakistani brother separated during Partition Khalistanis have been active in several European countries, like Italy and the UK, where such kinds of activities have been noticed in the past as well. The MEA spokesman highlighted that India attaches "utmost priority to the security of our diplomats abroad and the premises in which they work and live in" and "work closely with local authorities and host governments to ensure that adequate security is provided". Many of these Khalistani elements have support from Pakistan as these protestors have been seen chanting pro-Pakistan slogans. During PM Modi's visit to the US last year, Khalistani protestors were seen chanting pro-Pakistan slogans. Interestingly, a strong social media presence has also been seen as videos of acts of desecration and acts of vandalisation in front of Indian missions have been instantly uploaded by Pro Khalistani anonymous Twitter handles.

India raises attempts to desecrate Gandhi statue by Khalistanis with US

The United States Navy is scrambling to retrieve the F-35, its most advanced fighter jet, which crashed in the depths of the South China Sea.

According to American news network CNN, this race to reclaim the $100 million warplane is a highly complex operation that experts say will be closely monitored by Beijing.

The F-35C, the newest jet in the US Navy fleet, crash-landed on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson during routine operations on Monday.

At least seven people were injured in a US F-35 jet crash on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, the Navy said. The US Pacific Fleet said that the pilot of a US F-35 jet was conducting routine flight operations when the crash happened.&nbsp;

But he was safely ejected and was recovered by a military helicopter, and he is in stable condition.

The cause of what the statement called an "inflight mishap" is under probe, CNN reported.The crash is the first for an F-35C, a single-engine stealth fighter, designed for operations off aircraft carriers.&nbsp;

Some versions of the F-35 are also flown by US allies and partners, including Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Australia.&nbsp;

Monday's crash in the South China Sea was the second involving an F-35 this year. Earlier this month, the pilot of a South Korean F-35 made an emergency "belly landing" at an airbase on Tuesday after its landing gear malfunctioned due to electronic issues, according to the South Korean Air Force.

In previous years, F-35s have been involved in at least eight other incidents, CNN reported, citing records kept by the crowd-sourced website.

The United States Navy is scrambling to retrieve the F-35, its most advanced fighter jet, which crashed in the depths of the South China Sea. According to American news network CNN, this race to reclaim the $100 million warplane is a highly complex operation that experts say will be closely monitored by Beijing.

The United States Navy is scrambling to retrieve the F-35, its most advanced fighter jet, which crashed in the depths of the South China Sea. According to American news network CNN, this race to reclaim the $100 million warplane is a highly complex operation that experts say will be closely monitored by Beijing. The F-35C, the newest jet in the US Navy fleet, crash-landed on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson during routine operations on Monday. At least seven people were injured in a US F-35 jet crash on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the South China Sea, the Navy said. The US Pacific Fleet said that the pilot of a US F-35 jet was conducting routine flight operations when the crash happened. But he was safely ejected and was recovered by a military helicopter, and he is in stable condition. The cause of what the statement called an "inflight mishap" is under probe, CNN reported.The crash is the first for an F-35C, a single-engine stealth fighter, designed for operations off aircraft carriers. Some versions of the F-35 are also flown by US allies and partners, including Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Monday's crash in the South China Sea was the second involving an F-35 this year. Earlier this month, the pilot of a South Korean F-35 made an emergency "belly landing" at an airbase on Tuesday after its landing gear malfunctioned due to electronic issues, according to the South Korean Air Force. In previous years, F-35s have been involved in at least eight other incidents, CNN reported, citing records kept by the crowd-sourced website.

US races to retrieve crashed F-35 before China can seize 'its most advanced' jet

A 21-year-old hiker named Richard Jacobson died after he slipped from the top of an Arizona mountain while taking a selfie. His body was recovered after a fellow hiking companion called 911 at 12:45 am on Monday.&nbsp;

After the call,&nbsp;Arizona Department of Public Safety sent out a helicopter to carry forward the late-night rescue effort.&nbsp;

Sergeant Doug Peoble with Pinal County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, while speaking to local media said, "Mr. Jacobson went to go take a photograph with himself and the city skyline in the background, and he lost his footing, and he slipped, and he fell."&nbsp;

He further added, "I can tell you that during our investigation, there were no signs of foul play. No signs of drug use whatsoever. It was just a very tragic accident."

His body was found nearly 700 feet below where the hikers were camping.

