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Encounter with Russian jet resulted in US drone crash

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US drone crash
  • Russian fighter plane collided with a US drone.
  • The drone was on a regular mission in international airspace
  • The US summoned the Russian ambassador to Washington.

According to the American military, a Russian fighter plane collided with a US drone, leading the unmanned US aircraft to crash into the Black Sea.

The event shows the growing danger of a direct confrontation between Russia and the United States over the Ukraine conflict.

According to the US, the drone was on a regular mission in international airspace when two Russian fighter jets attempted to intercept it.

Russia said the drone crashed after a “sharp maneuver,” but denied that the two planes collided.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the MQ-9 Reaper drone was also flying with its transponders turned off. Transponders are communication devices that enable airplane tracking.

Reaper drones are surveillance aircraft with a wingspan of 20m (66ft).

According to the US military, the event occurred on Tuesday at about 07:03 Central European Time (06:03 GMT).

“Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9,” the statement said.

Several times before the collision the Su-27 fighter jets dumped fuel on the drone in a “reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner”, it said.

The US summoned the Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, to protest against the measure.

Following the discussion, Russian official media paraphrased Antonov as claiming that the drone incident was a “provocation” for Moscow.

After Russia’s takeover of Crimea in 2014, tensions have increased over the Black Sea.

With Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom have increased reconnaissance and surveillance planes, always flying in international airspace.

The important question is whether Russia’s interaction on Tuesday was an attempt to interrupt the American drone’s work or a planned attempt to bring it down.

According to the US, there has been a “pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots” in the region while interacting with allied aircraft.

So it’s possible that a Russian pilot got too close to the drone when they “buzzed” it. Nevertheless, if this was a premeditated attack on an American aircraft by a Russian warplane, it would be a massive provocation and a significant escalation.

In such a situation, the strike would be interpreted as an attempt by the Kremlin to put the US response to the test.

Western allies have worked hard to prevent the Ukrainian conflict from turning into a direct confrontation with Russia. But that is all that happened over the Black Sea. The United States must now assess its response.

As US military chiefs cautioned in their statement, this was a dangerous conduct that “could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation”.

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World Baseball Classic: Mike Trout nailed a three-run home run

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World Baseball Classic

USA defeated Canada 12-1 in their World Baseball Classic. Yanks then blasted nine runs against Canada. Great Britain also made history by defeating Colombia. The USA defeated Canada 12-1 on Monday in their World Baseball Classic pool game after coming back from a shocking loss to Mexico thanks to a three-run home run by Mike … Read more

Silicon Valley Bank: Despite Biden’s assurances, global bank stocks are falling

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Silicon Valley Bank
  • The drops come as regulators acted to protect consumer deposits.
  • Global share prices fell sharply on Tuesday.
  • Joseph Biden pledged to do “whatever is needed” to safeguard the banking system.

Bank shares in Asia and Europe have fallen, despite the US president’s assurances that America’s financial system is secure following the failure of two US lenders.

The drops come as regulators acted to protect consumer deposits after the failures of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank in the United States.

Joseph Biden pledged to do “whatever is needed” to safeguard the banking system.

Nevertheless, investors are concerned that the impact would affect other lenders as well.

Global share prices fell sharply on Tuesday, with Japan’s Topix Banks index plunging more than 7%, putting it on track for its worst day in more than three years.

In mid-day Asian trade, shares of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, the country’s largest lender by assets, were down 8.1%.

Bank shares in Asia and Europe have fallen, despite the US president’s assurances that America’s financial system is secure following the failure of two US lenders.

The drops come as regulators acted to protect consumer deposits after the failures of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank in the United States.

Joseph Biden pledged to do “everything is necessary” to safeguard the banking system.

Nevertheless, investors are concerned that the impact would affect other lenders as well.

Global share prices fell sharply on Tuesday, with Japan’s Topix Banks index plunging more than 7%, putting it on track for its worst day in more than three years.

As the bank was no longer offering wire transfers, they were taking out their money in cashier cheques.

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Alaskan oil and gas development approved by the US government

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Alaska
  • There has been a flood of online activism against the $8 billion (£6.6 billion) proposal.
  • Its effects on the climate and fauna led opponents to suggest that it should be stopped.
  • Estimates from the US Bureau of Land Management indicate that it might produce up to 278 million metric tonnes of CO2e.

A significant oil and gas drilling project in Alaska that was opposed vehemently by environmentalists has been approved by US President Joe Biden.

ConocoPhillips, the corporation behind the Willow project, claims it will attract local investment and generate thousands of employment.

But in recent weeks, there has been a flood of online activism against the $8 billion (£6.6 billion) proposal, especially among young activists on TikTok.

Its effects on the climate and fauna led opponents to suggest that it should be stopped.

It is the largest oil development in the area in decades and could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil per day. It is situated on Alaska’s isolated North Slope.

30-year lifespan

Estimates from the US Bureau of Land Management indicate that it might produce up to 278 million metric tonnes of CO2e over the course of its 30-year lifespan, which is the same as adding two million new automobiles to US roadways each year.

The climate impact of all greenhouse gases combined, as if they were all released as carbon dioxide, is expressed in CO2e.

As a sort of compromise with anti-Willow campaigners, Monday’s announcement will only permit three drill sites for the project as opposed to the five that were initially requested.

A day after the Biden administration restricted oil and gas production on 16 million acres in Alaska and the Arctic Ocean, the approval also comes.

Activists have said that President Biden’s promises to take the lead on climate action were contradicted by Willow.

A Change.org petition requesting the suspension of Willow received more than three million signatures, and more than one million letters of complaint were sent to the White House.

“It’s the wrong move and will be a disaster for wildlife, lands, communities, and our climate,” the environmental charity Sierra Club said on Monday.

Alaskan Iuipat activist Sonny Ahk claimed that Willow would “lock in Arctic oil and gas extraction for another 30 years and catalyze future oil expansion in the Arctic” when he advocated against it.

“While out-of-state executives take in record profits, local residents are left to contend with the detrimental impacts of being surrounded by massive drilling operations,” he said.

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Aukus deal: US, UK, Australia reach agreement on nuclear submarine project

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Aukus
  • The US must initially give Australia at least three nuclear-powered submarines.
  • The allies will also collaborate to build a new fleet employing state-of-the-art technology.
  • The agreement aims to reduce China’s sway in the Indo-Pacific area.

The presidents of the US, UK, and Australia have released new information about their strategy for building a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines of the newest generation.

According to the Aukus pact, the US must initially give Australia at least three nuclear-powered submarines.

The allies will also collaborate to build a new fleet employing state-of-the-art technology, including reactors built by the UK’s Rolls-Royce.

The agreement aims to reduce China’s sway in the Indo-Pacific area.

US President Joseph Biden emphasized that the boats would not have nuclear weapons and would not put Australia’s resolve to being a nuclear-free country in jeopardy when he spoke with the other leaders in San Diego, California.

The following is a summary of the information presented in the presentation.

Before Australia purchases three US Virginia-class submarines in the early 2030s with the option to buy two more, the US and UK will base a small number of nuclear submarines at a RAN facility in Perth, Western Australia, beginning in 2027.

Next, a brand-new nuclear-powered submarine called SSN-AUKUS will be designed and constructed for the navies of the UK and Australia.

The technology for this attack ship will come from all three nations, but it will be constructed in Australia and Britain following a British design.

