Scientists last month set foot on a tiny island off the coast of Greenland which they say is the world`s northernmost point of land and was revealed by shifting pack ice.

The discovery comes as a battle is looming among Arctic nations the United States, Russia, Canada, Denmark and Norway for control of the North Pole some 700 km (435 miles) to the north and of the surrounding seabed, fishing rights and shipping routes exposed by melting ice due to climate change.

"It was not our intention to discover a new island," polar explorer and head of the Arctic Station research facility in Greenland, Morten Rasch, told Reuters. "We just went there to collect samples." 
The scientists initially thought they had arrived at Oodaaq, an island discovered by a Danish survey team in 1978. Only later, when checking the exact location, they realized they had visited another island 780 metres northwest.

"Everybody was happy that we found what we thought was Oodaaq island," said Swiss entrepreneur Christiane Leister, creator of the Leister Foundation that financed the expedition.

"It`s a bit like explorers in the past, who thought they`d landed in a certain place but actually found a totally different place."

The small island, measuring roughly 30 metres across and a peak of about three metres, consists of seabed mud as well as moraine - soil and rock left behind by moving glaciers. The team said they would recommend it is named "Qeqertaq Avannarleq", which means "the northernmost island" in Greenlandic.

Several U.S. expeditions in the area have in recent decades searched for the world`s northernmost island. In 2007, Arctic veteran Dennis Schmitt discovered a similar island close by.

Though it was exposed by shifting pack ice, the scientists said the island`s appearance now was not a direct consequence of global warming, which has been shrinking Greenland`s ice sheet.

Rene Forsberg, professor and head of geodynamics at Denmark`s National Space Institute, said the area north of Greenland has some of the thicket polar sea ice, though he added it was now 2-3 metres thick in summer, compared with 4 metres when he first visited as part of the expedition that discovered Oodaaq in 1978.

Any hope of extending territorial claims in the Arctic depends on whether it is in fact an island or a bank that may disappear again. An island need to remain above sea level at high tide.

"It meets the criteria of an island," said Forsberg. "This is currently the world`s northernmost land."

But Forsberg, an advisor to the Danish government, said it was unlikely to change Denmark`s territorial claim north of Greenland.

"These small island come and go," he said.

The discovery was first reported earlier on Friday by Danish newspaper Weekendavisen.

Scientists last month set foot on a tiny island off the coast of Greenland which they say is the world`s northernmost point of land and was revealed by shifting pack ice.

Scientists last month set foot on a tiny island off the coast of Greenland which they say is the world`s northernmost point of land and was revealed by shifting pack ice. The discovery comes as a battle is looming among Arctic nations the United States, Russia, Canada, Denmark and Norway for control of the North Pole some 700 km (435 miles) to the north and of the surrounding seabed, fishing rights and shipping routes exposed by melting ice due to climate change. "It was not our intention to discover a new island," polar explorer and head of the Arctic Station research facility in Greenland, Morten Rasch, told Reuters. "We just went there to collect samples." The scientists initially thought they had arrived at Oodaaq, an island discovered by a Danish survey team in 1978. Only later, when checking the exact location, they realized they had visited another island 780 metres northwest. "Everybody was happy that we found what we thought was Oodaaq island," said Swiss entrepreneur Christiane Leister, creator of the Leister Foundation that financed the expedition. "It`s a bit like explorers in the past, who thought they`d landed in a certain place but actually found a totally different place." The small island, measuring roughly 30 metres across and a peak of about three metres, consists of seabed mud as well as moraine - soil and rock left behind by moving glaciers. The team said they would recommend it is named "Qeqertaq Avannarleq", which means "the northernmost island" in Greenlandic. Several U.S. expeditions in the area have in recent decades searched for the world`s northernmost island. In 2007, Arctic veteran Dennis Schmitt discovered a similar island close by. Though it was exposed by shifting pack ice, the scientists said the island`s appearance now was not a direct consequence of global warming, which has been shrinking Greenland`s ice sheet. Rene Forsberg, professor and head of geodynamics at Denmark`s National Space Institute, said the area north of Greenland has some of the thicket polar sea ice, though he added it was now 2-3 metres thick in summer, compared with 4 metres when he first visited as part of the expedition that discovered Oodaaq in 1978. Any hope of extending territorial claims in the Arctic depends on whether it is in fact an island or a bank that may disappear again. An island need to remain above sea level at high tide. "It meets the criteria of an island," said Forsberg. "This is currently the world`s northernmost land." But Forsberg, an advisor to the Danish government, said it was unlikely to change Denmark`s territorial claim north of Greenland. "These small island come and go," he said. The discovery was first reported earlier on Friday by Danish newspaper Weekendavisen.

