A group of Republican Party lawmakers have introduced a bill in US Congress that aims to eliminate a programme that allows foreign students on F1 visa to stay in the US after completing their studies. The bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill seeks to amend Immigration and Nationality Act.

If the bill is passed, it will affect thousands of Indian students in the US.

Immigration and Nationality Act allows students on F1 visa to stay in the US and seek employment for a year.&nbsp;

The Republican lawmakers are alleging that the provisions of the program let American companies prefer foreign students as employees at low wages compared to American job seekers. About 80,000 Indian students are employed in the US under provisions of this act.

Republicans argue that students under this programme are exempt from payroll taxes. The lawmakers have expressed their opposition to the fact that this makes wages of the foreign workers 10-15 per cent lower making companies prefer them instead of local talent.

The bill has to pass in the House as well as Senate after which it will be sent to President Joe Biden for a go-ahead. However, this looks like a long path given that Democratic Party controls the House and the Senate.

A group of Republican Party lawmakers have introduced a bill in US Congress that aims to eliminate a programme that allows foreign students on F1 visa to stay in the US after completing their studies.

A group of Republican Party lawmakers have introduced a bill in US Congress that aims to eliminate a programme that allows foreign students on F1 visa to stay in the US after completing their studies. The bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill seeks to amend Immigration and Nationality Act. If the bill is passed, it will affect thousands of Indian students in the US. Immigration and Nationality Act allows students on F1 visa to stay in the US and seek employment for a year. The Republican lawmakers are alleging that the provisions of the program let American companies prefer foreign students as employees at low wages compared to American job seekers. About 80,000 Indian students are employed in the US under provisions of this act. Republicans argue that students under this programme are exempt from payroll taxes. The lawmakers have expressed their opposition to the fact that this makes wages of the foreign workers 10-15 per cent lower making companies prefer them instead of local talent. The bill has to pass in the House as well as Senate after which it will be sent to President Joe Biden for a go-ahead. However, this looks like a long path given that Democratic Party controls the House and the Senate.

US bill seeks to end extension of stay after study, Indian students may be affected

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila on Friday, amid his retracting of a decision to end a key defense pact with the United States. The pact allows large-scale combat exercises between US and Philippine forces that at times have alarmed China to proceed.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin meets Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Amid the growing turmoil in Afghanistan, the United States has promised to help the country. The US has said that it is committed to helping those who helped them during their time in Afghanistan.

US offers support to Afghanistan, says it 'is committed to helping those who helped' them

Philippine President Rodrigo&nbsp;Duterte&nbsp;has restored a crucial&nbsp;pact&nbsp;governing the presence of&nbsp;US&nbsp;troops in the Southeast Asian nation, the two countries' defence ministers said on Friday, reversing a decision that had caused increasing concern in Washington and Manila.

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) provides rules for the rotation of thousands of&nbsp;US&nbsp;troops in and out of the Philippines for war drills and exercises. It has assumed additional importance as the United States and its allies contend with an increasingly assertive China.

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was&nbsp;unsure why&nbsp;Duterte&nbsp;had reversed himself but made the decision after meeting&nbsp;US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Manila on Thursday.

Harry Roque,&nbsp;Duterte's spokesperson, later said the president's decision was "based on upholding the&nbsp;Philippines'&nbsp;strategic core interest...and clarity of&nbsp;US position on its obligations and commitments under the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty)."

Duterte's decision won't change much on the ground as the&nbsp;pact&nbsp;had not been terminated but it provides stability for both countries.

"This provides certainty for us going forward, we can do long-range planning and do different types of exercises," Austin said during a news conference with his Philippine counterpart.

The Philippines is a&nbsp;US&nbsp;treaty ally, and several military agreements are dependent on the VFA.

Duterte&nbsp;vowed to terminate the&nbsp;pact&nbsp;after the United States denied a visa to a Philippine senator who is an ally of the president. But he had repeatedly pushed back the expiration date, the last time last month, maintaining it until the end of the year.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-years-after-south-china-sea-ruling-chinas-presence-around-philippines-only-growing-397029">Also read |&nbsp;Five years after South China Sea ruling, China's presence around Philippines only growing</a>

For the United States, having the ability to rotate in&nbsp;troops is important not only for the defence of the Philippines, but strategically when it comes to countering China's assertive behaviour in the region.

"(Duterte's decision) opens up significant possibilities for strengthening the alliance that were otherwise closed," said Greg Poling, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

There are long-standing tensions between the Philippines and China over disputed waters in the South China Sea.

The United States this month repeated a warning to China that an attack on Philippine forces in the South China Sea would trigger a 1951&nbsp;US-Philippines mutual defence treaty.

There are, however, still questions about&nbsp;Duterte's unpredictability.

"Some of the celebration is premature... (the VFA) will continue to be under threat so long as&nbsp;Duterte&nbsp;remains president," said Aaron Connelly, with the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Philippine presidential elections are set for 2022 and while&nbsp;Duterte&nbsp;is barred by the constitution from seeking re-election, his party has been encouraging him to run again for office, as vice president.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has restored a crucial pact governing the presence of US troops in the Southeast Asian nation, the two countries' defence ministers said on Friday, reversing a decision that had caused increasing concern in Washington and Manila.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has restored a crucial pact governing the presence of US troops in the Southeast Asian nation, the two countries' defence ministers said on Friday, reversing a decision that had caused increasing concern in Washington and Manila. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) provides rules for the rotation of thousands of US troops in and out of the Philippines for war drills and exercises. It has assumed additional importance as the United States and its allies contend with an increasingly assertive China. Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he was unsure why Duterte had reversed himself but made the decision after meeting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Manila on Thursday. Harry Roque, Duterte's spokesperson, later said the president's decision was "based on upholding the Philippines' strategic core interest...and clarity of US position on its obligations and commitments under the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty)." Duterte's decision won't change much on the ground as the pact had not been terminated but it provides stability for both countries. "This provides certainty for us going forward, we can do long-range planning and do different types of exercises," Austin said during a news conference with his Philippine counterpart. The Philippines is a US treaty ally, and several military agreements are dependent on the VFA. Duterte vowed to terminate the pact after the United States denied a visa to a Philippine senator who is an ally of the president. But he had repeatedly pushed back the expiration date, the last time last month, maintaining it until the end of the year. Also read | Five years after South China Sea ruling, China's presence around Philippines only growing For the United States, having the ability to rotate in troops is important not only for the defence of the Philippines, but strategically when it comes to countering China's assertive behaviour in the region. "(Duterte's decision) opens up significant possibilities for strengthening the alliance that were otherwise closed," said Greg Poling, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. There are long-standing tensions between the Philippines and China over disputed waters in the South China Sea. The United States this month repeated a warning to China that an attack on Philippine forces in the South China Sea would trigger a 1951 US-Philippines mutual defence treaty. There are, however, still questions about Duterte's unpredictability. "Some of the celebration is premature... (the VFA) will continue to be under threat so long as Duterte remains president," said Aaron Connelly, with the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Philippine presidential elections are set for 2022 and while Duterte is barred by the constitution from seeking re-election, his party has been encouraging him to run again for office, as vice president.

