The number of Americans voluntarily quitting their jobs has surged to a record 4.5 million in November.

US: Rise in number of Americans quitting their jobs in the world's largest economy

Amid the ongoing semiconductor shortages globally, Toyota dethrones GM after nearly a century as it sells 2.332 million vehicles in the US in 2021.

Toyota dethrones GM after nearly a century as it sells 2.332 million vehicles in the US in 2021

Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo won't face criminal prosecution over allegations of groping, as Albany DA asks judge to dismiss criminal complaint.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo won't face criminal prosecution over allegation of groping

US President Joe Biden calls Pfizer COVID-19 pill a 'Game Changer' as the US increases order to 20 million amid a surge in cases.

US President Joe Biden calls Pfizer COVID-19 pill a 'Game Changer'

Amid a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases across the US, the authorities have reopened schools in New York City for children.

India reports over 37,000 people testing positive in the last 24 hours amid the Omicron threat

High ranking officials from the United States and NATO are set to hold talks with Russia next week but before that NATO's foreign ministers will be holding a press briefing via a video conference on Friday.

US, NATO to hold talks with Russia over military build-up in Ukraine

New York’s prison system unjustly penalized more than 1,600 incarcerated people based on faulty drug tests, putting them in solitary confinement, delaying their parole hearings and denying them family visits, the New York state inspector general said in a damning report released Tuesday.

The arbitrary penalties were meted out across the state over an eight-month period in 2019, while the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision relied on improperly administered drug tests made by the company Microgenics, the report found. The tests led to “rampant false positive” results for buprenorphine, an opioid used to treat addiction, as well as synthetic cannabinoids.

“This stands as a heartbreaking example of how the absence of transparency can undermine due process and basic human rights,” Lucy Lang, the inspector general, said at a news conference Tuesday.

The department started using the tests in January 2019, the report found. The manufacturer’s directions specified that a positive result should be confirmed with a second, more sensitive test, but officials neglected to do so as a matter of policy. Instead, they simply carried out the same test a second time to confirm the results.

The rate of positive tests immediately spiked, but the department failed to address widespread concerns among prisoners, their families and advocates that many of the results were false positives, the report found.

The report cited several examples of the grave consequences the tests had for prisoners. One woman at Albion Correctional Facility, near Rochester, New York, who had never tested positive for drug use during her two years in jail, suddenly tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids.

As punishment, she was confined to her cell for 40 days and placed in solitary confinement for 45 days. She lost her prison job and privileges like recreation time, receipt of packages and phone use for months. She was also denied visits with her three children.

The report also accused Microgenics representatives of presenting false or misleading information to prison officials. A review of internal company documents revealed that even ingesting over-the-counter antacids and the sweetener Stevia could potentially lead to false positives, but the company failed to disclose those possibilities, the report said.

The report faulted department officials for deciding to forgo the second test and found that a sales representative from Microgenics had exerted undue influence over the process.

It also found that the contract with the company most likely violated procurement guidelines and that the department “did not perform due diligence when contracting with Microgenics for its drug-testing systems, failing to understand that such tests were merely preliminary screening tests.”

During the eight-month period, more than 1,600 prisoners were punished over drug tests statewide, including 140 who were subjected to solitary confinement, leading to complaints from inmates across the state, Lang said.

Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, an advocacy group, brought the concerns of four incarcerated people who said they had been disciplined based on false positives to the department in June 2019. Later that summer, the department sent six positive test samples from other prisoners to another company for retesting, and five came back negative.

The department then brought its findings to the office of the inspector general. It later moved to expunge more than 2,500 disciplinary records that were based on the faulty drug tests.

Karen L. Murtagh, executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, said the impact of the penalties was difficult to overstate.

“The psychological and physical damage caused by solitary confinement, the loss of family visitation, the lack of proper programming, lost work-release and educational opportunities, all of which help combat recidivism, adds to the ledger for which we as a society need to take account,” she said.

Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises, an advocacy group that seeks to dismantle the prison industry, said the report illustrated the problems inherent in allowing private companies to profit from incarceration. She called for further review of prison contracts.

