The governors of a dozen US states including California, New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina called on President Joe Biden on Wednesday to back ending sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels.&nbsp;

Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan calls for $174 billion in spending and tax credits to boost electric vehicles (EVs) and charging networks but does not call for phasing out gasoline-powered passenger vehicles.&nbsp;

In a letter that was seen by Reuters, the governors, which also include those of Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington State and Rhode Island, urged Biden to set standards 'to ensure that all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold are zero-emission no later than 2035 with significant milestones along the way to monitor progress’.&nbsp;

They argued that “by establishing a clear regulatory path to ensuring that all vehicles sold in the United States are zero-emission, we can finally clear the air and create high-road jobs.” &nbsp;

The governors also want Biden to set standards and adopt incentives aimed at ensuring 100% zero-emission sales of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045.&nbsp;

The White House did not immediately comment on the governors’ letter.&nbsp;

States and some lawmakers hope that Biden’s endorsement of a phase-out date will speed the transition to EVs by users and automakers. EVs currently make up just 2% of US vehicle sales.&nbsp;

A number of US lawmakers have urged Biden follow California’s lead, which in September said it planned to end sales of new gas-powered passenger vehicles by 2035. Biden’s campaign said last fall he did not support California’s phase-out plan.&nbsp;

In March, a group of 71 House Democrats urged Biden to set tough emissions rules to ensure 60% of new passenger cars and trucks sold are zero-emission by 2030, while 10 US senators urged Biden “to set a date by which new sales of fossil fuel vehicles will end entirely.”&nbsp;

The governors of a dozen US states including California, New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina called on President Joe Biden on Wednesday to back ending sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels.

The governors of a dozen US states including California, New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina called on President Joe Biden on Wednesday to back ending sales of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035, a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels. Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan calls for $174 billion in spending and tax credits to boost electric vehicles (EVs) and charging networks but does not call for phasing out gasoline-powered passenger vehicles. In a letter that was seen by Reuters, the governors, which also include those of Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington State and Rhode Island, urged Biden to set standards 'to ensure that all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold are zero-emission no later than 2035 with significant milestones along the way to monitor progress’. They argued that “by establishing a clear regulatory path to ensuring that all vehicles sold in the United States are zero-emission, we can finally clear the air and create high-road jobs.” The governors also want Biden to set standards and adopt incentives aimed at ensuring 100% zero-emission sales of medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles by 2045. The White House did not immediately comment on the governors’ letter. States and some lawmakers hope that Biden’s endorsement of a phase-out date will speed the transition to EVs by users and automakers. EVs currently make up just 2% of US vehicle sales. A number of US lawmakers have urged Biden follow California’s lead, which in September said it planned to end sales of new gas-powered passenger vehicles by 2035. Biden’s campaign said last fall he did not support California’s phase-out plan. In March, a group of 71 House Democrats urged Biden to set tough emissions rules to ensure 60% of new passenger cars and trucks sold are zero-emission by 2030, while 10 US senators urged Biden “to set a date by which new sales of fossil fuel vehicles will end entirely.”

12 US states urge Biden to back phasing out gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035 

US President Joe Biden has said that he has nominated eminently qualified and highly respected Indian-origin lawyer Vanita Gupta to the Justice Department as she has spent her entire career fighting to advance racial equity and justice.&nbsp;

If confirmed, 46-year-old Gupta would be the first woman of colour to serve as Associate Attorney General, which is the third-ranking official at the powerful Department of Justice.&nbsp;

President Biden, in his remarks on Tuesday on the verdict in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, said that the State and local government and law enforcement needs to step up, but so does the federal government.&nbsp;

"That's why I have appointed the leadership at the Justice Department that I have, that is fully committed to restoring trust between law enforcement and the community they are sworn to serve and protect," he said.&nbsp;

Biden said that he has complete confidence in the leadership and commitment of Attorney General Merrick Brian Garland.&nbsp;

"I have also nominated two key Justice Department nominees, Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke, who are eminently qualified, highly respected lawyers, who have spent their entire careers fighting to advance racial equity and justice.&nbsp;

"Vanita and Kristen have the experience and the skill necessary to advance our administration's priorities to root out unconstitutional policing and reform our criminal justice system, and they deserve to be confirmed," Biden said.&nbsp;

Last week, the US Senate postponed a scheduled floor vote on the nomination of Gupta to serve as Associate Attorney General, the third-highest position in the Department of Justice, after hours of debate on her candidature.&nbsp;

Opposition Republicans have vocally opposed Gupta's nomination. They pressed her over previous tweets critical of Republicans and accused her of being an 'extreme partisan advocate' at a contentious confirmation hearing last month. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden has said that he has nominated eminently qualified and highly respected Indian-origin lawyer Vanita Gupta to the Justice Department as she has spent her entire career fighting to advance racial equity and justice.

US President Joe Biden has said that he has nominated eminently qualified and highly respected Indian-origin lawyer Vanita Gupta to the Justice Department as she has spent her entire career fighting to advance racial equity and justice. If confirmed, 46-year-old Gupta would be the first woman of colour to serve as Associate Attorney General, which is the third-ranking official at the powerful Department of Justice. President Biden, in his remarks on Tuesday on the verdict in the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, said that the State and local government and law enforcement needs to step up, but so does the federal government. "That's why I have appointed the leadership at the Justice Department that I have, that is fully committed to restoring trust between law enforcement and the community they are sworn to serve and protect," he said. Biden said that he has complete confidence in the leadership and commitment of Attorney General Merrick Brian Garland. "I have also nominated two key Justice Department nominees, Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke, who are eminently qualified, highly respected lawyers, who have spent their entire careers fighting to advance racial equity and justice. "Vanita and Kristen have the experience and the skill necessary to advance our administration's priorities to root out unconstitutional policing and reform our criminal justice system, and they deserve to be confirmed," Biden said. Last week, the US Senate postponed a scheduled floor vote on the nomination of Gupta to serve as Associate Attorney General, the third-highest position in the Department of Justice, after hours of debate on her candidature. Opposition Republicans have vocally opposed Gupta's nomination. They pressed her over previous tweets critical of Republicans and accused her of being an 'extreme partisan advocate' at a contentious confirmation hearing last month. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden says Justice Dept nominee Vanita Gupta spent entire career fighting to advance racial equity, justice 

The head of the US Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie Jr offered the first extensive comments by a top commander about the effect of President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw more than 2,500 troops from Afghanistan.

