In America the republicans are talking about breaking up the country. A campaign in Texas is gaining momentum. It is called "Texit" - the exit of Texas from the United States. Surprisingly, it isn't just Texans who want to secede from America. More citizens want to separate from the American union. So, could the United States break up? Here is a report.

Texit campaign gains momentum in US

Wildfires in the US have resulted in the killing of thousands of giant sequoias as nearly 20 per cent of these trees have vanished in a time period of two years. Fires in California affected an estimated 2,261 to 3,637 sequoias. Last year, the same fire killed 7,500 to 10,400 of the 75,000 trees.

Clay Jordan, superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "The sobering reality is that we have seen another huge loss within a finite population of these iconic trees that are irreplaceable in many lifetimes."

“As spectacular as these trees are, we really can’t take them for granted. To ensure that they’re around for our kids and grandkids and great-grandkids, some action is necessary.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-wildfires-reach-edge-of-sequoia-grove-home-to-worlds-largest-tree-414101">Also read |&nbsp;California wildfires reach edge of sequoia grove, home to world's largest tree</a>

In September the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest living thing on Earth was foiled with fire. Two lightning-sparked wildfires in California merged and made a run to the edge of a grove of ancient sequoias. This happened as people tried to protect the world’s largest tree by wrapping its base in protective foil.

The flames reached the westernmost tip of the Giant Forest, scorching a grouping of sequoias known as the Four Guardsmen.

This further led to the entrance to the grove of 2,000 sequoias.

California has been experiencing megafires in the last few years as a result of climate change. &nbsp;In 2017, two fires killed more giant sequoias. This came as a warning for what was about to come.&nbsp;

Wildfires in the US have resulted in the killing of thousands of giant sequoias as nearly 20 per cent of these trees have vanished in a time period of two years.

Wildfires in the US have resulted in the killing of thousands of giant sequoias as nearly 20 per cent of these trees have vanished in a time period of two years. Fires in California affected an estimated 2,261 to 3,637 sequoias. Last year, the same fire killed 7,500 to 10,400 of the 75,000 trees. Clay Jordan, superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks was quoted by the Associated Press as saying, "The sobering reality is that we have seen another huge loss within a finite population of these iconic trees that are irreplaceable in many lifetimes." “As spectacular as these trees are, we really can’t take them for granted. To ensure that they’re around for our kids and grandkids and great-grandkids, some action is necessary.” Also read | California wildfires reach edge of sequoia grove, home to world's largest tree In September the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest living thing on Earth was foiled with fire. Two lightning-sparked wildfires in California merged and made a run to the edge of a grove of ancient sequoias. This happened as people tried to protect the world’s largest tree by wrapping its base in protective foil. The flames reached the westernmost tip of the Giant Forest, scorching a grouping of sequoias known as the Four Guardsmen. This further led to the entrance to the grove of 2,000 sequoias. California has been experiencing megafires in the last few years as a result of climate change. In 2017, two fires killed more giant sequoias. This came as a warning for what was about to come.

California wildfires have killed 20% of giant sequoias over a time span of 2 years

The United States has approved booster shots for all adults. Earlier, only vulnerable people including the immuno-compromised and the elderly were eligible for a third dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

United States approves booster shots for all adults

The public trial in Kyle Rittenhouse case seems to have polarised the United States along political lines. The acquittal has attracted sharp reactions from all corners of the country. &nbsp;

US President Joe Biden is angry and concerned, while former president Donald Trump has congratulated Rittenhouse on his acquittal. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vice-president-kamala-harris-becomes-us-president-for-a-brief-period-430604" hreflang="en">Vice President Kamala Harris becomes US president for a 'brief period'</a>

In front of reporters on Friday, US President Joe Biden said that he was "angry and concerned" by the announcement but stood by the jury's decision. Biden added, "The jury system works, and we have to abide by it." &nbsp;

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In a statement from his Save America political action committee, Trump said, "Congratulations Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges. It's called being found NOT GUILTY— And by the way, if that's not self-defence, nothing is!" &nbsp;&nbsp;

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Chrystul Kizer—17-yr-old Black girl in Wisconsin who killed the man raping &amp; trafficking her 
•Convicted &amp; case is now in Appeals 
 
Kyle Rittenhouse—17-yr-old white boy in Wisconsin who took an AR-15 to a protest &amp; killed 2 
•Acquitted 
 
The system isnt broken—it was built this way <a href="https://t.co/MJSgzFgKFj">pic.twitter.com/MJSgzFgKFj</a>
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) <a href="https://twitter.com/QasimRashid/status/1461833068583563271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This comes as a jury cleared Rittenhouse of all five charges, which ranged from intentional homicide to recklessly endangering the safety of others. After three days of deliberations, the verdict came on Friday. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/house-narrowly-passes-bidens-social-safety-net-and-climate-bill-430628" hreflang="en">House narrowly passes Biden’s social safety net and climate bill</a>

In Wisconsin last year, Rittenhouse had shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber. He had also fired at and injured Gaige Grosskreutz. The jury ruled that Rittenhouse, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, was acting in self-defence. &nbsp;

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I want to live in a country where Kyle Rittenhouse is seen as a hero and Lebron James is seen as a communist traitor.
— Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickAdamsinUSA/status/1461906741017337864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The incident occurred when riot broke out in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, who was shot and left partially paralysed by a white police officer. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The public trial in Kyle Rittenhouse case seems to have polarised the United States along political lines. The acquittal has attracted sharp reactions from all corners of the country.

The public trial in Kyle Rittenhouse case seems to have polarised the United States along political lines. The acquittal has attracted sharp reactions from all corners of the country. US President Joe Biden is angry and concerned, while former president Donald Trump has congratulated Rittenhouse on his acquittal. Also Read: Vice President Kamala Harris becomes US president for a 'brief period' In front of reporters on Friday, US President Joe Biden said that he was "angry and concerned" by the announcement but stood by the jury's decision. Biden added, "The jury system works, and we have to abide by it." In a statement from his Save America political action committee, Trump said, "Congratulations Kyle Rittenhouse for being found INNOCENT of all charges. It's called being found NOT GUILTY— And by the way, if that's not self-defence, nothing is!" Chrystul Kizer—17-yr-old Black girl in Wisconsin who killed the man raping & trafficking her •Convicted & case is now in Appeals Kyle Rittenhouse—17-yr-old white boy in Wisconsin who took an AR-15 to a protest & killed 2 •Acquitted The system isnt broken—it was built this way pic.twitter.com/MJSgzFgKFj — Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) November 19, 2021 × This comes as a jury cleared Rittenhouse of all five charges, which ranged from intentional homicide to recklessly endangering the safety of others. After three days of deliberations, the verdict came on Friday. Also Read: House narrowly passes Biden’s social safety net and climate bill In Wisconsin last year, Rittenhouse had shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber. He had also fired at and injured Gaige Grosskreutz. The jury ruled that Rittenhouse, who was 17 years old at the time of the shooting, was acting in self-defence. I want to live in a country where Kyle Rittenhouse is seen as a hero and Lebron James is seen as a communist traitor. — Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) November 20, 2021 × The incident occurred when riot broke out in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after the shooting of a black man, Jacob Blake, who was shot and left partially paralysed by a white police officer. (With inputs from agencies)

Rittenhouse acquittal polarises US on political lines, attracts sharp reactions

The US and Taiwanese governments will convene a formal dialogue on Monday meant to strengthen commercial and economic cooperation between Washington and Taipei.

US, Taiwanese governments to convene formal dialogue

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he is 'considering' boycott of Beijing winter Olympics. This comes as a move against China's violation of human rights, especially its treatment of Uighur muslims.&nbsp;

UK’s leading newspaper The Times reported that Johnson's administration would not attend the games, however, some of the UK diplomats to China will.

