House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Tuesday for a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, citing human rights abuses by China's government.

Nancy Pelosi calls for diplomatic boycott of 2022 Beijing Olympics

The eventual ruling by the conservative-majority court, expected next year, could allow states to ban abortions before a fetus is viable outside the womb, upending decades of legal precedent.

US Supreme Court to consider gutting landmark 1973 ruling

Fifty-four percent say the country is on the right track, higher than at any point in AP-NORC polls conducted since 2017; 44pc think the nation is on the wrong track.

Biden’s approval rating boosted by Covid response

There is “no doubt” that the US has undercounted its number of COVID-19 related fatalities, White House chief medical advisor Dr Anthony Fauci said on May 9

'US has undercounted its COVID deaths', says Anthony Fauci

The hackers that paralysed Colonial Pipeline operations have stolen a large amount of data, reported Bloomberg News citing people familiar with the matter.

The attackers, part of a cybercrime group called DarkSide and have been reported to have stolen 100 GB data in just two hours on Thursday (May 6).

The massive cyberattack forced Colonial Pipeline to shut its operations. The top pipeline network supplies nearly half of US East Coast's fuel supply.

The company transports 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines linking refiners on the Gulf Coast to the eastern and southern United States.

The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline involved ransomware.

(With inputs from agencies)

The hackers that paralysed Colonial Pipeline operations have stolen a large amount of data, reported Bloomberg News citing people familiar with the matter. The attackers, part of a cybercrime group called DarkSide and have been reported to have stolen 100 GB data in just two hours on Thursday (May 6).

The hackers that paralysed Colonial Pipeline operations have stolen a large amount of data, reported Bloomberg News citing people familiar with the matter. The attackers, part of a cybercrime group called DarkSide and have been reported to have stolen 100 GB data in just two hours on Thursday (May 6). The massive cyberattack forced Colonial Pipeline to shut its operations. The top pipeline network supplies nearly half of US East Coast's fuel supply. The company transports 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines linking refiners on the Gulf Coast to the eastern and southern United States. The cyberattack on Colonial Pipeline involved ransomware. (With inputs from agencies)

Colonial Pipeline hackers stole large amount of data, says report

US pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline shut its entire network after a cyber attack believed to have been caused by ransomware. The pipeline network of Colonial Pipeline conveys nearly half of US East Coast's fuel supply.

The company transports 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines linking refiners on the Gulf Coast to the eastern and southern United States.

Colonial Pipelines said in its statement that it shut down systems to contain the threat after it learnt about it on Friday.

Reuters quoted a former US government official and two industry sources who said that the hackers are likely from a highly professional cybercriminal group. US government investigation is underway.

Investigators are looking into whether a group dubbed "DarkSide" by the cybersecurity research community is responsible, the former government official said.

DarkSide is known for deploying ransomware and extorting victims, while selectively avoiding targets in post-Soviet states.

The malicious software used in the attack was ransomware, two cybersecurity industry sources familiar with the matter said. Ransomware is a type of malware that is designed to lock down systems by encrypting data and demanding payment to regain access. The malware has grown in popularity over the last five years.

Colonial has engaged a third-party cybersecurity firm to launch an investigation and contacted law enforcement and other federal agencies, it said.

Cybersecurity company FireEye has been brought in to respond to the attack, the cybersecurity industry sources said. FireEye declined to comment when asked if it was working on the incident.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration told Reuters it is working with other agencies on the situation.

Colonial did not give further details or say for how long its pipelines would be shut.

(With inputs from agencies)

US pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline shut its entire network after a cyber attack believed to have been caused by ransomware. The pipeline network of Colonial Pipeline conveys nearly half of US East Coast's fuel supply.

US pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline shut its entire network after a cyber attack believed to have been caused by ransomware. The pipeline network of Colonial Pipeline conveys nearly half of US East Coast's fuel supply. The company transports 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines linking refiners on the Gulf Coast to the eastern and southern United States. Colonial Pipelines said in its statement that it shut down systems to contain the threat after it learnt about it on Friday. Reuters quoted a former US government official and two industry sources who said that the hackers are likely from a highly professional cybercriminal group. US government investigation is underway. Investigators are looking into whether a group dubbed "DarkSide" by the cybersecurity research community is responsible, the former government official said. DarkSide is known for deploying ransomware and extorting victims, while selectively avoiding targets in post-Soviet states. The malicious software used in the attack was ransomware, two cybersecurity industry sources familiar with the matter said. Ransomware is a type of malware that is designed to lock down systems by encrypting data and demanding payment to regain access. The malware has grown in popularity over the last five years. Colonial has engaged a third-party cybersecurity firm to launch an investigation and contacted law enforcement and other federal agencies, it said. Cybersecurity company FireEye has been brought in to respond to the attack, the cybersecurity industry sources said. FireEye declined to comment when asked if it was working on the incident. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration told Reuters it is working with other agencies on the situation. Colonial did not give further details or say for how long its pipelines would be shut. (With inputs from agencies)

Top US fuel pipeline network shut down due to cyber attack

As India battle its devastating surge in the pandemic, the first shipment of COVID-19 aid from US has arrived in India. A Super Galaxy military transporter carrying more than 400 oxygen cylinders and other hospital equipment and nearly 1 million rapid coronavirus tests landed at New Delhi's international airport today (April 30).

US rushing medical assistance to India: Joe Biden

Another man dies in police custody in US. Officers in California kneels on a 26-year-old man for five minutes till he stops responding. 3 cops involved placed on paid leave, autopsy report is pending. Bodycam footage of the arrest has been released. Watch

Bodycam footage: Cop kneels on man to death

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

In the video, less than one second passes between when Adam raises his hands and when the officer shoots him in the chest. It is still unclear that whether the boy had gun in his hand at the time of shooting.

Unidentified police officer ran after toledo, fired shot; Watch this clip

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer said on Thursday that he would not testify at George Floyd death trial. He invoked Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and told judge Peter Cahill that he would not take the witness stand.

"I will invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege today," Chauvin said. He is facing murder and manslaughter charges.

Derek Chauvin was seen in a video pinning 46-year-old black man George Floyd down on the ground with his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd could be seen saying "I can't breathe" in the video. He died soon afterward. The horrific incident took place on May 25, 2020.

George Floyd's death led to massive protests across US that sought to highlight police brutality targetted at African-Americans in the country. It was said that had George Floyd been a white man, he would not have received the unimaginable treatment resulting into his death.

(With inputs from agencies)

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer said on Thursday that he would not testify at George Floyd death trial. He invoked Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and told judge Peter Cahill that he would not take the witness stand.

Derek Chauvin, former Minneapolis police officer said on Thursday that he would not testify at George Floyd death trial. He invoked Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and told judge Peter Cahill that he would not take the witness stand. "I will invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege today," Chauvin said. He is facing murder and manslaughter charges. Derek Chauvin was seen in a video pinning 46-year-old black man George Floyd down on the ground with his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes. Floyd could be seen saying "I can't breathe" in the video. He died soon afterward. The horrific incident took place on May 25, 2020. George Floyd's death led to massive protests across US that sought to highlight police brutality targetted at African-Americans in the country. It was said that had George Floyd been a white man, he would not have received the unimaginable treatment resulting into his death. (With inputs from agencies)

George Floyd trial: Derek Chauvin chooses not to testify

US has now issued warning to Russia over its troop build-up. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned Russia of consequences if it escalates tensions on the Ukrainian border.

'There will be consequences', Antony Blinken warns Russia

A US Capitol police officer succumbed to his injuries, while a second remained injured after a vehicle rammed through security and crashed into a barrier at the Washington complex.

New Attack on US Congress: Attack not terrorism related, says police

Man rams car into capitol police - One officer killed, another injured

As the number of casualties by Myanmar's military coup is alarmingly increasing, the US State Department has ordered its non-essential diplomats in Myanmar to return to the US.

Amid a crackdown on protestors, which has taken hundreds of lives in the past few days, the US State Department sees it to be fit to call all non-essential diplomats back to the US for their own safety.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/ethnic-groups-in-myanmar-mobilising-against-army-374370" hreflang="en">Ethnic groups in Myanmar mobilising against army</a>

"The Burmese military has detained and deposed elected government officials. Protests and demonstrations against military rule have occurred and are expected to continue," the State Department issued a statement.

Since the military coup began, a few months back, locals of Myanmar have been regularly taking to the streets to protest against the military's control over the country, and have been demanding the release of the civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/protesters-in-myanmar-launch-garbage-strike-as-death-toll-crosses-500-374209" hreflang="en">Protesters in Myanmar launch 'garbage strike' as death toll crosses 500</a>

However, these protests have been met with tear gas, rubber bullets, detentions and live rounds.