US top general says US troops pullout makes terror fight harder

The United States and European allies have already imposed sanctions on Russian targets over what they concluded was a state-backed poisoning attempt against Navalny

US urges Russia to "Immediately" allow doctors for Alexei Navalny

Iran and world powers have made some progress on how to revive the 2015 nuclear accord later abandoned by the United States, and an interim deal could be a way to gain time for a lasting settlement, Iranian officials said on Monday. &nbsp;

Tehran and the powers have been meeting in Vienna since early April to work on steps that must be taken, touching on US sanctions and Iran's recent breaches of the deal, to bring back Tehran and Washington into full compliance with the accord. &nbsp;

"We are on the right track and some progress has been made, but this does not mean that the talks in Vienna have reached the final stage," Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a weekly news conference in Tehran.&nbsp;

"Practical solutions are still far away, but we have moved from general words to agreeing on specific steps towards the goal,” Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog agency (IAEA), wrote on Twitter on Monday.&nbsp;

US President Joe Biden's administration, which took office in January pledging to rejoin the deal, has said it is ready to remove 'all sanctions that are inconsistent' with the accord, but not spelled out which measures it means. &nbsp;

Iran's clerical establishment has said it will not return to strict observance of the 2015 agreement unless all sanctions reimposed or added by former President Donald Trump after he ditched the accord in 2018 are rescinded first.&nbsp;

Diplomats say sequenced steps by each side may offer a solution, while Iranian officials said the high-stakes talks in Vienna might yield an interim deal to give space to diplomacy on a lasting settlement.&nbsp;

"The May deadline is approaching...What is being discussed in Vienna for the near term is the main outlines of an interim deal to give all sides more time to resolve complicated technical issues," said an Iranian official. &nbsp;

He referred to a law passed by Iran's hardline-dominated parliament that obliges the government to harden its nuclear stance if sanctions are not lifted. &nbsp;

The law mandated an end to short-notice UN nuclear inspections from February 21, but Tehran and the IAEA agreed to keep up ‘necessary' monitoring for up to three months. &nbsp;

Another Iranian official said that if a political agreement was reached on technical steps to remove all sanctions, Tehran might suspend enrichment to 20% purity in return for a release of blocked Iranian funds in other countries.&nbsp;

Iran says $20 billion of its oil revenue has been frozen in countries like South Korea, Iraq and China under the US sanctions regime since 2018. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Iran and world powers have made some progress on how to revive the 2015 nuclear accord later abandoned by the United States, and an interim deal could be a way to gain time for a lasting settlement, Iranian officials said on Monday.

Iran and world powers have made some progress on how to revive the 2015 nuclear accord later abandoned by the United States, and an interim deal could be a way to gain time for a lasting settlement, Iranian officials said on Monday. Tehran and the powers have been meeting in Vienna since early April to work on steps that must be taken, touching on US sanctions and Iran's recent breaches of the deal, to bring back Tehran and Washington into full compliance with the accord. "We are on the right track and some progress has been made, but this does not mean that the talks in Vienna have reached the final stage," Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a weekly news conference in Tehran. "Practical solutions are still far away, but we have moved from general words to agreeing on specific steps towards the goal,” Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog agency (IAEA), wrote on Twitter on Monday. US President Joe Biden's administration, which took office in January pledging to rejoin the deal, has said it is ready to remove 'all sanctions that are inconsistent' with the accord, but not spelled out which measures it means. Iran's clerical establishment has said it will not return to strict observance of the 2015 agreement unless all sanctions reimposed or added by former President Donald Trump after he ditched the accord in 2018 are rescinded first. Diplomats say sequenced steps by each side may offer a solution, while Iranian officials said the high-stakes talks in Vienna might yield an interim deal to give space to diplomacy on a lasting settlement. "The May deadline is approaching...What is being discussed in Vienna for the near term is the main outlines of an interim deal to give all sides more time to resolve complicated technical issues," said an Iranian official. He referred to a law passed by Iran's hardline-dominated parliament that obliges the government to harden its nuclear stance if sanctions are not lifted. The law mandated an end to short-notice UN nuclear inspections from February 21, but Tehran and the IAEA agreed to keep up ‘necessary' monitoring for up to three months. Another Iranian official said that if a political agreement was reached on technical steps to remove all sanctions, Tehran might suspend enrichment to 20% purity in return for a release of blocked Iranian funds in other countries. Iran says $20 billion of its oil revenue has been frozen in countries like South Korea, Iraq and China under the US sanctions regime since 2018. (With inputs from agencies)

Nuclear talks make some progress, interim deal possible, say Iranian officials 

The Biden administration will set aside 6,000 seasonal guest worker visas for people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in the coming months, the US&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Tuesday, a small step toward establishing more legal pathways to the United States from the region.

The 6,000-visa allotment would be part of an additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available to employers in the current fiscal year, which ends on September&nbsp;30, DHS said in a statement.

The increase has been sought by business groups but opposed by labor unions amid high unemployment related to the coronavirus pandemic.

President Joe Biden has grappled in recent months with a rising number of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border, including families and unaccompanied children. In March, about 85,000 of the 172,000 migrants caught at the border came from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Biden officials have urged migrants not to travel to the border while systems are established that allow them to seek asylum from their home countries or come to the United States through other legal pathways.

The extra H-2B visas would be in addition to the annual allotment of 66,000 visas for the fiscal year, a tally that was exhausted in February. The visas are used for landscaping, food processing and hotel work, among other seasonal jobs.

If the 6,000 visas are not used by companies seeking to hire people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, they will go back to the general visa pool sometime before September&nbsp;30, a DHS official and a second person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The visa carve-out for the so-called Northern Triangle countries "demonstrates DHS’s commitment" to creating more legal avenues for migration from the region, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

The Biden administration will set aside 6,000 seasonal guest worker visas for people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in the coming months, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Tuesday, a small step toward establishing more legal pathways to the United States from the region.

The Biden administration will set aside 6,000 seasonal guest worker visas for people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador in the coming months, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Tuesday, a small step toward establishing more legal pathways to the United States from the region. The 6,000-visa allotment would be part of an additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available to employers in the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30, DHS said in a statement. The increase has been sought by business groups but opposed by labor unions amid high unemployment related to the coronavirus pandemic. President Joe Biden has grappled in recent months with a rising number of migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border, including families and unaccompanied children. In March, about 85,000 of the 172,000 migrants caught at the border came from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Biden officials have urged migrants not to travel to the border while systems are established that allow them to seek asylum from their home countries or come to the United States through other legal pathways. The extra H-2B visas would be in addition to the annual allotment of 66,000 visas for the fiscal year, a tally that was exhausted in February. The visas are used for landscaping, food processing and hotel work, among other seasonal jobs. If the 6,000 visas are not used by companies seeking to hire people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, they will go back to the general visa pool sometime before September 30, a DHS official and a second person familiar with the matter told Reuters. The visa carve-out for the so-called Northern Triangle countries "demonstrates DHS’s commitment" to creating more legal avenues for migration from the region, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.

