In their first public testimony since the US completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, top Pentagon leaders will face sharp questions in Congress about the chaotic pullout and the Taliban’s rapid takeover of the country.

Pentagon leaders to face Congress on Afghan pullout decision

In a strange incident, a man livestreamed himself while attack a police officer with the help of a brick in Florida early on Saturday morning. &nbsp;

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Below is some of the video the suspect recorded. To see the entire video: <a href="https://t.co/Vwwr9karEX">https://t.co/Vwwr9karEX</a> <a href="https://t.co/8RTrgi1sTQ">pic.twitter.com/8RTrgi1sTQ</a>
— Chief Orlando Rolón (@OrlandoPDChief) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrlandoPDChief/status/1441819553940615168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The 27-year-old charged at two Orlando officers, who were standing on the corner of Washington and Magnolia around 1 am, police said. &nbsp;

Watch:

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The live stream video shows the accused William D McClish hiding behind a vehicle before he picks up a brick and attacks one of the officers with it. &nbsp;&nbsp;

McClish repeatedly smashed the brick on the officer. He struck several times until the other officer could intervene and apprehend him. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-secret-war-over-pentagon-aid-in-fighting-wildfires-416479" hreflang="en">The secret war over Pentagon aid in fighting wildfires</a>

In a statement, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón said, the attacked officer suffered "significant facial injury " and the second officer was bitten and almost had his eye gouged out during the scuffle. &nbsp;

"These unprovoked actions should be a concern for all of our communities," Rolón said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/every-day-is-frightening-working-for-the-top-us-employer-amid-covid-416476" hreflang="en">‘Every day is frightening’: Working for the top US employer amid Covid</a>

It took four officers to finally subdue McClish, Rolón added. "Individuals like this do not belong in our society. Prosecutors and our judicial system must hold them accountable to protect our society and the men and women protecting our communities," the Orlando police chief said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a strange incident, a man livestreamed himself while attack a police officer with the help of a brick in Florida early on Saturday morning. Below is some of the video the suspect recorded.

In a strange incident, a man livestreamed himself while attack a police officer with the help of a brick in Florida early on Saturday morning. Below is some of the video the suspect recorded. To see the entire video: https://t.co/Vwwr9karEX pic.twitter.com/8RTrgi1sTQ — Chief Orlando Rolón (@OrlandoPDChief) September 25, 2021 × The 27-year-old charged at two Orlando officers, who were standing on the corner of Washington and Magnolia around 1 am, police said. Watch: × The live stream video shows the accused William D McClish hiding behind a vehicle before he picks up a brick and attacks one of the officers with it. McClish repeatedly smashed the brick on the officer. He struck several times until the other officer could intervene and apprehend him. Also Read: The secret war over Pentagon aid in fighting wildfires In a statement, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón said, the attacked officer suffered "significant facial injury " and the second officer was bitten and almost had his eye gouged out during the scuffle. "These unprovoked actions should be a concern for all of our communities," Rolón said. Also Read: ‘Every day is frightening’: Working for the top US employer amid Covid It took four officers to finally subdue McClish, Rolón added. "Individuals like this do not belong in our society. Prosecutors and our judicial system must hold them accountable to protect our society and the men and women protecting our communities," the Orlando police chief said. (With inputs from agencies)

US man livestreams while attacking police officer with brick in Florida

Haitians march in the capital Port-au-Prince against deportation. The situation in the country has worsened for drinking water and electricity day by day. Watch their report for more details.

Haitians march in the capital Port-au-Prince

As the United States continues to report a rising number of COVID-19 cases and deaths fuelled by the delta variant outbreak, the chief of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, has sounded alarm stating that the nation’s health systems “are in dire straits”, forcing some states to prepare for rationed medical care.

“That means that we are talking about who is going to get a ventilator, who is going to get an ICU bed,” Walensky said on CBS's ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday.

“Those are not easy discussions to have, and that is not a place we want our health care system to ever be,” she added.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-coronavirus-hospitalisations-hit-eight-month-high-over-100000-408696">&nbsp;United States coronavirus hospitalisations hit eight-month high over 100,000</a>

Idaho, among the US’s least-vaccinated states, and Alaska have already announced that they would ration medical care if needed. A major hospital in Montana has also reportedly implemented the so-called “crisis of care standards” to prioritize who is treated. Health officials have warned that such measures could be widened across the state.

Watch

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Walensky remarks come in the backdrop of&nbsp;average number of deaths climbing to 40 per cent per day over the past two weeks, from 1387 to 1947, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Reported deaths are currently highest in&nbsp;states like Florida, which is seeing an average of 376 daily deaths over the past week, and Texas, which is reporting a daily average of 283. Experts say that the vast majority of the hospitalised and dead have been unvaccinated.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-cases-in-us-16-times-too-high-to-end-pandemic-says-fauci-412124">Covid cases in US 16 times too high to end pandemic, says Fauci</a>

Talking about her decision to overrule a CDC panel of advisors and extending the eligibility for third shots of the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech Covid vaccine, Walensky said, “I felt it was appropriate for those people to also be eligible for boosters," she said, while adding that it was “a scientific close call”.

The panel had last week approved boosters for those ages 65 and older, those in long-term healthcare facilities and those ages 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions.

The CDC chief then overruled the panel and extended the eligibility to the people who are at high risk of exposure to receive the third dose.

(With inputs from agencies)

As the United States continues to report a rising number of COVID-19 cases and deaths fuelled by the delta variant outbreak, the chief of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, has sounded alarm stating that the nation’s health systems “are in dire straits”, forcing some states to prepare for rationed medical care.

As the United States continues to report a rising number of COVID-19 cases and deaths fuelled by the delta variant outbreak, the chief of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, has sounded alarm stating that the nation’s health systems “are in dire straits”, forcing some states to prepare for rationed medical care. “That means that we are talking about who is going to get a ventilator, who is going to get an ICU bed,” Walensky said on CBS's ‘Face the Nation’ on Sunday. “Those are not easy discussions to have, and that is not a place we want our health care system to ever be,” she added. Also read | United States coronavirus hospitalisations hit eight-month high over 100,000 Idaho, among the US’s least-vaccinated states, and Alaska have already announced that they would ration medical care if needed. A major hospital in Montana has also reportedly implemented the so-called “crisis of care standards” to prioritize who is treated. Health officials have warned that such measures could be widened across the state. Watch Walensky remarks come in the backdrop of average number of deaths climbing to 40 per cent per day over the past two weeks, from 1387 to 1947, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Reported deaths are currently highest in states like Florida, which is seeing an average of 376 daily deaths over the past week, and Texas, which is reporting a daily average of 283. Experts say that the vast majority of the hospitalised and dead have been unvaccinated. Also read | Covid cases in US 16 times too high to end pandemic, says Fauci Talking about her decision to overrule a CDC panel of advisors and extending the eligibility for third shots of the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech Covid vaccine, Walensky said, “I felt it was appropriate for those people to also be eligible for boosters," she said, while adding that it was “a scientific close call”. The panel had last week approved boosters for those ages 65 and older, those in long-term healthcare facilities and those ages 50 to 64 with underlying medical conditions. The CDC chief then overruled the panel and extended the eligibility to the people who are at high risk of exposure to receive the third dose. (With inputs from agencies)

As delta outbreak ravages US, CDC chief says health systems ‘in dire straits'

As the fourth Indo-US Health Dialogue began here on Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report to commemorate more than a half-century of successful collaborations with the government in New Delhi.

According to the report, the CDC`s decades-old, highly productive, and mutually beneficial public health collaboration with India has achieved measurable success across several critical areas, including, Polio eradication, controlling HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and influenza, building core public health capabilities across disease surveillance, laboratory systems, public health workforce and emergency response and scaling up antimicrobial resistance, and infection prevention and control.

The pandemic has further strengthened the CDC`s partnership with the government of India.

The CDC's Country Director, Meghna Desai said: "The impact and strategic value of CDC`s long-standing collaborations with the Government of India are increasingly clear. Many of our joint efforts are being leveraged to support India`s ongoing Covid-19 response."

"Based on past successes and current public health initiatives, the CDC and the government of India are well-placed to better respond to the world`s most pressing public health challenges," said a statement from CDC.

It added further that the government of India has successfully addressed challenges over the past decades through major investments in the nation`s public health institutions, dedicated resources and platforms to expand one of the largest public health workforces in the world, and a sustained commitment to confront challenging disease control priorities in the country and the region.

"From smallpox to SARS-CoV-2, CDC collaborations with India have benefited both our countries, the entire region, and indeed the world," the statement said.

As the fourth Indo-US Health Dialogue began here on Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report to commemorate more than a half-century of successful collaborations with the government in New Delhi.

As the fourth Indo-US Health Dialogue began here on Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report to commemorate more than a half-century of successful collaborations with the government in New Delhi. According to the report, the CDC`s decades-old, highly productive, and mutually beneficial public health collaboration with India has achieved measurable success across several critical areas, including, Polio eradication, controlling HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and influenza, building core public health capabilities across disease surveillance, laboratory systems, public health workforce and emergency response and scaling up antimicrobial resistance, and infection prevention and control. The pandemic has further strengthened the CDC`s partnership with the government of India. The CDC's Country Director, Meghna Desai said: "The impact and strategic value of CDC`s long-standing collaborations with the Government of India are increasingly clear. Many of our joint efforts are being leveraged to support India`s ongoing Covid-19 response." "Based on past successes and current public health initiatives, the CDC and the government of India are well-placed to better respond to the world`s most pressing public health challenges," said a statement from CDC. It added further that the government of India has successfully addressed challenges over the past decades through major investments in the nation`s public health institutions, dedicated resources and platforms to expand one of the largest public health workforces in the world, and a sustained commitment to confront challenging disease control priorities in the country and the region. "From smallpox to SARS-CoV-2, CDC collaborations with India have benefited both our countries, the entire region, and indeed the world," the statement said.

India, CDC well-placed to better respond to pressing public health challenges: Report

Hurricane Sam continued to strengthen on Sunday as it moved northwest across the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said.

The Category 4 hurricane was 850 miles east-southeast of the Northern Leeward Islands as of 11 pm&nbsp;Eastern time Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A subtropical ridge northeast of the hurricane should steer it northwestward for the next three or four days. Sam should then veer north-northwest and begin to increase its speed but it is not expected to threaten land, the center said.