President Duterte fully restores key pact that allows US troops in the Philippines

The Afghan government faces an "existential crisis" after the Taliban doubled their attacks following the February 2020 US deal with the insurgents, a watchdog report said Thursday.

The report said Taliban attacks on Afghan targets surged from 6,700 in the three months up to the Doha agreement to 13,242 in the September-November 2020 period.

Attacks have stayed above 10,000 in each subsequent three-month period, according to the report by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR).

While the rise in attacks had long been clear, data had not&nbsp;previously been available to demonstrate how intense the rebels' offensive had become.

The United States agreed to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan in expectation the Taliban would negotiate a peace deal with the Kabul government.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/explainer-us-pays-4-billion-to-afghan-forces-who-is-watching-400926">Also read |&nbsp;Explainer: US pays $4 billion to Afghan forces; who is watching?</a>

Since then the Taliban-government talks have stalled but the US has steadily pulled out troops to a level of only several hundred now, with an August 31 deadline for full withdrawal.

The SIGAR report makes clear that the Doha agreement, instead of propelling Taliban-Kabul talks, unleashed an offensive that caught government forces unprepared and increased the number of civilian deaths.

Over January-March of 2020, there were only 510 civilian deaths and 709 casualties, the report said, quoting data from the US-Nato joint force in Afghanistan.

After that the numbers surged, hitting 1,058 deaths and 1,959 injured in the third quarter that year and continuing at high levels.

The latest data, for April and May this year, showed 705 civilian deaths and 1,330 casualties, the SIGAR report said.

"The overall trend is clearly unfavourable to the Afghan government, which could face an existential crisis if it isn't addressed and reversed," said the inspector general, John Sopko.

He said the report offered a sobering picture that contrasted with "the pervasiveness of overoptimism" that characterized US-led efforts to rebuild and strengthen Afghanistan and the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars to the US government.

"The news coming out of Afghanistan this quarter has been bleak," the report said.

Faced by a new Taliban offensive, it said, the Afghan government security force "appeared surprised and unready, and is now on its back foot."&nbsp;

"Particularly concerning was the speed and ease with which the Taliban seemingly wrested control of districts in Afghanistan’s northern provinces, once a bastion of anti-Taliban sentiment."

The Afghan government faces an "existential crisis" after the Taliban doubled their attacks following the February 2020 US deal with the insurgents, a watchdog report said Thursday.

The Afghan government faces an "existential crisis" after the Taliban doubled their attacks following the February 2020 US deal with the insurgents, a watchdog report said Thursday. The report said Taliban attacks on Afghan targets surged from 6,700 in the three months up to the Doha agreement to 13,242 in the September-November 2020 period. Attacks have stayed above 10,000 in each subsequent three-month period, according to the report by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). While the rise in attacks had long been clear, data had not previously been available to demonstrate how intense the rebels' offensive had become. The United States agreed to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan in expectation the Taliban would negotiate a peace deal with the Kabul government. Also read | Explainer: US pays $4 billion to Afghan forces; who is watching? Since then the Taliban-government talks have stalled but the US has steadily pulled out troops to a level of only several hundred now, with an August 31 deadline for full withdrawal. The SIGAR report makes clear that the Doha agreement, instead of propelling Taliban-Kabul talks, unleashed an offensive that caught government forces unprepared and increased the number of civilian deaths. Over January-March of 2020, there were only 510 civilian deaths and 709 casualties, the report said, quoting data from the US-Nato joint force in Afghanistan. After that the numbers surged, hitting 1,058 deaths and 1,959 injured in the third quarter that year and continuing at high levels. The latest data, for April and May this year, showed 705 civilian deaths and 1,330 casualties, the SIGAR report said. "The overall trend is clearly unfavourable to the Afghan government, which could face an existential crisis if it isn't addressed and reversed," said the inspector general, John Sopko. He said the report offered a sobering picture that contrasted with "the pervasiveness of overoptimism" that characterized US-led efforts to rebuild and strengthen Afghanistan and the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars to the US government. "The news coming out of Afghanistan this quarter has been bleak," the report said. Faced by a new Taliban offensive, it said, the Afghan government security force "appeared surprised and unready, and is now on its back foot." "Particularly concerning was the speed and ease with which the Taliban seemingly wrested control of districts in Afghanistan’s northern provinces, once a bastion of anti-Taliban sentiment."

Taliban surge poses 'existential crisis': US watchdog

As COVID cases surge in New York, the state govt is giving new incentives for people who are getting vaccinated against Coronavirus. Starting this Friday, anyone who goes to a city vaccination site for taking the first dose of COVID vaccination will receive 100 dollars.

New York govt gives new incentives for people getting vaccinated against Coronavirus

US State Department said on Wednesday that senior US and Russian officials on Wednesday restarted talks to ease tensions between the world's largest nuclear weapons power. It has been agreed to reconvene in September.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov headed the respective delegations.

TASS news agency cited Ryabkov as saying he was satisfied with the consultations and that the United States showed readiness for a constructive dialogue at the talks.

It was the first time in nearly a year that both sides have held so called strategic stability talks amid frictions.

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in June to launch a bilateral dialogue on strategic stability.

After informal consultations aimed at "determining topics for expert working groups" in the next round, the two sides agreed to reconvene in late September, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Price called the discussions "professional and substantive". He further said that US side discussed its policy priorities the current international security environment, "the prospects for new nuclear arms control" and the format for further talks.