Australia will have submarines that can go farther and faster than its current fleet, equipped with cruise missiles that can hit targets on land and at sea, thanks to the interim and future boats.

According to President Biden, all three nations are dedicated to ensuring that the region is free and open. Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, and Rishi Sunak, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, stood on either side of him.

“Forging this new partnership, we’re showing again how democracies can deliver our own security and prosperity… not just for us but for the entire world,” he said.

As part of the announcement made on Monday, the US also promised to invest a total of $4.6 billion (£3.7 billion) over the following few years to increase its capacity for building submarines and to enhance maintenance of its Virginia-class submarines.

Anthony Albanese of Australia claimed that the submarine proposal would result in the “biggest single investment in Australia’s defense capability in all of its history” and that it would also generate thousands of new employment.

Mr. Albanese declared, “This will be an Australian sovereign capacity, led by the Royal Australian Navy and – supported by Australian workers in Australian shipyards, with building to begin this decade.

He added that the agreement represents only the second occasion in history—and the first in 65 years—that the US has shared its nuclear propulsion technology.

The problems with global stability, according to UK Prime Minister Sunak, have only gotten worse in the 18 months since the pact was announced.

The illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, China’s escalating aggressiveness, Iran’s behavior that is destabilizing the world, and North Korea’s actions all pose a threat to a world that is marked by danger, chaos, and division.

Mr. Sunak also promised to enhance defense spending by roughly £5 billion ($6 billion) over the following two years to tackle challenges from hostile governments as part of his visit to the US.

China has frequently criticized the treaty. Last week, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for Beijing’s foreign ministry, repeated Beijing’s stance that the agreement “undermines peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region” and runs the risk of sparking an arms race.

“We urge the United States, Britain, and Australia to abandon the Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, faithfully fulfill their international obligations and do more to contribute to regional peace and stability,” he said.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized that Washington had no plans to forge a new alliance akin to Nato in response to worries that the West would increase its Indo-Pacific military footprint.

The agreement has not been without political repercussions, despite the fact that all three leaders have been quick to emphasize how it will improve their cooperation and contribute to global stability.

Australia abandoned a lucrative submarine deal with France in 2021 in favor of the trilateral accord, which strained relations with Paris politically.

The deal’s strategic significance and the fact that it would create thousands of jobs are both being praised by the Australian government.

Yet, our source continues, the nation must engage in some extremely delicate diplomacy moving forward.

The key question is whether Australia can deepen its military connections with the US while still forging closer economic ties with Beijing, as China is its main trading partner.

According to the government, Aukus might cost Australia A$368 billion (£201 billion) over the following three decades.

The location of a future east coast submarine facility has not been decided, but Port Kembla near Wollongong, 100 kilometres (62 miles) south of Sydney, is considered a possible candidate.

A local authority there claimed that the potential presence of a nuclear submarine facility nearby frightened the locals.

Councilwoman Cath Blakey of the Greens party expressed concern to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that it would turn us into a military target.

“I think it’s a potential sovereign risk to Australia to be hitching ourselves to the US and the UK.”

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‘History will hold Donald Trump accountable’ for January 6, Pence says

by
Donald Trump
  • Pence was in the Capitol when thousands of Trump fans stormed the building.
  • Pence was presiding over what had always been the ceremonial process of approving the votes.
  • He harshly attacked Trump’s behavior in a recent interview.

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence delivered his strongest denunciation to his former employer Donald Trump yet on Saturday, saying history will hold him accountable for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol.

Pence was in the Capitol when thousands of Trump fans stormed the building, attempting to prevent Congress from recognizing the results of Trump’s 2020 presidential election loss to Joe Biden.

Pence was presiding over what had always been the ceremonial process of approving the votes of the Electoral College to determine the president and vice president, as the vice president holds the constitutional role of Senate president.

Throughout the siege, Trump issued multiple tweets, one of which urged Republicans to “fight” and another of which made bogus accusations about voter fraud. He also chastised Pence for approving the results.

“President Trump was wrong,” Pence told assembled journalists and their guests at the Gridiron dinner, an annual white-tie event in Washington, D.C.

“I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”

During the incident, Pence, who is exploring a candidature for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, was taken to safety by law officers.

Most pointed

In the months following the incident, he rarely mentioned Jan. 6, but he has subsequently increased his condemnation of the rioters and his former boss’s behavior on that day.

In recent media interviews, he has harshly attacked Trump’s behavior, and in a memoir published in November, he accused Trump of threatening his family.

Yet, Pence’s remarks on Saturday were his most pointed to date.

“What happened that day was a disgrace,” he said. “And it mocks decency to portray it any other way. For as long as I live, I will never, ever diminish the injuries sustained, the lives lost, or the heroism of law enforcement on that tragic day.”

Outside of work hours, a Trump representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since the two left offices, Pence’s relationship with Trump has been complicated. He denounced the former president’s behavior but avoided the most venomous rebukes of Trump. He also refused to participate with the House of Representatives committee probing the Capitol attack, labeling their work as biased.

The former vice president’s comments on Saturday suggest he is willing to distance himself from Trump more aggressively as the 2024 race heats up, even if it means losing millions of GOP voters who still support the former president.

His remarks came just days after conservative television host Tucker Carlson aired security footage of the Capitol attack, claiming that many of the rioters were “orderly.”

Carlson’s depiction of Jan. 6 was sharply criticized by Democrats and several high-profile Republicans in the Senate, though many other Republicans – particularly in the House – shrugged off the episode.

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US-sanctioned general to become the public face of China’s expanding military

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China
  • China’s new defense minister is a veteran of the PLA.
  • He was identified in sanctions imposed by the US State Department in September 2018.
  • Many believe Li’s background as a technocrat.

General Li Shangfu, China‘s new defense minister, is a veteran of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) modernization campaign, which prompted the US to penalize him for acquiring weaponry from Russia.

Although his new position inside the Chinese system is mostly diplomatic and ceremonial, regional diplomats believe Li’s appointment is being closely observed given his experience.

His tenure begins as Washington works to repair military engagement and communications that deteriorated after Beijing responded furiously to then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s August visit to Taiwan.

Many believe Li’s background as a technocrat – he is an aerospace engineer who worked on China’s satellite program – will allow him to play a vital role in fulfilling President Xi Jinping‘s interim ambitions for the PLA.

“The operational and technological background of the next Chinese defense minister is especially pertinent given that the PLA aims to become a world-class military by 2049,” said James Char, a security scholar at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

In 2016, Li was named deputy commander of the PLA’s then-new Strategic Support Force – an elite body tasked with accelerating the development of China’s space and cyber warfare capabilities.

He was then appointed chairman of the Central Military Commission’s (CMC) Equipment Development Department, China’s leading defense body led by President Xi Jinping.

RUSSIAN PURCHASES

As a director, he was identified in sanctions imposed by the US State Department in September 2018 over the purchase of ten Su-35 combat aircraft and equipment associated with Russia’s largest arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, in 2017.

Some security experts argue that the penalties, while not a deal-breaker for future meetings, create a possible complexity and may lend leverage to China’s military leadership.

When asked about Li’s expected elevation last week, Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Marty Meiners said the US military could not comment on media stories concerning China’s leadership changes, but that they had been explicit in their desire to maintain connections with the PLA.

Priority for the U.S

“Open lines of communication can help us manage risk, avoid miscalculation, and responsibly manage competition,” Meiners said.