Scientists discover ‘world’s northernmost island’ off Greenland’s coast

Following the deadly suicide bombing in Kabul, the United States military has carried out a drone strike against an alleged ISIS-K "planner". In the attack, Pentagon claims to have killed the target, say media reports. &nbsp;

On Friday, a US official as per media reports seems to have claimed that US military forces conducted an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation against an ISIS-K planner. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;United States announces that it carried out a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan

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The unmanned airstrike was carried out in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. According to the initial indications, the target was killed, claim reports, citing the US official. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The official also said to have claimed that he doesn’t know of any civilian casualties.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/british-ex-marine-survived-kabul-attack-with-200-animals-408968" hreflang="en">British ex-marine survived Kabul attack with 200 animals</a>&nbsp;

The drone may have hit a vehicle carrying an ISIS-K leader, who is believed to be "carrying out future attacks." The ISIS-K planner was also traveling with an "associate." &nbsp;

It is yet not clear that the planner was involved in the suicide attack at the Kabul airport or not.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-warns-against-is-as-afghanistan-overshadows-iraq-summit-408982" hreflang="en">Macron warns against IS as Afghanistan overshadows Iraq summit</a>

The devastating suicide bombing, which was claimed by the group, killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at the Kabul airport. &nbsp;

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said the perpetrators cannot hide, and he vowed to strike back at the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate. "We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Following the deadly suicide bombing in Kabul, the United States military has carried out a drone strike against an alleged ISIS-K "planner". In the attack, Pentagon claims to have killed the target, say media reports.

Following the deadly suicide bombing in Kabul, the United States military has carried out a drone strike against an alleged ISIS-K "planner". In the attack, Pentagon claims to have killed the target, say media reports. On Friday, a US official as per media reports seems to have claimed that US military forces conducted an over-the-horizon counterterrorism operation against an ISIS-K planner. Watch: United States announces that it carried out a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan × The unmanned airstrike was carried out in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. According to the initial indications, the target was killed, claim reports, citing the US official. The official also said to have claimed that he doesn’t know of any civilian casualties. Also Read: British ex-marine survived Kabul attack with 200 animals The drone may have hit a vehicle carrying an ISIS-K leader, who is believed to be "carrying out future attacks." The ISIS-K planner was also traveling with an "associate." It is yet not clear that the planner was involved in the suicide attack at the Kabul airport or not. Also Read: Macron warns against IS as Afghanistan overshadows Iraq summit The devastating suicide bombing, which was claimed by the group, killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at the Kabul airport. On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said the perpetrators cannot hide, and he vowed to strike back at the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate. "We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said. (With inputs from agencies)

After suicide attack, US drone strike kills 'ISIS-K planner' in Afghanistan: Report   

Ten Marines and at least one Navy hospital corpsman are among the 13 US troops dead following a suicide bomb attack on crowds struggling to get out of Kabul.&nbsp;

As per USNI, 18 US service members were wounded and an unknown number of Afghans were killed and wounded in an attack, which is believed to have been perpetrated by ISIS Khorasan.&nbsp;

US Central Command chief Gen. Frank McKenzie told reporters, "The attack on the Abbey gate was followed by a number of ISIS gunmen, who opened fire on civilians and military forces,” McKenzie said. “A number of Afghan civilians were also killed and injured in the attack. We are treating some of them aboard HKIA. Many other Afghan civilians have been taken out to hospitals in town. We’re still working to calculate the total losses. We just don’t know it – what that is right now".

Heart wrenching details began emerging Friday about some of the 13 US troops killed in a horrific suicide bombing.&nbsp;

A young husband with a child on the way, another man who always wanted to be in the military, a man who planned to become a sheriff’s deputy when his deployment ended, were amongst the few who sacrificed their lives.&nbsp;

Rylee McCollum, a Marine and native of Bondurant, Wyoming, was married and his wife is expecting a baby in three weeks, his sister, Cheyenne McCollum, said.

