The Kremlin said on Tuesday it would soon make an announcement about a possible summit between President Vladimir Putin and US&nbsp;President Joe Biden. 
 
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that Moscow and Washington needed to cooperate on cybersecurity in order to stop hackers who ill-wishers say work for the Russian state. 
 
He also said that the two men needed to discuss strategic nuclear stability, something which affected the world. 
 
Biden, who in March said he thought Putin was a "killer", prompting Moscow to recall its ambassador to Washington for consultations, has said he would like to hold talks with Putin during a planned trip to Europe next month. 
 
Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, citing sources, reported on Monday that the summit will be held in Switzerland.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday it would soon make an announcement about a possible summit between President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that Moscow and Washington needed to cooperate on cybersecurity in order to stop hackers who ill-wishers say work for the Russian state.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday it would soon make an announcement about a possible summit between President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call that Moscow and Washington needed to cooperate on cybersecurity in order to stop hackers who ill-wishers say work for the Russian state. He also said that the two men needed to discuss strategic nuclear stability, something which affected the world. Biden, who in March said he thought Putin was a "killer", prompting Moscow to recall its ambassador to Washington for consultations, has said he would like to hold talks with Putin during a planned trip to Europe next month. Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, citing sources, reported on Monday that the summit will be held in Switzerland.

Kremlin says it will soon make announcement on possible Putin-Biden summit

Diplomats and intelligence officers of the United States are under attack. The officers are being picked off one by one, but it is unclear by whom. But all the affected US officials recount a similar experience - a loud shriek followed by a splitting headache.

The scientific community has no idea why this is happening. Their best guess is that this is an attack using radio waves. An unknown adversary is on the prowl - hunting American officials on foreign shores. Their modus operandi is classic spy novel stuff - no weapons, no evidence, just an untraceable mystery illness.

It all started in Havana in 2016 when US diplomats reported a series of unsettling events - a loud shriek, followed by a splitting headache, nausea, dizziness and hearing loss.

Soon, similar cases emerged in China, Russia and Europe. It then became clear that this wasn't a one-off incident and that someone was targeting American officials.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-officials-hit-by-mysterious-illness-abroad-387169/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

By November last year, the threat reached American shores after two cases were reported in Washington DC. Both Democrats and Republicans want answers but the experts are no closer to finding the truth. The National Security Council is leading this investigation. They are studying 130 cases across government agencies.

Some of the affected officials say the White House is playing dumb. They cited intel reports from the 1990s which talk of a hostile country using microwave signals to weaken enemies. The similarities are uncanny, but neither the CIA nor the National Security Council have confirmed this.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/did-covid-19-emerge-naturally-anthony-fauci-not-convinced-says-further-probe-needed-387110" hreflang="en">Did COVID-19 emerge naturally? Anthony Fauci 'not convinced', says further probe needed</a>

There are some clues in a paper published by the National Academy of Sciences which says the symptoms are consistent with “directed, pulsed radio frequencies”. The report talks about Soviet projects in this field but nothing conclusive. Scientists are divided on the radio wave theory. Some say the neurological damage confirms radio waves were used. Others have dismissed it as mass hysteria.

When people hear of symptoms, they start feeling sick themselves. Whatever the explanation, pressure is mounting on Joe Biden. If the report does identify the assailant, they will have no option but to respond with force. And if that assailant is Russia, Biden's reconciliation plans will go down the drain.

This is uncharted territory for Washington DC - an enemy in the shadows picking off US spies and diplomats. America's battles are loud and dramatic but this silent attack has caught them off guard.

Diplomats and intelligence officers of the United States are under attack. The officers are being picked off one by one, but it is unclear by whom. But all the affected US officials recount a similar experience - a loud shriek followed by a splitting headache.

Diplomats and intelligence officers of the United States are under attack. The officers are being picked off one by one, but it is unclear by whom. But all the affected US officials recount a similar experience - a loud shriek followed by a splitting headache. The scientific community has no idea why this is happening. Their best guess is that this is an attack using radio waves. An unknown adversary is on the prowl - hunting American officials on foreign shores. Their modus operandi is classic spy novel stuff - no weapons, no evidence, just an untraceable mystery illness. It all started in Havana in 2016 when US diplomats reported a series of unsettling events - a loud shriek, followed by a splitting headache, nausea, dizziness and hearing loss. Soon, similar cases emerged in China, Russia and Europe. It then became clear that this wasn't a one-off incident and that someone was targeting American officials. By November last year, the threat reached American shores after two cases were reported in Washington DC. Both Democrats and Republicans want answers but the experts are no closer to finding the truth. The National Security Council is leading this investigation. They are studying 130 cases across government agencies. Some of the affected officials say the White House is playing dumb. They cited intel reports from the 1990s which talk of a hostile country using microwave signals to weaken enemies. The similarities are uncanny, but neither the CIA nor the National Security Council have confirmed this. Also read: Did COVID-19 emerge naturally? Anthony Fauci 'not convinced', says further probe needed There are some clues in a paper published by the National Academy of Sciences which says the symptoms are consistent with “directed, pulsed radio frequencies”. The report talks about Soviet projects in this field but nothing conclusive. Scientists are divided on the radio wave theory. Some say the neurological damage confirms radio waves were used. Others have dismissed it as mass hysteria. When people hear of symptoms, they start feeling sick themselves. Whatever the explanation, pressure is mounting on Joe Biden. If the report does identify the assailant, they will have no option but to respond with force. And if that assailant is Russia, Biden's reconciliation plans will go down the drain. This is uncharted territory for Washington DC - an enemy in the shadows picking off US spies and diplomats. America's battles are loud and dramatic but this silent attack has caught them off guard.

A mysterious adversary is targeting US officials worldwide. Here's what we know so far

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that it was unclear Iran was prepared to take the necessary steps to return to compliance with the multination nuclear agreement. The nuclear deal with Iran was struck by USA and other world powers in 2015. Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew USA from the deal in 2017. Talks are on in Vienna in order to bring the deal back on track.

Blinken was asked about Iranian reports that Washington had already agreed to lift some of the sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy.

"We know what sanctions would need to be lifted if they're inconsistent with the nuclear agreement," he said on ABC's "This Week".

He added that more importantly, "Iran, I think, knows what it needs to do to come back into compliance on the nuclear side, and what we haven't seen is whether Iran is ready to make a decision.&nbsp;

"That's the test and we don't yet have an answer."

US President Joe Biden wants to revive the deal with Iran.

For that to happen, Washington must agree to lift the sanctions reinstated by Trump and Tehran must commit to follow the terms of the deal.

Once Trump walked away from the agreement, the Islamic republic started to abandon the constraints on its production of nuclear material.

European participants to the Vienna talks had expressed optimism as the latest round of negotiations wound up on Wednesday.

"We've made good progress," Enrique Mora, the European Union official who chaired the talks between Russia, China, Germany, France, Britain and Iran, said in a tweet on Wednesday.

"An agreement is shaping up."

Indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran have been going on in the Austrian capital since early April, with the other five countries that are signatories to the deal acting as intermediaries.

Diplomats are hoping to get the US back on board before Iranian presidential elections on June 18.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that it was unclear Iran was prepared to take the necessary steps to return to compliance with the multination nuclear agreement.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that it was unclear Iran was prepared to take the necessary steps to return to compliance with the multination nuclear agreement. The nuclear deal with Iran was struck by USA and other world powers in 2015. Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew USA from the deal in 2017. Talks are on in Vienna in order to bring the deal back on track. Blinken was asked about Iranian reports that Washington had already agreed to lift some of the sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy. "We know what sanctions would need to be lifted if they're inconsistent with the nuclear agreement," he said on ABC's "This Week". He added that more importantly, "Iran, I think, knows what it needs to do to come back into compliance on the nuclear side, and what we haven't seen is whether Iran is ready to make a decision. "That's the test and we don't yet have an answer." US President Joe Biden wants to revive the deal with Iran. For that to happen, Washington must agree to lift the sanctions reinstated by Trump and Tehran must commit to follow the terms of the deal. Once Trump walked away from the agreement, the Islamic republic started to abandon the constraints on its production of nuclear material. European participants to the Vienna talks had expressed optimism as the latest round of negotiations wound up on Wednesday. "We've made good progress," Enrique Mora, the European Union official who chaired the talks between Russia, China, Germany, France, Britain and Iran, said in a tweet on Wednesday. "An agreement is shaping up." Indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran have been going on in the Austrian capital since early April, with the other five countries that are signatories to the deal acting as intermediaries. Diplomats are hoping to get the US back on board before Iranian presidential elections on June 18. (With inputs from agencies)

Unclear if Iran ready to return to nuclear pact, says US

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday injected fresh urgency into attempts to engage North Korea in dialogue over its nuclear weapons, with Biden saying he would meet its leader Kim Jong Un under the right conditions. 
 
At a joint news conference, Biden and Moon both said the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is their goal. Biden said he was "under no illusions" about the difficulty of getting North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenals after his predecessors failed. 
 
"We both are deeply concerned about the situation," Biden said, adding that he and Moon shared a willingness to engage diplomatically with the North "to take pragmatic steps to reduce tensions." 
 
North Korea thus far has rebuffed US&nbsp;entreaties for diplomacy since Biden took over from Donald Trump, who had three summits with Kim and the two famously exchanged "beautiful letters." 
 
Kim nonetheless refused to give up his nuclear weapons but did impose a freeze on testing them. He has not tested a nuclear bomb nor launched an inter-continental ballistic missile since 2017, although experts believe his arsenal has steadily grown. 
 
Biden said he would be willing to meet Kim under the right conditions - if he agreed to discuss his nuclear program and that his advisers first met with their North Korean counterparts to lay the groundwork. 
 
Biden said a veteran State Department official, Sung Kim, would serve as special US&nbsp;envoy for North Korea. 
 
South Korea had been pushing for the appointment of an envoy, and Moon, for whom engagement with North Korea is a legacy issue before he leaves office next year, said Sung Kim would help explore whether North Korea is willing to engage diplomatically. He said he expected a positive response. 
 
Sung Kim is a Korean-American diplomat who served as special envoy for North Korea under President Barack Obama and helped set up Trump`s summits with Kim Jong Un. 
 
He has also been ambassador to South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia and most recently served in an acting capacity as the top US&nbsp;diplomat for East Asia. 
 
Biden said that for him to meet with Kim there would have to be a commitment from the North Korean leader "that there`s discussion about his nuclear arsenal." 
 
"I would not do what had been done in the recent past; I would not give him all he`s looking for - international recognition as legitimate and allow him to move in the direction of appearing to be more ... serious about what he wasn`t at all serious about," he said. 
 
Biden`s comments appeared to reflect a shift in his thinking. The White House had said in March it was not Biden`s intention to meet with Kim. 
 
Jenny Town of 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea-watching project, said Sung Kim`s appointment was positive given the Biden administration had signalled it was in no hurry to fill the post. However, it has given no indication of what concessions it might offer to bring about talks. 
 
"The problem has been that the administration has only talked about denuclearization and continues to characterize any interactions with North Korea as nuclear negotiations," she said. "So it`s still a tough sell to get the North Koreans back to the table, but obviously Moon is going to push very hard." 
 
Moon said Biden had expressed support for intra-Korean dialogue and cooperation, but Town said this would not mean much unless Washington, which has refused to ease sanctions on Pyongyang, allowed Seoul the space to move forward with this. 
 
Biden`s administration undertook a broad review of North Korea policy but has said little about what its new policy actually entails. 
 
US&nbsp;officials have said only that it would not be the approach favoured by Obama of refusing to engage the North, or Trump`s flashy summitry. 
 
In their day of talks, Biden and Moon reaffirmed a strong alliance between the two countries after the strains created by Trump, who badgered Moon as weak and threatened to pull US&nbsp;troops out of South Korea. 
 
Moon was the second foreign leader - after Japan`s prime minister - to visit the White House since Biden took office in January, and Biden said their conversations were those of "old friends." 
 
The two also discussed China and Taiwan. Taiwan has complained of repeated military pressure from Beijing with China’s air force making frequent forays into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone. 
 
"We`ve shared the view that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is extremely important, and we agreed to work together on that matter while considering special characteristics in relations between China and Taiwan," Moon said. 
 
In another win for Moon, who has faced pressure at home over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the United States and South Korea had agreed a vaccine partnership that would combine US&nbsp;expertise and Korean production capacity. 
 
He said this would help supply COVID-19 vaccines in the Indo-Pacific region, while Biden said the United States would provide vaccinations for 550,000 South Korean soldiers.

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday injected fresh urgency into attempts to engage North Korea in dialogue over its nuclear weapons, with Biden saying he would meet its leader Kim Jong Un under the right conditions.

US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday injected fresh urgency into attempts to engage North Korea in dialogue over its nuclear weapons, with Biden saying he would meet its leader Kim Jong Un under the right conditions. At a joint news conference, Biden and Moon both said the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula is their goal. Biden said he was "under no illusions" about the difficulty of getting North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenals after his predecessors failed. "We both are deeply concerned about the situation," Biden said, adding that he and Moon shared a willingness to engage diplomatically with the North "to take pragmatic steps to reduce tensions." North Korea thus far has rebuffed US entreaties for diplomacy since Biden took over from Donald Trump, who had three summits with Kim and the two famously exchanged "beautiful letters." Kim nonetheless refused to give up his nuclear weapons but did impose a freeze on testing them. He has not tested a nuclear bomb nor launched an inter-continental ballistic missile since 2017, although experts believe his arsenal has steadily grown. Biden said he would be willing to meet Kim under the right conditions - if he agreed to discuss his nuclear program and that his advisers first met with their North Korean counterparts to lay the groundwork. Biden said a veteran State Department official, Sung Kim, would serve as special US envoy for North Korea. South Korea had been pushing for the appointment of an envoy, and Moon, for whom engagement with North Korea is a legacy issue before he leaves office next year, said Sung Kim would help explore whether North Korea is willing to engage diplomatically. He said he expected a positive response. Sung Kim is a Korean-American diplomat who served as special envoy for North Korea under President Barack Obama and helped set up Trump`s summits with Kim Jong Un. He has also been ambassador to South Korea, the Philippines and Indonesia and most recently served in an acting capacity as the top US diplomat for East Asia. Biden said that for him to meet with Kim there would have to be a commitment from the North Korean leader "that there`s discussion about his nuclear arsenal." "I would not do what had been done in the recent past; I would not give him all he`s looking for - international recognition as legitimate and allow him to move in the direction of appearing to be more ... serious about what he wasn`t at all serious about," he said. Biden`s comments appeared to reflect a shift in his thinking. The White House had said in March it was not Biden`s intention to meet with Kim. Jenny Town of 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea-watching project, said Sung Kim`s appointment was positive given the Biden administration had signalled it was in no hurry to fill the post. However, it has given no indication of what concessions it might offer to bring about talks. "The problem has been that the administration has only talked about denuclearization and continues to characterize any interactions with North Korea as nuclear negotiations," she said. "So it`s still a tough sell to get the North Koreans back to the table, but obviously Moon is going to push very hard." Moon said Biden had expressed support for intra-Korean dialogue and cooperation, but Town said this would not mean much unless Washington, which has refused to ease sanctions on Pyongyang, allowed Seoul the space to move forward with this. Biden`s administration undertook a broad review of North Korea policy but has said little about what its new policy actually entails. US officials have said only that it would not be the approach favoured by Obama of refusing to engage the North, or Trump`s flashy summitry. In their day of talks, Biden and Moon reaffirmed a strong alliance between the two countries after the strains created by Trump, who badgered Moon as weak and threatened to pull US troops out of South Korea. Moon was the second foreign leader - after Japan`s prime minister - to visit the White House since Biden took office in January, and Biden said their conversations were those of "old friends." The two also discussed China and Taiwan. Taiwan has complained of repeated military pressure from Beijing with China’s air force making frequent forays into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone. "We`ve shared the view that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is extremely important, and we agreed to work together on that matter while considering special characteristics in relations between China and Taiwan," Moon said. In another win for Moon, who has faced pressure at home over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the United States and South Korea had agreed a vaccine partnership that would combine US expertise and Korean production capacity. He said this would help supply COVID-19 vaccines in the Indo-Pacific region, while Biden said the United States would provide vaccinations for 550,000 South Korean soldiers.