According to Oriana Skylar Mastro, a fellow at Stanford University’s Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, China is likely to use the dynamic for diplomatic gain, either by portraying the sanctions as insignificant if they are ignored or by implying that it is Washington, not Beijing, that is unwilling to engage.

“Engagement has always been a priority for the U.S., and China sees it as a concession,” Mastro said.

Li’s tenure as a member of the Central Military Commission has highlighted his ties to Xi, who has tightened his influence on the military.

Several academics believe Li has tight ties to Zhang Youxia, a key military buddy of Xi who Li replaced as department director.

During the Communist Party’s Congress in October, Zhang was appointed to first vice-chairman of the CMC, with Li joining him on the commission’s governing seven-person group.

As defense minister, Li is also likely to be involved in Asian military ties, attending events such as Asian defense leaders meetings and the informal Shangri-La Dialogue on security in Singapore.

“I think he has been elevated to this position because he’s delivered for Xi Jinping in key areas of modernization,” said Singapore-based security analyst Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow with Hawaii’s Pacific Forum think-tank.

“This is someone who will have to hold their own in front of an international audience.”

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Aukus: Rishi Sunak in US to finalize defence pact

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Rishi Sunak
  • The 2021 Aukus accord attempts to address the three countries.
  • The meeting between US President and the Australian Prime Minister is likely to result in an agreement.
  • Mr. Sunak will also announce the UK’s new integrated review of defense and foreign policy.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will fly to California to discuss important elements of a new defence pact with his Australian and American counterparts.

The 2021 Aukus accord attempts to address what the three countries regard as China’s threat in the Indo-Pacific area.

China branded the pact “very irresponsible” at the time.

The meeting between US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is likely to result in an agreement to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.

Speaking ahead of the discussions in San Diego, Mr. Sunak said the UK’s worldwide alliances were “our greatest source of strength and security”.

On the tour, Mr. Sunak will also announce the UK’s new integrated review of defense and foreign policy, which has been updated in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Mr. Sunak said the assessment will represent “the future we want to deliver” to the UK – “safe, prosperous and standing shoulder to shoulder with our partners”.

The intentions to finalize the fundamental provisions of the Aukus (Australia-United Kingdom-United States) deal come amid tense diplomatic relations between the West and China.

Downing Street recently mentioned the “increasingly alarming behavior of the Chinese Communist Party,” and a former chief of MI6 recently stated that the UK must “wake up” to the threat presented by China’s challenges to global security.

Meanwhile, the United States and China remain at odds on topics such as Taiwan, China’s militarization of the South China Sea, and the origins of Covid-19. Furthermore, the spy balloon scandal has recently heightened tensions between the superpowers.

Beijing has acknowledged that China-US ties have “seriously deviated”. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang stated the diplomatic crisis caused by the balloon incident might have been averted but the US acted with “the presumption of guilt”.

After the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, and Russia, Australia will become only the seventh country in the world to operate nuclear-powered submarines.

The plan is for nuclear submarines to be built in Adelaide, South Australia, with the UK and US contributing technology consultation.

The UK hopes that the Aukus accord will result in employment for UK shipyards, with sources claiming that Canberra may choose to build a modified version of the British Astute-class submarine while receiving up to five US Virginia-class submarines throughout the development stage.

In addition to submarines, the treaty commits the three countries to exchange information and technology in areas ranging from intelligence and quantum technology to the acquisition of cruise missiles.

But, the signing of the agreement created a dispute with France, which lost a contract with Australia to build 12 submarines.

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Mexico too dangerous for spring break, says Texas officials

by
Mexico
  • Drug cartel violence is a serious concern to anyone traveling into Mexico.
  • It follows the kidnapping of four Americans.
  • Two were killed, while the other two were released uninjured.

Authorities in the US state of Texas have advised American citizens not to travel to Mexico during the spring break holidays for security reasons.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), drug cartel violence is a serious concern to anyone traveling into Mexico.

It follows the kidnapping of four Americans shortly after crossing the border last week.

Two were killed, while the other two were released uninjured.

Three American women who traveled to Mexico to sell garments at a market have gone missing for over two weeks.

“Drug cartel violence and other criminal activity represent a significant safety threat to anyone who crosses into Mexico right now,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw.

“Based on the volatile nature of cartel activity and the violence we are seeing there, we are urging individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time.”

When four Americans visited Matamoros, Mexico, earlier this month, they were kidnapped and two of them murdered by a drug cartel. In the shooting, a Mexican onlooker was also murdered.

The cartel involved has already apologized and turned over its own gunmen to authorities.

A note left with the cartel gunmen, who had been left on the roadside, accused them of acting “under their own decision-making and lack of discipline” as well as supposedly breaking cartel rules over “protecting the lives of the innocent”.

It was signed by the “Scorpions Group”, a splinter faction of the powerful Gulf Cartel.

Mexican investigators say the gang members mistook the Americans for competitors and opened fire on them as they attempted to flee.

The incident has the potential to deteriorate relations between the two countries.

A Republican lawmaker has pushed President Joe Biden’s administration to authorize American troops to cross the border to fight drug gangs.

The suggestions were labeled “arrogant” by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Similarly, two Texas sisters and a companion remain missing in Mexico after crossing the border last month to sell clothes at a flea market, according to US officials.

After days of silence, the spouse of one of the women reported their abduction to police in Texas.

“We don’t know if they made it there,” Roel Bermea, police chief in the border town of Penitas.”

The FBI had been notified, he added.

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Saudi Arabia seeks security assurances from US

by
Saudi Arabia
  • Israel and Saudi Arabia have maintained unofficial contacts but do not have official diplomatic relations.
  • Biden has emphasized the necessity of restoring relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
  • It’s unclear what the conditions of any agreement may look like if it comes to fruition.

Saudi Arabia is looking to the US for security guarantees and assistance with its civilian nuclear program as a condition for normalizing relations with Israel, setting up a critical decision that could reshape the political situation in the Middle East.

The talks are still going on, and it’s unclear what the conditions of any agreement may look like if it comes to fruition.

Several members of Congress, who have called on the Biden administration to downgrade Washington’s ties with Riyadh, are expected to oppose increased security guarantees for Saudi Arabia.

Yet, President Joseph Biden has emphasized the necessity of restoring relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as has Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who believes that improving relations between the two countries can assist increase security in the Middle East. For several years, Israel and Saudi Arabia have maintained unofficial contacts but do not have official diplomatic relations.

‘Better for everybody’

“The better the relations between Israel and their Arab neighbors, the better for everybody,” Biden said Friday at the end of a speech about the economy.

Israel has already established diplomatic relations with several Arab countries, including Morocco, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. The Abraham Accords were a defining success of the Trump administration, and Biden has promised to build on them, especially while Iran’s nuclear program proceeds.

A spokeswoman for the US National Security Council declined to corroborate the Wall Street Journal’s story that Saudi Arabia was seeking security guarantees from the US.

Instead, John Kirby, the NSC’s strategic communications coordinator, highlighted Biden’s accomplishments on his summer visits to Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Diplomacy prevails

“The President’s trip to the region accomplished a lot,” said Kirby, citing an agreement on contested Red Sea islands and a recent announcement by Oman it would allow Israeli overflights.

“We’re going to keep that diplomacy going,” he said.

A request for comment was not returned by the State Department. The Israeli Embassy in Washington was unavailable for comment.

The ramifications of an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia mediated by the US could be far-reaching. That would cast uncertainty on the future of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, which has recently seen increasing violence under Israel’s right-wing administration.