UK's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been actively discussing the possibility of not sending officials to the game.&nbsp;This comes after US President Joe Biden has confirmed that the US is considering a 'diplomatic boycott' of the upcoming games.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-biden-to-attend-beijing-winter-olympics-report-says-he-might-get-a-personal-invitation-from-xi-jinping-428790">Also read |&nbsp;Joe Biden to attend Beijing Winter Olympics? Report says he might get a personal invitation from Xi Jinping</a>

Earlier, there have been reports of Biden getting an invite by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the winter games. CNBC on November 11, citing two people familiar with the matter, reported that the Chinese President is likely to extend his invitation to Biden when the two leaders will meet during a virtual summit.&nbsp;

The preparation for the upcoming games have seen several obstacles. There have been calls by the human rights groups for a partial or full boycott over reported abuses. Also, the preparation wereovershadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;

China on November 12 confirmed the first COVID-19 cases among foreign athletes at preparatory events. Two lugers of the same nationality tested positive, said Huang Chun, an official of the Games organising committee.&nbsp;

The Games will run from February 4 until February 20.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he is 'considering' boycott of Beijing winter Olympics. This comes as a move against China's violation of human rights, especially its treatment of Uighur muslims.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that he is 'considering' boycott of Beijing winter Olympics. This comes as a move against China's violation of human rights, especially its treatment of Uighur muslims. UK’s leading newspaper The Times reported that Johnson's administration would not attend the games, however, some of the UK diplomats to China will. UK's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been actively discussing the possibility of not sending officials to the game. This comes after US President Joe Biden has confirmed that the US is considering a 'diplomatic boycott' of the upcoming games. Also read | Joe Biden to attend Beijing Winter Olympics? Report says he might get a personal invitation from Xi Jinping Earlier, there have been reports of Biden getting an invite by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the winter games. CNBC on November 11, citing two people familiar with the matter, reported that the Chinese President is likely to extend his invitation to Biden when the two leaders will meet during a virtual summit. The preparation for the upcoming games have seen several obstacles. There have been calls by the human rights groups for a partial or full boycott over reported abuses. Also, the preparation wereovershadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. China on November 12 confirmed the first COVID-19 cases among foreign athletes at preparatory events. Two lugers of the same nationality tested positive, said Huang Chun, an official of the Games organising committee. The Games will run from February 4 until February 20. (With inputs from agencies)

After US, UK 'considering' boycott of Beijing winter Olympics

If a new study is to be believed, the risk of stillbirth is about twice as high for women with Covid compared to those without. &nbsp;&nbsp;

When the Delta variant had become dominant, the risk of stillbirth had grown to about quadruple, a large US government study said on Friday. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nearly-100-million-people-worldwide-have-suffered-from-long-covid-study-430694" hreflang="en">Nearly 100 million people worldwide have suffered from long Covid: Study</a>

Carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, the analysis was based on over 1.2 million deliveries, which were conducted between March 2020 and September 2021, from a large hospital database of the country. &nbsp;

Accounting for 0.65 per cent or 8,154 deliveries, stillbirths were highly rare overall. &nbsp;

After using statistical methods to account for the effect of other variables that might change the result, stillbirths were 1.47 times more common in Covid-positive mothers pre-Delta, 4.04 times higher after and 1.90 times higher overall.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-major-milestone-canada-approves-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-for-kids-aged-5-11-430640" hreflang="en">'A major milestone': Canada approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for kids aged 5-11</a>

The previous research indicated a potential biological cause for the increased risk that could be the result of inflammation or decreased blood flow to the placenta, wrote authors. &nbsp;

Among deliveries with Covid, conditions, such as heart injury, having more than one baby, life-threatening lung injury, sepsis, poor blood flow resulting in shock, separation of the placenta from the uterus, chronic high blood pressure and having to go on a ventilator or being admitted to ICU, were linked to higher rates of stillbirth. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

If a new study is to be believed, the risk of stillbirth is about twice as high for women with Covid compared to those without. When the Delta variant had become dominant, the risk of stillbirth had grown to about quadruple, a large US government study said on Friday.

If a new study is to be believed, the risk of stillbirth is about twice as high for women with Covid compared to those without. When the Delta variant had become dominant, the risk of stillbirth had grown to about quadruple, a large US government study said on Friday. Also Read: Nearly 100 million people worldwide have suffered from long Covid: Study Carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States, the analysis was based on over 1.2 million deliveries, which were conducted between March 2020 and September 2021, from a large hospital database of the country. Accounting for 0.65 per cent or 8,154 deliveries, stillbirths were highly rare overall. After using statistical methods to account for the effect of other variables that might change the result, stillbirths were 1.47 times more common in Covid-positive mothers pre-Delta, 4.04 times higher after and 1.90 times higher overall. Also Read: 'A major milestone': Canada approves Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for kids aged 5-11 The previous research indicated a potential biological cause for the increased risk that could be the result of inflammation or decreased blood flow to the placenta, wrote authors. Among deliveries with Covid, conditions, such as heart injury, having more than one baby, life-threatening lung injury, sepsis, poor blood flow resulting in shock, separation of the placenta from the uterus, chronic high blood pressure and having to go on a ventilator or being admitted to ICU, were linked to higher rates of stillbirth. (With inputs from agencies)

COVID-19 ups risk of stillbirth by nearly twice, says study in US

Republican lawmaker Ted Cruz wants Texas to secede "if things become hopeless". Can "Texit" become a reality? A surprising share of American citizens wants to break up the country. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Texit after Brexit? Why some Texans want to leave the US

#ClimateChange is battering West Asia every day but what countries are not talking about is military pollution. If the United States was a nation in the region, it would be the 8th largest polluter in West Asia. WION's Ghadi Francis tells you more in this report.

The West Asia Post: Military pollution and West Asia

The mystery surrounding Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai's whereabouts took a fresh new twist on Friday when a Chinese state media reporter shared a few pictures of her on Twitter. Journalist Shen Shiwei, who works for CGTN - the international arm of the Chinese government-controlled broadcaster CCTV, shared the purported pictures of Peng on his Twitter account.

In the pictures shared by the reporter, the 'missing' tennis star can be seen posing along with some soft toys. Shiwei claimed the pictures were taken from the tennis star's WeChat thread and that they were shared with him by one of Peng's friends.

"Peng Shuai’s WeChat moments just posted three latest photos and said “Happy weekend”.&nbsp;Her friend shared the three photos and the screenshot of Peng’s WeChat moments," Shiwei wrote on Twitter while sharing the pictures allegedly taken from Peng Shuai's WeChat thread.

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Peng Shuai’s WeChat moments just posted three latest photos and said “Happy weekend”. 
Her friend shared the three photos and the screenshot of Peng’s WeChat moments. <a href="https://t.co/tut8CEH6gu">pic.twitter.com/tut8CEH6gu</a>
— Shen Shiwei沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) <a href="https://twitter.com/shen_shiwei/status/1461715435385020419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The authenticity of the pictures has been questioned by many as there continues to remain mystery over Peng's location. The tennis ace has been missing ever since her social media post on November 02 where she levelled sexual assault allegations against a former Chinese vice premier.

Beijing's mouthpiece CGTN had earlier released an email allegedly from Peng, stating that she is not missing and that she has been resting at home. "I'm not missing, nor am I unsafe, I`ve been resting at home and everything is fine," read the email. However, China's history of silencing growing voices in the past has led to global outrage over the whereabouts of Peng as she is yet to make a public appearance since her post on November 2nd.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/china-says-politicising-sports-hurts-olympic-spirit-as-joe-biden-mulls-boycott-430437">China says 'politicising sports' hurts Olympic spirit as Joe Biden mulls boycott</a>

<h1>US expresses concerns</h1>

The United States (US) on Friday expressed concerns over the 'missing' Chinese tennis player and demanded "independent, verifiable proof" from China about her whereabouts. ."The US wants China to provide verifiable proofs of her whereabouts and that she is safe," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a press briefing at the White House on Friday.&nbsp;

The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has also called for a "full, fair, and transparent investigation" into the matter while threatening to pull out their events from China if proper action is not taken in the case. Several tennis stars including the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Andy Murray have spoken up about the missing Chinese tennis player.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The mystery surrounding Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai's whereabouts took a fresh new twist on Friday when a Chinese state media reporter shared a few pictures of her on Twitter.