The decision to meet again showed the sides understand the need to resolve arms control disputes, a senior State Department official said, that have seen an end to several Cold War-era treaties, including one that limited intermediate-range missiles.

"We know we have a responsibility as the largest nuclear weapons states to find a way to improve strategic stability to deal with a deteriorating arms control architecture," the official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. he was quoted by Reuters.

(With inputs from agencies)

US State Department said on Wednesday that senior US and Russian officials on Wednesday restarted talks to ease tensions between the world's largest nuclear weapons power.

US State Department said on Wednesday that senior US and Russian officials on Wednesday restarted talks to ease tensions between the world's largest nuclear weapons power. It has been agreed to reconvene in September. US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov headed the respective delegations. TASS news agency cited Ryabkov as saying he was satisfied with the consultations and that the United States showed readiness for a constructive dialogue at the talks. It was the first time in nearly a year that both sides have held so called strategic stability talks amid frictions. US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in June to launch a bilateral dialogue on strategic stability. After informal consultations aimed at "determining topics for expert working groups" in the next round, the two sides agreed to reconvene in late September, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. Price called the discussions "professional and substantive". He further said that US side discussed its policy priorities the current international security environment, "the prospects for new nuclear arms control" and the format for further talks. The decision to meet again showed the sides understand the need to resolve arms control disputes, a senior State Department official said, that have seen an end to several Cold War-era treaties, including one that limited intermediate-range missiles. "We know we have a responsibility as the largest nuclear weapons states to find a way to improve strategic stability to deal with a deteriorating arms control architecture," the official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. he was quoted by Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

US-Russia in nuclear talks huddle in Geneva

What is the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken doing in India? The agenda of the visit is primarily Afghanistan, but a top US govt official says 'human rights' issues in India could be raised during the visit. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: US Secretary of State on a 2-day visit to India

"I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war - a real shooting war with a major power", said US Prez Joe Biden.

Joe Biden warns cyberattacks could lead to 'a real shooting war'

The Pentagon and Republican congressmen on Tuesday aired fresh concerns about China's build-up of its nuclear forces after a new report saying Beijing was building 110 more missile silos. 
 
An American Federation of Scientists (AFS) report on Monday said satellite images showed China was building a new field of silos near Hami in the eastern part of its Xinjiang region. 
 
The report came weeks after another on the construction of about 120 missile silos in Yumen, a desert area about 240 miles (380 km) to the southeast. 
 
"This is the second time in two months the public has discovered what we have been saying all along about the growing threat the world faces and the veil of secrecy that surrounds it," the US&nbsp;Strategic Command said in tweet linked to a New York Times article on the AFS report. 
 
The State Department in early July called China's nuclear buildup concerning and said it appeared Beijing was deviating from decades of nuclear strategy based around minimal deterrence. It called on China to engage with it "on practical measures to reduce the risks of destabilizing arms races." 
 
Republican Congressman Mike Turner, ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, said China's nuclear build-up was "unprecedented" and made clear it was "deploying nuclear weapons to threaten the United States and our allies." 
 
He said China's refusal to negotiate arms control "should be a cause for concern and condemned by all responsible nations." 
 
Another Republican, Mike Rogers, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the Chinese build-up showed the need to rapidly modernize the US&nbsp;nuclear deterrent. 
 
A 2020 Pentagon report estimated China's nuclear warhead stockpile in "the low 200s" and said it was projected to at least double in size as Beijing expands and modernizes its forces. Analysts say the United States has around 3,800 warheads, and according to a State Department factsheet, 1,357 of those were deployed as of March 1. 
 
Washington has repeatedly called on China to join it and Russia in a new arms control treaty. 
 
The report on the new silos comes as Assistant Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is due to hold arms control talks with Russia in Geneva on Wednesday. 
 
Sherman was in China earlier this week for talks at which Beijing accused Washington of creating an "imaginary enemy" to divert attention from domestic problems and suppress China. 
 
Beijing says its arsenal is dwarfed by those of the United States and Russia and it is ready to conduct bilateral dialogues on strategic security "on the basis of equality and mutual respect."

The Pentagon and Republican congressmen on Tuesday aired fresh concerns about China's build-up of its nuclear forces after a new report saying Beijing was building 110 more missile silos.

The Pentagon and Republican congressmen on Tuesday aired fresh concerns about China's build-up of its nuclear forces after a new report saying Beijing was building 110 more missile silos. An American Federation of Scientists (AFS) report on Monday said satellite images showed China was building a new field of silos near Hami in the eastern part of its Xinjiang region. The report came weeks after another on the construction of about 120 missile silos in Yumen, a desert area about 240 miles (380 km) to the southeast. "This is the second time in two months the public has discovered what we have been saying all along about the growing threat the world faces and the veil of secrecy that surrounds it," the US Strategic Command said in tweet linked to a New York Times article on the AFS report. The State Department in early July called China's nuclear buildup concerning and said it appeared Beijing was deviating from decades of nuclear strategy based around minimal deterrence. It called on China to engage with it "on practical measures to reduce the risks of destabilizing arms races." Republican Congressman Mike Turner, ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, said China's nuclear build-up was "unprecedented" and made clear it was "deploying nuclear weapons to threaten the United States and our allies." He said China's refusal to negotiate arms control "should be a cause for concern and condemned by all responsible nations." Another Republican, Mike Rogers, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the Chinese build-up showed the need to rapidly modernize the US nuclear deterrent. A 2020 Pentagon report estimated China's nuclear warhead stockpile in "the low 200s" and said it was projected to at least double in size as Beijing expands and modernizes its forces. Analysts say the United States has around 3,800 warheads, and according to a State Department factsheet, 1,357 of those were deployed as of March 1. Washington has repeatedly called on China to join it and Russia in a new arms control treaty. The report on the new silos comes as Assistant Secretary of State Wendy Sherman is due to hold arms control talks with Russia in Geneva on Wednesday. Sherman was in China earlier this week for talks at which Beijing accused Washington of creating an "imaginary enemy" to divert attention from domestic problems and suppress China. Beijing says its arsenal is dwarfed by those of the United States and Russia and it is ready to conduct bilateral dialogues on strategic security "on the basis of equality and mutual respect."