Normalizing relations, according to US officials, would also offer heft to a regional counterweight to Iran, which has progressed its nuclear enrichment over the last year.

Although the Saudi-led OPEC+ oil cartel suddenly declared it would cut output last year, Biden promised Saudi Arabia would face “consequences,” but the Biden administration has no plans to punish, let alone significantly realign its posture towards, the oil-rich Middle Eastern monarchy.

On Friday, Saudi Arabia and Iran declared the resumption of diplomatic relations after seven years of animosity, in a pact between regional archrivals that could have far-reaching consequences for the Middle East.

Under an agreement negotiated by China, Riyadh, and Tehran plan to reopen their embassies, according to a joint statement issued by Saudi Arabia and Iran on Friday.

Kirby stated that Saudi officials had kept the White House updated on the progress of the talks. But, he downplayed Beijing’s role in mediating the accord, stating that the road plan for resuming relations includes meetings in Iraq and Oman.

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Donald Trump invited to testify before grand jury

by
Donald Trump i
  • The Manhattan district attorney has been investigating Mr. Trump.
  • Ms. Daniels claims she received $130,000 in exchange for silence.
  • A grand jury is set up by a prosecutor.

Prosecutors in New York have called former US President Donald Trump to testify before a grand jury in the Stormy Daniels case, according to his lawyer.

For the past five years, the Manhattan district attorney has been investigating Mr. Trump for alleged hush money payments made on his behalf to the ex-porn star.

Experts believe that summoning him to a grand jury means that he may face prosecution.

Ms. Daniels claims she received $130,000 in exchange for silence about an alleged romance prior to the 2016 election.

A grand jury is set up by a prosecutor to determine whether there is enough evidence to pursue charges in a case. It is held in secret, and several former aides of Mr. Trump have reportedly testified in this case.

If prosecutors pursue the case, it could be the first time a former US president has faced criminal charges.

Mr. Trump was called to testify before the grand jury, according to the New York Times.

If the Manhattan district attorney’s office has summoned Mr. Trump, it means the office is considering indicting him, according to Catherine Christian, a former financial prosecutor in District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.

She believes Mr. Trump will decline the opportunity to testify.

“Most people decline for a host of reasons. You waive immunity, you open yourself up, if you lie, to perjury charges,” she said. “You’re also letting the district attorney know what your defense is.”

Mr. Trump is being investigated in multiple cases, including the Stormy Daniels case, though he has not been charged in any of them and denies wrongdoing in each.

They come as the 76-year-old Republican prepares to run for President again.

Prosecutors have not commented on the invitation, which was widely reported in the American media and confirmed by Mr. Trump’s legal team.

The action arises from allegations that Mr. Trump authorized his former lawyer to pay adult film actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her from coming out about an alleged affair.

Michael Cohen, the lawyer, was later imprisoned on various offenses. Cohen stated under oath that Mr. Trump authorized him to make the $130,000 (£110,000) payment only days before the 2016 presidential election.

Mr. Trump admitted to reimbursing the cash but denied the affair and any wrongdoing in violation of campaign statutes.

According to Ms. Christian, the former president could face two charges for his acts.

The first, she said, may be a simple misdemeanor charge of manipulating business documents, as prosecutors believe he categorized Cohen’s payments as legal fees.

The district attorney’s office may possibly seek to charge Mr. Trump with a low-level felony, but she says that would be a considerably more challenging legal case.

Mr. Trump would face a felony charge for altering business records with the purpose to conduct or conceal a second crime.

Prosecutors might argue Mr. Trump’s efforts to hide his payments to Ms. Daniels were election campaign-related, as he allegedly did so to shield voters from knowing he had participated in an “illicit relationship” with Ms. Daniels, Ms. Christian said – something she termed “a novel theory”.

“That doesn’t mean they can’t prove it and get a conviction, but it’s going to be tough.”

If convicted, Ms. Christian said Mr. Trump could face probation or a fine.

“But it would still be a felony, and who wants to be charged with a felony, and who wants to be convicted of a felony? Certainly not a former president,” she said.

Mr. Trump labeled the inquiry a political witch-hunt by a “corrupt, perverted, and weaponized legal system” on his social media network Truth Social.

Before a meeting with the Manhattan DA on Friday, Cohen told media he “applauded” Mr. Bragg for “providing Donald the opportunity to come in to give his narrative”.

“Well, knowing Trump as well as I do, I understand that he doesn’t speak the truth,” Cohen said. “It’s one thing to turn around and lie on your deception social. It’s one thing to turn around and lie in front of a grand jury.”

Throughout Trump’s administration, there was a legal battle over Ms. Daniels’ allegations.

A federal investigation into the Stormy Daniels issue was abandoned after he left office in 2021, but the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has been conducting its own investigation since 2018.

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Pakistan is America’s third-largest source of foreign doctors

by
Pakistan
  • About 30% of the 800,000 doctors in America are of foreign origin.
  • The USA will be short of doctors by 2025.
  • There are about 12,000 Pakistani doctors practicing in the USA.

Pakistan has been a reliable source of foreign doctors for the United States. Currently, a third of all practicing physicians in the United States are of foreign origin, and about 30% of the 800,000 doctors in America are of foreign origin. It is estimated that the United States will be short by approximately 160,000 physicians by 2025, a void that will almost certainly be filled by more foreign doctors.

As of 2013, there were about 12,000 Pakistani doctors practicing in the United States, making Pakistan the third-largest supplier of foreign-trained physicians in the world, with India and the Philippines ranking first and second, respectively. India and Pakistan are also the top two sources of foreign doctors practicing in the UK. The Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi has produced 3,100 doctors, making it the largest pool of doctors among the 12,000 Pakistani doctors practicing in the United States.

It is worth noting that India has six doctors for every 10,000 inhabitants, and Pakistan has eight, while the United States has 25 doctors per 10,000 people. Despite this, the United States continues to import hundreds of doctors from India and Pakistan to ease the current shortage of physicians.

 

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Republican leader of US Senate admitted in hospital after fall

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Republican leader
  • US Senate Republican tripped in Washington, DC hotel.
  • No other information concerning his condition was provided.
  • Mr. McConnell previously injured his shoulder in a tumble in early August 2019.

US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was transported to the hospital after collapsing in a Washington, DC hotel, according to a spokeswoman.

“At a private dinner, Leader McConnell tripped at a local hotel,” a spokeswoman said.

No other information concerning his condition was provided. Mr. McConnell, 81, is in his seventh term in the Senate.

Mr. McConnell is one of the Republican Party’s most senior lawmakers, currently serving as Senate Minority Leader.

According to sources, Mr. McConnell previously injured his shoulder in a tumble in early August 2019.

Since 2007, he has served as Senate Republican leader. He has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985.

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US: Six-year-old who shot teacher won’t be charged – prosecutor

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US
  • Authorities have yet to decide if any adults would face criminal charges in the case.
  • The child carried the gun to Richneck Elementary School on January 6th in his backpack.
  • Teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, was wounded in the hand and chest but survived.

A prosecutor has suggested that a six-year-old kid who shot his teacher in a primary school in the US state of Virginia is unlikely to face charges.

However, authorities have yet to decide if any adults would face criminal charges in the case.

According to police, the child carried the gun to Richneck Elementary School on January 6th in his backpack.

Teacher Abigail Zwerner, 25, was wounded in the hand and chest but survived.