'Denuclearisation is the goal': Biden, Moon express willingness for dialogue with North Korea

California, the most populous state in the US, has announced plans to fully reopen its economy on June 15 amid dropping Covid-19 cases and vaccine eligibility expansion. 
 
Beginning on June 15, almost all industry and business sectors may return to usual operations with no capacity limits or physical distancing requirements, according to the updated guidelines unveiled by the California Department of Public Health on Saturday. 
 
There are still limited exceptions for "mega events", characterised by large crowds greater than 5,000 attendees at indoor venues or 10,000 attendees at outdoor events, reports Xinhua news agency. 
 
Public health officials will still recommend sponsors of those events to encourage everyone to get vaccinated when eligible. 
 
Verification of fully vaccinated status or pre-entry negative test result is strongly recommended for all attendees. 
 
"Californians should be proud of the work we`ve done together to get through the worst of this pandemic," said Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health Tomas Aragon in a statement. 
 
"Relaxing many of our public health measures is possible because we`ve chosen to get vaccinated against Covid-19, worn masks and kept our distance. 
 
"We urge Californians who are eligible to get vaccinated and continue taking common sense prevention steps so we can keep our forward progress in defeating this virus," Aragon noted. 
 
California was the first in the US to issue a statewide stay-at-home order over a rapid spread of Covid-19 in March last year. 
 
It was once the epicentre of the disease in the country with the highest number of cases and deaths. 
 
The state of around 40 million residents has more than 3.67 million confirmed cases and 61,672 related deaths to date, according to the Department. 
 
Official statistics say more than 35 million vaccine doses have been administered statewide and over 16 million California residents have been fully vaccinated till date.

California, the most populous state in the US, has announced plans to fully reopen its economy on June 15 amid dropping Covid-19 cases and vaccine eligibility expansion.

California, the most populous state in the US, has announced plans to fully reopen its economy on June 15 amid dropping Covid-19 cases and vaccine eligibility expansion. Beginning on June 15, almost all industry and business sectors may return to usual operations with no capacity limits or physical distancing requirements, according to the updated guidelines unveiled by the California Department of Public Health on Saturday. There are still limited exceptions for "mega events", characterised by large crowds greater than 5,000 attendees at indoor venues or 10,000 attendees at outdoor events, reports Xinhua news agency. Public health officials will still recommend sponsors of those events to encourage everyone to get vaccinated when eligible. Verification of fully vaccinated status or pre-entry negative test result is strongly recommended for all attendees. "Californians should be proud of the work we`ve done together to get through the worst of this pandemic," said Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health Tomas Aragon in a statement. "Relaxing many of our public health measures is possible because we`ve chosen to get vaccinated against Covid-19, worn masks and kept our distance. "We urge Californians who are eligible to get vaccinated and continue taking common sense prevention steps so we can keep our forward progress in defeating this virus," Aragon noted. California was the first in the US to issue a statewide stay-at-home order over a rapid spread of Covid-19 in March last year. It was once the epicentre of the disease in the country with the highest number of cases and deaths. The state of around 40 million residents has more than 3.67 million confirmed cases and 61,672 related deaths to date, according to the Department. Official statistics say more than 35 million vaccine doses have been administered statewide and over 16 million California residents have been fully vaccinated till date.

California to fully reopen starting June 15

In 2001, America invaded Afghanistan. 20 years and over 2 trillion dollars later, Washington came to terms with the fruitlessness of the war. So it decided to wrap, and withdraw troops.

Something similar happened in Europe. America waged a war not on a country, but a construction. But two years later, it realised the futility of it.

This is about Nord Stream 2. It's a Russian gas pipeline project. It's a pretty controversial one. The Trump administration slapped sanctions on it in 2019 and early 2021.

America had egg on its face, when construction carried on. If anything, the sanctions only alienated America from one of its key European allies:&nbsp;Germany.

Now, US President Joe Biden is in the White House. And he is being torn by conflicting demands at home and outside.

Sanctions against Nord Stream 2 enjoy bipartisan support in the US.&nbsp;It also carries great geopolitical and strategic importance. But upping the ante against Nord Stream 2 could cost America dearly.

So, his administration has tried to kill three birds with one stone.&nbsp;

The original Nord Stream runs from Vyborg in Russia&nbsp;to Lumbin in Germany.

It was inaugurated in 2011. Nord Stream 2 expands this system. It is designed to carry 110 billion cubic metres of gas from Russia to Germany every year. The project is being built at a cost of 11 billion dollars. It runs 764 miles under the Baltic Sea.

And Russian state energy firm Gazprom is leading the venture. The project is now 95 per cent complete. There's only 100 km of the sub-sea pipeline left to lay. Nord Stream 2 is expected to be ready by the end of 2021. This project is strategically important to the US.

Washington is an exporter of natural gas to Europe. But Russian gas is cheaper than American. So, basically, America fears losing business in Europe once Nord Stream 2 is completed.

That's not it. America also fears losing its influence.

Washington believes Russia could use Nord Stream 2 to increase Europe's dependency on Moscow. It's the same cold war-era mentality.

And it's because of this that the sanctions against Nord Stream 2 enjoy bipartisan support at home. There's also geopolitics that is closely entangled in the project. This Nord Stream 2 bypasses Ukraine and by doing so, deprives it of lucrative transit fee. This is Moscow hammering Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression.

And this is something US cannot be seen openly supporting. It has always sided with Ukraine.

When Biden entered the White House, some critics said he may be able to convince German Chancellor Angela Merkel into dropping the Nord Stream 2 project.

That has clearly has not happened. Instead, Berlin pressed Washington to drop sanctions. To Germany, Nord Stream 2 is a commercial project.

And America's opposition to it is a hurdle for German economy.

Germany also happens to be a country US must court if it wants to get back to enjoying the confidence of its European and NATO allies.

So, the Biden administration caved in and planned its safest exit from the war on Nord Stream 2.

What did it do?

Number one:&nbsp;To appease Americans, the Biden administration imposed fresh sanctions on ships working on the project. Also sanctions on Russian entities linked to the Nord Stream 2.

Number two:&nbsp;To reaffirm America's unwavering support to Ukraine, the Biden administration openly criticised the Nord Stream 2.

A release from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the following:

"Nord stream 2 is a bad deal — for Germany, for Ukraine, and for our central and eastern European allies and partners.The department is tracking efforts to complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and is evaluating information regarding entities that appear to be involved."

Here's the real deal.

To appease Germany, the Biden administration waived Trump-era sanctions on the company building Nord Stream 2 and also its CEO.

How is the Biden administration justifying this? It is in national interest, says Blinken.

It is to 'demonstrate the administration's commitment to energy security in Europe'.

The real story lies between the lines.

Moreover, it tells that the Biden administration prioritises winning over European ally over engaging Russia in a futile geopolitical tug of war.

And this is the biggest takeaway from the Nord Stream 2 story.

In 2001, America invaded Afghanistan. 20 years and over 2 trillion dollars later, Washington came to terms with the fruitlessness of the war. So it decided to wrap, and withdraw troops.

In 2001, America invaded Afghanistan. 20 years and over 2 trillion dollars later, Washington came to terms with the fruitlessness of the war. So it decided to wrap, and withdraw troops. Something similar happened in Europe. America waged a war not on a country, but a construction. But two years later, it realised the futility of it. This is about Nord Stream 2. It's a Russian gas pipeline project. It's a pretty controversial one. The Trump administration slapped sanctions on it in 2019 and early 2021. America had egg on its face, when construction carried on. If anything, the sanctions only alienated America from one of its key European allies: Germany. Now, US President Joe Biden is in the White House. And he is being torn by conflicting demands at home and outside. Sanctions against Nord Stream 2 enjoy bipartisan support in the US. It also carries great geopolitical and strategic importance. But upping the ante against Nord Stream 2 could cost America dearly. So, his administration has tried to kill three birds with one stone. The original Nord Stream runs from Vyborg in Russia to Lumbin in Germany. It was inaugurated in 2011. Nord Stream 2 expands this system. It is designed to carry 110 billion cubic metres of gas from Russia to Germany every year. The project is being built at a cost of 11 billion dollars. It runs 764 miles under the Baltic Sea. And Russian state energy firm Gazprom is leading the venture. The project is now 95 per cent complete. There's only 100 km of the sub-sea pipeline left to lay. Nord Stream 2 is expected to be ready by the end of 2021. This project is strategically important to the US. Washington is an exporter of natural gas to Europe. But Russian gas is cheaper than American. So, basically, America fears losing business in Europe once Nord Stream 2 is completed. That's not it. America also fears losing its influence. Washington believes Russia could use Nord Stream 2 to increase Europe's dependency on Moscow. It's the same cold war-era mentality. And it's because of this that the sanctions against Nord Stream 2 enjoy bipartisan support at home. There's also geopolitics that is closely entangled in the project. This Nord Stream 2 bypasses Ukraine and by doing so, deprives it of lucrative transit fee. This is Moscow hammering Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression. And this is something US cannot be seen openly supporting. It has always sided with Ukraine. When Biden entered the White House, some critics said he may be able to convince German Chancellor Angela Merkel into dropping the Nord Stream 2 project. That has clearly has not happened. Instead, Berlin pressed Washington to drop sanctions. To Germany, Nord Stream 2 is a commercial project. And America's opposition to it is a hurdle for German economy. Germany also happens to be a country US must court if it wants to get back to enjoying the confidence of its European and NATO allies. So, the Biden administration caved in and planned its safest exit from the war on Nord Stream 2. What did it do? Number one: To appease Americans, the Biden administration imposed fresh sanctions on ships working on the project. Also sanctions on Russian entities linked to the Nord Stream 2. Number two: To reaffirm America's unwavering support to Ukraine, the Biden administration openly criticised the Nord Stream 2. A release from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the following: "Nord stream 2 is a bad deal — for Germany, for Ukraine, and for our central and eastern European allies and partners.The department is tracking efforts to complete the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and is evaluating information regarding entities that appear to be involved." Here's the real deal. To appease Germany, the Biden administration waived Trump-era sanctions on the company building Nord Stream 2 and also its CEO. How is the Biden administration justifying this? It is in national interest, says Blinken. It is to 'demonstrate the administration's commitment to energy security in Europe'. The real story lies between the lines. Moreover, it tells that the Biden administration prioritises winning over European ally over engaging Russia in a futile geopolitical tug of war. And this is the biggest takeaway from the Nord Stream 2 story.

What is Nord Stream 2 fuss all about? Read on

The United States has the most powerful military in the world. It can demonstrate authority in any part of the world in any theatre of war whether it is&nbsp;land, air or&nbsp;high seas. No one in the world can miss American deployments in foreign lands.

But, the US has a secret and undercover army of 60,000 officers and the world knows nothing about it.

A report claims these shadow warriors are spread out across the world's biggest conflict zones, from Pakistan to West Africa. The Pentagon's secret army is low profile and they operate under false identities and disguises. Sometimes, they operate even behind enemy lines. 
 
Watch:&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-all-about-americas-secret-army-385922/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A new report claims US has some 60,000 clandestine officers. This is the largest undercover force that the world has ever known. This secret army has been created by the US Department of Defence, better known as the Pentagon.

Reports say this force is 10 times bigger than the number of CIA’s spies. They carry out domestic and foreign assignments both in military uniforms and under civilian cover. No one knows who these officers are and exactly what they do because America has never talked about this secret force.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/us-closely-tracking-uncontrolled-chinese-rocket-re-entering-atmosphere-pentagon-383094" hreflang="en">US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon</a>

Unlike the rest of the American intelligence branches, this secret army hasn't been discussed by the US Congress at all. The US government may want to keep it that way, but American publication Newsweek has managed to access some details.

It says more than half of this secret army is engaged as special operations forces. They pursue terrorists in countries like Pakistan and West Africa. Some could even be deployed behind the borders of North Korea and Iran - two countries that are direct adversaries of America.

The other wing is of military intelligence specialists who are collectors, counter intelligence agents, and linguists. They’re deployed with a cover identity to protect them. This secret army also has a small, but a growing cyber intelligence wing. Sitting behind their computers, they hunt for high value targets using information in the public domain.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/pentagon-cancels-border-wall-construction-projects-381894" hreflang="en">Pentagon cancels border wall construction projects</a>

They are also involved in influence campaigns on social media. America is said to have the most extensive and sophisticated intelligence network in the world. Reports say such an initiative challenges America's domestic laws and goes against the military code of conduct and also goes against the Geneva Convention of Human Rights.

The United States has the most powerful military in the world. It can demonstrate authority in any part of the world in any theatre of war whether it is land, air or high seas.

The United States has the most powerful military in the world. It can demonstrate authority in any part of the world in any theatre of war whether it is land, air or high seas. No one in the world can miss American deployments in foreign lands. But, the US has a secret and undercover army of 60,000 officers and the world knows nothing about it. A report claims these shadow warriors are spread out across the world's biggest conflict zones, from Pakistan to West Africa. The Pentagon's secret army is low profile and they operate under false identities and disguises. Sometimes, they operate even behind enemy lines. Watch: A new report claims US has some 60,000 clandestine officers. This is the largest undercover force that the world has ever known. This secret army has been created by the US Department of Defence, better known as the Pentagon. Reports say this force is 10 times bigger than the number of CIA’s spies. They carry out domestic and foreign assignments both in military uniforms and under civilian cover. No one knows who these officers are and exactly what they do because America has never talked about this secret force. Also read: US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon Unlike the rest of the American intelligence branches, this secret army hasn't been discussed by the US Congress at all. The US government may want to keep it that way, but American publication Newsweek has managed to access some details. It says more than half of this secret army is engaged as special operations forces. They pursue terrorists in countries like Pakistan and West Africa. Some could even be deployed behind the borders of North Korea and Iran - two countries that are direct adversaries of America. The other wing is of military intelligence specialists who are collectors, counter intelligence agents, and linguists. They’re deployed with a cover identity to protect them. This secret army also has a small, but a growing cyber intelligence wing. Sitting behind their computers, they hunt for high value targets using information in the public domain. Also read: Pentagon cancels border wall construction projects They are also involved in influence campaigns on social media. America is said to have the most extensive and sophisticated intelligence network in the world. Reports say such an initiative challenges America's domestic laws and goes against the military code of conduct and also goes against the Geneva Convention of Human Rights.

All you need to know about Pentagon's newly discovered 'secret army'

United States is witnessing a surge in domestic terrorism and a new federal report claims the current situation is the gravest in over 24 years.

The report, released jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security claims that killings in 2019 by domestic extremists in the country were the worst seen in the States over the last two decades.

2019 was the most lethal year for domestic terrorism since 1995. 32 instances of killings were reported in the country in 2019. Out of these, 24 were committed by white supremacists, as the report points out.

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The report claims that “gamification” was the real source of inspiration for the assaults that rocked the country in 2019. As part of such killings, the perpetrators focus on the “kill count” of their violence, with the aim to kill as many people as possible.

The report further adds that gamification would continue to inspire similar attacks in the future across the United States. Between 2017-2019, 57 deaths directly linked to domestic terrorism were reported in the report. Out of these, 47 deaths were flagged as dictated by race.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/us-department-of-homeland-security-launches-internal-review-to-tackle-extremism-380717" hreflang="en">US Department of Homeland Security launches internal review to tackle extremism</a>

“The greatest terrorism threat to the Homeland we face today is posed by lone offenders, often radicalized online, who look to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons,” the report reads.

The report adds that “violent extremists” were motivated by a “mix of socio-political goals and personal grievances” against their targets. The threat posed by domestic terror is expected to grow in the US in the coming years, with deaths rising from 2017-2019.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/opinions-blogs/the-domestic-terrorist-designation-wont-stop-extremism-309850" hreflang="en">The ‘domestic terrorist’ designation won’t stop extremism</a>

“In 2019, the FBI and DHS assessed Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists, primarily those advocating for the superiority of the white race, likely would continue to be the most lethal Domestic Violent Extremist threat to the Homeland,” the further said.