In a statement Tuesday, the department noted that its staff had cooperated with the inspector general’s investigation and adopted all its recommendations, which included ending solitary confinement in response to drug tests and improving drug test training and data collection.

Microgenics is a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a Massachusetts-based company. In a statement Tuesday, Ron O’Brien, a spokesperson for the company, said the instructions clearly state that the drug tests are only preliminary and that a more specific, alternative chemical method must be used to obtain a confirmed result.

“We have complete confidence in our product and, when it is used as directed, have no reason to believe there is any issue with its accuracy,” O’Brien said.

He added that the company had conducted its own investigation and did not believe that any Microgenics representatives provided “any intentionally false or misleading testimony” at disciplinary hearings, as alleged in the report.

The drug tests have spurred several lawsuits, including a federal class-action suit filed by Prisoners’ Legal Services and the law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward &amp; Maazel in 2019. The following year, Letitia James, the New York attorney general, filed suit on behalf of the Department of Corrections against Microgenics in Albany, alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit is pending.

The department now uses a preliminary drug-screening test known as the Premier Biotech Bio-Cup, and positive results are confirmed using a second method.

Lang, who was appointed inspector general in the fall, said that more than half the complaints her office receives involve the prison system.

“We are directing resources toward addressing those complaints as proactively as possible,” she said.

New York’s prison system unjustly penalized more than 1,600 incarcerated people based on faulty drug tests, putting them in solitary confinement, delaying their parole hearings and denying them family visits, the New York state inspector general said in a damning report released Tuesday.

New York’s prison system unjustly penalized more than 1,600 incarcerated people based on faulty drug tests, putting them in solitary confinement, delaying their parole hearings and denying them family visits, the New York state inspector general said in a damning report released Tuesday. The arbitrary penalties were meted out across the state over an eight-month period in 2019, while the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision relied on improperly administered drug tests made by the company Microgenics, the report found. The tests led to “rampant false positive” results for buprenorphine, an opioid used to treat addiction, as well as synthetic cannabinoids. “This stands as a heartbreaking example of how the absence of transparency can undermine due process and basic human rights,” Lucy Lang, the inspector general, said at a news conference Tuesday. The department started using the tests in January 2019, the report found. The manufacturer’s directions specified that a positive result should be confirmed with a second, more sensitive test, but officials neglected to do so as a matter of policy. Instead, they simply carried out the same test a second time to confirm the results. The rate of positive tests immediately spiked, but the department failed to address widespread concerns among prisoners, their families and advocates that many of the results were false positives, the report found. The report cited several examples of the grave consequences the tests had for prisoners. One woman at Albion Correctional Facility, near Rochester, New York, who had never tested positive for drug use during her two years in jail, suddenly tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids. As punishment, she was confined to her cell for 40 days and placed in solitary confinement for 45 days. She lost her prison job and privileges like recreation time, receipt of packages and phone use for months. She was also denied visits with her three children. The report also accused Microgenics representatives of presenting false or misleading information to prison officials. A review of internal company documents revealed that even ingesting over-the-counter antacids and the sweetener Stevia could potentially lead to false positives, but the company failed to disclose those possibilities, the report said. The report faulted department officials for deciding to forgo the second test and found that a sales representative from Microgenics had exerted undue influence over the process. It also found that the contract with the company most likely violated procurement guidelines and that the department “did not perform due diligence when contracting with Microgenics for its drug-testing systems, failing to understand that such tests were merely preliminary screening tests.” During the eight-month period, more than 1,600 prisoners were punished over drug tests statewide, including 140 who were subjected to solitary confinement, leading to complaints from inmates across the state, Lang said. Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, an advocacy group, brought the concerns of four incarcerated people who said they had been disciplined based on false positives to the department in June 2019. Later that summer, the department sent six positive test samples from other prisoners to another company for retesting, and five came back negative. The department then brought its findings to the office of the inspector general. It later moved to expunge more than 2,500 disciplinary records that were based on the faulty drug tests. Karen L. Murtagh, executive director of Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York, said the impact of the penalties was difficult to overstate. “The psychological and physical damage caused by solitary confinement, the loss of family visitation, the lack of proper programming, lost work-release and educational opportunities, all of which help combat recidivism, adds to the ledger for which we as a society need to take account,” she said. Bianca Tylek, executive director of Worth Rises, an advocacy group that seeks to dismantle the prison industry, said the report illustrated the problems inherent in allowing private companies to profit from incarceration. She called for further review of prison contracts. In a statement Tuesday, the department noted that its staff had cooperated with the inspector general’s investigation and adopted all its recommendations, which included ending solitary confinement in response to drug tests and improving drug test training and data collection. Microgenics is a subsidiary of Thermo Fisher Scientific, a Massachusetts-based company. In a statement Tuesday, Ron O’Brien, a spokesperson for the company, said the instructions clearly state that the drug tests are only preliminary and that a more specific, alternative chemical method must be used to obtain a confirmed result. “We have complete confidence in our product and, when it is used as directed, have no reason to believe there is any issue with its accuracy,” O’Brien said. He added that the company had conducted its own investigation and did not believe that any Microgenics representatives provided “any intentionally false or misleading testimony” at disciplinary hearings, as alleged in the report. The drug tests have spurred several lawsuits, including a federal class-action suit filed by Prisoners’ Legal Services and the law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel in 2019. The following year, Letitia James, the New York attorney general, filed suit on behalf of the Department of Corrections against Microgenics in Albany, alleging breach of contract. The lawsuit is pending. The department now uses a preliminary drug-screening test known as the Premier Biotech Bio-Cup, and positive results are confirmed using a second method. Lang, who was appointed inspector general in the fall, said that more than half the complaints her office receives involve the prison system. “We are directing resources toward addressing those complaints as proactively as possible,” she said.