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“He was so excited to be a dad, and he was going to be a great dad," McCollum was quoted by the Associated Press.

She said her brother “was a Marine before he knew he was allowed to be a Marine ... He’d carry around his toy rifle and wear his sister’s pink princess snow boots and he’d either be hunting or he was a Marine. Sometimes it would be with nothing on underneath, just a T-shirt.”

“We want to make sure that people know that these are the kids that are sacrificing themselves, and he’s got a family who loves him and a wife who loves him and a baby that he’ll never get to meet,” Cheyenne McCollum said.

Another man, Lance Corporal Kareem Mae’Lee Grant Nikoui, of Norco, California, sent videos to his family hours before he died.&nbsp;

In the video, he showed himself interacting with children in Afghanistan. In one of the clips, he asked a young boy to say hello. 
“Want to take a video together buddy?” Nikoui said, leaning in to take a video of himself with the boy. “All right, we’re heroes now, man.”

Close family friend Paul Arreola said the videos show "the heart of this young man, the love he has.”

“The family is just heartbroken," he said. Arreola described Nikoui as an “amazing young man” full of promise who always wanted to be a Marine and set out to achieve his goal.&nbsp;

Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz grew up in the St. Louis area and was among a group of Marines sent back to Afghanistan to assist with evacuation efforts, his father, Mark Schmitz, told KMOX Radio.

Mark Schmitz said, “This was something he always wanted to do, and I never seen a young man train as hard as he did to be the best soldier he could be,” Schmitz said of his son. “His life meant so much more. I’m so incredibly devastated that I won’t be able to see the man that he was very quickly growing into becoming.”

Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, of Utah, had been in the Marines for 11 years. Speaking to the Associated Press, his father Darin Hoover said, "He is a hero. He gave his life protecting those that can’t protect themselves, doing what he loved serving his country".&nbsp;

Ten Marines and at least one Navy hospital corpsman are among the 13 US troops dead following a suicide bomb attack on crowds struggling to get out of Kabul. As per USNI, 18 US service members were wounded and an unknown number of Afghans were killed and wounded in an attack, which is believed to have been perpetrated by ISIS Khorasan.

Ten Marines and at least one Navy hospital corpsman are among the 13 US troops dead following a suicide bomb attack on crowds struggling to get out of Kabul. As per USNI, 18 US service members were wounded and an unknown number of Afghans were killed and wounded in an attack, which is believed to have been perpetrated by ISIS Khorasan. US Central Command chief Gen. Frank McKenzie told reporters, "The attack on the Abbey gate was followed by a number of ISIS gunmen, who opened fire on civilians and military forces,” McKenzie said. “A number of Afghan civilians were also killed and injured in the attack. We are treating some of them aboard HKIA. Many other Afghan civilians have been taken out to hospitals in town. We’re still working to calculate the total losses. We just don’t know it – what that is right now". Heart wrenching details began emerging Friday about some of the 13 US troops killed in a horrific suicide bombing. A young husband with a child on the way, another man who always wanted to be in the military, a man who planned to become a sheriff’s deputy when his deployment ended, were amongst the few who sacrificed their lives. Rylee McCollum, a Marine and native of Bondurant, Wyoming, was married and his wife is expecting a baby in three weeks, his sister, Cheyenne McCollum, said. “He was so excited to be a dad, and he was going to be a great dad," McCollum was quoted by the Associated Press. She said her brother “was a Marine before he knew he was allowed to be a Marine ... He’d carry around his toy rifle and wear his sister’s pink princess snow boots and he’d either be hunting or he was a Marine. Sometimes it would be with nothing on underneath, just a T-shirt.” “We want to make sure that people know that these are the kids that are sacrificing themselves, and he’s got a family who loves him and a wife who loves him and a baby that he’ll never get to meet,” Cheyenne McCollum said. Another man, Lance Corporal Kareem Mae’Lee Grant Nikoui, of Norco, California, sent videos to his family hours before he died. In the video, he showed himself interacting with children in Afghanistan. In one of the clips, he asked a young boy to say hello. “Want to take a video together buddy?” Nikoui said, leaning in to take a video of himself with the boy. “All right, we’re heroes now, man.” Close family friend Paul Arreola said the videos show "the heart of this young man, the love he has.” “The family is just heartbroken," he said. Arreola described Nikoui as an “amazing young man” full of promise who always wanted to be a Marine and set out to achieve his goal. Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz grew up in the St. Louis area and was among a group of Marines sent back to Afghanistan to assist with evacuation efforts, his father, Mark Schmitz, told KMOX Radio. Mark Schmitz said, “This was something he always wanted to do, and I never seen a young man train as hard as he did to be the best soldier he could be,” Schmitz said of his son. “His life meant so much more. I’m so incredibly devastated that I won’t be able to see the man that he was very quickly growing into becoming.” Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, of Utah, had been in the Marines for 11 years. Speaking to the Associated Press, his father Darin Hoover said, "He is a hero. He gave his life protecting those that can’t protect themselves, doing what he loved serving his country".