The mystery surrounding Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai's whereabouts took a fresh new twist on Friday when a Chinese state media reporter shared a few pictures of her on Twitter. Journalist Shen Shiwei, who works for CGTN - the international arm of the Chinese government-controlled broadcaster CCTV, shared the purported pictures of Peng on his Twitter account. In the pictures shared by the reporter, the 'missing' tennis star can be seen posing along with some soft toys. Shiwei claimed the pictures were taken from the tennis star's WeChat thread and that they were shared with him by one of Peng's friends. "Peng Shuai’s WeChat moments just posted three latest photos and said “Happy weekend”. Her friend shared the three photos and the screenshot of Peng’s WeChat moments," Shiwei wrote on Twitter while sharing the pictures allegedly taken from Peng Shuai's WeChat thread. Peng Shuai’s WeChat moments just posted three latest photos and said “Happy weekend”. Her friend shared the three photos and the screenshot of Peng’s WeChat moments. pic.twitter.com/tut8CEH6gu — Shen Shiwei沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) November 19, 2021 × The authenticity of the pictures has been questioned by many as there continues to remain mystery over Peng's location. The tennis ace has been missing ever since her social media post on November 02 where she levelled sexual assault allegations against a former Chinese vice premier. Beijing's mouthpiece CGTN had earlier released an email allegedly from Peng, stating that she is not missing and that she has been resting at home. "I'm not missing, nor am I unsafe, I`ve been resting at home and everything is fine," read the email. However, China's history of silencing growing voices in the past has led to global outrage over the whereabouts of Peng as she is yet to make a public appearance since her post on November 2nd. Also Read: China says 'politicising sports' hurts Olympic spirit as Joe Biden mulls boycott US expresses concerns The United States (US) on Friday expressed concerns over the 'missing' Chinese tennis player and demanded "independent, verifiable proof" from China about her whereabouts. ."The US wants China to provide verifiable proofs of her whereabouts and that she is safe," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said during a press briefing at the White House on Friday. The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) has also called for a "full, fair, and transparent investigation" into the matter while threatening to pull out their events from China if proper action is not taken in the case. Several tennis stars including the likes of Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Andy Murray have spoken up about the missing Chinese tennis player.

Chinese state media reporter shares purported pictures of Peng Shuai, US concerned over her whereabouts

As Joe&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;pops the cork on his alcohol-free birthday bubbly this weekend he will not need to be reminded that he was born as close to the end of Abraham Lincoln's presidency as he was to the start of his own.

The veteran Democrat, who turns&nbsp;79&nbsp;on Saturday, has said publicly he intends to run for reelection but there has been&nbsp;persistent speculation&nbsp;that he could change his mind given his advanced years.

There is usually little intrigue around the nomination when a US president is still in his first term, as no occupant of the White House has declined to seek reelection since Lyndon Johnson more than 50 years ago.

But&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;would be 86 at the end of a second term, and&nbsp;potential&nbsp;successors&nbsp;and their sponsors are already circling, seeing another four years as an assignment too far in&nbsp;Biden's storied political career.

In a new Politico/Morning Consult poll, only 40 per cent of voters surveyed agreed with the statement that&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;"is in good health," while 50 per cent disagreed -- a 29-point shift over a year.

"If his health declines, as sometimes happens in one's 80s, his plans might change," said David Greenberg, a journalism and history professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

"That would create a wide-open field, with many of the 2020 runners-up as possibilities, as well as a lot of people who didn't run."

If&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;were to become the nation's first octogenarian presidential candidate, he would be somewhat undermining the status he gave himself during the campaign as a "bridge" to the next generation -- taken by many as a tacit assurance that he would not seek a second term.&nbsp;

History-making Kamala Harris -- the first woman and first Black and Asian American ever sworn in as vice president -- would be the heir apparent.

<h2>&nbsp;'Bold leader'&nbsp;</h2>

But her halo has slipped amid a run of negative press alleging dysfunction among her staff, casting doubt on her standing within the administration and reporting her frustrations over her thorny assignments.

Asked by ABC Thursday if she'd spoken to&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;about his plans for the future, Harris said "absolutely not," adding that the administration was focused on infrastructure, national security and other priorities.

She rejected reports that she was feeling misused or wrongly deployed, telling the channel: "We're getting things done, and we're doing it together."

But Harris has struggled to make an impact, with her approval dipping to 28 per cent in one survey, and headlines outlining her frustrations over being politically sidelined and set up for failure.&nbsp;

It is not unusual for vice presidents to be assigned some heavy lifting during their time in the West Wing, but Harris has been handed some particularly tough portfolios,&nbsp;from&nbsp;voting rights to the immigration crisis at the southern border.

Overseas, her recent trip to Paris went without hitches, but jaunts to Latin America and Asia have been less successful.

Harris visited Guatemala and Mexico in June as part of her immigration mission, giving an interview to NBC News that was widely regarded as a disaster.&nbsp;

Asked why she had not yet been to the border, Harris replied: "And I haven't been to Europe... And I mean, I don't understand the point that you're making. I'm not discounting the importance of the border."

Hours after the interview, several US media outlets reported that Harris's communications chief&nbsp;Ashley Etienne&nbsp;was leaving -- "to pursue other opportunities," according to White House officials -- adding to speculation about low morale among the staff.&nbsp;

<h2>&nbsp;'Hope and rumour'&nbsp;</h2>

Amid Harris's travails, another barrier-breaking Democrat, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has risen to the fore as the point man on implementing much of&nbsp;Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure package.&nbsp;

But the first openly gay US cabinet secretary is also the face of the supply-chain crisis that right-wing media are predicting will ruin the holiday season.&nbsp;

Critics also point to the biggest flaw of his impressive campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, a glaring lack of support&nbsp;from&nbsp;voters of colour.&nbsp;

Three analysts interviewed by AFP -- former congressional chief of staff Mark Bayer, University of Toledo politics professor Sam Nelson and Tommy Goodwin, a Washington-based lobbyist -- said Harris would nevertheless be the frontrunner in any Democratic succession, with Buttigieg also in the conversation.

"Beyond those two, it's worth keeping an eye on California Governor Gavin Newsom," said Goodwin, while Nelson singled out a number of previous hopefuls, including Beto O'Rourke, who is vying for the Texas governor's mansion in 2022.

From&nbsp;the Senate, Cory Booker is said to be putting out feelers in the critical primary state of New Hampshire, while&nbsp;Minnesota's Amy Klobuchar is on a book tour and&nbsp;Elizabeth Warren has begun endorsing candidates beyond her Massachusetts base.

But Peter Loge, an associate professor at George Washington University, says any talk of&nbsp;Biden's retirement would be premature, recalling similar claims about Donald Trump in 2019. &nbsp;

"There is always speculation based on hope and whispered rumours," Loge told AFP, "most of which isn't based on more than hope and rumour."

As Joe Biden pops the cork on his alcohol-free birthday bubbly this weekend he will not need to be reminded that he was born as close to the end of Abraham Lincoln's presidency as he was to the start of his own.

As Joe Biden pops the cork on his alcohol-free birthday bubbly this weekend he will not need to be reminded that he was born as close to the end of Abraham Lincoln's presidency as he was to the start of his own. The veteran Democrat, who turns 79 on Saturday, has said publicly he intends to run for reelection but there has been persistent speculation that he could change his mind given his advanced years. There is usually little intrigue around the nomination when a US president is still in his first term, as no occupant of the White House has declined to seek reelection since Lyndon Johnson more than 50 years ago. But Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term, and potential successors and their sponsors are already circling, seeing another four years as an assignment too far in Biden's storied political career. In a new Politico/Morning Consult poll, only 40 per cent of voters surveyed agreed with the statement that Biden "is in good health," while 50 per cent disagreed -- a 29-point shift over a year. "If his health declines, as sometimes happens in one's 80s, his plans might change," said David Greenberg, a journalism and history professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey. "That would create a wide-open field, with many of the 2020 runners-up as possibilities, as well as a lot of people who didn't run." If Biden were to become the nation's first octogenarian presidential candidate, he would be somewhat undermining the status he gave himself during the campaign as a "bridge" to the next generation -- taken by many as a tacit assurance that he would not seek a second term. History-making Kamala Harris -- the first woman and first Black and Asian American ever sworn in as vice president -- would be the heir apparent. 'Bold leader' But her halo has slipped amid a run of negative press alleging dysfunction among her staff, casting doubt on her standing within the administration and reporting her frustrations over her thorny assignments. Asked by ABC Thursday if she'd spoken to Biden about his plans for the future, Harris said "absolutely not," adding that the administration was focused on infrastructure, national security and other priorities. She rejected reports that she was feeling misused or wrongly deployed, telling the channel: "We're getting things done, and we're doing it together." But Harris has struggled to make an impact, with her approval dipping to 28 per cent in one survey, and headlines outlining her frustrations over being politically sidelined and set up for failure. It is not unusual for vice presidents to be assigned some heavy lifting during their time in the West Wing, but Harris has been handed some particularly tough portfolios, from voting rights to the immigration crisis at the southern border. Overseas, her recent trip to Paris went without hitches, but jaunts to Latin America and Asia have been less successful. Harris visited Guatemala and Mexico in June as part of her immigration mission, giving an interview to NBC News that was widely regarded as a disaster. Asked why she had not yet been to the border, Harris replied: "And I haven't been to Europe... And I mean, I don't understand the point that you're making. I'm not discounting the importance of the border." Hours after the interview, several US media outlets reported that Harris's communications chief Ashley Etienne was leaving -- "to pursue other opportunities," according to White House officials -- adding to speculation about low morale among the staff. 'Hope and rumour' Amid Harris's travails, another barrier-breaking Democrat, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has risen to the fore as the point man on implementing much of Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure package. But the first openly gay US cabinet secretary is also the face of the supply-chain crisis that right-wing media are predicting will ruin the holiday season. Critics also point to the biggest flaw of his impressive campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination, a glaring lack of support from voters of colour. Three analysts interviewed by AFP -- former congressional chief of staff Mark Bayer, University of Toledo politics professor Sam Nelson and Tommy Goodwin, a Washington-based lobbyist -- said Harris would nevertheless be the frontrunner in any Democratic succession, with Buttigieg also in the conversation. "Beyond those two, it's worth keeping an eye on California Governor Gavin Newsom," said Goodwin, while Nelson singled out a number of previous hopefuls, including Beto O'Rourke, who is vying for the Texas governor's mansion in 2022. From the Senate, Cory Booker is said to be putting out feelers in the critical primary state of New Hampshire, while Minnesota's Amy Klobuchar is on a book tour and Elizabeth Warren has begun endorsing candidates beyond her Massachusetts base. But Peter Loge, an associate professor at George Washington University, says any talk of Biden's retirement would be premature, recalling similar claims about Donald Trump in 2019. "There is always speculation based on hope and whispered rumours," Loge told AFP, "most of which isn't based on more than hope and rumour."