Commonwealth‘s Attorney Howard Gwynn stated on Wednesday that his office would not press charges against the kid.

He stated that “the thought of a six-year-old standing trial is troubling” since the child is too young to understand the legal system.

“Our objective is not just to do something as quickly as possible,” Mr. Gwynn added.

“Once we analyze all the facts, we will charge any person or persons that we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt committed a crime.”

Ms. Zwerner is suing the school district after being shot through the hand and upper chest during an “altercation” with a first-grader, according to police.

According to authorities, the pistol was properly purchased and belonged to the child’s mother.

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Black couple in the US has settled a lawsuit over a ‘white-washed’ home valuation

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US
  • Properties in black and Hispanic neighborhoods were consistently underestimated.
  • Official numbers show that 92.4% of house appraisers are white.
  • The couple chose to refinance their mortgage in 2020 when interest rates were historically low.

A black couple in the United States has settled a lawsuit with a real estate appraiser who they accused of undervaluing their home because of their race.

Tenisha Tate-Austin and Paul Austin’s home was assessed at over $1 million (£845,000) in 2020, far less than projected.

They requested another appraisal, this time with a white acquaintance posing as the owner of the California home. It was worth approximately $1.5 million.

Official numbers show that 92.4% of house appraisers are white.

In 2021, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation disclosed the results of a five-year study of 12 million evaluations, which revealed that properties in black and Hispanic neighborhoods were consistently underestimated.

Ms. Tate-Austin and Mr. Austin purchased the house in the San Francisco suburb of Marin City in 2016 for around $550,000.

The city has a substantial African-American population (38%), contrasting to the largely white Marin County, where it is located, which has only 2.8%, black residents.

The couple chose to refinance their mortgage in 2020 when interest rates were historically low.

The previous year, a company valued their four-bedroom property for $1,450,000 after making significant upgrades, including expanding square footage.

But, when they tried to refinance in 2020 to take advantage of low-interest rates, they were appraised at only $995,000.

So they devised an experiment. What if their white acquaintance posed as the homeowner instead?

They cleaned up after themselves, including their African-themed artwork and photographs.

The practice is known as “white-washing,” and black homeowners around the country have reported using it to sell their homes.

A separate appraiser inspected the house for the fake white homeowner several weeks after their first estimate.

This time, it was appraised at $1,482,500 – almost half a million dollars more than the initial estimate, according to the lawsuit.

“You feel a sense of relief like, ‘I told you.’ Then you just feel a sense of sadness.”

“We had to do what we had to do in order to have our house appraised for what it should have been appraised for from the start.

“I mean, it’s the financial impact, but it’s the emotional impact. It’s the feeling every day like, the tax of being African-American in this country like you don’t know, it’s a coin toss.”

The couple filed a lawsuit against the first appraisal firm for breaching the Fair Housing Act, a federal law.

On Wednesday, the lawsuit was resolved for an unknown sum.

The defendants are not required to admit any liability in the case as part of the deal, but they must view a documentary about discriminatory real estate and attend a training session on the history of racial discrimination in real estate.

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Sobbing American Marine portrays Afghanistan’s “catastrophe”

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American
  • He described a moment of turmoil and unpreparedness following the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul.
  • Others described experiencing trauma and moral harm in the aftermath.
  • Thirteen US soldiers and 170 Afghan civilians were killed in the bombing.

A veteran US Marine seriously injured in Afghanistan has described the pullout in 2021 as a “catastrophe” in testimony before Congress.

Tyler Vargas-Andrews testified during the first of a series of Republican-led hearings on the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal.

He described a moment of turmoil and unpreparedness following the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul.

Others described experiencing trauma and moral harm in the aftermath.

On August 26, 2021, Sgt Vargas-Andrews, 25, was one of numerous US military personnel charged with securing Kabul’s airport when two suicide bombers targeted crowds of Afghans fleeing the Taliban during the US retreat.

Thirteen US soldiers and 170 Afghan civilians were killed in the bombing.

Sgt Vargas-Andrews stated that he and another US Marine received intelligence about the attack before it happened and that he saw the suspect in the crowd.

‘Plain and simple’

He stated that he had notified his superiors and requested permission to act, but had not gotten it.

“Plain and simple, we were ignored,” Sgt Vargas-Andrews said.

He described being flung in the air during the blast and opening his eyes to find his colleagues dead or asleep around him in emotional testimony.

“My body was overwhelmed by the trauma of the blast. My abdomen had been ripped open. Every inch of my exposed body took ball bearings and shrapnel,” he said.

Sgt Vargas-Andrews called the withdrawal a “catastrophe”, adding: “There was an inexcusable lack of accountability and negligence.”

“I see the faces of all of those we could not save, those we left behind,” he said.

Several US servicemen and veterans spoke before the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into the disengagement from Afghanistan about the mental health toll that the drawdown has taken on them.

Gutting

Former Lt Col David Scott Mann, who helped to evacuate Afghans at the time, stated that the experience trying to get comrades out had been “gutting”.

He said that calls to the Veteran Affairs hotline increased 81% after the pullout from Afghanistan, and he warned that the US was on the “front end of a mental health tsunami”.

In the aftermath, he added, a friend he had served with committed suicide.

“He just couldn’t find his way out of the darkness of that moral injury,” Lt Col Mann said.

The majority of witnesses, from George W. Bush to Joe Biden, blamed every presidential administration since US forces were initially deployed to Afghanistan.

Witnesses also urged rapid action to assist Afghan allies who are still in limbo in both Afghanistan and the United States.

“America is building a nasty reputation for multi-generational systemic abandonment of our allies where we leave a smoldering human refuse, from the Montagnards of Vietnam to the Kurds in Syria,” Lt Col Mann said.

Conservatives who have long advocated for an investigation blamed the Biden administration.

The withdrawal was a “total collapse of the federal government at every level,” said panel chairman Michael McCaul, a House Republican from Texas.

Democrats spoke out in support of President Biden in response.

Congressman Gregory Meeks from New York said that Mr. Biden had “made the right decision to bring all our troops home”.

“I can’t in good conscience imagine sending more American men and women to fight in Afghanistan.”

Mr. Biden had previously said that he bore “responsibility for fundamentally all that has happened”, but he also blamed former President Donald Trump for overseeing the withdrawal deal with the Taliban.

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Two Americans killed and two others were abducted in Mexico

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Americans
  • Two American are dead, two are alive.
  • Four US citizens were kidnapped by armed men on 3 March.
  • They had traveled to Mexico for cosmetic surgery.

Two of the four Americans kidnapped at gunpoint in Mexico last week are dead and two are alive and now back in the US, Mexican and US officials say.

Four US citizens were kidnapped by armed men on 3 March while driving into Matamoros in the north-eastern state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, across the border from Texas.

According to family in the United States, they had traveled there for cosmetic surgery.

José “N,” 24, of Tamaulipas, was arrested.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: “We offer our deepest condolences to the friends and families of those who were killed in these attacks.”

Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica tweeted that the two surviving victims were handed to the US on Tuesday in collaboration with the US embassy in Matamoros.

A heavily armed Mexican military convoy transported them back under armed guard.

The FBI later verified that two Americans were found deceased and that the other two had been transported to US hospitals for treatment.

“One of the surviving victims sustained serious injuries during the attack,” the FBI said.

The agency will also engage with international partners and other law enforcement organizations to “hold those responsible for this horrific and violent attack accountable for their crimes,” according to the statement.

Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard’s bodies have been recovered and are being repatriated, according to US officials.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said: “We are very sorry that this happened in our country and we send our condolences to the families of the victims, friends, and the United States government, and we will continue doing our work to guarantee peace and tranquillity.”

Family members identified the injured Americans as Latavia “Tay” McGee, a South Carolina mother of six, and Eric James Williams.

The four were traveling through Matamoros, a 500,000-person city immediately across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates when unidentified assailants opened fire, according to the FBI.

They are shown on video being carried into a pickup truck by heavily armed guys. Others look to be unconscious and are dragged to the truck while one is manhandled onto the vehicle.

Last Friday’s incident killed a Mexican woman, thought to be a 33-year-old witness more than a block away.

Later that day, Mexican officials verified the arrest of a 24-year-old male and the discovery of the four Americans at a wooden house outside Matamoros.

The victims were moved to numerous sites between their kidnapping on Friday and their discovery on Tuesday “to create uncertainty,” according to officials.

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Biden had skin cancer removed; no more treatment is required

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Biden
  • Joe Biden had basal cell carcinoma a common type of skin cancer.
  • White House physician stated in a letter that all malignant tissue was effectively removed.
  • Biden will undergo dermatologic surveillance as part of his ongoing healthcare.

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden had a basal cell carcinoma — a common type of skin cancer — removed from his chest in February, and no more treatment is required, according to White House physician Kevin O’Connor on Friday.

The White House physician stated in a letter that all malignant tissue was effectively removed, and that Biden will undergo dermatologic surveillance as part of his ongoing healthcare, but that the spot has healed.

After a physical test, physicians certified Biden, 80, healthy and “fit for duty” last month. At the time, they stated that a small tumor on his chest had been excised and submitted for a biopsy.

According to O’Connor’s letter, basal cell carcinoma lesions do not spread or metastasize.

Biden’s health is being closely monitored as he prepares to run for a second presidential term in 2024. His wife, Jill Biden, has stated that he intends to run, although no formal announcement of the president’s intentions has been made.

Democrats are divided on whether Biden, who is already the oldest president in American history, should be the party’s nominee.

Biden’s three-hour interview with specialists in February at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, was his second full examination since assuming office in January 2021.

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Ukraine war: US sends more ammo to Kyiv amid fears that supplies are running low

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Ukraine war
  • Antony Blinken stated this includes high-precision Himars artillery rockets and howitzers.
  • The US is providing tactical bridges ahead of Ukraine’s planned invasion.
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that artillery and shells were needed to “stop Russia.”

The United States is increasing military aid to Ukraine by $400 million (£333 million) to replenish ammunition inventories destroyed during the country’s ongoing high-intensity conflict with Russia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated this includes high-precision Himars artillery rockets and howitzers “which Ukraine is using so effectively”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had stated that artillery and shells were needed to “stop Russia”.

In addition, the US is providing tactical bridges ahead of Ukraine’s planned invasion.

The supply of such equipment, which allows armored vehicles to traverse rivers and ditches, comes as several Ukrainian military officials and analysts have predicted that the operation could begin in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Moscow maintained its months-long assault on Bakhmut on Friday, saying that Russian mercenaries have “practically ringed” the city in the eastern Donetsk region.

Repelled

According to the latest news bulletin from Ukraine’s military, Russian troops are still attempting to encircle the city, although “several attempts have been repelled” in the last 24 hours.

Elsewhere, a partial evacuation was planned on Thursday in Kupiansk, Kharkiv area, which was liberated from Russian occupation last September.

The regional authorities said families with children and people “with limited mobility” should leave due to “constant” shelling by Russian forces.

In a statement on Friday, Mr. Blinken said: “This military assistance package includes more ammunition for US-provided Himars and howitzers, which Ukraine is using so effectively to defend itself”.

He added that Washington would also be sending “ammunition for Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Armoured Vehicle Launched Bridges, demolitions munitions and equipment, and other maintenance, training and support”.

Himars were very effective during Ukraine’s major counter-offensive late last year, which took the whole Kharkiv region back under Kyiv’s control.

These victories, along with the freeing of Kherson in the south, were the most important front-line adjustments since Russia’s withdrawal from territories near Kyiv in April.

But, President Zelenskyy on Thursday remarked that “artillery is number one that we need”.

He said that Kyiv would also need “a large number of shells” and warplanes to “evict” Russian forces from Ukrainian land.

Military support to Ukraine was likely to be the main topic of discussion when US President Joe Biden met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Washington on Friday.

Mr. Biden hailed the German Chancellor for his country’s “unwavering” support for Ukraine.

Mr. Scholz said it was crucial to emphasise that this will continue “as long as it takes and as long as is necessary”.

A number of Ukraine’s Western partners have committed to providing tanks and artillery, but Kyiv insists that this must happen far faster to discourage any Russian invasion.

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Dar, Masood discusses bilateral economic relations between Pak, USA

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Dar
  • They discussed this during a call on meeting.
  • Dar extended his full support to the Ambassador.
  • Ambassador apprised friendly relations in two countries.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), Masood Khan discussed bilateral economic and commercial relations between Pakistan and USA.

They discussed this during a call on meeting on Friday.

The Ambassador apprised the Finance Minister that the friendly relations between the two countries are deepening and mutual cooperation is enhancing between the two countries with the passage of time.

Highlighting the long historical relations between the two countries, the minister stressed upon making efforts to further enhance the business collaboration between the two countries which has a great potential of growth given the opportunities for business and investment available in Pakistan.

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The Finance Minister extended his full support and cooperation to the Ambas

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Meeting of US, Chinese, and Russian ministers in Delhi is a major test for Indian diplomacy

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Delhi
  • India’s foreign minister will meet his American, Chinese, and Russian counterparts on Thursday.
  • The world’s largest democracy has been eager to position itself as a leader of emerging and developing nations.
  • Modi alluded to the Ukraine situation, saying it was producing “deep global divisions.”

Foreign ministers from the world’s largest economies have gathered in New Delhi, laying the groundwork for a major test of Indian diplomacy as it attempts to negotiate tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, will meet his American, Chinese, and Russian counterparts Thursday in the second high-level ministerial meeting under India’s Group of 20 (G20) presidency this year, hoping to find enough common ground to deliver a joint statement at the end of the summit.

With a population of more than 1.3 billion people, the world’s largest democracy has been eager to position itself as a leader of emerging and developing nations – often referred to as the global South – at a time when soaring food and energy prices as a result of the war are hammering consumers who are already dealing with rising costs and inflation.

Such views were front and center during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s opening speech on Thursday, when he spoke of the world’s various challenges, with less wealthy nations bearing the brunt of the burden.

“The experience of the last few years, the financial crisis, climate change, the pandemic, terrorism, and wars clearly shows that global governance has failed,” Modi said.

“We must also admit that the tragic consequences of this failure are being faced most over by the developing countries,” who he says are most affected by global warming “caused by richer countries”.

Modi alluded to the Ukraine situation, saying it was producing “deep global divisions.” But, he urged the foreign ministers to set aside their disagreements during their meeting on Thursday.

“We should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can,” he said.

Analysts say India’s attempt to promote its agenda has been hindered by the war’s persistent fissures.

These disparities were on display last month in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru when G20 finance leaders failed to agree on a statement following their meeting. Russia and China both refused to sign the united declaration, which condemned Moscow’s invasion. It left India with the task of issuing a “chair’s report and outcome document” that summarised the two days of negotiations and recognized disputes.

