US

At least 8 people were killed in the United States in three shootings in Asian wellness centres and massage parlours in and around Atlanta.   Most of the victims are said to be women of Asian descent. Police have arrested a 21-year-old suspect who holds them responsible for all three shootings. It is not yet clear what his motive would be. At around 5:00 pm local time, the first shooting occurred in Acworth, about 30 miles north of Atlanta. In an Asian massage salon, 5 people were shot. Two of them died on the spot, and two others died later in a hospital. An hour later, Atlanta police received a call for a robbery at a Buckhead ward wellness centre. Officers found the bodies of three women there. Shortly afterwards, in a wellness centre on the other side of the street, they disco...

The American parliament building in the capital Washington DC has been transformed into a high-security fortress. According to the security services, there are indications that conspiracy theorists would try to storm the Capitol again.   "It is people who suspect that former President Donald Trump will become president again today," explains US correspondent Björn Soenens. The Capitol, the parliament building, is extra protected because American security services warn of a possible new storm. For example, reports have been intercepted, indicating that extremist groups may want to move to the capital. And it is no coincidence that that happens today, on March 4. "Until 1933, the official inauguration date for a new president was March 4," explains US correspondent Björn Soenens. "...

The United States will intersection the United Nations Human Rights Council as an observer after more than two years of absence.   The American diplomat Mark Cassayre said this on Monday in Geneva, where the body meets with 47 member states. Former President Donald Trump announced the US withdrawal from the organization in June 2018 due to perceived bias against Israel and lack of reform. Cassayre pointed out the board's flaws, but said that "we know this body has the latent to be an imperative forum for those fighting tyranny and injustice everywhere the world." Trump, with his America First agenda, has caused the US to withdraw from multiple international organizations. His successor Joe Biden has already undone some of those steps. He does believe in international cooperation...

US retired general Lloyd Austin, the candidate of incoming President Joe Biden for the post of Secretary of Defense, said on Tuesday that he wants to get rid of the ban on transgender people serving in the US military.   That ban was instituted apart from President Donald Trump. Austin told a senatorial committee on Tuesday that he supports a plan to abolish the transgender ban and you can expect that I will always back that," Austin said in a hearing. Austin did not say when the transgender ban will be lifted. In the United States, candidate candidates are usually heard by the Senate. He must agree to the appointment before it can take place formally. In the hearing, General Austin said Iran is one of the greatest threats to the United States and its allies in the Middle East as...

Some US government ministers are currently discussing President Donald Trump's impeachment following the violent storming of the parliament building by the president's supporters, CNN reports, based on a source within the Republican party.   The cabinet can impeach a president under the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution if the president is deemed unfit to continue serving. For the time being, these are exploratory talks about whether or not to impeach President Trump. It is still unclear whether enough cabinet members are present and support impeachment proceedings. According to the CNN source, some senators have been briefed on talks to remove Trump from office.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will have the first meeting with his likely successor next Thursday, when Joe Biden becomes president, Antony Blinken, according to CNN.   The agreement is the first sign that Pompeo is willing to cooperate in a power transfer. The Secretary of State under Donald Trump was one of the first allies of the president to say after the election defeat that Trump would still be president after January 20. The fact that he has now agreed with Blinken is an essential step in the transfer of power. Ministry employees are happy with the upcoming meeting, according to CNN, even though it only takes 15 minutes. Blinken had already started preparations for his new job. Biden wants to immediately make the US a full member of the World Health Organization again,...