Considering the rising violence in the country, the US State Department had earlier, in mid-February, authorised a "voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees and their family members," the department said in a statement.

However, with Myanmar observing the bloodiest days of protests, the department has now "updated that status to ordered departure".

"The Department of State made the decision to authorize ordered departure from Burma because the safety and security of US government personnel and their dependents, as well as private US citizens, is the department's highest priority," a spokesperson said.

As of now, the order has been issued for all non-essential diplomats. The status will be reviewed in 30-day increments, the spokesperson added.

As the number of casualties by Myanmar's military coup is alarmingly increasing, the US State Department has ordered its non-essential diplomats in Myanmar to return to the US.

As the number of casualties by Myanmar's military coup is alarmingly increasing, the US State Department has ordered its non-essential diplomats in Myanmar to return to the US. Amid a crackdown on protestors, which has taken hundreds of lives in the past few days, the US State Department sees it to be fit to call all non-essential diplomats back to the US for their own safety. Also read | Ethnic groups in Myanmar mobilising against army "The Burmese military has detained and deposed elected government officials. Protests and demonstrations against military rule have occurred and are expected to continue," the State Department issued a statement. Since the military coup began, a few months back, locals of Myanmar have been regularly taking to the streets to protest against the military's control over the country, and have been demanding the release of the civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi and her aides. Also read | Protesters in Myanmar launch 'garbage strike' as death toll crosses 500 However, these protests have been met with tear gas, rubber bullets, detentions and live rounds. Considering the rising violence in the country, the US State Department had earlier, in mid-February, authorised a "voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees and their family members," the department said in a statement. However, with Myanmar observing the bloodiest days of protests, the department has now "updated that status to ordered departure". "The Department of State made the decision to authorize ordered departure from Burma because the safety and security of US government personnel and their dependents, as well as private US citizens, is the department's highest priority," a spokesperson said. As of now, the order has been issued for all non-essential diplomats. The status will be reviewed in 30-day increments, the spokesperson added.

US orders non-essential diplomats in Myanmar to return: State Department

Eyewitnesses inside the store at the time of the shooting, which took place just before 3:00 pm (2100 GMT) said they heard multiple gunshots before fleeing through a back entrance.

Police officer dead, several injured in shooting at Colorado grocery store

In the first full monthly employment report under President Joe Biden, the unemployment rate fell to 6.2 percent.

US job growth beats expectations in February

The United States' Police alerted the lawmakers of the potential threat against the Capitol Hill building. Police said that intelligence has obtained of a possible plot by a militia group to breach the Capitol.

Security ramped up at Capitol hill after warning

The number of new applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose slightly to 745,000 at the end of February.

US: Layoffs remain high despite improved economy

Russia on Wednesday warned the United States it would "rebuff aggression" after Washington imposed sanctions on Kremlin's officials over the poisoning of prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny.&nbsp;

"We will continue to systematically and resolutely defend our national interests and rebuff aggression," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-eu-imposes-sanctions-on-russia-over-alexei-navalny-attack-367544/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

She further threatened the United States that Kremlin's reaction would be based on "reciprocity and not necessarily symmetrically."

The comments came after the US along with the European Union on Tuesday imposed penalties after US intelligence concluded that Russia was behind the poisoning of Navalny.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sanctions-will-worsen-strained-ties-with-us-russia-on-navalny-row-367529">Sanctions will worsen strained ties with US: Russia on Navalny row</a>

Accusing Washington of "trying to cultivate the image of an external enemy," the spokesperson asked the US and its European allies to "not play with fire".&nbsp;

Biden's administration has frozen any US assets of seven Russian officials, including the director of FSB, Russia's intelligence organisation.&nbsp;

It has also criminalised any transactions with these seven officials.&nbsp;

The action has been taken after US intelligence assessed "with high confidence" that FSB officials poisoned Navalny with the nerve agent Novichok on August 20, 2020, a US official told reporters.

"The US government has exercised its authorities to send a clear signal that Russia's use of chemical weapons and abuse of human rights have severe consequences," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement said.

