3 Killed In Upscale California Area, 4th Mass Shooting In State This Month

LOS ANGELES, Jan 28: Three people were killed and four others were injured in a shooting in Los Angeles, local media reported. This is the fourth mass shooting in California this month.

The shooting took place in Beverly Crest, a prime neighbourhood in Los Angeles, according to a news agency.

The incident comes just days after a man opened fire at a California dance venue after Lunar New Year celebrations. Eleven people were killed and 9 others injured in the mass shooting on Sunday.

Days later, a gunman killed seven of his co-workers at a mushroom farm in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.

The two horrific episodes, both involving semi-automatic weapons, sparked bafflement from California's large Asian American community, as people struggled to come to terms with what had happened.

India-Pak Were On Brink Of Nuclear War After Balakot Strike: Mike Pompeo

WASHINGTON, Jan 25: Former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo wrote in a book published Tuesday that India and Pakistan came close to nuclear war in 2019 and that US intervention prevented escalation.

"I do not think the world properly knows just how close the India-Pakistan rivalry came to spilling over into a nuclear conflagration in February 2019," the likely future presidential contender wrote in "Never Give an Inch," his memoir of his time as Donald Trump's top diplomat and earlier CIA chief.

India in February 2019 broke precedent by launching airstrikes inside Pakistani territory after blaming a terrorist group there for a suicide bombing that killed 41 CRPF jawans in Kashmir. Pakistan shot down an Indian warplane, capturing the pilot.

Pompeo, who was in Hanoi for a summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said he was woken up with an urgent call from a senior Indian official.

"He believed the Pakistanis had begun to prepare their nuclear weapons for a strike. India, he informed me, was contemplating its own escalation," Pompeo wrote.

"I asked him to do nothing and give us a minute to sort things out," Pompeo said.

Pompeo said that US diplomats convinced both India and Pakistan that neither was preparing to go nuclear.

"No other nation could have done what we did that night to avoid a horrible outcome," Pompeo wrote.

Pompeo, who wrote that Pakistan "probably enabled" the Kashmir attack, said he spoke to "the actual leader of Pakistan," then army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, in an allusion to the weakness of civilian governments.

Pompeo at the time publicly defended India's right to act. In his book, Pompeo spoke highly of India and, unlike officials in New Delhi, made no secret of his desire to ally with the South Asian democracy "to counteract Chinese aggression."

India, followed by Pakistan, tested nuclear bombs in 1998, a watershed moment. Then-president US Bill Clinton later famously said that Kashmir was "the most dangerous place in the world."

Pompeo writes extensively in the book of his diplomacy with Kim Jong Un, which included preparing three meetings between the young totalitarian leader and Trump.

He recalled a chilling first conversation as he flew into Pyongyang in March 2018 on a clandestine trip as CIA director.

"'I didn't think you'd show up. I know you've been trying to kill me,'" Pompeo quotes Kim as telling him.

"I decided to lean in with a little humor of my own: 'Mr. Chairman, I'm still trying (to) kill you.'"

But Pompeo described a budding understanding with Kim as the Trump administration offered incentives to lower tension.

Pointing to Kim's smoking habit, Pompeo wrote that he told Kim he would take him to "the nicest beach in Miami and smoke the best Cubanos in the world. He told me, 'I already have a great relationship with the Castros.' Of course, he did."

As for their substantive conversation, Pompeo said Kim spoke candidly on concerns about China, usually viewed as North Korea's main ally.

Told that China believes North Korea wants US forces out of South Korea, "Kim laughed and pounded on the table in sheer joy, exclaiming that the Chinese were liars."

Kim "said that he needed the Americans in South Korea to protect him from the CCP, and that the CCP needs the Americans out so they can treat the peninsula like Tibet and Xinjiang," Pompeo wrote, referring to the Chinese Communist Party.

Pompeo became known for his hawkish stance on China, controversially accusing Beijing of spreading the "Wuhan virus," in a derogatory reference to Covid-19.

He said that Trump told him with an epithet that Chinese President Xi Jinping "hates you" and asked Pompeo to "shut the hell up for a while" as the United States needed health supplies from China.

"I was not happy that the president had tweeted that the CCP was doing a good job on the virus and praised Xi," Pompeo said.

"But I understood the circumstances -- we needed health equipment and were at the CCP's mercy for it. I worked for the president, and I would bide my time."

Pompeo has not ruled out running against Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, although early polls show little support for Pompeo.

After California Shootings, Biden Urges Congress To Ban Assault Weapons

WASHINGTON, Jan 25: US President Joe Biden called Tuesday for Congress to act quickly to ban assault weapons, as California reeled from two deadly mass shootings in less than 48 hours.

A group of senators on Monday reintroduced a federal Assault Weapons Ban and legislation that would raise the minimum purchase age for assault weapons to 21.

"We know the scourge of gun violence across America requires stronger action. I once again urge both chambers of Congress to act quickly and deliver this Assault Weapons Ban to my desk, and take action to keep American communities, schools, workplaces, and homes safe," Biden said in a statement.