The report also claimed that rightwing extremists were able to gather weapons to conduct attacks in the midst of online messaging for increased violence in the country during 2019.

"Political disagreements within the United States could present opportunities for Domestic Violent Extremists to engage in violence against individuals perceived to have opposing ideologies, prominent political or public figures, or members of the media covering these events”, the report warned.

United States is witnessing a surge in domestic terrorism and a new federal report claims the current situation is the gravest in over 24 years. The report, released jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security claims that killings in 2019 by domestic extremists in the country were the worst seen in the States over the last two decades.

United States is witnessing a surge in domestic terrorism and a new federal report claims the current situation is the gravest in over 24 years. The report, released jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security claims that killings in 2019 by domestic extremists in the country were the worst seen in the States over the last two decades. 2019 was the most lethal year for domestic terrorism since 1995. 32 instances of killings were reported in the country in 2019. Out of these, 24 were committed by white supremacists, as the report points out. The report claims that “gamification” was the real source of inspiration for the assaults that rocked the country in 2019. As part of such killings, the perpetrators focus on the “kill count” of their violence, with the aim to kill as many people as possible. The report further adds that gamification would continue to inspire similar attacks in the future across the United States. Between 2017-2019, 57 deaths directly linked to domestic terrorism were reported in the report. Out of these, 47 deaths were flagged as dictated by race. Also read: US Department of Homeland Security launches internal review to tackle extremism “The greatest terrorism threat to the Homeland we face today is posed by lone offenders, often radicalized online, who look to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons,” the report reads. The report adds that “violent extremists” were motivated by a “mix of socio-political goals and personal grievances” against their targets. The threat posed by domestic terror is expected to grow in the US in the coming years, with deaths rising from 2017-2019. Also read: The ‘domestic terrorist’ designation won’t stop extremism “In 2019, the FBI and DHS assessed Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists, primarily those advocating for the superiority of the white race, likely would continue to be the most lethal Domestic Violent Extremist threat to the Homeland,” the further said. The report also claimed that rightwing extremists were able to gather weapons to conduct attacks in the midst of online messaging for increased violence in the country during 2019. "Political disagreements within the United States could present opportunities for Domestic Violent Extremists to engage in violence against individuals perceived to have opposing ideologies, prominent political or public figures, or members of the media covering these events”, the report warned.

USA's domestic extremism worst in over two decades, reveals new federal report

The United States told United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that it had made clear to Israel and the Palestinians that it was prepared to offer support "should the parties seek a ceasefire".

"The United States has been working tirelessly through diplomatic channels to try to bring an end to this conflict," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the 15-member council. "Because we believe Israelis and Palestinians equally have a right to live in safety and security."&nbsp;

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday told UNSC that Israel's campaign in Hamas-run Gaza was continuing at "full force"

USA - a strong ally of Israel - has been isolated at the United Nations over its objection to a public statement by the Security Council on the worst violence between Israel and the Palestinians in years because it worries it could harm behind-the-scenes diplomacy.

"We call upon the U.S. to shoulder its responsibilities, take a just position, and together with most of the international community support the Security Council in easing the situation," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who chaired Sunday's meeting because China is president for May.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations is "actively engaging all sides toward an immediate ceasefire" and called on them "to allow mediation efforts to intensify and succeed."

'Take&nbsp;action&nbsp;NOW'

The truce efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations have so far offered no sign of progress. The United States sent an envoy to the region and President Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday.

"In all these engagements with Israeli officials, the Palestinian Authority, and all regional partners, the United States has made clear that we are prepared to lend our support and good offices should the parties seek a ceasefire," Thomas-Greenfield said.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told the Security Council that "concessions must be made as a price to be paid for peace so as to spare people from paying the heavy price of war."

The death toll in Gaza jumped to 188 overnight, including 55 children, amid an intensive Israeli air and artillery barrage since the fighting erupted last Monday. Ten people have been killed in Israel, including two children, in thousands of rocket attacks by Hamas and other militant groups.

"Each time Israel hears a foreign leader speak of its right to defend itself it is further emboldened to continue murdering entire families in their sleep," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki told the Security Council.

(With inputs from agecies)

The United States told United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that it had made clear to Israel and the Palestinians that it was prepared to offer support "should the parties seek a ceasefire".

The United States told United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that it had made clear to Israel and the Palestinians that it was prepared to offer support "should the parties seek a ceasefire". "The United States has been working tirelessly through diplomatic channels to try to bring an end to this conflict," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the 15-member council. "Because we believe Israelis and Palestinians equally have a right to live in safety and security." Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday told UNSC that Israel's campaign in Hamas-run Gaza was continuing at "full force" USA - a strong ally of Israel - has been isolated at the United Nations over its objection to a public statement by the Security Council on the worst violence between Israel and the Palestinians in years because it worries it could harm behind-the-scenes diplomacy. "We call upon the U.S. to shoulder its responsibilities, take a just position, and together with most of the international community support the Security Council in easing the situation," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who chaired Sunday's meeting because China is president for May. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations is "actively engaging all sides toward an immediate ceasefire" and called on them "to allow mediation efforts to intensify and succeed." 'Take action NOW' The truce efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations have so far offered no sign of progress. The United States sent an envoy to the region and President Joe Biden spoke with Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday. "In all these engagements with Israeli officials, the Palestinian Authority, and all regional partners, the United States has made clear that we are prepared to lend our support and good offices should the parties seek a ceasefire," Thomas-Greenfield said. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told the Security Council that "concessions must be made as a price to be paid for peace so as to spare people from paying the heavy price of war." The death toll in Gaza jumped to 188 overnight, including 55 children, amid an intensive Israeli air and artillery barrage since the fighting erupted last Monday. Ten people have been killed in Israel, including two children, in thousands of rocket attacks by Hamas and other militant groups. "Each time Israel hears a foreign leader speak of its right to defend itself it is further emboldened to continue murdering entire families in their sleep," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki told the Security Council. (With inputs from agecies)

Ready to help to Israel-Palestine if ceasefire sought, says US

Schools in the United States should continue to use masks for the 2020-2021 academic year as all students will not be fully vaccinated, the US&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Saturday.

The CDC in its latest guidance said all kindergarten through grade 12 schools "should implement and layer prevention strategies and should prioritize universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing."

Testing to identify individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination for teachers and staff provide additional layers of COVID-19 protection in schools. The recommendation comes after the agency on Thursday said fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors and can avoid wearing them indoors in most places.

The CDC said masks should be worn at all times by all people in school facilities and buses while maintaining a six-foot distance between teachers and students. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday announced that people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need their masks indoors and outdoors.

In a guideline on its website, the CDC said that if people are fully vaccinated, they can resume their activities without any further restrictions prior to the pandemic. "Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance," it said.

Schools in the United States should continue to use masks for the 2020-2021 academic year as all students will not be fully vaccinated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Saturday.

Schools in the United States should continue to use masks for the 2020-2021 academic year as all students will not be fully vaccinated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Saturday. The CDC in its latest guidance said all kindergarten through grade 12 schools "should implement and layer prevention strategies and should prioritize universal and correct use of masks and physical distancing." Testing to identify individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination for teachers and staff provide additional layers of COVID-19 protection in schools. The recommendation comes after the agency on Thursday said fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors and can avoid wearing them indoors in most places. The CDC said masks should be worn at all times by all people in school facilities and buses while maintaining a six-foot distance between teachers and students. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday announced that people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need their masks indoors and outdoors. In a guideline on its website, the CDC said that if people are fully vaccinated, they can resume their activities without any further restrictions prior to the pandemic. "Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance," it said.

US schools should continue to use masks: CDC

The US asked Israel to ensure safety of journalists on Saturday just hours after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza flattened a building that housed offices of Al-Jazeera and The Associated Press.

The United States told Israel "that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

The AP and Al Jazeera strongly condemned the attack.

The death toll from latest Israel-Palestine conflict is rising but diplomatic efforts have so far failed to calm the tensions.

Palestinians say at least 139 people, including 39 children, have been killed in Gaza since the conflict erupted on Monday.

Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children.

Before the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-airstrikes-in-gaza-destroy-highrise-housing-al-jazeera-associated-press-offices-385245">airstrike on mediahouses</a>, Israel gave advance warning of so it could be evacuated and said later the building contained military assets of Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza.

In Tel Aviv, residents fled for cover amid wailing sirens as Hamas militants fired barrages of rockets. One hit a residential block in the Ramat Gan suburb, killing a 50-year old man, medics said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-airstrikes-in-gaza-destroy-highrise-housing-al-jazeera-associated-press-offices-385245">Israeli airstrikes in Gaza destroy highrise housing Al-Jazeera, Associated Press offices</a>

The group said the salvos responded to overnight strikes on Gaza`s Beach refugee camp, where a woman and four of her children were killed when her house was hit. Five others died, medics said. Israel said it targeted an apartment used by Hamas.

Hamas began its assault on Monday after tensions over a court case to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem and in retaliation for Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near the city`s al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam`s third holiest site.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US asked Israel to ensure safety of journalists on Saturday just hours after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza flattened a building that housed offices of Al-Jazeera and The Associated Press.

The US asked Israel to ensure safety of journalists on Saturday just hours after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza flattened a building that housed offices of Al-Jazeera and The Associated Press. The United States told Israel "that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. The AP and Al Jazeera strongly condemned the attack. The death toll from latest Israel-Palestine conflict is rising but diplomatic efforts have so far failed to calm the tensions. Palestinians say at least 139 people, including 39 children, have been killed in Gaza since the conflict erupted on Monday. Israel has reported 10 dead, including two children. Before the airstrike on mediahouses, Israel gave advance warning of so it could be evacuated and said later the building contained military assets of Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza. In Tel Aviv, residents fled for cover amid wailing sirens as Hamas militants fired barrages of rockets. One hit a residential block in the Ramat Gan suburb, killing a 50-year old man, medics said. Also Read | Israeli airstrikes in Gaza destroy highrise housing Al-Jazeera, Associated Press offices The group said the salvos responded to overnight strikes on Gaza`s Beach refugee camp, where a woman and four of her children were killed when her house was hit. Five others died, medics said. Israel said it targeted an apartment used by Hamas. Hamas began its assault on Monday after tensions over a court case to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem and in retaliation for Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near the city`s al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam`s third holiest site. (With inputs from agencies)

US tells Israel to protect media after Gaza tower hit

Russia on Friday officially designated the US and Czech Republic as 'unfriendly' states. This move has come amid rising tensions between Russia and the West.&nbsp;

The Russian government released a list of "unfriendly states" that now includes the US and the Czech Republic.&nbsp; 
The Czech embassy will be allowed to employ no more than 19 Russian nationals and the US embassy none at all, Moscow said.

Tensions between Russia and the US have been high from the time the US held it accountable for interference in US elections and hacking of US government departments and agencies. The US expelled some Russian diplomats last month.

Czech Republic has also taken a hard stand against Russia in recent weeks. Last month, it expelled Russian diplomats and accused Russia of having been involved in an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump.

Russia's ties with the West were also strained during its military build-up along its border with Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to respond to what he said was the persecution of Moscow-friendly politicians in Ukraine, accusing the West of turning a blind eye to Kiev's political "clean-up".

With tensions between Moscow and Kiev high, Ukraine this week placed Putin's top ally Viktor Medvedchuk under house arrest on suspicion of high treason.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russia on Friday officially designated the US and Czech Republic as 'unfriendly' states. This move has come amid rising tensions between Russia and the West. The Russian government released a list of "unfriendly states" that now includes the US and the Czech Republic.

Russia on Friday officially designated the US and Czech Republic as 'unfriendly' states. This move has come amid rising tensions between Russia and the West. The Russian government released a list of "unfriendly states" that now includes the US and the Czech Republic. The Czech embassy will be allowed to employ no more than 19 Russian nationals and the US embassy none at all, Moscow said. Tensions between Russia and the US have been high from the time the US held it accountable for interference in US elections and hacking of US government departments and agencies. The US expelled some Russian diplomats last month. Czech Republic has also taken a hard stand against Russia in recent weeks. Last month, it expelled Russian diplomats and accused Russia of having been involved in an explosion at a Czech ammunition dump. Russia's ties with the West were also strained during its military build-up along its border with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to respond to what he said was the persecution of Moscow-friendly politicians in Ukraine, accusing the West of turning a blind eye to Kiev's political "clean-up". With tensions between Moscow and Kiev high, Ukraine this week placed Putin's top ally Viktor Medvedchuk under house arrest on suspicion of high treason. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia designates US and Czech Republic as 'unfriendly states'

Dr Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to US President Joe Biden said on Saturday (local time) that it was likely that US officials have been undercounting the number of deaths due to COVID-19. His comments have come after a new report from University of Washington that says the death toll was nearly double.

"It's very likely that we're undercounting, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director Of The National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

He did note that the University of Washington's 900,000 number was "a bit more than I would have thought the undercounting was."

The analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation pegs the US death toll at more than 900,000. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wednesday (May 5) put its latest official estimate at 575,491 deaths in the United States due to the novel coronavirus.

USA is still the worst affected country in the world. Former US President Donald Trump was heavily criticised for his handling of the pandemic. It was under his watch that the US became the worst affected country in the world.

(With inputs from agencies)

Dr Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to US President Joe Biden said on Saturday (local time) that it was likely that US officials have been undercounting the number of deaths due to COVID-19.

Dr Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to US President Joe Biden said on Saturday (local time) that it was likely that US officials have been undercounting the number of deaths due to COVID-19. His comments have come after a new report from University of Washington that says the death toll was nearly double. "It's very likely that we're undercounting, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Director Of The National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases said on NBC's "Meet the Press." He did note that the University of Washington's 900,000 number was "a bit more than I would have thought the undercounting was." The analysis by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation pegs the US death toll at more than 900,000. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wednesday (May 5) put its latest official estimate at 575,491 deaths in the United States due to the novel coronavirus. USA is still the worst affected country in the world. Former US President Donald Trump was heavily criticised for his handling of the pandemic. It was under his watch that the US became the worst affected country in the world. (With inputs from agencies)

US is likely 'undercounting' Covid deaths, says Dr Fauci

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

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

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

Colonial Pipeline hackers stole large amount of data, says report

The United States of America has marketted itself as the guardian of democracy. But as it has turned out, much of the world sees them as threat to democracy, even a bigger one than China and Russia.

This assessment is based on a worldwide poll on democracy. It is done every year by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation. This time they polled around 50,000 people from 53 countries.

They were asked a range of questions like how they rank freedom of speech or the influence of big tech and social media.

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But the most striking question was about threats to democracy. 44 per cent of the respondents said USA was the biggest threat to democracy. 38 per cent name China, and 28 per cent named Russia.

This doesn't make sense at first glance. But things fall into place when it becomes clear that the poll was not about internal democracy but global democracy.

Let's consider America's chequered past with Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Vietnam. These are the countries the US invaded and destabilised.

US is the larger power in comparison to China and Russia. They have limited spheres of influence as compared to the US.

So in a global survey it is natural for more people to fear the US. But that doesn't mean the US is off the hook.

This survey is a reality check for Washington. They want to be the chief guardian of democracy. But with a negative rating of 44 per cent that's a difficult claim.

So is there any silver lining for America? There is.

A large chunk of the negative ratings came from Russia and China. Two of America's biggest rivals. And compared to last year,&nbsp;USA's ratings have improved.&nbsp;

So this survey should serve as a lesson. Democracy is not anyone's monopoly. The US is a democracy. But so are Germany, India, Japan and dozens of other countries. Each of them follows their own system.

This is what America finds hard to accept. It believes that democracy is what happens in Washington.

What does the survey have to say about this?

81 per cent of respondents endorsed democracy. They say it's the best form of government, despite everything. But 44 per cent of them also trashed the US.&nbsp;

So the bottom line is this. The world wants democracy. But not the democracy dictated by the US

What's more interesting about the findings is that some businesses have also featured in them: the big tech.