US to set aside 6,000 guest worker visas for Central Americans

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday, covering recent developments in India's immediate and extended neighbourhood. Jaishankar and Blinken reportedly also discussed issues relating to cooperation in the area of health as well as exchanged views on the agenda of the UN Security Council.

EAM S Jaishankar speaks to US Sec of State Antony Blinken

United States: All adults are now eligible for taking shots of Covid-19 vaccine. Those 16 and older in every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are eligible to receive a vaccine as of Monday, which public health experts are labeling as a major win for the country's effort to reemerge from the pandemic.

Now all adults in US eligible for vaccine

Sullivan and Nikolay Patrushev, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, agreed in their telephone call "to continue to stay in touch," National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said.

U.S., Russia security advisors discuss presidential summit prospects

The United States continues to have a dialogue with Pakistan on issues related to terrorism along the border with Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said.&nbsp;

"We continue to have a dialogue with Pakistan about terrorist issues along that border with Afghanistan. I think it's helpful to remind that they too have suffered from terrorist attacks inside their country," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at a news conference here.&nbsp;

Responding to a question, Kirby said President Joe Biden is clear on withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan by September 22.&nbsp;

"The president was clear. We are removing US forces from Afghanistan and will maintain the sufficient counter terrorism capabilities we need to detect and prevent threats to our homeland that could emanate from Afghanistan,” Kirby said.&nbsp;

Once the US leaves Afghanistan, he said, they expect the sovereignty of Afghanistan to be respected.&nbsp;

He was responding to a question on reports that Beijing is considering sending a peacekeeping force to Afghanistan once the US pulls out, which will be deployed at the neighbouring province it has with Afghanistan across that 44-mile border.&nbsp;

"We certainly wouldn't speak for another nation and obviously, we would call on all of Afghanistan's neighbours to respect its sovereignty and to respect its territory integrity as well," he said.&nbsp;

"If there's a legitimate terrorism threat that's emanating from Afghanistan to work in accordance with international law and with the Afghan government to address that, but we want Afghanistan's sovereignty to be respected," he asserted.&nbsp;

The US, he said, is removing all military personnel from Afghanistan.&nbsp;

"We will remove them by early September. All of them with the exception of what's going to be required to protect the diplomatic mission in Afghanistan," he said.&nbsp;

"So I know of no discussions with government in Kabul about reinserting counterterrorism forces inside Afghanistan. As the (Defence) Secretary made clear in Brussels last week, we will maintain a sufficient counterterrorism capability in the region to deal with emanating threats from Afghanistan, threats to our homeland from terrorist groups, but the president's direction was crystal clear."&nbsp;

"All US military personnel with that exception are going to be leaving Afghanistan by the early fall," he said.&nbsp;

Kirby insisted that there's no plans to reintroduce American boots on the ground in Afghanistan. &nbsp;

"We have robust counterterrorism capabilities all around the world, and I think as he also - you heard him say in Brussels there's not a part of the Earth that we can't hit if we need to hit it, but there are no plans and no discussions about reintroducing American combat forces on the ground in Afghanistan," he said. &nbsp;

The United States continues to have a dialogue with Pakistan on issues related to terrorism along the border with Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said. "We continue to have a dialogue with Pakistan about terrorist issues along that border with Afghanistan.

The United States continues to have a dialogue with Pakistan on issues related to terrorism along the border with Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said. "We continue to have a dialogue with Pakistan about terrorist issues along that border with Afghanistan. I think it's helpful to remind that they too have suffered from terrorist attacks inside their country," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters at a news conference here. Responding to a question, Kirby said President Joe Biden is clear on withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan by September 22. "The president was clear. We are removing US forces from Afghanistan and will maintain the sufficient counter terrorism capabilities we need to detect and prevent threats to our homeland that could emanate from Afghanistan,” Kirby said. Once the US leaves Afghanistan, he said, they expect the sovereignty of Afghanistan to be respected. He was responding to a question on reports that Beijing is considering sending a peacekeeping force to Afghanistan once the US pulls out, which will be deployed at the neighbouring province it has with Afghanistan across that 44-mile border. "We certainly wouldn't speak for another nation and obviously, we would call on all of Afghanistan's neighbours to respect its sovereignty and to respect its territory integrity as well," he said. "If there's a legitimate terrorism threat that's emanating from Afghanistan to work in accordance with international law and with the Afghan government to address that, but we want Afghanistan's sovereignty to be respected," he asserted. The US, he said, is removing all military personnel from Afghanistan. "We will remove them by early September. All of them with the exception of what's going to be required to protect the diplomatic mission in Afghanistan," he said. "So I know of no discussions with government in Kabul about reinserting counterterrorism forces inside Afghanistan. As the (Defence) Secretary made clear in Brussels last week, we will maintain a sufficient counterterrorism capability in the region to deal with emanating threats from Afghanistan, threats to our homeland from terrorist groups, but the president's direction was crystal clear." "All US military personnel with that exception are going to be leaving Afghanistan by the early fall," he said. Kirby insisted that there's no plans to reintroduce American boots on the ground in Afghanistan. "We have robust counterterrorism capabilities all around the world, and I think as he also - you heard him say in Brussels there's not a part of the Earth that we can't hit if we need to hit it, but there are no plans and no discussions about reintroducing American combat forces on the ground in Afghanistan," he said.

US continues to have dialogue with Pakistan on terrorism along Afghanistan border: Pentagon  

Former US president Donald Trump has urged his successor Joe Biden to reinstate the travel ban on certain Muslim countries in order to keep the country safe from radical Islamic terrorism. &nbsp;

"If Joe Biden wants to keep our country safe from radical Islamic terrorism, he should reinstitute the foreign country travel ban and all of the vetting requirements on those seeking admission that go with it, along with the refugee restrictions I successfully put in place," Trump said in a statement on Monday. &nbsp;

"Terrorists operate all over the world and recruit online. To keep terrorism and extremism out of our country, we need to have smart, commonsense rules in place so we don't repeat the many immigration mistakes made by Europe and the USA prior to ‘Trump'," said the former US president. &nbsp;

Trump had imposed a ban on travel from several Muslim-majority countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. However, Biden lifted the ban after assuming office. &nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Former US president Donald Trump has urged his successor Joe Biden to reinstate the travel ban on certain Muslim countries in order to keep the country safe from radical Islamic terrorism.