A suspected gunman was in custody Tuesday over the killing of seven people in a rural community in northern California, just two days after a mass shooting at a Lunar New Year celebration near Los Angeles.

A law banning assault rifles expired in 2004 and Congress has repeatedly failed to renew it even as the country endures repeated mass shootings.

Many Republicans oppose a ban, citing the constitutional right to gun ownership.

US Mass Shooting Suspect, 72, Shot Himself When He Was Surrounded: Cops

LOS ANGELES, Jan 23: The manhunt for the suspect in the Los Angeles mass shooting that left 10 dead and at least 10 others injured came to an end after Huu Can Tran was found dead inside a van. Police say he apparently shot himself after he was surrounded.

The 72-year-old yesterday opened fire at a Chinese Lunar New Year party at Monterey Park in California's Los Angeles. Police tracked him down to a van and surrounded it. As the officers approached the vehicle, they heard a gunshot.

"The suspect sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene," Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

The sheriff confirmed that there are no other suspects in the mass shooting incident, and added that the motive for the attack was not yet known. "The investigation is still ongoing," he said.

Officials have said detectives were reviewing surveillance video and did not yet know whether the suspect was targeting a particular group.

"We don't know if this is specifically a hate crime defined by law but who walks into a dance hall and guns down 20 people?", sheriff Luna earlier said.

US President Joe Biden has ordered all US flags at public buildings to be flown at half-staff to honour the victims of the mass shooting, the White House said in a statement.

Tens of thousands of people had gathered for the two-day Lunar New Year festival, one of the largest in southern California. The second day of the festival was cancelled after the attack.

The shooting, the deadliest in the US since a shooter in Texas killed 21 people at an elementary school in May, has yet again brought under the spotlight rising gun violence in the country and easy access to firearms.

The last year saw as many as 647 incidents of mass shooting, with at least four people shot or killed by a shooter, according to the Gun Violence Archive website.
More than 44,000 people died from gunshot wounds in 2022 across the US, more than half of which were suicides.

10 Killed In Mass Shooting In California

LOS ANGELES, Jan 22: Ten people have died and at least 10 others been wounded in a mass shooting in a largely Asian city in southern California, law enforcement said Sunday, with the suspect still at large hours later.

The gunman opened fire at a dance venue in Monterey Park, as the local community were celebrating Lunar New Year, police said.

Captain Andrew Meyers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said officers had responded to emergency calls around 10:20pm on Saturday and found people pouring out of the premises.

Footage posted on social media showed injured people on stretchers being taken to ambulances by emergency staff.

Around the scene of the shooting - reported to have been at a dance club - police guarded cordoned-off streets, the video showed.

Tens of thousands of people had gathered earlier in the day for the two-day Lunar New Year festival, which is one of the largest in southern California.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Seung Won Choi, who owns a seafood barbecue restaurant near the scene said three people had run into his restaurant and told him to lock the door.

The paper quoted the owner as saying that people who sought shelter in his property told him there was a man with a machine gun in the area.

"Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones tonight in our neighboring city, Monterey Park, where a mass shooting just occurred," Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia said in a tweet.

Monterey Park, is home to around 61,000 people, the majority of them Asian or Asian American.

Gun violence is a huge problem in the United States, which saw 647 mass shootings last year, according to the Gun Violence Archive website, defined as an incident with four or more people shot or killed, not including the shooter.

Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin Gets Married On His 93rd Birthday

LOS ANGELES, Jan 21: Buzz Aldrin, one of the three American astronauts to set foot on the moon in the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, got married to his longtime love on his 93rd birthday.

Taking to Twitter on Saturday, Aldrin posted pictures with his wife Dr Anca Faur and said that they tied the knot in a small ceremony in Los Angeles, California.

"On my 93rd birthday & the day I will also be honored by Living Legends of Aviation I am pleased to announce that my longtime love Dr. Anca Faur & I have tied the knot. We were joined in holy matrimony in a small private ceremony in Los Angeles & are as excited as eloping teenagers," the former astronaut wrote.

Since being shared, Alrdrin's post has accumulated more than 22,000 likes and over 1.8 million views. In the comment section, several users congratulated the couple and jokingly wrote, "you must be over the moon!".

"Happy birthday, Buzz, and congratulations on your marriage. I'm thrilled for you. As always, you did it in style," wrote one user. "WOW! Congratulations Colonel Aldrin! Life begins at 93! All the best," said another.

A third user commented, "Congratulations young man! Over the Moon again!!" while a fourth added, "My Man. Landing on the moon comes second to landing Dr. Faur. Much happiness to you both."

Buzz Aldrin has been married and divorced three times prior. He is the only surviving member of the Apollo 11 mission's three-man crew. While Neil Armstrong was the first astronaut to step on the lunar surface, he was followed 19 minutes later by Aldrin.

The former astronaut retired from NASA in 1971 and in 1998 founded the ShareSpace Foundation, a non-profit organisation to promote the expansion of crewed space exploration.

Indian-American Nikki Haley Hints At Presidential Run; Says Can Take US In New Direction

WASHINGTON, Jan 20: Prominent Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley has said that she thinks she can be the “new leader” who can take the country in a new direction and the United States cannot have a second term under Joe Biden as president.