Forecasters described the storm as “small but ferocious” and said it was expected to remain a major hurricane for several days.

“It would not take much further expansion of the convection and cooling of the cloud tops over the inner-most core of Sam for it to become a rare Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale,” the center said. “Although plausible, given the ideal environmental conditions over the next couple of days, this strengthening is not explicitly forecast to occur.”

The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies major hurricanes as Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds above 110 mph. Category 4 storms have wind speeds of 130 to 156 mph.

The swells generated by the hurricane were forecast to reach the Lesser Antilles early this week and have the potential to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the center said. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

Sam, which formed Thursday in the central Atlantic, is the fourth named storm to develop in less than a week and the 18th overall in a busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cdc-director-explains-move-to-recommend-booster-shots-for-frontline-workers-416321">Also read |&nbsp;CDC director explains move to recommend booster shots for frontline workers</a>

Subtropical Storm Teresa formed north of Bermuda on Friday, becoming the 19th named storm of the hurricane season. Teresa fizzled out over the weekend and “no longer meets the definition of a tropical cyclone,” the hurricane center said Saturday.

After Sam and Teresa, the next named storms would be Victor and Wanda.

If forecasters go through the list, they will turn to an additional set of names approved by the World Meteorological Organization this year. That list begins with Adria, followed by Braylen and Caridad.

“With more than two months to go in the hurricane season, it is certainly possible that the 2021 Atlantic list of names will be exhausted,” Feltgen said.

Last year, there were 30 named storms, including six major hurricanes, forcing meteorologists to exhaust the alphabet for the second time and move to using Greek letters. It was the most named storms on record, surpassing the 28 from 2005, and the second-highest number of hurricanes.

This year, the arrival of peak hurricane season, August through November&nbsp;has led to a run of named storms that formed in quick succession, bringing stormy weather, flooding and damaging winds to parts of the United States and the Caribbean.

Tropical Storm Odette formed September&nbsp;17, followed days later by Peter and Rose. All three storms have since dissipated.

Tropical Storm Mindy hit the Florida Panhandle on September 8, just hours after it formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and as a powerful Hurricane Larry was simultaneously churning in the Atlantic.

Ida battered Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane August&nbsp;29 before its remnants brought deadly flooding to the New York area.

The links between hurricanes and climate change are becoming more apparent. A warming planet can expect stronger hurricanes over time, and a higher incidence of the most powerful storms though the overall number of storms could drop, because factors like stronger wind shear could keep weaker storms from forming.

Hurricanes are also becoming wetter because of more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere; scientists have suggested storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017 produced far more rain than they would have without the human effects on climate. Also, rising sea levels are contributing to higher storm surge&nbsp;the most destructive element of tropical cyclones.

Ana became the first named storm of the 2021 season May 23, making this the seventh year in a row that a named storm developed in the Atlantic before the official start of the season June 1.

In May, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there would be 13 to 20 named storms this year, six to 10 of which would be hurricanes, including three to five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher in the Atlantic.

NOAA updated its forecast in early August, predicting 15 to 21 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes, by the end of the season on November&nbsp;30.

Hurricane Sam continued to strengthen on Sunday as it moved northwest across the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said. The Category 4 hurricane was 850 miles east-southeast of the Northern Leeward Islands as of 11 pm Eastern time Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Sam continued to strengthen on Sunday as it moved northwest across the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said. The Category 4 hurricane was 850 miles east-southeast of the Northern Leeward Islands as of 11 pm Eastern time Sunday, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. A subtropical ridge northeast of the hurricane should steer it northwestward for the next three or four days. Sam should then veer north-northwest and begin to increase its speed but it is not expected to threaten land, the center said. Forecasters described the storm as “small but ferocious” and said it was expected to remain a major hurricane for several days. “It would not take much further expansion of the convection and cooling of the cloud tops over the inner-most core of Sam for it to become a rare Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale,” the center said. “Although plausible, given the ideal environmental conditions over the next couple of days, this strengthening is not explicitly forecast to occur.” The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies major hurricanes as Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds above 110 mph. Category 4 storms have wind speeds of 130 to 156 mph. The swells generated by the hurricane were forecast to reach the Lesser Antilles early this week and have the potential to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the center said. There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect. Sam, which formed Thursday in the central Atlantic, is the fourth named storm to develop in less than a week and the 18th overall in a busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Also read | CDC director explains move to recommend booster shots for frontline workers Subtropical Storm Teresa formed north of Bermuda on Friday, becoming the 19th named storm of the hurricane season. Teresa fizzled out over the weekend and “no longer meets the definition of a tropical cyclone,” the hurricane center said Saturday. After Sam and Teresa, the next named storms would be Victor and Wanda. If forecasters go through the list, they will turn to an additional set of names approved by the World Meteorological Organization this year. That list begins with Adria, followed by Braylen and Caridad. “With more than two months to go in the hurricane season, it is certainly possible that the 2021 Atlantic list of names will be exhausted,” Feltgen said. Last year, there were 30 named storms, including six major hurricanes, forcing meteorologists to exhaust the alphabet for the second time and move to using Greek letters. It was the most named storms on record, surpassing the 28 from 2005, and the second-highest number of hurricanes. This year, the arrival of peak hurricane season, August through November has led to a run of named storms that formed in quick succession, bringing stormy weather, flooding and damaging winds to parts of the United States and the Caribbean. Tropical Storm Odette formed September 17, followed days later by Peter and Rose. All three storms have since dissipated. Tropical Storm Mindy hit the Florida Panhandle on September 8, just hours after it formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and as a powerful Hurricane Larry was simultaneously churning in the Atlantic. Ida battered Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane August 29 before its remnants brought deadly flooding to the New York area. The links between hurricanes and climate change are becoming more apparent. A warming planet can expect stronger hurricanes over time, and a higher incidence of the most powerful storms though the overall number of storms could drop, because factors like stronger wind shear could keep weaker storms from forming. Hurricanes are also becoming wetter because of more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere; scientists have suggested storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017 produced far more rain than they would have without the human effects on climate. Also, rising sea levels are contributing to higher storm surge the most destructive element of tropical cyclones. Ana became the first named storm of the 2021 season May 23, making this the seventh year in a row that a named storm developed in the Atlantic before the official start of the season June 1. In May, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there would be 13 to 20 named storms this year, six to 10 of which would be hurricanes, including three to five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher in the Atlantic. NOAA updated its forecast in early August, predicting 15 to 21 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes, by the end of the season on November 30.

Hurricane Sam, a category 4 storm, is ‘small but ferocious’

In the Pacific Northwest, the aging Interstate 5 bridge, a main artery between Oregon and Washington, is at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake. Across Appalachia, abandoned coal mines leaking toxic pollutants are a threat to public health. And along the Gulf Coast, states like Louisiana are forced to consider novel evacuation routes to ease traffic on inland highways that often become clogged before powerful hurricanes.

Proposed solutions to these challenges, and others across the country, have come into focus for state leaders and transit officials as the House is poised to take up a sprawling $1 trillion infrastructure package whose future is increasingly uncertain.

For years, officials have been forced to balance an overwhelming backlog of repairs and upgrades to highways, bridges and roads against more sweeping, longer-term projects. But an infusion of nearly $600 billion in new federal aid could change that calculus as states are freed to consider more ambitious ideas that align with President Joe Biden’s vision for a generational overhaul of the country’s aging public works system.

Still, even as lawmakers in both parties agree that such money is gravely overdue, the measure’s fate is in limbo as the liberal and moderate flanks of the Democratic Party have clashed over whether to pass the bill before a $3.5 trillion spending plan. House Republican leaders have also urged their members to oppose the package.

Before the vote, now expected in the House on Thursday, The New York Times asked congressional offices, governor’s offices and state transit officials across the country what projects federal funding could help accelerate. Several state officials declined to comment, citing concerns about discussing a $1 trillion infrastructure plan before the vote. Others said they hoped that an influx of federal funding could fast-track longer-term projects already underway or jump-start initiatives aimed at overhauling transit and other infrastructure.

Here are some of the largest and most consequential priorities.

ALASKA

Ferries&nbsp;— Alaska Marine Highway System

Because Senator&nbsp;Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was a core member of the bipartisan group of senators who helped negotiate the bill, the legislation includes multiple projects meant to benefit the state’s ferry system.

Notably, $250 million has been set aside for a pilot program to develop an electric or low-emitting ferry. The measure does not single out Alaska by name, but as the state with the most miles of marine highway, it is guaranteed to be a site for such an initiative.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cdc-director-explains-move-to-recommend-booster-shots-for-frontline-workers-416321">Also read |&nbsp;CDC director explains move to recommend booster shots for frontline workers</a>

The Alaska Marine Highway System — which encompasses the ferries that help connect much of the state — also stands to benefit. A $1 billion program in the bill would construct a ferry system to reach rural communities, and a provision would funnel federal highway dollars toward operating and repairing the service.

Highways, roads and bridges&nbsp;— Alaska Highway

The legislation authorizes money to repair more than 300 miles of highway that stretch across Alaska’s border and into Canada. It also carves out funding for projects in rural areas, which Murkowski’s office predicted could be applied to ice roads or transferred to a state commission that oversees basic infrastructure.

It is expected to provide $225 million to fix more than 140 bridges that are considered structurally deficient.

CALIFORNIA

High-speed rail

For over a decade, California has sought to construct a high-speed rail line that would connect its largest cities to the Central Valley. A current priority is completing an electrified route between Merced and Bakersfield. With additional funding, state officials hope to build segments that would ultimately connect the Central Valley to the Bay Area and the Los Angeles Basin. A planned route from the Central Valley to San Francisco is estimated to cost $15.2 billion, with another leg linking Bakersfield and Palmdale estimated at $15.7 billion.

Electric vehicles

After Gov. Gavin Newsom last year issued an executive order intended to ramp up his state’s reliance on emissions-free cars, California began planning a network of electric charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations. The state budget dedicates $1 billion to expand related infrastructure, but officials expect it will need further funding.

COLORADO

Highways&nbsp;— Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels

Set at the highest point in the country’s Interstate highway system, the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels were considered a major feat of engineering when their construction began in 1968, carrying traffic for nearly 2 miles under the Continental Divide in central Colorado. With the first bore nearly 50 years old, the twin tunnels have fallen into disrepair, in no small part because extreme weather regularly batters the area. Given the upkeep needs that have accumulated, the state estimates that improvements could ultimately exceed $150 million.

