Ever since India has signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to purchase 5 units of S-400 air defence missile system, the White House under the Joe Biden administration has discussed the possibilities of invoking CAATSA Act against India.

Will Biden administration waive sanctions against India for buying Russian S-400?

A school in the United States seems to have gone overboard with regards to parenting in suggesting shapewear for middle school girls with an aim to address body image issues.&nbsp;

In a letter to the parents, the middle school in the US state of Mississippi made the suggestion.&nbsp;The letter was titled, "Why Do Girls Suffer from Body Image?"

The attempt&nbsp;seems to have not gone down well with parents as several of them are outraged. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-capitol-riot-who-are-oath-keepers-founder-of-far-right-group-charged-with-seditious-conspiracy-444576" hreflang="en">US Capitol riot: Who are oath keepers? Founder of far-right group charged with seditious conspiracy</a>

The criticism has also forced the school to backtrack. &nbsp;

Discussing body images issues among females, the letter asked parents to consent to their daughters getting 'healthy literature' and shapewear clothing items from school. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="814" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fashley.heun%2Fposts%2F10224481619242589&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"We, the counselors of Southaven Middle School, would like to have an opportunity to offer some healthy literature to your daughter on maintaining a positive body image," the letter said. &nbsp;

Ashley Heun, who belongs to Southaven, Mississippi, was enraged when her 13-year-old daughter, Caroline, got the letter from the school on Tuesday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/disappointed-us-supreme-court-blocks-bidens-vaccine-mandate-for-businesses-444557" hreflang="en">'Disappointed': US Supreme Court blocks Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses</a>

"I had to reread it a few times. My first instinct was to go up to the school and yell at every person I could find," Heun told CNN. &nbsp;

In a written statement, Lauren Margeson, DeSoto County School's executive administrative assistant to the superintendent, said, "The district has been made aware of the parental permission form sent to parents by Southaven Middle School. District officials understand how this type of information causes serious concern from parents." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A school in the United States seems to have gone overboard with regards to parenting in suggesting shapewear for middle school girls with an aim to address body image issues.

A school in the United States seems to have gone overboard with regards to parenting in suggesting shapewear for middle school girls with an aim to address body image issues. In a letter to the parents, the middle school in the US state of Mississippi made the suggestion. The letter was titled, "Why Do Girls Suffer from Body Image?" The attempt seems to have not gone down well with parents as several of them are outraged. Also Read | US Capitol riot: Who are oath keepers? Founder of far-right group charged with seditious conspiracy The criticism has also forced the school to backtrack. Discussing body images issues among females, the letter asked parents to consent to their daughters getting 'healthy literature' and shapewear clothing items from school. × "We, the counselors of Southaven Middle School, would like to have an opportunity to offer some healthy literature to your daughter on maintaining a positive body image," the letter said. Ashley Heun, who belongs to Southaven, Mississippi, was enraged when her 13-year-old daughter, Caroline, got the letter from the school on Tuesday. Also Read | 'Disappointed': US Supreme Court blocks Biden's vaccine mandate for businesses "I had to reread it a few times. My first instinct was to go up to the school and yell at every person I could find," Heun told CNN. In a written statement, Lauren Margeson, DeSoto County School's executive administrative assistant to the superintendent, said, "The district has been made aware of the parental permission form sent to parents by Southaven Middle School. District officials understand how this type of information causes serious concern from parents." (With inputs from agencies)

US school suggests shapewear for middle school girls, faces backlash

US Supreme Court has delivered a blow to President Biden's COVID strategy, blocking his mandate that all unvaccinated employees of large businesses provide weekly negative tests.

US Supreme Court blocks President Joe Biden's vaccine mandate

A US judge has denied Prince Andrew's plea to dismiss Virginia Giuffre's lawsuit accusing the royal of sexually abusing her when she was underage.

Prince Andrew loses Royal status & Military links amid sexual assault allegations

Reports say 1 child was shot in America every hour in 2020. At least 2,200 children died. Numbers like these have not been seen in 20 years. Why is US doing nothing about it? Listen in to Palki Sharma.

