US President Joe Biden made his first major international address on foreign policy at the Munich Security Conference. Biden said that traditional US allies should once again have confidence in Washington’s leadership.

US President Joe Biden delivers a powerful speech

US President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Texas which has suffered widespread power blackouts and water shortages during a deep freeze, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Saturday.

The action makes federal funding available to individuals across the state, including assistance for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans.

The winter storm has left millions without heat, food or safe drinking water. At least 30 people have died in Texas since Sunday, according to the Washington Post, due to the storm and a frigid snap.

Biden is also weighing a trip to Texas to survey the federal response to the first new crisis to develop since he took office a month ago. The White House is working closely with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who did not initially acknowledge Biden’s November election win.

All the state’s power plants had returned to service, although more than 195,000 homes remained without electricity on Friday morning, and residents of 160 of Texas’ 254 counties had water service disruptions, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Half of the state is under a boil-water advisory after water treatment centers experienced blackouts. Even those with access to safe water have been told to turn off their water, for fear thawing pipes will burst, causing flooding.

(with inputs)

US President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Texas which has suffered widespread power blackouts and water shortages during a deep freeze, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Saturday.

US President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Texas which has suffered widespread power blackouts and water shortages during a deep freeze, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said on Saturday. The action makes federal funding available to individuals across the state, including assistance for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans. The winter storm has left millions without heat, food or safe drinking water. At least 30 people have died in Texas since Sunday, according to the Washington Post, due to the storm and a frigid snap. Biden is also weighing a trip to Texas to survey the federal response to the first new crisis to develop since he took office a month ago. The White House is working closely with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican who did not initially acknowledge Biden’s November election win. All the state’s power plants had returned to service, although more than 195,000 homes remained without electricity on Friday morning, and residents of 160 of Texas’ 254 counties had water service disruptions, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Half of the state is under a boil-water advisory after water treatment centers experienced blackouts. Even those with access to safe water have been told to turn off their water, for fear thawing pipes will burst, causing flooding. (with inputs)

Biden approves major disaster declaration for Texas

US President Joe Biden on Friday drew a sharp contrast with the foreign policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, pledging to end transactional diplomacy and vowing climate change.

In a bid to promote democracy over years of divisive “America First” policies pursued by Trump, the Democratic president used his first big appearance on the global stage to try to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player.

The Friday address to the annual Munich Security Conference -- held by video link because of the Covid-19 pandemic -- dovetailed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming of a return to "multilateralism" after the confrontational years of Biden's predecessor.

The US president declared the alliance between the United States and Europe was back in place after Trump strained relations.

"I'm sending a clear message to the world. America is back. The transatlantic alliance is back," Biden said.

Here, he drew a stark difference with the more transactional foreign policy practised by Trump, who angered allies by breaking off global accords and threatening to end defense assistance unless they toed his line.

“Our partnerships have endured and grown through the years because they are rooted in the richness of our shared democratic values. They’re not transactional. They’re not extractive. They’re built on a vision of the future where every voice matters,” he said.

“I know, I know the past few years of strain (have) tested our transatlantic relationship, but the United States is determined - determined to re-engage with Europe,” he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trump-biden-and-g7-refocus-on-covid-recovery-364923">Also read |&nbsp;After Trump, Biden and G7 refocus on Covid recovery</a>

Biden also urged European allies to join together to confront strong political and economic challenges from China.

"We must prepare together for long-term strategic competition from China," Biden told the Munich security conference.

"We have to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared broadly and equitably, not just by a few. We can push back against the Chinese government's economic abuses and coercion and undercut the foundations of the international economic system," he said.

Biden also called on European allies to double down on commitments to fight climate change, warning of a "global existential crisis."

"We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change," Biden said, just hours after the United States formally rejoined the Paris accord on global warming.

"This is a global existential crisis. We will all suffer consequences," he told the Munich Security Conference.

The United States on Friday officially returned to the Paris climate accord, with Biden vowing to make the fight against global warming a top priority.

Biden said he was not seeking a return to "the rigid blocs of the Cold War," insisting that the international community must work together on issues like the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, even where deep disagreements exist on other issues.

The return of the United States -- effective Friday -- to the Paris climate agreement was proof of Washington's intentions, he said.

"We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change," Biden said, calling this a "global existential crisis."

But Biden delivered harsh warnings about the threats he said are posed by Russia and China.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-officially-back-in-paris-climate-accord-vows-action-364885">Also read |&nbsp;US officially back in Paris climate accord, vows action</a>

A month after Biden took office, the world's largest economy and second largest carbon emitter was formally back in the 2015 global agreement aimed at confronting the planet's dangerously rising temperatures.

The re-entry of the United States means that the Paris accord again includes virtually every country after Trump made the US the sole outlier.

Also, Biden delivered harsh warnings about the threats he said are posed by Russia and China.

"The Kremlin attacks our democracies and weaponizes corruption to try and undermine our system of governance," he said. President Vladimir Putin "seeks to weaken the European project and our NATO alliance."

Again urging Western unity, Biden said, "it's so much easier for the Kremlin to bully and threaten individual states than to negotiate with a strong, closely united transatlantic community."

Similarly, US partners should stand together against "the Chinese government's economic abuses and coercion that undercut the foundations of the international economic system," he said.

"Chinese companies should be held to the same standard" as US and European companies facing onerous restrictions on their presence in China, he said.

On Iran, Biden reiterated his pledge to return to international negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program, but said "we must address Iran's destabilising activities across the Middle East."

Biden's pivot is getting good reviews in Europe.

G7 leaders, in a similar vein, vowed a new chapter for global cooperation at their first summit since Biden succeeded the isolationist Trump.

"Drawing on our strengths and values as democratic, open economies and societies, we will work together and with others to make 2021 a turning point for multilateralism and to shape a recovery that promotes the health and prosperity of our people and planet," they said in a joint statement after the virtual summit.

They also agreed to "intensify cooperation" in response to the coronavirus pandemic and increase funding commitments for the rollout of vaccines in the world's poorest countries to $7.5 billion.

"Today, with increased financial commitments of over $4 billion USD to ACT-A and COVAX, collective G7 support totals $7.5 billion," the statement added.

Biden plans to join the elite club -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan apart from the US -- for an in-person G7 summit hosted by the UK this summer.

(with inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Friday drew a sharp contrast with the foreign policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, pledging to end transactional diplomacy and vowing climate change.

US President Joe Biden on Friday drew a sharp contrast with the foreign policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, pledging to end transactional diplomacy and vowing climate change. In a bid to promote democracy over years of divisive “America First” policies pursued by Trump, the Democratic president used his first big appearance on the global stage to try to re-establish the United States as a multilateral team player. The Friday address to the annual Munich Security Conference -- held by video link because of the Covid-19 pandemic -- dovetailed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming of a return to "multilateralism" after the confrontational years of Biden's predecessor. The US president declared the alliance between the United States and Europe was back in place after Trump strained relations. "I'm sending a clear message to the world. America is back. The transatlantic alliance is back," Biden said. Here, he drew a stark difference with the more transactional foreign policy practised by Trump, who angered allies by breaking off global accords and threatening to end defense assistance unless they toed his line. “Our partnerships have endured and grown through the years because they are rooted in the richness of our shared democratic values. They’re not transactional. They’re not extractive. They’re built on a vision of the future where every voice matters,” he said. “I know, I know the past few years of strain (have) tested our transatlantic relationship, but the United States is determined - determined to re-engage with Europe,” he said. Also read | After Trump, Biden and G7 refocus on Covid recovery Biden also urged European allies to join together to confront strong political and economic challenges from China. "We must prepare together for long-term strategic competition from China," Biden told the Munich security conference. "We have to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared broadly and equitably, not just by a few. We can push back against the Chinese government's economic abuses and coercion and undercut the foundations of the international economic system," he said. Biden also called on European allies to double down on commitments to fight climate change, warning of a "global existential crisis." "We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change," Biden said, just hours after the United States formally rejoined the Paris accord on global warming. "This is a global existential crisis. We will all suffer consequences," he told the Munich Security Conference. The United States on Friday officially returned to the Paris climate accord, with Biden vowing to make the fight against global warming a top priority. Biden said he was not seeking a return to "the rigid blocs of the Cold War," insisting that the international community must work together on issues like the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, even where deep disagreements exist on other issues. The return of the United States -- effective Friday -- to the Paris climate agreement was proof of Washington's intentions, he said. "We can no longer delay or do the bare minimum to address climate change," Biden said, calling this a "global existential crisis." But Biden delivered harsh warnings about the threats he said are posed by Russia and China. Also read | US officially back in Paris climate accord, vows action A month after Biden took office, the world's largest economy and second largest carbon emitter was formally back in the 2015 global agreement aimed at confronting the planet's dangerously rising temperatures. The re-entry of the United States means that the Paris accord again includes virtually every country after Trump made the US the sole outlier. Also, Biden delivered harsh warnings about the threats he said are posed by Russia and China. "The Kremlin attacks our democracies and weaponizes corruption to try and undermine our system of governance," he said. President Vladimir Putin "seeks to weaken the European project and our NATO alliance." Again urging Western unity, Biden said, "it's so much easier for the Kremlin to bully and threaten individual states than to negotiate with a strong, closely united transatlantic community." Similarly, US partners should stand together against "the Chinese government's economic abuses and coercion that undercut the foundations of the international economic system," he said. "Chinese companies should be held to the same standard" as US and European companies facing onerous restrictions on their presence in China, he said. On Iran, Biden reiterated his pledge to return to international negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program, but said "we must address Iran's destabilising activities across the Middle East." Biden's pivot is getting good reviews in Europe. G7 leaders, in a similar vein, vowed a new chapter for global cooperation at their first summit since Biden succeeded the isolationist Trump. "Drawing on our strengths and values as democratic, open economies and societies, we will work together and with others to make 2021 a turning point for multilateralism and to shape a recovery that promotes the health and prosperity of our people and planet," they said in a joint statement after the virtual summit. They also agreed to "intensify cooperation" in response to the coronavirus pandemic and increase funding commitments for the rollout of vaccines in the world's poorest countries to $7.5 billion. "Today, with increased financial commitments of over $4 billion USD to ACT-A and COVAX, collective G7 support totals $7.5 billion," the statement added. Biden plans to join the elite club -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan apart from the US -- for an in-person G7 summit hosted by the UK this summer. (with inputs from agencies)

At his first major global appearance, Biden draws sharp contrast with Trump's policies

The President of The Unites States Joe Biden in his debut virtual G7 (Group of Seven) summit will be discussing COVID-19 vaccine distribution, ailing Economy and most prominently the challenges posed by China. The virtual summit, hosted by UK's PM Boris Johnson will also include leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the European Commission and European Council.

Joe Biden to debut at first virtual G7 Summit

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded “action, not words” from the United States, while referring to the prospect of renewing 2015’s nuclear deal.

Iran has set next week as the deadline for US President Biden to reverse sanctions that were imposed by Donald Trump. If the US fails to meet the deadline, Iran will begin taking drastic steps that violate the deal, including a ban on short-notice inspections by UN nuclear watchdog.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-irans-supreme-leader-khamenei-posts-trump-like-golfer-image-358615/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"We have heard many nice words and promises which in practice have been broken and opposite actions have been taken. Words and promises are no good. This time (we want) only action from the other side, and we will also act," Khamenei said during a televised speech.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/twitter-suspends-account-linked-to-khameneis-website-clarifies-its-fake-and-not-his-358646" hreflang="en">Twitter suspends account linked to Khamenei's website, clarifies it's fake and not his</a>

Biden intends to revive the pact as part of which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions. Seen as a major achievement for Obama-era, the deal was abandoned by Trump in 2018.