US concern over China nukes buildup after new silos report

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China. 
 
Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks on entities such as network management company SolarWinds, the Colonial Pipeline company, meat processing company JBS and software firm Kaseya hurt the US&nbsp;far beyond just the companies hacked. Some of the attacks affected fuel and food supplies in parts of the United States. 
 
"I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war - a real shooting war with a major power - it's going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence and it's increasing exponentially, the capabilities," Biden said during a half-hour speech while visiting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). 
 
During a June 16 summit in Geneva between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden shared a list of critical infrastructure the US&nbsp;considers off-limits to nation-state actors. 
 
Since then, senior members of the Biden administration's national security team have been in constant contact with senior members of the Kremlin over cyber attacks on the United States, the White House has said. 
 
Biden also highlighted the threats posed by China, referring to President Xi Jinping as "deadly earnest about becoming the most powerful military force in the world, as well as the largest and most prominent economy in the world by the mid-40s, the 2040s."

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that if the United States ended up in a "real shooting war" with a "major power" it could be the result of a significant cyber attack on the country, highlighting what Washington sees as growing threats posed by Russia and China. Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks on entities such as network management company SolarWinds, the Colonial Pipeline company, meat processing company JBS and software firm Kaseya hurt the US far beyond just the companies hacked. Some of the attacks affected fuel and food supplies in parts of the United States. "I think it's more than likely we're going to end up, if we end up in a war - a real shooting war with a major power - it's going to be as a consequence of a cyber breach of great consequence and it's increasing exponentially, the capabilities," Biden said during a half-hour speech while visiting the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). During a June 16 summit in Geneva between Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Biden shared a list of critical infrastructure the US considers off-limits to nation-state actors. Since then, senior members of the Biden administration's national security team have been in constant contact with senior members of the Kremlin over cyber attacks on the United States, the White House has said. Biden also highlighted the threats posed by China, referring to President Xi Jinping as "deadly earnest about becoming the most powerful military force in the world, as well as the largest and most prominent economy in the world by the mid-40s, the 2040s."

Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Americans "still need to do better" on COVID-19 vaccinations, as US health authorities tightened mask guidelines for parts of the country where infections are surging once again.

In a statement following the move by the Centres for Disease Control to require the vaccinated to mask up indoors in high-risk areas, Biden said he would lay out new steps on Thursday to overcome a lag in vaccinations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/keepthemhome-trends-on-twitter-as-activists-urge-biden-to-let-prisoners-stay-at-home-400564">Also read |&nbsp;#KeepThemHome trends on Twitter as activists urge Biden to let prisoners stay at home</a>

In a separate address to the US intelligence community, when asked about a possible vaccine mandate for US federal workers, Biden replied: "That's under consideration right now."

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Americans "still need to do better" on COVID-19 vaccinations, as US health authorities tightened mask guidelines for parts of the country where infections are surging once again.

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that Americans "still need to do better" on COVID-19 vaccinations, as US health authorities tightened mask guidelines for parts of the country where infections are surging once again. In a statement following the move by the Centres for Disease Control to require the vaccinated to mask up indoors in high-risk areas, Biden said he would lay out new steps on Thursday to overcome a lag in vaccinations. Also read | #KeepThemHome trends on Twitter as activists urge Biden to let prisoners stay at home In a separate address to the US intelligence community, when asked about a possible vaccine mandate for US federal workers, Biden replied: "That's under consideration right now."

Biden says US must 'do better' on COVID-19 vaccinations

A former Air Force intelligence analyst who helped find targets for deadly US drone strikes has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for leaking top-secret details about the program.

Daniel Hale told a federal judge he felt compelled to leak information to a journalist out of guilt over his own participation in a program that he believed was 'indiscriminately' killing civilians in Afghanistan.

In a statement, Hale said, "It is wrong to kill. It is especially wrong to kill the defenceless".

However, the US District Judge Liam O’Grady told Hale that he had options to seek other measures than speaking with the journalist.&nbsp;

<a href="wionews.com/technology/biden-if-us-has-real-shooting-war-it-could-be-result-of-cyber-attacks-401055">Also read |&nbsp;Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks</a>

Also, he imposed a punishment that was harsher than the 12 to 18-month term sought by Hale’s attorneys.

Prosecutors argued that Hale, who deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2012 and was honourably discharged the following year, abused the government’s trust and knew the documents he was sharing “risked causing serious, and in some cases exceptionally grave, damage to the national security” but leaked them anyway.&nbsp;

They further say that the documents leaked by Hale were found in an internet compilation of the material designed to help Islamic State fighters avoid detection.

A former Air Force intelligence analyst who helped find targets for deadly US drone strikes has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for leaking top-secret details about the program.

A former Air Force intelligence analyst who helped find targets for deadly US drone strikes has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for leaking top-secret details about the program. Daniel Hale told a federal judge he felt compelled to leak information to a journalist out of guilt over his own participation in a program that he believed was 'indiscriminately' killing civilians in Afghanistan. In a statement, Hale said, "It is wrong to kill. It is especially wrong to kill the defenceless". However, the US District Judge Liam O’Grady told Hale that he had options to seek other measures than speaking with the journalist. Also read | Biden: If US has 'real shooting war' it could be result of cyber attacks Also, he imposed a punishment that was harsher than the 12 to 18-month term sought by Hale’s attorneys. Prosecutors argued that Hale, who deployed to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2012 and was honourably discharged the following year, abused the government’s trust and knew the documents he was sharing “risked causing serious, and in some cases exceptionally grave, damage to the national security” but leaked them anyway. They further say that the documents leaked by Hale were found in an internet compilation of the material designed to help Islamic State fighters avoid detection.

Former intelligence analyst who leaked information sentenced to prison for 45 months

The United States men`s basketball coach Gregg Popovich lauded the sportsmanship showed by his players and their opponents Iran during their Olympic match on Wednesday, saying it showed the potential of sport to transcend differences. 
 
The two sides both applauded after their countries national anthems were played at the Saitama Super Arena and fist bumped each other before the game and shook hands after. 
 
After the game, which the U.S. won 120-66, Popovich said that his team played well against a "very hard-working Iranian team." 
 
Asked about the significance of the two countries that have had a contentious history facing each other at the Games, Popovich said that people were able to put aside differences of national policy. 
 