CONNECTICUT

Highways and urban design&nbsp;— I-84/I-91 in Greater Hartford

Last year, Connecticut began studying strategies for undoing the damage that the placement of major interstates cutting through the Hartford area had caused to communities. That plan aims to consolidate an array of campaigns aimed at improving mobility in the city, both to stitch together transit systems in the area and to help reunite disconnected sections of Hartford and East Hartford. Officials expect the effort to cost $12 billion to $15 billion over a 15- to 20-year period, but will first pursue more incremental improvements.

Electrifying public transit&nbsp;— CTtransit buses

The CTtransit service operates 700 diesel buses that serve Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury, among other cities in the state. Officials aim to convert all those buses to electric in the next 15 years, and have pledged to support other districts in similar efforts. The full conversion is projected to cost $772 million.

LOUISIANA

Rail&nbsp;— Baton Rouge-New Orleans commuter rail

Particularly after Hurricane Katrina overtaxed highways and roads as residents evacuated New Orleans in 2005, Louisiana has focused on passenger rail service linking the city to Baton Rouge as an alternative. Several studies examining the feasibility of that proposal have been completed since 2006, but funding has not been available to move forward. The Southern Rail Commission is overseeing the effort and has requested federal funds to conduct an environmental study. Current projections put the cost at $150 million in capital improvements to the line and $9 million per year in operating subsidies. The route would include four stops between the two cities.

Bridges&nbsp;— New Mississippi River crossing

Transit officials have eyed a new bridge across the Mississippi River near the Baton Rouge area for decades, but have delayed planning because of a lack of funding. The Coast Guard has identified five possible sites, but each requires an evaluation for environmental impact and efficiency. The state estimates that a new bridge and connecting ramps or interchanges would cost about $1.1 billion, and officials expect the project would take three to five years after studies are complete.

MICHIGAN

Climate resiliency&nbsp;— Great Lakes restoration

Michigan is set to receive $1 billion to help speed efforts to protect and repair the Great Lakes, including preserving natural wildlife habitats and improving water quality. It is the largest federal investment since the program was established in 2010.

The legislation also includes $500 million for a loan program that would help local governments in states set up mitigation projects to reduce the risk and damage from shoreline erosion and extreme flooding.

MINNESOTA

Bridges&nbsp;— Blatnik Bridge

Opened in 1961, the Blatnik Bridge over the St. Louis Bay, connecting the twin ports of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is quickly approaching what transit officials consider the end of its usable life. Officials from the Transportation Departments in Minnesota and Wisconsin are studying how to repair or replace the bridge, but costs are unknown and new funding is required.

High-speed rail&nbsp;— Northern Lights Express

Minnesota has completed planning for a high-speed rail project that would link Minneapolis and Duluth, stopping in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley and Superior, Wisconsin. State officials expect the project will cost $500 million to $600 million, and they estimate the final design and construction could take 2 1/2 years.

Highways and urban design&nbsp;— I-94

State officials now see I-94, constructed in the 1960s to link St. Paul and Minneapolis, as one of dozens of highway projects in the United States that badly disrupted urban areas, leveling homes and suffocating businesses. The state is soliciting public comment from affected residents, hoping to revamp the corridor in a way that reconnects separated neighborhoods.

NEW JERSEY

Rail&nbsp;— Gateway Tunnel

The Biden administration has expressed support for funding critical repairs to the Gateway Tunnel, addressing chronic congestion plaguing the train route that links populous sections of New Jersey to New York. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy flooded the tunnel, leaving structural damage, and progress has stalled given the estimated $11 billion to $13 billion cost to complete repairs.

The infrastructure bill includes billions of dollars from funds set aside for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and improvement grants that could go toward the project, said Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, both Democrats.

Electrifying public transit&nbsp;— New Jersey Transit buses

As part of a pilot program started this year, New Jersey Transit is deploying its first electrified buses in Camden and aims to electrify its entire fleet by 2040. The state anticipates needing $5.7 billion total to acquire and operate more electric buses.

OREGON

Rail&nbsp;— Southwest Corridor Light Rail

In 2009, officials began planning to build a light rail line that would ferry passengers from downtown Portland to Tualatin in 30 minutes. The line would include 13 new stops, adding rail capacity for the Portland metropolitan area, which officials expect to grow by some 400,000 new residents by 2040. The project is expected to cost about $2.8 billion and is currently on hold until funding becomes available.

Bridges&nbsp;— I-5 bridge replacement

Addressing structural deficiencies of the Interstate 5 bridge, which connects Oregon to Washington over the Columbia River, has long been a top priority for transit officials in both states. One span of the bridge is over 100 years old, and officials believe the two existing bridge structures are at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake.

Several attempts to replace the bridge have been upended by political disagreement, despite tens of millions of dollars spent on studies. Transit officials from both states are leading a renewed push to replace the bridge with a seismically resilient structure equipped with increased space for bicycle lanes and pedestrians, factoring in climate and equity concerns. The project carries an estimated cost of $3.2 billion to $4.8 billion.

RHODE ISLAND

Ferries

State transit officials believe Rhode Island stands to gain from expanding its ferry service, connecting port towns like Wickford and East Greenwich. The state currently runs ferry service between Providence and Newport, stopping in Bristol in the summer, but it has proposed acquiring vessels and upgrading terminals to reach new destinations at an estimated cost of $15 million.

Electrifying public transit&nbsp;— Electrified trains to Boston

Together with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Rhode Island is considering adding electrified rail service between Providence and Boston. Initially, officials hope to introduce a cross-honoring ticket program that will allow commuter rail passengers the option of taking Amtrak. Future phases would include fully electrifying the route, which MBTA has funding to study; officials have envisioned upgrading the line between the two cities at a cost of about $350 million.

VIRGINIA

Rail&nbsp;— A new Long Bridge

As part of its bid to sharply expand passenger rail, Virginia is pursuing plans to add a $1.9 billion bridge across the Potomac River. It would supplement the existing Long Bridge, which connects Virginia to the District of Columbia, establishing a pathway that would separate passenger and freight operations.

The current version of the Long Bridge was opened in 1904 and modified heavily in 1942; it remains the only railroad bridge between Virginia and Washington. Transit officials have labeled the crossing as one of the main congestion points on the East Coast, and the proposed parallel crossing could help alleviate traffic by dividing freight and passenger trains.

Highways and urban design&nbsp;— Route 1 in Crystal City

State officials have begun studying ways to upgrade Route 1 in Crystal City, part of a major corridor that carries over 45,000 vehicles per day from the Washington metro area to busy parts of Arlington County, such as Pentagon City. Particularly since Amazon announced it would expand its presence in Crystal City in 2018, most likely drawing thousands of new workers, Virginia is planning to redesign Route 1 to keep traffic flowing while adding extra space for growing numbers of cyclists and pedestrians. The state has yet to allocate funding for the project.

WEST VIRGINIA

Highways&nbsp;— Corridor H

Corridor H, a portion of the Appalachian Development Highway System meant to stretch across much of the state, has gone unfinished for more than half a century. As of last September, construction on certain pieces of the Corridor H highway was not expected to begin for at least another decade.

Now, it is set to get a crucial infusion of money from the infrastructure bill.

Sens. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, and Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, both helped draft the legislation and ultimately supported it. The measure created a $2 billion rural grant program that is expected to direct funding toward the broader Appalachian highway system, and is expected to provide an additional $195 million to projects like Corridor H.

Energy and natural resources&nbsp;— Coal and oil cleanup

The legislation maintains an existing program that helps clean up abandoned coal mines, providing $11.3 billion for states like West Virginia for their continued restoration to protect communities nearby. At least 140,355 acres of land in West Virginia require cleanup that would cost nearly $2 billion to address, according to an estimate provided by Manchin’s office.

The state would also receive funding to address so-called orphan wells, or abandoned oil and gas wells that risk leaking toxic emissions and pollution into water. There are at least 4,646 documented wells in West Virginia.

WYOMING

Highways&nbsp;— Teton Pass Tunnel

Transit officials are exploring a plan to bore a tunnel through the Teton Pass, diverting cars from the current route, Wyoming Highway 22, which winds through the mountains. In the winter, the highway is closed to heavy commercial traffic because of a persistent threat of avalanches.

Under the proposal, the tunnel would pass through the southern range of the Tetons, meaning vehicles could entirely avoid climbing high summits and bypass the curves and steep grades that define the route. Funding for the project has been unavailable, and a precise cost is still uncertain, officials said.

In the Pacific Northwest, the aging Interstate 5 bridge, a main artery between Oregon and Washington, is at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake. Across Appalachia, abandoned coal mines leaking toxic pollutants are a threat to public health.