Andrew Thomas, who accompanied Jacobsen on a four-month mission trip in Richland while speaking to the Daily Mail said that Jacobson was very easy to get along with and he treated everyone with respect.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/skulls-zombies-vampires-goreand-dinner-saudi-restaurant-offers-dining-with-a-side-of-horror-448511">Also read |&nbsp;Skulls, zombies, vampires, gore...and dinner: Saudi restaurant offers dining with a side of horror</a>

"He really was one of those guys that everyone loved, and it's sad to lose him, but we know that it's not the end," said Thomas.&nbsp;

He further added, "He was an outdoorsman, hunter, hiker. He did stuff like that, so I guess he did die doing what he loved to do, just in a tragic way."

This is not the first time a person has died while attempting to take a selfie.&nbsp;

A study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care reveals that a total of 259 people died taking selfies between the years 2011-2017.

Earlier, a California woman nearly died when she fell from 60 feet while she was trying to take a selfie from the top of a bridge.

(With inputs from agencies)

A 21-year-old hiker named Richard Jacobson died after he slipped from the top of an Arizona mountain while taking a selfie. His body was recovered after a fellow hiking companion called 911 at 12:45 am on Monday.

A 21-year-old hiker named Richard Jacobson died after he slipped from the top of an Arizona mountain while taking a selfie. His body was recovered after a fellow hiking companion called 911 at 12:45 am on Monday. After the call, Arizona Department of Public Safety sent out a helicopter to carry forward the late-night rescue effort. Sergeant Doug Peoble with Pinal County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, while speaking to local media said, "Mr. Jacobson went to go take a photograph with himself and the city skyline in the background, and he lost his footing, and he slipped, and he fell." He further added, "I can tell you that during our investigation, there were no signs of foul play. No signs of drug use whatsoever. It was just a very tragic accident." His body was found nearly 700 feet below where the hikers were camping. Andrew Thomas, who accompanied Jacobsen on a four-month mission trip in Richland while speaking to the Daily Mail said that Jacobson was very easy to get along with and he treated everyone with respect. Also read | Skulls, zombies, vampires, gore...and dinner: Saudi restaurant offers dining with a side of horror "He really was one of those guys that everyone loved, and it's sad to lose him, but we know that it's not the end," said Thomas. He further added, "He was an outdoorsman, hunter, hiker. He did stuff like that, so I guess he did die doing what he loved to do, just in a tragic way." This is not the first time a person has died while attempting to take a selfie. A study published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care reveals that a total of 259 people died taking selfies between the years 2011-2017. Earlier, a California woman nearly died when she fell from 60 feet while she was trying to take a selfie from the top of a bridge. (With inputs from agencies)

21-year-old hiker dies while trying to take a selfie from mountain top

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted to revoke the authorization for China Unicom's US unit to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns.

The 4-0 vote to revoke the authority that had been granted in 2002 is the latest move by the American regulator to bar Chinese telecommunications carriers from the United States because of national security concerns.

The order requires China Unicom Americas to end domestic interstate and international telecommunications services in the United States within 60 days of the order's publication.

The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

A lawyer for the company released a statement from China Unicom that said the FCC decision was "without any justifiable grounds and without affording the required due process. It added that China Unicom "will proactively protect the rights and interests of the company and its customers."

The FCC said China Unicom Americas is ultimately owned and controlled by the Chinese government and provides mobile virtual network operator services and international private leased circuit and Ethernet private line services along with IP transit, cloud and resold services in the United States.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said since the approval "the national security landscape has shifted and there has been mounting evidence - and with it, a growing concern - that Chinese state-owned carriers pose a real threat to the security of our telecommunications networks."

The FCC said China Unicom's "responses were incomplete, misleading, or incorrect."

Rosenworcel noted that last year the FCC published the first-ever list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security. This month, she wrote to the Commerce Department, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and other agencies in order to update that list.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said China Unicom "can continue to offer data center services to American consumers" despite the revocation.

He said the FCC and Congress should examine this issue and determine whether the commission needed broader authority to address security concerns posed by the centers.

The FCC began making efforts in March to revoke the authorization for China Unicom, Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet.

In October, the FCC revoked the US authorization for China Telecom (Americas), saying it "is subject to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government." The Chinese failed to win an appeal of the decision.