48 per cent people view tech companies as a threat to democracy. In the US that figure is almost 62 per cent.

People fear tech giants, more than curbs on free speech.

This is ironic as tech firms always use the argument of free speech to block regulation. Turns out, they are the bigger villain. And everyone knows that.

So the US, tech giants and China appear to be the big threat to democracy. But one indicator ranked higher than these three. And it's not something anyone would guess easily. It's economic inequality.

64 per cent of people called it the biggest threat to democracy. This is linked to the ongoing Wuhan virus pandemic.

It has put millions of people out of jobs. In 2020 70 per cent of people were happy with their government's pandemic response.

This was in both&nbsp;democracies and non-democracies. But one year later,&nbsp;democracies have fallen to 51 per cent. Looking at China would make this clearer.

China ignored human rights, consulted no one on lockdowns. And punished people who dissented. Decision-making appears easier in autocracies.

So what are the big takeaways from this survey?

Number one, America is not judge and jury. The star-spangled banner is not the chorus for democracy.

Number two, this is not an endorsement of either China or Russia. Their human rights records speak for themselves.

Number three, don't trust everything you see in a poll.

In this one, 71 per cent Chinese said they had the right amount of democracy.

If the right amount is none, then yes, they are right.

But the biggest takeaway is thisL:&nbsp;Democracy works. And we don't need superpowers or big corporations to defend it.

The United States of America has marketted itself as the guardian of democracy. But as it has turned out, much of the world sees them as threat to democracy, even a bigger one than China and Russia.

The United States of America has marketted itself as the guardian of democracy. But as it has turned out, much of the world sees them as threat to democracy, even a bigger one than China and Russia. This assessment is based on a worldwide poll on democracy. It is done every year by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation. This time they polled around 50,000 people from 53 countries. They were asked a range of questions like how they rank freedom of speech or the influence of big tech and social media. × But the most striking question was about threats to democracy. 44 per cent of the respondents said USA was the biggest threat to democracy. 38 per cent name China, and 28 per cent named Russia. This doesn't make sense at first glance. But things fall into place when it becomes clear that the poll was not about internal democracy but global democracy. Let's consider America's chequered past with Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Vietnam. These are the countries the US invaded and destabilised. US is the larger power in comparison to China and Russia. They have limited spheres of influence as compared to the US. So in a global survey it is natural for more people to fear the US. But that doesn't mean the US is off the hook. This survey is a reality check for Washington. They want to be the chief guardian of democracy. But with a negative rating of 44 per cent that's a difficult claim. So is there any silver lining for America? There is. A large chunk of the negative ratings came from Russia and China. Two of America's biggest rivals. And compared to last year, USA's ratings have improved. So this survey should serve as a lesson. Democracy is not anyone's monopoly. The US is a democracy. But so are Germany, India, Japan and dozens of other countries. Each of them follows their own system. This is what America finds hard to accept. It believes that democracy is what happens in Washington. What does the survey have to say about this? 81 per cent of respondents endorsed democracy. They say it's the best form of government, despite everything. But 44 per cent of them also trashed the US. So the bottom line is this. The world wants democracy. But not the democracy dictated by the US What's more interesting about the findings is that some businesses have also featured in them: the big tech. 48 per cent people view tech companies as a threat to democracy. In the US that figure is almost 62 per cent. People fear tech giants, more than curbs on free speech. This is ironic as tech firms always use the argument of free speech to block regulation. Turns out, they are the bigger villain. And everyone knows that. So the US, tech giants and China appear to be the big threat to democracy. But one indicator ranked higher than these three. And it's not something anyone would guess easily. It's economic inequality. 64 per cent of people called it the biggest threat to democracy. This is linked to the ongoing Wuhan virus pandemic. It has put millions of people out of jobs. In 2020 70 per cent of people were happy with their government's pandemic response. This was in both democracies and non-democracies. But one year later, democracies have fallen to 51 per cent. Looking at China would make this clearer. China ignored human rights, consulted no one on lockdowns. And punished people who dissented. Decision-making appears easier in autocracies. So what are the big takeaways from this survey? Number one, America is not judge and jury. The star-spangled banner is not the chorus for democracy. Number two, this is not an endorsement of either China or Russia. Their human rights records speak for themselves. Number three, don't trust everything you see in a poll. In this one, 71 per cent Chinese said they had the right amount of democracy. If the right amount is none, then yes, they are right. But the biggest takeaway is thisL: Democracy works. And we don't need superpowers or big corporations to defend it.

Worldwide poll shows most respondents think US is threat to democracy

As part of the getting America back on track tour, US President Joe Biden visited the storm battered Louisiana.

United States: President Joe Biden touts $115 Billion investment plan

In October 2016, the remains of three murder victims, dead for three decades, were laid to rest in Newton County, a rural corner of Indiana.

Two were young men, likely teenagers, the victims of a serial killer in 1983. The third was a woman found dead in 1988 on the bank of a creek. She had been shot in the head, covered with car tires and lit on fire.

Their bones, stored in tattered cardboard boxes and black trash bags, had been passed down from one county coroner to the next. When Scott McCord took the job in 2009, he gave the remains names: Adam, Brad and Charlene. He ordered anthropological and dental analyses, facial sketches and DNA tests in an effort to find their true identities.

Nothing panned out. So McCord gave Newton County, a community of about 14,000, a chance to mourn their “kids,” as he called them. He paid for three small coffins, and a local florist donated flowers. Nineteen high school students volunteered to be pallbearers. After a ceremony at a county building, the teens piled into a yellow school bus and McCord, a part-time bus driver, followed three hearses, each donated from a different funeral home, to the cemetery.

“I didn’t think we’d ever see resolution to any of the cases,” McCord said.

As it turned out, he was wrong.

In late 2019, McCord, his deputy and a county prosecutor decided to try a complicated forensic technique that had nabbed the infamous Golden State Killer a year earlier. The effort turned into a yearlong crash course in a niche area of science: using genetic markers to build multigenerational family trees. It would require a million-dollar DNA sequencing machine, a custom-built computer in Texas and the utmost patience of volunteer genealogy buffs.

McCord and his team are among a growing number of investigators that have joined the scientific vanguard to revive cold cases. Likely hundreds of cases, of both victims and perpetrators, have been solved. Some have involved extracting DNA from decades-old bones, hair or minute traces of skin cells. Others have benefited from the most comprehensive and expensive type of DNA testing, known as whole-genome sequencing. In turn, a cottage industry has emerged to help.

Critics worry that the widening use of this investigational method could lead to what is essentially a national DNA database for law enforcement, giving police access to highly personal information from a wide swath of the public without their explicit consent. The only significant limit is the cost — typically several thousand dollars per case — and that is dropping rapidly, as demand surges.

“My county was more than happy to pay,” McCord said.

Everyone and their grandmother

Genetic genealogy debuted more than 20 years ago as a pastime for ancestry enthusiasts. The customer sent a saliva sample to a company like FamilyTreeDNA and could then log in to a website showing how closely their genetic markers matched with those of other people — long-lost relatives — in the company’s databases.

Margaret Press, a software developer and mystery writer, had used the method for years to help adoptees find their biological parents. In 2017, while reading a novel based on an unsolved murder, she realized that her skills might be equally useful to law enforcement. “It just hit me,” she said. “The same technique that we were using for adoptee searches and finding unknown parents was adaptable to bones and unidentified remains.”

She co-founded a nonprofit, called the DNA Doe Project, to try to match unidentified remains with genetic profiles that had been uploaded to an open-source genealogy database called GEDMatch. A set of unknown remains might match to a distant, known cousin, for example. An investigator could then build out a large family tree, first identifying the ancestors the two cousins have in common, such as great- or great-great-grandparents, and then investigating individual branches from those ancestors. Only some of those people would have lived in the right place and time as the unknown victim. More research, and the process of elimination, could ultimately reveal the Doe’s identity.

The Golden State Killer and many other cases relied upon a DNA test called a microarray, which generates a subset of key markers from a person’s DNA code, like an abridged version of a book. But increasingly, investigators are turning to private companies for whole-genome sequencing, which reconstructs a person’s entire DNA code. This more sensitive test is often best for old and degraded DNA, such as from skeletal remains heavily contaminated with bacteria. HudsonAlpha Discovery, a lab in Alabama, has worked on about 1,100 forensic cases. Astrea Forensics, in California, began as part of an academic paleogenetics lab, and Othram, in Texas, has worked on hundreds of cases and raised more than $10 million in venture capital.

“It really has exploded,” Press said. “Everyone and their grandmother is now setting up shop.”

As a result, many cold cases have become quicker and cheaper to resolve. In the Golden State Killer case, six investigators worked full time for four months to narrow in on the culprit. Now cases are often solved in weeks or days.

The DNA Doe Project, run by Press and dozens of volunteers, has taken on about 120 cases since 2017, and has fielded inquiries from another 200 or so. Many were from small sheriff’s or coroner’s offices with few resources, Press said. They are often just as skeptical of the technique, she said, as they are of the psychics who frequently call with tips on open cases: “For many of them it’s in the same category — do I call the psychic back or the genealogist back?”

Testing Charlene

McCord and his team in Newton County had not considered genetic genealogy until Rebecca Goddard, the county’s chief deputy prosecutor, heard about the DNA Doe Project on a podcast called “Crime Junkie.” “I understood very little,” Goddard said. “I just sort of understood the concept of using ancestry to create a family tree.”

McCord reached out to the DNA Doe Project for help, and a collaboration began. Initially, his team divided up the three open cases. As a prosecutor, Goddard took the only one that was still an open homicide: Charlene Doe, whose charred remains were found by a fisherman in 1988. McCord took Adam Doe, and his deputy (and girlfriend), Heidi Cobleigh, took Brad Doe. A serial killer, Larry Eyler, had confessed to both boys’ murders years earlier but had not known their names.

Back in 2010, McCord had commissioned a Texas lab to run a DNA test from one of Charlene’s teeth. That test resulted in just a couple of dozen genetic markers — too sparse to be compatible with genealogy databases. Luckily the lab, which runs the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, had kept the remaining DNA sample in storage.

So now, a decade later, the DNA could be retested with the far more sophisticated whole-genome technology. There was just one problem: The sample contained only 0.3 nanograms, or 300 trillionths of a gram, of genetic material.

“When we heard how much it was, we were definitely like, well, not sure if this will work but we’ll give it a shot,” said Kevin Lord, a bioinformatician and private investigator in Belton, Texas, and the lab liaison for the DNA Doe Project.

Charlene’s sample, in a tiny plastic tube, was wrapped in foam and cold packs, and shipped overnight to HudsonAlpha’s lab in Huntsville, Alabama. There, the DNA went into a NovaSeq 6000, a million-dollar machine resembling a photocopier.

Human DNA is made of 3 billion “base pairs,” a unique set of molecular letters that creates a book of instructions for our cells. At HudsonAlpha, Charlene’s DNA was split into tiny fragments, then placed in the sequencing machine to decode the precise sequence of letters in each. The machine then created a file containing all of these tiny sequences and uploaded it to a server.

Lord downloaded that file — 71 gigabytes of raw data — onto a custom-built computer and began piecing all of those fragments back together in the right order, producing Charlene’s full genetic code. From there, he focused on a subset of roughly 1.5 million key markers, known as SNPs, that make up the genetic “profiles” used by genealogy companies. He then sent Charlene’s profile to the two genealogy databases, GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA, that make themselves available to law enforcement for such cases.

Then came the hard part.

Database hunting

Goddard was determined to hone her new sleuthing skills on Charlene’s case. Last May, she began training with L. Elias Chan, a volunteer at the DNA Doe Project who runs a genealogy research business in Seattle.

Success in such cases often depends on the size of the database: The larger it is, the more likely it will produce a match. The GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA databases are enormous, including millions of people who have voluntarily uploaded their own genetic information. (Ancestry.com and 23andMe also have huge databases but have opted not to make them accessible to law enforcement.)

GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA have not always been transparent with users that the DNA profiles might be scrutinized by the police. In 2019, under public pressure, GEDMatch abruptly changed its access policy, requiring users to explicitly “opt in” to law enforcement searches. Overnight, investigators lost a raft of promising leads.

Goddard caught a break in January, when GEDMatch changed its terms of service again, allowing its entire database to be used for forensic searches related to unidentified remains.

Chan called Goddard with some good news: Charlene now had multiple close matches at the top of her list.

True names

It didn’t take long to deduce Charlene’s real name: Jenifer Noreen Denton. In 1988, when Denton was 24, she suddenly went missing from her Illinois home, leaving behind her belongings and a 1-year-old daughter.

In February, Goddard talked to Denton’s daughter, now grown, for the first time. “I just felt extremely emotional about it,” Goddard recalled. Over her months of research, she had often imagined what it must have been like for Charlene’s family. “There were people out there who surely loved her and were missing her and were probably desperate for answers.” (Denton’s family declined, through an intermediary, to be interviewed.)

In February, Brad Doe’s DNA was sequenced by HudsonAlpha, and on April 2, Lord uploaded it to GEDMatch. At the top of the list of matches were several close relatives. Three weeks later, and nearly 38 years after the boy’s murder, the team announced Brad’s real identity: John Ingram Brandenburg Jr., a 19-year-old from Chicago who went to a friend’s house one day and never returned.

In 1983, after being tipped off by mushroom hunters, police found his remains with those of Adam Doe and two other boys near an abandoned barn off U.S. Route 41 in Newton County. All were victims of Eyler, also known as the Highway Killer, who murdered at least 21 young men and died in prison in 1994.

McCord said that the teenager’s mother was distraught to learn how he had died. “She woke up every morning for the past 37 years wondering, ‘Is Johnny going to come home today?’” he said. “We hit her kind of hard.” (The family declined, through an intermediary, to be interviewed.)

The Newton County team is now focused on solving their last case, of Adam Doe. His long-stored genetic sample was sequenced at HudsonAlpha and uploaded to GEDMatch, but was not robust enough to return any good matches. The team is planning to enlist a lab specialising in ancient organisms to extract a new sample of DNA from the bones.

And although Charlene now has a real name, her 1988 murder case remains open. Her remains had been discovered with those of a man who was identified a year later by police. “There were some leads back in the day,” McCord said. “Now they can go back and hopefully confirm some of those leads, and we can get this resolved fairly quick.”

In October 2016, the remains of three murder victims, dead for three decades, were laid to rest in Newton County, a rural corner of Indiana. Two were young men, likely teenagers, the victims of a serial killer in 1983.