Both Iran and the US agree that the deal should be revived, but remain at odds over how to begin the process.&nbsp; Iran has said that the US must first lift sanctions from the Trump era, while the US expects Tehran to first return to the deal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/drone-on-trump-playing-golf-irans-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-vows-soleimani-revenge-358548" hreflang="en">Drone on Trump playing golf? Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vows Soleimani revenge</a>

The country has been violating the deal since the sanctions were reimposed. Over the last few months, Iran has further breached the deal’s restrictions. Starting February 23, the country intends to end snap inspections that are undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). An agreement called “Additional Protocol” mandates the inspections.

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded “action, not words” from the United States, while referring to the prospect of renewing 2015’s nuclear deal.

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded “action, not words” from the United States, while referring to the prospect of renewing 2015’s nuclear deal. Iran has set next week as the deadline for US President Biden to reverse sanctions that were imposed by Donald Trump. If the US fails to meet the deadline, Iran will begin taking drastic steps that violate the deal, including a ban on short-notice inspections by UN nuclear watchdog. "We have heard many nice words and promises which in practice have been broken and opposite actions have been taken. Words and promises are no good. This time (we want) only action from the other side, and we will also act," Khamenei said during a televised speech. Also read: Twitter suspends account linked to Khamenei's website, clarifies it's fake and not his Biden intends to revive the pact as part of which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions. Seen as a major achievement for Obama-era, the deal was abandoned by Trump in 2018. Both Iran and the US agree that the deal should be revived, but remain at odds over how to begin the process. Iran has said that the US must first lift sanctions from the Trump era, while the US expects Tehran to first return to the deal. Also read: Drone on Trump playing golf? Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vows Soleimani revenge The country has been violating the deal since the sanctions were reimposed. Over the last few months, Iran has further breached the deal’s restrictions. Starting February 23, the country intends to end snap inspections that are undertaken by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). An agreement called “Additional Protocol” mandates the inspections.

To revive nuclear deal, Iran's Khamenei demands 'action, not words' from Biden

US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to enact "commonsense" gun law reforms. His Sunday statement came after three years after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

The Florida shooting had sparked outrage across the US and prompted fresh demands for firearms control.

Biden added he wants Congress to pass laws that would require background checks on all gun sales and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

"This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call," Biden said in a statement marking the Valentine's Day shooting in 2018 that left 17 people dead and brought fresh attention to America's lax gun laws.

"We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer."

The confessed school shooter, Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired between 100 and 150 rounds in a rampage that killed 14 students and three adult staff at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

Biden said Congress must also eliminate "immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets."

Cruz was able to buy the assault rifle legally, despite having known mental health problems.

Earlier, with Donald Trump in the White House and the Republicans controlling the Senate at the time, legislation approved by the Democrats in the House of Representatives went nowhere.

To this end, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said the House would try again.

US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to enact "commonsense" gun law reforms. His Sunday statement came after three years after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

US President Joe Biden has called on Congress to enact "commonsense" gun law reforms. His Sunday statement came after three years after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The Florida shooting had sparked outrage across the US and prompted fresh demands for firearms control. Biden added he wants Congress to pass laws that would require background checks on all gun sales and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. "This administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call," Biden said in a statement marking the Valentine's Day shooting in 2018 that left 17 people dead and brought fresh attention to America's lax gun laws. "We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer." The confessed school shooter, Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time, was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and fired between 100 and 150 rounds in a rampage that killed 14 students and three adult staff at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Biden said Congress must also eliminate "immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets." Cruz was able to buy the assault rifle legally, despite having known mental health problems. Earlier, with Donald Trump in the White House and the Republicans controlling the Senate at the time, legislation approved by the Democrats in the House of Representatives went nowhere. To this end, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday said the House would try again.

Biden wants US Congress to reform American gun laws

Donald Trump's second impeachment trial will likely conclude on Saturday, but a conviction -- on whether the former US president incited his supporters to attack the Capitol on January 6 in a last-ditch effort to stay in power after his November election defeat -- does not seem to be a possibility.

Trump is the first US president to be impeached twice and the first to face trial after leaving office. If convicted, the Senate could then vote to bar him from running for office again.

Conviction is seen as unlikely, however, as at least 17 Republicans in the 100-seat chamber would have to join all 50 Democrats to find the former president guilty.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-the-defense-twisted-facts-and-other-staples-of-the-trump-playbook-363364">Also read |&nbsp;For the defense: Twisted facts and other staples of the Trump playbook</a>

And so far, only six Republicans voted with Democrats to move forward with the trial, rejecting an argument made by other Republican Senators that the Constitution does not allow Congress to impeach a president who has already left office.

The Senate is due to convene at 10 am (1500 GMT), and a final vote could come in the afternoon.

It's believed that Trump urged his followers to march to the Capitol and "get wild" in an effort to prevent lawmakers from certifying his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election. Five people died in the chaos.

Trump's lawyers gave conflicting answers on Friday when asked if Trump knew Pence was in danger when he issued his tweet. Several Republican senators said they still had questions about Trump's role.

House Democrats, on their part, have argued that Trump set the stage for violence through repeated -- and baseless -- claims that the election results were fraudulent. They say he summoned the mob to Washington, gave the crowd its marching orders and did nothing to stop the violence as it played out on television.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-says-trump-did-not-do-his-job-on-coronavirus-vaccination-program-urges-patience-363295">Also read |&nbsp;Biden says Trump 'did not do his job' on coronavirus vaccination program, urges patience</a>

Trump refused to testify in the trial. His first impeachment trial, which stemmed from his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden, ended in an acquittal a year ago in what was then a Republican-controlled Senate.

(with inputs)

Donald Trump's second impeachment trial will likely conclude on Saturday, but a conviction -- on whether the former US president incited his supporters to attack the Capitol on January 6 in a last-ditch effort to stay in power after his November election defeat -- does not seem to be a possibility.

Donald Trump's second impeachment trial will likely conclude on Saturday, but a conviction -- on whether the former US president incited his supporters to attack the Capitol on January 6 in a last-ditch effort to stay in power after his November election defeat -- does not seem to be a possibility. Trump is the first US president to be impeached twice and the first to face trial after leaving office. If convicted, the Senate could then vote to bar him from running for office again. Conviction is seen as unlikely, however, as at least 17 Republicans in the 100-seat chamber would have to join all 50 Democrats to find the former president guilty. Also read | For the defense: Twisted facts and other staples of the Trump playbook And so far, only six Republicans voted with Democrats to move forward with the trial, rejecting an argument made by other Republican Senators that the Constitution does not allow Congress to impeach a president who has already left office. The Senate is due to convene at 10 am (1500 GMT), and a final vote could come in the afternoon. It's believed that Trump urged his followers to march to the Capitol and "get wild" in an effort to prevent lawmakers from certifying his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in the presidential election. Five people died in the chaos. Trump's lawyers gave conflicting answers on Friday when asked if Trump knew Pence was in danger when he issued his tweet. Several Republican senators said they still had questions about Trump's role. House Democrats, on their part, have argued that Trump set the stage for violence through repeated -- and baseless -- claims that the election results were fraudulent. They say he summoned the mob to Washington, gave the crowd its marching orders and did nothing to stop the violence as it played out on television. Also read | Biden says Trump 'did not do his job' on coronavirus vaccination program, urges patience Trump refused to testify in the trial. His first impeachment trial, which stemmed from his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden, ended in an acquittal a year ago in what was then a Republican-controlled Senate. (with inputs)

Trump impeachment trial may wrap up on Saturday, but with no conviction

US president Joe Biden has slammed Donald Trump's for preparing for mass vaccination effort. Biden said his transition team is led to believe that there is much more vaccine available than what was the actual truth.

US president Joe Biden slams Donald Trump's Pandemic response

Calling Donald Trump a "clear and present danger," a group of scholars and civil rights advocates on Friday urged Facebook to permanently ban the former US president from the platform.

The group, which includes prominent longtime critics of the social media company, called on Facebook's oversight board to remove Trump from the omnipresent platform after the ex-president's account was frozen in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

Facebook's oversight board has the final say on what is removed or allowed to remain on the world's biggest social network, but the group warned of the dangers of allowing Trump to return.

"Overturning the Trump ban is an invitation to violence, hate and disinformation that will cost lives and undermine democracy," the group said in a letter to the board. "Don't strike the match."

They described Trump as a serial abuser of social media rules who poses a danger "to democracy and human life."

Rival social media giant Twitter banned Trump after January 6 and on Wednesday announced the former president will not be permitted back on the network he used constantly, even if he runs for office again.

"Our policies are designed to ensure that people are not inciting violence," Twitter Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal said on CNBC.

Conservatives on Capitol Hill and beyond say the moves by Facebook and Twitter to "deplatform" Trump demonstrate political bias and inhibit free speech.

In the letter to Facebook's board, the group also lambasts the social media company for employing the board as a "fig leaf" to evade responsibility for tough decisions.

"More than ever, this demonstrates why we need independent, democratically accountable oversight," the group said.

They also called for "laws that change financial incentives for big tech, heavy regulation and a reckoning with the algorithms that are laying waste to democratic society."

Signers of the letter include Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change; Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt; and Harvard professor Lawrence Tribe.

Facebook and its Instagram platform suspended Trump after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, an attack on the seat of democracy that led to Trump's second impeachment by lawmakers.

Members of Facebook's oversight board come from various countries and include jurists, human rights activists, journalists, a Nobel peace laureate and a former Danish prime minister.

Calling Donald Trump a "clear and present danger," a group of scholars and civil rights advocates on Friday urged Facebook to permanently ban the former US president from the platform.

Calling Donald Trump a "clear and present danger," a group of scholars and civil rights advocates on Friday urged Facebook to permanently ban the former US president from the platform. The group, which includes prominent longtime critics of the social media company, called on Facebook's oversight board to remove Trump from the omnipresent platform after the ex-president's account was frozen in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Facebook's oversight board has the final say on what is removed or allowed to remain on the world's biggest social network, but the group warned of the dangers of allowing Trump to return. "Overturning the Trump ban is an invitation to violence, hate and disinformation that will cost lives and undermine democracy," the group said in a letter to the board. "Don't strike the match." They described Trump as a serial abuser of social media rules who poses a danger "to democracy and human life." Rival social media giant Twitter banned Trump after January 6 and on Wednesday announced the former president will not be permitted back on the network he used constantly, even if he runs for office again. "Our policies are designed to ensure that people are not inciting violence," Twitter Chief Financial Officer Ned Segal said on CNBC. Conservatives on Capitol Hill and beyond say the moves by Facebook and Twitter to "deplatform" Trump demonstrate political bias and inhibit free speech. In the letter to Facebook's board, the group also lambasts the social media company for employing the board as a "fig leaf" to evade responsibility for tough decisions. "More than ever, this demonstrates why we need independent, democratically accountable oversight," the group said. They also called for "laws that change financial incentives for big tech, heavy regulation and a reckoning with the algorithms that are laying waste to democratic society." Signers of the letter include Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change; Anti-Defamation League head Jonathan Greenblatt; and Harvard professor Lawrence Tribe. Facebook and its Instagram platform suspended Trump after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, an attack on the seat of democracy that led to Trump's second impeachment by lawmakers. Members of Facebook's oversight board come from various countries and include jurists, human rights activists, journalists, a Nobel peace laureate and a former Danish prime minister.

Trump critics call for permanent Facebook ban of ex-president

US President Joe Biden has said that the administration will be imposing sanctions that prevent Myanmar's Military Generals from gaining access to US-based assets.

US freezes $1 Million worth assets after military coup in Myanmar

Twitter on Wednesday said that ban on former US President Donald Trump was permanent and it did not matter whether he ran for the post of president again. A senior executive of Twitter stressed that if anyone was removed from platform, Twitter did not allow him to come back. Twitter's Chief Financial Officer Ned Segel said this while he was being interviewed on CNBC.