Former US president Donald Trump has urged his successor Joe Biden to reinstate the travel ban on certain Muslim countries in order to keep the country safe from radical Islamic terrorism. "If Joe Biden wants to keep our country safe from radical Islamic terrorism, he should reinstitute the foreign country travel ban and all of the vetting requirements on those seeking admission that go with it, along with the refugee restrictions I successfully put in place," Trump said in a statement on Monday. "Terrorists operate all over the world and recruit online. To keep terrorism and extremism out of our country, we need to have smart, commonsense rules in place so we don't repeat the many immigration mistakes made by Europe and the USA prior to ‘Trump'," said the former US president. Trump had imposed a ban on travel from several Muslim-majority countries including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. However, Biden lifted the ban after assuming office. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump asks Biden to reinstate travel ban, to keep US safe from radical Islamic terrorism

The United States said on Sunday it stood with the Czech Republic after it expelled Russia diplomats and accused Moscow of being behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump.

"The U.S. stands with the Czech Republic in its firm response against Russia’s subversive actions on Czech soil," said State Department spokesman Ned Price in a statement on Twitter.

"We must act firmly in response to Russian actions that compromise the territorial integrity, energy security, or critical infrastructure of our allies and partners."

The United States said on Sunday it stood with the Czech Republic after it expelled Russia diplomats and accused Moscow of being behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump.

The United States said on Sunday it stood with the Czech Republic after it expelled Russia diplomats and accused Moscow of being behind an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump. "The U.S. stands with the Czech Republic in its firm response against Russia’s subversive actions on Czech soil," said State Department spokesman Ned Price in a statement on Twitter. "We must act firmly in response to Russian actions that compromise the territorial integrity, energy security, or critical infrastructure of our allies and partners."

US stands with Czech Republic's response to 'Russia's subversive actions'

Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a speech on Thursday at an online climate change summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, the Kremlin said, despite a deep crisis in relations between Moscow and Washington.&nbsp;

Putin's attendance signals he is still open to dialogue with the United States even though the two countries have imposed new sanctions on each other in the past few days. He has yet to accept or decline a separate invitation from Biden to a bilateral summit.&nbsp;

Biden has invited 40 world leaders to the climate summit, part of his effort to make the fight against global warming a top priority.&nbsp;

Putin, in his speech, will "outline Russia's approaches in the context of forging broad international cooperation aimed at overcoming the negative effects of global climate change," the Kremlin said.&nbsp;

Washington imposed new sanctions on Russia on last Thursday for alleged malign activity including interfering in last year's US election, cyber hacking and bullying neighbouring Ukraine.&nbsp;

Russia denied the accusations and retaliated with sanctions of its own the following day.&nbsp;

The United States has warned Russia, there will be further consequences if Alexei Navalny, an opposition politician, who has been on hunger strike in prison for nearly three weeks, were to die. Russia has said it is ready to impose more 'painful' measures against Washington if tensions escalate further.&nbsp;

Relations slumped to a new post-Cold War low last month after Biden said he thought Putin was a 'killer' and Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultations.&nbsp;

Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a speech on Thursday at an online climate change summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, the Kremlin said, despite a deep crisis in relations between Moscow and Washington.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a speech on Thursday at an online climate change summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, the Kremlin said, despite a deep crisis in relations between Moscow and Washington. Putin's attendance signals he is still open to dialogue with the United States even though the two countries have imposed new sanctions on each other in the past few days. He has yet to accept or decline a separate invitation from Biden to a bilateral summit. Biden has invited 40 world leaders to the climate summit, part of his effort to make the fight against global warming a top priority. Putin, in his speech, will "outline Russia's approaches in the context of forging broad international cooperation aimed at overcoming the negative effects of global climate change," the Kremlin said. Washington imposed new sanctions on Russia on last Thursday for alleged malign activity including interfering in last year's US election, cyber hacking and bullying neighbouring Ukraine. Russia denied the accusations and retaliated with sanctions of its own the following day. The United States has warned Russia, there will be further consequences if Alexei Navalny, an opposition politician, who has been on hunger strike in prison for nearly three weeks, were to die. Russia has said it is ready to impose more 'painful' measures against Washington if tensions escalate further. Relations slumped to a new post-Cold War low last month after Biden said he thought Putin was a 'killer' and Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington for consultations.

Putin to address Biden's climate summit despite crisis in US-Russia ties 

Eight people were killed and several more injured in a mass shooting incident at a FedEx Ground Plainfield Operations Center late Thursday Night.

US Sikh group demands probe into FedEx mass shooting

At least three people have been killed and two others injured in a shooting in Wisconsin's Kenosha County, US.

US has seen 45 mass shootings in 30 days

The Gun Violence Archive says 147 mass shootings have occurred so far in 2021. Their definition of mass shooting is a minimum of four gunshot victims.

Memorial honors victims of 'gun violence epidemic' in US

Officials were still working to determine the identities of the people who died. The three people who were wounded were taken to area hospitals.

Three dead, three wounded in shooting at Wisconsin tavern

Safety regulators warned people with kids and pets on Saturday to immediately stop using a treadmill made by Peloton after one child died and others were injured. &nbsp;

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said children and at least one pet were pulled, pinned and entrapped under the rear roller of the Tread+ treadmill, leading to fractures, scrapes and the death of one child. &nbsp;

The safety commission said in a news release and in emails that it knows of 39 incidents with the treadmill, involving multiple or dozens of children, but it did not specify a number of children. It said the majority of the incidents resulted in injuries, including the one death. &nbsp;

The commission posted a video on its YouTube page of a child being pulled under the treadmill. &nbsp;

Of the 39 incidents, 23 involved children, according to New York-based Peloton Interactive Inc.; 15 included objects like medicine balls, and one included a pet, it said. &nbsp;

Peloton said in a news release that the warning from the safety commission was inaccurate and misleading. It said there's no reason to stop using the treadmill as long as children and pets are kept away from it at all times, it is turned off when not in use, and a safety key is removed. &nbsp;

But the safety commission said that in at least one episode, a child was pulled under the treadmill while a parent was running on it, suggesting it can be dangerous to children even while a parent is present. &nbsp;

If adults want to keep using the treadmill, the commission said, they should use it only in a locked room so children and pets can't come near it. When not in use, the treadmill should be unplugged and the safety key taken out and hidden away. The commission also said to keep exercise balls and other objects away from it, because those have been pulled under the treadmill, too. &nbsp;

Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes, but it introduced the treadmill about three years ago and now calls it the Tread+. It costs more than $4,000. &nbsp;

Sales of Peloton equipment have soared during the pandemic as virus-weary people avoid gyms and workout at home instead. The company brought in $1 billion in revenue in the last three months of 2020, more than double its revenue from the same period a year before. &nbsp;

The commission did not say how many of the Peloton treadmills have been sold.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Safety regulators warned people with kids and pets on Saturday to immediately stop using a treadmill made by Peloton after one child died and others were injured.