"In general people in different countries get along a whole lot better than their governments do," he told reporters. "Once you get to the politicians, suddenly it becomes much more complicated." 
 
Wednesday`s game recalled a football match between the two nations at the 1998 World Cup, when the Iranians gave their American rivals flowers as a sign of respect. The two teams also took a joint photograph prior to kick off as a show of solidarity. 
 
That match-up ended with a 2-1 win for Iran. 
 
"The Olympics... transcends all that," Popovich said on Wednesday. "There is no surprise that coaches would enjoy meeting each other, talking with each other and players show sportsmanship, they did. You just wish that was real life."

The United States men`s basketball coach Gregg Popovich lauded the sportsmanship showed by his players and their opponents Iran during their Olympic match on Wednesday, saying it showed the potential of sport to transcend differences.

The United States men`s basketball coach Gregg Popovich lauded the sportsmanship showed by his players and their opponents Iran during their Olympic match on Wednesday, saying it showed the potential of sport to transcend differences. The two sides both applauded after their countries national anthems were played at the Saitama Super Arena and fist bumped each other before the game and shook hands after. After the game, which the U.S. won 120-66, Popovich said that his team played well against a "very hard-working Iranian team." Asked about the significance of the two countries that have had a contentious history facing each other at the Games, Popovich said that people were able to put aside differences of national policy. "In general people in different countries get along a whole lot better than their governments do," he told reporters. "Once you get to the politicians, suddenly it becomes much more complicated." Wednesday`s game recalled a football match between the two nations at the 1998 World Cup, when the Iranians gave their American rivals flowers as a sign of respect. The two teams also took a joint photograph prior to kick off as a show of solidarity. That match-up ended with a 2-1 win for Iran. "The Olympics... transcends all that," Popovich said on Wednesday. "There is no surprise that coaches would enjoy meeting each other, talking with each other and players show sportsmanship, they did. You just wish that was real life."

Tokyo Olympics: US basketball coach praises Iran, American sportsmanship

In a disturbing video posted by the nature conservation group Columbia Riverkeeper, sockeye salmon fishes&nbsp;can be seen with fuzzy-looking white patches on their body.

According to the group, the white spots are the result of fungal infection caused by stress-reaction to the recent heatwave.

Sadly, the fish in question, Snake River sockeye Salmon have been listed on the Endangered Species list and dangerously close to extinction. In 1991, they were listed for Federal protection.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/why-are-climate-mysteries-puzzling-worlds-leading-scientists-400037">Why are climate 'mysteries' puzzling world's leading scientists?</a>

The reason behind this intense heating up of water has been attributed to the heatwave that Canada and the US have been grappling with in recent days.

However, the NGO says that besides the heatwave, the dams on the rivers Columbia and Snake are also to blame.&nbsp;They contend that Dams on the Columbia and Lower Snake rivers create large, stagnant reservoirs that capture the sun's energy and make the water too hot for salmon.&nbsp;

<img alt="Columbia river basin" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1cfe2e14-4b18-4b94-93a0-8dac33b3e148" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/map%20of%20columbia%20river%20basin.png" />

Map of the Columbia River Basin. Purple oval shows the mouth of the Little White Salmon River. Red stars show major sockeye spawning areas. Black dashes show large hydroelectric dams.&nbsp; (Image: columbiariverkeeper.org)&nbsp;

Don Sampson of&nbsp;Northwest Tribal Salmon Alliance calls it a "salmon crisis".

In another video posted by the conservation group while calling for Congress to take action, Sampson says that "the sockeye here are dying. They are suffocating. You can see they are in lethally hot water."

At 71 degrees Fahrenheit, current water temperatures in the Columbia River are much higher than the legal limit of 68 degrees F. Scientists set this limit to protect salmon from unsafe temperatures.

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The salmon are dying. They’re suffering and suffocating in hot water created by dams. 
 
But we can stop this. We can remove the lower four Snake River Dams and restore cool, clean water. 
 
Share this video, sign the petition, save the salmon.<a href="https://t.co/qP2qsplWxS">https://t.co/qP2qsplWxS</a> <a href="https://t.co/cRUck3cQ48">pic.twitter.com/cRUck3cQ48</a>
— Columbia Riverkeeper (@ColumbiaRKeeper) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColumbiaRKeeper/status/1420066199744876545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2021</a></blockquote>
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An earlier study found that eight major dams in the Columbia Basin fundamentally alter salmon temperature and flow.&nbsp;

The Columbia&nbsp;River is an important migratory route for salmon, which travel up the river&nbsp;to spawn in mountain lakes in the Okanogan, Yakima, and Snake River systems&nbsp;before returning downstream.&nbsp;

As noted by the National Wildlife Federation, 13 species of salmon and steelhead have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since the final construction of the Lower Snake River dams in the 1970s.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/many-leaders-slept-on-climate-crisis-will-they-act-on-what-they-feel-on-their-skins-now-398704" hreflang="en">Many leaders slept on climate crisis. Will they act on what they feel on their skins now?</a>

According to a press release by Columbia riverkeepers, earlier in 2015, approximately 250,000 fish died in the Columbia and Snake rivers, due to hot water. Many of those fish sought refuge in the Little White Salmon River and nearby tributaries.&nbsp;

Researchers predict this type of fish kill will become more common if dams and climate change continue to warm the rivers. Sockeye will likely go extinct if the issue isn't addressed on time.

A number of fishing groups, tribal nations, and conservation organizations are calling on the Pacific Northwest congressional delegation to protect sockeye salmon by breaching the four lower Snake River dams.

In a disturbing video posted by the nature conservation group Columbia Riverkeeper, sockeye salmon fishes can be seen with fuzzy-looking white patches on their body.