Heart wrenching details of some of the 13 US troops killed in Afghan bombings

China's&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;in Washington Friday accused the US intelligence community of "political&nbsp;manipulation" after a&nbsp;report&nbsp;in which Beijing was accused of withholding key information about the&nbsp;origins&nbsp;of the&nbsp;COVID-19 pandemic.

"The&nbsp;report&nbsp;by the US intelligence community shows that the US is bent on going down the wrong path of&nbsp;political&nbsp;manipulation," the&nbsp;embassy&nbsp;said in a statement.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-airstrike-targets-is-in-afghanistan-in-response-to-deadly-suicide-attack-408905">Also read |&nbsp;US airstrike targets IS in Afghanistan in response to deadly suicide attack</a>

"The&nbsp;report&nbsp;by the intelligence community is based on the presumption of guilt on the part of China, and it is only for scapegoating China."

China's embassy in Washington Friday accused the US intelligence community of "political manipulation" after a report in which Beijing was accused of withholding key information about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

China's embassy in Washington Friday accused the US intelligence community of "political manipulation" after a report in which Beijing was accused of withholding key information about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The report by the US intelligence community shows that the US is bent on going down the wrong path of political manipulation," the embassy said in a statement. Also read | US airstrike targets IS in Afghanistan in response to deadly suicide attack "The report by the intelligence community is based on the presumption of guilt on the part of China, and it is only for scapegoating China."

Chinese embassy slams US 'political manipulation' in COVID-19 origins report

A day after an attack outside Kabul’s airport, the United States has announced that it carried out a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan against a “planner” of an ISIL-affiliated group. The unmanned airstrike occurred in the Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan.

United States announces that it carried out a drone strike in eastern Afghanistan

The US and Taliban have locked horns over control over Kabul airport. US Defence Dept, the Pentagon had said that the Kabul airport is under the control of US military.

Pentagon, Taliban claim to control Kabul airport

In response to the deadly&nbsp;suicide attack on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;the United States military struck back at the Islamic State by bombing an IS member in Afghanistan on Saturday.&nbsp;The strike seems to have killed an Islamic State "planner".

The US Central Command said the strike took place in Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan.&nbsp;"Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties," the US military said in a statement, referring to the strike.

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The devastating suicide bombing, which was claimed by the group, killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at the Kabul airport.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: ISIS-K: Group behind the Kabul blasts

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On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said the perpetrators cannot hide, and he vowed to strike back at the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate. "We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said.&nbsp;

A US official said on Friday, the suicide bomber seems to have carried around 25 pounds of explosives, loaded with shrapnel.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/afghanistan-staff-details-left-behind-at-uk-kabul-embassy-report-408865" hreflang="en">Afghanistan staff details left behind at UK Kabul embassy: Report</a>

The&nbsp;blast created by the&nbsp;massive amount of explosives and spray of shrapnel was such huge that it killed US troops, who were inside the airport gate as well as troops and Afghans outside, said the official on condition of anonymity.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-tells-citizens-to-leave-kabul-airport-gates-immediately-408913" hreflang="en">US tells citizens to leave Kabul airport gates 'immediately'</a>

Generally, a suicide bomber carries from five to 10 pounds of explosives.&nbsp;According to the US officials, the IS bomber got to within several yards of the gate at Kabul airport, where Afghans were crowded in as part of the ongoing evacuation from Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Western forces are also running the Afghan airlift while bracing for more attacks.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In response to the deadly suicide attack on Thursday, the United States military struck back at the Islamic State by bombing an IS member in Afghanistan on Saturday.