 
&nbsp;

Russia on Wednesday warned the United States it would "rebuff aggression" after Washington imposed sanctions on Kremlin's officials over the poisoning of prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Russia on Wednesday warned the United States it would "rebuff aggression" after Washington imposed sanctions on Kremlin's officials over the poisoning of prominent opposition leader Alexei Navalny. "We will continue to systematically and resolutely defend our national interests and rebuff aggression," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted as saying by news agency AFP. Watch | She further threatened the United States that Kremlin's reaction would be based on "reciprocity and not necessarily symmetrically." The comments came after the US along with the European Union on Tuesday imposed penalties after US intelligence concluded that Russia was behind the poisoning of Navalny. Also read | Sanctions will worsen strained ties with US: Russia on Navalny row Accusing Washington of "trying to cultivate the image of an external enemy," the spokesperson asked the US and its European allies to "not play with fire". Biden's administration has frozen any US assets of seven Russian officials, including the director of FSB, Russia's intelligence organisation. It has also criminalised any transactions with these seven officials. The action has been taken after US intelligence assessed "with high confidence" that FSB officials poisoned Navalny with the nerve agent Novichok on August 20, 2020, a US official told reporters. "The US government has exercised its authorities to send a clear signal that Russia's use of chemical weapons and abuse of human rights have severe consequences," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement said.

'Don't play with fire': Russia warns US, its allies over sanctions on Navalny poisoning

Four weeks into his presidency and President Biden realizes that it is not easy to set back the US's foreign policy aims to its traditional pillars. His outlook was summed up in his first foreign policy statement at the State Department on 4 February 2021 – which included an emphasis on the restoration of the habits of global cooperation and re-building the muscle of democratic alliances that have 'atrophied.' It also emphasized determining the US foreign policy course as a balance between geo-politics and respect for human rights.&nbsp;

Nowhere is this reset being harder to implement than the Middle East region, a volatile cocktail of nation-state conflicts, religious fundamentalism and terrorism and active superpower intervention. For one, some of the conflicts and issues in the Middle East today were created by the Obama era policies when Biden was the Vice President. Two nowhere else was the Trump-style break from a stated 'neutral' US foreign policy to doling out personal favors that changed the contours of interaction between the region's countries more prominent. Third, the absence of a US 'mediating' guarantee created a new/enlarged role for varied actors – Turkey, Russia, and&nbsp;China that the US will find hard to reset.

President Biden's main foreign policy challenge in the Middle East will be 'how you solve a problem like Iran.' Critics have said that given Biden's close involvement with the Iran deal under President Obama, the current administration runs the risk of adopting the 'old wine in a new bottle strategy.' Since Biden has assumed office – Iran has threatened to block a UN nuclear watchdog from conducting snap inspections of some nuclear sites.&nbsp;

Iran-backed Shiite militias have attacked the US-coalition forces in Erbil in northern Iraq, reflecting their growing power in a country embroiled in years of war. In Yemen, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have escalated violence against the government forces in the oil-rich central province of Marib. They have also intensified drone attacks against the neighboring Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).&nbsp;

Marking a break from Trump’s four years, these developments are starting to create disquiet among the traditional US allies in the region – Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Under Trump’s policy of maximum pressure on Iran, without any diplomacy, Arab states and Israel had forged a ‘tentative relationship’ focused on containing Iran in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon.

For their efforts at rapprochement with Israel (via the Abraham Accord), the Arab rulers were rewarded personally – when &nbsp;President Trump used his discretionary powers to look the other way as evidence of MBS’s involvement emerged in journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Or when he signed arms deals with UAE or refused to end the US support of the Yemen war despite a US Senate resolution. However, since Biden's victory, it has been made clear that the US will try and rebalance this 'one-sided' and obvious tilt.

This rebalancing has begun with Saudi Arabia. Supported by a Senate striving to reclaim its war-making powers, the US has ceased its support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Biden has personally criticized Saudi's track record on human rights and said in no uncertain terms that it would speak directly to King Salman and not to Crown Prince MBS, the country's de-facto leader.

The arms sale of F35 fighter jets to the UAE has been put on hold. Regarding Israel, though Biden is unlikely to reverse measures like shifting the US embassy to Jerusalem, there is a general consensus that PM Netanyahu will not be given free rein in the US calculations in the region.&nbsp;

However, as Iran steps up its offensive – Biden will be faced with some critical policy choices –&nbsp;

A) How much to bend to preserve the legacy of the Iran deal and what happens if Iran walks out.