Speaking to Fox News in an interview on Thursday, the former Governor of South Carolina and US Ambassador to the United Nations, said she is still working things out on any potential presidential run.

"I think, stay tuned. Well, I'm not going to make an announcement here," the 51-year-old leader said when specifically asked if she is going to run for the presidential position.

However, during the interview, Haley hinted that she could be the new leader of the US.

"But when you're looking at a run for president, you look at two things. You first look at, does the current situation push for new leadership? The second question is, am I that person that could be that new leader, that, yes, we need to go in a new direction? And can I be that leader? Yes, I think I can be that leader,” Haley said.

Haley, who resigned from the Trump administration in October 2018, said she did extremely well as governor and ambassador.

"As governor, I took on a hurting state with double-digit unemployment, and we made it the best. As ambassador, I took on the world when they tried to disrespect us. I think I showed what I'm capable of at the United Nations," she asserted.

"So, do I think I could be that leader? Yes. But we are still working through things, and we will figure it out. I have never lost a race. I said that then. I still say that now. I'm not going to lose now. But stay tuned,” Haley said.

Haley, the second governor of Indian descent after fellow Republican Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, said it was time to bring new leadership to the Republican Party.

"We have lost the last seven out of eight popular votes for president. Seven out of eight Republicans have lost. Something is wrong. And so I think it's time that we bring in a new generation that can bring in more people to our party, that can really talk about the solutions that we need to go," she said.

During the interview, Haley also emphasised that President Biden, a Democrat, should not be given a second term. Biden, 80, is the oldest sitting US President.

“If I run, I'm running against Joe Biden. That's what I'm focused on, because we can't have a second term of Joe Biden,” Haley said.

The next US presidential election is scheduled to be held on November 5, 2024.

Haley was not categorical if she would still be running if her former boss decides to contest for the Presidential position again.

"I had a great working relationship with the president. I appreciate all the foreign policy issues we worked on together. But what I will tell you is, the survival of America matters,” Haley said.

"And it's bigger than one person. And when you're looking at the future of America, I think it's time for new generational change. I don't think you need to be 80 years old to go be a leader in DC. I think we need a young generation to come in, step up, and really start fixing things,” she told the news channel.

Haley also slammed her former Cabinet colleague Mike Pompeo, former Secretary of State, who in his recent book alleged that she plotted to replace Mike Pence as Donald Trump's vice president.

In the book, Pompeo said: "I received a call one evening from John Kelly, chief of staff, who apologised for allowing Ambassador Haley to go to the Oval Office. She had not gone there for a personal matter but had entered the Oval Office with the president's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared. As best Kelly could tell, they were presenting a possible Haley for vice president option. He was certain he had been played." Haley described the allegations as lies.

“No,” she said when asked if that was true.

“Pompeo even says he's not sure if it's true. I never had a conversation with Jared, Ivanka or the president about the vice presidentship. And what I will tell you is, it's really sad when you're having to go out there and put lies and gossip to sell a book,” she said.

“I mean, I don't know why he said it, but that's exactly why I stayed out of DC as much as possible, to get away from the drama and get away from the gossip. I focused on my job. And that's what I always did,” Haley said.

Haley was born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa to immigrant Sikh parents in the US state of South Carolina. Her father, Ajit Singh Randhawa, and her mother, Raj Kaur Randhawa, immigrated to the US from Punjab.

Google Announces 12,000 Job Cuts, Hours After Delaying Bonuses

MOUNTAIN VIEW, (California), Jan 20: Google's parent Alphabet Inc is eliminating about 12,000 jobs, or 6% of its workforce, it said Friday, as Silicon Valley reels from recent layoffs and faces a troubled outlook.

Alphabet, whose shares rose 3% in pre-market trading, is making the cuts just as the U.S. company confronts a threat to its long-held perch atop the technology sector.

For years Alphabet has attracted top talent to build Google, YouTube and other products that reach billions of users, but it is now locked in competition with Microsoft Corp in a burgeoning area known as generative artificial intelligence.

The cuts at Alphabet come days after Microsoft said it would lay off 10,000 workers.

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai told staff in a memo that the firm had reviewed its products, people and priorities, leading to job cuts across geographies and tech. It had rapidly expanded for better times but now faced "a different economic reality".

"The fact that these changes will impact the lives of Googlers weighs heavily on me, and I take full responsibility for the decisions that led us here," said Pichai.

Alphabet's job losses affect teams across the company including recruiting and some corporate functions, as well as some engineering and products teams.

The layoffs are global and impact U.S. staff immediately.

Alphabet has already emailed affected employees, the memo said, while the process will take longer in other countries due to local employment laws and practices.

The news comes during a period of economic uncertainty as well as technological promise.

"I am confident about the huge opportunity in front of us thanks to the strength of our mission, the value of our products and services, and our early investments in AI," Pichai said.