Safety regulators warned people with kids and pets on Saturday to immediately stop using a treadmill made by Peloton after one child died and others were injured. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said children and at least one pet were pulled, pinned and entrapped under the rear roller of the Tread+ treadmill, leading to fractures, scrapes and the death of one child. The safety commission said in a news release and in emails that it knows of 39 incidents with the treadmill, involving multiple or dozens of children, but it did not specify a number of children. It said the majority of the incidents resulted in injuries, including the one death. The commission posted a video on its YouTube page of a child being pulled under the treadmill. Of the 39 incidents, 23 involved children, according to New York-based Peloton Interactive Inc.; 15 included objects like medicine balls, and one included a pet, it said. Peloton said in a news release that the warning from the safety commission was inaccurate and misleading. It said there's no reason to stop using the treadmill as long as children and pets are kept away from it at all times, it is turned off when not in use, and a safety key is removed. But the safety commission said that in at least one episode, a child was pulled under the treadmill while a parent was running on it, suggesting it can be dangerous to children even while a parent is present. If adults want to keep using the treadmill, the commission said, they should use it only in a locked room so children and pets can't come near it. When not in use, the treadmill should be unplugged and the safety key taken out and hidden away. The commission also said to keep exercise balls and other objects away from it, because those have been pulled under the treadmill, too. Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes, but it introduced the treadmill about three years ago and now calls it the Tread+. It costs more than $4,000. Sales of Peloton equipment have soared during the pandemic as virus-weary people avoid gyms and workout at home instead. The company brought in $1 billion in revenue in the last three months of 2020, more than double its revenue from the same period a year before. The commission did not say how many of the Peloton treadmills have been sold. (With inputs from agencies)

After child dies, US regulator warns about Peloton treadmill  

The EU and US jointly called on lawmakers in Georgia to sign on to a compromise agreement to be proposed Sunday to resolve a protracted political crisis in the Caucasus country.

"The European Union and the United States call on all members of Georgia's parliament to sign the agreement that European Council President (Charles) Michel will propose today," the joint statement by spokespeople for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and the US State Department said.

The united EU-US front on the issue underlined growing consultation between Brussels and Washington on regions skirting Russia's southern and western borders.

Georgia, an ex-Soviet country that sits to the east of Europe, has been in the grip of a crisis since parliamentary polls in October, which the opposition said were rigged to keep the ruling Georgian Dream party in power.

Opposition parties have demanded snap elections and refused to enter the newly elected parliament.&nbsp;

The crisis deepened in February with the arrest and trial of the leader of the main opposition grouping, Nika Melia, on accusations of fomenting violence during 2019 anti-government protests.

Georgia's prime minister resigned and thousands of opposition supporters rallied in the capital Tbilisi in February to protest Melia's arrest.

EU chief Michel has taken on a mediation role between Georgia's government and opposition to try to rein in the tensions and prevent a perceived backsliding on democracy commitments by the country.

'Courage' needed

The EU-US statement said the compromise agreement to be unveiled was one that all Georgian lawmakers would be able to sign up to "in good faith".&nbsp;

But it said they would need to demonstrate "courage" by backing it over partisan considerations.

The statement said the proposed reforms would bolster the independence of Georgia's judiciary, improve electoral processes and contribute to "a parliament that can better reflect the voices of all people of Georgia".

The proposed agreement, posted to the website of the European External Action Service headed by Borrell, stated its aims as helping Georgia meet challenges thrown up by the Covid pandemic and addressing its "security and stability interests in the midst of regional challenges".

It commits signatories to, within a week, resolving cases of "perceived politicised justice" from the 2019 protests through amnesties or similar measures for convictions, and requiring more than a simple majority to lift parliamentary immunity.

"The parties acknowledge their differing assessment of the 2020 elections and agree to take up their parliamentary mandates and participate in future elections on the basis of the electoral reform agreed here," it says.

It calls for "fully proportional" elections for parliament and "clear criteria" for ballot recounts, as well as allowing "trusted invited domestic and international experts" to review election disputes, among a raft of other proposals to be completed before local elections in October.

Early parliamentary elections should be called in 2022 if the Georgian Dream party scores less than 43 per cent in the October polls, it says.&nbsp;

Power-sharing in parliament, under which opposition MPs would chair five committees, including key ones relating to either foreign relations, rights, or budget, is also set out.

The text also stipulates reforms to improve the judicial system with a pause on appointments to the supreme court until new legislation is passed ensuring better transparency, to be adopted within a year.&nbsp;

The EU and US jointly called on lawmakers in Georgia to sign on to a compromise agreement to be proposed Sunday to resolve a protracted political crisis in the Caucasus country.