In the Pacific Northwest, the aging Interstate 5 bridge, a main artery between Oregon and Washington, is at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake. Across Appalachia, abandoned coal mines leaking toxic pollutants are a threat to public health. And along the Gulf Coast, states like Louisiana are forced to consider novel evacuation routes to ease traffic on inland highways that often become clogged before powerful hurricanes. Proposed solutions to these challenges, and others across the country, have come into focus for state leaders and transit officials as the House is poised to take up a sprawling $1 trillion infrastructure package whose future is increasingly uncertain. For years, officials have been forced to balance an overwhelming backlog of repairs and upgrades to highways, bridges and roads against more sweeping, longer-term projects. But an infusion of nearly $600 billion in new federal aid could change that calculus as states are freed to consider more ambitious ideas that align with President Joe Biden’s vision for a generational overhaul of the country’s aging public works system. Still, even as lawmakers in both parties agree that such money is gravely overdue, the measure’s fate is in limbo as the liberal and moderate flanks of the Democratic Party have clashed over whether to pass the bill before a $3.5 trillion spending plan. House Republican leaders have also urged their members to oppose the package. Before the vote, now expected in the House on Thursday, The New York Times asked congressional offices, governor’s offices and state transit officials across the country what projects federal funding could help accelerate. Several state officials declined to comment, citing concerns about discussing a $1 trillion infrastructure plan before the vote. Others said they hoped that an influx of federal funding could fast-track longer-term projects already underway or jump-start initiatives aimed at overhauling transit and other infrastructure. Here are some of the largest and most consequential priorities. ALASKA Ferries — Alaska Marine Highway System Because Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, was a core member of the bipartisan group of senators who helped negotiate the bill, the legislation includes multiple projects meant to benefit the state’s ferry system. Notably, $250 million has been set aside for a pilot program to develop an electric or low-emitting ferry. The measure does not single out Alaska by name, but as the state with the most miles of marine highway, it is guaranteed to be a site for such an initiative. Also read | CDC director explains move to recommend booster shots for frontline workers The Alaska Marine Highway System — which encompasses the ferries that help connect much of the state — also stands to benefit. A $1 billion program in the bill would construct a ferry system to reach rural communities, and a provision would funnel federal highway dollars toward operating and repairing the service. Highways, roads and bridges — Alaska Highway The legislation authorizes money to repair more than 300 miles of highway that stretch across Alaska’s border and into Canada. It also carves out funding for projects in rural areas, which Murkowski’s office predicted could be applied to ice roads or transferred to a state commission that oversees basic infrastructure. It is expected to provide $225 million to fix more than 140 bridges that are considered structurally deficient. CALIFORNIA High-speed rail For over a decade, California has sought to construct a high-speed rail line that would connect its largest cities to the Central Valley. A current priority is completing an electrified route between Merced and Bakersfield. With additional funding, state officials hope to build segments that would ultimately connect the Central Valley to the Bay Area and the Los Angeles Basin. A planned route from the Central Valley to San Francisco is estimated to cost $15.2 billion, with another leg linking Bakersfield and Palmdale estimated at $15.7 billion. Electric vehicles After Gov. Gavin Newsom last year issued an executive order intended to ramp up his state’s reliance on emissions-free cars, California began planning a network of electric charging stations and hydrogen fueling stations. The state budget dedicates $1 billion to expand related infrastructure, but officials expect it will need further funding. COLORADO Highways — Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels Set at the highest point in the country’s Interstate highway system, the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels were considered a major feat of engineering when their construction began in 1968, carrying traffic for nearly 2 miles under the Continental Divide in central Colorado. With the first bore nearly 50 years old, the twin tunnels have fallen into disrepair, in no small part because extreme weather regularly batters the area. Given the upkeep needs that have accumulated, the state estimates that improvements could ultimately exceed $150 million. CONNECTICUT Highways and urban design — I-84/I-91 in Greater Hartford Last year, Connecticut began studying strategies for undoing the damage that the placement of major interstates cutting through the Hartford area had caused to communities. That plan aims to consolidate an array of campaigns aimed at improving mobility in the city, both to stitch together transit systems in the area and to help reunite disconnected sections of Hartford and East Hartford. Officials expect the effort to cost $12 billion to $15 billion over a 15- to 20-year period, but will first pursue more incremental improvements. Electrifying public transit — CTtransit buses The CTtransit service operates 700 diesel buses that serve Hartford, New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury, among other cities in the state. Officials aim to convert all those buses to electric in the next 15 years, and have pledged to support other districts in similar efforts. The full conversion is projected to cost $772 million. LOUISIANA Rail — Baton Rouge-New Orleans commuter rail Particularly after Hurricane Katrina overtaxed highways and roads as residents evacuated New Orleans in 2005, Louisiana has focused on passenger rail service linking the city to Baton Rouge as an alternative. Several studies examining the feasibility of that proposal have been completed since 2006, but funding has not been available to move forward. The Southern Rail Commission is overseeing the effort and has requested federal funds to conduct an environmental study. Current projections put the cost at $150 million in capital improvements to the line and $9 million per year in operating subsidies. The route would include four stops between the two cities. Bridges — New Mississippi River crossing Transit officials have eyed a new bridge across the Mississippi River near the Baton Rouge area for decades, but have delayed planning because of a lack of funding. The Coast Guard has identified five possible sites, but each requires an evaluation for environmental impact and efficiency. The state estimates that a new bridge and connecting ramps or interchanges would cost about $1.1 billion, and officials expect the project would take three to five years after studies are complete. MICHIGAN Climate resiliency — Great Lakes restoration Michigan is set to receive $1 billion to help speed efforts to protect and repair the Great Lakes, including preserving natural wildlife habitats and improving water quality. It is the largest federal investment since the program was established in 2010. The legislation also includes $500 million for a loan program that would help local governments in states set up mitigation projects to reduce the risk and damage from shoreline erosion and extreme flooding. MINNESOTA Bridges — Blatnik Bridge Opened in 1961, the Blatnik Bridge over the St. Louis Bay, connecting the twin ports of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, is quickly approaching what transit officials consider the end of its usable life. Officials from the Transportation Departments in Minnesota and Wisconsin are studying how to repair or replace the bridge, but costs are unknown and new funding is required. High-speed rail — Northern Lights Express Minnesota has completed planning for a high-speed rail project that would link Minneapolis and Duluth, stopping in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, Hinckley and Superior, Wisconsin. State officials expect the project will cost $500 million to $600 million, and they estimate the final design and construction could take 2 1/2 years. Highways and urban design — I-94 State officials now see I-94, constructed in the 1960s to link St. Paul and Minneapolis, as one of dozens of highway projects in the United States that badly disrupted urban areas, leveling homes and suffocating businesses. The state is soliciting public comment from affected residents, hoping to revamp the corridor in a way that reconnects separated neighborhoods. NEW JERSEY Rail — Gateway Tunnel The Biden administration has expressed support for funding critical repairs to the Gateway Tunnel, addressing chronic congestion plaguing the train route that links populous sections of New Jersey to New York. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy flooded the tunnel, leaving structural damage, and progress has stalled given the estimated $11 billion to $13 billion cost to complete repairs. The infrastructure bill includes billions of dollars from funds set aside for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor and improvement grants that could go toward the project, said Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, both Democrats. Electrifying public transit — New Jersey Transit buses As part of a pilot program started this year, New Jersey Transit is deploying its first electrified buses in Camden and aims to electrify its entire fleet by 2040. The state anticipates needing $5.7 billion total to acquire and operate more electric buses. OREGON Rail — Southwest Corridor Light Rail In 2009, officials began planning to build a light rail line that would ferry passengers from downtown Portland to Tualatin in 30 minutes. The line would include 13 new stops, adding rail capacity for the Portland metropolitan area, which officials expect to grow by some 400,000 new residents by 2040. The project is expected to cost about $2.8 billion and is currently on hold until funding becomes available. Bridges — I-5 bridge replacement Addressing structural deficiencies of the Interstate 5 bridge, which connects Oregon to Washington over the Columbia River, has long been a top priority for transit officials in both states. One span of the bridge is over 100 years old, and officials believe the two existing bridge structures are at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake. Several attempts to replace the bridge have been upended by political disagreement, despite tens of millions of dollars spent on studies. Transit officials from both states are leading a renewed push to replace the bridge with a seismically resilient structure equipped with increased space for bicycle lanes and pedestrians, factoring in climate and equity concerns. The project carries an estimated cost of $3.2 billion to $4.8 billion. RHODE ISLAND Ferries State transit officials believe Rhode Island stands to gain from expanding its ferry service, connecting port towns like Wickford and East Greenwich. The state currently runs ferry service between Providence and Newport, stopping in Bristol in the summer, but it has proposed acquiring vessels and upgrading terminals to reach new destinations at an estimated cost of $15 million. Electrifying public transit — Electrified trains to Boston Together with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Rhode Island is considering adding electrified rail service between Providence and Boston. Initially, officials hope to introduce a cross-honoring ticket program that will allow commuter rail passengers the option of taking Amtrak. Future phases would include fully electrifying the route, which MBTA has funding to study; officials have envisioned upgrading the line between the two cities at a cost of about $350 million. VIRGINIA Rail — A new Long Bridge As part of its bid to sharply expand passenger rail, Virginia is pursuing plans to add a $1.9 billion bridge across the Potomac River. It would supplement the existing Long Bridge, which connects Virginia to the District of Columbia, establishing a pathway that would separate passenger and freight operations. The current version of the Long Bridge was opened in 1904 and modified heavily in 1942; it remains the only railroad bridge between Virginia and Washington. Transit officials have labeled the crossing as one of the main congestion points on the East Coast, and the proposed parallel crossing could help alleviate traffic by dividing freight and passenger trains. Highways and urban design — Route 1 in Crystal City State officials have begun studying ways to upgrade Route 1 in Crystal City, part of a major corridor that carries over 45,000 vehicles per day from the Washington metro area to busy parts of Arlington County, such as Pentagon City. Particularly since Amazon announced it would expand its presence in Crystal City in 2018, most likely drawing thousands of new workers, Virginia is planning to redesign Route 1 to keep traffic flowing while adding extra space for growing numbers of cyclists and pedestrians. The state has yet to allocate funding for the project. WEST VIRGINIA Highways — Corridor H Corridor H, a portion of the Appalachian Development Highway System meant to stretch across much of the state, has gone unfinished for more than half a century. As of last September, construction on certain pieces of the Corridor H highway was not expected to begin for at least another decade. Now, it is set to get a crucial infusion of money from the infrastructure bill. Sens. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, and Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, both helped draft the legislation and ultimately supported it. The measure created a $2 billion rural grant program that is expected to direct funding toward the broader Appalachian highway system, and is expected to provide an additional $195 million to projects like Corridor H. Energy and natural resources — Coal and oil cleanup The legislation maintains an existing program that helps clean up abandoned coal mines, providing $11.3 billion for states like West Virginia for their continued restoration to protect communities nearby. At least 140,355 acres of land in West Virginia require cleanup that would cost nearly $2 billion to address, according to an estimate provided by Manchin’s office. The state would also receive funding to address so-called orphan wells, or abandoned oil and gas wells that risk leaking toxic emissions and pollution into water. There are at least 4,646 documented wells in West Virginia. WYOMING Highways — Teton Pass Tunnel Transit officials are exploring a plan to bore a tunnel through the Teton Pass, diverting cars from the current route, Wyoming Highway 22, which winds through the mountains. In the winter, the highway is closed to heavy commercial traffic because of a persistent threat of avalanches. Under the proposal, the tunnel would pass through the southern range of the Tetons, meaning vehicles could entirely avoid climbing high summits and bypass the curves and steep grades that define the route. Funding for the project has been unavailable, and a precise cost is still uncertain, officials said.