Gravitas: 1 child is shot in America every hour

Britain's Prince Andrew will defend himself against a US civil suit alleging sexual abuse as a private citizen. This after the Royal Family removed Prince Andrew's military links and royal patronages.

UK's Prince Andrew loses royal and military links amid sexual assault allegations

North Korea’s show of power amid the cloud of sanctions through missile launches seems to be continuing. &nbsp;&nbsp;

On Friday, North Korea seems to have fired at least two missiles. This comes just hours after it criticised a US push for new sanctions. &nbsp;

The country has been conducting missile launches for some time. It had also warned of strong reaction to the sanctions. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-administration-imposes-first-sanctions-on-north-koreans-over-missile-tests-444270" hreflang="en">Biden administration imposes first sanctions on North Koreans over missile tests</a>

Without elaborating, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the&nbsp;North had presumably launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) eastward from North Pyongan Province on the west coast of the country.&nbsp;

The US and South Korea see the recent missile launches as a "provocation". &nbsp;

The development was also confirmed by Japan as the coast guard also said that the North had fired what looked like a ballistic missile.

The missiles appeared to have landed in the sea outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, reported broadcaster NHK, citing a Japanese defence ministry official.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strategic-military-muscle-north-korea-says-it-launched-hypersonic-missile-444008" hreflang="en">'Strategic military muscle': North Korea says it launched hypersonic missile</a>

Defending missile tests to be a legitimate right to self-defence, North Korea said the United States was intentionally escalating the situation with the help of imposition of new sanctions, its state media reported earlier on Friday.&nbsp;It had cited the foreign ministry in the report. &nbsp;

In a statement to the KCNA state news agency, the foreign ministry said that North Korea's recent development of a "new-type weapon" was just part of its efforts to modernise its national defence capability and did not target any specific country or harm the security of neighbouring countries. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

North Korea’s show of power amid the cloud of sanctions through missile launches seems to be continuing. On Friday, North Korea seems to have fired at least two missiles.

North Korea’s show of power amid the cloud of sanctions through missile launches seems to be continuing. On Friday, North Korea seems to have fired at least two missiles. This comes just hours after it criticised a US push for new sanctions. The country has been conducting missile launches for some time. It had also warned of strong reaction to the sanctions. Also Read: Biden administration imposes first sanctions on North Koreans over missile tests Without elaborating, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the North had presumably launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) eastward from North Pyongan Province on the west coast of the country. The US and South Korea see the recent missile launches as a "provocation". The development was also confirmed by Japan as the coast guard also said that the North had fired what looked like a ballistic missile. The missiles appeared to have landed in the sea outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, reported broadcaster NHK, citing a Japanese defence ministry official. Also Read | 'Strategic military muscle': North Korea says it launched hypersonic missile Defending missile tests to be a legitimate right to self-defence, North Korea said the United States was intentionally escalating the situation with the help of imposition of new sanctions, its state media reported earlier on Friday. It had cited the foreign ministry in the report. In a statement to the KCNA state news agency, the foreign ministry said that North Korea's recent development of a "new-type weapon" was just part of its efforts to modernise its national defence capability and did not target any specific country or harm the security of neighbouring countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Show of power continues: North Korea fires two missiles to target 'cloud' of US sanctions

In a major political gamble, President Biden failed to gather support from lawmakers as US's voting reforms bill hits the roadblock.

US: President Joe Biden fails to unite democrats as voting reforms bill hits the roadblock

As rental accommodation and used cars maintain their strong gains, the US consumer prices increased solidly in the month of December culminating in what is being described as the largest annual rise in terms of inflation.

US Consumer prices at 40-year high as rental accommodation & used cars maintain strong gains

US inflation at nearly 40-year high

US Consumer prices at nearly 40-year high as rental accommodation & used cars maintain strong gains

Personalized smart guns that can be fired only by verified users could soon be available across American markets. Pistols that will read your fingerprints and may perhaps also require passcode before you can fire them could potentially lead a new era of smart guns.