The EU and US jointly called on lawmakers in Georgia to sign on to a compromise agreement to be proposed Sunday to resolve a protracted political crisis in the Caucasus country. "The European Union and the United States call on all members of Georgia's parliament to sign the agreement that European Council President (Charles) Michel will propose today," the joint statement by spokespeople for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and the US State Department said. The united EU-US front on the issue underlined growing consultation between Brussels and Washington on regions skirting Russia's southern and western borders. Georgia, an ex-Soviet country that sits to the east of Europe, has been in the grip of a crisis since parliamentary polls in October, which the opposition said were rigged to keep the ruling Georgian Dream party in power. Opposition parties have demanded snap elections and refused to enter the newly elected parliament. The crisis deepened in February with the arrest and trial of the leader of the main opposition grouping, Nika Melia, on accusations of fomenting violence during 2019 anti-government protests. Georgia's prime minister resigned and thousands of opposition supporters rallied in the capital Tbilisi in February to protest Melia's arrest. EU chief Michel has taken on a mediation role between Georgia's government and opposition to try to rein in the tensions and prevent a perceived backsliding on democracy commitments by the country. 'Courage' needed The EU-US statement said the compromise agreement to be unveiled was one that all Georgian lawmakers would be able to sign up to "in good faith". But it said they would need to demonstrate "courage" by backing it over partisan considerations. The statement said the proposed reforms would bolster the independence of Georgia's judiciary, improve electoral processes and contribute to "a parliament that can better reflect the voices of all people of Georgia". The proposed agreement, posted to the website of the European External Action Service headed by Borrell, stated its aims as helping Georgia meet challenges thrown up by the Covid pandemic and addressing its "security and stability interests in the midst of regional challenges". It commits signatories to, within a week, resolving cases of "perceived politicised justice" from the 2019 protests through amnesties or similar measures for convictions, and requiring more than a simple majority to lift parliamentary immunity. "The parties acknowledge their differing assessment of the 2020 elections and agree to take up their parliamentary mandates and participate in future elections on the basis of the electoral reform agreed here," it says. It calls for "fully proportional" elections for parliament and "clear criteria" for ballot recounts, as well as allowing "trusted invited domestic and international experts" to review election disputes, among a raft of other proposals to be completed before local elections in October. Early parliamentary elections should be called in 2022 if the Georgian Dream party scores less than 43 per cent in the October polls, it says. Power-sharing in parliament, under which opposition MPs would chair five committees, including key ones relating to either foreign relations, rights, or budget, is also set out. The text also stipulates reforms to improve the judicial system with a pause on appointments to the supreme court until new legislation is passed ensuring better transparency, to be adopted within a year.

EU, US call on Georgia lawmakers to sign compromise pact

Five rockets targeted Sunday an Iraqi airbase hosting US soldiers and at least two projectiles hit the facilities of an American firm that provides maintenance to planes, a security source said.

The rockets targeted Balad airbase north of Balad, and two crashed into a dormitory and a canteen of US company Sallyport, the source told AFP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/rockets-hit-near-iraq-airbase-hosting-us-soldiers-375332" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/rockets-hit-near-iraq-airbase-hosting-us-soldiers-375332&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjGyLzrsIjwAhVL63MBHZ2wBPcQFjAJegQIABAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0hXu8Q7eem4qX9PqiP7WuV" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rockets-hit-near-iraq-airbase-hosting-us-soldiers-375332" target="_blank">Rockets hit near&nbsp;Iraq&nbsp;airbase hosting US soldiers</a>

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the United States routinely blames Iran-linked Iraqi factions for such attacks on its troops and diplomats.

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

F-16 aircraft are stationed at the Balad airbase north of Baghdad, and several maintenance companies are present there, employing Iraqi and foreign staff.

There have been around 20 bomb or rocket attacks against American interests, including bases hosting US soldiers, since US President Joe Biden took office in January.

Five rockets targeted Sunday an Iraqi airbase hosting US soldiers and at least two projectiles hit the facilities of an American firm that provides maintenance to planes, a security source said.

Five rockets targeted Sunday an Iraqi airbase hosting US soldiers and at least two projectiles hit the facilities of an American firm that provides maintenance to planes, a security source said. The rockets targeted Balad airbase north of Balad, and two crashed into a dormitory and a canteen of US company Sallyport, the source told AFP. Also read | Rockets hit near Iraq airbase hosting US soldiers There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the United States routinely blames Iran-linked Iraqi factions for such attacks on its troops and diplomats. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. F-16 aircraft are stationed at the Balad airbase north of Baghdad, and several maintenance companies are present there, employing Iraqi and foreign staff. There have been around 20 bomb or rocket attacks against American interests, including bases hosting US soldiers, since US President Joe Biden took office in January.

Five rockets target Iraq base hosting Americans: security source

South Korea raised concerns over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea with visiting US climate envoy John Kerry, its foreign ministry said, but Kerry reaffirmed Washington's confidence in the plan's transparency.&nbsp;

Kerry arrived in Seoul on Saturday to discuss international efforts to tackle global warming on a trip that included a stop in China ahead of President Joe Biden's virtual summit with world leaders on climate change on April 22 and 23.&nbsp;

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong sought to rally support behind the country's protest against the Fukushima plan at a dinner meeting with Kerry, the ministry said. Under the plan, more than one million tonnes of water will be discharged from the plant wrecked by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 into the nearby sea off Japan's east coast.&nbsp;

Seoul strongly rebuked the decision, with the foreign ministry summoning the Japanese ambassador and President Moon Jae-in ordering officials to explore petitioning an international court. &nbsp;

"Minister Chung conveyed our government and people's serious concerns about Japan's decision, and asked the US side to take interest and cooperate so that Japan will provide information in a more transparent and speedy manner," the ministry said in a statement. &nbsp;

But Kerry, at a media roundtable on Sunday, said Tokyo had made the decision in a transparent manner and will continue following due procedures. &nbsp;

"The United States is confident that the government of Japan is in very full consultations with the IAEA," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency. &nbsp;

"The IAEA has set up a very rigorous process and I know that Japan has weighed all the options and the effects and they've been very transparent about the decision and the process." &nbsp;

The former US secretary of state added that Washington would closely monitor Japan's implementation "like every country, to make certain there is no public health threat." &nbsp;

The South Korean foreign ministry said Chung and Kerry also agreed to work together to boost international cooperation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a goal pledged by South Korea, Europe and others.&nbsp;

Kerry told the roundtable that Biden aims to urge countries to commit to more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets, including China, such as by revamping their power initiatives or speeding up transitions to renewable energy.&nbsp;

The United States is expected to announce its own new emissions target for 2030 this week.&nbsp;

"I think Korea has set an ambitious target and Korea is trying to do a lot, it's not easy for any country," Kerry said. "We need to be smarter, so do I think it’s possible for additional steps? I do think there are some things that could happen."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

South Korea raised concerns over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea with visiting US climate envoy John Kerry, its foreign ministry said, but Kerry reaffirmed Washington's confidence in the plan's transparency.