Ferries in Alaska, rail in Oregon, States dream big on infrastructure funds

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that a state emergency declaration and other options, including calling in health care workers from the National Guard, are on the table to address any potential hospital staffing shortages.&nbsp;

This comes in as New York prepares to enforce its COVID-19 vaccination deadline.

In a statement, Hochul said, "I am monitoring the staffing situation closely and we have a plan to increase our health care workforce and help alleviate the burdens on our hospitals and other health care facilities."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cdc-study-schools-with-mask-mandates-likely-to-have-fewer-outbreaks-416046">Also read |&nbsp;CDC study: Schools with mask mandates likely to have fewer outbreaks</a>

"I commend all of the health care workers who have stepped up to get themselves vaccinated, and I urge all remaining health care workers who are unvaccinated to do so now so they can continue providing care."

The preparation plan further includes signing an executive order to declare a state of emergency to increase staff, &nbsp;to allow licensed health care professionals from other places to work in New York.&nbsp;

The plan also includes the potential deployment of medically-trained National Guard members, and the opportunity to expedite visa requests for medical professionals.&nbsp;

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that a state emergency declaration and other options, including calling in health care workers from the National Guard, are on the table to address any potential hospital staffing shortages.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that a state emergency declaration and other options, including calling in health care workers from the National Guard, are on the table to address any potential hospital staffing shortages. This comes in as New York prepares to enforce its COVID-19 vaccination deadline. In a statement, Hochul said, "I am monitoring the staffing situation closely and we have a plan to increase our health care workforce and help alleviate the burdens on our hospitals and other health care facilities." Also read | CDC study: Schools with mask mandates likely to have fewer outbreaks "I commend all of the health care workers who have stepped up to get themselves vaccinated, and I urge all remaining health care workers who are unvaccinated to do so now so they can continue providing care." The preparation plan further includes signing an executive order to declare a state of emergency to increase staff, to allow licensed health care professionals from other places to work in New York. The plan also includes the potential deployment of medically-trained National Guard members, and the opportunity to expedite visa requests for medical professionals.

New York prepares for staff shortages as it prepares to enforce its COVID-19 vaccination deadline

Hurricane Sam strengthened into a Category 4 storm as it moved west across the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said Saturday.

The hurricane was about 1,000 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands as of 5 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, moving about 10 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies major hurricanes as Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds above 110 mph. Category 4 storms have wind speeds of 130 to 156 mph.

The swells generated by the hurricane were forecast to reach the Lesser Antilles early next week and have the potential to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the center said.

Beyond the swells, it was “still too early to tell what impacts might occur in the United States,” Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist at the hurricane center in Miami, said Saturday.

Sam, which formed Thursday in the central Atlantic, is the fourth named storm to develop in less than a week and the 18th overall in a busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.

“All folks need to do right now is check the latest forecast as we get into next week,” Feltgen said. He said people should ensure they have a hurricane plan, including supplies, in place.

Also Friday, Subtropical Storm Teresa formed north of Bermuda, becoming the 19th named storm of the hurricane season. Teresa has a small window to “intensify slightly,” but it is likely to dissipate by Sunday and also is not expected to threaten land, forecasters said.

After Sam and Teresa, the next named storms would be Victor and Wanda.

If forecasters go through the list, they will turn to an additional set of names approved by the World Meteorological Organization this year. That list begins with Adria, followed by Braylen and Caridad.

“With more than two months to go in the hurricane season, it is certainly possible that the 2021 Atlantic list of names will be exhausted,” Feltgen said.

Last year, there were 30 named storms, including six major hurricanes, forcing meteorologists to exhaust the alphabet for the second time and move to using Greek letters. It was the most named storms on record, surpassing the 28 from 2005, and the second-highest number of hurricanes.

This year, the arrival of peak hurricane season — August through November — has led to a run of named storms that formed in quick succession, bringing stormy weather, flooding and damaging winds to parts of the United States and the Caribbean.

Tropical Storm Odette formed Sept. 17, followed days later by Peter and Rose. All three storms have since dissipated.

Tropical Storm Mindy hit the Florida Panhandle on Sept. 8, just hours after it formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and as a powerful Hurricane Larry was simultaneously churning in the Atlantic. Ida battered Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane Aug. 29 before its remnants brought deadly flooding to the New York area.

The links between hurricanes and climate change are becoming more apparent. A warming planet can expect stronger hurricanes over time, and a higher incidence of the most powerful storms — though the overall number of storms could drop, because factors like stronger wind shear could keep weaker storms from forming.

Hurricanes are also becoming wetter because of more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere; scientists have suggested storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017 produced far more rain than they would have without the human effects on climate. Also, rising sea levels are contributing to higher storm surge — the most destructive element of tropical cyclones.

Ana became the first named storm of the 2021 season May 23, making this the seventh year in a row that a named storm developed in the Atlantic before the official start of the season June 1.

In May, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there would be 13 to 20 named storms this year, six to 10 of which would be hurricanes, including three to five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher in the Atlantic.

The agency updated its forecast in early August, predicting 15 to 21 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes, by the end of the season Nov. 30.

Hurricane Sam strengthened into a Category 4 storm as it moved west across the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said Saturday. The hurricane was about 1,000 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands as of 5 p.

Hurricane Sam strengthened into a Category 4 storm as it moved west across the Atlantic Ocean, forecasters said Saturday. The hurricane was about 1,000 miles east-southeast of the northern Leeward Islands as of 5 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, moving about 10 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies major hurricanes as Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds above 110 mph. Category 4 storms have wind speeds of 130 to 156 mph. The swells generated by the hurricane were forecast to reach the Lesser Antilles early next week and have the potential to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, the center said. Beyond the swells, it was “still too early to tell what impacts might occur in the United States,” Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist at the hurricane center in Miami, said Saturday. Sam, which formed Thursday in the central Atlantic, is the fourth named storm to develop in less than a week and the 18th overall in a busy 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. “All folks need to do right now is check the latest forecast as we get into next week,” Feltgen said. He said people should ensure they have a hurricane plan, including supplies, in place. Also Friday, Subtropical Storm Teresa formed north of Bermuda, becoming the 19th named storm of the hurricane season. Teresa has a small window to “intensify slightly,” but it is likely to dissipate by Sunday and also is not expected to threaten land, forecasters said. After Sam and Teresa, the next named storms would be Victor and Wanda. If forecasters go through the list, they will turn to an additional set of names approved by the World Meteorological Organization this year. That list begins with Adria, followed by Braylen and Caridad. “With more than two months to go in the hurricane season, it is certainly possible that the 2021 Atlantic list of names will be exhausted,” Feltgen said. Last year, there were 30 named storms, including six major hurricanes, forcing meteorologists to exhaust the alphabet for the second time and move to using Greek letters. It was the most named storms on record, surpassing the 28 from 2005, and the second-highest number of hurricanes. This year, the arrival of peak hurricane season — August through November — has led to a run of named storms that formed in quick succession, bringing stormy weather, flooding and damaging winds to parts of the United States and the Caribbean. Tropical Storm Odette formed Sept. 17, followed days later by Peter and Rose. All three storms have since dissipated. Tropical Storm Mindy hit the Florida Panhandle on Sept. 8, just hours after it formed in the Gulf of Mexico, and as a powerful Hurricane Larry was simultaneously churning in the Atlantic. Ida battered Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane Aug. 29 before its remnants brought deadly flooding to the New York area. The links between hurricanes and climate change are becoming more apparent. A warming planet can expect stronger hurricanes over time, and a higher incidence of the most powerful storms — though the overall number of storms could drop, because factors like stronger wind shear could keep weaker storms from forming. Hurricanes are also becoming wetter because of more water vapor in the warmer atmosphere; scientists have suggested storms like Hurricane Harvey in 2017 produced far more rain than they would have without the human effects on climate. Also, rising sea levels are contributing to higher storm surge — the most destructive element of tropical cyclones. Ana became the first named storm of the 2021 season May 23, making this the seventh year in a row that a named storm developed in the Atlantic before the official start of the season June 1. In May, scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there would be 13 to 20 named storms this year, six to 10 of which would be hurricanes, including three to five major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher in the Atlantic. The agency updated its forecast in early August, predicting 15 to 21 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes, by the end of the season Nov. 30.

Sam becomes a category 4 hurricane

As per a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enforcing masks in schools helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.

One study looked at data from schools in Arizona's Maricopa and Pima Counties after they resumed in-person learning in late July.

The two counties account for roughly 75 per cent of the state's population.&nbsp;

It was concluded that the K-12 schools that did not have mask requirements at the beginning of the school year were 3.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks than schools that required all people to wear a mask indoors from the first day of school.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eruptions-shut-airport-on-canaries-volcanic-island-416032">Also read |&nbsp;Eruptions shut airport on Canaries volcanic island</a>

As a part of the study, 999 schools were analysed. Out of this, 21 per cent had an early mask requirement, 30.9 per cent enacted a mask requirement between nine and 17 days after the school year began, and 48 per cent had no mask requirement.

Of the 191 COVID-19 outbreaks that occurred in those schools, 113 were in schools that did not enforce masks at all. Schools with early mask requirements had the lowest number of outbreaks.&nbsp;

Another study from the CDC looked at the impact of school mask mandates across the US. In this, researchers found that counties that had no mask requirements in their schools had a higher rate of pediatric COVID-19 cases after the school year began than those schools that did have requirements.

Schools that required masks&nbsp;had 16.32 cases per 100,000 children in the first week of classes while&nbsp;schools without had 34.85 cases per 100,000 children.&nbsp;

As per a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enforcing masks in schools helps reduce the spread of COVID-19. One study looked at data from schools in Arizona's Maricopa and Pima Counties after they resumed in-person learning in late July.