Smart guns that can be fired only by verified users could soon be available across American markets

Even as the US faces soaring infections and record hospitalisations associated with COVID-19, Anthony Fauci,&nbsp;the nation's&nbsp;top&nbsp;infectious&nbsp;disease expert&nbsp;says the country is approaching the "threshold" of a transition of living with the virus as a manageable illness.

The top US scientist told the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that eliminating Covid would be unrealistic and that "Omicron, with its extraordinary, unprecedented degree of efficiency of transmissibility, will ultimately find just about everybody."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-says-over-50-of-europeans-on-track-to-contract-omicron-variant-of-coronavirus-443861">WHO says over 50% of Europeans on track to contract Omicron variant of coronavirus</a>

"There's no way we're going to eradicate this" virus, he said, due to its contagiousness, its tendency to mutate into new variants, and a large number of unvaccinated individuals.

While vaccination&nbsp;is still effective against severe outcomes, it is losing its effectiveness against the infection.

However "as Omicron goes up and down," the country will hopefully enter a new phase "where there'll be enough protection in (the) community, enough drugs available so that when someone does get infected and is in a high-risk group, it will be very easy to treat that person," said Fauci.

"When we get there, there's that transition, and we may be on the threshold of that right now," he said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-is-deltacron-a-new-variant-a-uk-virologist-explains-what-it-could-possibly-be-443546" hreflang="en">COVID-19: Is 'Deltacron' a new variant? A UK virologist explains what it could possibly be</a>

However, with the country currently recording almost a million infections each day, nearly 150,000 hospital admissions, and more than 1,200 daily deaths, he points out, "we're not at that point."

Despite the fact that a significant portion of Covid cases are thought to be hospitalized "with" the disease rather than for the disease, official data showed 145,982 hospitalisations for the disease.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Europe looks to ‘live with Covid’

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-europe-looks-to-live-with-covid-444243/embed" width="560"></iframe>

The Omicron variant may cause severe cases, at a lower rate than Delta, but it is affecting more people due to its extreme infectiousness.

According to New York state data, the age-adjusted vaccine efficacy against hospitalization was 92 per cent by December 27.

(With inputs from agencies)

Even as the US faces soaring infections and record hospitalisations associated with COVID-19, Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert says the country is approaching the "threshold" of a transition of living with the virus as a manageable illness.

Even as the US faces soaring infections and record hospitalisations associated with COVID-19, Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert says the country is approaching the "threshold" of a transition of living with the virus as a manageable illness. The top US scientist told the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that eliminating Covid would be unrealistic and that "Omicron, with its extraordinary, unprecedented degree of efficiency of transmissibility, will ultimately find just about everybody." Also read | WHO says over 50% of Europeans on track to contract Omicron variant of coronavirus "There's no way we're going to eradicate this" virus, he said, due to its contagiousness, its tendency to mutate into new variants, and a large number of unvaccinated individuals. While vaccination is still effective against severe outcomes, it is losing its effectiveness against the infection. However "as Omicron goes up and down," the country will hopefully enter a new phase "where there'll be enough protection in (the) community, enough drugs available so that when someone does get infected and is in a high-risk group, it will be very easy to treat that person," said Fauci. "When we get there, there's that transition, and we may be on the threshold of that right now," he said. Also read | COVID-19: Is 'Deltacron' a new variant? A UK virologist explains what it could possibly be However, with the country currently recording almost a million infections each day, nearly 150,000 hospital admissions, and more than 1,200 daily deaths, he points out, "we're not at that point." Despite the fact that a significant portion of Covid cases are thought to be hospitalized "with" the disease rather than for the disease, official data showed 145,982 hospitalisations for the disease. Watch | Gravitas: Europe looks to ‘live with Covid’ The Omicron variant may cause severe cases, at a lower rate than Delta, but it is affecting more people due to its extreme infectiousness. According to New York state data, the age-adjusted vaccine efficacy against hospitalization was 92 per cent by December 27. (With inputs from agencies)

No way to eradicate infection, but US fast approaching 'threshold' of living with COVID-19: Dr Fauci

US President Joe Biden announced Thursday that the federal government will send military medical teams to six states — New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Michigan, and New Mexico—to assist hospitals swamped by COVID-19.