Woman Becomes 1st Indian-American Lt Governor Of US's Maryland State

WASHINGTON, Jan 19: Aruna Miller has scripted history by becoming the first Indian-American politician to be sworn in as the Lieutenant Governor in the state of Maryland, adjoining the US capital.

Aruna, 58, a former delegate to the Maryland House, made history on Wednesday when the Democrat became the 10th Lieutenant Governor of the state.

The Lieutenant Governor is the state's highest official following the Governor and assumes the role when the Governor is out of state or incapacitated.

In her inauguration speech, Ms Miler, born in Andhra Pradesh, recognised her family who immigrated to the United States from India when she was seven.

"I spent most of my life trying to fit in the space that didnt have me and mine, as an immigrant growing up in a new country, or as a female engineer in a male dominated field, as an Indian American legislator in a legislature that looked nothing like me. It took me a long time to realise that it was never about needing to fit into a space created by others. It was always about having the courage to be my authentic self in every space," she said.

"Maryland, I am humbled and honoured to be your Lieutenant Governor. We are only just getting started!," Ms Miller tweeted.

She was sworn in alongside her family, new Governor Wes Moore and state lawmakers inside the State House's Senate chamber in Annapolis and addressed a crowd of well-wishers outside the historic building.

Mr Moore became Maryland's 63rd governor, the state's first and the country's only current Black chief executive.

"To Aruna's mother, Hema and to my mom, Joy, you epitomise everything special about this state; You are proof that in Maryland, anything is possible," Mr Moore tweeted.

Ms Miller's swearing-in will break a barrier that no other immigrant or woman of colour has breached before her. She was part of a historic Democratic ticket that sailed to victory in November and also gives Maryland its first Black governor, its first Black attorney general and its first female comptroller, the Washington Post reported.

Ms Miller's father, who migrated after the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 removed racial and national-origin quotas to allow a new generation of immigrants to enter the United States, returned to India in 1972 to tell Aruna's grandmother, with whom she had lived since she was about 1 year old, that it was time for his daughter to join him, her mother and two siblings in the United States, the Post reported.

"My dad was a stranger to me. My siblings were strangers to me, my mom, all of it," said Ms Miller, who also said she doesn't remember any of her time in India as a child because of the trauma she said she experienced leaving her grandmother.

"So I came to this country, you know, like they say, a stranger in a strange land, with a strange family." She learned English while attending public school. She graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology, thanks in part to the Pell grants she received after her father lost his job because of his illness.

US Lawmaker Moves Bill To Remove Pakistan As Major Non-NATO Ally

WASHINGTON, Jan 18: A US lawmaker has introduced a legislation in the US House of Representatives that seeks to terminate Pakistan's designation as a major non-NATO ally, and require annual certification from the president with certain conditions for Islamabad to be given such a designation.

The bill (HR 80) was introduced by Congressman Andy Biggs, who represents the fifth Congressional district of Arizona.

It needs to be passed by the House and the Senate before it can be signed into law by the US President, and has been sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee for necessary actions.

Normally, such bills do not fructify, but the present bill reflects the sentiments of the lawmakers against Pakistan, which is known for harbouring terrorism and using it as a matter of State policy.

For any further continuation of Pakistan's designation as a major non-NATO ally, the bill asks the US president to issue a certification that the country has shown progress in arresting and prosecuting Haqqani Network senior leaders and mid-level operatives and has taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using any Pakistani territory as a safe haven.

Both conditions are seen to be a tall order for Pakistan given that many in the US believe the Haqqani network to be a veritable arm of the ISI.

The bill also wants a certification from the US President that Pakistan actively coordinates with Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, such as the Haqqani Network, along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Amazon Begins Its Largest-Ever Layoffs: 18,000 People

SEATTLE, Jan 18: Amazon.com Inc. is set to begin a round of layoffs ultimately affecting more than 18,000 employees in the largest job cull in its history, which it announced earlier this month.

The cuts come as the retailer grapples with slowing online sales growth and braces for a possible recession affecting the spending power of its customers.

The eliminations started last year and initially fell hardest on Amazon's Devices and Services group, which builds the Alexa digital assistant and Echo smart speakers. The latest round, scheduled to commence Wednesday, will mostly affect the retail division and human resources.

While the cuts represent only about 1% of the total workforce, which includes hundreds of thousands of hourly warehouse and delivery personnel, they amount to about 6% of Amazon's 350,000 corporate employees around the globe.

“Amazon has weathered uncertain and difficult economies in the past, and we will continue to do so,” Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy said earlier this month in a memo to employees. “These changes will help us pursue our long-term opportunities with a stronger cost structure.”

Amazon shares were little changed in pre-market trading before exchanges opened in New York after closing down 2.1% at $96.05 on Tuesday.

The world's largest online retailer spent much of last year adjusting to a sharp slowdown in e-commerce growth as shoppers returned to pre-pandemic habits. Amazon delayed warehouse openings and halted hiring in its retail group. It broadened the freeze to the company's corporate staff and then began making cuts.

Amazon is among several large tech companies that are trimming their ranks, including Cisco Systems Inc., Intel Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., Qualcomm Inc. and Salesforce Inc.