New York prisons punished 1,600 based on faulty drug tests, report finds

A fierce wildfire had engulfed the US state of Colorado, injuring at least half a dozen people with more than 1000 homes that are feared to have been destroyed.

Hundreds of homeowners in colorado return to their wildfire-ravaged homes

A record number of COVID-19 cases has been reported in the US, United Kingdom, France, and Australia as the WHO warned that Omicron's rapid spread could lead to the spread of new, more dangerous variants.

On Tuesday, Britain reached 200,000 cases for the first time, Australia posted almost 50,000, and France tallied over 270,000, easily surpassing their previous records.

A global record was set on Monday by the United States with 1,080,211 cases reported, dwarfing even the high numbers of these countries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-silver-bullets-australia-reports-record-high-in-covid-19-cases-hospitalisations-surge-442377" hreflang="en">'No silver bullets': Australia reports record high in COVID-19 cases; hospitalisations surge</a>

Due to weekend tally delays, Monday's figures are usually higher than those of the weekend and may have been inflated by a three-day New Year's holiday weekend.

As of Monday evening, Johns Hopkins University reported that the rolling average over seven days, which experts deem more reliable, was 486,000 cases per day.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/omicron">Omicron variant</a>, the most transmissible to date, accounted for around 59 per cent of cases in the United States near the end of last year.

Deaths and hospitalizations due to Omicron have been lower across the world, which raises hopes that the virus could be evolving into a relatively benign seasonal illness.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-is-the-new-ihu-variant-discovered-in-france-442349" hreflang="en">Explained: What is the new 'IHU' variant discovered in France?</a>

In Europe, the World Health Organization sounded an ominous note of caution on Tuesday, warning that the soaring infection rates could have the opposite effect.

"The more Omicron spreads, the more it transmits and the more it replicates, the more likely it is to throw out a new variant," said WHO senior emergencies officer Catherine Smallwood.

"Now, Omicron is lethal, it can cause death... maybe a little bit less than Delta, but who's to say what the next variant might throw out," she added.&nbsp;

"Even in well-capacitated, sophisticated health systems, there are real struggles that are happening at the moment."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rising-omicron-cases-may-lead-to-more-dangerous-variants-warns-who-442321" hreflang="en">Rising Omicron cases may lead to more dangerous variants, warns WHO</a>

In Britain, where the government announced Tuesday that hospitals were on "war footing" due to staff shortages, such a scenario has long been feared.