In October 2016, the remains of three murder victims, dead for three decades, were laid to rest in Newton County, a rural corner of Indiana. Two were young men, likely teenagers, the victims of a serial killer in 1983. The third was a woman found dead in 1988 on the bank of a creek. She had been shot in the head, covered with car tires and lit on fire. Their bones, stored in tattered cardboard boxes and black trash bags, had been passed down from one county coroner to the next. When Scott McCord took the job in 2009, he gave the remains names: Adam, Brad and Charlene. He ordered anthropological and dental analyses, facial sketches and DNA tests in an effort to find their true identities. Nothing panned out. So McCord gave Newton County, a community of about 14,000, a chance to mourn their “kids,” as he called them. He paid for three small coffins, and a local florist donated flowers. Nineteen high school students volunteered to be pallbearers. After a ceremony at a county building, the teens piled into a yellow school bus and McCord, a part-time bus driver, followed three hearses, each donated from a different funeral home, to the cemetery. “I didn’t think we’d ever see resolution to any of the cases,” McCord said. As it turned out, he was wrong. In late 2019, McCord, his deputy and a county prosecutor decided to try a complicated forensic technique that had nabbed the infamous Golden State Killer a year earlier. The effort turned into a yearlong crash course in a niche area of science: using genetic markers to build multigenerational family trees. It would require a million-dollar DNA sequencing machine, a custom-built computer in Texas and the utmost patience of volunteer genealogy buffs. McCord and his team are among a growing number of investigators that have joined the scientific vanguard to revive cold cases. Likely hundreds of cases, of both victims and perpetrators, have been solved. Some have involved extracting DNA from decades-old bones, hair or minute traces of skin cells. Others have benefited from the most comprehensive and expensive type of DNA testing, known as whole-genome sequencing. In turn, a cottage industry has emerged to help. Critics worry that the widening use of this investigational method could lead to what is essentially a national DNA database for law enforcement, giving police access to highly personal information from a wide swath of the public without their explicit consent. The only significant limit is the cost — typically several thousand dollars per case — and that is dropping rapidly, as demand surges. “My county was more than happy to pay,” McCord said. Everyone and their grandmother Genetic genealogy debuted more than 20 years ago as a pastime for ancestry enthusiasts. The customer sent a saliva sample to a company like FamilyTreeDNA and could then log in to a website showing how closely their genetic markers matched with those of other people — long-lost relatives — in the company’s databases. Margaret Press, a software developer and mystery writer, had used the method for years to help adoptees find their biological parents. In 2017, while reading a novel based on an unsolved murder, she realized that her skills might be equally useful to law enforcement. “It just hit me,” she said. “The same technique that we were using for adoptee searches and finding unknown parents was adaptable to bones and unidentified remains.” She co-founded a nonprofit, called the DNA Doe Project, to try to match unidentified remains with genetic profiles that had been uploaded to an open-source genealogy database called GEDMatch. A set of unknown remains might match to a distant, known cousin, for example. An investigator could then build out a large family tree, first identifying the ancestors the two cousins have in common, such as great- or great-great-grandparents, and then investigating individual branches from those ancestors. Only some of those people would have lived in the right place and time as the unknown victim. More research, and the process of elimination, could ultimately reveal the Doe’s identity. The Golden State Killer and many other cases relied upon a DNA test called a microarray, which generates a subset of key markers from a person’s DNA code, like an abridged version of a book. But increasingly, investigators are turning to private companies for whole-genome sequencing, which reconstructs a person’s entire DNA code. This more sensitive test is often best for old and degraded DNA, such as from skeletal remains heavily contaminated with bacteria. HudsonAlpha Discovery, a lab in Alabama, has worked on about 1,100 forensic cases. Astrea Forensics, in California, began as part of an academic paleogenetics lab, and Othram, in Texas, has worked on hundreds of cases and raised more than $10 million in venture capital. “It really has exploded,” Press said. “Everyone and their grandmother is now setting up shop.” As a result, many cold cases have become quicker and cheaper to resolve. In the Golden State Killer case, six investigators worked full time for four months to narrow in on the culprit. Now cases are often solved in weeks or days. The DNA Doe Project, run by Press and dozens of volunteers, has taken on about 120 cases since 2017, and has fielded inquiries from another 200 or so. Many were from small sheriff’s or coroner’s offices with few resources, Press said. They are often just as skeptical of the technique, she said, as they are of the psychics who frequently call with tips on open cases: “For many of them it’s in the same category — do I call the psychic back or the genealogist back?” Testing Charlene McCord and his team in Newton County had not considered genetic genealogy until Rebecca Goddard, the county’s chief deputy prosecutor, heard about the DNA Doe Project on a podcast called “Crime Junkie.” “I understood very little,” Goddard said. “I just sort of understood the concept of using ancestry to create a family tree.” McCord reached out to the DNA Doe Project for help, and a collaboration began. Initially, his team divided up the three open cases. As a prosecutor, Goddard took the only one that was still an open homicide: Charlene Doe, whose charred remains were found by a fisherman in 1988. McCord took Adam Doe, and his deputy (and girlfriend), Heidi Cobleigh, took Brad Doe. A serial killer, Larry Eyler, had confessed to both boys’ murders years earlier but had not known their names. Back in 2010, McCord had commissioned a Texas lab to run a DNA test from one of Charlene’s teeth. That test resulted in just a couple of dozen genetic markers — too sparse to be compatible with genealogy databases. Luckily the lab, which runs the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, had kept the remaining DNA sample in storage. So now, a decade later, the DNA could be retested with the far more sophisticated whole-genome technology. There was just one problem: The sample contained only 0.3 nanograms, or 300 trillionths of a gram, of genetic material. “When we heard how much it was, we were definitely like, well, not sure if this will work but we’ll give it a shot,” said Kevin Lord, a bioinformatician and private investigator in Belton, Texas, and the lab liaison for the DNA Doe Project. Charlene’s sample, in a tiny plastic tube, was wrapped in foam and cold packs, and shipped overnight to HudsonAlpha’s lab in Huntsville, Alabama. There, the DNA went into a NovaSeq 6000, a million-dollar machine resembling a photocopier. Human DNA is made of 3 billion “base pairs,” a unique set of molecular letters that creates a book of instructions for our cells. At HudsonAlpha, Charlene’s DNA was split into tiny fragments, then placed in the sequencing machine to decode the precise sequence of letters in each. The machine then created a file containing all of these tiny sequences and uploaded it to a server. Lord downloaded that file — 71 gigabytes of raw data — onto a custom-built computer and began piecing all of those fragments back together in the right order, producing Charlene’s full genetic code. From there, he focused on a subset of roughly 1.5 million key markers, known as SNPs, that make up the genetic “profiles” used by genealogy companies. He then sent Charlene’s profile to the two genealogy databases, GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA, that make themselves available to law enforcement for such cases. Then came the hard part. Database hunting Goddard was determined to hone her new sleuthing skills on Charlene’s case. Last May, she began training with L. Elias Chan, a volunteer at the DNA Doe Project who runs a genealogy research business in Seattle. Success in such cases often depends on the size of the database: The larger it is, the more likely it will produce a match. The GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA databases are enormous, including millions of people who have voluntarily uploaded their own genetic information. (Ancestry.com and 23andMe also have huge databases but have opted not to make them accessible to law enforcement.) GEDMatch and FamilyTreeDNA have not always been transparent with users that the DNA profiles might be scrutinized by the police. In 2019, under public pressure, GEDMatch abruptly changed its access policy, requiring users to explicitly “opt in” to law enforcement searches. Overnight, investigators lost a raft of promising leads. Goddard caught a break in January, when GEDMatch changed its terms of service again, allowing its entire database to be used for forensic searches related to unidentified remains. Chan called Goddard with some good news: Charlene now had multiple close matches at the top of her list. True names It didn’t take long to deduce Charlene’s real name: Jenifer Noreen Denton. In 1988, when Denton was 24, she suddenly went missing from her Illinois home, leaving behind her belongings and a 1-year-old daughter. In February, Goddard talked to Denton’s daughter, now grown, for the first time. “I just felt extremely emotional about it,” Goddard recalled. Over her months of research, she had often imagined what it must have been like for Charlene’s family. “There were people out there who surely loved her and were missing her and were probably desperate for answers.” (Denton’s family declined, through an intermediary, to be interviewed.) In February, Brad Doe’s DNA was sequenced by HudsonAlpha, and on April 2, Lord uploaded it to GEDMatch. At the top of the list of matches were several close relatives. Three weeks later, and nearly 38 years after the boy’s murder, the team announced Brad’s real identity: John Ingram Brandenburg Jr., a 19-year-old from Chicago who went to a friend’s house one day and never returned. In 1983, after being tipped off by mushroom hunters, police found his remains with those of Adam Doe and two other boys near an abandoned barn off U.S. Route 41 in Newton County. All were victims of Eyler, also known as the Highway Killer, who murdered at least 21 young men and died in prison in 1994. McCord said that the teenager’s mother was distraught to learn how he had died. “She woke up every morning for the past 37 years wondering, ‘Is Johnny going to come home today?’” he said. “We hit her kind of hard.” (The family declined, through an intermediary, to be interviewed.) The Newton County team is now focused on solving their last case, of Adam Doe. His long-stored genetic sample was sequenced at HudsonAlpha and uploaded to GEDMatch, but was not robust enough to return any good matches. The team is planning to enlist a lab specialising in ancient organisms to extract a new sample of DNA from the bones. And although Charlene now has a real name, her 1988 murder case remains open. Her remains had been discovered with those of a man who was identified a year later by police. “There were some leads back in the day,” McCord said. “Now they can go back and hopefully confirm some of those leads, and we can get this resolved fairly quick.”

To solve 3 cold cases, this small US county got a DNA crash course

Forty-six years have passed since the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. While some Americans may prefer to forget its atrocities, and Vietnam is focused on forgiveness and the future, the wounds of Agent Orange victims still demand attention.

Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military employed approximately 19.5 million gallons of herbicides in South Vietnam to clear vegetation believed to conceal enemy troops and which provided food for them, as part of Operation Ranch Hand. Agent Orange, the most widely used of those defoliants, destroyed five million acres of Vietnamese forests and damaged some 500,000 acres of cropland.

The herbicide contains dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known to science, which remained in the contaminated soil and sediment of water bodies for decades. Before dioxin hot spots were contained and cleanup efforts began, the contamination had spread to fish and shrimp, and, from there, to more people.

On Jan. 26, a French-Vietnamese woman and victim of Agent Orange brought a case against 14 chemical giants before a French court to seek damages for the harmful effects herbicides have had on her and three generations of her family. She seeks to hold the companies, including Dow Chemical and Monsanto (since acquired by Bayer), accountable for their role in making or selling Agent Orange.

At 79, the woman, Ms. Trần Tố Nga, is fighting what may be the last battle of her life. She has cancer, high iodine levels in her blood, genetic abnormalities, among other illnesses linked to Agent Orange. Her children were born with genetic abnormalities; one died when she was only few months old.

With much of the world preoccupied with the pandemic, Ms. Nga’s fight for justice has been largely ignored — the same way the innocent people exposed to herbicides sprayed from American military aircrafts in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have been overlooked for nearly half a century.

The first time I heard of Agent Orange was in 1980 when I was 7 years old and living in South Vietnam. A neighbor was standing in our kitchen, pointing at a fish we had caught in a stream close to home. The fish was a great catch, but it had two tails and a gigantic, deformed head.

“Don’t eat that fish,” the neighbor told us, “It has been contaminated by chất độc da cam.”

Years later, after I learned English and came across the term Agent Orange, I wondered why Americans used an ambiguous-sounding name for this deadly chemical while Vietnamese farmers, like my parents and our neighbors, chose instead to address it head-on: chất độc da cam, or, “the poison, Agent Orange.”

In the 1980s, unlike many Americans who had the luxury of choosing their food, my parents did not. Over half a decade had passed since the war ended, but we were still living under the trade embargo America had placed on Vietnam. We were starving. My parents kept the fish alive in a deep bucket filled with water for some days, replacing the water regularly as they debated what to do. They reasoned that we couldn’t be certain the fish’s features were caused by chemical contamination.

In their desperation, they argued that even if the fish was contaminated by those American chemicals, the water drawn from the depths of our well would help flush out the toxins.

In the end, my mother went ahead and prepared the fish, much to my joy and that of my two elder brothers. I remember my stick-thin body trembling as I devoured that protein-rich meal, cooked tenderly in lemongrass and ginger harvested from the garden of my mother’s love.

Years later, I would look back and wonder at that moment and at the war that took so many lives and traumatized many more. To survive, my family and most of our neighbors were forced to consume whatever food we could find.

After I became a mother, I would count the fingers and toes of my newborn daughter, and later those of my son. My eyes would tear up each time.

Many mothers are not as lucky as me. Not Ms. Nguyệt, who wept with me in the yard of the Thanh Xuân Peace Village, an orphanage that provides charity care for Agent Orange victims near Hanoi where I volunteered organizing activities for kids. Ms. Nguyệt’s husband had fought in the contaminated areas in the south and died of cancer. As a single mother who was often out working odd jobs to survive, she had no means of caring for their only child — a boy born with deformities — and had to leave him at the orphanage. It is not known how many parents gave up children born with deformities, but many such orphanages exist throughout Vietnam.

Ms. Nguyệt and her son are among the several million Vietnamese estimated by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange, or the VAVA, to be living with the horrific consequences of the defoliant campaign. The number of Laotian and Cambodian victims is unknown, but researchers have been working on assessing the impact of the herbicides there.

Scientists in Vietnam have confirmed high levels of dioxin in the blood and breast milk of people living in hot spots. And in a growing list, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has linked many types of cancers and health problems to these chemicals. American veterans and their offspring who meet certain requirements are eligible for benefits. Over the years, U.S. veterans have secured settlements from chemical manufacturers.

Vietnamese and other victims in Southeast Asia are still waiting for the U.S. government to provide a similar level of assistance. It took decades for the United States to commit almost $400 million to clean up hot spots and help victims in the heavily sprayed provinces. The United States still has not taken responsibility for the harmful effects of herbicides in Laos or Cambodia.

Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian victims of dioxin have never received compensation from the chemical giants that produced, sold and reaped profits from the sale of herbicides. Ms. Nga’s lawsuit could be the first that results in compensation for a Vietnamese victim, according to the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, the organization supporting her case.

In 2004, VAVA filed a class-action suit in the United States against chemical manufacturers on behalf of millions of Vietnamese. However, the American court ultimately dismissed the case on the grounds that it lacked sufficient basis in U.S. and international law and that the supplying of herbicides didn’t amount to a war crime.

For years, I have been asking myself this question: Why has the United States offered at least some form of compensation to Americans, but has not done more for the Vietnamese who were also exposed and who have spent years seeking justice?

It is long overdue that we highlight the costs of wars beyond injuries and casualties, to include the damage still inflicted on our health, our families and our environment. It is long overdue that comprehensive actions be taken to help all victims of Agent Orange, regardless of their nationalities.

Forty-six years have passed since the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. While some Americans may prefer to forget its atrocities, and Vietnam is focused on forgiveness and the future, the wounds of Agent Orange victims still demand attention.