In 2019, the FCC rejected China Mobile Ltd's bid to provide US telecommunications services, citing national security risks.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted to revoke the authorization for China Unicom's US unit to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted to revoke the authorization for China Unicom's US unit to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns. The 4-0 vote to revoke the authority that had been granted in 2002 is the latest move by the American regulator to bar Chinese telecommunications carriers from the United States because of national security concerns. The order requires China Unicom Americas to end domestic interstate and international telecommunications services in the United States within 60 days of the order's publication. The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comments. A lawyer for the company released a statement from China Unicom that said the FCC decision was "without any justifiable grounds and without affording the required due process. It added that China Unicom "will proactively protect the rights and interests of the company and its customers." The FCC said China Unicom Americas is ultimately owned and controlled by the Chinese government and provides mobile virtual network operator services and international private leased circuit and Ethernet private line services along with IP transit, cloud and resold services in the United States. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said since the approval "the national security landscape has shifted and there has been mounting evidence - and with it, a growing concern - that Chinese state-owned carriers pose a real threat to the security of our telecommunications networks." The FCC said China Unicom's "responses were incomplete, misleading, or incorrect." Rosenworcel noted that last year the FCC published the first-ever list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security. This month, she wrote to the Commerce Department, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and other agencies in order to update that list. FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said China Unicom "can continue to offer data center services to American consumers" despite the revocation. He said the FCC and Congress should examine this issue and determine whether the commission needed broader authority to address security concerns posed by the centers. The FCC began making efforts in March to revoke the authorization for China Unicom, Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet. In October, the FCC revoked the US authorization for China Telecom (Americas), saying it "is subject to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government." The Chinese failed to win an appeal of the decision. In 2019, the FCC rejected China Mobile Ltd's bid to provide US telecommunications services, citing national security risks.

FCC revokes China Unicom's authorisation to operate in US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds a briefing after a phone call with US counterpart Joe Biden over ongoing conflict with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy briefs the press amid ongoing conflict with Russia

Russia has said that it does not want a war after the United States warned Moscow may invade Ukraine next month.

Russia says it does not want a war with Ukraine

The United States has threatened to halt the opening of Nord stream 2 gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine. However, Germany has said that it would not rule out imposing sanctions on the project.

Nord stream 2 could be axed if Russia invades Ukraine, warns US

US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has revoked the license for giant telecom operator China Unicom to further limit Chinese influence over American consumers and businesses.

US FCC revokes license for China Unicom over espionage fears

The United States has once again voiced some serious concerns over India's purchase of the multi-billion dollar missile defense system from Russia. The United States has said that Russia selling the S-400 missile defense system to India has shined a spotlight on the destabilizing role that Moscow plays in the region.

US voices concerns over India's S-400 purchase from Russia

The world awaits Lunar News Year, with Washington, D.C. is ready to welcome Lunar New Year the year of the tiger.

Washington, D.C. is ready to welcome Lunar New Year

United States has rejected Russia's demands. Moscow is responding by stepping up its deployments along the Ukraine border. More troops and military equipment are being deployed. Palki Sharma brings you the latest.

Gravitas: Ukraine crisis: United States rejects Russia's demands

Citing the threat of missile or drone attacks from Yemen-based Houthi rebels, the US has started to advise citizens to do not travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). &nbsp;&nbsp;

The US State Department has actually added the “threat of missile or drone attacks” to a travel advisory for the UAE, which was already on a list of “do not travel” destinations for the citizens of the United States due to the Covid pandemic. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rockets-hit-baghdad-airport-compound-no-casualties-448370" hreflang="en">Rockets hit Baghdad airport compound; no casualties</a>

“The possibility of attacks affecting US citizens and interests in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula remains an ongoing, serious concern,” the State Department of the US said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“Rebel groups operating in Yemen have stated an intent to attack neighbouring countries, including the UAE, using missiles and drones. Recent missile and drone attacks targetted populated areas and civilian infrastructure,” it added.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uae-summons-people-after-videos-appear-on-social-media-of-missile-interception-448362" hreflang="en">UAE summons people after videos appear on social media of missile interception</a>

In response to the travel warning from the US, an Emirati official told the AFP news agency that the UAE remains “one of the most secure countries”. &nbsp;