He was asked whether Donald Trump's Twitter privileges could be restored if he came back to power.

“The way our policies work, when you’re removed from the platform, you’re removed from the platform,” Segal was quoted as saying.

“Whether you’re a commentator, you’re a CFO, or you are a former or current public official. Remember, our policies are designed to make sure that people are not inciting violence, and if anybody does that, we have to remove them from the service and our policies don’t allow people to come back,” he added during his interview on CNBC.

US Senate is holding trial for Donald Trump impeachment. Trump is the only American president to be impeached twice.&nbsp;

A prolific tweeter, Trump faced criticism during his presidency for what was called policy-making on Twitter. His tweets were often at odds with public stance taken by departments of his own administration.

The breaking point came when Trump supporters attacked US Capitol building on January 6. Trump was criticised for not making appeals for calm hours after the violence began. He was soon permanently banned by Twitter, Facebook and many other social media platforms.

Twitter on Wednesday said that ban on former US President Donald Trump was permanent and it did not matter whether he ran for the post of president again. A senior executive of Twitter stressed that if anyone was removed from platform, Twitter did not allow him to come back.

Twitter on Wednesday said that ban on former US President Donald Trump was permanent and it did not matter whether he ran for the post of president again. A senior executive of Twitter stressed that if anyone was removed from platform, Twitter did not allow him to come back. Twitter's Chief Financial Officer Ned Segel said this while he was being interviewed on CNBC. He was asked whether Donald Trump's Twitter privileges could be restored if he came back to power. “The way our policies work, when you’re removed from the platform, you’re removed from the platform,” Segal was quoted as saying. “Whether you’re a commentator, you’re a CFO, or you are a former or current public official. Remember, our policies are designed to make sure that people are not inciting violence, and if anybody does that, we have to remove them from the service and our policies don’t allow people to come back,” he added during his interview on CNBC. US Senate is holding trial for Donald Trump impeachment. Trump is the only American president to be impeached twice. A prolific tweeter, Trump faced criticism during his presidency for what was called policy-making on Twitter. His tweets were often at odds with public stance taken by departments of his own administration. The breaking point came when Trump supporters attacked US Capitol building on January 6. Trump was criticised for not making appeals for calm hours after the violence began. He was soon permanently banned by Twitter, Facebook and many other social media platforms.

Twitter: Trump ban permanent, no matter if he runs for president again

US Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers laid out their case against his impeachment, arguing that his second trial is unconstitutional. They called the trial an 'act of political theatre'.

Historic moment for American presidency | Trump face second impeachment trial

The world likes Joe Biden, but it is losing faith in America. These are the findings of a poll conducted in 12 countries in December 2020 — Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.

Respondents in these countries say they support Joe Biden, but they don't trust America's ability to deliver. Another poll was conducted in Europe and they found that Biden's popularity or acceptability is undermined by pessimism against the US. Europeans believe the US Political system is broken and the world cannot rely on Washington to protect allies.

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Recent decisions offer some clues into Biden's thinking and they also offer insights into the problems Biden is not thinking about such as Afghanistan — no clear statement on America's longest-ever war.

Biden wants to remain tough on China. Recently, the US President gave his first interview.

He described the Chinese president Xi Jinping as "He's very bright. He's very tough. He doesn't have — and I don't mean it as a criticism, just the reality — he doesn't have a democratic, small bone in his body. But he is the question is, I've said to him all along, that we need to not have a conflict. But there's going to be extreme competition. And I'm not going to do it the way that he knows."

Two takeaways from that statement are that America isn't looking for a conflict with China but it does fear "extreme competition". Second, America wants to stop China from forcing its authoritarianism on the world. The question is how do you do that with a country like China without a conflict?

America's new secretary of state, Antony Blinken has said something similar. He had his first call with his counterpart in China and it wasn't pleasant. Blinken was quite straightforward. He told China that the US will hold Beijing accountable for its abuses in the international system and for its efforts to threaten stability in the Indo-pacific. During the call, Blinken said the US wants to raise issues of human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.

Blinken pressed China to condemn the military coup in Myanmar. Obviously, China won't take all of this lying down. So, it blamed America for the breakdown in their relationship and asking it to "strictly" follow the one-China policy on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet.

Not surprisingly, China refused to recognise the indo-pacific as well. The Chinese statement uses the phrase "Asia pacific" instead.

Where does team Biden stand on India?

The American president didn't mention India in his speech last week but the Biden administration has dropped some hints mostly on the quad — the quadrilateral alliance of India, the US, Japan and Australia. Reports say the US Has proposed a quad summit — an online meeting with the leaders of Australia, Japan and India.

America's national security adviser Jack Sullivan issued a statement last week, saying the quad is "Fundamental, a foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the indo-pacific region". New Delhi has something to look forward to here, but it must also prepare for scrutiny especially on the issue of the farmer protests.

What about Iran?

President Biden has sent a clear message to Tehran that the sanctions won't be lifted. It will have to first comply with the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal and stop the enrichment of uranium. So, for now, Biden is keeping the Trump-era sanctions on Iran.

Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei has rejected Biden's demand. "If they want Iran to return to its JCPOA commitments, America must completely lift sanctions, and not just in words or on paper," he said. "They must be lifted in action, and then we will verify and see if they have been properly lifted, and then return to these JCPOA commitments. This is the Islamic republic's definite policy." After that, he tweeted "The post-U.S. era has started"

This is a clear message to Washington that Khamenei wants the US to come to the table first.

West Asia remains a quagmire for America and Biden's first steps on Saudi Arabia won't make his job any easier.

Last week Biden put Saudi Arabia on notice. He declared the war in Yemen a “humanitarian and strategic catastrophe” and withdrew America's support to the Saudi-led coalition, meaning America will no longer support the Saudi offensive in Yemen, an end to the military aid, curbs on weapons supplies.

Reports say America could cut off supplies of munitions and spare parts to Saudi Arabia, stop maintaining the aircraft of the Saudi Air Force and limit sharing military advice. The US has also moved to de-list the Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist organisation. Saudi Arabia has led a military intervention against the Houthis since 2015.

This is quite a shake-up after Trump's very successful peace deals between the Arabs and the Israelis.

The world likes Joe Biden, but it is losing faith in America. These are the findings of a poll conducted in 12 countries in December 2020 — Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and the United States.

The world likes Joe Biden, but it is losing faith in America. These are the findings of a poll conducted in 12 countries in December 2020 — Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Kenya, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey and the United States. Respondents in these countries say they support Joe Biden, but they don't trust America's ability to deliver. Another poll was conducted in Europe and they found that Biden's popularity or acceptability is undermined by pessimism against the US. Europeans believe the US Political system is broken and the world cannot rely on Washington to protect allies. Recent decisions offer some clues into Biden's thinking and they also offer insights into the problems Biden is not thinking about such as Afghanistan — no clear statement on America's longest-ever war. Biden wants to remain tough on China. Recently, the US President gave his first interview. He described the Chinese president Xi Jinping as "He's very bright. He's very tough. He doesn't have — and I don't mean it as a criticism, just the reality — he doesn't have a democratic, small bone in his body. But he is the question is, I've said to him all along, that we need to not have a conflict. But there's going to be extreme competition. And I'm not going to do it the way that he knows." Two takeaways from that statement are that America isn't looking for a conflict with China but it does fear "extreme competition". Second, America wants to stop China from forcing its authoritarianism on the world. The question is how do you do that with a country like China without a conflict? America's new secretary of state, Antony Blinken has said something similar. He had his first call with his counterpart in China and it wasn't pleasant. Blinken was quite straightforward. He told China that the US will hold Beijing accountable for its abuses in the international system and for its efforts to threaten stability in the Indo-pacific. During the call, Blinken said the US wants to raise issues of human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. Blinken pressed China to condemn the military coup in Myanmar. Obviously, China won't take all of this lying down. So, it blamed America for the breakdown in their relationship and asking it to "strictly" follow the one-China policy on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet. Not surprisingly, China refused to recognise the indo-pacific as well. The Chinese statement uses the phrase "Asia pacific" instead. Where does team Biden stand on India? The American president didn't mention India in his speech last week but the Biden administration has dropped some hints mostly on the quad — the quadrilateral alliance of India, the US, Japan and Australia. Reports say the US Has proposed a quad summit — an online meeting with the leaders of Australia, Japan and India. America's national security adviser Jack Sullivan issued a statement last week, saying the quad is "Fundamental, a foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the indo-pacific region". New Delhi has something to look forward to here, but it must also prepare for scrutiny especially on the issue of the farmer protests. What about Iran? President Biden has sent a clear message to Tehran that the sanctions won't be lifted. It will have to first comply with the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal and stop the enrichment of uranium. So, for now, Biden is keeping the Trump-era sanctions on Iran. Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei has rejected Biden's demand. "If they want Iran to return to its JCPOA commitments, America must completely lift sanctions, and not just in words or on paper," he said. "They must be lifted in action, and then we will verify and see if they have been properly lifted, and then return to these JCPOA commitments. This is the Islamic republic's definite policy." After that, he tweeted "The post-U.S. era has started" This is a clear message to Washington that Khamenei wants the US to come to the table first. West Asia remains a quagmire for America and Biden's first steps on Saudi Arabia won't make his job any easier. Last week Biden put Saudi Arabia on notice. He declared the war in Yemen a “humanitarian and strategic catastrophe” and withdrew America's support to the Saudi-led coalition, meaning America will no longer support the Saudi offensive in Yemen, an end to the military aid, curbs on weapons supplies. Reports say America could cut off supplies of munitions and spare parts to Saudi Arabia, stop maintaining the aircraft of the Saudi Air Force and limit sharing military advice. The US has also moved to de-list the Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist organisation. Saudi Arabia has led a military intervention against the Houthis since 2015. This is quite a shake-up after Trump's very successful peace deals between the Arabs and the Israelis.

As Joe Biden takes over the US, does the world trust him?

A survey found that Joe Biden is popular across much of the world. But international trust in the US is low. Recent moves on China, India, Iran & Saudi Arabia offer clues to what Biden could do to restore trust in American leadership.

Gravitas: Can Biden reclaim America's place in the world?

As of Sunday morning the United States has administered 41,210,937 doses of COVID-19 vaccines and distributed 59,307,800 doses

Biden says challenging for U.S. to reach herd immunity by summer's end

Joe Biden, in his election campaign, made an impassioned case to undo every wrong his Republican predecessor had done, and won over America quite convincingly. And, now when he has successfully donned the hat of the US president, he has impeccably taken on the challenges.

So when China thought it had a chance, or Iran -- for that matter -- said it would only return to its nuclear commitments, when US lifts the sanctions, Biden surprised them.

Biden, on a CBS interview aired Sunday, said the US rivalry with China would most likely take the form of "extreme competition" rather than conflict between the two world powers.

He added he has not spoken with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since he became US president.

"He's very tough. He doesn't have -- and I don't mean it as a criticism, just the reality -- he doesn't have a democratic, small D, bone in his body," Biden said.

When asked about Iran's condition to resume nuclear commitments, Biden offered a clear reply: "No."

He said he won't lift sanctions against Tehran as long as the Islamic republic is not adhering to its nuclear deal commitments.&nbsp;

The journalist then asked if the Iranians would first have to stop enriching uranium, which drew an affirmative nod from Biden.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-wont-resume-nuclear-commitments-until-us-lifts-sanctions-361956">Also read |&nbsp;Iran says won't resume nuclear commitments until US lifts sanctions</a>

Former US president Donald Trump exited the nuclear accord between Iran and six powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

Iran a year later suspended its compliance with most key nuclear commitments to the deal.