B) How to recalibrate relationships with the allies in the above background.&nbsp;

What has the potential to complicate this balancing act is the new actors/dynamics that have emerged and gained strength in the region.&nbsp;

Of course, the first emphasis is on the US's most significant geopolitical and economic rival – China. While China has developed political, trading and economic linkages with countries across the board in the Middle East, its priorities are not a threat to the US interests just yet. However, three focal areas can complicate the geo-politics for the US.&nbsp;

The first is the partnership between Iran and China that gained strength under the Trump administration. China made huge purchases of Iranian crude oil in violation of US sanctions, invested in infrastructure projects and sold essential supplies to Iran.

A pro-China hardline faction in Iran has gained prominence and is likely driving a hard bargain with the Biden administration. With the Iranian presidential elections scheduled in June 2021, a probable win for this hardline wing could mean an end to all negotiations on the Iran deal and a further shift towards China.&nbsp;

What is problematic for the Biden administration is that China has gained currency as a 'strategic balancer' to the US across all genres of actors – Shiite militias from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon have taken Chinese support.

The region's Arab monarchies and Israel have similarly made investment deals and are using Chinese companies for infrastructure building. They have also chosen to ignore Chinese human rights violations in Uighur.&nbsp;

The second cog in the wheel is Russia’s relationship with Iran and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that has complicated US attempts to detangle from Iraq and Syria.

Turkey has emerged as the ‘black swan’ with emerging stress points with the US – such as the sanctions over its possession of Russia’s S-400 air defense system and its unilateral action in the Kurdish (US allies) areas of Iraq and Syria. There is also an element of a European disengagement with the US stands in the region as Europe has learned to pursue independent stands on Iran, Russia, etc., under the Trump presidency.&nbsp;

After being confirmed, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s initial addresses created a foreign policy roadmap for the Biden administration in which priorities were Asia-Pacific, rapprochement with European allies and then the Western hemisphere. However, developments in the past few weeks have shown that Middle East remains the region where US troops, resources and infra remain high at risk.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the new Biden administration's first military operation targeted Iran-backed fighters in Syria on 25 February. But with allies diverging, Iran belligerent, global consensus on issues such as Iran deal thin at best, US will have to think of out of box solutions.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Four weeks into his presidency and President Biden realizes that it is not easy to set back the US's foreign policy aims to its traditional pillars. His outlook was summed up in his first foreign policy statement at the State Department on 4 February 2021 – which included an emphasis on the restoration of the habits of global cooperation and re-building the muscle of democratic alliances that have 'atrophied.