As per a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enforcing masks in schools helps reduce the spread of COVID-19. One study looked at data from schools in Arizona's Maricopa and Pima Counties after they resumed in-person learning in late July. The two counties account for roughly 75 per cent of the state's population. It was concluded that the K-12 schools that did not have mask requirements at the beginning of the school year were 3.5 times more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks than schools that required all people to wear a mask indoors from the first day of school. Also read | Eruptions shut airport on Canaries volcanic island As a part of the study, 999 schools were analysed. Out of this, 21 per cent had an early mask requirement, 30.9 per cent enacted a mask requirement between nine and 17 days after the school year began, and 48 per cent had no mask requirement. Of the 191 COVID-19 outbreaks that occurred in those schools, 113 were in schools that did not enforce masks at all. Schools with early mask requirements had the lowest number of outbreaks. Another study from the CDC looked at the impact of school mask mandates across the US. In this, researchers found that counties that had no mask requirements in their schools had a higher rate of pediatric COVID-19 cases after the school year began than those schools that did have requirements. Schools that required masks had 16.32 cases per 100,000 children in the first week of classes while schools without had 34.85 cases per 100,000 children.

CDC study: Schools with mask mandates likely to have fewer outbreaks

At a press conference, the US Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby on Saturday said the United States does not need to inform Taliban while going in for a counter-terrorism airstrike in Afghanistan. &nbsp;

Watch:

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The remark came a day after Taliban demanded compensation from countries involved in fighting in Afghanistan. &nbsp;

“We retain all necessary authorities to execute over the horizon counter-terrorism operations, and we remain confident in these capabilities moving forward without speaking to specific rules of engagement surrounding airstrikes. There is currently no requirement to clear airspace with the Taliban and we do not expect that any future over the horizon counter-terrorism strikes would hinge on such a clearance,” Kirby added. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taliban-recognition-not-on-the-table-says-russian-foreign-minister-sergei-lavrov-416018" hreflang="en">Taliban recognition 'not on the table', says Russian Foreign Minister</a>

Meanwhile, the US Central Command commander General Kenneth McKenzie has admitted that the US made a "mistake" by launching a drone airstrike in Kabul’s residential area on August 29. He agreed that the strike did not kill ISIS-K militants, but did take lives of 10 civilians. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-hang-four-bodies-from-cranes-in-herat-call-it-lesson-for-kidnappers-415958" hreflang="en">Taliban hang four bodies from cranes in Herat, call it 'lesson' for kidnappers</a>

The officials had then tried to prove it as a success by claiming to have killed Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) militants. After an investigation, McKenzie told reporters, "The strike was a tragic mistake." &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

At a press conference, the US Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby on Saturday said the United States does not need to inform Taliban while going in for a counter-terrorism airstrike in Afghanistan.

At a press conference, the US Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby on Saturday said the United States does not need to inform Taliban while going in for a counter-terrorism airstrike in Afghanistan. Watch: × The remark came a day after Taliban demanded compensation from countries involved in fighting in Afghanistan. “We retain all necessary authorities to execute over the horizon counter-terrorism operations, and we remain confident in these capabilities moving forward without speaking to specific rules of engagement surrounding airstrikes. There is currently no requirement to clear airspace with the Taliban and we do not expect that any future over the horizon counter-terrorism strikes would hinge on such a clearance,” Kirby added. Also Read: Taliban recognition 'not on the table', says Russian Foreign Minister Meanwhile, the US Central Command commander General Kenneth McKenzie has admitted that the US made a "mistake" by launching a drone airstrike in Kabul’s residential area on August 29. He agreed that the strike did not kill ISIS-K militants, but did take lives of 10 civilians. Also Read: Taliban hang four bodies from cranes in Herat, call it 'lesson' for kidnappers The officials had then tried to prove it as a success by claiming to have killed Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) militants. After an investigation, McKenzie told reporters, "The strike was a tragic mistake." (With inputs from agencies)

US doesn't need to inform Taliban over Afghan counter-terrorism airstrikes, says Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby

Several people took to streets to demand governments of the western countries to unfreeze assets of Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p>

People gathered in Herat, the western province of Afghanistan, where they called upon the United States (US) and other European Union (EU) countries to unfreeze assets of Afghanistan abroad.<o:p></o:p>

The group claimed that since people are facing extreme poverty and economic recession, especially since Taliban took over the country, foreign government should help the locals.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-doesnt-need-to-inform-taliban-over-afghan-counter-terrorism-airstrikes-said-department-of-defense-press-secretary-john-kirby-416166">US doesn't need to inform Taliban over Afghan counter-terrorism airstrikes, said Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby</a></o:p>

Several western countries decided to freeze assets of Afghanistan and have paused all financial aids for the country the day Taliban took control of the country.<o:p></o:p>

"International community should not be looking at us through the lens of enmity, since centuries it has been proven that the people of Afghanistan cannot be governed or ruled by intruders,"&nbsp;said Muhammad Amin. "It's not just me but everyone here that the international community should recognize the Islamic Emirate and that our 9.4 billion dollar which is Afghanistan's money which has been frozen abroad should be unfrozen so that the money can be used for the development of the country."

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Hundreds of people from different walks of life gathered in Herat, the western province of Afghanistan, calling on US and European countries to unfreeze the reserves of Afghanistan. They said, the people of Afghanistan are facing poverty and economic recession, there is
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This comes a few days after Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev urged western governments to unfreeze Afghanistan's assets kept abroad in foreign banks.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

The President urged governments to take the action to facilitate dialogue with the Taliban government in Kabul.<o:p></o:p>

"Considering the humanitarian situation, we propose looking into the possibility of lifting the freeze on Afghanistan's accounts in foreign banks," he said.<o:p></o:p>

Meanwhile, women and young girls have also been taking to streets to call for equal rights for women. Several groups have been coming forward all around the world to raise their voices against <o:p></o:p>

Several people took to streets to demand governments of the western countries to unfreeze assets of Afghanistan. People gathered in Herat, the western province of Afghanistan, where they called upon the United States (US) and other European Union (EU) countries to unfreeze assets of Afghanistan abroad.

Several people took to streets to demand governments of the western countries to unfreeze assets of Afghanistan. People gathered in Herat, the western province of Afghanistan, where they called upon the United States (US) and other European Union (EU) countries to unfreeze assets of Afghanistan abroad. The group claimed that since people are facing extreme poverty and economic recession, especially since Taliban took over the country, foreign government should help the locals. Also read | US doesn't need to inform Taliban over Afghan counter-terrorism airstrikes, said Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby Several western countries decided to freeze assets of Afghanistan and have paused all financial aids for the country the day Taliban took control of the country. "International community should not be looking at us through the lens of enmity, since centuries it has been proven that the people of Afghanistan cannot be governed or ruled by intruders," said Muhammad Amin. "It's not just me but everyone here that the international community should recognize the Islamic Emirate and that our 9.4 billion dollar which is Afghanistan's money which has been frozen abroad should be unfrozen so that the money can be used for the development of the country." 1/2 Hundreds of people from different walks of life gathered in Herat, the western province of Afghanistan, calling on US and European countries to unfreeze the reserves of Afghanistan. They said, the people of Afghanistan are facing poverty and economic recession, there is — Suhail Shaheen. محمد سهیل شاهین (@suhailshaheen1) September 26, 2021 × This comes a few days after Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev urged western governments to unfreeze Afghanistan's assets kept abroad in foreign banks. The President urged governments to take the action to facilitate dialogue with the Taliban government in Kabul. "Considering the humanitarian situation, we propose looking into the possibility of lifting the freeze on Afghanistan's accounts in foreign banks," he said. Meanwhile, women and young girls have also been taking to streets to call for equal rights for women. Several groups have been coming forward all around the world to raise their voices against

Locals gather in Herat to urge US, EU to unfreeze Afghanistan's assets

In Pics | Firefighters try and protect giant sequoias amid California fires

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called Saturday on the United States to take a more active approach to help resume stalled talks aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal.

"It seems evident they should be more active" in "resolving all issues related" to the accord, Lavrov told reporters at the United Nations in New York.

Lavrov added that he hoped negotiations in Vienna among Iran, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany would resume "as soon as possible."

The talks, brokered by the Europeans, seek the return of the United States to the 2015 agreement trashed by former president Donald Trump -- as well as Iran's return to full compliance.

Trump pulled America out in 2018, reinstating sanctions on Iran that Washington had lifted as part of the agreement.

Since then, Tehran has also retreated from many of its commitments.

Lavrov said Iran no longer meets elements of the agreement "simply because the United States has left it."

He added that sanctions reimposed on Iran also affected countries who "trade legally" with Tehran.

"These sanctions should be lifted as part of the restoration of the nuclear deal," he said, adding that Iran's "should not suffer from unilateral US measures."

Trump's successor Joe Biden has indicated he wants to return to the deal, but his administration has expressed impatience at the stalled talks.

Discussions between Iran and the remaining five parties aimed at reviving the deal began in Vienna in April but have been suspended since June, when ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi was elected president.

Hopes of reviving the deal were kept alive earlier this month when Iran agreed to a new compromise with the UN nuclear agency on the monitoring of its nuclear facilities.

Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said Friday the talks would resume "very soon," but the United States said Tehran had not been specific about the timeframe.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called Saturday on the United States to take a more active approach to help resume stalled talks aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called Saturday on the United States to take a more active approach to help resume stalled talks aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal. "It seems evident they should be more active" in "resolving all issues related" to the accord, Lavrov told reporters at the United Nations in New York. Lavrov added that he hoped negotiations in Vienna among Iran, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany would resume "as soon as possible." The talks, brokered by the Europeans, seek the return of the United States to the 2015 agreement trashed by former president Donald Trump -- as well as Iran's return to full compliance. Trump pulled America out in 2018, reinstating sanctions on Iran that Washington had lifted as part of the agreement. Since then, Tehran has also retreated from many of its commitments. Lavrov said Iran no longer meets elements of the agreement "simply because the United States has left it." He added that sanctions reimposed on Iran also affected countries who "trade legally" with Tehran. "These sanctions should be lifted as part of the restoration of the nuclear deal," he said, adding that Iran's "should not suffer from unilateral US measures." Trump's successor Joe Biden has indicated he wants to return to the deal, but his administration has expressed impatience at the stalled talks. Discussions between Iran and the remaining five parties aimed at reviving the deal began in Vienna in April but have been suspended since June, when ultraconservative Ebrahim Raisi was elected president. Hopes of reviving the deal were kept alive earlier this month when Iran agreed to a new compromise with the UN nuclear agency on the monitoring of its nuclear facilities. Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said Friday the talks would resume "very soon," but the United States said Tehran had not been specific about the timeframe.