The deployments were disclosed by Biden while describing new efforts the administration is making to combat an outbreak of diseases caused by the omicron variety.&nbsp;

The 120-person deployments come as hospitals struggle with staffing shortages as nurses and other medical employees become ill with omicron as a result of an increase in patients afflicted with the highly contagious form.

Since Thanksgiving, the US has deployed around 800 military and emergency workers, according to Biden.

According to the president, more than 14,000 National Guard members have been activated in 49 states to assist with the response to COVID.

According to Biden, the United States has also more than tripled its national supply of high-quality N95 masks.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | US hospitalisation witness an increase by 33% and deaths by 40%

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-hospitalization-witness-an-increase-by-33-and-deaths-by-40-444474/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Pledges more tests, masks and federal medical help

The Biden administration intends to purchase 500 million more Covid tests, is working to make free masks more readily available, and will send extra federal medical teams to hospitals in six states to deal with crippling staffing shortages caused by an increase in hospitalizations.

The additional tests will be needed to meet future demand, according to President Joe Biden, and come on top of the 500 million fast at-home tests that the US is in the process of collecting to mail to Americans for free.

He said a website to obtain one of the free at-home tests would go live next week.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden announced Thursday that the federal government will send military medical teams to six states — New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Michigan, and New Mexico—to assist hospitals swamped by COVID-19.

US President Joe Biden announced Thursday that the federal government will send military medical teams to six states — New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Michigan, and New Mexico—to assist hospitals swamped by COVID-19. The deployments were disclosed by Biden while describing new efforts the administration is making to combat an outbreak of diseases caused by the omicron variety. The 120-person deployments come as hospitals struggle with staffing shortages as nurses and other medical employees become ill with omicron as a result of an increase in patients afflicted with the highly contagious form. Since Thanksgiving, the US has deployed around 800 military and emergency workers, according to Biden. According to the president, more than 14,000 National Guard members have been activated in 49 states to assist with the response to COVID. According to Biden, the United States has also more than tripled its national supply of high-quality N95 masks. Watch | US hospitalisation witness an increase by 33% and deaths by 40% Pledges more tests, masks and federal medical help The Biden administration intends to purchase 500 million more Covid tests, is working to make free masks more readily available, and will send extra federal medical teams to hospitals in six states to deal with crippling staffing shortages caused by an increase in hospitalizations. The additional tests will be needed to meet future demand, according to President Joe Biden, and come on top of the 500 million fast at-home tests that the US is in the process of collecting to mail to Americans for free. He said a website to obtain one of the free at-home tests would go live next week. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden deploys military medical teams to hospitals in six states

Hospitalizations in the United States due to COVID have increased by 33 percent from a week earlier. This is according to the US centers for disease control and prevention.

Hospitalizations in the US due to COVID have increased by 33%, deaths up by 40%

The United States has slapped sanctions on six North Korean citizens, one Russian national and a Russia firm for supporting North Korea's ballistic missile program.

US hits North Korea with sanctions after ballistic missile test

A US judge has denied Prince Andrew's plea to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit. This lawsuit was brought against the British royal by Virginia Giuffre.

A US judge has denied Prince Andrew's plea to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit

Hospitalizations in the US due to corvid have now increased by about 33 percent and debts are up by 40 from a week earlier. This according to the US centers for disease control and prevention listen in.

US hospitalization witness an increase by 33% and deaths by 40%

The NOAA annual report revealed that the United States was hit by 20 separate billion-dollar climate disasters in 2021. The damage from the year's 20 most costly disasters totalled around $145 billion.

US hit by 20 separate billion-dollar climate disasters in 2021, says report

Prince Andrew to face sexual assault case, US judge denies plea

For the first time ever the American Red Cross is going through a blood shortage crisis causing risks for patient care. The organisation has said that blood and platelet donations are critically needed to prevent further delays in medical treatments.&nbsp;

The ongoing pandemic has led to a decline in donor turnout and has also led to the cancellation of blood drives faced with staffing issues.&nbsp;

Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the Red Cross said, "While some types of medical care can wait, others can’t."