In the wake of a record number of 218,724 cases in 24 hours in the UK, President Boris Johnson promised action to plug staff shortages in the worst-hit areas, including the recruitment of medical volunteers backed by army support.

Johnson also said another nationwide lockdown is unlikely in England defending his decision not to increase restrictions over the festive season unlike other parts of the country.

Watch |&nbsp;Omicron: Australia's COVID-19 infections have hit a record high for the third consecutive day

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/omicron-australias-covid-19-infections-have-hit-a-record-high-for-the-third-consecutive-day-442360/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

With over 47,700 cases, Australia has also smashed its previous caseload record.

Rich nations have rushed to give their populations the third booster shot in an effort to curb the rising cases, while the poorest nations have only been able to receive the first.

Ahead of the pack, Israel has already begun rolling out the fourth dose last week.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A record number of COVID-19 cases has been reported in the US, United Kingdom, France, and Australia as the WHO warned that Omicron's rapid spread could lead to the spread of new, more dangerous variants.

A record number of COVID-19 cases has been reported in the US, United Kingdom, France, and Australia as the WHO warned that Omicron's rapid spread could lead to the spread of new, more dangerous variants. On Tuesday, Britain reached 200,000 cases for the first time, Australia posted almost 50,000, and France tallied over 270,000, easily surpassing their previous records. A global record was set on Monday by the United States with 1,080,211 cases reported, dwarfing even the high numbers of these countries. Also read | 'No silver bullets': Australia reports record high in COVID-19 cases; hospitalisations surge Due to weekend tally delays, Monday's figures are usually higher than those of the weekend and may have been inflated by a three-day New Year's holiday weekend. As of Monday evening, Johns Hopkins University reported that the rolling average over seven days, which experts deem more reliable, was 486,000 cases per day. The Omicron variant, the most transmissible to date, accounted for around 59 per cent of cases in the United States near the end of last year. Deaths and hospitalizations due to Omicron have been lower across the world, which raises hopes that the virus could be evolving into a relatively benign seasonal illness. Also read | Explained: What is the new 'IHU' variant discovered in France? In Europe, the World Health Organization sounded an ominous note of caution on Tuesday, warning that the soaring infection rates could have the opposite effect. "The more Omicron spreads, the more it transmits and the more it replicates, the more likely it is to throw out a new variant," said WHO senior emergencies officer Catherine Smallwood. "Now, Omicron is lethal, it can cause death... maybe a little bit less than Delta, but who's to say what the next variant might throw out," she added. "Even in well-capacitated, sophisticated health systems, there are real struggles that are happening at the moment." Also read | Rising Omicron cases may lead to more dangerous variants, warns WHO In Britain, where the government announced Tuesday that hospitals were on "war footing" due to staff shortages, such a scenario has long been feared. In the wake of a record number of 218,724 cases in 24 hours in the UK, President Boris Johnson promised action to plug staff shortages in the worst-hit areas, including the recruitment of medical volunteers backed by army support. Johnson also said another nationwide lockdown is unlikely in England defending his decision not to increase restrictions over the festive season unlike other parts of the country. Watch | Omicron: Australia's COVID-19 infections have hit a record high for the third consecutive day With over 47,700 cases, Australia has also smashed its previous caseload record. Rich nations have rushed to give their populations the third booster shot in an effort to curb the rising cases, while the poorest nations have only been able to receive the first. Ahead of the pack, Israel has already begun rolling out the fourth dose last week. (With inputs from agencies)

US sets global record, reports more than 1 million cases; UK, Australia, France also break previous records

US President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings have hit a record high in December, according to a new poll, as the voters expressed frustration over his handling of Covid pandemic and the economy.

According to new CNBC/Change Research poll, 56 per cent of voters disapproved of Biden’s job, an uptick from 54 per cent in September and 49 per cent in April.

The December reading is the worst ratings of his presidency as he approaches the end of his first year in office.