In a disturbing video posted by the nature conservation group Columbia Riverkeeper, sockeye salmon fishes can be seen with fuzzy-looking white patches on their body. According to the group, the white spots are the result of fungal infection caused by stress-reaction to the recent heatwave. Sadly, the fish in question, Snake River sockeye Salmon have been listed on the Endangered Species list and dangerously close to extinction. In 1991, they were listed for Federal protection. Also read | Why are climate 'mysteries' puzzling world's leading scientists? The reason behind this intense heating up of water has been attributed to the heatwave that Canada and the US have been grappling with in recent days. However, the NGO says that besides the heatwave, the dams on the rivers Columbia and Snake are also to blame. They contend that Dams on the Columbia and Lower Snake rivers create large, stagnant reservoirs that capture the sun's energy and make the water too hot for salmon. Map of the Columbia River Basin. Purple oval shows the mouth of the Little White Salmon River. Red stars show major sockeye spawning areas. Black dashes show large hydroelectric dams. (Image: columbiariverkeeper.org) Don Sampson of Northwest Tribal Salmon Alliance calls it a "salmon crisis". In another video posted by the conservation group while calling for Congress to take action, Sampson says that "the sockeye here are dying. They are suffocating. You can see they are in lethally hot water." At 71 degrees Fahrenheit, current water temperatures in the Columbia River are much higher than the legal limit of 68 degrees F. Scientists set this limit to protect salmon from unsafe temperatures. The salmon are dying. They’re suffering and suffocating in hot water created by dams. But we can stop this. We can remove the lower four Snake River Dams and restore cool, clean water. Share this video, sign the petition, save the salmon.https://t.co/qP2qsplWxS pic.twitter.com/cRUck3cQ48 — Columbia Riverkeeper (@ColumbiaRKeeper) July 27, 2021 × An earlier study found that eight major dams in the Columbia Basin fundamentally alter salmon temperature and flow. The Columbia River is an important migratory route for salmon, which travel up the river to spawn in mountain lakes in the Okanogan, Yakima, and Snake River systems before returning downstream. As noted by the National Wildlife Federation, 13 species of salmon and steelhead have been listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since the final construction of the Lower Snake River dams in the 1970s. Also read| Many leaders slept on climate crisis. Will they act on what they feel on their skins now? According to a press release by Columbia riverkeepers, earlier in 2015, approximately 250,000 fish died in the Columbia and Snake rivers, due to hot water. Many of those fish sought refuge in the Little White Salmon River and nearby tributaries. Researchers predict this type of fish kill will become more common if dams and climate change continue to warm the rivers. Sockeye will likely go extinct if the issue isn't addressed on time. A number of fishing groups, tribal nations, and conservation organizations are calling on the Pacific Northwest congressional delegation to protect sockeye salmon by breaching the four lower Snake River dams.

White patches: Heatwave causes unlivable water temperatures for salmon, claims NGO

Questioning the United States motive of Afghan invasion, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said the US has 'really messed it up in Afghanistan'. &nbsp;

At first, he questioned Afghan invasion of the US and then the superpower’s several attempts of seeking a peaceful solution with the adversary Taliban from a position of weakness.&nbsp;

In an appearance on US news programme, PBS NewsHour, which was aired on Tuesday night, the prime minister said, "I think the US has really messed it up in Afghanistan."&nbsp;

Khan heavily criticised the US for trying to "look for a military solution in Afghanistan, when there never was one". &nbsp;

Commenting on the situation, PM said by the time, the global power realised that there was no military solution, "unfortunately, the bargaining power of the Americans or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) forces had gone." It happened due to the reduction in the forces on the ground. &nbsp;

"But once they had reduced the troops to barely 10,000, and then, when they gave an exit date, the Taliban thought they had won. And so, therefore, it was very difficult for now to get them to compromise," he said.&nbsp;

Questioning the United States motive of Afghan invasion, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said the US has 'really messed it up in Afghanistan'. At first, he questioned Afghan invasion of the US and then the superpower’s several attempts of seeking a peaceful solution with the adversary Taliban from a position of weakness.

Questioning the United States motive of Afghan invasion, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said the US has 'really messed it up in Afghanistan'. At first, he questioned Afghan invasion of the US and then the superpower’s several attempts of seeking a peaceful solution with the adversary Taliban from a position of weakness. In an appearance on US news programme, PBS NewsHour, which was aired on Tuesday night, the prime minister said, "I think the US has really messed it up in Afghanistan." Khan heavily criticised the US for trying to "look for a military solution in Afghanistan, when there never was one". Commenting on the situation, PM said by the time, the global power realised that there was no military solution, "unfortunately, the bargaining power of the Americans or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) forces had gone." It happened due to the reduction in the forces on the ground. "But once they had reduced the troops to barely 10,000, and then, when they gave an exit date, the Taliban thought they had won. And so, therefore, it was very difficult for now to get them to compromise," he said.

US really messed it up, says Pakistan PM over Afghanistan’s situation 

The United States will formally end its combat mission in Iraq by the end of the year but will continue to train and advise the Iraqi military, President Joe Biden announced on Monday.

US ending combat role in Iraq this year

Even as the trip details are not yet&nbsp;finalised,&nbsp;Vice President Kamala Harris&nbsp;may visit&nbsp;Vietnam and Singapore in&nbsp;coming&nbsp;August, a Reuters report said, citing&nbsp;a source familiar with the matter.&nbsp;

Harris agenda of the travel is highly likely to be&nbsp;the coronavirus pandemic, said&nbsp;the source on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

Earlier, Harris visited a border patrol facility near the US-Mexico border and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies.&nbsp;

The visit, her first since becoming vice president five months ago, came amid a rise in migrants caught crossing the border, which has sparked outrage from Republicans, who&nbsp;favour&nbsp;the stricter immigration policies implemented by former president Donald Trump.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden, a Democrat, tasked Harris with spearheading his administration's handling of the broader issue of people fleeing Central American countries for the United States. She visited Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month.&nbsp;

"This issue cannot be reduced to a political issue. We're talking about children, we're talking about families, we're talking about suffering. And our approach has to be thoughtful and effective," Harris said at the conclusion of her short trip.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Even as the trip details are not yet finalised, Vice President Kamala Harris may visit Vietnam and Singapore in coming August, a Reuters report said, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Even as the trip details are not yet finalised, Vice President Kamala Harris may visit Vietnam and Singapore in coming August, a Reuters report said, citing a source familiar with the matter. Harris agenda of the travel is highly likely to be the coronavirus pandemic, said the source on condition of anonymity. Earlier, Harris visited a border patrol facility near the US-Mexico border and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies. The visit, her first since becoming vice president five months ago, came amid a rise in migrants caught crossing the border, which has sparked outrage from Republicans, who favour the stricter immigration policies implemented by former president Donald Trump. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, tasked Harris with spearheading his administration's handling of the broader issue of people fleeing Central American countries for the United States. She visited Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month. "This issue cannot be reduced to a political issue. We're talking about children, we're talking about families, we're talking about suffering. And our approach has to be thoughtful and effective," Harris said at the conclusion of her short trip. (With inputs from agencies)

US Vice President Kamala Harris may visit Vietnam, Singapore in August: Report 

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit India on July 27. This will be his first visit to India. Blinken will have meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.