In response to the deadly suicide attack on Thursday, the United States military struck back at the Islamic State by bombing an IS member in Afghanistan on Saturday. The strike seems to have killed an Islamic State "planner". The US Central Command said the strike took place in Nangarhar province, which borders Pakistan. "Initial indications are that we killed the target. We know of no civilian casualties," the US military said in a statement, referring to the strike. The devastating suicide bombing, which was claimed by the group, killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at the Kabul airport. Watch | Gravitas: ISIS-K: Group behind the Kabul blasts × On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said the perpetrators cannot hide, and he vowed to strike back at the Islamic State group's Afghanistan affiliate. "We will hunt you down and make you pay," Biden said. A US official said on Friday, the suicide bomber seems to have carried around 25 pounds of explosives, loaded with shrapnel. Also Read | Afghanistan staff details left behind at UK Kabul embassy: Report The blast created by the massive amount of explosives and spray of shrapnel was such huge that it killed US troops, who were inside the airport gate as well as troops and Afghans outside, said the official on condition of anonymity. Also Read | US tells citizens to leave Kabul airport gates 'immediately' Generally, a suicide bomber carries from five to 10 pounds of explosives. According to the US officials, the IS bomber got to within several yards of the gate at Kabul airport, where Afghans were crowded in as part of the ongoing evacuation from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Western forces are also running the Afghan airlift while bracing for more attacks. (With inputs from agencies)

US airstrike targets IS in Afghanistan in response to deadly suicide attack

For throwing out pornography collection, a judge has ordered a couple to pay $30,441 (£22,100) to their son in Michigan, US. &nbsp;

The decision by US district judge Paul Maloney came this week almost eight months after David Werking won a lawsuit against his parents. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;The Afghan minister who became a bicycle courier in Germany

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The 43-year-old son said they had no right to throw out the collection of films, magazines and other items, which he said was worth $29,000 (£21,500). &nbsp;

In the ruling, the judge followed a value set by an expert, a report by MLive.com said. The court ordered Werking’s parents to pay $14,500 (£10,500) to their son’s attorney. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/female-hummingbirds-that-look-like-males-face-less-social-harassment-study-408873" hreflang="en">Female hummingbirds that look like males face less social harassment: Study</a>

After a divorce, Werking lived at his parents’ Grand Haven home for about 10 months, before eventually moving to Muncie, Indiana. After he moved, he learned that his boxes of films and magazines were missing. &nbsp;

In an email, Werking’s father wrote, “Frankly, David, I did you a big favour getting rid of all this stuff.” &nbsp;

In the ruling in December last year, Judge Maloney said, “There is no question that the destroyed property belonged to David. Defendants repeatedly admitted that they destroyed the property.”&nbsp;

For throwing out pornography collection, a judge has ordered a couple to pay $30,441 (£22,100) to their son in Michigan, US. The decision by US district judge Paul Maloney came this week almost eight months after David Werking won a lawsuit against his parents.

For throwing out pornography collection, a judge has ordered a couple to pay $30,441 (£22,100) to their son in Michigan, US. The decision by US district judge Paul Maloney came this week almost eight months after David Werking won a lawsuit against his parents. Watch: The Afghan minister who became a bicycle courier in Germany × The 43-year-old son said they had no right to throw out the collection of films, magazines and other items, which he said was worth $29,000 (£21,500). In the ruling, the judge followed a value set by an expert, a report by MLive.com said. The court ordered Werking’s parents to pay $14,500 (£10,500) to their son’s attorney. Also Read | Female hummingbirds that look like males face less social harassment: Study After a divorce, Werking lived at his parents’ Grand Haven home for about 10 months, before eventually moving to Muncie, Indiana. After he moved, he learned that his boxes of films and magazines were missing. In an email, Werking’s father wrote, “Frankly, David, I did you a big favour getting rid of all this stuff.” In the ruling in December last year, Judge Maloney said, “There is no question that the destroyed property belonged to David. Defendants repeatedly admitted that they destroyed the property.”