Elaborating on the current situation he told how the hospitals are currently seeing accident victims and cancer patients who need blood immediately. "We’re doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors. We need the help of the American people," he said.&nbsp;

The organisation has asked the country to help in every possible way.&nbsp;

Amid the ongoing pandemic, the Red Cross has experienced a decline of 10 per cent in the number of donors. There has also been a dip of 62 per cent in blood donation campaigns at schools and universities.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-says-over-50-of-europeans-on-track-to-contract-omicron-variant-of-coronavirus-443861">Also read |&nbsp;WHO says over 50% of Europeans on track to contract Omicron variant of coronavirus</a>

Due to this the Red Cross has also limited blood distributions to hospitals. There have also been instances where a few hospitals may have not received as much as one-quarter of the blood products which are requested.&nbsp;

Kristen Mill of Spring Grove, Illinois suffers from certain health problems caused by a tick bite in 2008. Ever since then, she has needed weekly transfusions to treat this condition. On her recent visit, she was told that the hospital had no blood to match her blood type. “The hospital came to me and they apologised, and they said, ‘We’re so sorry, our blood bank is depleted to the point where we don’t have anyone that matches with you,” said Kristen.&nbsp;

She further added, “It’s very scary, especially if you don’t know if the blood is coming because this is something that you need to live.”

Apart from blood donors, the Red Cross is also looking for volunteers to support critical blood collections. The volunteers have been in shortage too since the Delta variant hit the US.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

For the first time ever the American Red Cross is going through a blood shortage crisis causing risks for patient care. The organisation has said that blood and platelet donations are critically needed to prevent further delays in medical treatments.

For the first time ever the American Red Cross is going through a blood shortage crisis causing risks for patient care. The organisation has said that blood and platelet donations are critically needed to prevent further delays in medical treatments. The ongoing pandemic has led to a decline in donor turnout and has also led to the cancellation of blood drives faced with staffing issues. Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the Red Cross said, "While some types of medical care can wait, others can’t." Elaborating on the current situation he told how the hospitals are currently seeing accident victims and cancer patients who need blood immediately. "We’re doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors. We need the help of the American people," he said. The organisation has asked the country to help in every possible way. Amid the ongoing pandemic, the Red Cross has experienced a decline of 10 per cent in the number of donors. There has also been a dip of 62 per cent in blood donation campaigns at schools and universities. Also read | WHO says over 50% of Europeans on track to contract Omicron variant of coronavirus Due to this the Red Cross has also limited blood distributions to hospitals. There have also been instances where a few hospitals may have not received as much as one-quarter of the blood products which are requested. Kristen Mill of Spring Grove, Illinois suffers from certain health problems caused by a tick bite in 2008. Ever since then, she has needed weekly transfusions to treat this condition. On her recent visit, she was told that the hospital had no blood to match her blood type. “The hospital came to me and they apologised, and they said, ‘We’re so sorry, our blood bank is depleted to the point where we don’t have anyone that matches with you,” said Kristen. She further added, “It’s very scary, especially if you don’t know if the blood is coming because this is something that you need to live.” Apart from blood donors, the Red Cross is also looking for volunteers to support critical blood collections. The volunteers have been in shortage too since the Delta variant hit the US. (With inputs from agencies)

For the first time ever, Red Cross declares nationwide blood shortage in US

A US judge rules sexual assault lawsuit can move ahead against Prince Andrew

The 11th of January, 2022 marked 20 years since the opening of Guantanamo Bay, the infamous US prison in Cuba.

20 years since the opening of Guantanamo Bay, the infamous US prison in Cuba

US oil prices rose sharply yesterday climbing above $81 a barrel for the first time in two months. Crude closed at $81.22 a barrel, up nearly four percent on the day now it's the highest level for oil since November.

US crude oil prices climb to two-month high

us-1

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

us 1