Microsoft To Cut 10,000 Jobs As Tech Layoffs Intensify

WASHINGTON, Jan 18: Microsoft Corp said on Wednesday it would cut 10,000 jobs by the end of third quarter of fiscal 2023, the latest sign that layoffs were accelerating in the U.S. technology sector as companies brace for an economic downturn.

The layoffs will result in a charge of $1.2 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2023, representing a negative impact of 12 cents on per share profit, Microsoft said.

The news of layoffs, reported by media publications on Tuesday, follows some reductions last year.

Microsoft said in July last year that a small number of roles had been eliminated, while news site Axios in October reported that the company had laid off under 1,000 employees across several divisions.

The Satya Nadella-led firm is also grappling with a slump in the personal computer market after a pandemic boom fizzled out, leaving little demand for its Windows and accompanying software.

Microsoft is under pressure to maintain growth rates at its cloud unit Azure, after several quarters of downturn in the personal computer market hurt Windows and devices sales.

The company had 221,000 full-time employees, including 122,000 in the United States and 99,000 internationally, as of June 30, according to filings.

First Time In 100 Years, US Congress Fails To Elect Speaker In First Ballot

WASHINGTON, Jan 3: The new US Congress was plunged into disarray Tuesday as renegade right-wing Republicans blocked favorite Kevin McCarthy from becoming speaker of the House of Representatives in a series of humiliating votes seen as a rebuke to the party establishment.

The California congressman needed a simple majority to be elected as Washington's top legislator, who presides over House business and is second in line to the presidency.

But for the first time in a century, Republicans failed to elect a speaker in a nail-biting first three rounds of voting -- given blanket coverage across US television networks.

Rather than celebrating their new control of the House, the party instead faces a drawn-out fight to elect a speaker that could further deepen internal divisions -- and put McCarthy's political career on the line.

The 57-year-old needed 218 votes in the lower chamber, which flipped to a narrow 222-212 Republican majority after last year's midterm elections.

But he failed to bring into line the party rebels, including several high-profile allies of former president Donald Trump, and he was shocked by 19 "no" votes from his own side in each of the first two rounds, rising to 20 in the third.

His performance was so weak that he lost out to the Democratic minority leader Hakeem Jeffries in each of the opening three ballots -- although there remains little doubt a Republican will ultimately claim the speaker's gavel.

McCarthy has long coveted the role, having withdrawn from the race in 2015 amid a number of blunders and a right-wing revolt.

This time he was once again tripped up by far-right rebels, despite bowing to their calls to push aggressive investigations of Democrats including President Joe Biden after taking over the House.

Lawmakers agreed to adjourn until Wednesday amid steadily building momentum among the Republicans to regroup overnight, lick their wounds and formulate a strategy to turn catastrophic defeat into an unlikely face-saving victory.

"The reality is Rep. Kevin McCarthy doesn't have the votes," Florida's Byron Donalds said in a statement ahead of the adjournment, urging fellow members of the party conference to "recess and huddle" in search of a breakthrough.

The last time it took more than one round of voting to pick a speaker at the start of a new Congress was a century ago, in 1923. One speaker selection process in 1855 took 133 rounds of voting over two months.

McCarthy -- who had been trying to avoid small cliques wandering off the floor to hold their own negotiations -- initially planned to keep members in the room and voting until he had managed to cudgel his rivals into submission.

Some lawmakers and staffers backing McCarthy had started the day however saying that he should bow out if unable to secure the gavel in the second round, US media reported.

The House is expected to hold further ballots from midday (1700 GMT) on Wednesday until someone emerges with a majority -- and it is not out of the question that a new candidate who has not been part of the process could come to the fore.

'Blizzard Of The Century' Kills 60 Across US

NEW YORK, Dec 27: Emergency crews in New York were scrambling Monday to rescue marooned residents from what authorities called the "blizzard of the century," a relentless storm that has left at least 60 people dead across the United States and caused Christmas travel chaos.

Blizzard conditions persist in parts of the US Northeast, the stubborn remnants of a massive sprawl of extreme weather that gripped the country over several days, causing widespread power outages, travel delays and at least 60 deaths across nine states, according to official figures.

In New York state, authorities have described ferocious conditions, particularly in Buffalo, with hours-long whiteouts, bodies being discovered in vehicles and under snow banks, and emergency personnel going "car to car" searching for more motorists -- alive or dead.

The perfect storm of fierce snow squalls, howling wind and sub-zero temperatures forced the cancellation of more than 15,000 US flights in recent days, including over 3,800 on Monday, according to tracking site Flightaware.com.

Buffalo -- a city in Erie County that is no stranger to foul winter weather -- is the epicenter of the crisis, buried under staggering amounts of snow.

"Certainly it is the blizzard of the century," New York Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters, adding it was "way too early to say this is at its completion."

Hochul said some western New York towns got walloped with "30 to 40 inches (0.75 to 1 meter) of snow overnight."

Later Monday, Hochul spoke with President Joe Biden, who offered "the full force of the federal government" to support New York state, and said he and First Lady Jill Biden were praying for those who lost loved ones in the storm, according to a White House statement.