“This is not going to be the new normal for the UAE. We refuse to acquiesce to the threat of Houthi terror that targets our people and way of life,” the official said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Citing the threat of missile or drone attacks from Yemen-based Houthi rebels, the US has started to advise citizens to do not travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Citing the threat of missile or drone attacks from Yemen-based Houthi rebels, the US has started to advise citizens to do not travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The US State Department has actually added the “threat of missile or drone attacks” to a travel advisory for the UAE, which was already on a list of “do not travel” destinations for the citizens of the United States due to the Covid pandemic. Also Read: Rockets hit Baghdad airport compound; no casualties “The possibility of attacks affecting US citizens and interests in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula remains an ongoing, serious concern,” the State Department of the US said. “Rebel groups operating in Yemen have stated an intent to attack neighbouring countries, including the UAE, using missiles and drones. Recent missile and drone attacks targetted populated areas and civilian infrastructure,” it added. Also Read: UAE summons people after videos appear on social media of missile interception In response to the travel warning from the US, an Emirati official told the AFP news agency that the UAE remains “one of the most secure countries”. “This is not going to be the new normal for the UAE. We refuse to acquiesce to the threat of Houthi terror that targets our people and way of life,” the official said. (With inputs from agencies)

Missile, drone attacks force US to issue travel advisory for the UAE

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., was finally closing in on a hard-fought agreement with Republicans on a gun safety measure, following a string of horrific shootings in 2019, when the talks suddenly collapsed.

New plans in the House to impeach former President Donald Trump meant that Republicans were no longer in the mood to compromise with Democrats on anything, and the emerging accord went the way of so many seemingly promising ones on Capitol Hill in recent years, stymied by Republicans who said they were willing to accept some sort of deal — just not that one.

“The world has become so polarized that our Republican colleagues come so very close to closing a deal, but then they begin staring down the abyss of their base and they recoil,” said Blumenthal, who attributed the Republican recalcitrance to fear of a political backlash for any cooperation with Democrats.

The same has been true for other politically charged issues where efforts at compromise have ended up going nowhere in Congress. Republicans initially seemed willing to engage on legislation addressing immigration and police misconduct, for example, only to abruptly pull back, blaming Democrats for what they called unreasonable demands or a refusal to take hard steps that might anger their liberal supporters.

So as a group of senators in both parties has recently ramped up discussions aimed at reaching a compromise on voting legislation, leading Democrats who saw their far broader voting rights package stall in the Senate last week have been wary.

They worry that the emerging legislation could be a distraction from the pressing issue their bill was meant to address — Republican voter-suppression efforts at the state level — and amount to little more than cover for Republicans who want to appear interested in protecting election integrity despite uniformly opposing Democrats’ voting rights bill.

They have taken note that Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, has blessed the effort — a telltale sign, say Democrats who have learned to be endlessly suspicious of his motives, that it might go nowhere.

The Democratic fear is that once the moment passes and attention shifts away from election law to spending issues and now a contentious Supreme Court nomination, the talks will fizzle and Democrats will be left with nothing to show for their voting rights drive, even as the 2022 midterms loom and the 2024 election is just over the horizon.

But leaders of the talks that now include at least 16 senators divided between Republicans and Democrats say they are substantive, gaining momentum and could produce legislation that might prevent another Jan. 6-style confrontation by focusing on fixing the deficiencies in the 135-year-old Electoral Count Act.

They point to the bipartisan infrastructure measure that many of the same lawmakers were able to produce last year as their model for negotiations and as proof that compromise is still possible.

“I’m encouraged by the fact that almost every day, someone calls me and asks to join our group,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a centrist and a leader of the compromise effort. She characterized its members, who met virtually this week, as ranging from “pretty conservative to pretty liberal.”

“This is a serious, committed group of senators from both sides of the aisle,” she said in an interview. “This is not a surface effort.”

Aiding the outlook for the talks is the fact that Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the majority leader, is also now encouraging them. He is taking what one ally described as a wait-and-see attitude after initially lashing out at the potential compromise as a ruse to undercut the Democratic voting rights package.

A separate group that includes Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., chair of the Rules Committee, and Angus King, I-Maine, is drafting comparable legislation.

Virtually all Democrats back the idea of fixing the Electoral Count Act, which lays out the ceremonial process by which Congress makes an official count of the presidential election results to confirm the victor, to guard against its being exploited in the way that Trump and his allies attempted to do so.

But they caution that it is no substitute for their proposals, which focus on countering efforts to make it harder for minorities to vote and restoring parts of the landmark Voting Rights Act.

“I don’t think anybody is against fixing the piece,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said about the electoral vote counting process. “But nobody should pretend that this in any way solves the bigger issues regarding the attack on our democracy.”

Collins, however, said that the focus on how presidential electoral votes are tallied should be the aim of any new voting legislation as a direct response to the assault on the Capitol last January by Trump’s supporters seeking to interfere with the tally.