For throwing porn collection, judge orders couple to pay $30,441 to son in US

The deadly twin blast outside the Kabul Airport has now shaken the US administration to its core. In the attack, 13 US troops were killed. This has intensified political pressure on Joe Biden from all sides.

Deadly twin-blast at Kabul airport shakes US administration to its core

12 days into the rushed evacuation process from Kabul and five days before its scheduled completion, deadly suicide attacks evolved at Kabul airport. But, US President Joe Biden remained undeterred from the evacuation mission.

Biden remains undeterred from US evacuation mission despite Kabul airport blast

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Friday with President Joe Biden a day after a deadly bomb attack on the US Afghanistan evacuation mission forced a postponement and cast a shadow on an Israeli charm offensive.

"My heart goes out, our hearts go out, to all those who we've lost," Biden said after the two met one-on-one, a day after originally planned.&nbsp;

Bennett began his remarks with condolences before announcing, "I bring with me from Jerusalem a new spirit of good will."&nbsp;

Bennett had aimed to reboot US-Israel relations following Benjamin Netanyahu, who during 15 years in office embraced Republicans and antagonised Democrats.&nbsp;

Still, the 49-year-old premiere in his first official overseas visit kept to many of his predecessor's hardline views.

"We cannot lose sight for even one moment that we're in the toughest neighborhood in the world," he said, citing ISIS, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas. "That's why Israel always has to be overwhelmingly stronger than... all of our enemies combined."

A broader meeting was expected to follow including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata and Israeli Ambassador to Israel Gilad Erdan, along with Bennett's senior aide Shimrit Meir.

Palestinians

Bennett took office in June as head of an eclectic coalition in which his hawkish party holds only a handful of seats. His government includes pro-settlement hardliners like himself as well as political doves and the first Arab party to sit in a coalition.&nbsp;

"He heads and leads the most diverse government in Israeli history," Biden said of Bennett.

Bennett's positions on key issues remain at odds with the White House. &nbsp;

He has said he will continue settlement construction and is against a Palestinian state in territories Israel captured in 1967.&nbsp;

He opposes the US reopening a consulate in Jerusalem to handle Palestinian affairs, which Trump shut in 2019 after moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In Washington Bennett strove to highlight common ground.&nbsp;

"Israel knows that we have no better or more reliable ally in the world than the United States of America," he said.&nbsp;

Biden said the US had an "unwavering commitment" to Israel's security, including replenishing Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. In a hint at differences of opinion, Biden said, "we're also going to discuss ways to advance peace and security and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians."

Shibley Telhami, a professor for peace and development at the University of Maryland, estimated that the attack in Kabul would not impact Biden's posture on the Palestinians.

"It further lowers the Israeli-Palestinian issue on Biden's priority which means he is even less likely to challenge Bennett on this issue."&nbsp;

'Putting diplomacy first' on Iran

Bennett said in the Oval Office that the bombings in Kabul highlighted the potential danger of a nuclear Iran.&nbsp;

"These very days illustrate what the world would look like if a radical Islamic regime acquired a nuclear weapon," Bennett told Biden.&nbsp;

Israel fiercely opposes Biden's attempt to reverse Trump's withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.&nbsp;

Since Trump's move, Iran has itself withdrawn from key commitments, including on uranium enrichment.

Biden pledged the US was committed to ensuring "Iran never develops a nuclear weapon, but we're putting diplomacy first and seeing where that takes us. But if diplomacy fails we're ready to turn to other options."

Dan Kurtzer, former US ambassador to Israel, told AFP Bennett's visit would set a new tone even during disagreements.&nbsp;

"The Netanyahu years, especially with Democratic presidents, were marked by a lot of rancor from the Israeli side and disrespect frankly for the presidency," he said.&nbsp;

By Friday, the two leaders made efforts to show intimacy.

"You've been so generous with your time in these difficult days," Bennett said.

"I've known every Israeli prime minister since Golda Meir, said Biden, 78, referring to the leader who served in the 1970s. Bennett, he said, had traveled the same train that Biden is famous for.&nbsp;

"We've become close friends. He's ridden the Amtrak train a lot."