South Korea raised concerns over Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea with visiting US climate envoy John Kerry, its foreign ministry said, but Kerry reaffirmed Washington's confidence in the plan's transparency. Kerry arrived in Seoul on Saturday to discuss international efforts to tackle global warming on a trip that included a stop in China ahead of President Joe Biden's virtual summit with world leaders on climate change on April 22 and 23. South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong sought to rally support behind the country's protest against the Fukushima plan at a dinner meeting with Kerry, the ministry said. Under the plan, more than one million tonnes of water will be discharged from the plant wrecked by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 into the nearby sea off Japan's east coast. Seoul strongly rebuked the decision, with the foreign ministry summoning the Japanese ambassador and President Moon Jae-in ordering officials to explore petitioning an international court. "Minister Chung conveyed our government and people's serious concerns about Japan's decision, and asked the US side to take interest and cooperate so that Japan will provide information in a more transparent and speedy manner," the ministry said in a statement. But Kerry, at a media roundtable on Sunday, said Tokyo had made the decision in a transparent manner and will continue following due procedures. "The United States is confident that the government of Japan is in very full consultations with the IAEA," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency. "The IAEA has set up a very rigorous process and I know that Japan has weighed all the options and the effects and they've been very transparent about the decision and the process." The former US secretary of state added that Washington would closely monitor Japan's implementation "like every country, to make certain there is no public health threat." The South Korean foreign ministry said Chung and Kerry also agreed to work together to boost international cooperation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a goal pledged by South Korea, Europe and others. Kerry told the roundtable that Biden aims to urge countries to commit to more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets, including China, such as by revamping their power initiatives or speeding up transitions to renewable energy. The United States is expected to announce its own new emissions target for 2030 this week. "I think Korea has set an ambitious target and Korea is trying to do a lot, it's not easy for any country," Kerry said. "We need to be smarter, so do I think it’s possible for additional steps? I do think there are some things that could happen." (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea, US show differences over Japan government's Fukushima plans 

China and the United States agree that stronger pledges to fight climate change should be introduced before a new round of international talks at the end of the year, the two countries said in a joint statement on Sunday. &nbsp;

The statement came after a meeting between Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and his US counterpart, John Kerry, in Shanghai on Thursday and Friday, China’s environment ministry said.&nbsp;

"The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis," their joint statement said. The two countries will continue to discuss "concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping the Paris Agreement-aligned temperature limit within reach."&nbsp;

Kerry arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night under tight Covid-19 protocols and was transferred to a secluded hotel not open to the public. He subsequently traveled to Seoul.&nbsp;

His stop in Shanghai was the first high-level visit to China by a Biden administration official since the new president took office, and followed a contentious exchange between officials from the two countries in March in Alaska.&nbsp;

The talks also mark a resumption of climate dialogue between the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters. Bilateral discussions ground to a halt during the administration of Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 Paris agreement after claiming it unfairly punished US businesses.&nbsp;

The United States is expected soon to deliver a new pledge to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to win back trust from foreign allies. Biden brought the United States back into the Paris climate accord.&nbsp;

Li Shuo, senior climate adviser for the environmental group Greenpeace, said China could soon respond to a new US pledge with one of its own, building on the 'momentum' of the Shanghai talks.&nbsp;

"The statement in my view is as positive as the politics would allow: It sends a very unequivocal message that on this particular issue (China and the United States) will cooperate. Before the meetings in Shanghai this was not a message that we could assume," Li said.&nbsp;

Biden will hold a virtual summit for dozens of world leaders this week to discuss climate change, to be livestreamed for public viewing. Global climate talks are scheduled for November 1-12 in Glasgow. &nbsp;

The statement said the two countries also agreed to discuss specific emission reduction actions including energy storage, carbon capture and hydrogen. They said they would take action to maximise financing for developing countries to switch to low-carbon energy sources.&nbsp;

The Paris agreement encourages countries to submit more ambitious climate pledges if they are able to do so. China has already promised enhanced actions as it tries to meet its goal to become 'carbon neutral’ by 2060.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

China and the United States agree that stronger pledges to fight climate change should be introduced before a new round of international talks at the end of the year, the two countries said in a joint statement on Sunday.

China and the United States agree that stronger pledges to fight climate change should be introduced before a new round of international talks at the end of the year, the two countries said in a joint statement on Sunday. The statement came after a meeting between Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and his US counterpart, John Kerry, in Shanghai on Thursday and Friday, China’s environment ministry said. "The United States and China are committed to cooperating with each other and with other countries to tackle the climate crisis," their joint statement said. The two countries will continue to discuss "concrete actions in the 2020s to reduce emissions aimed at keeping the Paris Agreement-aligned temperature limit within reach." Kerry arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night under tight Covid-19 protocols and was transferred to a secluded hotel not open to the public. He subsequently traveled to Seoul. His stop in Shanghai was the first high-level visit to China by a Biden administration official since the new president took office, and followed a contentious exchange between officials from the two countries in March in Alaska. The talks also mark a resumption of climate dialogue between the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters. Bilateral discussions ground to a halt during the administration of Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 Paris agreement after claiming it unfairly punished US businesses. The United States is expected soon to deliver a new pledge to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to win back trust from foreign allies. Biden brought the United States back into the Paris climate accord. Li Shuo, senior climate adviser for the environmental group Greenpeace, said China could soon respond to a new US pledge with one of its own, building on the 'momentum' of the Shanghai talks. "The statement in my view is as positive as the politics would allow: It sends a very unequivocal message that on this particular issue (China and the United States) will cooperate. Before the meetings in Shanghai this was not a message that we could assume," Li said. Biden will hold a virtual summit for dozens of world leaders this week to discuss climate change, to be livestreamed for public viewing. Global climate talks are scheduled for November 1-12 in Glasgow. The statement said the two countries also agreed to discuss specific emission reduction actions including energy storage, carbon capture and hydrogen. They said they would take action to maximise financing for developing countries to switch to low-carbon energy sources. The Paris agreement encourages countries to submit more ambitious climate pledges if they are able to do so. China has already promised enhanced actions as it tries to meet its goal to become 'carbon neutral’ by 2060. (With inputs from agencies)

US, China find common ground over need for stronger climate commitments 

Chad's army said on Saturday it had ‘completely destroyed' a column of rebels that attacked the country on the day of last week's presidential election.&nbsp;

Soldiers were searching for the last of the rebels, army spokesman Azem Bermandoa Agouna said in a statement read out on national television.&nbsp;

"The adventure of the mercenaries from Libya has ended, as announced," Communications Minister and government spokesman Cherif Mahamat Zene announced on Twitter.&nbsp;

Four tanks and several soldiers were stationed at the northern entrance of the Chadian capital N'Djamena on Saturday evening, where military vehicles were continuing to drive towards the fighting, an AFP journalist said.&nbsp;

The US embassy there on Saturday told its non-essential staff to leave the country because of the possibility of violence in the city.&nbsp;Britain also urged its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible.&nbsp;

Last Sunday, members of the Force for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) rebel force group, said they had captured garrisons near Chad's northern borders with Niger and Libya 'without resistance'.&nbsp;