“That the Democrats didn’t put anything on the Electoral Count Act in their 735-page bill is astounding to me given the link to Jan. 6,” Collins said.

Collins and others said the ongoing negotiations were extending beyond counting the electoral ballots into shoring up other areas of the federal election process after the experiences of 2020. Those involved in the talks are now beginning to focus on specific areas where they think action is needed to try to develop relevant consensus legislation.

Those areas include overhauling the Electoral Count Act to clarify issues such as the role of the vice president, who presides over the congressional count, and what to do in cases of competing slates of voters; handling threats against election workers and officials, and imposing penalties for election interference; voting rights and practices; renewing the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and providing new grants for election entities; and the presidential transition.

The subject of the transition arose after the General Services Administration delayed officially signing off on the transition between administrations when Trump refused to concede and lodged false claims of widespread voter fraud.

The tension in the negotiations is most likely to come from efforts by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and other Democrats involved who want to expand the emerging measure to cover voting rights and practices, folding in some elements of the stalled Democratic legislation. Republicans have so far shown no inclination to reopen that fight.

“We have had that debate,” Collins said.

The goal of the talks is to get at least 10 Republicans to come aboard and hold all Democrats in line to assemble at least 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, with the hope that more Republicans would join in as they saw the potential for legislative action.

While Democrats have been able to find Republicans such as Collins and Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah and Rob Portman of Ohio to join them on various measures, achieving critical mass has proved much more difficult.

“Depending on the issue, you may be able to find one or two Republicans who are wiling to make a deal, but finding 10 is a whole different ballgame,” Van Hollen said. “For a variety of reasons, too many Republicans can never get to yes.”

But despite past bad experiences and reservations about the ongoing talks, Democrats said they still held out hope they could find common ground with Republicans on voting issues.