The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance.

On January 4, Iran announced it has stepped up its uranium enrichment process to 20 per cent purity, far above the 3.67 per cent level permitted by the deal, but far below the amount required for an atomic bomb. 
&nbsp;

Joe Biden, in his election campaign, made an impassioned case to undo every wrong his Republican predecessor had done, and won over America quite convincingly. And, now when he has successfully donned the hat of the US president, he has impeccably taken on the challenges.

Joe Biden, in his election campaign, made an impassioned case to undo every wrong his Republican predecessor had done, and won over America quite convincingly. And, now when he has successfully donned the hat of the US president, he has impeccably taken on the challenges. So when China thought it had a chance, or Iran -- for that matter -- said it would only return to its nuclear commitments, when US lifts the sanctions, Biden surprised them. Biden, on a CBS interview aired Sunday, said the US rivalry with China would most likely take the form of "extreme competition" rather than conflict between the two world powers. He added he has not spoken with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since he became US president. "He's very tough. He doesn't have -- and I don't mean it as a criticism, just the reality -- he doesn't have a democratic, small D, bone in his body," Biden said. When asked about Iran's condition to resume nuclear commitments, Biden offered a clear reply: "No." He said he won't lift sanctions against Tehran as long as the Islamic republic is not adhering to its nuclear deal commitments. The journalist then asked if the Iranians would first have to stop enriching uranium, which drew an affirmative nod from Biden. Also read | Iran says won't resume nuclear commitments until US lifts sanctions Former US president Donald Trump exited the nuclear accord between Iran and six powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Iran a year later suspended its compliance with most key nuclear commitments to the deal. The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance. On January 4, Iran announced it has stepped up its uranium enrichment process to 20 per cent purity, far above the 3.67 per cent level permitted by the deal, but far below the amount required for an atomic bomb.

Biden on fire: New US president takes on China, Iran

A veteran CIA analyst who had led President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden’s</a> in-person briefings in the opening days of the administration is no longer doing so, intelligence officials said Saturday.

The duties of the briefer typically included coordinating work across 18 intelligence agencies, in what is known as mission integration, and overseeing the assembly of the written intelligence document delivered to the White House each day. In a shift from previous administrations, the job of leading the in-person briefing will be distinct from the other responsibilities and divided among various people.

The veteran analyst, Morgan Muir, is still set to take over as director of mission integration, a top post in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, succeeding Beth Sanner, who was the lead briefer for President Donald Trump. As director of mission integration, Muir will put together what is known as the President’s Daily Brief, or PDB, from various reports from across the intelligence community, but he will no longer lead the in-person briefings.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-should-not-receive-intelligence-briefings-joe-biden-feels-361686" hreflang="en">Donald Trump should not receive intelligence briefings, Joe Biden feels</a>

In his new role, Muir will oversee the agency’s efforts to integrate the intelligence community’s activities “from collection to analysis, including the interagency PDB process,” said Amanda Schoch, the spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The appointment of Muir as Biden’s briefer last month was unusual because it was his second tour in that job, the only time someone had returned to the post under a new administration. He had served as one of George W. Bush’s briefers midway through his presidency.

Former presidents, too, continue to receive briefings, though they are different from the classified one that a sitting president is given daily. Still, it is provided partly as a courtesy and partly for the instances in which a sitting president reaches out for advice. The team of CIA analysts who would brief a former president is not the same team who would brief a current president.

The question of whether <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump?page=1">Trump</a> should continue to get briefings has been raised in recent days. On Friday, Biden told CBS that there was “no need” for the former president to receive briefings, citing his “erratic” behavior. But a day later, the White House clarified those comments.

“The president was expressing his concern about former president Trump receiving access to sensitive intelligence,” Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said in a statement, “but he also has deep trust in his own intelligence team to make a determination about how to provide intelligence information if at any point the former president Trump requests a briefing.”

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-us-presidents-intelligence-briefing-is-and-why-biden-wants-trump-out-of-loop-361778" hreflang="en">What US President's intelligence briefing is and why Biden wants Trump out of loop</a>

On Saturday night, the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment clarifying whether Trump had asked for briefings.

The New York Times earlier reported that Muir was set to become the lead briefer, but at the time intelligence officials said that the director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, was still determining the final format of the briefing sessions and that additional briefers would work with Biden. Officials also said at the time that there had been no final decision about whether to split briefing duties from the broader responsibilities of the director of mission integration.

Some officials in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have long pushed to delegate those tasks to different people.

But in recent days, Haines decided to bring in a series of expert briefers to lead the sessions in the Oval Office, Schoch said. Haines continues to participate in those meetings.

On Saturday, BuzzFeed News reported that in 2013, Muir, then a senior CIA analyst, led a delegation from the agency in tense talks with Senate Intelligence Committee staff members putting together what would become the report on the agency’s torture program. The article quoted Daniel J. Jones, one of the lead committee staff members at the time, saying that, in private talks with Senate aides, Muir had defended the value of the CIA’s torture program.

In a statement, Jones said that Muir had provided “verifiably false information” to the committee that year. The CIA later acknowledged that Muir’s statements were wrong, Jones said.

“One would hope that type of professional failure would be, at the very least, disqualifying for any future leadership positions,” Jones said.

The Senate report issued in 2014, a sweeping indictment of the CIA, outlined abuses and torture by the agency in interrogating terrorism suspects in the years after the Sept. 11 attacks and a pattern of misleading Congress and the White House about it.

While the report remains a sore point with many former senior agency officials, who disagree with its conclusions and characterization, a number of senators have expressed frustration that some top agency officials continue to question the report.

After the publication of the BuzzFeed article, two intelligence officials insisted the criticism of Muir’s interactions with the Senate committee had nothing to do with the decision to change how Biden was being briefed.

Schoch said Haines remained “confident in Morgan’s steady leadership.”

“Morgan Muir is a widely respected intelligence officer who has demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and professionalism throughout his career,” Schoch said.

A veteran CIA analyst who had led President Joe Biden’s in-person briefings in the opening days of the administration is no longer doing so, intelligence officials said Saturday.

A veteran CIA analyst who had led President Joe Biden’s in-person briefings in the opening days of the administration is no longer doing so, intelligence officials said Saturday. The duties of the briefer typically included coordinating work across 18 intelligence agencies, in what is known as mission integration, and overseeing the assembly of the written intelligence document delivered to the White House each day. In a shift from previous administrations, the job of leading the in-person briefing will be distinct from the other responsibilities and divided among various people. The veteran analyst, Morgan Muir, is still set to take over as director of mission integration, a top post in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, succeeding Beth Sanner, who was the lead briefer for President Donald Trump. As director of mission integration, Muir will put together what is known as the President’s Daily Brief, or PDB, from various reports from across the intelligence community, but he will no longer lead the in-person briefings. Also read| Donald Trump should not receive intelligence briefings, Joe Biden feels In his new role, Muir will oversee the agency’s efforts to integrate the intelligence community’s activities “from collection to analysis, including the interagency PDB process,” said Amanda Schoch, the spokesperson for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The appointment of Muir as Biden’s briefer last month was unusual because it was his second tour in that job, the only time someone had returned to the post under a new administration. He had served as one of George W. Bush’s briefers midway through his presidency. Former presidents, too, continue to receive briefings, though they are different from the classified one that a sitting president is given daily. Still, it is provided partly as a courtesy and partly for the instances in which a sitting president reaches out for advice. The team of CIA analysts who would brief a former president is not the same team who would brief a current president. The question of whether Trump should continue to get briefings has been raised in recent days. On Friday, Biden told CBS that there was “no need” for the former president to receive briefings, citing his “erratic” behavior. But a day later, the White House clarified those comments. “The president was expressing his concern about former president Trump receiving access to sensitive intelligence,” Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said in a statement, “but he also has deep trust in his own intelligence team to make a determination about how to provide intelligence information if at any point the former president Trump requests a briefing.” Also read| What US President's intelligence briefing is and why Biden wants Trump out of loop On Saturday night, the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment clarifying whether Trump had asked for briefings. The New York Times earlier reported that Muir was set to become the lead briefer, but at the time intelligence officials said that the director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, was still determining the final format of the briefing sessions and that additional briefers would work with Biden. Officials also said at the time that there had been no final decision about whether to split briefing duties from the broader responsibilities of the director of mission integration. Some officials in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have long pushed to delegate those tasks to different people. But in recent days, Haines decided to bring in a series of expert briefers to lead the sessions in the Oval Office, Schoch said. Haines continues to participate in those meetings. On Saturday, BuzzFeed News reported that in 2013, Muir, then a senior CIA analyst, led a delegation from the agency in tense talks with Senate Intelligence Committee staff members putting together what would become the report on the agency’s torture program. The article quoted Daniel J. Jones, one of the lead committee staff members at the time, saying that, in private talks with Senate aides, Muir had defended the value of the CIA’s torture program. In a statement, Jones said that Muir had provided “verifiably false information” to the committee that year. The CIA later acknowledged that Muir’s statements were wrong, Jones said. “One would hope that type of professional failure would be, at the very least, disqualifying for any future leadership positions,” Jones said. The Senate report issued in 2014, a sweeping indictment of the CIA, outlined abuses and torture by the agency in interrogating terrorism suspects in the years after the Sept. 11 attacks and a pattern of misleading Congress and the White House about it. While the report remains a sore point with many former senior agency officials, who disagree with its conclusions and characterization, a number of senators have expressed frustration that some top agency officials continue to question the report. After the publication of the BuzzFeed article, two intelligence officials insisted the criticism of Muir’s interactions with the Senate committee had nothing to do with the decision to change how Biden was being briefed. Schoch said Haines remained “confident in Morgan’s steady leadership.” “Morgan Muir is a widely respected intelligence officer who has demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and professionalism throughout his career,” Schoch said.

Rotating group of analysts to provide Biden security briefs

President Joe Biden has served in elected office for almost four decades. He has interacted with nine presidents. He is accustomed to staff waiting on him, traveling by motorcade, and knew his way around the Oval Office and the mazelike layout of the West Wing from eight years as vice president.

“It feels like I am going home,” he said on Inauguration Day as he approached the White House along the parade route.

But not all of the accouterments of power are old hat for the country’s oldest president. When he flies on Air Force One Friday afternoon to go home to Wilmington, Delaware, for the weekend, it will be his first flight aboard the presidential jet in more than two decades, according to more than a half-dozen administration officials and former Biden aides.

As President Barack Obama’s vice president, Biden was prohibited from flying on the Boeing VC-25 that is known as Air Force One. For security reasons, the vice president and the president never fly together. Air Force Two, a Boeing 757, is a smaller, much more cramped and much more modest plane.

Despite his decades in public office, the only trip aboard Air Force One that anyone in the White House or Biden’s circle can recall him taking was in the summer of 2000. Back then, Biden traveled to Colombia as part of a delegation with President Bill Clinton, helping unveil an emergency aid program to fight the narcotics trade and prop up the country’s democracy.

That means that Jill Biden, the first lady, who accompanied Obama to a community college in Michigan aboard Air Force One in 2015, has been on board more recently than her husband. (At the time, she said she spent her time on the flight grading papers.)

Biden rode on Air Force One on Friday afternoon, but not the one that has so delighted his predecessors. He jogged up the stairs of the Boeing 757-200, which is a smaller, narrow-body jet used for smaller airports like the one Biden was bound for in Wilmington.

“It’s a great plane,” Biden told reporters traveling with him. “It’s the same plane that we had as vice president, only it’s much nicer.”

“When that 747 lands, it’s a sight to behold,” said John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff to Clinton. “When the president walks down those steps, you feel the power of that. He will feel the power of that. It’s a little different from the 757.”

Even President Donald Trump, who liked to brag about his own Trump-branded plane, was impressed.