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Friday with President Joe Biden a day after a deadly bomb attack on the US Afghanistan evacuation mission forced a postponement and cast a shadow on an Israeli charm offensive.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Friday with President Joe Biden a day after a deadly bomb attack on the US Afghanistan evacuation mission forced a postponement and cast a shadow on an Israeli charm offensive. "My heart goes out, our hearts go out, to all those who we've lost," Biden said after the two met one-on-one, a day after originally planned. Bennett began his remarks with condolences before announcing, "I bring with me from Jerusalem a new spirit of good will." Bennett had aimed to reboot US-Israel relations following Benjamin Netanyahu, who during 15 years in office embraced Republicans and antagonised Democrats. Still, the 49-year-old premiere in his first official overseas visit kept to many of his predecessor's hardline views. "We cannot lose sight for even one moment that we're in the toughest neighborhood in the world," he said, citing ISIS, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas. "That's why Israel always has to be overwhelmingly stronger than... all of our enemies combined." A broader meeting was expected to follow including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Israeli National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata and Israeli Ambassador to Israel Gilad Erdan, along with Bennett's senior aide Shimrit Meir. Palestinians Bennett took office in June as head of an eclectic coalition in which his hawkish party holds only a handful of seats. His government includes pro-settlement hardliners like himself as well as political doves and the first Arab party to sit in a coalition. "He heads and leads the most diverse government in Israeli history," Biden said of Bennett. Bennett's positions on key issues remain at odds with the White House. He has said he will continue settlement construction and is against a Palestinian state in territories Israel captured in 1967. He opposes the US reopening a consulate in Jerusalem to handle Palestinian affairs, which Trump shut in 2019 after moving the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In Washington Bennett strove to highlight common ground. "Israel knows that we have no better or more reliable ally in the world than the United States of America," he said. Biden said the US had an "unwavering commitment" to Israel's security, including replenishing Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. In a hint at differences of opinion, Biden said, "we're also going to discuss ways to advance peace and security and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians." Shibley Telhami, a professor for peace and development at the University of Maryland, estimated that the attack in Kabul would not impact Biden's posture on the Palestinians. "It further lowers the Israeli-Palestinian issue on Biden's priority which means he is even less likely to challenge Bennett on this issue." 'Putting diplomacy first' on Iran Bennett said in the Oval Office that the bombings in Kabul highlighted the potential danger of a nuclear Iran. "These very days illustrate what the world would look like if a radical Islamic regime acquired a nuclear weapon," Bennett told Biden. Israel fiercely opposes Biden's attempt to reverse Trump's withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal that lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. Since Trump's move, Iran has itself withdrawn from key commitments, including on uranium enrichment. Biden pledged the US was committed to ensuring "Iran never develops a nuclear weapon, but we're putting diplomacy first and seeing where that takes us. But if diplomacy fails we're ready to turn to other options." Dan Kurtzer, former US ambassador to Israel, told AFP Bennett's visit would set a new tone even during disagreements. "The Netanyahu years, especially with Democratic presidents, were marked by a lot of rancor from the Israeli side and disrespect frankly for the presidency," he said. By Friday, the two leaders made efforts to show intimacy. "You've been so generous with your time in these difficult days," Bennett said. "I've known every Israeli prime minister since Golda Meir, said Biden, 78, referring to the leader who served in the 1970s. Bennett, he said, had traveled the same train that Biden is famous for. "We've become close friends. He's ridden the Amtrak train a lot."

Biden meets Israeli PM in shadow of Kabul blasts

President Joe Biden vowed on Thursday to complete the evacuation of American citizens and others from Afghanistan despite a deadly suicide bomb attack at Kabul airport which took the lives of more than a dozen US service members and many Afghans.

Biden vows complete Afghan evacuation despite Kabul airport blast, avenge US deaths

Bill Smullen has served as the Chief of staff to Colin Powell, he was the US Secretary of State when the country invaded Afghanistan. In a conversation with WION Smullen blamed the Afghan forces for the Taliban takeover.

'Don't blame US intel, Afghan forces were unwilling to defend their country', says Bill Smullen

President Joe Biden remains undeterred from the US' mission to evacuate thousands of American and Afghan civilians from Afghanistan despite the Kabul airport blast.