The National Weather Service forecast up to 14 more inches Monday in addition to the several feet that have already left the city buried in snow, with officials struggling to get emergency services back online.

Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz tweeted Monday afternoon that the blizzard-related death count had climbed to 27 across the county, including 14 people who were found outside and three who were discovered in a car.

Speaking at a press conference earlier in the day, Poloncarz said Erie's death count would likely surpass that of Buffalo's infamous blizzard of 1977, when nearly 30 people died.

With more snow forecast and most of Buffalo "impassable," he joined Hochul in warning residents to bunker down and stay in place.

34 Dead In US Blizzard, 2 Lakh People Without Electricity

NEW YORK, Dec 26: A brutal winter storm brought Christmas Day danger and misery to millions of Americans Sunday as intense snow and frigid cold gripped parts of the eastern United States, with weather-related deaths rising to at least 34.

A crisis situation unfolded in Buffalo, in western New York, where a blizzard left the city marooned, with emergency services unable to reach the worst-hit areas.

"It is (like) going to a war zone, and the vehicles along the sides of the roads are shocking," said New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a native of Buffalo, where eight-foot (2.4-meter) snow drifts and power outages have made for life-threatening conditions.

Hochul told reporters Sunday evening that residents were still in the throes of a "very dangerous life-threatening situation" and warned anyone in the area to remain indoors.

More than 200,000 people across several eastern states woke up without power on Christmas morning and many more had their holiday travel plans upended, although the five-day-long storm featuring blizzard conditions and ferocious winds showed signs of easing.

The extreme weather sent wind chill temperatures in all 48 contiguous US states below freezing over the weekend, stranded holiday travelers with thousands of flights canceled and trapped residents in ice- and snow-encrusted homes.

Thirty-two weather-related deaths have been confirmed across nine states, including at least 13 in Erie County where Buffalo is located, with officials warning the number is sure to rise.

Officials described historically dangerous conditions in the snow-prone Buffalo region, with hours-long whiteouts and bodies discovered in vehicles and under snow banks as emergency workers struggled to search for those in need of rescue.

The city's international airport remains closed until Tuesday and a driving ban remained in effect for all of Erie County.

"We now have what'll be talked about not just today but for generations (as) the blizzard of '22," Hochul said, adding that the brutality had surpassed the region's prior landmark snowstorm of 1977 in "intensity, the longevity, the ferocity of the winds."

Due to frozen electric substations, some residents were not expected to regain power until Tuesday, with one frozen substation reportedly buried under 18 feet of snow, a senior county official said.

Discrepancies in MEA, Kremlin statements on Modi-Putin call, ‘will take Modi at his word’ says US

NEW DELHI, Dec 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “dialogue and diplomacy” amid the ongoing Ukraine war, as well as the mention of “defence and security” cooperation were two aspects missing from the Kremlin’s version about what was discussed in a call between the Indian Prime Minister and Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday.

Following the telephonic conversation, the US Department of State said countries will make their own decisions on how to engage with Russia.

According to the statement released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PM Modi “reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way forward” during his latest call with the Russian President.

A statement released by the Kremlin only said, however, that “At Narendra Modi’s request, Vladimir Putin gave a principled assessment regarding Russia’s policy in Ukraine”.

On discussions about bilateral cooperation, Modi and Putin spoke about “energy cooperation, trade and investments, defence and security cooperation, and other key areas” in their call, said the MEA.

The Kremlin statement did not mention defense, but rather that the two leaders discussed cooperation in areas of “mutual investment, energy, agriculture, transport and logistics”.

Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, which is nearing the 10-month mark, has led to an increase in global prices in fuel, food and fertiliser. India has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but has reiterated the need to resolve the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.

In September, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, Modi had said “now is not the time for war” — a statement welcomed by the US and other Western countries.

Shortly after Modi and Putin’s telephonic conversation Friday, the US State Department said countries will make their own decisions on how to engage with Russia.

Asked about how seriously Washington considered remarks from Modi to end the conflict, US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said: “Well, we would take the prime minister at his word, and we welcomed those comments when they took place.”

He added: “Ultimately, though, other countries will make their own decisions on its engagements with both — when it comes to Russia”.

Patel said Washington continues to coordinate with allies and partners to mitigate the impact of the Ukraine war, especially with effects on energy markets.

Asked if India has a role to play to stop the war, Patel said any country interested in engaging in peace and ending the war “would need to do so in close coordination and partnership with our Ukrainian partners” (sic).

“This — we will continue doing everything we can to support them and that this needs to come to a conclusion on their terms,” added Patel.

In October, Modi had spoken to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reiterated his call for “dialogue and diplomacy” to solve the conflict with Russia, as well as voiced his concerns about the safety of nuclear installations in Ukraine.

UN, EU Slam Elon Musk For Suspending Journalists From Twitter

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 17: Twitter owner Elon Musk drew anger and stern warnings from the UN and EU on Friday after suspending the accounts of half a dozen prominent journalists -- accusing them of endangering his family.

Journalists from CNN, the New York Times and the Washington Post were cut off from the platform without warning, provoking the newest controversy since Musk took over the company on October 27.