“This is a very special plane,” he told reporters after taking them to his front cabin for a rare peek en route to Philadelphia. He had been in office for only six days when he showed off a navy blue Air Force One jacket. His press secretary at the time, Sean Spicer, described him as “in awe of the splendor of this plane.”

In 2018, Trump bragged that the plane, equipped to act as a mobile White House, had “about 20 televisions.” Still, he had plans for a makeover for the plane, plans that never came to fruition and that the Biden administration has made clear could not be lower on its list of priorities.

Obama appeared equally captivated by his new ride when he took his first flight in the third week of his presidency, traveling a short distance to Williamsburg, Virginia, to a retreat for House Democrats.

“What do you think of this spiffy ride here? It’s not bad,” Obama said to reporters sitting in the back of the plane. Like Trump, he also made a show of his crew jacket, which ha

Clinton took his first flight 22 days after taking office in 1993. He flew to Detroit for a nationally broadcast town hall event to lay the groundwork for the economic policies he was set to unveil, while his staff made jokes about how relieved he was to give up his rickety campaign plane, nicknamed “Air Elvis.”

President George W. Bush’s first trip aboard Air Force One after moving into the White House came less than a month into his presidency, when he visited military families and troops at Fort Stewart, in Georgia, part of a slate of trips intended to promote his national security policies.

White House officials would not say when Biden would take his first domestic trip but said that a typical presidential travel schedule was on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Certainly, his preference would be to get on a plane and fly around the country, but that’s not the step we’re planning currently,” the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said during a briefing last month.

Other senior administration officials insisted that Biden was not grounded and would travel domestically soon, pointing to the fact that he safely made two trips to Georgia during the transition to campaign for Democratic Senate candidates.

Presidential travel is expensive and time-consuming, but it is also essential to the job, former White House officials said.

“It’s critical for people to feel the presence and be aware of the fact that the president took the time to come to the place where they are,” Podesta said. “One of the things that underlies the deep divisions in the country is people feeling like, ‘You forgot about me.’ Showing up changes that dynamic.”

Podesta said it would be critical for Biden to travel after addressing a joint session of Congress this month, even if it meant taking on some health risks. “He’s going to lay down a lot of ideas of what needs to get built, and he’s got to go to some places where those things will get built,” he said.

But given the pandemic and the politically fragile moment the country is in, Michael Beschloss, the presidential historian, said that staying in Washington more often may work better for Biden.

“After John Kennedy’s assassination, the country was so agitated that the new president, Lyndon Johnson, made a commitment not to travel abroad for a period of time,” he said. “Although for different reasons, Biden’s staying close to the White House has reminded me of that. I believe that right now, seeing Biden in the State Dining Room, announcing how he’s dealing with one supreme problem after another, is more reassuring than it would be to see him on the road, in the middle of a pandemic, trying to find a crowd to speak to.”

Biden, however, may not agree once he has been on the plane.

President Joe Biden has served in elected office for almost four decades. He has interacted with nine presidents. He is accustomed to staff waiting on him, traveling by motorcade, and knew his way around the Oval Office and the mazelike layout of the West Wing from eight years as vice president.

President Joe Biden has served in elected office for almost four decades. He has interacted with nine presidents. He is accustomed to staff waiting on him, traveling by motorcade, and knew his way around the Oval Office and the mazelike layout of the West Wing from eight years as vice president. “It feels like I am going home,” he said on Inauguration Day as he approached the White House along the parade route. But not all of the accouterments of power are old hat for the country’s oldest president. When he flies on Air Force One Friday afternoon to go home to Wilmington, Delaware, for the weekend, it will be his first flight aboard the presidential jet in more than two decades, according to more than a half-dozen administration officials and former Biden aides. As President Barack Obama’s vice president, Biden was prohibited from flying on the Boeing VC-25 that is known as Air Force One. For security reasons, the vice president and the president never fly together. Air Force Two, a Boeing 757, is a smaller, much more cramped and much more modest plane. Despite his decades in public office, the only trip aboard Air Force One that anyone in the White House or Biden’s circle can recall him taking was in the summer of 2000. Back then, Biden traveled to Colombia as part of a delegation with President Bill Clinton, helping unveil an emergency aid program to fight the narcotics trade and prop up the country’s democracy. That means that Jill Biden, the first lady, who accompanied Obama to a community college in Michigan aboard Air Force One in 2015, has been on board more recently than her husband. (At the time, she said she spent her time on the flight grading papers.) Biden rode on Air Force One on Friday afternoon, but not the one that has so delighted his predecessors. He jogged up the stairs of the Boeing 757-200, which is a smaller, narrow-body jet used for smaller airports like the one Biden was bound for in Wilmington. “It’s a great plane,” Biden told reporters traveling with him. “It’s the same plane that we had as vice president, only it’s much nicer.” “When that 747 lands, it’s a sight to behold,” said John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff to Clinton. “When the president walks down those steps, you feel the power of that. He will feel the power of that. It’s a little different from the 757.” Even President Donald Trump, who liked to brag about his own Trump-branded plane, was impressed. “This is a very special plane,” he told reporters after taking them to his front cabin for a rare peek en route to Philadelphia. He had been in office for only six days when he showed off a navy blue Air Force One jacket. His press secretary at the time, Sean Spicer, described him as “in awe of the splendor of this plane.” In 2018, Trump bragged that the plane, equipped to act as a mobile White House, had “about 20 televisions.” Still, he had plans for a makeover for the plane, plans that never came to fruition and that the Biden administration has made clear could not be lower on its list of priorities. Obama appeared equally captivated by his new ride when he took his first flight in the third week of his presidency, traveling a short distance to Williamsburg, Virginia, to a retreat for House Democrats. “What do you think of this spiffy ride here? It’s not bad,” Obama said to reporters sitting in the back of the plane. Like Trump, he also made a show of his crew jacket, which ha Clinton took his first flight 22 days after taking office in 1993. He flew to Detroit for a nationally broadcast town hall event to lay the groundwork for the economic policies he was set to unveil, while his staff made jokes about how relieved he was to give up his rickety campaign plane, nicknamed “Air Elvis.” President George W. Bush’s first trip aboard Air Force One after moving into the White House came less than a month into his presidency, when he visited military families and troops at Fort Stewart, in Georgia, part of a slate of trips intended to promote his national security policies. White House officials would not say when Biden would take his first domestic trip but said that a typical presidential travel schedule was on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Certainly, his preference would be to get on a plane and fly around the country, but that’s not the step we’re planning currently,” the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said during a briefing last month. Other senior administration officials insisted that Biden was not grounded and would travel domestically soon, pointing to the fact that he safely made two trips to Georgia during the transition to campaign for Democratic Senate candidates. Presidential travel is expensive and time-consuming, but it is also essential to the job, former White House officials said. “It’s critical for people to feel the presence and be aware of the fact that the president took the time to come to the place where they are,” Podesta said. “One of the things that underlies the deep divisions in the country is people feeling like, ‘You forgot about me.’ Showing up changes that dynamic.” Podesta said it would be critical for Biden to travel after addressing a joint session of Congress this month, even if it meant taking on some health risks. “He’s going to lay down a lot of ideas of what needs to get built, and he’s got to go to some places where those things will get built,” he said. But given the pandemic and the politically fragile moment the country is in, Michael Beschloss, the presidential historian, said that staying in Washington more often may work better for Biden. “After John Kennedy’s assassination, the country was so agitated that the new president, Lyndon Johnson, made a commitment not to travel abroad for a period of time,” he said. “Although for different reasons, Biden’s staying close to the White House has reminded me of that. I believe that right now, seeing Biden in the State Dining Room, announcing how he’s dealing with one supreme problem after another, is more reassuring than it would be to see him on the road, in the middle of a pandemic, trying to find a crowd to speak to.” Biden, however, may not agree once he has been on the plane.

After years in government, Biden has a new perk: Air Force One

A day before the recently-elected US President Joe Biden is scheduled to take his first flight aboard the Air Force One, an intruder gained access to the Joint Base Andrews where the aircraft is parked.

Biden is scheduled to depart from the Joint Base Andrews to his home state, Delaware, on Friday, which will be his first flight aboard the Air Force One as the President of the US.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-falls-asleep-wakes-up-to-find-out-airpod-is-inside-his-body-361800" hreflang="en">Man falls asleep, wakes up to find out AirPod is inside his body</a>

However, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) confirmed that an intruder gained access to the base on Thursday.

"An unauthorized individual gained access to Joint Base Andrews. The incident is under investigation," a spokesperson said in a statement. "The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is lead on this investigation. Any requests for information related to the incident can be referred to OSI."

It is not yet, however, clear whether the intruder messed up any aircraft parked at the facility or not.&nbsp;

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-53-years-wallet-lost-in-antarctica-reaches-91-year-old-owner-361761" hreflang="en">After 53 years, wallet lost in Antarctica reaches 91-year-old owner</a>

The Joint Base Andrews also houses the 89th Airlift Wing which is used to escort the President, Vice President, Cabinet members and other senior elected members of the US while they are on their official air travel.

While the extent of damage is not yet clear, no change was announced in Biden's plans. It is also not clear if the intruder has been arrested or not.

The security of the President and other elected members has been a concerning issue since the Capitol riots that took place on January 06 by Trump supporters.

A day before the recently-elected US President Joe Biden is scheduled to take his first flight aboard the Air Force One, an intruder gained access to the Joint Base Andrews where the aircraft is parked.

A day before the recently-elected US President Joe Biden is scheduled to take his first flight aboard the Air Force One, an intruder gained access to the Joint Base Andrews where the aircraft is parked. Biden is scheduled to depart from the Joint Base Andrews to his home state, Delaware, on Friday, which will be his first flight aboard the Air Force One as the President of the US. Also read| Man falls asleep, wakes up to find out AirPod is inside his body However, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) confirmed that an intruder gained access to the base on Thursday. "An unauthorized individual gained access to Joint Base Andrews. The incident is under investigation," a spokesperson said in a statement. "The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is lead on this investigation. Any requests for information related to the incident can be referred to OSI." It is not yet, however, clear whether the intruder messed up any aircraft parked at the facility or not. Also read| After 53 years, wallet lost in Antarctica reaches 91-year-old owner The Joint Base Andrews also houses the 89th Airlift Wing which is used to escort the President, Vice President, Cabinet members and other senior elected members of the US while they are on their official air travel. While the extent of damage is not yet clear, no change was announced in Biden's plans. It is also not clear if the intruder has been arrested or not. The security of the President and other elected members has been a concerning issue since the Capitol riots that took place on January 06 by Trump supporters.

Intruder gains access to Air Force One parking base, before Biden's first flight

COVAX is a global initiative co-led by the World Health Organization, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

Will U.S. provide more funds for vaccination drive?

President Joe Biden vowed to repair alliances through diplomacy and restore Washington’s leadership position on the global stage.

U.S. President Joe Biden vows to repair alliances through diplomacy

There he was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the Boss himself, the opening act on the night of the virtual inaugural ball. His song was “Land of Hope and Dreams.” “Leave behind your sorrows,” he sang. “Let this day be the last. Tomorrow there’ll be sunshine and all this darkness past.”

I got all weepy listening to Bruce Springsteen perform, especially with the Great Emancipator looking over his shoulder. Still, if you’re part of an L.G.B.T.Q. family in this country, it was hard not to wonder if a more on-the-nose song for him to sing that night might have been his “One Step Up and Two Steps Back.”

The “one step up” was self-evident. Before the sun had set on his first day, President Biden had signed an executive order extending federal nondiscrimination protections for L.G.B.T.Q. people.

“Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports,” the order stated. “Adults should be able to earn a living and pursue a vocation knowing that they will not be fired, demoted or mistreated because of whom they go home to or because how they dress does not conform to sex-based stereotypes.”