FACT is based in Libya, where it has a non-aggression pact with Khalifa Haftar, a military strongman, who controls much of the country's east. Mainly made up of the Saharan Goran people, it clashes regularly with the Chadian army.&nbsp;

The latest assault came on last Sunday, the same day as the country's presidential election, which the incumbent Idriss Deby Itno, who has ruled the country for 30 years, is expected to win.&nbsp;

Preliminary results will not be announced until April 25.&nbsp;

Initial indications suggested large numbers of people stayed away from the vote, prompting opposition figures to claim their calls for a boycott of the polls had worked.&nbsp;

The Tibesti mountains near the Libyan frontier frequently see fighting between rebels and the army. French air strikes were needed to stop an incursion there in early 2019.&nbsp;

In February 2008, a rebel assault reached the gates of the presidential palace before being pushed back with French backing.&nbsp;

Chad's army said on Saturday it had ‘completely destroyed' a column of rebels that attacked the country on the day of last week's presidential election. Soldiers were searching for the last of the rebels, army spokesman Azem Bermandoa Agouna said in a statement read out on national television.

Chad's army said on Saturday it had ‘completely destroyed' a column of rebels that attacked the country on the day of last week's presidential election. Soldiers were searching for the last of the rebels, army spokesman Azem Bermandoa Agouna said in a statement read out on national television. "The adventure of the mercenaries from Libya has ended, as announced," Communications Minister and government spokesman Cherif Mahamat Zene announced on Twitter. Four tanks and several soldiers were stationed at the northern entrance of the Chadian capital N'Djamena on Saturday evening, where military vehicles were continuing to drive towards the fighting, an AFP journalist said. The US embassy there on Saturday told its non-essential staff to leave the country because of the possibility of violence in the city. Britain also urged its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible. Last Sunday, members of the Force for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) rebel force group, said they had captured garrisons near Chad's northern borders with Niger and Libya 'without resistance'. FACT is based in Libya, where it has a non-aggression pact with Khalifa Haftar, a military strongman, who controls much of the country's east. Mainly made up of the Saharan Goran people, it clashes regularly with the Chadian army. The latest assault came on last Sunday, the same day as the country's presidential election, which the incumbent Idriss Deby Itno, who has ruled the country for 30 years, is expected to win. Preliminary results will not be announced until April 25. Initial indications suggested large numbers of people stayed away from the vote, prompting opposition figures to claim their calls for a boycott of the polls had worked. The Tibesti mountains near the Libyan frontier frequently see fighting between rebels and the army. French air strikes were needed to stop an incursion there in early 2019. In February 2008, a rebel assault reached the gates of the presidential palace before being pushed back with French backing.

Chad's army says rebel column in the north 'destroyed' 

The US is setting up a USD 1.7 billion national network to identify and track worrisome coronavirus mutations whose spread could trigger another pandemic wave, the Biden administration announced on Friday.&nbsp;

White House officials unveiled a strategy that features three components: a major funding boost for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments to ramp up coronavirus gene-mapping; the creation of six 'centers of excellence' partnerships with universities to conduct research and develop technologies for gene-based surveillance of pathogens, and building a data system to better share and analyse information on emerging disease threats, so knowledge can be turned into action.&nbsp;

"Even as we accelerate our efforts to get shots into arms, more dangerous variants are growing, causing increases in cases in people without immunity," White House coronavirus adviser Andy Slavitt told reporters. That 'requires us to intensify our efforts to quickly test for and find the genetic sequence of the virus as it spreads.'&nbsp;

The new effort relies on money approved by Congress as part of President Joe Biden's coronavirus relief package to break what experts say is a feast-or-famine cycle in US preparedness for disease threats. The coronavirus is only one example. Other pathogens have included Ebola and Zika, and respiratory viruses like SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012, which did not become major problems in the United States.&nbsp;

Typically, the government scrambles to counter a potential threat, but funding dries up when it recedes. The new genomic surveillance initiative aims to create a permanent infrastructure.&nbsp;

“It's a transformative amount of money," Mary Lee Watts, federal affairs director at the American Society for Microbiology, said in a recent interview. 'It has the potential not only to get ahead of the current crisis, but it is going to help us in the future. This is a programme that has been underfunded for years.'&nbsp;

The Biden administration's move comes as a variant known as B117, which first emerged in the United Kingdom, has become the predominant strain in the U.S. In hard-hit Michigan, the more transmissible mutation accounts for more than half the cases, according to CDC data. That's also the case in Minnesota. Vaccines are effective against the so-called U.K. Variant, but other mutations circulating around the globe have shown resistance to currently available vaccines.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The US is setting up a USD 1.7 billion national network to identify and track worrisome coronavirus mutations whose spread could trigger another pandemic wave, the Biden administration announced on Friday.

The US is setting up a USD 1.7 billion national network to identify and track worrisome coronavirus mutations whose spread could trigger another pandemic wave, the Biden administration announced on Friday. White House officials unveiled a strategy that features three components: a major funding boost for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments to ramp up coronavirus gene-mapping; the creation of six 'centers of excellence' partnerships with universities to conduct research and develop technologies for gene-based surveillance of pathogens, and building a data system to better share and analyse information on emerging disease threats, so knowledge can be turned into action. "Even as we accelerate our efforts to get shots into arms, more dangerous variants are growing, causing increases in cases in people without immunity," White House coronavirus adviser Andy Slavitt told reporters. That 'requires us to intensify our efforts to quickly test for and find the genetic sequence of the virus as it spreads.' The new effort relies on money approved by Congress as part of President Joe Biden's coronavirus relief package to break what experts say is a feast-or-famine cycle in US preparedness for disease threats. The coronavirus is only one example. Other pathogens have included Ebola and Zika, and respiratory viruses like SARS in 2002 and MERS in 2012, which did not become major problems in the United States. Typically, the government scrambles to counter a potential threat, but funding dries up when it recedes. The new genomic surveillance initiative aims to create a permanent infrastructure. “It's a transformative amount of money," Mary Lee Watts, federal affairs director at the American Society for Microbiology, said in a recent interview. 'It has the potential not only to get ahead of the current crisis, but it is going to help us in the future. This is a programme that has been underfunded for years.' The Biden administration's move comes as a variant known as B117, which first emerged in the United Kingdom, has become the predominant strain in the U.S. In hard-hit Michigan, the more transmissible mutation accounts for more than half the cases, according to CDC data. That's also the case in Minnesota. Vaccines are effective against the so-called U.K. Variant, but other mutations circulating around the globe have shown resistance to currently available vaccines. (With inputs from agencies)

US setting up $1.7B national network to track virus variants 

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