Biden hits 79 as potential successors watch from wings

Out of the 28,000 Afghans who applied for temporary admission into the United States under the humanitarian parole shortly before the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan, only 100 of them have been approved, according to US federal officials.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which has been struggling to keep up with the rise in applicants, has assured to ramp up the staff to sort out the growing backlog.

Many Afghan families who settled in the US&nbsp; years ago say that they are frustrated with the slow pace of approvals, claiming that any further delay would threaten the safety of their loved ones, who face an uncertain future under the hard-line Islamic government because of their ties to the West.

“We're worried for their lives,” news agency AP quoted Safi, a Massachusetts resident whose family is sponsoring 21 relatives seeking humanitarian parole.

“Sometimes, I think there will be a day when I wake up and receive a call saying that they're no more.”

Another 38-year-old Afghan-based US resident is hoping to bring over her sister, her uncle and their families.

She told AP that the families have been in hiding and their house was destroyed in a recent bombing because her uncle had been a prominent local official before the Taliban took over.

Victoria Palmer, a USCIS spokesperson, said the agency has trained 44 additional staff to help address the application surge. As of mid-October, the agency had only six staffers detailed to the program.

Of the more than 100 approved as of July 1, some are still in Afghanistan and some have made it to third countries, she said, declining to provide details.

The program typically receives fewer than 2,000 requests annually from all nationalities, of which USCIS approves an average of about 500, according to Palmer.

(With inputs from agencies)

Out of the 28,000 Afghans who applied for temporary admission into the United States under the humanitarian parole shortly before the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan, only 100 of them have been approved, according to US federal officials.

Out of the 28,000 Afghans who applied for temporary admission into the United States under the humanitarian parole shortly before the Taliban recaptured Afghanistan, only 100 of them have been approved, according to US federal officials. US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which has been struggling to keep up with the rise in applicants, has assured to ramp up the staff to sort out the growing backlog. Many Afghan families who settled in the US years ago say that they are frustrated with the slow pace of approvals, claiming that any further delay would threaten the safety of their loved ones, who face an uncertain future under the hard-line Islamic government because of their ties to the West. “We're worried for their lives,” news agency AP quoted Safi, a Massachusetts resident whose family is sponsoring 21 relatives seeking humanitarian parole. “Sometimes, I think there will be a day when I wake up and receive a call saying that they're no more.” Another 38-year-old Afghan-based US resident is hoping to bring over her sister, her uncle and their families. She told AP that the families have been in hiding and their house was destroyed in a recent bombing because her uncle had been a prominent local official before the Taliban took over. Victoria Palmer, a USCIS spokesperson, said the agency has trained 44 additional staff to help address the application surge. As of mid-October, the agency had only six staffers detailed to the program. Of the more than 100 approved as of July 1, some are still in Afghanistan and some have made it to third countries, she said, declining to provide details. The program typically receives fewer than 2,000 requests annually from all nationalities, of which USCIS approves an average of about 500, according to Palmer. (With inputs from agencies)

Over 28,000 Afghans apply for US temporary entry, but only 100 applicants approved

Despite repeated pleadings and warnings from government agencies and experts, people continue to take cybersecurity and cyber theft lightly.

According to a new research report by NordPass, the most commonly used password around the globe numeric passwords are 123456, 123456789, 111111, and 12345—which would take only a second to crack the code.

Simple passwords such as qwerty, password, dragon, and money were also found to be used commonly, the report states.

In fact, ‘password’ was the second-most preferred one in Australia, the United States and Canada. The most commonly used password in the US and Russia is ‘123456’.

The situation is similar in India as well. Among the widely&nbsp;used passwords include—“password”, 12345, 123456, 123456789, 12345678, india123, 1234567890, 1234567, qwerty, abc123, iloveyou, xxx, ‘krishna’ and ‘omsairam among others.

All of which takes less than a minute for a hacker to figure it out, except for india123, which takes around 17 minutes to be cracked, according to NordPass.

The report further notes that a majority of people around the world use their own names as passwords.&nbsp;

The list of passwords was compiled from 50 countries in partnership with independent researchers specialising in research of cybersecurity incidents. They evaluated a 4TB database for the analysis.&nbsp;

"It's important to understand that passwords are the gateway to our digital lives, and with us spending more and more time online, it's becoming enormously important to take better care of our cybersecurity," said NordPass CEO Jonas Karklys in a statement.

"Unfortunately, passwords keep getting weaker, and people still don't maintain proper password hygiene," he said.

In its advisory, NordPass says that one can secure their account by using complex passwords—with combinations of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols— and updating them regularly.

(With inputs from agencies)

Despite repeated pleadings and warnings from government agencies and experts, people continue to take cybersecurity and cyber theft lightly. According to a new research report by NordPass, the most commonly used password around the globe numeric passwords are 123456, 123456789, 111111, and 12345—which would take only a second to crack the code.

Despite repeated pleadings and warnings from government agencies and experts, people continue to take cybersecurity and cyber theft lightly. According to a new research report by NordPass, the most commonly used password around the globe numeric passwords are 123456, 123456789, 111111, and 12345—which would take only a second to crack the code. Simple passwords such as qwerty, password, dragon, and money were also found to be used commonly, the report states. In fact, ‘password’ was the second-most preferred one in Australia, the United States and Canada. The most commonly used password in the US and Russia is ‘123456’. The situation is similar in India as well. Among the widely used passwords include—“password”, 12345, 123456, 123456789, 12345678, india123, 1234567890, 1234567, qwerty, abc123, iloveyou, xxx, ‘krishna’ and ‘omsairam among others. All of which takes less than a minute for a hacker to figure it out, except for india123, which takes around 17 minutes to be cracked, according to NordPass. The report further notes that a majority of people around the world use their own names as passwords. The list of passwords was compiled from 50 countries in partnership with independent researchers specialising in research of cybersecurity incidents. They evaluated a 4TB database for the analysis. "It's important to understand that passwords are the gateway to our digital lives, and with us spending more and more time online, it's becoming enormously important to take better care of our cybersecurity," said NordPass CEO Jonas Karklys in a statement. "Unfortunately, passwords keep getting weaker, and people still don't maintain proper password hygiene," he said. In its advisory, NordPass says that one can secure their account by using complex passwords—with combinations of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols— and updating them regularly. (With inputs from agencies)

Do you know what is the most commonly used password around the globe?

The United States is mulling over the diplomatic boycott of the winter Olympics which was scheduled to be held in Beijing in February 2022. The diplomatic boycott aims to protest against human rights violations by the Chinese government.

US 'considering' boycott of Beijing winter Olympics, move against China's human rights record

The US and China agreed to continue dialogue on managing “strategic stability” on issues such as Taiwan, nuclear arms control, and cybersecurity. But as Voice of America White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports, the fundamentally contentious nature of the US-China relationship is unlikely to change.