According to analysts, New Delhi has skillfully handled its ties to Russia and the West throughout the war, with Modi emerging as a leader courted by all parties.

But as the war enters its second year, and tensions continue to rise, pressure could mount on countries, including India, to take a firmer stand against Russia – putting Modi’s statecraft to the test.

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US opposes Israel’s far-right minister’s request for a Palestinian town to be “erased”

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US
  • US State Department spokesperson urged the Israeli PM to repudiate remarks.
  • During an attack on Nablus last week, Israeli forces killed 11 Palestinians.
  • Israeli Foreign minister made his comments just days after Israeli settlers attacked Huwara.

The United States has condemned a key Israeli minister for suggesting a Palestinian hamlet that had been attacked by settlers needs to be “wiped out”, calling his words “repugnant”.

US State Department spokesperson Ned Price also encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “publicly and explicitly” repudiate remarks made by his Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich against the West Bank town of Huwara.

“These comments were irresponsible. They were repugnant. They were disgusting,” Price told reporters on Wednesday. “And just as we condemn Palestinian incitement to violence, we condemn these provocative remarks that also amount to incitement to violence.”

Smotrich, a far-right Israeli lawmaker who also manages civil administration in the occupied West Bank, made his comments just days after Israeli settlers attacked Huwara and set fire to hundreds of cars and homes.

“I think the village of Huwara needs to be wiped out. I think the state of Israel should do it,” Smotrich was quoted as saying by Israeli media outlets on Wednesday.

One Palestinian was killed in the settlers’ raid on Huwara, near Nablus, which occurred during a period of increased violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

During an attack on Nablus last week, Israeli forces killed 11 Palestinians.

A Palestinian shooter killed two Israeli settlers on Sunday, while an Israeli-American motorist was killed earlier this week in a shooting attack in Jericho, deep inside the West Bank.

Price reiterated Washington’s desire for “equal measures of accountability for terrorist attacks whatever of the background of the perpetrators or the victims” on Wednesday.

Increasingly Critical

Israeli authorities had only arrested eight suspects out of hundreds who took part in the Huwara riot and had released all of them by Tuesday.

Washington has become increasingly critical of Netanyahu’s far-right government’s policies, especially the construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.

Palestinian rights activists, on the other hand, have been pushing for tangible action from US President Joe Biden’s administration to deter further Israeli violations.

Israel receives at least $3.8 billion in American aid per year while being accused by top human rights organizations such as Amnesty International of implementing an apartheid system.

On Thursday, the advocacy group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) petitioned the State Department to put a visa suspension on Smotrich.

“The Biden Administration should not allow senior government officials inciting atrocities against Palestinian civilians to spread their violent and hateful rhetoric in the United States,” Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN’s executive director, said in a statement.

“The ‘exceptional’ nature of the US-Israel relationship should have its limits, and banning Smotrich would send an important signal that the US will not tolerate such dangerous, reckless incitement to violence.”

Democracy for the Arab World Now

On Thursday, the advocacy group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) petitioned the State Department to put a visa suspension on Smotrich.

J Street, a Jewish-American organization that identifies itself as pro-Israel and pro-peace, called on Biden earlier this week to set “clear redlines and practical consequences” for Israeli government policies.

“Only then can the Biden Administration truly hope to halt the escalation of violence and terror, advance US interests, defend Israeli and Palestinian rights and lives, and help secure Israel’s future as a democracy,” J Street said in a statement on Monday.

Biden, a self-proclaimed Zionist, has repeatedly affirmed his “ironclad” commitment to Israel, dismissing calls for imposing conditions on US aid to the country.

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US airport, Man detained after explosive discovered in suitcase

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US

TSA officials said they discovered the gadget during a regular inspection. Mark Muffley was arrested after reportedly bringing an explosive device to a Pennsylvania airport. He fled the airport as his name was yelled over the loudspeaker. A man was caught by FBI officials on Monday after reportedly bringing an explosive device to a Pennsylvania … Read more

Covid: FBI Director Christopher Wray believes leak from Chinese laboratory is “most likely”

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FBI
  • FBI’s top-secret assessment of how the pandemic virus spread.
  • China has denied the existence of a lab leak in Wuhan, calling the claim slanderous.
  • Several US government agencies have reached conclusions that differ from the FBI’s.

FBI Director Christopher Wray has claimed that the bureau believes Covid-19 “most likely” originated in a “Chinese government-controlled lab”.

“The FBI has for quite some time now assessed that the origins of the pandemic are most likely a potential lab incident,” he told Fox News.

It’s the first public confirmation of the FBI’s top-secret assessment of how the pandemic virus spread.

China has denied the existence of a lab leak in Wuhan, calling the claim slanderous.

Mr. Wray’s remarks came a day after the US ambassador to China urged the country to “be more honest” about the origins of Covid.

Mr Wray stated in his interview on Tuesday that China “has been doing its best to impede and distort” efforts to pinpoint the origins of the worldwide pandemic.

“And that’s unfortunate for everybody,” he said.

According to some investigations, the virus spread from animals to humans in Wuhan, China, probably through the city’s seafood and wildlife market.

Conclusions that differ

The market is a 40-minute drive from a world-leading virus laboratory, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which conducts research into coronaviruses.

Several US government agencies have reached conclusions that differ from the FBI’s, with varied degrees of certainty in their findings.

The Chinese government has yet to reply to Mr. Wray’s remarks. On Monday, however, it denied media claims that the US Energy Department had “low confidence” that Covid had leaked from a lab. The government previously stated that it was unsure how the infection originated.

Beijing further referenced a 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) assessment that declared the lab leak allegation “very implausible”.

“Certain parties should stop rehashing the ‘lab leak’ narrative, stop smearing China, and stop politicizing origins-tracing,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.

The WHO investigation was deeply criticized and its director-general has since called for a new inquiry, saying: “All hypotheses remain open and require further study.”

Mr. Wray’s remarks came a day after the US ambassador to China urged the country to “be more honest” about the origins of Covid.

Mr. Wray stated in his interview on Tuesday that China “has been doing its best to impede and distort” efforts to pinpoint the origins of the worldwide pandemic.

“And that’s unfortunate for everybody,” he said.

No legitimacy

Following his remarks, Mao Ning, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, stated, “The conclusions they have reached have no legitimacy to speak of.”

According to some investigations, the virus spread from animals to humans in Wuhan, China, probably through the city’s seafood and wildlife market.

The market is a 40-minute drive from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a world-class virus laboratory that conducts coronavirus research.

According to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, US President Joe Biden supports “a whole-of-government effort” to figure out how Covid got started.

“We’re simply not there [at agreement] yet,” he explained. “If we have something ready to brief the American people and Congress on, we will do so.”

Tensions in bilateral relations between the United States and China have risen in the aftermath of the recent spy balloon scandal.

This week, a bipartisan panel of US senators launched a series of hearings on the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s “existential” danger.

The first session of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party focused on issues such as human rights and the US economy’s dependence on Chinese manufacturing.

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US envoy says, China should be honest on Covid origin

by
US and China
  • Outbreak’s genesis “was about science and should not be politicized.” says the Chinese foreign ministry.
  • The energy department previously stated that it was unsure how the infection arose.
  • Mao Ning urged US investigators to “stop disparaging China and stop politicizing origins-tracing.”

The United States ambassador to China has urged the country to be “more honest” about the origins of the Covid-19 virus.