Joe Biden reaffirms August 31 troop pullout deadline despite Kabul airport blast

Seven US Capitol Police officers have filed lawsuits against their former President Donald Trump. The officers were assaulted during the January 6 Capitol riots.

Seven Capitol Police officers sue Donald Trump over riots

Notorious gangster Al Capone's favourite gun among other personal items — including diamond jewellery, family photographs are set to go under the hammer at a California auction.

Notorious gangster Al Capone's favourite gun among other personal items — including diamond jewellery, family photographs are set to go under the hammer at a California auction. The 174 items on sale in October are a collection entitled "A Century of Notoriety: the Estate of Al Capone," in what auctioneers say "will no doubt go down as one of the most important celebrity auctions in history." It has been reported that the unique items include .45 automatic pistol, vintage photos, the bed he shared with his wife at their luxury Florida mansion. The items also include a letter to his son written from Alcatraz, where the mobster served an 11-year sentence following his 1934 tax evasion conviction. In the letter written in pencil, Al Capone refers to Sonny as "son of my heart". ALSO READ | What are internet recommendation algorithms and how do they affects users? Capone was one of the most feared figures in organised crime during the Prohibition Era, when the sale or production of alcohol was banned in the United States. He was the boss of the Chicago Outfit, a 1920s gang that beat out rivals in bootlegging and racketeering with increasingly brutal methods. These culminated in the 1929 St Valentine's Day Massacre, when seven members of a rival gang were killed, execution-style. He was called Public Enemy No. 1 after the massacre. However, his granddaughter Diane Capone describes him differently. Diane Capone, who is 77 years old, said, "He was very loving, very devoted to family, very generous, and the letter that we have is such a poignant, beautiful letter from a father to his son. These are things that the public doesn’t know about." Capone was famously never convicted for violence, but jailed for tax evasion, ultimately ending up at Alcatraz, an island fortress off San Francisco. Auctioneers at the October 8 sale in Sacramento estimate the .45 Colt automatic could fetch up to $150,000, while another pistol owned by the gangster might raise as much as $60,000. The haul, which also includes a platinum and diamond Patek Philippe pocket watch, is from a collection passed down to Al and Mae Capone's only son, Sonny. It is currently owned by Diane and Barbara Capone, granddaughters of the infamous crook. (With inputs from agencies)

Gangster Al Capone's gun, other personal items to go under the hammer in US auction

The US government said it would work with industry to hammer out new guidelines to improve the security of the technology supply chain, as President Joe Biden appealed to private sector executives to "raise the bar on cybersecurity."

World Business Watch: US to work with Big Tech, finance sector on new cybersecurity guidelines

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Taliban has committed to ensuring safe passage for Americans and at-risk Afghans to leave the country after the August 31 deadline.

Antony Blinken: Taliban agreed to allow Americans evacuation after August 31

The US military will continue evacuating people from Kabul airport until an August 31 deadline if needed but will prioritise the removal of troops and military equipment in the last couple of days.

US to prioritize troop evacuation in last two days of Kabul operation

The Pentagon said that there had been no change so far in Joe Biden's plan to meet the evacuation deadline for Afghanistan by the end of the month and that the pace of evacuations is picking up in Kabul.

Pentagon sticks to August 31 deadline for troops withdrawal

Western nations warned their citizens on August 26 to immediately leave the surrounds of Kabul airport over a terrorist threat, as thousands of people try to reach a dwindling number of evacuation flights.

Western Nations warn of terror attack at Kabul airport

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Russia, China, Pakistan and the US are ready to serve as a mediator to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan. He expressed his views at a press briefing in Hungary.

Russia, China, US ready to serve as mediators in Afghanistan says Sergey Lavrov

President Joe Biden has informed G7 leaders that the US mission in Kabul is "on pace" to end by an August 31 pullout deadline. However, Biden also added that completing the evacuation mission by that date depends on the Taliban's cooperation.

Biden says 'US on pace' to complete Afghan evacuations by August 31

US officials have approved license applications worth hundreds of millions of dollars for China's blacklisted telecom company Huawei to buy chips for its growing auto component business.

World Business Watch: US approves licenses for Huawei to buy auto chips

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