WION-VOA Co-Production: Joe Biden meets with Xi Jinping virtually

A group of US states have announced a joint probe into Meta Platforms, for promoting its social media app Instagram to children despite knowing the harm it can cause to their mental health. "Facebook, now Meta, has failed to protect young people on its platforms and instead chose to ignore or, in some cases, double down on known manipulations that pose a real threat to physical and mental health, exploiting children in the interest of profit," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement.

The investigation involves nine states - New York, Colorado, California, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont. It aims at examining whether the company has violated consumer protection laws, putting the young generation at risk.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has said that the investigation will be targeting Meta's techniques for increasing the duration of engagement by young users.&nbsp;

The statement read that this investigation comes after "reports revealing that Meta's own internal research shows that using Instagram is associated with increased risks of physical and mental health harms on young people, including depression, eating disorders, and even suicide."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-asks-staff-to-preserve-records-dating-back-to-2016-amid-inquiries-424794">Also read |&nbsp;Facebook asks staff to preserve records dating back to 2016 amid inquiries</a>

As a response, Meta has issued a statement saying that the accusations are false and "demonstrate a deep misunderstanding of the facts."

"We continue to build new features to help people who might be dealing with negative social comparisons or body image issues, including our new 'Take a Break' feature and ways to nudge them towards other types of content," it added.&nbsp;

The probe comes at a time when Facebook is already under scrutiny after Frances Haugen, who is a Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower, appeared before a UK Parliamentary committee and said that Facebook will fuel more violent unrest around the world.&nbsp;

This is because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content.

"The events we're seeing around the world, things like Myanmar and Ethiopia, those are the opening chapters because engagement-based ranking does two things: one, it prioritises and amplifies divisive and polarising extreme content and two it concentrates it," she said.

With inputs from agencies&nbsp;

A group of US states have announced a joint probe into Meta Platforms, for promoting its social media app Instagram to children despite knowing the harm it can cause to their mental health.

A group of US states have announced a joint probe into Meta Platforms, for promoting its social media app Instagram to children despite knowing the harm it can cause to their mental health. "Facebook, now Meta, has failed to protect young people on its platforms and instead chose to ignore or, in some cases, double down on known manipulations that pose a real threat to physical and mental health, exploiting children in the interest of profit," Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement. The investigation involves nine states - New York, Colorado, California, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont. It aims at examining whether the company has violated consumer protection laws, putting the young generation at risk. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has said that the investigation will be targeting Meta's techniques for increasing the duration of engagement by young users. The statement read that this investigation comes after "reports revealing that Meta's own internal research shows that using Instagram is associated with increased risks of physical and mental health harms on young people, including depression, eating disorders, and even suicide." Also read | Facebook asks staff to preserve records dating back to 2016 amid inquiries As a response, Meta has issued a statement saying that the accusations are false and "demonstrate a deep misunderstanding of the facts." "We continue to build new features to help people who might be dealing with negative social comparisons or body image issues, including our new 'Take a Break' feature and ways to nudge them towards other types of content," it added. The probe comes at a time when Facebook is already under scrutiny after Frances Haugen, who is a Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower, appeared before a UK Parliamentary committee and said that Facebook will fuel more violent unrest around the world. This is because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content. "The events we're seeing around the world, things like Myanmar and Ethiopia, those are the opening chapters because engagement-based ranking does two things: one, it prioritises and amplifies divisive and polarising extreme content and two it concentrates it," she said. With inputs from agencies

'Real threat': US investigates Instagram's impact on children's mental health

Vice President Kamala Harris has brushed aside reports that she feels “frustrated and underutilised” in the Biden administration.

"I am very, very excited about the work that we have accomplished," she said during an interview to ABC's Good Morning America programme. “But I am also absolutely, absolutely clear-eyed that there is a lot more to do and we're going to get it done.”

When asked whether she feels “misused or underused”, Harris retorted, “No, I don’t”.

The response from Harris comes in the backdrop of a CNN report which claimed dysfunction between her team and the president’s office.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/underwater-polls-suggest-kamala-harris-least-popular-vice-president-since-1970s-402209">'Underwater': Polls suggest Kamala Harris least popular Vice President since 1970s</a>

The report, citing unnamed sources from the administration, claimed that Harris feels sidelined in the administration and that she is feeling “constrained in what she's able to do politically.”

The report further claims that Harris “is struggling with a rocky relationship with some parts of the White House, while long-time supporters feel abandoned and see no coherent public sense of what she's done or been trying to do as vice president.”

The White House has also denied any tensions in the office.

“The president selected the vice president to serve as his running mate because he felt she was exactly the person you wanted to have by his side to govern the country," press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

"She is a key partner. She's a bold leader. And she is somebody who has taken on incredibly important assignments.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/twitter-cant-keep-calm-as-it-discovers-kamala-harris-is-a-part-of-bts-army-358228">Twitter can't keep calm as it discovers Kamala Harris is a part of BTS ARMY</a>

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris’ communications director Ashley Etienne has resigned from the office, a White House official told CNN.

‘Ashley is a valued member of the vice president’s team, who has worked tirelessly to advance the goals of this administration,’ the official said on Thursday. ‘She is leaving the office in December to pursue other opportunities.’

It is being said that Etienne’s exit was due as she ‘was not a good fit’ for the vice president’s office and did not actively shape the communications strategy for&nbsp;Harris.

(With inputs from agencies)

Vice President Kamala Harris has brushed aside reports that she feels “frustrated and underutilised” in the Biden administration. "I am very, very excited about the work that we have accomplished," she said during an interview to ABC's Good Morning America programme.

Vice President Kamala Harris has brushed aside reports that she feels “frustrated and underutilised” in the Biden administration. "I am very, very excited about the work that we have accomplished," she said during an interview to ABC's Good Morning America programme. “But I am also absolutely, absolutely clear-eyed that there is a lot more to do and we're going to get it done.” When asked whether she feels “misused or underused”, Harris retorted, “No, I don’t”. The response from Harris comes in the backdrop of a CNN report which claimed dysfunction between her team and the president’s office. Also read | 'Underwater': Polls suggest Kamala Harris least popular Vice President since 1970s The report, citing unnamed sources from the administration, claimed that Harris feels sidelined in the administration and that she is feeling “constrained in what she's able to do politically.” The report further claims that Harris “is struggling with a rocky relationship with some parts of the White House, while long-time supporters feel abandoned and see no coherent public sense of what she's done or been trying to do as vice president.” The White House has also denied any tensions in the office. “The president selected the vice president to serve as his running mate because he felt she was exactly the person you wanted to have by his side to govern the country," press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. "She is a key partner. She's a bold leader. And she is somebody who has taken on incredibly important assignments.” Also read | Twitter can't keep calm as it discovers Kamala Harris is a part of BTS ARMY Meanwhile, Kamala Harris’ communications director Ashley Etienne has resigned from the office, a White House official told CNN. ‘Ashley is a valued member of the vice president’s team, who has worked tirelessly to advance the goals of this administration,’ the official said on Thursday. ‘She is leaving the office in December to pursue other opportunities.’ It is being said that Etienne’s exit was due as she ‘was not a good fit’ for the vice president’s office and did not actively shape the communications strategy for Harris. (With inputs from agencies)

Kamala Harris brushes aside reports of tensions with Biden administration, says ‘excited about the work’

&nbsp;The US Army has warned thousands of soldiers that they would not be permitted to continue their service if they persist with their resistance against getting Covid vaccine.

The warning was issued through a memo by army secretary Christine Wormuth, stating that such personnel would be flagged&nbsp;and barred from getting promotion, bonuses, &nbsp;receiving tuition assistance and re-enlistment.

“I have determined that all soldiers who refuse the mandatory vaccination order will be flagged. If troops persist in declining, they will not be permitted continued service unless granted an approved exemption from the vaccine,” she wrote in the memo issued on Friday.

Around 77 per cent of the army’s active duty, reserve, and guard troops have received at least one shot, according to a US news outlet DefeseOne which has cited Army spokesman Lt. Col. Terence Kelley, whereas 72 per cent are completely vaccinated.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/oklahoma-governor-and-pentagon-standoff-over-vaccines-intensifies-430112">Oklahoma governor and Pentagon standoff over vaccines intensifies</a>

Many of the unvaccinated soldiers are in the National Guard or reserves. Only 51.84 per cent of the Army National Guard is fully vaccinated; 60.72 per cent have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to data provided to Defense One.