“I have to have hope because I couldn’t come to work every day if I didn’t,” Blumenthal said. “I sincerely hope that some of my colleagues on some issues will come together.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., was finally closing in on a hard-fought agreement with Republicans on a gun safety measure, following a string of horrific shootings in 2019, when the talks suddenly collapsed.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., was finally closing in on a hard-fought agreement with Republicans on a gun safety measure, following a string of horrific shootings in 2019, when the talks suddenly collapsed. New plans in the House to impeach former President Donald Trump meant that Republicans were no longer in the mood to compromise with Democrats on anything, and the emerging accord went the way of so many seemingly promising ones on Capitol Hill in recent years, stymied by Republicans who said they were willing to accept some sort of deal — just not that one. “The world has become so polarized that our Republican colleagues come so very close to closing a deal, but then they begin staring down the abyss of their base and they recoil,” said Blumenthal, who attributed the Republican recalcitrance to fear of a political backlash for any cooperation with Democrats. The same has been true for other politically charged issues where efforts at compromise have ended up going nowhere in Congress. Republicans initially seemed willing to engage on legislation addressing immigration and police misconduct, for example, only to abruptly pull back, blaming Democrats for what they called unreasonable demands or a refusal to take hard steps that might anger their liberal supporters. So as a group of senators in both parties has recently ramped up discussions aimed at reaching a compromise on voting legislation, leading Democrats who saw their far broader voting rights package stall in the Senate last week have been wary. They worry that the emerging legislation could be a distraction from the pressing issue their bill was meant to address — Republican voter-suppression efforts at the state level — and amount to little more than cover for Republicans who want to appear interested in protecting election integrity despite uniformly opposing Democrats’ voting rights bill. They have taken note that Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the minority leader, has blessed the effort — a telltale sign, say Democrats who have learned to be endlessly suspicious of his motives, that it might go nowhere. The Democratic fear is that once the moment passes and attention shifts away from election law to spending issues and now a contentious Supreme Court nomination, the talks will fizzle and Democrats will be left with nothing to show for their voting rights drive, even as the 2022 midterms loom and the 2024 election is just over the horizon. But leaders of the talks that now include at least 16 senators divided between Republicans and Democrats say they are substantive, gaining momentum and could produce legislation that might prevent another Jan. 6-style confrontation by focusing on fixing the deficiencies in the 135-year-old Electoral Count Act. They point to the bipartisan infrastructure measure that many of the same lawmakers were able to produce last year as their model for negotiations and as proof that compromise is still possible. “I’m encouraged by the fact that almost every day, someone calls me and asks to join our group,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a centrist and a leader of the compromise effort. She characterized its members, who met virtually this week, as ranging from “pretty conservative to pretty liberal.” “This is a serious, committed group of senators from both sides of the aisle,” she said in an interview. “This is not a surface effort.” Aiding the outlook for the talks is the fact that Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the majority leader, is also now encouraging them. He is taking what one ally described as a wait-and-see attitude after initially lashing out at the potential compromise as a ruse to undercut the Democratic voting rights package. A separate group that includes Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., chair of the Rules Committee, and Angus King, I-Maine, is drafting comparable legislation. Virtually all Democrats back the idea of fixing the Electoral Count Act, which lays out the ceremonial process by which Congress makes an official count of the presidential election results to confirm the victor, to guard against its being exploited in the way that Trump and his allies attempted to do so. But they caution that it is no substitute for their proposals, which focus on countering efforts to make it harder for minorities to vote and restoring parts of the landmark Voting Rights Act. “I don’t think anybody is against fixing the piece,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said about the electoral vote counting process. “But nobody should pretend that this in any way solves the bigger issues regarding the attack on our democracy.” Collins, however, said that the focus on how presidential electoral votes are tallied should be the aim of any new voting legislation as a direct response to the assault on the Capitol last January by Trump’s supporters seeking to interfere with the tally. “That the Democrats didn’t put anything on the Electoral Count Act in their 735-page bill is astounding to me given the link to Jan. 6,” Collins said. Collins and others said the ongoing negotiations were extending beyond counting the electoral ballots into shoring up other areas of the federal election process after the experiences of 2020. Those involved in the talks are now beginning to focus on specific areas where they think action is needed to try to develop relevant consensus legislation. Those areas include overhauling the Electoral Count Act to clarify issues such as the role of the vice president, who presides over the congressional count, and what to do in cases of competing slates of voters; handling threats against election workers and officials, and imposing penalties for election interference; voting rights and practices; renewing the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and providing new grants for election entities; and the presidential transition. The subject of the transition arose after the General Services Administration delayed officially signing off on the transition between administrations when Trump refused to concede and lodged false claims of widespread voter fraud. The tension in the negotiations is most likely to come from efforts by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and other Democrats involved who want to expand the emerging measure to cover voting rights and practices, folding in some elements of the stalled Democratic legislation. Republicans have so far shown no inclination to reopen that fight. “We have had that debate,” Collins said. The goal of the talks is to get at least 10 Republicans to come aboard and hold all Democrats in line to assemble at least 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, with the hope that more Republicans would join in as they saw the potential for legislative action. While Democrats have been able to find Republicans such as Collins and Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah and Rob Portman of Ohio to join them on various measures, achieving critical mass has proved much more difficult. “Depending on the issue, you may be able to find one or two Republicans who are wiling to make a deal, but finding 10 is a whole different ballgame,” Van Hollen said. “For a variety of reasons, too many Republicans can never get to yes.” But despite past bad experiences and reservations about the ongoing talks, Democrats said they still held out hope they could find common ground with Republicans on voting issues. “I have to have hope because I couldn’t come to work every day if I didn’t,” Blumenthal said. “I sincerely hope that some of my colleagues on some issues will come together.”

Are new voting bill talks for real or for show?

Britain's Prince Andrew has asked for a US jury trial even as he continues to deny that he committed sexual assault on Virginia Giuffre over two decades ago.

Prince Andrew asks for a US jury trial even as he continues to deny sexual assault allegations

Officials from Russia and Ukraine met in Paris to diffuse tension. The United States is now busy issuing fresh warnings over invasion threats.

US answers to Russia's security demands as tensions mount over Ukraine

Central Bank Federal Reserve is likely to hike interest rates this March and has reaffirmed plans to end its bond purchases.

US: Central Bank Federal Reserve is likely to hike interest rates in March

Nurses and doctors in California are burned out.

Although COVID-19 hospitalisations appear to be peaking in California and remain substantially lower than during last winter’s surge, health care workers have been toiling in uncertain and stressful conditions for nearly two years.

Coronavirus cases surge, new variants appear and shortages of protective gear, medicines and staff continually emerge.

Still, a majority of health workers who wrote to us said that despite their frustrations, they did not plan to leave their jobs.

They do not want to let down their co-workers or abandon their patients. They want to combat misinformation, administer COVID-19 vaccines and, as much as possible, help others.

Here’s what they shared about how they are coping with this latest surge and why they keep showing up at work:

“As the daughter of an Army veteran, a sense of duty was instilled in me at a young age. I am a nurse and have worked in a hospital setting for over 20 years; I can’t leave health care during its greatest need.