More good news followed five days later, when the ban on trans troops was lifted. “What I’m doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve in uniform,” the president said. It hardly seems crazy, radical stuff.

And yet some see extending rights to all Americans as radical indeed. How else to explain that “two steps back” has been on full display, too, this January. As if in response to the prospect of things getting better for queer Americans at the federal level, Republicans in statehouses from Montana to New Hampshire have introduced a slew of anti-L.G.B.T.Q. bills.

With the coronavirus raging, the economy shattered and white supremacy on the rise, Republican legislators have pushed to the top of their agenda young queer people trying to live their lives safely, and in peace.

Transgender youth — surely the most vulnerable of the already vulnerable L.G.B.T.Q. community — are the target. On the day after the election, Ryan T. Anderson, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, lamented to The Washington Post, “On the same day he called for healing and unity, President Joe Biden signed a radical divisive transgender executive order that threatens the privacy and safety of women in single-sex facilities, equality and fairness in single-sex sports, and good medicine based on the reality that males and females are biologically different.”

This would be the now-familiar conservative canard that granting equal rights to queer people somehow endangers the womenfolk. Is now a good moment to point out, once again, that more Republican congressmen have been busted for inappropriate behavior in public restrooms than trans women?

Bills restricting trans students from participating in athletics have now been introduced in Florida, Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee. Other bills that would penalize or criminalize medical professionals who provide services to young trans and nonbinary people have been proposed in Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Texas and Utah.

You’d think that legislation affecting the lives of so many young people would be based on hard research and science. But then science has ceased to be a primary concern of social conservatives.

Science shows us that sex is not binary — that it is, like so much of creation, wild and holy in its remarkable variation. We know that trans youth who get access to needed care before the age of 15 face significantly lower risks for attempted suicide, depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

Are conservative parents truly so distressed by the prospect of young people coming out as trans or nonbinary that they would deny them treatment? Is having a nonbinary child so terrible, in their eyes, that it would be better to condemn them to years of depression rather than embrace them? Is having a trans daughter actually worse, in their eyes, than having a dead son?

The movement to deny trans students the opportunity to participate in school sports is likewise spurious. If the argument is that birth sex provides an automatic advantage in sports, this is clearly not borne out by the facts. Trans athletes have been allowed in Olympic competition since 2003, but no trans athlete has made it to the Olympics. Transgender athletes have been able to compete on college teams consistent with their gender identity for the past nine years, without any particular disruption to women’s collegiate sports.

In fact, trans women aren’t dominating the events in which we compete; it’s only with the rare gold medal that hackles rise. (The track cyclist Jen Wagner-Assali accused a trans competitor, Rachel McKinnon, of cheating when she won a 2018 world championship in which Wagner-Assali placed third. She failed to mention she had beaten McKinnon in seven of 12 previous races.)

It’s enough to make you wonder whether the Alliance Defending Freedom, one of the organizations driving these bills, is really out to defend, you know, freedom.

Given that the alliance has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, it seems to me that what it really wants to defend is not freedom, but its opposite: bigotry against people whose fundamental experience of being human is not identical to their own. What about my freedom? Who will defend me, and the people I love?

I believe that no one in this country is a bigger Bruce Springsteen fan than my wife, Deirdre. The Saturday after the inauguration, I found her drinking coffee in the living room, listening to “Land of Hopes and Dreams” on the radio. Tomorrow there’ll be sunshine, and all this darkness past.

In the wake of the president signing the executive orders, #BidenErasesWomen had trended on Twitter, the hashtag signaling the fear of conservatives and so-called trans-exclusionary radical feminists (“terfs”) that making room for someone like me has to come at the expense of cis women like Deirdre.

But Deirdre wasn’t erased at all. She was as visible as can be. She looked at me and smiled.

What she seemed, above all, was happy that the person she loves is once again considered an American with the same rights as everyone else: a woman free at last to pursue her dreams in peace.

There he was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the Boss himself, the opening act on the night of the virtual inaugural ball. His song was “Land of Hope and Dreams.

There he was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, the Boss himself, the opening act on the night of the virtual inaugural ball. His song was “Land of Hope and Dreams.” “Leave behind your sorrows,” he sang. “Let this day be the last. Tomorrow there’ll be sunshine and all this darkness past.” I got all weepy listening to Bruce Springsteen perform, especially with the Great Emancipator looking over his shoulder. Still, if you’re part of an L.G.B.T.Q. family in this country, it was hard not to wonder if a more on-the-nose song for him to sing that night might have been his “One Step Up and Two Steps Back.” The “one step up” was self-evident. Before the sun had set on his first day, President Biden had signed an executive order extending federal nondiscrimination protections for L.G.B.T.Q. people. “Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be denied access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports,” the order stated. “Adults should be able to earn a living and pursue a vocation knowing that they will not be fired, demoted or mistreated because of whom they go home to or because how they dress does not conform to sex-based stereotypes.” More good news followed five days later, when the ban on trans troops was lifted. “What I’m doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve in uniform,” the president said. It hardly seems crazy, radical stuff. And yet some see extending rights to all Americans as radical indeed. How else to explain that “two steps back” has been on full display, too, this January. As if in response to the prospect of things getting better for queer Americans at the federal level, Republicans in statehouses from Montana to New Hampshire have introduced a slew of anti-L.G.B.T.Q. bills. With the coronavirus raging, the economy shattered and white supremacy on the rise, Republican legislators have pushed to the top of their agenda young queer people trying to live their lives safely, and in peace. Transgender youth — surely the most vulnerable of the already vulnerable L.G.B.T.Q. community — are the target. On the day after the election, Ryan T. Anderson, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, lamented to The Washington Post, “On the same day he called for healing and unity, President Joe Biden signed a radical divisive transgender executive order that threatens the privacy and safety of women in single-sex facilities, equality and fairness in single-sex sports, and good medicine based on the reality that males and females are biologically different.” This would be the now-familiar conservative canard that granting equal rights to queer people somehow endangers the womenfolk. Is now a good moment to point out, once again, that more Republican congressmen have been busted for inappropriate behavior in public restrooms than trans women? Bills restricting trans students from participating in athletics have now been introduced in Florida, Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee. Other bills that would penalize or criminalize medical professionals who provide services to young trans and nonbinary people have been proposed in Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Texas and Utah. You’d think that legislation affecting the lives of so many young people would be based on hard research and science. But then science has ceased to be a primary concern of social conservatives. Science shows us that sex is not binary — that it is, like so much of creation, wild and holy in its remarkable variation. We know that trans youth who get access to needed care before the age of 15 face significantly lower risks for attempted suicide, depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Are conservative parents truly so distressed by the prospect of young people coming out as trans or nonbinary that they would deny them treatment? Is having a nonbinary child so terrible, in their eyes, that it would be better to condemn them to years of depression rather than embrace them? Is having a trans daughter actually worse, in their eyes, than having a dead son? The movement to deny trans students the opportunity to participate in school sports is likewise spurious. If the argument is that birth sex provides an automatic advantage in sports, this is clearly not borne out by the facts. Trans athletes have been allowed in Olympic competition since 2003, but no trans athlete has made it to the Olympics. Transgender athletes have been able to compete on college teams consistent with their gender identity for the past nine years, without any particular disruption to women’s collegiate sports. In fact, trans women aren’t dominating the events in which we compete; it’s only with the rare gold medal that hackles rise. (The track cyclist Jen Wagner-Assali accused a trans competitor, Rachel McKinnon, of cheating when she won a 2018 world championship in which Wagner-Assali placed third. She failed to mention she had beaten McKinnon in seven of 12 previous races.) It’s enough to make you wonder whether the Alliance Defending Freedom, one of the organizations driving these bills, is really out to defend, you know, freedom. Given that the alliance has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, it seems to me that what it really wants to defend is not freedom, but its opposite: bigotry against people whose fundamental experience of being human is not identical to their own. What about my freedom? Who will defend me, and the people I love? I believe that no one in this country is a bigger Bruce Springsteen fan than my wife, Deirdre. The Saturday after the inauguration, I found her drinking coffee in the living room, listening to “Land of Hopes and Dreams” on the radio. Tomorrow there’ll be sunshine, and all this darkness past. In the wake of the president signing the executive orders, #BidenErasesWomen had trended on Twitter, the hashtag signaling the fear of conservatives and so-called trans-exclusionary radical feminists (“terfs”) that making room for someone like me has to come at the expense of cis women like Deirdre. But Deirdre wasn’t erased at all. She was as visible as can be. She looked at me and smiled. What she seemed, above all, was happy that the person she loves is once again considered an American with the same rights as everyone else: a woman free at last to pursue her dreams in peace.

One step up and two steps back

On abortion, the White House said Biden was ordering the government to review rules under Donald Trump's administration.

U.S. President Joe Biden reverses restrictions on access to abortion

Biden signed a slate of executive orders related to his racial equity agenda. Announced plans buy a total of 200m more vaccine doses from Pfizer and Moderna.

How will America respond to Biden's new policies

Newly elected U.S. President Joe Biden is making some radical changes in the administration and policies. In another step, he signed an executive order to reverse Trump-era policy to reopen Obamacare health coverage.

U.S. Prez Joe Biden signs executive order to reopen 'Obamacare' health coverage

US President Joe Biden is set to scrap a ban on US funding for abortion counselling provided by international organisations.

Abortion has been legal in the United States since a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision, and Biden has consistently supported that ruling, which guarantees a woman's "right to choose."

On the eve of the anti-abortion movement's annual March for Life, the White House said Biden would rescind the so-called Mexico City Policy -- which bars US funding for international non-profit organidations that offer abortion counseling or referrals -- on Thursday.

The move is part of a broad package of health-related measures by the new Democratic president at a time when the country is reeling from Covid-19 and, as ever, grappling with a health care system that leaves millions of people uninsured.

Biden is expected to also order a review of rules under Donald Trump's administration that blocked government-funded family planning clinics in the United States from referring women for abortions.

Bidens' Democratic base largely supports abortion rights, but he is also a devout member of the Catholic Church which is firmly opposed to abortion.&nbsp;

Pressed last week on the new president's abortion stance -- particularly on legislation known as the Hyde amendment that would prevent federal funds from being used by Americans to pay for abortion -- White House Spokeswoman Jen Psaki declined to answer directly.

Politically, the issue cleaves a deep division among Americans, and Biden alienating a portion of them could hamper his efforts to build broad-based support to advance other policies on the economy and the coronavirus pandemic.

Strongly supported by US anti-abortion groups, the 1984 Mexico City Policy takes aim at non-American non-governmental organisations involved in health and family planning support in developing countries and whose operations benefit from official US financial aid.

Within days of taking office in January 2017, Trump outlawed the extension of US financing to such groups if they suppport, counsel or offer abortion. Moreover, they could be banned from US aid if they themselves extend support to other NGOs which support abortion.

US President Joe Biden is set to scrap a ban on US funding for abortion counselling provided by international organisations. Abortion has been legal in the United States since a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision, and Biden has consistently supported that ruling, which guarantees a woman's "right to choose.