There are 329,709 Army National Guardsmen serving in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/12000-us-air-force-members-defy-mandatory-vaccination-order-425560">12,000 US Air Force members defy mandatory vaccination order</a>

However, the vaccine mandate has not gone down well with several US states.

Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt and his state's adjutant general has told Oklahoma National Guardsmen that they do not need to comply with the directive, further complicating matters, Defence One reported.

Governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy, slammed President Biden and his administration, stating that they “have taken actions, or announced plans to act, that threaten the sovereign authority of the State of Alaska, which included imposing vaccine mandates on military and National Guard members without adequate protections in place for individuals with religious objections.”

Texas Guard officials, too, in an email to Pentagon indicated that it might also permit members to skip the shots.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US Army has warned thousands of soldiers that they would not be permitted to continue their service if they persist with their resistance against getting Covid vaccine.

The US Army has warned thousands of soldiers that they would not be permitted to continue their service if they persist with their resistance against getting Covid vaccine. The warning was issued through a memo by army secretary Christine Wormuth, stating that such personnel would be flagged and barred from getting promotion, bonuses, receiving tuition assistance and re-enlistment. “I have determined that all soldiers who refuse the mandatory vaccination order will be flagged. If troops persist in declining, they will not be permitted continued service unless granted an approved exemption from the vaccine,” she wrote in the memo issued on Friday. Around 77 per cent of the army’s active duty, reserve, and guard troops have received at least one shot, according to a US news outlet DefeseOne which has cited Army spokesman Lt. Col. Terence Kelley, whereas 72 per cent are completely vaccinated. Also read | Oklahoma governor and Pentagon standoff over vaccines intensifies Many of the unvaccinated soldiers are in the National Guard or reserves. Only 51.84 per cent of the Army National Guard is fully vaccinated; 60.72 per cent have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to data provided to Defense One. There are 329,709 Army National Guardsmen serving in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. Also read | 12,000 US Air Force members defy mandatory vaccination order However, the vaccine mandate has not gone down well with several US states. Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt and his state's adjutant general has told Oklahoma National Guardsmen that they do not need to comply with the directive, further complicating matters, Defence One reported. Governor of Alaska, Mike Dunleavy, slammed President Biden and his administration, stating that they “have taken actions, or announced plans to act, that threaten the sovereign authority of the State of Alaska, which included imposing vaccine mandates on military and National Guard members without adequate protections in place for individuals with religious objections.” Texas Guard officials, too, in an email to Pentagon indicated that it might also permit members to skip the shots. (With inputs from agencies)

US Army to bar promotion, re-enlistment for soldiers who refuse to take Covid vaccine

In what is being deemed as a world record for a historical document at auction, a rare original copy of the US Constitution has been for $43 million. The sale was hosted by Sotheby's auction house. The winner was not immediately identified.

The Constitution was directly underbid by Constitution DAO, which is a group of over 17,000 people from around the world.&nbsp;

These people came together through social media within the last week to raise money to acquire the document in what is being marked as the largest crowdfunding initiative ever put together.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-ivy-league-wharton-school-to-accept-cryptocurrency-payment-for-its-online-course-425188">Also read |&nbsp;US Ivy League Wharton School to accept cryptocurrency payment for its online course</a>

The group of cryptocurrency investors raised $40 million to try to buy the document but failed to secure the prize, the consortium said. "We didn't get the constitution, but we made history nonetheless" the group, ConstitutionDAO, said on Twitter.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AuctionUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AuctionUpdate</a>: Tonight's historic sale of The 'Official Edition' of The United States Constitution soared to a record-breaking $43.2 million, with all proceeds benefiting the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation's educational programs for students. <a href="https://t.co/uR5ZJT2UY0">pic.twitter.com/uR5ZJT2UY0</a>
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"We broke the record for the largest crowdfund for a physical object and most money crowdfunded in 72h, which will of course be refunded to everyone who participated," it said.

It said that the item was one of only 13 known surviving copies of the US charter, which was signed on September 17, 1787.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/el-salvador-legalises-bitcoin-as-other-nations-plan-similar-moves-390658">Also read |&nbsp;El Salvador legalises Bitcoin as other nations plan similar moves</a>

The text had the opening, "We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union."

The constitution was signed at Philadelphia's Independence Hall by America's founding fathers including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison.

(With inputs from agencies)

In what is being deemed as a world record for a historical document at auction, a rare original copy of the US Constitution has been for $43 million. The sale was hosted by Sotheby's auction house.

In what is being deemed as a world record for a historical document at auction, a rare original copy of the US Constitution has been for $43 million. The sale was hosted by Sotheby's auction house. The winner was not immediately identified. The Constitution was directly underbid by Constitution DAO, which is a group of over 17,000 people from around the world. These people came together through social media within the last week to raise money to acquire the document in what is being marked as the largest crowdfunding initiative ever put together. Also read | US Ivy League Wharton School to accept cryptocurrency payment for its online course The group of cryptocurrency investors raised $40 million to try to buy the document but failed to secure the prize, the consortium said. "We didn't get the constitution, but we made history nonetheless" the group, ConstitutionDAO, said on Twitter. #AuctionUpdate: Tonight's historic sale of The 'Official Edition' of The United States Constitution soared to a record-breaking $43.2 million, with all proceeds benefiting the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Foundation's educational programs for students. pic.twitter.com/uR5ZJT2UY0 — Sotheby's (@Sothebys) November 19, 2021 × "We broke the record for the largest crowdfund for a physical object and most money crowdfunded in 72h, which will of course be refunded to everyone who participated," it said. It said that the item was one of only 13 known surviving copies of the US charter, which was signed on September 17, 1787. Also read | El Salvador legalises Bitcoin as other nations plan similar moves The text had the opening, "We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union." The constitution was signed at Philadelphia's Independence Hall by America's founding fathers including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and James Madison. (With inputs from agencies)

Crypto investors lose out to massive crowdfunding effort in $43mn auction of US Constitution's original copy

A California couple abandoned their children and went incognito after stealing millions of dollars from the government in Covid relief money.

According to reports, Richard Ayvazyan, 43, and Marietta Terabelian, 37, allegedly submitted false claims and pilfered $18 million of Covid relief aid and used those funds on luxury villas and jewellery.

The Covid relief funds— disbursed under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans scheme— were meant to help business owners struggling due to the impact of the pandemic.

But the absconding couple spent the money on expensive homes in high-end neighbourhoods in Los Angeles and other locations in California.

On Monday, a local court found the pair guilty of fraud and sentenced them to jail, despite not attending the court hearing.

Ayvazyan was handed a 17-year sentence while Terabelian was given six years, according to reports.

Artur Ayvazyan, Richard's brother, was given a five-year sentence for his role in the scam.

The couple’s modus operandi involved using fake and stolen identities to get their hands on the funds. The scam saw the suspects steal dozens of identities and produce fake ones, which they used to submit claims.

The whereabouts of Richard Ayvazyan and Marietta Terabelian remain unknown. The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to their arrest.

The couple’s three children— aged 13, 15 and 16—are under the care of their grandmothers and a court-appointed guardian.

(With inputs from agencies)

A California couple abandoned their children and went incognito after stealing millions of dollars from the government in Covid relief money. According to reports, Richard Ayvazyan, 43, and Marietta Terabelian, 37, allegedly submitted false claims and pilfered $18 million of Covid relief aid and used those funds on luxury villas and jewellery.

A California couple abandoned their children and went incognito after stealing millions of dollars from the government in Covid relief money. According to reports, Richard Ayvazyan, 43, and Marietta Terabelian, 37, allegedly submitted false claims and pilfered $18 million of Covid relief aid and used those funds on luxury villas and jewellery. The Covid relief funds— disbursed under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans scheme— were meant to help business owners struggling due to the impact of the pandemic. But the absconding couple spent the money on expensive homes in high-end neighbourhoods in Los Angeles and other locations in California. On Monday, a local court found the pair guilty of fraud and sentenced them to jail, despite not attending the court hearing. Ayvazyan was handed a 17-year sentence while Terabelian was given six years, according to reports. Artur Ayvazyan, Richard's brother, was given a five-year sentence for his role in the scam. The couple’s modus operandi involved using fake and stolen identities to get their hands on the funds. The scam saw the suspects steal dozens of identities and produce fake ones, which they used to submit claims. The whereabouts of Richard Ayvazyan and Marietta Terabelian remain unknown. The FBI is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. The couple’s three children— aged 13, 15 and 16—are under the care of their grandmothers and a court-appointed guardian. (With inputs from agencies)

California couple abandon kids, abscond after stealing $18 million of Covid relief aid

For four days, Maryland police had been searching for a former Baltimore County police officer and a female accomplice who they said had kidnapped the officer’s young daughters and gone on to commit several other crimes, including carjacking and robbery.