"I love my co-workers. We’ve already been through three waves together — we will get through this one as well.” —&nbsp;Laura Maffeo, registered nurse, Anaheim

“My family is fully vaccinated and we no longer worry about getting seriously ill, especially with this recent variant. As long as schools are open and we have that support for our kids, we feel that we (my wife is also a physician) will get through this. We have to.”&nbsp;— Dr. George Spanos, radiologist, Los Angeles

“The only thing that keeps me going is the need. I am a retired pharmacist who went back to work just to increase the availability of vaccinations (of every sort).

"I spend time combating misinformation, making the vaccination experience comfortable and praising the recipients who join me in uplifting the community well-being.”—&nbsp;Sandra Bardas, clinical pharmacist, Menlo Park

“I have a mortgage payment, little kids in school and a husband who lost his job. I’m the financial backbone of my family, and I’m fortunate to make a salary that enables us to cover our bills. I really don’t know what else I would do, so I make the best of it.” —&nbsp;Jenny Burnett, registered nurse, Concord

“My co-workers and I keep each other going by supporting, finding humor in things, being good listeners. This is a job where you are always needed.” —&nbsp;Lindsey Stover, registered nurse, Los Angeles

“My hospital sees very underserved patients who have very little interaction with the health care systems, and these are the patients I’ve committed myself to serving.

"My colleagues and fellow staff keep me going each day. It’s always a great time being with them. Seeing how generous my co-workers are — watching them give so much of themselves for their work and their community — inspires me to keep going alongside them.” —&nbsp;Dr. Jessica Martin Moreno, emergency medicine resident, Fresno

“Our nurses need to not feel more abandoned than they already are. I see how hard they’re working, that they keep showing up, and it keeps me showing up.”&nbsp;— Joanna Mello, assistant nurse manager, Sacramento

“As an Indigenous woman, I’m just trying to do my best to help my people and others like us survive this pandemic. I’m doing good work in a community health center that tries to help the most vulnerable. And even if I get death threats or scorn and yelled at by those who misunderstand what we’re doing, my family sees me. And loves me.

"And I can come home every night knowing that in my last days, I’ll have done everything I could to keep my loved ones, and yours, safe.”—&nbsp;Dr. Kalamaoka’aina Niheu, family medicine, Albany

Nurses and doctors in California are burned out. Although COVID-19 hospitalisations appear to be peaking in California and remain substantially lower than during last winter’s surge, health care workers have been toiling in uncertain and stressful conditions for nearly two years.

Nurses and doctors in California are burned out. Although COVID-19 hospitalisations appear to be peaking in California and remain substantially lower than during last winter’s surge, health care workers have been toiling in uncertain and stressful conditions for nearly two years. Coronavirus cases surge, new variants appear and shortages of protective gear, medicines and staff continually emerge. Still, a majority of health workers who wrote to us said that despite their frustrations, they did not plan to leave their jobs. They do not want to let down their co-workers or abandon their patients. They want to combat misinformation, administer COVID-19 vaccines and, as much as possible, help others. Here’s what they shared about how they are coping with this latest surge and why they keep showing up at work: “As the daughter of an Army veteran, a sense of duty was instilled in me at a young age. I am a nurse and have worked in a hospital setting for over 20 years; I can’t leave health care during its greatest need. "I love my co-workers. We’ve already been through three waves together — we will get through this one as well.” — Laura Maffeo, registered nurse, Anaheim “My family is fully vaccinated and we no longer worry about getting seriously ill, especially with this recent variant. As long as schools are open and we have that support for our kids, we feel that we (my wife is also a physician) will get through this. We have to.” — Dr. George Spanos, radiologist, Los Angeles “The only thing that keeps me going is the need. I am a retired pharmacist who went back to work just to increase the availability of vaccinations (of every sort). "I spend time combating misinformation, making the vaccination experience comfortable and praising the recipients who join me in uplifting the community well-being.”— Sandra Bardas, clinical pharmacist, Menlo Park “I have a mortgage payment, little kids in school and a husband who lost his job. I’m the financial backbone of my family, and I’m fortunate to make a salary that enables us to cover our bills. I really don’t know what else I would do, so I make the best of it.” — Jenny Burnett, registered nurse, Concord “My co-workers and I keep each other going by supporting, finding humor in things, being good listeners. This is a job where you are always needed.” — Lindsey Stover, registered nurse, Los Angeles “My hospital sees very underserved patients who have very little interaction with the health care systems, and these are the patients I’ve committed myself to serving. "My colleagues and fellow staff keep me going each day. It’s always a great time being with them. Seeing how generous my co-workers are — watching them give so much of themselves for their work and their community — inspires me to keep going alongside them.” — Dr. Jessica Martin Moreno, emergency medicine resident, Fresno “Our nurses need to not feel more abandoned than they already are. I see how hard they’re working, that they keep showing up, and it keeps me showing up.” — Joanna Mello, assistant nurse manager, Sacramento “As an Indigenous woman, I’m just trying to do my best to help my people and others like us survive this pandemic. I’m doing good work in a community health center that tries to help the most vulnerable. And even if I get death threats or scorn and yelled at by those who misunderstand what we’re doing, my family sees me. And loves me. "And I can come home every night knowing that in my last days, I’ll have done everything I could to keep my loved ones, and yours, safe.”— Dr. Kalamaoka’aina Niheu, family medicine, Albany