"News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying," EU commissioner Vera Jourova posted on Twitter, warning the influential platform could face hefty fines through European laws.

"Elon Musk should be aware of that. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon," she added.

The spokesman for UN chief Antonio Guterres called it a "dangerous precedent at a time when journalists all over the world are facing censorship, physical threats and even worse."

The latest controversy began when Musk on Wednesday suspended @elonjet, an account that tracked flights of his private jet.

Musk said the move was necessary after a car in Los Angeles carrying one of his children was followed by "a crazy stalker" and seemed to blame the tracking of his jet for the incident.

Some of the journalists had reported on the affair, including tweets linking to the suspended @elonjet account, which Musk said amounted to "assassination coordinates" against he and his family.

In a chat hosted live on Twitter, Musk provided no evidence for his claim but told some of the suspended reporters that on Twitter "everyone's going to be treated the same... they're not special because you're a journalist."

Pressed further on his allegations, Musk ended the conversation. Twitter Spaces, the feature where the chat took place, was then suspended.

Media organizations criticized the move sharply and opened the door to re-evaluating their relationship with Twitter, which has become an essential tool for journalism over the past decade.

"The impulsive and unjustified suspension of a number of reporters, including CNN's Donie O'Sullivan, is concerning but not surprising," the news organization said in a tweet.

"Twitter's increasing instability and volatility should be of incredible concern for everyone who uses the platform."

The New York Times said in a statement it also wanted answers from Twitter regarding the "questionable" suspension of journalists.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which defends the freedom of the press around the world, decried a "Kakaesque nightmare" for journalists that depend on Twitter.

Musk's tenure as boss of Twitter has been "a disaster for the right to information", RSF said.

Twitter has lurched from one controversy to the next since Musk took control after paying $44 billion, mainly by selling shares in Tesla, his successful electric car company.

The billionaire's talk of unfettered speech has scared off major advertisers and caught the attention of regulators.

Musk has reinstated the account of former US president Donald Trump and lashed out against the outgoing key advisor for the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Anthony Fauci, a frequent target of vitriol on right-wing media.

CNN has reported that Twitter's former head of trust and safety fled his home after baseless attacks on Twitter content moderation, endorsed by Musk.

Meanwhile, a purge initiated by Musk at Twitter left more than half of its 7,500 employees on the sidelines and now many of them are taking the SpaceX and Tesla tycoon to court.

Musk at one point signaled he was going to war with Apple over the App Store, only to later tweet that it was a "misunderstanding."

Market tracker Insider Intelligence forecast that Twitter will experience an exodus of users.

"There won't be one catastrophic event that ends Twitter," said Insider Intelligence analyst Jasmine Enberg.

"Instead, users will start to leave the platform next year as they grow frustrated with technical issues and the proliferation of hateful or other unsavory content."

 

Historic Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough Announced

WASHINGTON, Dec 13: US researchers announced a historic nuclear fusion breakthrough on Tuesday, hailing a "landmark achievement" in the quest for a source of unlimited, clean power and an end to reliance on fossil fuels.

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in California said an experiment it conducted this month "produced more energy from fusion than the laser energy used to drive it."

The US Department of Energy described the achievement of fusion ignition as a "major scientific breakthrough" that will lead to "advancements in national defense and the future of clean power."

LLNL director Kim Budil described it as "is one of the most significant scientific challenges ever tackled by humanity."

Scientists have been working for decades to develop nuclear fusion -- touted by its supporters as a clean, abundant and safe source of energy that could eventually allow humanity to break its dependence on the fossil fuels driving a global climate crisis.

The LLNL said a team at its National Ignition Facility (NIF) conducted the first controlled fusion experiment in history on December 5, achieving what is known as "scientific energy breakeven."

"This is a landmark achievement for the researchers and staff at the National Ignition Facility who have dedicated their careers to seeing fusion ignition become a reality, and this milestone will undoubtedly spark even more discovery," US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said.

Nuclear power plants around the world currently use fission -- the splitting of a heavy atom's nucleus -- to produce energy.

Fusion on the other hand combines two light hydrogen atoms to form one heavier helium atom, releasing a large amount of energy in the process.

That's the process that occurs inside stars, including our sun.

On Earth, fusion reactions can be provoked by heating hydrogen to extreme temperatures inside specialized devices.

Researchers at the LLNL use the massive National Ignition Facility -- 192 ultra-powerful lasers all pointed into a thimble-sized cylinder filled with hydrogen.

Like fission, fusion is carbon-free during operation, but has many more advantages: it poses no risk of nuclear disaster and produces much less radioactive waste.

However, there is still a long way to go before fusion is viable on an industrial scale.

"Many advanced science and technology developments are still needed to achieve simple, affordable IFE to power homes and businesses," LLNL said.

Other nuclear fusion projects are also in development around the world, including the major international project known as ITER, which is currently under construction in France.

Instead of lasers, ITER will use a technique known as magnetic confinement, containing a swirling mass of fusing hydrogen plasma within a massive donut-shaped chamber.