His approval rating now stands at 44 per cent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-bidens-approval-ratings-continue-to-fall-show-opinion-polls-416925">US President Biden’s approval ratings continue to fall, show opinion polls</a>

The poll indicated that 60 per cent of respondents disapproved of Biden’s handling of the economy and 55 per cent disapproved of his pandemic response.

With regards to the economy, 72 per cent said they disapprove of Biden’s management of the price of everyday goods, and 66 per cent said they did not approve of the president's efforts to help their wallets.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-us-strategy-crumbled-in-afghanistan-as-bidens-approval-ratings-dive-406470">How US strategy crumbled in Afghanistan as Biden's approval ratings dive</a>

Additionally, 46 per cent of respondents said the stock market is doing “not so good” or “poor” despite one of the market's best years in decades, according to CNBC.

Regarding vaccine mandates, the survey also indicated that 50 per cent said Biden had gone too far. 26 per cent said the administration had the right approach, and 24 per cent said it had not gone far enough.

The survey included 1,895 respondents from Dec. 17 through Dec. 20. Its margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.&nbsp;

Biden’s inability to garner credit for one of the stock market’s best years in living memory is symptomatic of a larger problem for Democrats in 2022: The party can’t seem to convince voters that things are better than they were 12 months ago, the CNBC report concluded.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings have hit a record high in December, according to a new poll, as the voters expressed frustration over his handling of Covid pandemic and the economy.

US President Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings have hit a record high in December, according to a new poll, as the voters expressed frustration over his handling of Covid pandemic and the economy. According to new CNBC/Change Research poll, 56 per cent of voters disapproved of Biden’s job, an uptick from 54 per cent in September and 49 per cent in April. The December reading is the worst ratings of his presidency as he approaches the end of his first year in office. His approval rating now stands at 44 per cent. Also read | US President Biden’s approval ratings continue to fall, show opinion polls The poll indicated that 60 per cent of respondents disapproved of Biden’s handling of the economy and 55 per cent disapproved of his pandemic response. With regards to the economy, 72 per cent said they disapprove of Biden’s management of the price of everyday goods, and 66 per cent said they did not approve of the president's efforts to help their wallets. Also read | How US strategy crumbled in Afghanistan as Biden's approval ratings dive Additionally, 46 per cent of respondents said the stock market is doing “not so good” or “poor” despite one of the market's best years in decades, according to CNBC. Regarding vaccine mandates, the survey also indicated that 50 per cent said Biden had gone too far. 26 per cent said the administration had the right approach, and 24 per cent said it had not gone far enough. The survey included 1,895 respondents from Dec. 17 through Dec. 20. Its margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. Biden’s inability to garner credit for one of the stock market’s best years in living memory is symptomatic of a larger problem for Democrats in 2022: The party can’t seem to convince voters that things are better than they were 12 months ago, the CNBC report concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Joe Biden’s disapproval ratings hit record low, voters unhappy with Covid handling, economy

Despite modest progress during negotiations in Vienna, the United States hopes to build on that this week, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday amid efforts to revive a 2015 agreement.

With that agreement, championed by former President Barack Obama, Iran was relieved from crippling sanctions in exchange for halting its nuclear programme. However, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, a year after he took office.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-launches-research-cargos-into-space-amid-stalled-nuclear-talks-441140">Iran launches 'research cargos into space' amid stalled nuclear talks</a>

Iran has since stepped up its nuclear activities, amassing a stockpile of highly enriched uranium, violating many of the nuclear restrictions in the deal and going well beyond them.&nbsp;

Tehran, however maintains that it has never pursued the development of nuclear weapons. Its atomic program has further escalated the stakes despite Iran's claims that it only pursues peaceful nuclear activities.

During the negotiations for the nuclear deal, the UN's nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran had begun enriching uranium up to 20 per cent purity at an underground facility at Fordo, a site that was not permitted to enrich uranium under the deal.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-condemns-irans-space-launch-amid-nuclear-deal-talks-calls-it-regrettable-441524">France condemns Iran's space launch amid nuclear deal talks, calls it 'regrettable'</a>

Under the latest round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, Iranian diplomats are once again seeking to lift US sanctions again.