Despite burnout, these California health care workers aren’t quitting

One person was killed and four were injured after a shooting at a hotel in Northwest Washington. The incident took place during a party in a room.&nbsp;

Shots were fired around 3:30 am at Days Inn hotel, which is located on 4400 Connecticut Avenue NW, in the Van Ness neighbourhood.&nbsp;

DC police department, on their Twitter handle, wrote, "MPD has located four adult female shooting victims related to this incident at the Days Inn."&nbsp;

The department further added that another female victim "in grave condition has been pronounced deceased."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/breaking?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#breaking</a> Multiple people shot 4400 Connecticut Ave NW DC. We are live with the latest. <a href="https://t.co/Kmk55t6i5g">pic.twitter.com/Kmk55t6i5g</a>
— Darcy Spencer (@darcyspencer) <a href="https://twitter.com/darcyspencer/status/1486650073933090816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

DC Police Chief Robert Contee said that it was not immediately clear what led up to the shooting, but the police are working quickly to resolve the case.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-to-reduce-quarantine-period-for-arrivals-to-14-days-448155">Also read |&nbsp;Hong Kong to reduce quarantine period for arrivals to 14 days</a>

The officers believe that they have identified most of the people involved.

“They came into the District of Columbia, possibly from Maryland, they rented a room, it may have been just some kind of social interaction going on and one thing led to another that resulted in this shooting,” Contee said in a report by local news channel NBC.&nbsp;

Police commander Duncan Bedlion while speaking to a local news channel said that they had received "complaints from the community" about the hotel in the past.

"We receive complaints related to drug activity and that's something we actively work to address with the community," he said.

The area was sealed for police investigation and it opened at 7 am.&nbsp;

No suspect has been identified so far.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

One person was killed and four were injured after a shooting at a hotel in Northwest Washington. The incident took place during a party in a room. Shots were fired around 3:30 am at Days Inn hotel, which is located on 4400 Connecticut Avenue NW, in the Van Ness neighbourhood.

One person was killed and four were injured after a shooting at a hotel in Northwest Washington. The incident took place during a party in a room. Shots were fired around 3:30 am at Days Inn hotel, which is located on 4400 Connecticut Avenue NW, in the Van Ness neighbourhood. DC police department, on their Twitter handle, wrote, "MPD has located four adult female shooting victims related to this incident at the Days Inn." The department further added that another female victim "in grave condition has been pronounced deceased." #breaking Multiple people shot 4400 Connecticut Ave NW DC. We are live with the latest. pic.twitter.com/Kmk55t6i5g — Darcy Spencer (@darcyspencer) January 27, 2022 × DC Police Chief Robert Contee said that it was not immediately clear what led up to the shooting, but the police are working quickly to resolve the case. Also read | Hong Kong to reduce quarantine period for arrivals to 14 days The officers believe that they have identified most of the people involved. “They came into the District of Columbia, possibly from Maryland, they rented a room, it may have been just some kind of social interaction going on and one thing led to another that resulted in this shooting,” Contee said in a report by local news channel NBC. Police commander Duncan Bedlion while speaking to a local news channel said that they had received "complaints from the community" about the hotel in the past. "We receive complaints related to drug activity and that's something we actively work to address with the community," he said. The area was sealed for police investigation and it opened at 7 am. No suspect has been identified so far. (With inputs from agencies)

At least one dead, 4 injured after shooting in Washington hotel

us-1

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

us 1