On Friday, President Joe Biden urged for party unity to confront former President Donald Trump’s “dark vision” and to resist pressure from high-ranking Democrats to withdraw from the 2024 election in favor of a new nominee. Biden, who is currently isolated at his Delaware beach house due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, faces increasing calls from Democratic members of Congress to step aside. Despite this, Biden remains steadfast in his belief that he can defeat Trump, relying on his family and a few long-time aides for support.

In a statement, Biden criticized Trump’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, describing it as portraying a “dark vision for the future.” He emphasized that the focus should shift from his candidacy to the challenges posed by Trump’s agenda. Biden plans to return to the campaign trail next week and maintains that he has a viable path to victory, despite concerns from prominent party members.

Biden’s campaign chair, Jen O’Malley Dillon, acknowledged a decline in support but insisted that Biden is committed to the race and sees multiple ways to defeat Trump. She noted that while voters may have concerns about Biden’s age, they are not switching their support to Trump.

The Democratic National Committee’s rulemaking arm is proceeding with plans for a virtual roll call before August 7 to nominate the presidential candidate, ahead of the party’s convention later in the month in Chicago. Biden’s closest friend in Congress, Sen. Chris Coons, stressed that Biden deserves the respect to have important family conversations without battling leaks and press statements.

Amidst these developments, influential Democrats like former President Barack Obama and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi have privately expressed concerns about Biden’s chances and suggested that he step aside. Some Democratic lawmakers have also publicly called for Biden to exit the race to allow the party to unite behind a new candidate.

Despite these pressures, Biden has received key endorsements, including from the political arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and remains committed to his campaign. However, there is still time for reconsideration, and some key Democrats believe that Biden’s departure could secure his legacy and strengthen the party’s chances in the election.

Biden, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week, dismissed the idea that it is too late for him to recover politically, stating that many people do not focus on the election until September. However, Democratic lawmakers are having private conversations about potential alternatives, including Vice President Kamala Harris.

A recent poll indicates that nearly two-thirds of Democrats believe Biden should step aside, while a majority think Harris would make a good president. Amid the ongoing debate, many influential Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are expressing concern but also acknowledge that the current ticket can win.

Overall, while Biden’s commitment to the race remains firm, the Democratic Party faces significant internal debate and pressure as it navigates the path to the 2024 election.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key aide of Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Sandhu, also known as Landa, in connection with a major terror network case involving the supply of deadly weapons for extortion, among other crimes, according to an official statement released on Friday.

The accused, identified as Baljeet Singh, also known as Rana Bhai or Balli, hails from Barwani district in Madhya Pradesh. He was arrested on Thursday and brought before an NIA special court in Mohali, which remanded him to the agency’s custody. Balli has been identified as a significant weapon supplier to Landa’s agents in Punjab.

These weapons were used to carry out large-scale terror activities, including extortion from businessmen and others, the NIA reported. The investigation also led to the arrest of Gurpreet Singh Gopi, an associate of both Landa and another Khalistani terrorist, Satnam Singh Satta.

The case, which was registered suo motu by the NIA on July 10 last year, revealed that Baljeet Singh had also provided weapons to Satta. This was part of a broader conspiracy involving various banned Khalistani terrorist organizations aiming to destabilize India by inciting violence in Punjab and other regions.

Landa and Satta are believed to be operating from Canada, promoting terror activities in India.

The NIA continues its investigation as part of its crackdown on Khalistani terrorist outfits, the agency added.

New Delhi: With US President Joe Biden testing positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Presidential elections, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a reminder that the pandemic is far from over. The WHO emphasized the ongoing threat of COVID-19, which continues to claim 1,700 lives every week worldwide.

The WHO urged those planning summer holidays to take precautions, including vaccination, mask-wearing, and testing.

In a statement dated July 15, 2024, the WHO reported that from May 27 to June 23, 2024, the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests returning positive results rose from 5.6% to 7.1% across 84 countries, with 16,888 specimens tested weekly. Variants KP.3 and LB.1, descendants of JN.1 and classified as variants under monitoring (VUMs), have been increasingly prevalent globally.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted a concerning decline in vaccination rates among health professionals and those over 60—groups most at risk from COVID-19. “WHO recommends that people in the highest-risk groups receive a COVID-19 vaccine within 12 months of their last dose,” Tedros stated.

In the UK, some hospitals have reinstated mask requirements and advised individuals with COVID-19 symptoms to avoid medical facilities unless necessary. The Tour de France has mandated mask-wearing for participants when interacting with teams or competitors due to a surge in cases.

The WHO has recorded approximately seven million COVID-19 deaths, though the actual number is believed to be higher. The pandemic has significantly impacted health systems and economies. In May 2023, Tedros declared the end of the COVID-19 international public health emergency. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019.

The latest WHO COVID-19 Vaccination Insights Report for the first quarter of 2024 (January-March) revealed that 9.8 million people received a vaccine dose across 73 reporting Member States, representing 22% of the global population. Among older adults, 4.9 million received a dose in 60 reporting Member States, corresponding to an uptake rate of 0.42% this year.

While in isolation, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre assured the public that Biden, who has received booster shots, continues to perform his presidential duties. Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, confirmed that the President’s symptoms remain moderate.