US Secy of State Antony Blinken to visit India, meet PM Modi

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman visited China and conducted talks on bilateral issues. The visit comes at a time when tensions grew between US and China.

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman visits China, conducts talks on bilateral issues

As per the new rules by New Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), &nbsp;astronaut hopefuls must be part of the flight crew and make contributions to space flight safety. This means that Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson may not yet be astronauts from the perspective of the US government.

The Commercial Astronaut Wings programme updates were announced on Tuesday.

In order to qualify as commercial astronauts, space-goers must travel 50 miles above the Earth's surface, which both Mr Bezos and Mr Branson accomplished.

However, altitude aside, the agency says would-be astronauts must have also "demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tiny-little-fragile-thing-bezos-returns-to-earth-awestruck-ready-for-another-flight-399312">Also read |&nbsp;'Tiny little fragile thing': Bezos returns to Earth 'awestruck', ready for another flight</a>

As per the statement by FAA, these changes brought the wings scheme more in line with its role to protect public safety.

Meanwhile, Bezos after landing on Earth after a historic space flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket said the Earth is a "tiny little fragile thing, and as we move about the planet we're damaging it."

"Every astronaut who's been up into space, they say that it changes them ... they look at it and they're kind of amazed and awestruck by the Earth and its beauty, but also by its fragility, and I can vouch for that," Bezos said after his capsule landed safely completing a 10 miniute and 20 second stay in space.

As per the new rules by New Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), astronaut hopefuls must be part of the flight crew and make contributions to space flight safety.

As per the new rules by New Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), astronaut hopefuls must be part of the flight crew and make contributions to space flight safety. This means that Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson may not yet be astronauts from the perspective of the US government. The Commercial Astronaut Wings programme updates were announced on Tuesday. In order to qualify as commercial astronauts, space-goers must travel 50 miles above the Earth's surface, which both Mr Bezos and Mr Branson accomplished. However, altitude aside, the agency says would-be astronauts must have also "demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety". Also read | 'Tiny little fragile thing': Bezos returns to Earth 'awestruck', ready for another flight As per the statement by FAA, these changes brought the wings scheme more in line with its role to protect public safety. Meanwhile, Bezos after landing on Earth after a historic space flight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket said the Earth is a "tiny little fragile thing, and as we move about the planet we're damaging it." "Every astronaut who's been up into space, they say that it changes them ... they look at it and they're kind of amazed and awestruck by the Earth and its beauty, but also by its fragility, and I can vouch for that," Bezos said after his capsule landed safely completing a 10 miniute and 20 second stay in space.

As per US Jeff Bezos and Sir Richard Branson not yet astronauts

As rising prices and the spread of new COVID-19&nbsp;variants&nbsp;increase risks to the US economy, Federal Reserve officials are expected to maintain their easy money policies intended to help American companies and workers survive the pandemic damage.

But as the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) begins its two-day policy meeting Tuesday, markets and traders will be watching for hints of when it will begin tapering its massive monthly debt purchases.

The bond buying program aimed to ease lending conditions during the crisis, but has come under scrutiny recently as&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;has soared to record levels as businesses reopen and consumers spend the savings built up during the worst months of the pandemic.

And focus also will be on any sign the&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;is rethinking its pledge to keep the benchmark lending rate at zero until the economy achieves maximum employment.

Fed&nbsp;Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly said the rise in&nbsp;inflation&nbsp;is a temporary effect of the economy getting back to normal, and that the&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;has tools to respond if the surge goes on too long.

But Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research said the swiftness of the price spike likely has surprised the&nbsp;central bank.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-sanctions-cuba-for-repressing-protests-399987">Also read |&nbsp;US sanctions Cuba for repressing protests</a>

"I think they're still saying it's transitory but they're squirming in their seats, feeling a bit anxious that the numbers have come in higher than expected," he said.

However, the&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;is not expected to alter its stimulative policies this week or at any point this year.

Powell has promised to communicate clearly in advance of any policy shift, and analysts believe he may wait to do that at the annual central banking conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming scheduled for August.

Troubled&nbsp;recovery

Central bankers are convening during an uncertain moment for the world's largest economy.&nbsp;The fast-spreading Delta variant of COVID-19&nbsp;has prompted some parts of the United States to reimpose mask-wearing rules and sparked worries it could undermine the&nbsp;recovery.

At the same time data is showing prices surging across the economy, a consequence of supply chain snarls, shortages of components, unique dynamics like rental car companies moving to rebuild fleets and "base effects," or the comparison to the depressed prices of the year-ago period.

At the&nbsp;Fed's last meeting in June, signs of growing hawkishness appeared, with a majority of FOMC members predicting at least two rate hikes in 2023, and seven expecting one as soon as next year, according to quarterly economic projections. In March, a majority foresaw no rate hikes until after 2023.

Powell has downplayed those predictions, but Daniel Morris, chief market strategist at BNP Paribas, said analysts will be watching to see if the&nbsp;central bank&nbsp;chief's thinking has changed, particularly when he speaks to reporters after the meeting.

"I think there's still that kind of debate, are they more hawkish?" he said. "Any info we can get from Powell during the press conference to try to help settle that debate will be important and useful."

But Stovall said not to expect much in the way of details.

"On the one hand, they will try to assure people that the&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;is ever vigilant and does have the ability to make a difference. But on the other hand (they) will be pretty unspecific on what and when they plan to do things," he said.

A more-pressing decision for the&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;will be what to do about its monthly purchases of at least $80 billion &nbsp;in Treasury debt and at least $40 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities, which were part of the emergency measures taken as the economy collapsed last year.

Morris said the&nbsp;Fed&nbsp;must figure out when to scale them back, and how to do it without causing stock markets to gyrate.

"It's still tricky with them, and Powell is going to be very careful," he said.