"There was some modest progress in the talks last week. We hope to build on that this week," Price told reporters.

“Sanctions relief and the steps that the United States would take… when it comes to sanctions together with the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take if we were to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA – that’s really at the heart of the negotiations that are ongoing in Vienna right now."

Watch:&nbsp;US, Russian officials coordinate in a bit to salvage 2015 Iran nuclear deal

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-russian-officials-coordinate-in-a-bit-to-salvage-2015-iran-nuclear-deal-441121/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Iran last week took a hard stance, suggesting that everything that had been discussed during previous diplomatic rounds could be renegotiated.

The Vienna talks last week marked the participation of Iran's new hard-line government for the first time in more than five months.

(With inputs from agencies)

Despite modest progress during negotiations in Vienna, the United States hopes to build on that this week, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday amid efforts to revive a 2015 agreement.

Despite modest progress during negotiations in Vienna, the United States hopes to build on that this week, State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday amid efforts to revive a 2015 agreement. With that agreement, championed by former President Barack Obama, Iran was relieved from crippling sanctions in exchange for halting its nuclear programme. However, Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018, a year after he took office. Also read | Iran launches 'research cargos into space' amid stalled nuclear talks Iran has since stepped up its nuclear activities, amassing a stockpile of highly enriched uranium, violating many of the nuclear restrictions in the deal and going well beyond them. Tehran, however maintains that it has never pursued the development of nuclear weapons. Its atomic program has further escalated the stakes despite Iran's claims that it only pursues peaceful nuclear activities. During the negotiations for the nuclear deal, the UN's nuclear watchdog revealed that Iran had begun enriching uranium up to 20 per cent purity at an underground facility at Fordo, a site that was not permitted to enrich uranium under the deal. Also read | France condemns Iran's space launch amid nuclear deal talks, calls it 'regrettable' Under the latest round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, Iranian diplomats are once again seeking to lift US sanctions again. "There was some modest progress in the talks last week. We hope to build on that this week," Price told reporters. “Sanctions relief and the steps that the United States would take… when it comes to sanctions together with the nuclear steps that Iran would need to take if we were to achieve a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA – that’s really at the heart of the negotiations that are ongoing in Vienna right now." Watch: US, Russian officials coordinate in a bit to salvage 2015 Iran nuclear deal Iran last week took a hard stance, suggesting that everything that had been discussed during previous diplomatic rounds could be renegotiated. The Vienna talks last week marked the participation of Iran's new hard-line government for the first time in more than five months. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran nuclear talks: US hopeful of building on negotiations progress this week

A US judge has rejected BlackBerry Ltd's bid to dismiss a long-running lawsuit claiming it defrauded shareholders by inflating the success and profitability of its BlackBerry 10 smartphones, and said the class-action case could go to trial this fall.

BlackBerry loses bid to dismiss lawsuit in US, fall trial possible

A US-based doctor has claimed that, the fast-spreading Omicron variant is “nothing more than a seasonal cold virus” and has warned against "overreaction and over-reach".

'Omicron is nothing more than a seasonal cold virus', claims US-based doctor

The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised the use of a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, and reduced the wait time between initial vaccination and an extra dose from six months to five months for all ages.

US FDA authorises Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster for children ages 12 to 15

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, accused of espionage by the USA and held in Belmarsh Prison outside the British capital London, received a political asylum offer from Mexico.

Mexico offers political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange

Leaders of the five major nuclear powers- Russia, China, the United States, Britain and France have adopted a joint statement in which they affirmed that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.