Russia calls on US to 'be more active' to revive Iran nuclear deal

Harsh Shringla, India's foreign secretary, addressed reporters in Washington, DC, this morning on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's discussions with the leaders of India, &nbsp;US, Japan and Australia during the Quad Summit.&nbsp; 
 
The foreign secretary mentioned that "there was praise for India's UN Security Council presidency, particularly on the Afghanistan issue. President Biden stated unequivocally that India should have a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and he emphasised the significance of the defence alliance." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/quad-summit-modi-biden-morrison-suga-vow-free-open-indo-pacific-at-historic-first-quad-summit-415687">Also read | Quad summit: Modi, Biden, Morrison, Suga vow free, open Indo-Pacific at historic first in-person meet</a>

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<h5>US President Joe Biden believes that India should have a permanent place on the United Nations Security Council, and he emphasised the significance of the defence alliance.&nbsp;</h5>
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Talking about PM Modi’s meeting with the leaders, Shringla said that "PM Modi expressed thanks for the solidarity shown by the US government and the people of the US when we had our second wave of crisis. President Joe Biden appreciated India's role in extending assistance to countries across the world, including through pharmaceuticals and vaccines." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-1994-visit-to-unga-2021-heres-a-look-at-modis-us-visits-415717">Pictures: From 1994 visit to UNGA 2021, here's a look at Modi's US visits</a> 
 
"President Joe Biden accepted PM Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India, and Biden expressed his gratitude. We are looking forward to President Joe Biden's visit," said Harsh Shringla during the press conference.&nbsp;

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<h5>PM Narendra Modi proposed a common international travelling protocol involving mutual recognition of the COVID19 vaccination certificate. It was well-received by all the Quad leaders.</h5>
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According to the foreign secretary, India will make available 8 million doses of Johnson &amp; Johnson's Janssen vaccine, which is manufactured in India by Biological E, at Quad's request.

This would be completed by the end of October and would be consistent with our plan to resume vaccination exports. 
 
Harsh Vardhan Shringla, when asked about concerns affecting NRIs, said that the discussion between the Prime Minister and the US President was wide-ranging, and that issues affecting the Indian community, such as the H1b visa, were discussed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart later this evening for New York. He is scheduled to address the 76th session of the UNGA tomorrow morning, " he added.

Harsh Shringla, India's foreign secretary, addressed reporters in Washington, DC, this morning on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's discussions with the leaders of India, US, Japan and Australia during the Quad Summit.

Harsh Shringla, India's foreign secretary, addressed reporters in Washington, DC, this morning on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's discussions with the leaders of India, US, Japan and Australia during the Quad Summit. The foreign secretary mentioned that "there was praise for India's UN Security Council presidency, particularly on the Afghanistan issue. President Biden stated unequivocally that India should have a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and he emphasised the significance of the defence alliance." Also read | Quad summit: Modi, Biden, Morrison, Suga vow free, open Indo-Pacific at historic first in-person meet US President Joe Biden believes that India should have a permanent place on the United Nations Security Council, and he emphasised the significance of the defence alliance. × Talking about PM Modi’s meeting with the leaders, Shringla said that "PM Modi expressed thanks for the solidarity shown by the US government and the people of the US when we had our second wave of crisis. President Joe Biden appreciated India's role in extending assistance to countries across the world, including through pharmaceuticals and vaccines." Pictures: From 1994 visit to UNGA 2021, here's a look at Modi's US visits "President Joe Biden accepted PM Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India, and Biden expressed his gratitude. We are looking forward to President Joe Biden's visit," said Harsh Shringla during the press conference. PM Narendra Modi proposed a common international travelling protocol involving mutual recognition of the COVID19 vaccination certificate. It was well-received by all the Quad leaders. × According to the foreign secretary, India will make available 8 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine, which is manufactured in India by Biological E, at Quad's request. This would be completed by the end of October and would be consistent with our plan to resume vaccination exports. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, when asked about concerns affecting NRIs, said that the discussion between the Prime Minister and the US President was wide-ranging, and that issues affecting the Indian community, such as the H1b visa, were discussed. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart later this evening for New York. He is scheduled to address the 76th session of the UNGA tomorrow morning, " he added.

US President says India should have permanent seat at UNSC: MEA after Quad summit

An impromptu border camp that roiled the US&nbsp;government was cleared of thousands of Haitian migrants by Friday, with most remaining in the United States for now and others expelled on deportation flights or returned to Mexico.

Reuters witnesses said the jumble of makeshift shelters and tents had all but disappeared from Del Rio, Texas, with workers removing the last debris along the border with Mexico. State troopers lined the banks of the Rio Grande to discourage new crossings.

US&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said nearly 30,000 migrants had been encountered in Del Rio in the past two weeks and that by morning there were none left in the camp beneath its international bridge.

Mayorkas vowed a swift probe into "horrifying" images that had sparked outrage this week which showed a border guard on horseback using his reins to contain Haitian migrants.

"We know that those images painfully conjured up the worst elements of our nation's ongoing battle against systemic racism," he told a news conference.

More than 12,000 migrants will have a chance to make their case for protection before US&nbsp;immigration judges, an estimated 8,000 voluntarily returned to Mexico, and 2,000 were expelled to Haiti. The fate of others detained is to be decided.

Seeking to balance outrage about treatment of the migrants, Del Rio Mayor Bruno Lozano praised agents for trying to provide food and medical care, and said there were no fatalities.

As well as the Biden administration's decision to send migrants back to chronic instability convulsing Haiti, Mexico has sought to bus and fly Haitians to its southern states.

On Friday, Reuters reported that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had formally asked Brazil to receive some of the Haitians from the camp, according to two sources with knowledge of the request.

Many of the Haitians arriving at the U.S. border had previously lived in Brazil and Chile, while others have transited through the South American countries.

U.S. President Joe Biden has faced criticism over the expulsions, including in a sternly worded resignation letter from the U.S. Special Envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, who described the Caribbean nation as a collapsed state.

Washington in May extended temporary protection from deportation to Haitians in the United States, citing political crisis, rights abuses, crime and lack of access to food, water and healthcare in the deeply impoverished country.

Since then, Haiti's president has been assassinated and it suffered a destructive earthquake.

But the Biden government has kept up deportations, mindful that letting in more Haitians may encourage others to try.

At least five more flights from the U.S. border were scheduled on Friday, flight tracking website FlightAware showed.

Thousands more Haitians are moving through Central America, with others among around 16,000 awaiting boats into the jungles of the Darien Gap in Panama, a bottleneck on the journey north.

Not all migrant traffic is U.S.-bound. On Friday, around 100 mostly Venezuelan migrants were moving south into Chile's northern border in a bid to make a fresh start there.

PUSHED SOUTH

Haitians who crossed back to Mexico in recent days were met by Mexican officials who urged them to return to Mexico's southern border with Guatemala to request asylum here.

"We're not taking them out of the country," Francisco Garduno, head of the Mexican government's National Migration Institute (INM), told Reuters. "We're bringing them away from the border so there are no hygiene and overcrowding problems."

Mexico's Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) is overwhelmed and scheduling appointments months away.

Official data show Haitians are less likely to have asylum claims approved in Mexico compared with many nationalities.

Last year, of all asylum claims that were formally resolved, only 22% of Haitian cases won approval, compared with 98% for Venezuelans, 85% of Hondurans, 83% of Salvadorans and 44% of Cubans. So far this year, the Haitian number is up to 31%.

Willy Jean, who spent two fruitless months in the Mexican city of Tapachula, said if Mexico really wanted to help, it should allow them to make their applications elsewhere.

"Tapachula's really tough, really small, there's lots of people," he told an INM agent trying to persuade him to go south. "There's no work, there's nothing."

An impromptu border camp that roiled the US government was cleared of thousands of Haitian migrants by Friday, with most remaining in the United States for now and others expelled on deportation flights or returned to Mexico.

An impromptu border camp that roiled the US government was cleared of thousands of Haitian migrants by Friday, with most remaining in the United States for now and others expelled on deportation flights or returned to Mexico. Reuters witnesses said the jumble of makeshift shelters and tents had all but disappeared from Del Rio, Texas, with workers removing the last debris along the border with Mexico. State troopers lined the banks of the Rio Grande to discourage new crossings. US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said nearly 30,000 migrants had been encountered in Del Rio in the past two weeks and that by morning there were none left in the camp beneath its international bridge. Mayorkas vowed a swift probe into "horrifying" images that had sparked outrage this week which showed a border guard on horseback using his reins to contain Haitian migrants. "We know that those images painfully conjured up the worst elements of our nation's ongoing battle against systemic racism," he told a news conference. More than 12,000 migrants will have a chance to make their case for protection before US immigration judges, an estimated 8,000 voluntarily returned to Mexico, and 2,000 were expelled to Haiti. The fate of others detained is to be decided. Seeking to balance outrage about treatment of the migrants, Del Rio Mayor Bruno Lozano praised agents for trying to provide food and medical care, and said there were no fatalities. As well as the Biden administration's decision to send migrants back to chronic instability convulsing Haiti, Mexico has sought to bus and fly Haitians to its southern states. On Friday, Reuters reported that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) had formally asked Brazil to receive some of the Haitians from the camp, according to two sources with knowledge of the request. Many of the Haitians arriving at the U.S. border had previously lived in Brazil and Chile, while others have transited through the South American countries. U.S. President Joe Biden has faced criticism over the expulsions, including in a sternly worded resignation letter from the U.S. Special Envoy to Haiti, Daniel Foote, who described the Caribbean nation as a collapsed state. Washington in May extended temporary protection from deportation to Haitians in the United States, citing political crisis, rights abuses, crime and lack of access to food, water and healthcare in the deeply impoverished country. Since then, Haiti's president has been assassinated and it suffered a destructive earthquake. But the Biden government has kept up deportations, mindful that letting in more Haitians may encourage others to try. At least five more flights from the U.S. border were scheduled on Friday, flight tracking website FlightAware showed. Thousands more Haitians are moving through Central America, with others among around 16,000 awaiting boats into the jungles of the Darien Gap in Panama, a bottleneck on the journey north. Not all migrant traffic is U.S.-bound. On Friday, around 100 mostly Venezuelan migrants were moving south into Chile's northern border in a bid to make a fresh start there. PUSHED SOUTH Haitians who crossed back to Mexico in recent days were met by Mexican officials who urged them to return to Mexico's southern border with Guatemala to request asylum here. "We're not taking them out of the country," Francisco Garduno, head of the Mexican government's National Migration Institute (INM), told Reuters. "We're bringing them away from the border so there are no hygiene and overcrowding problems." Mexico's Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) is overwhelmed and scheduling appointments months away. Official data show Haitians are less likely to have asylum claims approved in Mexico compared with many nationalities. Last year, of all asylum claims that were formally resolved, only 22% of Haitian cases won approval, compared with 98% for Venezuelans, 85% of Hondurans, 83% of Salvadorans and 44% of Cubans. So far this year, the Haitian number is up to 31%. Willy Jean, who spent two fruitless months in the Mexican city of Tapachula, said if Mexico really wanted to help, it should allow them to make their applications elsewhere. "Tapachula's really tough, really small, there's lots of people," he told an INM agent trying to persuade him to go south. "There's no work, there's nothing."