His remarks came a day after US media reported that a federal agency had determined that the epidemic was most likely caused by a laboratory leak in Wuhan.

China’s foreign ministry blasted back saying the global outbreak’s genesis “was about science and should not be politicized”.

Since the US shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon earlier this month, relations between Washington and Beijing have been strained.

Ambassador Nicholas Burns told a US Chamber of Commerce event on Monday that China needs to “be more honest about what happened three years ago in Wuhan with the origin of the Covid-19 crisis”.

Low confidence

The US Department of Energy decided in a classified intelligence analysis with “low confidence” that the virus was accidentally leaked by a laboratory.

The energy department previously stated that it was unsure how the infection arose.

Different US government agencies have reached different conclusions, with varied degrees of certainty in their results. In 2021, the FBI found with “moderate confidence” that the virus escaped from a lab.

Additional research indicates that it transitioned from animals to humans at Wuhan’s Huanan seafood and wildlife market.

The US Department of Energy decided in a classified intelligence analysis with “low confidence” that the virus was accidently leaked by a laboratory, according to US media on Sunday.

The energy department previously stated that it was unsure how the infection arose.

“There has not been a definitive conclusion and consensus in the US government on the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he told reporters when asked about the energy department’s reported determination.

On Monday, a representative for China’s foreign ministry dismissed the lab leak idea once more.

Mao Ning urged US investigators to “stop disparaging China and stop politicizing origins-tracing”.

Once it was revealed that the US energy department had settled on the lab leak explanation, Republican Senator Tom Cotton tweeted “being proven right doesn’t matter”.

“What matters is holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable so this doesn’t happen again.”

Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton told he was “not entirely surprised” by the energy department’s reported conclusion.

“The Chinese have mishandled Covid at every step of the way, [and] are trying to sweep it under the rug,” he said.

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U.S. ‘endangered’ peace with Taiwan Strait fly-through, says China

by
China
  • China has been enraged by US military deployments in the small strait.
  • China’s People’s Liberation Army forces closely monitored the aircraft.
  • The Pentagon did not reply immediately to a request for comment.

As a US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance military plane sailed through the crucial Taiwan Strait on Monday, China accused the US of “endangering” peace and stability in the region.

Beijing has been enraged by US military deployments in the small strait, most often of warships but occasionally of planes, claiming that China “has sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction” over the waterway. Taiwan and the United States argue that it is an international waterway.

The Eastern Theatre Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army said its forces closely monitored the aircraft, which is also used for anti-submarine missions, as it flew through the strait which separates China from Taiwan.

“The U.S. side’s actions deliberately interfered with and disrupted the regional situation and endangered peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We firmly oppose this,” it said in a short statement.

High Alert

“Theatre forces remain on high alert at all times and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The Pentagon did not reply immediately to a request for comment.

The US has previously stated that such missions demonstrate the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Taiwan’s defense ministry announced in a brief statement that the plane had flown south via the strait.

Taiwan’s forces tracked the aircraft as if flying through the strait, the ministry said, saying the situation was “as normal”. That didn’t go into detail.

China, which claims democratically controlled Taiwan as its own territory, has increased military action near the island in recent years in an attempt to force Taiwan to recognize Beijing’s sovereignty.

Taiwan’s government claims that only the people of the island can decide their future and that it would not cave into threats.

Despite the lack of official diplomatic connections, Washington is Taiwan’s most important overseas patron and arms vendor, and US backing for the island is a continual source of friction in Sino-US relations.

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Hundreds are without power as California storms deliver rain, snow, and frigid temperatures

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California
  • 85,000 households and businesses were without power in Los Angeles.
  • The main highway leading north out of the city remained closed.
  • San Francisco was anticipated to have record-low temperatures on Saturday.

Nearly 85,000 households and businesses were without power in the Los Angeles area on Saturday, as storms continued to pummel parts of California, bringing snow to higher elevations and dumping rain and hail in the flatlands.

The California Department of Transportation reported that Interstate 5, the main highway leading north out of the city, remained closed at the steep grade known as the Grapevine due to heavy snow, while several other southern points of the motorway in and around Los Angeles were closed due to flooding.

In Northern California, San Francisco was anticipated to have record-low temperatures on Saturday, while the National Weather Service cautioned residents of Sacramento to avoid travel from Sunday to Wednesday when rain and snow returned following a brief respite on Saturday.

“Extreme impacts from heavy snow & winds will cause extremely dangerous to impossible driving conditions & likely widespread road closures & infrastructure impacts!” the agency said on Twitter.

Wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour (80 kph) are forecast in the Sacramento Valley on Sunday and up to 70 miles per hour in the neighboring Sierra Nevada mountains. Due to extreme winter weather, Yosemite National Park was closed until Wednesday.

According to Bryan Jackson, a forecaster at the NWS Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, the exceptional conditions were caused by a large low-pressure system driven from the Arctic.

In Southern California, “this is a rare case of a cold, significant storm event,” Jackson said.

Snowflakes even fell around the Hollywood sign atop Mount Lee in the hills above the city, which is famed for its bright days and palm trees, which must have pleased many Angelenos on Friday.

The National Weather Service predicted scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms on Saturday, bringing rain, hail, and a mixture of snow and moisture known as “graupel” to the area.

A different storm that hit the Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes earlier this week blasted out to the Atlantic on Friday after passing over New England, according to the weather service. According to Detroit News, more than 400,000 DTE Energy (DTE.N) customers were still without power on Saturday.

Even before the latest storm, much of California had experienced an unusually rainy, chilly winter, starting with a spate of deadly “atmospheric river” storms that unleashed widespread flooding, felled trees, and triggered mudslides in a state long plagued by drought and wildfires.

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Iran claims to have built a long-distance cruise missile

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Iran
  • Iran has created a cruise missile with a range of 1,650 kilometers.
  • Amirali Hajizadeh vows to avenge the killing of a top Iranian commander by the US.
  • Iranian leaders have often promised to avenge Soleimani.

A top Revolutionary Guards commander revealed on Friday that Iran has created a cruise missile with a range of 1,650 kilometers (1,025 miles), raising Western concerns following Russia’s deployment of Iranian drones in the Ukrainian war.

Separately, Amirali Hajizadeh, the chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards aerospace unit, reiterated Iran’s oft-repeated vow to avenge the killing of a top Iranian commander by the US, stating, “We are looking to kill (former US President Donald) Trump.”

“Our cruise missile with a range of 1,650 km has been added to the missile arsenal of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Hajizadeh, told Iran’s state TV.

The television station aired what it claimed was the first footage of the new Paveh cruise missile.

Poor soldiers

Hajizadeh claimed that Iran did not mean to harm “poor soldiers” when it conducted a ballistic missile attack on US-led forces in Iraq just days after Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Baghdad in 2020.

“God willing, we are looking to kill Trump. (Former Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo … and military commanders who issued the order (to kill Soleimani) should be killed,” Hajizadeh said in the television interview.

Iranian leaders have often promised to avenge Soleimani.

Iran has increased its missile program, particularly its ballistic missile program, in defiance of US resistance and European countries’ concerns. Tehran claims the program is solely defensive and deterrent in nature.

Iran has stated that it supplied Moscow with drones before to the Ukraine conflict. Russia has targeted power plants and civilian infrastructure with drones.

The Military stated in November that it was skeptical of claims quoting Hajizadeh as suggesting Iran has produced a hypersonic ballistic missile.

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