Forty-six years have passed since the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975. While some Americans may prefer to forget its atrocities, and Vietnam is focused on forgiveness and the future, the wounds of Agent Orange victims still demand attention. Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military employed approximately 19.5 million gallons of herbicides in South Vietnam to clear vegetation believed to conceal enemy troops and which provided food for them, as part of Operation Ranch Hand. Agent Orange, the most widely used of those defoliants, destroyed five million acres of Vietnamese forests and damaged some 500,000 acres of cropland. The herbicide contains dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known to science, which remained in the contaminated soil and sediment of water bodies for decades. Before dioxin hot spots were contained and cleanup efforts began, the contamination had spread to fish and shrimp, and, from there, to more people. On Jan. 26, a French-Vietnamese woman and victim of Agent Orange brought a case against 14 chemical giants before a French court to seek damages for the harmful effects herbicides have had on her and three generations of her family. She seeks to hold the companies, including Dow Chemical and Monsanto (since acquired by Bayer), accountable for their role in making or selling Agent Orange. At 79, the woman, Ms. Trần Tố Nga, is fighting what may be the last battle of her life. She has cancer, high iodine levels in her blood, genetic abnormalities, among other illnesses linked to Agent Orange. Her children were born with genetic abnormalities; one died when she was only few months old. With much of the world preoccupied with the pandemic, Ms. Nga’s fight for justice has been largely ignored — the same way the innocent people exposed to herbicides sprayed from American military aircrafts in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have been overlooked for nearly half a century. The first time I heard of Agent Orange was in 1980 when I was 7 years old and living in South Vietnam. A neighbor was standing in our kitchen, pointing at a fish we had caught in a stream close to home. The fish was a great catch, but it had two tails and a gigantic, deformed head. “Don’t eat that fish,” the neighbor told us, “It has been contaminated by chất độc da cam.” Years later, after I learned English and came across the term Agent Orange, I wondered why Americans used an ambiguous-sounding name for this deadly chemical while Vietnamese farmers, like my parents and our neighbors, chose instead to address it head-on: chất độc da cam, or, “the poison, Agent Orange.” In the 1980s, unlike many Americans who had the luxury of choosing their food, my parents did not. Over half a decade had passed since the war ended, but we were still living under the trade embargo America had placed on Vietnam. We were starving. My parents kept the fish alive in a deep bucket filled with water for some days, replacing the water regularly as they debated what to do. They reasoned that we couldn’t be certain the fish’s features were caused by chemical contamination. In their desperation, they argued that even if the fish was contaminated by those American chemicals, the water drawn from the depths of our well would help flush out the toxins. In the end, my mother went ahead and prepared the fish, much to my joy and that of my two elder brothers. I remember my stick-thin body trembling as I devoured that protein-rich meal, cooked tenderly in lemongrass and ginger harvested from the garden of my mother’s love. Years later, I would look back and wonder at that moment and at the war that took so many lives and traumatized many more. To survive, my family and most of our neighbors were forced to consume whatever food we could find. After I became a mother, I would count the fingers and toes of my newborn daughter, and later those of my son. My eyes would tear up each time. Many mothers are not as lucky as me. Not Ms. Nguyệt, who wept with me in the yard of the Thanh Xuân Peace Village, an orphanage that provides charity care for Agent Orange victims near Hanoi where I volunteered organizing activities for kids. Ms. Nguyệt’s husband had fought in the contaminated areas in the south and died of cancer. As a single mother who was often out working odd jobs to survive, she had no means of caring for their only child — a boy born with deformities — and had to leave him at the orphanage. It is not known how many parents gave up children born with deformities, but many such orphanages exist throughout Vietnam. Ms. Nguyệt and her son are among the several million Vietnamese estimated by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange, or the VAVA, to be living with the horrific consequences of the defoliant campaign. The number of Laotian and Cambodian victims is unknown, but researchers have been working on assessing the impact of the herbicides there. Scientists in Vietnam have confirmed high levels of dioxin in the blood and breast milk of people living in hot spots. And in a growing list, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has linked many types of cancers and health problems to these chemicals. American veterans and their offspring who meet certain requirements are eligible for benefits. Over the years, U.S. veterans have secured settlements from chemical manufacturers. Vietnamese and other victims in Southeast Asia are still waiting for the U.S. government to provide a similar level of assistance. It took decades for the United States to commit almost $400 million to clean up hot spots and help victims in the heavily sprayed provinces. The United States still has not taken responsibility for the harmful effects of herbicides in Laos or Cambodia. Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian victims of dioxin have never received compensation from the chemical giants that produced, sold and reaped profits from the sale of herbicides. Ms. Nga’s lawsuit could be the first that results in compensation for a Vietnamese victim, according to the Collectif Vietnam Dioxine, the organization supporting her case. In 2004, VAVA filed a class-action suit in the United States against chemical manufacturers on behalf of millions of Vietnamese. However, the American court ultimately dismissed the case on the grounds that it lacked sufficient basis in U.S. and international law and that the supplying of herbicides didn’t amount to a war crime. For years, I have been asking myself this question: Why has the United States offered at least some form of compensation to Americans, but has not done more for the Vietnamese who were also exposed and who have spent years seeking justice? It is long overdue that we highlight the costs of wars beyond injuries and casualties, to include the damage still inflicted on our health, our families and our environment. It is long overdue that comprehensive actions be taken to help all victims of Agent Orange, regardless of their nationalities.

America, please don’t forget the victims of Agent Orange

Iran denied media reports suggesting that a prisoner swap deal had been reached with the US parallely with nuclear deal talks.

On Sunday, media outlets including Iranian state television had quoted "informed" source to say that Tehran and Washingtion would swap prisoners.

"Under pressure from the (US) Congress and the need for immediate results" in the nuclear file, "the Americans agreed to pay $7 million and release four Iranians... in exchange for four American spies," the source reportedly said.

"The reports from informed sources are not confirmed, as it was said in the past," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference.

But he added that "there are always plans and ideas to be pursued", without elaborating.

A senior White House official had also denied the report on Sunday.

"There is no agreement to release these four Americans," White House chief of staff Ron Klain said on CBS's "Face the Nation".

"We're working very hard to get them released. So far there is no agreement to bring these four Americans home," he said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-zarif-apologises-on-same-day-khamanei-calls-leaked-remarks-a-big-mistake-382336">Iran: Zarif apologises on same day Khamanei calls leaked remarks 'a big mistake'</a>

Iranian state broadcaster also said that British-Iranian dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe would be freed. She has been imprisoned in Iran from 2016.

However, British officials played down the report of her release.

The reports came as Iran takes part in talks with world powers over reviving the 2015 deal over its nuclear programme.

On Saturday, negotiators meeting in the Austrian capital Vienna expressed "cautious and growing optimism" for a solution.

The agreement, which curbs Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, has been on life support since then-US president Donald Trump withdrew in 2018.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran denied media reports suggesting that a prisoner swap deal had been reached with the US parallely with nuclear deal talks. On Sunday, media outlets including Iranian state television had quoted "informed" source to say that Tehran and Washingtion would swap prisoners.

Iran denied media reports suggesting that a prisoner swap deal had been reached with the US parallely with nuclear deal talks. On Sunday, media outlets including Iranian state television had quoted "informed" source to say that Tehran and Washingtion would swap prisoners. "Under pressure from the (US) Congress and the need for immediate results" in the nuclear file, "the Americans agreed to pay $7 million and release four Iranians... in exchange for four American spies," the source reportedly said. "The reports from informed sources are not confirmed, as it was said in the past," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference. But he added that "there are always plans and ideas to be pursued", without elaborating. A senior White House official had also denied the report on Sunday. "There is no agreement to release these four Americans," White House chief of staff Ron Klain said on CBS's "Face the Nation". "We're working very hard to get them released. So far there is no agreement to bring these four Americans home," he said. Also Read | Iran: Zarif apologises on same day Khamanei calls leaked remarks 'a big mistake' Iranian state broadcaster also said that British-Iranian dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe would be freed. She has been imprisoned in Iran from 2016. However, British officials played down the report of her release. The reports came as Iran takes part in talks with world powers over reviving the 2015 deal over its nuclear programme. On Saturday, negotiators meeting in the Austrian capital Vienna expressed "cautious and growing optimism" for a solution. The agreement, which curbs Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, has been on life support since then-US president Donald Trump withdrew in 2018. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran denies reports of prisoner swap with US

The White House is keen on changing the country's approach to deal with North Korea and the goal of denuclearisation in the region. President Joe Biden’s approach primarily involves “diplomacy” as opposed to looking to make “grand bargains” with the North Korean administration, the White House said on Friday.

The major challenge for the US has been to make North Korean leader Kim Jong Un give up nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. On this front, the US has witnessed multiple setbacks.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-how-did-north-korea-become-the-worlds-most-isolated-country-375342/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, Biden administration had undertaken a months-long review of North Korean policy, after which they decided to pursue the route of diplomacy.

"Our policy will not focus on achieving a grand bargain, nor will it rely on strategic patience," Psaki said during a press conference. Psaki added that the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula remains the goal. She noted, however that the former four presidents have been unable to get North Korea to denounce nuclear weapons.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/defector-group-launches-anti-north-korea-leaflets-despite-ban-381740" hreflang="en">Defector group launches anti-North Korea leaflets despite ban</a>

Owing to such past failures, the Biden administration it trying to butter the middle ground; attempting to strike a balance between the goals pursued by Biden’s recent predecessors.

Former US President Donald Trump held three summit meetings with Kim Jong Un to no end, for no goal was achieved. Even then, the meetings helped pause testing of intercontinental ballistic and nuclear missiles. Democrat Barack Obama chose a different direction by not pursuing any diplomatic engagement with the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/north-korea-completes-assembly-of-3000-tonne-submarine-report-376990" hreflang="en">North Korea completes assembly of 3,000-tonne submarine: Report</a>

Psaki added that the US intends to pursue a “calibrated practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with" the country. She further said that the US wants to make “practical progress” which would facilitate the improvement of security for both the United States and its allies.

So far, North Korea has refused diplomatic interaction the the new US administration. Pyongyang wants Biden to start by lifting economic sanctions imposed on North Korea’s weapons programmes.

(With inputs from agencies)

The White House is keen on changing the country's approach to deal with North Korea and the goal of denuclearisation in the region. President Joe Biden’s approach primarily involves “diplomacy” as opposed to looking to make “grand bargains” with the North Korean administration, the White House said on Friday.

The White House is keen on changing the country's approach to deal with North Korea and the goal of denuclearisation in the region. President Joe Biden’s approach primarily involves “diplomacy” as opposed to looking to make “grand bargains” with the North Korean administration, the White House said on Friday. The major challenge for the US has been to make North Korean leader Kim Jong Un give up nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. On this front, the US has witnessed multiple setbacks. According to Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, Biden administration had undertaken a months-long review of North Korean policy, after which they decided to pursue the route of diplomacy. "Our policy will not focus on achieving a grand bargain, nor will it rely on strategic patience," Psaki said during a press conference. Psaki added that the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula remains the goal. She noted, however that the former four presidents have been unable to get North Korea to denounce nuclear weapons. Also read: Defector group launches anti-North Korea leaflets despite ban Owing to such past failures, the Biden administration it trying to butter the middle ground; attempting to strike a balance between the goals pursued by Biden’s recent predecessors. Former US President Donald Trump held three summit meetings with Kim Jong Un to no end, for no goal was achieved. Even then, the meetings helped pause testing of intercontinental ballistic and nuclear missiles. Democrat Barack Obama chose a different direction by not pursuing any diplomatic engagement with the country. Also read: North Korea completes assembly of 3,000-tonne submarine: Report Psaki added that the US intends to pursue a “calibrated practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with" the country. She further said that the US wants to make “practical progress” which would facilitate the improvement of security for both the United States and its allies. So far, North Korea has refused diplomatic interaction the the new US administration. Pyongyang wants Biden to start by lifting economic sanctions imposed on North Korea’s weapons programmes. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden wants to pursue 'practical diplomacy' with North Korea over 'grand bargains'

In another indication of the resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, a US government report on Friday said that deadly insider attacks by Taliban agent inside Afghanistan army have been on the rise. The report said that a jump was seen in such attacks in the first quarter of this years.&nbsp;

The quarterly report of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said attacks on the Afghan security forces, mainly by the Taliban rebel group, surged 37 percent over the January-March period from a year earlier.

Insider attacks carried out by Taliban agents who had infiltrated the army ranks jumped 82 per cent, said the report.

The report did not specify the overall number of casualties, saying the data is classified.

But as per figures obtained by the coalition 115 Afghan military personnel were killed and 39 were wounded in 31 insider attacks in first three months of this year.

The report made it clear that such attacks threatened stability of the Afghan government after withdrawal of US troops by September.

It noted that the Afghan government and particularly Afghan security forces remain highly dependent on US support, both financial aid and manpower.

"The complete withdrawal of US troops and US defense contractors from Afghanistan will test whether the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces can sustain themselves and defend the Afghan government without direct US and Coalition military support," the report said.

"The basic risk facing the current and any potential post-peace Afghan government is whether future foreign assistance levels during this uncertain period will be sufficient to prevent its collapse," said John Sopko, the SIGAR head.

The pullout will involve around 2,500 US service members, 7,092 other forces in the US-led coalition, and 16,832 civilian contractors for the Pentagon who were in the country at the beginning of April.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

In another indication of the resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, a US government report on Friday said that deadly insider attacks by Taliban agent inside Afghanistan army have been on the rise.

In another indication of the resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, a US government report on Friday said that deadly insider attacks by Taliban agent inside Afghanistan army have been on the rise. The report said that a jump was seen in such attacks in the first quarter of this years. The quarterly report of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said attacks on the Afghan security forces, mainly by the Taliban rebel group, surged 37 percent over the January-March period from a year earlier. Insider attacks carried out by Taliban agents who had infiltrated the army ranks jumped 82 per cent, said the report. The report did not specify the overall number of casualties, saying the data is classified. But as per figures obtained by the coalition 115 Afghan military personnel were killed and 39 were wounded in 31 insider attacks in first three months of this year. The report made it clear that such attacks threatened stability of the Afghan government after withdrawal of US troops by September. It noted that the Afghan government and particularly Afghan security forces remain highly dependent on US support, both financial aid and manpower. "The complete withdrawal of US troops and US defense contractors from Afghanistan will test whether the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces can sustain themselves and defend the Afghan government without direct US and Coalition military support," the report said. "The basic risk facing the current and any potential post-peace Afghan government is whether future foreign assistance levels during this uncertain period will be sufficient to prevent its collapse," said John Sopko, the SIGAR head. The pullout will involve around 2,500 US service members, 7,092 other forces in the US-led coalition, and 16,832 civilian contractors for the Pentagon who were in the country at the beginning of April. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan pullout: Surge in insider attacks in Afghan army, says US government report

NATO has begun withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, reported AFP quoting a senior official of the alliance.

"NATO Allies decided in mid-April to start the withdrawal of Resolute Support Mission forces by May 1 and this withdrawal has begun. This will be an orderly, coordinated, and deliberate process," a NATO official told AFP.&nbsp;

The United States and the allied forces are in the process of withdrawing their forces from Afghanistan. Though the US had said initially that troop withdrawal will take place on May 1, US President Joe Biden has previously said that keeping the date would be difficult.

The US had been engaged with Taliban, widely perceived to gain control of the country in peace talks. However, Taliban attacks and the assassination of prominent Afghan figures have raised alarm everywhere.

Members of the US-backed alliance NATO agreed this month to wrap up their 9,600-strong mission in Afghanistan after Biden made the call to end Washington's longest war.

The decision -- which delayed by several months a deadline agreed by former US leader Donald Trump -- came despite fears it could allow the Taliban to regain power in the country.

The NATO official said the safety of the alliance's troops "will be a top priority every step of the way, and we are taking all necessary measures to keep our personnel from harm". &nbsp;

"Any Taliban attacks during the withdrawal will be met with a forceful response. We plan to have our withdrawal completed within a few months," the official said, refusing to give any f

Biden said the US withdrawal would be completed by September 11, the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America that sparked its military involvement in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Germany's defence ministry has said it plans to get its 1,300 troops out of the country by early July.&nbsp; 
NATO's training and support mission, which includes some 2,500 US troops and relies heavily on Washington's military assets, has personnel from 36 alliance member nations and partner countries.

The US has said it is temporarily deploying extra troops to protect international forces as they withdraw and has prolonged the presence of an aircraft carrier in the region to support the pull-out.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

NATO has begun withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, reported AFP quoting a senior official of the alliance. "NATO Allies decided in mid-April to start the withdrawal of Resolute Support Mission forces by May 1 and this withdrawal has begun.

NATO has begun withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan, reported AFP quoting a senior official of the alliance. "NATO Allies decided in mid-April to start the withdrawal of Resolute Support Mission forces by May 1 and this withdrawal has begun. This will be an orderly, coordinated, and deliberate process," a NATO official told AFP. The United States and the allied forces are in the process of withdrawing their forces from Afghanistan. Though the US had said initially that troop withdrawal will take place on May 1, US President Joe Biden has previously said that keeping the date would be difficult. The US had been engaged with Taliban, widely perceived to gain control of the country in peace talks. However, Taliban attacks and the assassination of prominent Afghan figures have raised alarm everywhere. Members of the US-backed alliance NATO agreed this month to wrap up their 9,600-strong mission in Afghanistan after Biden made the call to end Washington's longest war. The decision -- which delayed by several months a deadline agreed by former US leader Donald Trump -- came despite fears it could allow the Taliban to regain power in the country. The NATO official said the safety of the alliance's troops "will be a top priority every step of the way, and we are taking all necessary measures to keep our personnel from harm". "Any Taliban attacks during the withdrawal will be met with a forceful response. We plan to have our withdrawal completed within a few months," the official said, refusing to give any f Biden said the US withdrawal would be completed by September 11, the twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America that sparked its military involvement in Afghanistan. Germany's defence ministry has said it plans to get its 1,300 troops out of the country by early July. NATO's training and support mission, which includes some 2,500 US troops and relies heavily on Washington's military assets, has personnel from 36 alliance member nations and partner countries. The US has said it is temporarily deploying extra troops to protect international forces as they withdraw and has prolonged the presence of an aircraft carrier in the region to support the pull-out. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan troop withdrawal has begun, says senior NATO official

President Joe Biden in his first address to Congress Wednesday will urge following up the fight against Covid-19 with a no less epic battle for a fairer United States, where the rich do more to help end inequality. 
 