On Thursday afternoon, Pennsylvania state troopers attempted to stop a gray Ford Edge near the Maryland border that matched one in which the suspects had been traveling, Elena Russo, a spokesperson for the Maryland State Police, said at a news conference Thursday night.

The vehicle veered off the highway and struck a culvert in Smithsburg, Maryland. A crisis-negotiation team from the Maryland State Police tried to talk to those inside the vehicle, but received no response, she said. A “thick layer of smoke” in the vehicle obscured what was happening inside, Russo said.

Inside the vehicle, the police found two adults and two children who had all been shot in what the police described as an “apparent murder-suicide.” Three of them were dead. One of the children was taken to a hospital and was later pronounced dead, Russo said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-upset-teacher-tells-students-to-jump-off-a-bridge-for-waving-anti-biden-flag-in-us-430402">Also read |&nbsp;Watch: Upset teacher tells students to 'jump off a bridge' for waving anti-Biden flag in US</a>

The adults were identified as Robert Vicosa, 41, of Baltimore, and Tia Bynum, 35, of Baltimore. The names of the children were not released by the police Thursday night, but they are believed to Vicosa’s children, who were 6 and 7.

Maryland State Police said in a statement Thursday night that investigators had found an assault rifle and other firearms in the vehicle.

Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland said in a Twitter post on Thursday night, “We are grieving tonight over the unfathomable loss of two innocent children in what is clearly a horrific tragedy and heinous crime,” he said.

The spate of crimes began Monday, the authorities said, when Vicosa, a former Baltimore County police officer, held a woman captive at gunpoint and fled with his two children, according to the York Area Regional Police Department. The Baltimore Sun identified the woman as Vicosa’s estranged wife and the mother of the two children.

On Wednesday, Vicosa and Bynum, a suspended Baltimore County police sergeant, were believed to have forced a man to drive them to several locations in the Baltimore area before releasing him unharmed.

The Baltimore County Police Department said Thursday that Vicosa’s daughters were present during a robbery.

At a news conference Thursday morning, law enforcement officials pleaded with Vicosa and Bynum to safely return the two children.

Chief Melissa Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department asked Vicosa and Bynum to drop the children off at a public safety facility or a safe location where an adult could care for them.

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“Their well being and safety is everyone’s priority,” Hyatt said. “We know that you are tired. We want to work with you on a safe and peaceful resolution.”

At the news conference, Hyatt added that the involvement of Bynum, who had been assigned to the department’s criminal investigations bureau, was complicating the search.

“I can certainly say that when we have a situation that involves police officers, or former law enforcement officers, our challenges are significant,” she said.

The Baltimore Sun reported that Vicosa had been fired three months ago. It was unclear Thursday night why Bynum had been suspended.

For four days, Maryland police had been searching for a former Baltimore County police officer and a female accomplice who they said had kidnapped the officer’s young daughters and gone on to commit several other crimes, including carjacking and robbery.

For four days, Maryland police had been searching for a former Baltimore County police officer and a female accomplice who they said had kidnapped the officer’s young daughters and gone on to commit several other crimes, including carjacking and robbery. On Thursday afternoon, Pennsylvania state troopers attempted to stop a gray Ford Edge near the Maryland border that matched one in which the suspects had been traveling, Elena Russo, a spokesperson for the Maryland State Police, said at a news conference Thursday night. The vehicle veered off the highway and struck a culvert in Smithsburg, Maryland. A crisis-negotiation team from the Maryland State Police tried to talk to those inside the vehicle, but received no response, she said. A “thick layer of smoke” in the vehicle obscured what was happening inside, Russo said. Inside the vehicle, the police found two adults and two children who had all been shot in what the police described as an “apparent murder-suicide.” Three of them were dead. One of the children was taken to a hospital and was later pronounced dead, Russo said. Also read | Watch: Upset teacher tells students to 'jump off a bridge' for waving anti-Biden flag in US The adults were identified as Robert Vicosa, 41, of Baltimore, and Tia Bynum, 35, of Baltimore. The names of the children were not released by the police Thursday night, but they are believed to Vicosa’s children, who were 6 and 7. Maryland State Police said in a statement Thursday night that investigators had found an assault rifle and other firearms in the vehicle. Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland said in a Twitter post on Thursday night, “We are grieving tonight over the unfathomable loss of two innocent children in what is clearly a horrific tragedy and heinous crime,” he said. The spate of crimes began Monday, the authorities said, when Vicosa, a former Baltimore County police officer, held a woman captive at gunpoint and fled with his two children, according to the York Area Regional Police Department. The Baltimore Sun identified the woman as Vicosa’s estranged wife and the mother of the two children. On Wednesday, Vicosa and Bynum, a suspended Baltimore County police sergeant, were believed to have forced a man to drive them to several locations in the Baltimore area before releasing him unharmed. The Baltimore County Police Department said Thursday that Vicosa’s daughters were present during a robbery. At a news conference Thursday morning, law enforcement officials pleaded with Vicosa and Bynum to safely return the two children. Chief Melissa Hyatt of the Baltimore County Police Department asked Vicosa and Bynum to drop the children off at a public safety facility or a safe location where an adult could care for them. Also read | 'Largest crowdfunding initiative': US Constitution's original copy auctioned for $43 million “Their well being and safety is everyone’s priority,” Hyatt said. “We know that you are tired. We want to work with you on a safe and peaceful resolution.” At the news conference, Hyatt added that the involvement of Bynum, who had been assigned to the department’s criminal investigations bureau, was complicating the search. “I can certainly say that when we have a situation that involves police officers, or former law enforcement officers, our challenges are significant,” she said. The Baltimore Sun reported that Vicosa had been fired three months ago. It was unclear Thursday night why Bynum had been suspended.

Search for abducted children leads to traffic stop, gunshots and 4 dead

President Joe Biden said Thursday he was considering a US diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, in what would be an attempt to show toughness over China's rights abuses without impacting US athletes.

That is "something we are considering," Biden told reporters while meeting with Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, at the White House. The Beijing Olympics take place next February.

Biden's comments followed a long-awaited video summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping late Monday, during which the two leaders said they wanted to ensure stability and prevent accidental conflicts.

The US president is under pressure at home to speak out on China's human rights abuses, especially in the Xinjiang region where the US government says repression of the Uyghur ethnic group qualifies as genocide.

Campaigners say that at least one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

China's foreign ministry on Friday brushed off the rights accusations as "inconsistent with the truth and completely groundless," calling Washington's claims a "joke in the eyes of Chinese people."

"Politicising sports is against the Olympic spirit, and harms the interests of athletes from all countries," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing Friday.

On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Biden administration would soon announce a diplomatic boycott, meaning that while athletes would still compete, government representatives would not be in the stands.

White House officials said that the issue was not raised during the Biden-Xi virtual summit.

- Balancing act -

US-China relations hit a low point under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, with a massive trade war and incendiary debate over how the Covid-19 virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Biden has sought to re-engage with Beijing, while at the same time focusing on strengthening traditional US alliances to counter China's ever-growing economic clout and military presence across the Indo-Pacific region.

He has held two lengthy phone calls with Xi and was keen to meet in person.&nbsp;

But with the Chinese leader not traveling outside of the country since the start of the Covid pandemic, this week's virtual summit was the only possible next step.

Following Biden's mention of a possible Olympics boycott, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she did not "have an update on what our presence will be."

"I want to give the national security team and the president space to make the decision," she said.

For Biden, that decision will be part of a complex diplomatic balancing act.

His administration has left Trump-era trade tariffs on China in place and continues to order naval patrols through sensitive international sea lanes that China is accused of trying to bring under its control.

However, with Biden also emphasizing the need for dialogue, critics on the right say he is being too soft.

This makes the looming Olympic Games a political flashpoint.

"The United States must implement a complete and total boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The threat to our athletes and China's crimes against humanity leave us no other option," Republican Senator Tom Cotton tweeted Thursday.

Psaki said the White House sees US-China relations "through the prism of competition, not conflict."

However, she added, "we have serious concerns" about human rights.