As rising prices and the spread of new COVID-19 variants increase risks to the US economy, Federal Reserve officials are expected to maintain their easy money policies intended to help American companies and workers survive the pandemic damage.

As rising prices and the spread of new COVID-19 variants increase risks to the US economy, Federal Reserve officials are expected to maintain their easy money policies intended to help American companies and workers survive the pandemic damage. But as the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) begins its two-day policy meeting Tuesday, markets and traders will be watching for hints of when it will begin tapering its massive monthly debt purchases. The bond buying program aimed to ease lending conditions during the crisis, but has come under scrutiny recently as inflation has soared to record levels as businesses reopen and consumers spend the savings built up during the worst months of the pandemic. And focus also will be on any sign the Fed is rethinking its pledge to keep the benchmark lending rate at zero until the economy achieves maximum employment. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly said the rise in inflation is a temporary effect of the economy getting back to normal, and that the Fed has tools to respond if the surge goes on too long. But Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research said the swiftness of the price spike likely has surprised the central bank. Also read | US sanctions Cuba for repressing protests "I think they're still saying it's transitory but they're squirming in their seats, feeling a bit anxious that the numbers have come in higher than expected," he said. However, the Fed is not expected to alter its stimulative policies this week or at any point this year. Powell has promised to communicate clearly in advance of any policy shift, and analysts believe he may wait to do that at the annual central banking conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming scheduled for August. Troubled recovery Central bankers are convening during an uncertain moment for the world's largest economy. The fast-spreading Delta variant of COVID-19 has prompted some parts of the United States to reimpose mask-wearing rules and sparked worries it could undermine the recovery. At the same time data is showing prices surging across the economy, a consequence of supply chain snarls, shortages of components, unique dynamics like rental car companies moving to rebuild fleets and "base effects," or the comparison to the depressed prices of the year-ago period. At the Fed's last meeting in June, signs of growing hawkishness appeared, with a majority of FOMC members predicting at least two rate hikes in 2023, and seven expecting one as soon as next year, according to quarterly economic projections. In March, a majority foresaw no rate hikes until after 2023. Powell has downplayed those predictions, but Daniel Morris, chief market strategist at BNP Paribas, said analysts will be watching to see if the central bank chief's thinking has changed, particularly when he speaks to reporters after the meeting. "I think there's still that kind of debate, are they more hawkish?" he said. "Any info we can get from Powell during the press conference to try to help settle that debate will be important and useful." But Stovall said not to expect much in the way of details. "On the one hand, they will try to assure people that the Fed is ever vigilant and does have the ability to make a difference. But on the other hand (they) will be pretty unspecific on what and when they plan to do things," he said. A more-pressing decision for the Fed will be what to do about its monthly purchases of at least $80 billion in Treasury debt and at least $40 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities, which were part of the emergency measures taken as the economy collapsed last year. Morris said the Fed must figure out when to scale them back, and how to do it without causing stock markets to gyrate. "It's still tricky with them, and Powell is going to be very careful," he said.

Fed to meet as inflation, virus variants complicate US recovery

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said that his country no longer requires American combat troops to fight the Islamic State group and added that Iraq will still ask for U.S. training and military intelligence gathering. His comments came ahead of a planned trip to Washington, where he will meet President Joe Biden on Monday for a fourth round of strategic talks.

Iraq PM Mustafa Al Kadhimi says country no longer requires US combat troops

In what could lead to the cancellation of cargo and passenger fights, the airport catering to the&nbsp;second largest metro area of&nbsp;Nevada state in the United States has been&nbsp;facing an acute shortage of&nbsp;jet fuel.&nbsp;

It can result in&nbsp;potential restriction of&nbsp;the flow of tourists and essential goods into the northern part of the state.

In a statement late on Saturday, the political leaders of the state pledged to minimise disruption at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. They also said that they will&nbsp;ensure the aerial fight against Western wildfires isn't hampered.

The passengers have been advised to check with their airline for any delays in order to avoid any kind of inconvenience.

The airport, which is the nearest passenger terminal to Lake Tahoe, also serves Reno, a popular gambling destination.

Gov&nbsp;Steve Sisolak, Sens&nbsp;Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and US Rep&nbsp;Mark Amodei&nbsp;wrote, "To be clear, further failure to secure adequate fuel supplies is unacceptable."

Across the West region in the US, airport officials have been voicing concerns about jet fuel shortages. They have also raised concern of its&nbsp;effect on what is shaping up to be a very busy wildfire season.

The demand for the jet fuel&nbsp;declined sharply and supply chains atrophied during the coronavirus pandemic. As the economy picks up, they are&nbsp;yet to bounce back in the West.

Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority spokeswoman Stacey Sunday, said the Reno airport's shortage is caused by a confluence of factors, including a scarcity of tanker truck drivers and high demand from passenger airlines and firefighting aircraft.

(With inputs from agencies)

In what could lead to the cancellation of cargo and passenger fights, the airport catering to the second largest metro area of Nevada state in the United States has been facing an acute shortage of jet fuel.

In what could lead to the cancellation of cargo and passenger fights, the airport catering to the second largest metro area of Nevada state in the United States has been facing an acute shortage of jet fuel. It can result in potential restriction of the flow of tourists and essential goods into the northern part of the state. In a statement late on Saturday, the political leaders of the state pledged to minimise disruption at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. They also said that they will ensure the aerial fight against Western wildfires isn't hampered. The passengers have been advised to check with their airline for any delays in order to avoid any kind of inconvenience. The airport, which is the nearest passenger terminal to Lake Tahoe, also serves Reno, a popular gambling destination. Gov Steve Sisolak, Sens Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, and US Rep Mark Amodei wrote, "To be clear, further failure to secure adequate fuel supplies is unacceptable." Across the West region in the US, airport officials have been voicing concerns about jet fuel shortages. They have also raised concern of its effect on what is shaping up to be a very busy wildfire season. The demand for the jet fuel declined sharply and supply chains atrophied during the coronavirus pandemic. As the economy picks up, they are yet to bounce back in the West. Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority spokeswoman Stacey Sunday, said the Reno airport's shortage is caused by a confluence of factors, including a scarcity of tanker truck drivers and high demand from passenger airlines and firefighting aircraft. (With inputs from agencies)

Fuel shortage triggers flight delays at Nevada airport in US

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