Speaking to a joint session of Congress on the eve of his 100th day in office, Biden will likely hail what on Tuesday he called "stunning" success in vaccinating Americans -- a national effort that has dragged the country from coronavirus catastrophe to leader in global recovery. 
 
But with solid approval ratings and a Democratic majority -- albeit razor thin -- in Congress, Biden feels he has momentum on his side to take on new challenges. 
 
Speaking on primetime television, he will promote what he touts as a plan of massive government spending to get the United States not just back on its feet but striding forward in a new direction. 
 
In the foreign policy segment of the speech, Biden "will talk about his commitment to reengaging with the world, taking America's seat back in the world," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. 
 
At the centre&nbsp;of his domestic agenda will be the unveiling of the American Families Plan, an expected $1.8 trillion spending splurge that Psaki termed "a historic investment in education and childcare." 
 
The goal is giving "help to American families, making transformative investments to rescue and rebuild our economy, and fundamentally showing the government can deliver for people," Psaki said. 
 
The families plan alone -- which Biden wants to pay for with tax hikes on the most wealthy -- would represent a giant ask of Congress. 
 
But this comes after Congress already approved a $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, injecting stimulus into almost every corner of the US economy, and is now debating a proposed $2 trillion-plus American Jobs Plan aimed at rebuilding national infrastructure. 
 
The speech will also run through the rest of a lengthy Democratic wish list, including police reform, pro-immigrant reforms and gun control -- some of the most sensitive issues in US politics and ones where Biden insists he can deliver. 
 
Biden, as he likes to say, wants to "go big." 
 
On Thursday, his 100th day, Biden will follow the speech by launching what Psaki called a "Getting America Back on Track" tour, starting with trips to Georgia and Philadelphia. 
 
Vice President Kamala Harris will be taking the message to Baltimore and Ohio. 
 
Psaki said Biden had been working on the speech for "weeks" and was now down to the final edits.

Extraordinary times 
The setting for Biden's maiden address to Congress as president will reflect the crisis times in which he was elected last November, ending four chaotic years under Donald Trump. 
 
Security has been at top level around the Capitol building since the January 6 riot when Trump supporters went on the rampage against what the Republican falsely claimed was a stolen election. 
 
Ahead of his speech, Biden will be meeting staff who were trapped in the building during the terrifying incident, the White House said. 
 
Although Covid-19 is on the back foot -- vaccinated Americans were told Tuesday they can now do most things outside without wearing a mask -- the pandemic will loom heavily.&nbsp; 
 
Instead of looking out onto a House chamber crammed with the usual 1,600 or so politicians and guests, Biden will be greeted by a select group of around 200. 
 
According to Republican Senator John Thune, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi is allowing just 40 representatives from each of the two parties and 30 senators each. 
 
Usually all nine members of the Supreme Court are in attendance, but this time only Chief Justice John Roberts will be there. 
 
Of the cabinet, only the secretaries of defence and state will be in the room, meaning that the tradition of nominating a "designated survivor" -- someone who could take over the country if the entire government died while inside the Capitol -- is not necessary. 
 
There "does not need to be a designated survivor because the cabinet will be watching&nbsp;from their offices or homes," Psaki said. 
 
Biden has brought an old-fashioned, sunny optimism to Washington, often choosing to ignore the noisy rancour that Trump deliberately stoked and appeared to relish. 
 
But that doesn't mean he has brought his opponents on side. 
 
His big picture appeal for more government spending will likely get no applause from half the chamber and his expected plan to announce tax increases for America's most wealthy will likely stir Republican fury. 
 
"President Biden ran as a moderate, but I'm hard pressed to think of anything at all that he's done so far that would indicate some degree of moderation," senior Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said Tuesday.

President Joe Biden in his first address to Congress Wednesday will urge following up the fight against Covid-19 with a no less epic battle for a fairer United States, where the rich do more to help end inequality.

President Joe Biden in his first address to Congress Wednesday will urge following up the fight against Covid-19 with a no less epic battle for a fairer United States, where the rich do more to help end inequality. Speaking to a joint session of Congress on the eve of his 100th day in office, Biden will likely hail what on Tuesday he called "stunning" success in vaccinating Americans -- a national effort that has dragged the country from coronavirus catastrophe to leader in global recovery. But with solid approval ratings and a Democratic majority -- albeit razor thin -- in Congress, Biden feels he has momentum on his side to take on new challenges. Speaking on primetime television, he will promote what he touts as a plan of massive government spending to get the United States not just back on its feet but striding forward in a new direction. In the foreign policy segment of the speech, Biden "will talk about his commitment to reengaging with the world, taking America's seat back in the world," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. At the centre of his domestic agenda will be the unveiling of the American Families Plan, an expected $1.8 trillion spending splurge that Psaki termed "a historic investment in education and childcare." The goal is giving "help to American families, making transformative investments to rescue and rebuild our economy, and fundamentally showing the government can deliver for people," Psaki said. The families plan alone -- which Biden wants to pay for with tax hikes on the most wealthy -- would represent a giant ask of Congress. But this comes after Congress already approved a $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, injecting stimulus into almost every corner of the US economy, and is now debating a proposed $2 trillion-plus American Jobs Plan aimed at rebuilding national infrastructure. The speech will also run through the rest of a lengthy Democratic wish list, including police reform, pro-immigrant reforms and gun control -- some of the most sensitive issues in US politics and ones where Biden insists he can deliver. Biden, as he likes to say, wants to "go big." On Thursday, his 100th day, Biden will follow the speech by launching what Psaki called a "Getting America Back on Track" tour, starting with trips to Georgia and Philadelphia. Vice President Kamala Harris will be taking the message to Baltimore and Ohio. Psaki said Biden had been working on the speech for "weeks" and was now down to the final edits. Extraordinary times The setting for Biden's maiden address to Congress as president will reflect the crisis times in which he was elected last November, ending four chaotic years under Donald Trump. Security has been at top level around the Capitol building since the January 6 riot when Trump supporters went on the rampage against what the Republican falsely claimed was a stolen election. Ahead of his speech, Biden will be meeting staff who were trapped in the building during the terrifying incident, the White House said. Although Covid-19 is on the back foot -- vaccinated Americans were told Tuesday they can now do most things outside without wearing a mask -- the pandemic will loom heavily. Instead of looking out onto a House chamber crammed with the usual 1,600 or so politicians and guests, Biden will be greeted by a select group of around 200. According to Republican Senator John Thune, Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi is allowing just 40 representatives from each of the two parties and 30 senators each. Usually all nine members of the Supreme Court are in attendance, but this time only Chief Justice John Roberts will be there. Of the cabinet, only the secretaries of defence and state will be in the room, meaning that the tradition of nominating a "designated survivor" -- someone who could take over the country if the entire government died while inside the Capitol -- is not necessary. There "does not need to be a designated survivor because the cabinet will be watching from their offices or homes," Psaki said. Biden has brought an old-fashioned, sunny optimism to Washington, often choosing to ignore the noisy rancour that Trump deliberately stoked and appeared to relish. But that doesn't mean he has brought his opponents on side. His big picture appeal for more government spending will likely get no applause from half the chamber and his expected plan to announce tax increases for America's most wealthy will likely stir Republican fury. "President Biden ran as a moderate, but I'm hard pressed to think of anything at all that he's done so far that would indicate some degree of moderation," senior Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said Tuesday.

Biden to celebrate Covid gains, urge spending spree in Congress address

In June 2020, Karen Garner was detained by US police after walking out of a Walmart store in Colorado. She had&nbsp;reportedly not paid for $13 worth of items.

Now, a video has emerged that apparently shows the cops&nbsp;mocking the&nbsp;woman when her shoulder “popped” during the arrest. They were watching the body cam footage of her detention. Turns out, her elbow was fractured and her shoulder was dislocated during the confrontation.

The clip&nbsp;has gone viral on social media.

Watch below

<blockquote>
Colorado Officers appear to be laughing at 73-year-old dementia patient Karen Gardner they just arrested with force <a href="https://t.co/GENB4Llp5R">pic.twitter.com/GENB4Llp5R</a>
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) <a href="https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1386850738391949316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2021</a></blockquote>

<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a>

An investigation has been launched into the Loveland Police Department’s arrest.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/body-camera-video-shows-us-police-officers-berating-five-year-old-boy-373882" hreflang="en">Body camera video shows US police officers berating five-year-old boy</a>

The footage was released on Monday, and show the police officers fist bumping each other while making the arrest.&nbsp; Video from the victim’s holding cell showed her handcuffed while the officers joked about her.

“Ready for the pop? Hear the pop?”, an officer can be heard saying. One of the officers can then be heard saying “I love it”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/body-camera-footage-shows-capitol-rioters-trampling-over-woman-360160" hreflang="en">Body camera footage shows Capitol rioters trampling over woman</a>

The family of Karen Garner hired a sound engineer to enhance the audio of the remarks made by the officers. Their lawyer has pursued a federal lawsuit against the department for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and for “violently” assaulting Garner.

Loveland Police in a statement said that they would not be making any comments until a consequence is reached in the “criminal investigation” which was launched last week.

In June 2020, Karen Garner was detained by US police after walking out of a Walmart store in Colorado. She had reportedly not paid for $13 worth of items. Now, a video has emerged that apparently shows the cops mocking the woman when her shoulder “popped” during the arrest.

In June 2020, Karen Garner was detained by US police after walking out of a Walmart store in Colorado. She had reportedly not paid for $13 worth of items. Now, a video has emerged that apparently shows the cops mocking the woman when her shoulder “popped” during the arrest. They were watching the body cam footage of her detention. Turns out, her elbow was fractured and her shoulder was dislocated during the confrontation. The clip has gone viral on social media. Watch below Colorado Officers appear to be laughing at 73-year-old dementia patient Karen Gardner they just arrested with force pic.twitter.com/GENB4Llp5R — Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) April 27, 2021 × An investigation has been launched into the Loveland Police Department’s arrest. Also read: Body camera video shows US police officers berating five-year-old boy The footage was released on Monday, and show the police officers fist bumping each other while making the arrest. Video from the victim’s holding cell showed her handcuffed while the officers joked about her. “Ready for the pop? Hear the pop?”, an officer can be heard saying. One of the officers can then be heard saying “I love it”. Also read: Body camera footage shows Capitol rioters trampling over woman The family of Karen Garner hired a sound engineer to enhance the audio of the remarks made by the officers. Their lawyer has pursued a federal lawsuit against the department for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and for “violently” assaulting Garner. Loveland Police in a statement said that they would not be making any comments until a consequence is reached in the “criminal investigation” which was launched last week.

Watch: US police officers caught mocking a dementia patient after arrest

The rate of new Covid cases is declining in the United States, with the most recent seven-day averages dipping below the 60,000 mark for the first time in over a month as experts hailed the impact of vaccines.

Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention showed that as of April 24, the rolling average was 57,123 cases, and a month-long mini bump was now over.

It comes as the number of people vaccinated continued to rise, though the rate is beginning to taper off as domestic demand slows.

Almost 140 million people have now received one dose, or 42 percent of the whole population.&nbsp;

Writing on Twitter, Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University School of Public Health, said he believed this time the decline would be permanent, "Because in mid-March, when last mini-surge began, 21% of the population had been vaccinated. Today, we're twice that."

He said that 42 percent with one shot wasn't "enough," but added: "42% close to number at which we should see steady declines in infections. In Israel, once 45% of population was fully vaccinated, case numbers started to plummet."

Experts are however worried by the vaccination rate, which peaked earlier this month at an average of more than 3 million doses per day and is now down to 2.6 million per day. 
 
Many people who wished to get vaccinated have received jabs, though some access issues persist, particularly among communities of colour. 
 
On the other hand, vaccine skepticism remains high among some demographics, including political conservatives. 
 
A government survey last month found the 10 states with the largest share of people who said they definitely or probably won't get vaccinated are all conservative-leaning.

The rate of new Covid cases is declining in the United States, with the most recent seven-day averages dipping below the 60,000 mark for the first time in over a month as experts hailed the impact of vaccines.

The rate of new Covid cases is declining in the United States, with the most recent seven-day averages dipping below the 60,000 mark for the first time in over a month as experts hailed the impact of vaccines. Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention showed that as of April 24, the rolling average was 57,123 cases, and a month-long mini bump was now over. It comes as the number of people vaccinated continued to rise, though the rate is beginning to taper off as domestic demand slows. Almost 140 million people have now received one dose, or 42 percent of the whole population. Writing on Twitter, Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University School of Public Health, said he believed this time the decline would be permanent, "Because in mid-March, when last mini-surge began, 21% of the population had been vaccinated. Today, we're twice that." He said that 42 percent with one shot wasn't "enough," but added: "42% close to number at which we should see steady declines in infections. In Israel, once 45% of population was fully vaccinated, case numbers started to plummet." Experts are however worried by the vaccination rate, which peaked earlier this month at an average of more than 3 million doses per day and is now down to 2.6 million per day. Many people who wished to get vaccinated have received jabs, though some access issues persist, particularly among communities of colour. On the other hand, vaccine skepticism remains high among some demographics, including political conservatives. A government survey last month found the 10 states with the largest share of people who said they definitely or probably won't get vaccinated are all conservative-leaning.

US is witnessing a decline in daily COVID-19 cases

President Joe Biden spoke to India`s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, pledging US assistance after growing pressure on Washington to help. Post the high-level call between the two leaders a senior administration official told reporters that the US is ready with a range of support and is prepared to immediately start deploying it.

The US will dispatch a "Strike Team" comprising of public health experts to India, the official added. "US CDC is working with USAID that will urgently deploy a strike team to India which will improve public health experts to work in close collaboration with our embassy with India`s health ministries and experts and with India`s Epidemic Intelligence Service staff," the official added.

The Strike Team will work hand in hand with Indian experts in areas including laboratory services, surveillance and epidemiology and bioinformatics for sequencing and modelling of the disease, infection prevention and control the rollout and risk communications. The Strike Team will also include CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officers and laboratory leads, leadership and service officers who will work directly with US officials.

As requested by the government of India, United States will provide raw materials for the production of AstraZeneca`s Covishield vaccine at the Serum Institute of India."What we are doing is that we are diverting our own order of our own supplies to the Serum Institute for their manufacturing, because of the scope of the current situation in India. This was the most effective and rapid step we could take at this stage to provide support at scale," the official affirmed.

Another set of resources that India has specifically requested to the United States listing as a priority is Oxygen. The Department of Defense and the US Agency for International Development are pursuing options to provide oxygen generation systems and working on the oxygen supply chain.

"We do have the Department of State working to finalise options for contracting oxygen including cylinder. We also have the Department of Defense working on oxygen generation systems including larger scale as well as smaller-scale units," informed the official.

"We also are exploring options to provide oxygen concentrations and ventilators and we`re in technical discussions with India to ensure that the equipment we supply will connect the devices in India, and we`re also going to be providing training associated with all of these requests as needed," the official briefed reporters.Another category of assistance that the US will provide to India are therapeutics, personal protective equipment and tests.

"The United States is identified US commercial suppliers of Remdesivir that are immediately available to help relieve the suffering of COVID-19 patients in India, and we`ve identified rapid diagnostic testing supplies as well as personal protective equipment that will be available to be transferred to India immediately," the official added.

As announced by the White House earlier today, the US will begin sharing up to 60 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses with the world after the federal safety review. Doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be sent to countries "as they become available" and "in stages," according to another US official.

President Joe Biden spoke to India`s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, pledging US assistance after growing pressure on Washington to help. Post the high-level call between the two leaders a senior administration official told reporters that the US is ready with a range of support and is prepared to immediately start deploying it.