US border camp cleared of Haitians, thousands more on the move

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is a master at the twisting, modifying, and blending fact and fiction to suit his purposes.&nbsp;

He gave his third UNGA speech as prime minister of Pakistan on Friday, and his speech, delivered over video,&nbsp;was clearly three times more disgraceful.&nbsp;

The Pakistani prime minister attempted to portray Pakistan as the victim of American ungratefulness and an international double standards, in a prerecorded speech aired on&nbsp;Friday evening.&nbsp;

“For some reason, Pakistan has been blamed for the current crisis in Afghanistan by politicians in the United States and some politicians in Europe,” Khan remarked. 
 
Watch:

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“From this platform, I want them all to know that, aside from Afghanistan, Pakistan was the country that suffered the most when we joined the US war on terror after 9/11,” he said, referring to the 11 September, 2001 terror attacks carried out by al Qaeda that led to US invasion of Afghanistan and the eventual killing of the terror group's chief Osama bin Laden, in Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The only reason we suffered so much was that we became an ally of the US, of the coalition, in the war against Afghanistan, where attacks were being conducted from Afghan soil into Pakistan. At least there should have been a word of appreciation. But rather than appreciation, imagine how we feel when we are blamed for the turn of events in Afghanistan". 
 
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-leader-says-executions-will-return-in-afghanistan-415399" hreflang="en">Taliban leader says executions will return in Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;

However, reality differs significantly from the fiction scenario he painted before&nbsp;the world from the UNGA platform.

The truth is that Taliban militants were trained in Pakistani seminaries by Pakistan's notorious intelligence agency ISI and military.

They were either taught about jihad or assisted in the suppression of women.

Pakistan voluntarily joined the war on terror waged by the United States to suppress Pashtun nationalism.

Islamabad has always feared the formation of a Pashtun state, so it has encouraged Islamic nationalism instead, causing Afghanistan to devolve into chaos.&nbsp; 
 
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/chaotic-afghanistan-will-again-become-a-safe-haven-for-terrorists-imran-khan-at-unga-415729" hreflang="en">Chaotic Afghanistan will again become a safe haven for terrorists: Imran Khan</a>

In his failed attempt, Khan also tried to portray the Taliban as a positive force.&nbsp;

Acting as the Taliban's messenger once more, he pleaded with world leaders to assist them by bolstering, stabilising, and rewarding them. It was almost as if the Taliban, which tried and failed to speak at UNGA, had dispatched Imran Khan to the UN to represent them.&nbsp;

In Panjshir, Pakistan's nefarious role in war-torn Afghanistan&nbsp;was exposed when its military drones and helicopters supported Taliban in capturing the province from the Afghan National Resistance Front.&nbsp;

Taliban apologist Imran Khan remarked, "According to the UN, half the people of Afghanistan are already vulnerable. And by next year, almost 90% of the people in Afghanistan will go below the poverty line. There is a huge humanitarian crisis looming ahead. This will have serious repercussions not just for the neighbours of Afghanistan but it will have repercussions everywhere."&nbsp;

"We must strengthen the present government, stabilise it for the sake of the people of Afghanistan. What have the Taliban promised? They will respect human rights, they will have an inclusive government, they will not allow the soil to be used by terrorists and they have given amnesty. If the world community incentivises them, encourages them to walk the talk, it will be a win-win situation for everyone," he added.

He said that if the world helps the Taliban, the country&nbsp;would not be used for international terrorism.

But the reality is that, with the Taliban regaining power and a witches' brew of terrorist factions active in the country, it is in a state of chaos. Afghanistan has already established itself as the new jihadi capital.&nbsp;

Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Haqqani Network, Tehreek-e-Taliban and Islamic State, all these terrorist organisations have moved to Afghanistan.&nbsp;

They're reorganising and spreading, publishing declarations about fighting Islam's adversaries.

Global jihad is seeing a revival. It's happening right in front of the Taliban's eyes, and Taliban apologist Imran Khan wants to reward these individuals.&nbsp;

It was for India’s government that Khan reserved his harshest words, once again labelling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government “fascist.”

Khan described India as a place where fear reigns supreme. Muslims are persecuted in this country, and Kashmiris are denied their rights, he claimed.

He went so far as to accuse the West of being biased towards India.

Pakistan's use of a worldwide platform to make personal statements has become an annual event. Imran's speech is an insult to the United Nations.

Sneha Dubey, India's young diplomat, gave a stinging response loaded with the facts to Pakistan's allegations regarding Kashmir before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Dubey used her Right of Reply to criticise Imran Khan's references to Kashmir in his UN General Assembly virtual speech, claiming that Islamabad has a long history of deliberately aiding terrorists.&nbsp;

Dubey, First Secretary of India said at UNGA, "Regrettably, this is not the first time the leader of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country, and seeking in vain to divert the world's attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down."

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is a master at the twisting, modifying, and blending fact and fiction to suit his purposes. He gave his third UNGA speech as prime minister of Pakistan on Friday, and his speech, delivered over video, was clearly three times more disgraceful.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is a master at the twisting, modifying, and blending fact and fiction to suit his purposes. He gave his third UNGA speech as prime minister of Pakistan on Friday, and his speech, delivered over video, was clearly three times more disgraceful. The Pakistani prime minister attempted to portray Pakistan as the victim of American ungratefulness and an international double standards, in a prerecorded speech aired on Friday evening. “For some reason, Pakistan has been blamed for the current crisis in Afghanistan by politicians in the United States and some politicians in Europe,” Khan remarked. Watch: “From this platform, I want them all to know that, aside from Afghanistan, Pakistan was the country that suffered the most when we joined the US war on terror after 9/11,” he said, referring to the 11 September, 2001 terror attacks carried out by al Qaeda that led to US invasion of Afghanistan and the eventual killing of the terror group's chief Osama bin Laden, in Pakistan. "The only reason we suffered so much was that we became an ally of the US, of the coalition, in the war against Afghanistan, where attacks were being conducted from Afghan soil into Pakistan. At least there should have been a word of appreciation. But rather than appreciation, imagine how we feel when we are blamed for the turn of events in Afghanistan". Also Read: Taliban leader says executions will return in Afghanistan However, reality differs significantly from the fiction scenario he painted before the world from the UNGA platform. The truth is that Taliban militants were trained in Pakistani seminaries by Pakistan's notorious intelligence agency ISI and military. They were either taught about jihad or assisted in the suppression of women. Pakistan voluntarily joined the war on terror waged by the United States to suppress Pashtun nationalism. Islamabad has always feared the formation of a Pashtun state, so it has encouraged Islamic nationalism instead, causing Afghanistan to devolve into chaos. Also Read: Chaotic Afghanistan will again become a safe haven for terrorists: Imran Khan In his failed attempt, Khan also tried to portray the Taliban as a positive force. Acting as the Taliban's messenger once more, he pleaded with world leaders to assist them by bolstering, stabilising, and rewarding them. It was almost as if the Taliban, which tried and failed to speak at UNGA, had dispatched Imran Khan to the UN to represent them. In Panjshir, Pakistan's nefarious role in war-torn Afghanistan was exposed when its military drones and helicopters supported Taliban in capturing the province from the Afghan National Resistance Front. Taliban apologist Imran Khan remarked, "According to the UN, half the people of Afghanistan are already vulnerable. And by next year, almost 90% of the people in Afghanistan will go below the poverty line. There is a huge humanitarian crisis looming ahead. This will have serious repercussions not just for the neighbours of Afghanistan but it will have repercussions everywhere." "We must strengthen the present government, stabilise it for the sake of the people of Afghanistan. What have the Taliban promised? They will respect human rights, they will have an inclusive government, they will not allow the soil to be used by terrorists and they have given amnesty. If the world community incentivises them, encourages them to walk the talk, it will be a win-win situation for everyone," he added. He said that if the world helps the Taliban, the country would not be used for international terrorism. But the reality is that, with the Taliban regaining power and a witches' brew of terrorist factions active in the country, it is in a state of chaos. Afghanistan has already established itself as the new jihadi capital. Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Haqqani Network, Tehreek-e-Taliban and Islamic State, all these terrorist organisations have moved to Afghanistan. They're reorganising and spreading, publishing declarations about fighting Islam's adversaries. Global jihad is seeing a revival. It's happening right in front of the Taliban's eyes, and Taliban apologist Imran Khan wants to reward these individuals. It was for India’s government that Khan reserved his harshest words, once again labelling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government “fascist.” Khan described India as a place where fear reigns supreme. Muslims are persecuted in this country, and Kashmiris are denied their rights, he claimed. He went so far as to accuse the West of being biased towards India. Pakistan's use of a worldwide platform to make personal statements has become an annual event. Imran's speech is an insult to the United Nations. Sneha Dubey, India's young diplomat, gave a stinging response loaded with the facts to Pakistan's allegations regarding Kashmir before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Dubey used her Right of Reply to criticise Imran Khan's references to Kashmir in his UN General Assembly virtual speech, claiming that Islamabad has a long history of deliberately aiding terrorists. Dubey, First Secretary of India said at UNGA, "Regrettably, this is not the first time the leader of Pakistan has misused platforms provided by the UN to propagate false and malicious propaganda against my country, and seeking in vain to divert the world's attention from the sad state of his country where terrorists enjoy free pass while the lives of ordinary people, especially those belonging to the minority communities, are turned upside down."

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During his address at the 76th UNGA session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that "Countries with regressive thinking that are using terrorism as a political tool must understand that it is an equally big threat for them."

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