US Teases 'Major Scientific Breakthrough' Amid Reports Of Fusion Energy

WASHINGTON, Dec 12: The US Department of Energy said Sunday it would announce a "major scientific breakthrough" this week, after media reported a federal laboratory had recently achieved a major milestone in nuclear fusion research.

The Financial Times reported Sunday that scientists in the California-based Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) had achieved a "net energy gain" from an experimental fusion reactor.

That would represent the first time that researchers have successfully produced more energy in a fusion reaction -- the same type that powers the Sun -- than was consumed during the process, a potentially major step in the pursuit of zero-carbon power.

Energy Department and LLNL spokespeople said they could not comment or provide confirmation regarding the FT report, but said US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm would "announce a major scientific breakthrough" on Tuesday.

The LLNL spokesperson added that their "analysis is still ongoing."

"We look forward to sharing more on Tuesday when that process is complete," she said.

The fusion reaction that produced a 120 percent net energy gain occurred in the past two weeks, the FT said, citing three people with knowledge of the preliminary results.

The Washington Post later reported two people familiar with the research confirmed the development, with a senior fusion scientist telling the newspaper, "To most of us, this was only a matter of time."

Nuclear fusion is considered by some scientists to be a potential energy of the future, particularly as it produces little waste and no greenhouse gases.

"If this fusion energy breakthrough is true, it could be a game changer for the world," tweeted Ted Lieu, a member of Congress from California.

Fusion differs from fission, the technique currently used in nuclear power plants, by fusing two atomic nuclei instead of splitting one.

The LLNL fusion facility consists of almost 200 lasers the size of three football fields, which bombard a tiny spot with high levels of energy to initiate a fusion reaction.

Biden To Announce Support For African Union Joining G20

WASHINGTON, Dec 9: President Joe Biden next week will announce U.S. support for the African Union's admission to the G20 group of the world's largest economies as a permanent member, a White House official said on Friday.

Biden will make the announcement during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, White House adviser Judd Devermont said.

"We need more African voices in international conversations that concern the global economy, democracy and governance, climate change, health, and security," Devermont said.

African Union Chair and Senegalese President Macky Sall and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had urged Biden to increase their representation on the G20, Devermont told The Washington Post, which first reported the upcoming announcement. South Africa is the only G20 member from Africa.

US House Passes Defence Bill Worth Billions In Taiwan Aid

WASHINGTON, Dec 9: The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a defence spending bill that includes up to $10 billion in military grant assistance for Taiwan and seeks to expedite arms sales to the island, drawing a rebuke from Beijing.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2023 -- which still requires Senate passage and the signature of President Joe Biden to become law -- would authorize grant assistance for Taiwan of up to $2 billion per year from 2023 through 2027.

The act also authorises Biden to provide Taiwan with up to $1 billion per year in defence items from US stockpiles, or other services such as military training.

And it requires the secretaries of State and Defense to "prioritize and expedite the processing of requests from Taiwan under the Foreign Military Sales program."

The NDAA "will dramatically enhance the United States' defense partnership with Taiwan," Senator Bob Menendez, the Foreign Relations Committee chair, said in a statement ahead of the bill's passage.

Beijing was "firmly opposed to the US using the National Defense Authorization Act to pass negative content related to China," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters after the bill was passed.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory -- to be reunited one day by force, if necessary -- and has become more bellicose toward the island under President Xi Jinping.

It has responded with growing anger to visits by Western politicians and staged huge military drills to protest US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan in August, sending tensions to the highest level in years.

US Slams Putin's Comment On Nuclear Weapons Amid Ukraine War

WASHINGTON, Dec 8: The United States on Thursday denounced "loose talk" on nuclear weapons after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would only use an atomic weapon in response to an enemy strike.

Declining to respond directly to Putin, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, "We think any loose talk of nuclear weapons is absolutely irresponsible."

US Says 'Not Encouraging' Ukraine To Strikes Into Russia

WASHINGTON, Dec 6: The United States said Tuesday it was "not encouraging" Ukraine to strike into Russia after drone attacks on bases widely seen as carried out by Kyiv.

"We are not enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders; we are not encouraging Ukraine to strike beyond its borders," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

"Everything we are doing -- everything the world is doing to support Ukraine -- is in support of Ukraine's independence," he said.

He stopped short of attributing the drone attacks to Ukraine, which has not claimed responsibility. Russia said three people were killed and two aircraft damaged in the attacks Monday on three bases deep into its territory.

Experts believe Ukraine penetrated Russian airspace with simple Soviet-era drones and not any of the billions of dollars in military assistance given by Western powers since Moscow's February 24 invasion.

"We are providing Ukraine with what it needs to use on its sovereign territory -- on Ukrainian soil -- to take on Russian aggressors," Price said.

Price also declined comment on a Wall Street Journal report that the United States has altered HIMARS sent to Ukraine -- a rocket system seen as a game-changer on the battlefield -- to prevent firing into Russia.

President Joe Biden has publicly said he does not support longer-range missile capacities for Ukraine, fearing an escalation that would pit the United States more directly against Russia.