President Joe Biden spoke to India`s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, pledging US assistance after growing pressure on Washington to help. Post the high-level call between the two leaders a senior administration official told reporters that the US is ready with a range of support and is prepared to immediately start deploying it. The US will dispatch a "Strike Team" comprising of public health experts to India, the official added. "US CDC is working with USAID that will urgently deploy a strike team to India which will improve public health experts to work in close collaboration with our embassy with India`s health ministries and experts and with India`s Epidemic Intelligence Service staff," the official added. The Strike Team will work hand in hand with Indian experts in areas including laboratory services, surveillance and epidemiology and bioinformatics for sequencing and modelling of the disease, infection prevention and control the rollout and risk communications. The Strike Team will also include CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service officers and laboratory leads, leadership and service officers who will work directly with US officials. As requested by the government of India, United States will provide raw materials for the production of AstraZeneca`s Covishield vaccine at the Serum Institute of India."What we are doing is that we are diverting our own order of our own supplies to the Serum Institute for their manufacturing, because of the scope of the current situation in India. This was the most effective and rapid step we could take at this stage to provide support at scale," the official affirmed. Another set of resources that India has specifically requested to the United States listing as a priority is Oxygen. The Department of Defense and the US Agency for International Development are pursuing options to provide oxygen generation systems and working on the oxygen supply chain. "We do have the Department of State working to finalise options for contracting oxygen including cylinder. We also have the Department of Defense working on oxygen generation systems including larger scale as well as smaller-scale units," informed the official. "We also are exploring options to provide oxygen concentrations and ventilators and we`re in technical discussions with India to ensure that the equipment we supply will connect the devices in India, and we`re also going to be providing training associated with all of these requests as needed," the official briefed reporters.Another category of assistance that the US will provide to India are therapeutics, personal protective equipment and tests. "The United States is identified US commercial suppliers of Remdesivir that are immediately available to help relieve the suffering of COVID-19 patients in India, and we`ve identified rapid diagnostic testing supplies as well as personal protective equipment that will be available to be transferred to India immediately," the official added. As announced by the White House earlier today, the US will begin sharing up to 60 million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses with the world after the federal safety review. Doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be sent to countries "as they become available" and "in stages," according to another US official.

Washington to send 'Strike Team', Covid vaccine raw material and oxygen to India: US officials

The US is going to send up to 60 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid doses, officials announced on Monday as US President Joe Biden pledged to "be there" for India.

Critics have accused Washington of "hoarding" the British-developed vaccine, which is not authorized in the country and will likely not be required to vaccinate Americans.

In recent days, India has faced catastrophic new surge that has overwhelmed its health care system.

"U.S. to release 60 million Astra Zeneca doses to other countries as they become available," tweeted Andy Slavitt, senior advisor to the White House on Covid response.

An administration official told reporters the first 10 million doses could be available "in the coming weeks" after they pass a quality inspection by the Food and Drug Administration.

"Further, there's an estimated additional 50 million doses that are in various stages of production, and these could be completed in stages across May and June," she added.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a briefing that the recipient countries have not yet been decided and that the administration was still formulating its distribution plan.

But India appears to be a leading contender after Biden held a telephone call with his counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pledging US support to fight the Covid surge.

"Today, I spoke with Prime Minister @narendramodi and pledged America's full support to provide emergency assistance and resources in the fight against COVID-19. India was there for us, and we will be there for them," Biden tweeted.

Administration officials added Washington was looking at options to supply oxygen -- from direct shipments to generation systems -- as well as the antiviral drug Remdesivir, personal protective equipment, tests, and teams of experts.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US is going to send up to 60 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid doses, officials announced on Monday as US President Joe Biden pledged to "be there" for India.

The US is going to send up to 60 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid doses, officials announced on Monday as US President Joe Biden pledged to "be there" for India. Critics have accused Washington of "hoarding" the British-developed vaccine, which is not authorized in the country and will likely not be required to vaccinate Americans. In recent days, India has faced catastrophic new surge that has overwhelmed its health care system. "U.S. to release 60 million Astra Zeneca doses to other countries as they become available," tweeted Andy Slavitt, senior advisor to the White House on Covid response. An administration official told reporters the first 10 million doses could be available "in the coming weeks" after they pass a quality inspection by the Food and Drug Administration. "Further, there's an estimated additional 50 million doses that are in various stages of production, and these could be completed in stages across May and June," she added. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said at a briefing that the recipient countries have not yet been decided and that the administration was still formulating its distribution plan. But India appears to be a leading contender after Biden held a telephone call with his counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pledging US support to fight the Covid surge. "Today, I spoke with Prime Minister @narendramodi and pledged America's full support to provide emergency assistance and resources in the fight against COVID-19. India was there for us, and we will be there for them," Biden tweeted. Administration officials added Washington was looking at options to supply oxygen -- from direct shipments to generation systems -- as well as the antiviral drug Remdesivir, personal protective equipment, tests, and teams of experts. (With inputs from agencies)

US to export up to 60 million AstraZeneca Covid vaccine doses

US Homeland Security Department on Monday announced an internal review focusing on the threat of violent extremism from within the agency. The review will be undertaken by senior officials of the department immediately with the goal to detect and prevent extremism from within the agency.

In addition, it will also assess ways to respond to extremism. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) looks after an array of matters for US including the Coast Guard and is also responsible for enforcing immigration organisations.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fbi-director-wray-says-capitol-attack-was-domestic-terrorism-367554/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The DHS was formed in response to the 9/11 attacks on the US, and refers to domestic violent extremism as the “most lethal and persistent terrorism-related threat” facing the country, news agency AP said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/heavy-metal-guitarist-becomes-first-suspect-to-plead-guilty-for-us-capitol-riots-378156" hreflang="en">Heavy metal guitarist becomes first suspect to plead guilty for US Capitol riots</a>

“As we work to safeguard our nation, we must be vigilant in our efforts to identify and combat domestic violent extremism within both the broader community and our own organization," Secretary Mayorkas said.

As part of this move, the department will issue new guidelines for reporting internal threats of extremism. The Capitol riots which shook the US in January have awoken the authorities to the threats faced by the country from within.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/probe-of-deadly-jan-6-attack-turns-to-us-capitol-police-inspector-general-377797" hreflang="en">Probe of deadly Jan 6 attack turns to US Capitol police inspector general</a>

In February 2021, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged military leaders to speak to their peers about extremism after many former and current members were found to have taken part in the in the January insurrection attempts.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Homeland Security Department on Monday announced an internal review focusing on the threat of violent extremism from within the agency. The review will be undertaken by senior officials of the department immediately with the goal to detect and prevent extremism from within the agency.

US Homeland Security Department on Monday announced an internal review focusing on the threat of violent extremism from within the agency. The review will be undertaken by senior officials of the department immediately with the goal to detect and prevent extremism from within the agency. In addition, it will also assess ways to respond to extremism. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) looks after an array of matters for US including the Coast Guard and is also responsible for enforcing immigration organisations. The DHS was formed in response to the 9/11 attacks on the US, and refers to domestic violent extremism as the “most lethal and persistent terrorism-related threat” facing the country, news agency AP said. Also read: Heavy metal guitarist becomes first suspect to plead guilty for US Capitol riots “As we work to safeguard our nation, we must be vigilant in our efforts to identify and combat domestic violent extremism within both the broader community and our own organization," Secretary Mayorkas said. As part of this move, the department will issue new guidelines for reporting internal threats of extremism. The Capitol riots which shook the US in January have awoken the authorities to the threats faced by the country from within. Also read: Probe of deadly Jan 6 attack turns to US Capitol police inspector general In February 2021, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged military leaders to speak to their peers about extremism after many former and current members were found to have taken part in the in the January insurrection attempts. (With inputs from agencies)

US Department of Homeland Security launches internal review to tackle extremism

All the people named Josh in Arizona, USA had a 'Duke' moment this weekend.&nbsp; 
 
What started as an early pandemic joke evolved into a full-fledged 'fight'&nbsp;as hundreds of people named Josh gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska, to battle it out&nbsp;over their shared name.

An Arizona college student named Josh Swain sent a Facebook message last April to dozens of other people who shared his first and last name.

"You're probably wondering why I've gathered you all here today," the 22-year-old wrote. Then is typed along with a random date, April 24, 2021, and instructions to "meet at these coordinates," which happened to be in Lincoln. 
 
&nbsp;

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there is only one <a href="https://t.co/OVqeOUY3Xo">pic.twitter.com/OVqeOUY3Xo</a>
— joshua swain (@joshswainaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshswainaz/status/1386081871684161542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"We fight, whoever wins gets to keep the name, everyone else has to change their name, you have a year to prepare, good luck," Swain wrote.

Swain said it was "entirely a joke" and didn't think anything would come of it, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. That was until a few months ago when friends brought it up again and Swain decided to go for it. He bought a plane ticket to Lincoln and&nbsp;posted details about the event on social media.

Swain told the Lincoln Journal Star he wasn't sure if anyone would show up but hundreds arrived at the large greenspace at Air Park for the Battle of the Joshes, equipped with the pool noodles that Swain invited people to bring.

The spectacle showed the fighters with their pool noodles, decked&nbsp;in Spider-Man- and Star Wars-themed costumes. 
 
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The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoshFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JoshFight</a> has begun. This is absolute mayhem! <a href="https://t.co/1VQic21Dvt">pic.twitter.com/1VQic21Dvt</a>
— Yousef Nasser (@YousefKLKN) <a href="https://twitter.com/YousefKLKN/status/1386004622595264516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

People not named Josh stood on the sidelines to cheer on their fighters with t-shirts and signs of support that read, "I'm with Josh," "Team Josh," and "Go Josh! Beat Josh!"

In the end, 4-year-old Lincoln resident Josh Vinson Jr&nbsp;was crowned&nbsp;the 'Ultimate Josh' and was presented with a Burger King paper crown and a trophy.&nbsp; 
 
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BREAKING: Five-year-old <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LittleJosh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LittleJosh</a> has won the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoshFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JoshFight</a>! <a href="https://t.co/VTztUHDMeW">pic.twitter.com/VTztUHDMeW</a>
— Yousef Nasser (@YousefKLKN) <a href="https://twitter.com/YousefKLKN/status/1386013742194958336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The original Josh Swain used the Josh fight to raise money for the Children's Hospital and Medical Center Foundation. He also used the event to host a food drive for the Food Bank of Lincoln. 
 
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Thank you so so much to all the volunteers that helped out and the residents of the great city of Lincoln for being so welcoming and making this event incredible. Still in disbelief at the moment but amazed at the incredible support
— joshua swain (@joshswainaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshswainaz/status/1386084034539933696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"Thank you so so much to all the volunteers that helped out and the residents of the great city of Lincoln for being so welcoming and making this event incredible," Swain wrote on Twitter after the event. "Still in disbelief at the moment but amazed at the incredible support."

All the people named Josh in Arizona, USA had a 'Duke' moment this weekend. What started as an early pandemic joke evolved into a full-fledged 'fight' as hundreds of people named Josh gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska, to battle it out over their shared name.

All the people named Josh in Arizona, USA had a 'Duke' moment this weekend. What started as an early pandemic joke evolved into a full-fledged 'fight' as hundreds of people named Josh gathered in Lincoln, Nebraska, to battle it out over their shared name. An Arizona college student named Josh Swain sent a Facebook message last April to dozens of other people who shared his first and last name. "You're probably wondering why I've gathered you all here today," the 22-year-old wrote. Then is typed along with a random date, April 24, 2021, and instructions to "meet at these coordinates," which happened to be in Lincoln. there is only one pic.twitter.com/OVqeOUY3Xo — joshua swain (@joshswainaz) April 24, 2021 × "We fight, whoever wins gets to keep the name, everyone else has to change their name, you have a year to prepare, good luck," Swain wrote. Swain said it was "entirely a joke" and didn't think anything would come of it, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. That was until a few months ago when friends brought it up again and Swain decided to go for it. He bought a plane ticket to Lincoln and posted details about the event on social media. Swain told the Lincoln Journal Star he wasn't sure if anyone would show up but hundreds arrived at the large greenspace at Air Park for the Battle of the Joshes, equipped with the pool noodles that Swain invited people to bring. The spectacle showed the fighters with their pool noodles, decked in Spider-Man- and Star Wars-themed costumes. The #JoshFight has begun. This is absolute mayhem! pic.twitter.com/1VQic21Dvt — Yousef Nasser (@YousefKLKN) April 24, 2021 × People not named Josh stood on the sidelines to cheer on their fighters with t-shirts and signs of support that read, "I'm with Josh," "Team Josh," and "Go Josh! Beat Josh!" In the end, 4-year-old Lincoln resident Josh Vinson Jr was crowned the 'Ultimate Josh' and was presented with a Burger King paper crown and a trophy. BREAKING: Five-year-old #LittleJosh has won the #JoshFight! pic.twitter.com/VTztUHDMeW — Yousef Nasser (@YousefKLKN) April 24, 2021 × The original Josh Swain used the Josh fight to raise money for the Children's Hospital and Medical Center Foundation. He also used the event to host a food drive for the Food Bank of Lincoln. Thank you so so much to all the volunteers that helped out and the residents of the great city of Lincoln for being so welcoming and making this event incredible. Still in disbelief at the moment but amazed at the incredible support — joshua swain (@joshswainaz) April 24, 2021 × "Thank you so so much to all the volunteers that helped out and the residents of the great city of Lincoln for being so welcoming and making this event incredible," Swain wrote on Twitter after the event. "Still in disbelief at the moment but amazed at the incredible support."

'Little Josh' wins a unique 'Battle of the Joshes' to keep his name

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday pledged support to India as it battled the latest spike in the number of Covid infections. Sullivan said that US was "deeply concerned" about the latest Covid outbreak in India&nbsp;and that it was working "round the clock" to help India drag itself out of the situation.

"The U.S. is deeply concerned by the severe COVID outbreak in India. We are working around the clock to deploy more supplies and support to our friends and partners in India as they bravely battle this pandemic," tweeted Sullivan.

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The U.S. is deeply concerned by the severe COVID outbreak in India. We are working around the clock to deploy more supplies and support to our friends and partners in India as they bravely battle this pandemic. More very soon.
— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSullivan46/status/1386154975668080644?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"Our hearts go out to the Indian people in the midst of the horrific COVID-19 outbreak. We are working closely with our partners in the Indian government, and we will rapidly deploy additional support to the people of India and India's health care heroes," tweeted Antony Blinken

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Our hearts go out to the Indian people in the midst of the horrific COVID-19 outbreak. We are working closely with our partners in the Indian government, and we will rapidly deploy additional support to the people of India and India's health care heroes.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1386148447179493380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Reuters quoted a White House spokesperson to say that US was planning to quickly deploy additional support to Indian government.

"We are in active conversations at high levels and plan to quickly deploy additional support to the Government of India and Indian health care workers as they battle this latest severe outbreak. We will have more to share very soon," the spokeswoman told Reuters via email.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday pledged support to India as it battled the latest spike in the number of Covid infections.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Sunday pledged support to India as it battled the latest spike in the number of Covid infections. Sullivan said that US was "deeply concerned" about the latest Covid outbreak in India and that it was working "round the clock" to help India drag itself out of the situation. "The U.S. is deeply concerned by the severe COVID outbreak in India. We are working around the clock to deploy more supplies and support to our friends and partners in India as they bravely battle this pandemic," tweeted Sullivan. The U.S. is deeply concerned by the severe COVID outbreak in India. We are working around the clock to deploy more supplies and support to our friends and partners in India as they bravely battle this pandemic. More very soon. — Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) April 25, 2021 × "Our hearts go out to the Indian people in the midst of the horrific COVID-19 outbreak. We are working closely with our partners in the Indian government, and we will rapidly deploy additional support to the people of India and India's health care heroes," tweeted Antony Blinken Our hearts go out to the Indian people in the midst of the horrific COVID-19 outbreak. We are working closely with our partners in the Indian government, and we will rapidly deploy additional support to the people of India and India's health care heroes. — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 25, 2021 × Reuters quoted a White House spokesperson to say that US was planning to quickly deploy additional support to Indian government. "We are in active conversations at high levels and plan to quickly deploy additional support to the Government of India and Indian health care workers as they battle this latest severe outbreak. We will have more to share very soon," the spokeswoman told Reuters via email. (With inputs from agencies)

US to support India in its fight against coronavirus pandemic

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