US President Joe Biden is set to scrap a ban on US funding for abortion counselling provided by international organisations. Abortion has been legal in the United States since a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision, and Biden has consistently supported that ruling, which guarantees a woman's "right to choose." On the eve of the anti-abortion movement's annual March for Life, the White House said Biden would rescind the so-called Mexico City Policy -- which bars US funding for international non-profit organidations that offer abortion counseling or referrals -- on Thursday. The move is part of a broad package of health-related measures by the new Democratic president at a time when the country is reeling from Covid-19 and, as ever, grappling with a health care system that leaves millions of people uninsured. Biden is expected to also order a review of rules under Donald Trump's administration that blocked government-funded family planning clinics in the United States from referring women for abortions. Bidens' Democratic base largely supports abortion rights, but he is also a devout member of the Catholic Church which is firmly opposed to abortion. Pressed last week on the new president's abortion stance -- particularly on legislation known as the Hyde amendment that would prevent federal funds from being used by Americans to pay for abortion -- White House Spokeswoman Jen Psaki declined to answer directly. Politically, the issue cleaves a deep division among Americans, and Biden alienating a portion of them could hamper his efforts to build broad-based support to advance other policies on the economy and the coronavirus pandemic. Strongly supported by US anti-abortion groups, the 1984 Mexico City Policy takes aim at non-American non-governmental organisations involved in health and family planning support in developing countries and whose operations benefit from official US financial aid. Within days of taking office in January 2017, Trump outlawed the extension of US financing to such groups if they suppport, counsel or offer abortion. Moreover, they could be banned from US aid if they themselves extend support to other NGOs which support abortion.

Biden set to scrap ban on US funds for abortion counseling

US President Joe Biden will reopen the nation's online health insurance marketplace for people who cannot obtain coverage through their employers, the White House said on Thursday.

Biden, who took office last week, to this end will restore access to healthcare.gov with an executive order on Thursday afternoon, the latest in a blizzard of moves by the Democratic president to quickly reverse the policies of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump.

The order will allow people to sign up for insurance through the government exchange from February 15 to May 15, the White House said in a policy fact sheet. The programme is normally accessible for just six weeks a year.

The action was expected. Biden has vowed to shore up the healthcare.gov, and other programmes created under former president Barack Obama's sweeping 2010 Affordable Care Act. He has argued that the changes are more urgent because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 400,000 Americans.

Republicans have long opposed the healthcare restructuring law, criticising the cost and quality of care as well as extensive government involvement in healthcare markets.

Biden also plans to direct federal agencies to "re-examine" Trump-era policies like work requirements that made it more difficult for people to qualify for Medicaid, the government-run health insurance programme for the poor.

US President Joe Biden will reopen the nation's online health insurance marketplace for people who cannot obtain coverage through their employers, the White House said on Thursday.

US President Joe Biden will reopen the nation's online health insurance marketplace for people who cannot obtain coverage through their employers, the White House said on Thursday. Biden, who took office last week, to this end will restore access to healthcare.gov with an executive order on Thursday afternoon, the latest in a blizzard of moves by the Democratic president to quickly reverse the policies of his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. The order will allow people to sign up for insurance through the government exchange from February 15 to May 15, the White House said in a policy fact sheet. The programme is normally accessible for just six weeks a year. The action was expected. Biden has vowed to shore up the healthcare.gov, and other programmes created under former president Barack Obama's sweeping 2010 Affordable Care Act. He has argued that the changes are more urgent because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 400,000 Americans. Republicans have long opposed the healthcare restructuring law, criticising the cost and quality of care as well as extensive government involvement in healthcare markets. Biden also plans to direct federal agencies to "re-examine" Trump-era policies like work requirements that made it more difficult for people to qualify for Medicaid, the government-run health insurance programme for the poor.

Biden to reopen healthcare.gov, ease Medicaid rules amid pandemic

US President Joe Biden -- in just seven days since assuming America's highest office -- has signed a series of executive orders.

Some are aimed at undoing the legacy of Donald Trump, and some are aimed at getting the &nbsp;US back on track. They range from housing to criminal reform, from racial equality to climate change, and from immigration to American manufacturing.

Here's a list of all what Biden has signed on for a change:

'BUY AMERICAN' ORDER

Biden vowed on Monday to leverage the purchasing power of the US government, the world’s biggest single buyer of goods and services, to strengthen domestic manufacturing and create markets for new technologies.

The Democratic president signed an executive order aimed at closing loopholes in existing “Buy American” provisions, which apply to about a third of the $600 billion in goods and services the federal government buys each year. The order will make any waivers more transparent and create a senior White House role to oversee the process.

“I don’t buy for one second that the vitality of American manufacturing is a thing of the past,” Biden told reporters before signing the order. “American manufacturing was the arsenal of democracy in World War Two and it must be part of the engine of American prosperity now.”

Biden reiterated plans announced on the campaign trail to replace the fleet of federal cars with U.S.-made electric vehicles.

“America can’t sit on the sidelines in the race to the future. Our competitors aren’t waiting,” Biden said. “To ensure the future is made in America, we need to win not just the jobs of today, but the jobs and industries of tomorrow.”

RACIAL EQUALITY

Biden on Tuesday issued a firm call to heal America’s racial divide, taking several steps and promising more to confront racism and inequality that he said has plagued the United States for far too long.

Biden said he believes the vast majority of Americans believe in equality.

“We’ve never fully lived up to the founding principles of this nation - to state the obvious - that all people are created equal and have a right to be treated equally throughout their lives,” Biden said in remarks at the White House. “And it’s time to act now, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because if we do we’ll all be better off for it.”

Biden took executive action on four fronts: curbing the U.S. government’s use of private prisons, bolstering anti-discrimination enforcement in housing, underscoring a commitment to Native American tribal sovereignty and condemning discrimination against Asian Americans and Americans of Pacific Island descent he said has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN

Biden also signed an executive order that overturned a controversial ban by his predecessor on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military, a move cheered by LGBTQ advocates that fulfills a campaign promise.

“It’s simple: America is safer when everyone qualified to serve can do so openly and with pride,” Biden said on Twitter after the signing.

COVID RESTRICTIONS

Biden reimposed travel restrictions to fight the spread of coronavirus. He would now impose a ban on most non-U.S. citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa starting Saturday in a bid to contain the spread of a new variant of COVID-19.

An entry ban will be imposed on nearly all non-U.S. travelers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders.

US President Joe Biden -- in just seven days since assuming America's highest office -- has signed a series of executive orders. Some are aimed at undoing the legacy of Donald Trump, and some are aimed at getting the US back on track.

US President Joe Biden -- in just seven days since assuming America's highest office -- has signed a series of executive orders. Some are aimed at undoing the legacy of Donald Trump, and some are aimed at getting the US back on track. They range from housing to criminal reform, from racial equality to climate change, and from immigration to American manufacturing. Here's a list of all what Biden has signed on for a change: 'BUY AMERICAN' ORDER Biden vowed on Monday to leverage the purchasing power of the US government, the world’s biggest single buyer of goods and services, to strengthen domestic manufacturing and create markets for new technologies. The Democratic president signed an executive order aimed at closing loopholes in existing “Buy American” provisions, which apply to about a third of the $600 billion in goods and services the federal government buys each year. The order will make any waivers more transparent and create a senior White House role to oversee the process. “I don’t buy for one second that the vitality of American manufacturing is a thing of the past,” Biden told reporters before signing the order. “American manufacturing was the arsenal of democracy in World War Two and it must be part of the engine of American prosperity now.” Biden reiterated plans announced on the campaign trail to replace the fleet of federal cars with U.S.-made electric vehicles. “America can’t sit on the sidelines in the race to the future. Our competitors aren’t waiting,” Biden said. “To ensure the future is made in America, we need to win not just the jobs of today, but the jobs and industries of tomorrow.” RACIAL EQUALITY Biden on Tuesday issued a firm call to heal America’s racial divide, taking several steps and promising more to confront racism and inequality that he said has plagued the United States for far too long. Biden said he believes the vast majority of Americans believe in equality. “We’ve never fully lived up to the founding principles of this nation - to state the obvious - that all people are created equal and have a right to be treated equally throughout their lives,” Biden said in remarks at the White House. “And it’s time to act now, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because if we do we’ll all be better off for it.” Biden took executive action on four fronts: curbing the U.S. government’s use of private prisons, bolstering anti-discrimination enforcement in housing, underscoring a commitment to Native American tribal sovereignty and condemning discrimination against Asian Americans and Americans of Pacific Island descent he said has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN Biden also signed an executive order that overturned a controversial ban by his predecessor on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military, a move cheered by LGBTQ advocates that fulfills a campaign promise. “It’s simple: America is safer when everyone qualified to serve can do so openly and with pride,” Biden said on Twitter after the signing. COVID RESTRICTIONS Biden reimposed travel restrictions to fight the spread of coronavirus. He would now impose a ban on most non-U.S. citizens entering the country who have recently been in South Africa starting Saturday in a bid to contain the spread of a new variant of COVID-19. An entry ban will be imposed on nearly all non-U.S. travelers who have been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and 26 countries in Europe that allow travel across open borders.

Joe Biden has signed a series of executive orders. Here's a list

President Joe Biden will sign an executive order Monday giving priority to US companies and products in contracts with the federal government

Joe Biden to sign executive orders to promote 'Made in America' products

Top US public health expert Dr Anthony Fauci on Sunday revealed the experience of being at the helm of former US President Donald Trump's White House coronavirus taskforce.

In conversation with The New York times, Fauci claimed that he was the "skunk at the picnic" in the task force, while adding how many people thought he was "complicit in the distortions emanating from the stage" in a reference to Trump's briefings about COVID-19.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fauci-us-should-vaccinate-the-way-clinical-trials-have-instructed-354273/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Fauci added that he had been at odds with Trump on multiple occasions, but he had never considered resigning, saying that had he left, it would have left a "void".

He also added how the White House would discount the severity of the pandemic and how they had a "little happy talk about how things are OK".

In response to such chatter among the ranks during Trump's presidency, Fauci would respond with "Wait a minute, hold it, folks, this is serious business". It was owing to this that became part of a joke whereby he was referred to as the "skunk of the picnic".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/trump-administrations-lack-of-honesty-in-handling-covid-19-very-likely-cost-lives-fauci-358761" hreflang="en">Trump administration's lack of honesty in handling COVID-19 'very likely' cost lives: Fauci</a> 
 
Trump used to criticise Fauci openly, and also suggested the idea of firing him, which never materialised. Fauci is highly revered in the American medical community and has helped presidents since 1984. 
 
Trump and his supporters were notorious for spreading unproven cures like bleach, UV light, hydroxychloroquine, among many.

“I felt it would be better for the country and better for the cause for me to stay, as opposed to walk away”, Fauci further told NYT while referring to how he toyed with leaving the post.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/anthony-fauci-describes-joe-bidens-leadership-as-liberating-compared-to-trump-358426" hreflang="en">Anthony Fauci describes Joe Biden's leadership as 'liberating', compared to Trump</a> 
 
The US has recorded over 25 million cases of coronavirus so far. At least 420,000 people have died owing to this. Many have criticised the vaccine rollout in the US, calling it slow. 
 
Moving on to Biden's administration, Fauci claimed that it felt like a "liberating feeling".

Top US public health expert Dr Anthony Fauci on Sunday revealed the experience of being at the helm of former US President Donald Trump's White House coronavirus taskforce.

Top US public health expert Dr Anthony Fauci on Sunday revealed the experience of being at the helm of former US President Donald Trump's White House coronavirus taskforce. In conversation with The New York times, Fauci claimed that he was the "skunk at the picnic" in the task force, while adding how many people thought he was "complicit in the distortions emanating from the stage" in a reference to Trump's briefings about COVID-19. Fauci added that he had been at odds with Trump on multiple occasions, but he had never considered resigning, saying that had he left, it would have left a "void". He also added how the White House would discount the severity of the pandemic and how they had a "little happy talk about how things are OK". In response to such chatter among the ranks during Trump's presidency, Fauci would respond with "Wait a minute, hold it, folks, this is serious business". It was owing to this that became part of a joke whereby he was referred to as the "skunk of the picnic". Also read: Trump administration's lack of honesty in handling COVID-19 'very likely' cost lives: Fauci Trump used to criticise Fauci openly, and also suggested the idea of firing him, which never materialised. Fauci is highly revered in the American medical community and has helped presidents since 1984. Trump and his supporters were notorious for spreading unproven cures like bleach, UV light, hydroxychloroquine, among many. “I felt it would be better for the country and better for the cause for me to stay, as opposed to walk away”, Fauci further told NYT while referring to how he toyed with leaving the post. Also read: Anthony Fauci describes Joe Biden's leadership as 'liberating', compared to Trump The US has recorded over 25 million cases of coronavirus so far. At least 420,000 people have died owing to this. Many have criticised the vaccine rollout in the US, calling it slow. Moving on to Biden's administration, Fauci claimed that it felt like a "liberating feeling".