President Joe Biden said Thursday he was considering a US diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, in what would be an attempt to show toughness over China's rights abuses without impacting US athletes.

President Joe Biden said Thursday he was considering a US diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, in what would be an attempt to show toughness over China's rights abuses without impacting US athletes. That is "something we are considering," Biden told reporters while meeting with Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau, at the White House. The Beijing Olympics take place next February. Biden's comments followed a long-awaited video summit with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping late Monday, during which the two leaders said they wanted to ensure stability and prevent accidental conflicts. The US president is under pressure at home to speak out on China's human rights abuses, especially in the Xinjiang region where the US government says repression of the Uyghur ethnic group qualifies as genocide. Campaigners say that at least one million Uyghurs and other Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim minorities have been incarcerated in camps in Xinjiang, where China is also accused of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour. China's foreign ministry on Friday brushed off the rights accusations as "inconsistent with the truth and completely groundless," calling Washington's claims a "joke in the eyes of Chinese people." "Politicising sports is against the Olympic spirit, and harms the interests of athletes from all countries," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing Friday. On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Biden administration would soon announce a diplomatic boycott, meaning that while athletes would still compete, government representatives would not be in the stands. White House officials said that the issue was not raised during the Biden-Xi virtual summit. - Balancing act - US-China relations hit a low point under Biden's predecessor Donald Trump, with a massive trade war and incendiary debate over how the Covid-19 virus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Biden has sought to re-engage with Beijing, while at the same time focusing on strengthening traditional US alliances to counter China's ever-growing economic clout and military presence across the Indo-Pacific region. He has held two lengthy phone calls with Xi and was keen to meet in person. But with the Chinese leader not traveling outside of the country since the start of the Covid pandemic, this week's virtual summit was the only possible next step. Following Biden's mention of a possible Olympics boycott, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said she did not "have an update on what our presence will be." "I want to give the national security team and the president space to make the decision," she said. For Biden, that decision will be part of a complex diplomatic balancing act. His administration has left Trump-era trade tariffs on China in place and continues to order naval patrols through sensitive international sea lanes that China is accused of trying to bring under its control. However, with Biden also emphasizing the need for dialogue, critics on the right say he is being too soft. This makes the looming Olympic Games a political flashpoint. "The United States must implement a complete and total boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The threat to our athletes and China's crimes against humanity leave us no other option," Republican Senator Tom Cotton tweeted Thursday. Psaki said the White House sees US-China relations "through the prism of competition, not conflict." However, she added, "we have serious concerns" about human rights.

China says 'politicising sports' hurts Olympic spirit as Joe Biden mulls boycott

The adventurism of getting a rare experience can sometimes result in a lot of trouble. Two American tourists learnt this lesson the hard way after they broke into the Colosseum to reportedly experience the pleasure of having a beer inside the ancient Roman amphitheatre. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The tourists have been fined €800 (£670) for illegally entering the archaeological site. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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The tourists, who are aged 24 and 25, climbed on to the second tier of the monument in the early hours of Monday morning to have the pleasure. &nbsp;

Spotted at about 5.30 am, these intruders was seen chatting over drinks by a passerby, who alerted police. It is still unclear how they managed to enter the monument as it closes to the public at 4.30 pm. &nbsp;

The Americans told police that they were “just having a beer”, the Italian press reported. &nbsp;

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The police fined them €800 (£670) for illegally entering the archaeological site. No damage was reported at the monument. &nbsp;

Colosseum has often been a target for unruly people who want to leave their mark in one or the other way. An instruction reinforced by the signs around the monument says defacing the 2,000-year-old structure is strictly forbidden. It is also punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of about €2,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The adventurism of getting a rare experience can sometimes result in a lot of trouble. Two American tourists learnt this lesson the hard way after they broke into the Colosseum to reportedly experience the pleasure of having a beer inside the ancient Roman amphitheatre.

The adventurism of getting a rare experience can sometimes result in a lot of trouble. Two American tourists learnt this lesson the hard way after they broke into the Colosseum to reportedly experience the pleasure of having a beer inside the ancient Roman amphitheatre. The tourists have been fined €800 (£670) for illegally entering the archaeological site. Also Read: French dictionary defends move to recognise a gender-inclusive pronoun The tourists, who are aged 24 and 25, climbed on to the second tier of the monument in the early hours of Monday morning to have the pleasure. Spotted at about 5.30 am, these intruders was seen chatting over drinks by a passerby, who alerted police. It is still unclear how they managed to enter the monument as it closes to the public at 4.30 pm. The Americans told police that they were “just having a beer”, the Italian press reported. Also Read: Days after promising to fight climate change, US auctions off oil and gas drilling lease in Gulf of Mexico The police fined them €800 (£670) for illegally entering the archaeological site. No damage was reported at the monument. Colosseum has often been a target for unruly people who want to leave their mark in one or the other way. An instruction reinforced by the signs around the monument says defacing the 2,000-year-old structure is strictly forbidden. It is also punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of about €2,000. (With inputs from agencies)

Two unruly US tourists break into Colosseum, get €800 fine for ‘enjoying’ beer  

United States assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day visit to Nepal and is scheduled to meet government leaders and visit cultural heritage sites.

Lu will meet Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday evening.

The visit is taking place on the occasion of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the US.

“I'm very&nbsp;happy&nbsp;to welcome Assistant Secretary for @State_SCA, Donald Lu, to Kathmandu. Nepal is a good friend of the&nbsp;United&nbsp;States.&nbsp;The Assistant Secretary’s&nbsp;visit is a testament to our strong bond,” US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry tweeted.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Kelly Keiderling will also arrive on Thursday and meet with Nepali officials and civil society leaders.

The US embassy in a statement said two senior US officials will address key issues like COVID-19, climate change and strengthening democracies, as the two nations mark their 75 years of diplomatic relations.

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The visit is considered significant in view of the current rift between the ruling collation partners over parliamentary ratification of the US grants assistance Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, which was signed between Nepal and the US in 2017.

Earlier, the US MCC had expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in Parliamentary ratification of its $500 million grant to Nepal, after the government prorogued the session.&nbsp;

The parliamentary ratification of MCC has already been sidelined on multiple counts as political parties are divided over whether the federal government should ratify the compact.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-expresses-concern-over-nepal-parliaments-delay-in-ratifying-500mn-grant-425539">US expresses concern over Nepal parliament’s delay in ratifying $500mn grant</a>

Deuba continues to stand firm on getting the MCC passed through the Parliament, but his coalition partners, including the Maoist Centre, are yet to take a clear stand.

The $500 million grant is a continuation of the strong partnership between the United States and Nepal to reduce poverty through economic growth.

The MCC said the decision whether to move forward with the compact now rests with Nepal.

United States assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day visit to Nepal and is scheduled to meet government leaders and visit cultural heritage sites.

United States assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has arrived in Kathmandu on a two-day visit to Nepal and is scheduled to meet government leaders and visit cultural heritage sites. Lu will meet Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday evening. The visit is taking place on the occasion of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the US. “I'm very happy to welcome Assistant Secretary for @State_SCA, Donald Lu, to Kathmandu. Nepal is a good friend of the United States. The Assistant Secretary’s visit is a testament to our strong bond,” US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry tweeted. Meanwhile, deputy assistant secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Kelly Keiderling will also arrive on Thursday and meet with Nepali officials and civil society leaders. The US embassy in a statement said two senior US officials will address key issues like COVID-19, climate change and strengthening democracies, as the two nations mark their 75 years of diplomatic relations. Also read | Chinese spy agency playing active role to destabilise Nepal’s relations with other nations: Report The visit is considered significant in view of the current rift between the ruling collation partners over parliamentary ratification of the US grants assistance Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, which was signed between Nepal and the US in 2017. Earlier, the US MCC had expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in Parliamentary ratification of its $500 million grant to Nepal, after the government prorogued the session. The parliamentary ratification of MCC has already been sidelined on multiple counts as political parties are divided over whether the federal government should ratify the compact. Also read | US expresses concern over Nepal parliament’s delay in ratifying $500mn grant Deuba continues to stand firm on getting the MCC passed through the Parliament, but his coalition partners, including the Maoist Centre, are yet to take a clear stand. The $500 million grant is a continuation of the strong partnership between the United States and Nepal to reduce poverty through economic growth. The MCC said the decision whether to move forward with the compact now rests with Nepal.

US senior officials visit Nepal as two nations mark 75 years of diplomatic ties  

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