Four weeks into his presidency and President Biden realizes that it is not easy to set back the US's foreign policy aims to its traditional pillars. His outlook was summed up in his first foreign policy statement at the State Department on 4 February 2021 – which included an emphasis on the restoration of the habits of global cooperation and re-building the muscle of democratic alliances that have 'atrophied.' It also emphasized determining the US foreign policy course as a balance between geo-politics and respect for human rights. Nowhere is this reset being harder to implement than the Middle East region, a volatile cocktail of nation-state conflicts, religious fundamentalism and terrorism and active superpower intervention. For one, some of the conflicts and issues in the Middle East today were created by the Obama era policies when Biden was the Vice President. Two nowhere else was the Trump-style break from a stated 'neutral' US foreign policy to doling out personal favors that changed the contours of interaction between the region's countries more prominent. Third, the absence of a US 'mediating' guarantee created a new/enlarged role for varied actors – Turkey, Russia, and China that the US will find hard to reset. President Biden's main foreign policy challenge in the Middle East will be 'how you solve a problem like Iran.' Critics have said that given Biden's close involvement with the Iran deal under President Obama, the current administration runs the risk of adopting the 'old wine in a new bottle strategy.' Since Biden has assumed office – Iran has threatened to block a UN nuclear watchdog from conducting snap inspections of some nuclear sites. Iran-backed Shiite militias have attacked the US-coalition forces in Erbil in northern Iraq, reflecting their growing power in a country embroiled in years of war. In Yemen, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have escalated violence against the government forces in the oil-rich central province of Marib. They have also intensified drone attacks against the neighboring Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Marking a break from Trump’s four years, these developments are starting to create disquiet among the traditional US allies in the region – Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Under Trump’s policy of maximum pressure on Iran, without any diplomacy, Arab states and Israel had forged a ‘tentative relationship’ focused on containing Iran in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon. For their efforts at rapprochement with Israel (via the Abraham Accord), the Arab rulers were rewarded personally – when President Trump used his discretionary powers to look the other way as evidence of MBS’s involvement emerged in journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder. Or when he signed arms deals with UAE or refused to end the US support of the Yemen war despite a US Senate resolution. However, since Biden's victory, it has been made clear that the US will try and rebalance this 'one-sided' and obvious tilt. This rebalancing has begun with Saudi Arabia. Supported by a Senate striving to reclaim its war-making powers, the US has ceased its support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Biden has personally criticized Saudi's track record on human rights and said in no uncertain terms that it would speak directly to King Salman and not to Crown Prince MBS, the country's de-facto leader. The arms sale of F35 fighter jets to the UAE has been put on hold. Regarding Israel, though Biden is unlikely to reverse measures like shifting the US embassy to Jerusalem, there is a general consensus that PM Netanyahu will not be given free rein in the US calculations in the region. However, as Iran steps up its offensive – Biden will be faced with some critical policy choices – A) How much to bend to preserve the legacy of the Iran deal and what happens if Iran walks out. B) How to recalibrate relationships with the allies in the above background. What has the potential to complicate this balancing act is the new actors/dynamics that have emerged and gained strength in the region. Of course, the first emphasis is on the US's most significant geopolitical and economic rival – China. While China has developed political, trading and economic linkages with countries across the board in the Middle East, its priorities are not a threat to the US interests just yet. However, three focal areas can complicate the geo-politics for the US. The first is the partnership between Iran and China that gained strength under the Trump administration. China made huge purchases of Iranian crude oil in violation of US sanctions, invested in infrastructure projects and sold essential supplies to Iran. A pro-China hardline faction in Iran has gained prominence and is likely driving a hard bargain with the Biden administration. With the Iranian presidential elections scheduled in June 2021, a probable win for this hardline wing could mean an end to all negotiations on the Iran deal and a further shift towards China. What is problematic for the Biden administration is that China has gained currency as a 'strategic balancer' to the US across all genres of actors – Shiite militias from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon have taken Chinese support. The region's Arab monarchies and Israel have similarly made investment deals and are using Chinese companies for infrastructure building. They have also chosen to ignore Chinese human rights violations in Uighur. The second cog in the wheel is Russia’s relationship with Iran and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that has complicated US attempts to detangle from Iraq and Syria. Turkey has emerged as the ‘black swan’ with emerging stress points with the US – such as the sanctions over its possession of Russia’s S-400 air defense system and its unilateral action in the Kurdish (US allies) areas of Iraq and Syria. There is also an element of a European disengagement with the US stands in the region as Europe has learned to pursue independent stands on Iran, Russia, etc., under the Trump presidency. After being confirmed, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s initial addresses created a foreign policy roadmap for the Biden administration in which priorities were Asia-Pacific, rapprochement with European allies and then the Western hemisphere. However, developments in the past few weeks have shown that Middle East remains the region where US troops, resources and infra remain high at risk. Therefore, it is not surprising that the new Biden administration's first military operation targeted Iran-backed fighters in Syria on 25 February. But with allies diverging, Iran belligerent, global consensus on issues such as Iran deal thin at best, US will have to think of out of box solutions. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion: US foreign policy and its Middle East conundrum

The United States has officially authorised Johnson & Johnson's coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, making it the third approved vaccine of the county. It is the first single-dose vaccine to be available in the US.

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US President Joe Biden has warned Iran and said that it needs to be careful and can't act with impunity. These comments came after the airstrikes that took place in Syria that were carried out by the Americans.

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President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he would seek $37 billion in funding for legislation to supercharge chip manufacturing in the United States.

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President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded the Republican Donald Trump five weeks ago, told reporters on Wednesday he had read the report.

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The coronavirus has killed more than 2,462,000 people worldwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. President Joe Biden last month warned that "well over" 600,000 people in the US could die from the virus.

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The United States will seek to strengthen and extend the agreement between world powers and Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear programme

'US wants to extend and strengthen Iran nuclear deal', says Antony Blinken

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Climate change, Covid-19 and jobs are together splitting Americans by class more profoundly than Americans are split by politics.

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