P5 nations reaffirm a goal of a nuke-free world

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tested positive for Covid. The leader is experiencing mild symptoms and has been quarantining at home. &nbsp;

In a statement on Sunday night, 68-year-old Austin said that he plans to attend key meetings and discussions virtually in the coming week 'to the degree possible’. &nbsp;

"I have informed my leadership team of my positive test result, as well as the President," Austin said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-to-speak-with-ukraine-leader-after-warning-russia-not-to-invade-441817" hreflang="en">Biden to speak with Ukraine president on heels of warning to Russia against invasion</a>

"My staff has begun contact tracing and testing of all those with whom I have come into contact over the last week," Austin added. &nbsp;

The development is one of the Biden administration’s most high-profile breakthrough coronavirus infections. &nbsp;

He said that he was fully vaccinated and also received a booster dose in October. &nbsp;

"The vaccines work and will remain a military medical requirement for our workforce. I continue to encourage everyone eligible for a booster shot to get one. This remains a readiness issue," the defense secretary said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-man-enters-7-eleven-for-chocolate-milk-exits-with-1-million-platinum-jackpot-441792" hreflang="en">US man enters 7-Eleven for chocolate milk, exits with $1 million platinum jackpot</a>

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had contracted COVID-19. Psaki had said that a family member had tested positive for the coronavirus, and her report also came positive later. &nbsp; &nbsp;

In a statement, she had written, "Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home. &nbsp;

"I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the 10-day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution," Psaki added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tested positive for Covid. The leader is experiencing mild symptoms and has been quarantining at home. In a statement on Sunday night, 68-year-old Austin said that he plans to attend key meetings and discussions virtually in the coming week 'to the degree possible’.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has tested positive for Covid. The leader is experiencing mild symptoms and has been quarantining at home. In a statement on Sunday night, 68-year-old Austin said that he plans to attend key meetings and discussions virtually in the coming week 'to the degree possible’. "I have informed my leadership team of my positive test result, as well as the President," Austin said. Also Read: Biden to speak with Ukraine president on heels of warning to Russia against invasion "My staff has begun contact tracing and testing of all those with whom I have come into contact over the last week," Austin added. The development is one of the Biden administration’s most high-profile breakthrough coronavirus infections. He said that he was fully vaccinated and also received a booster dose in October. "The vaccines work and will remain a military medical requirement for our workforce. I continue to encourage everyone eligible for a booster shot to get one. This remains a readiness issue," the defense secretary said. Also Read: US man enters 7-Eleven for chocolate milk, exits with $1 million platinum jackpot Earlier, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had contracted COVID-19. Psaki had said that a family member had tested positive for the coronavirus, and her report also came positive later. In a statement, she had written, "Thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home. "I will plan to return to work in person at the conclusion of the 10-day quarantine following a negative rapid test, which is an additional White House requirement, beyond CDC guidance, taken out of an abundance of caution," Psaki added. (With inputs from agencies)

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tests positive for Covid, experiences mild symptoms

Amid the ongoing spread of the Omicron mutant variant of the COVID-19, the US witnesses the highest case spike this week.

US witnesses highest COVID-19 case spike as positivity rate reaches over 28% amid Omicron spread

Morgan Stanley has agreed to pay 60 million dollars to settle a lawsuit by customers who said the wall street bank exposed their personal data.

Morgan Stanley has agreed to pay 60 million dollars to settle a lawsuit

Tensions between Russia and Ukraine show no signs of ending with the west and NATO getting involved, the two neighbors have now refused to see eye to eye.

US President Joe Biden has assured of action against Russia if Moscow invades Ukraine

Tehran marked the second anniversary of the killing of the country's commander Qasem Soleimani. In Baghdad, thousands of pro-Iranian supporters took to the streets to slam the US govt for the killing of the Iranian commander Soleimani. Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad International airport in Iraq. Soleimani along with his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were among those killed in addition to other commanders.

2 years after Qasem Soleimani's killing, Iran calls on the UN to take formal action against the US

The US witnessed a surge in hospitalisation due to the Omicron variant of the COVID-19. Though, Early data suggests less severity.

US: Surge in hospitalisation due to the Omicron

US witnesses highest COVID-19 case spike this week amid Omicron spread

US President Joe Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky held a talk on Sunday. Biden told Ukrainian President Zelensky that the United States and its allies will "respond decisively" if Russia invades Ukraine.

US President speaks to his Ukrainian counterpart and assures support

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