'Skunk of the picnic': Dr Fauci opens up about his experience serving Trump's COVID taskforce

Hours before President Joe Biden took the oath of office, he entered the front pew of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, the seat of Catholic Washington, and beheld the mosaics behind the altar.

An intimate group of family, friends and congressional leaders had gathered for Mass, in the place where Pope Francis spoke in 2015 and where the funeral for John F. Kennedy, the nation’s first Roman Catholic president, was held.

When it was time for the homily, the Rev. Kevin O’Brien, president of Santa Clara University and friend of the Biden family, compared Biden’s upcoming inaugural message to the words of Jesus.

“Your public service is animated by the same conviction,” he said, “to help and protect people and to advance justice and reconciliation, especially for those who are too often looked over and left behind. This is your noble commission. This is the divine summons for all of us.”

There are myriad changes with the incoming Biden administration. One of the most significant: a president who has spent a lifetime steeped in Christian rituals and practices.

Biden, perhaps the most religiously observant commander in chief in a half-century, regularly attends Mass and speaks of how his Catholic faith grounds his life and his policies.

And with Biden, a different, more liberal Christianity is ascendant, less focused on sexual politics and more on combating poverty, climate change and racial inequality.

His arrival comes after four years in which conservative Christianity has reigned in America’s highest halls of power, embodied in white evangelicals laser-focused on ending abortion and guarding against what they saw as encroachments on their freedoms. Their devotion to former President Donald Trump was so fervent that many showed up in Washington on Jan. 6 to protest the election results.

Biden’s leadership is a repudiation of the claim by many conservative leaders that Democrats are inherently anti-Christian.

His rise comes as fewer registered Democrats identify as Christian. Nearly half are religiously unaffiliated or believers of other faiths, a share that has grown significantly in recent years, according to the Pew Research Center; about 80% of registered Republicans are Christian.

Yet the current influence of liberal Christianity in the Democratic Party goes beyond Biden. Sen. Raphael Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, won election with a campaign rooted in Black liberation theology. The Sunday after his election, Warnock preached about John the Baptist, the “truth-telling troublemaker,” he said, who was beheaded by King Herod for his prophetic witness.

Rep. Cori Bush, a pastor who led Kingdom Embassy International in St. Louis, has started her tenure in Congress advocating universal basic income. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez connects her Catholic faith with her push for reforming health care and environmental policy. She has said her favorite Bible story is one where Jesus, in anger, threw money changers out of the temple.

In his inaugural address, Biden rooted himself and the country in a Christian moral vision that makes room for a pluralistic society, unlike his predecessor who promised to make America a certain kind of Christian nation. Biden quoted Augustine, “a saint in my church,” he said, who wrote that “a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love.”

Augustine, the fourth-century North African bishop, recognized that no political community was going to be the city of God on earth, explained Eric Gregory, professor of religion at Princeton University. This passage, from the saint’s “City of God,” has been used in the 20th century “to open up the space for a nontheocratic way for Christians to understand what it means to be citizens in a plural society,” he said.

For Biden, “it was a subtle and explicit effort to show a different vision of a way in which a Christian could imagine themselves as part of a diverse America, one that is defined by these common objects of love, rather than by hate and fear or exclusion,” he said.

While conservative Catholics have doubled down on abortion policy and religious freedom for the past four years, Biden’s policy priorities reflect those of Pope Francis, who has sought to turn the church’s attention from sexual politics to issues like environmental protection, poverty and migration.

On his first day in office, Biden recommitted the United States to the Paris climate agreement, the international accord designed to avert global warming; ended the ban on travel from predominantly Muslim and African countries; and stopped construction on the border wall.

Biden’s support for abortion rights is already causing tension in the Catholic church. Even before the inaugural ceremony had finished, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued an extensive statement criticizing Biden for policies “that would advance moral evils,” especially “in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender.” Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, who is known for his alignment with Francis’ social and economic priorities, pushed back on Twitter, calling the statement unprecedented and “ill-considered.”

Biden’s priorities reflect values that progressive faith leaders have pushed for and that motivated many to speak out for him during the campaign, said Derrick Harkins, who led interfaith outreach for the Democratic National Committee this past cycle. There is a sense of moral synergy on the left among not only progressive Christians but also humanists, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and the spectrum of faith traditions, he said.

The work now “has a chance of really having traction,” he said. “I’m very optimistic about what can unfold.”

The grassroots progressive Christian movement is center stage in Biden’s Washington.

Unlike four years ago, when many of the participants in the post-inaugural prayer service were conservative evangelicals or prosperity gospel preachers, this year’s Thursday service included a broad array of religious progressives, including two transgender faith leaders. Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR, a Jewish community in Los Angeles, prayed for the coming of a new America, one “built on love, rooted in justice and propelled by our moral imagination.”

The Rev. William Barber II, a chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, preached and directly challenged Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to pursue a Third Reconstruction, decades after the civil rights era. He urged them to address “interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation/denial of health care, the war economy, and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism.”

Jesus taught that a nation is judged by how it treats the least of these, the poor, the hungry, the sick, the immigrant, he explained in an interview.

“Birth pangs require one thing: pushing,” he said. “That is what the movement has to do.”

For many believers, the shift in the Christianity of the presidency is already personal. On the eve of his inauguration, Biden led the nation in a memorial service on the mall for victims of the coronavirus pandemic.

He adopted the posture of a chaplain, noted Michelle Ami Reyes, vice president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative, a group that started last year to combat anti-Asian racism rising from the pandemic.

“That is a deeply biblical posture,” she said, “mourning with those who mourn.”

Hours before President Joe Biden took the oath of office, he entered the front pew of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, the seat of Catholic Washington, and beheld the mosaics behind the altar.

Hours before President Joe Biden took the oath of office, he entered the front pew of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, the seat of Catholic Washington, and beheld the mosaics behind the altar. An intimate group of family, friends and congressional leaders had gathered for Mass, in the place where Pope Francis spoke in 2015 and where the funeral for John F. Kennedy, the nation’s first Roman Catholic president, was held. When it was time for the homily, the Rev. Kevin O’Brien, president of Santa Clara University and friend of the Biden family, compared Biden’s upcoming inaugural message to the words of Jesus. “Your public service is animated by the same conviction,” he said, “to help and protect people and to advance justice and reconciliation, especially for those who are too often looked over and left behind. This is your noble commission. This is the divine summons for all of us.” There are myriad changes with the incoming Biden administration. One of the most significant: a president who has spent a lifetime steeped in Christian rituals and practices. Biden, perhaps the most religiously observant commander in chief in a half-century, regularly attends Mass and speaks of how his Catholic faith grounds his life and his policies. And with Biden, a different, more liberal Christianity is ascendant, less focused on sexual politics and more on combating poverty, climate change and racial inequality. His arrival comes after four years in which conservative Christianity has reigned in America’s highest halls of power, embodied in white evangelicals laser-focused on ending abortion and guarding against what they saw as encroachments on their freedoms. Their devotion to former President Donald Trump was so fervent that many showed up in Washington on Jan. 6 to protest the election results. Biden’s leadership is a repudiation of the claim by many conservative leaders that Democrats are inherently anti-Christian. His rise comes as fewer registered Democrats identify as Christian. Nearly half are religiously unaffiliated or believers of other faiths, a share that has grown significantly in recent years, according to the Pew Research Center; about 80% of registered Republicans are Christian. Yet the current influence of liberal Christianity in the Democratic Party goes beyond Biden. Sen. Raphael Warnock, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, won election with a campaign rooted in Black liberation theology. The Sunday after his election, Warnock preached about John the Baptist, the “truth-telling troublemaker,” he said, who was beheaded by King Herod for his prophetic witness. Rep. Cori Bush, a pastor who led Kingdom Embassy International in St. Louis, has started her tenure in Congress advocating universal basic income. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez connects her Catholic faith with her push for reforming health care and environmental policy. She has said her favorite Bible story is one where Jesus, in anger, threw money changers out of the temple. In his inaugural address, Biden rooted himself and the country in a Christian moral vision that makes room for a pluralistic society, unlike his predecessor who promised to make America a certain kind of Christian nation. Biden quoted Augustine, “a saint in my church,” he said, who wrote that “a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love.” Augustine, the fourth-century North African bishop, recognized that no political community was going to be the city of God on earth, explained Eric Gregory, professor of religion at Princeton University. This passage, from the saint’s “City of God,” has been used in the 20th century “to open up the space for a nontheocratic way for Christians to understand what it means to be citizens in a plural society,” he said. For Biden, “it was a subtle and explicit effort to show a different vision of a way in which a Christian could imagine themselves as part of a diverse America, one that is defined by these common objects of love, rather than by hate and fear or exclusion,” he said. While conservative Catholics have doubled down on abortion policy and religious freedom for the past four years, Biden’s policy priorities reflect those of Pope Francis, who has sought to turn the church’s attention from sexual politics to issues like environmental protection, poverty and migration. On his first day in office, Biden recommitted the United States to the Paris climate agreement, the international accord designed to avert global warming; ended the ban on travel from predominantly Muslim and African countries; and stopped construction on the border wall. Biden’s support for abortion rights is already causing tension in the Catholic church. Even before the inaugural ceremony had finished, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued an extensive statement criticizing Biden for policies “that would advance moral evils,” especially “in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender.” Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, who is known for his alignment with Francis’ social and economic priorities, pushed back on Twitter, calling the statement unprecedented and “ill-considered.” Biden’s priorities reflect values that progressive faith leaders have pushed for and that motivated many to speak out for him during the campaign, said Derrick Harkins, who led interfaith outreach for the Democratic National Committee this past cycle. There is a sense of moral synergy on the left among not only progressive Christians but also humanists, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs and the spectrum of faith traditions, he said. The work now “has a chance of really having traction,” he said. “I’m very optimistic about what can unfold.” The grassroots progressive Christian movement is center stage in Biden’s Washington. Unlike four years ago, when many of the participants in the post-inaugural prayer service were conservative evangelicals or prosperity gospel preachers, this year’s Thursday service included a broad array of religious progressives, including two transgender faith leaders. Rabbi Sharon Brous of IKAR, a Jewish community in Los Angeles, prayed for the coming of a new America, one “built on love, rooted in justice and propelled by our moral imagination.” The Rev. William Barber II, a chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, preached and directly challenged Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to pursue a Third Reconstruction, decades after the civil rights era. He urged them to address “interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation/denial of health care, the war economy, and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism.” Jesus taught that a nation is judged by how it treats the least of these, the poor, the hungry, the sick, the immigrant, he explained in an interview. “Birth pangs require one thing: pushing,” he said. “That is what the movement has to do.” For many believers, the shift in the Christianity of the presidency is already personal. On the eve of his inauguration, Biden led the nation in a memorial service on the mall for victims of the coronavirus pandemic. He adopted the posture of a chaplain, noted Michelle Ami Reyes, vice president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative, a group that started last year to combat anti-Asian racism rising from the pandemic. “That is a deeply biblical posture,” she said, “mourning with those who mourn.”

In Biden’s Catholic faith, an Ascendant liberal Christianity

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