The Russians have no intention of reducing tension America puts 8,500 soldiers on alert

The Pentagon announced that the United States has put up to 8,500 military personnel on high alert, in preparation for the possibility of their deployment if Russia invades Ukraine, stressing that "the Russians have no intention of reducing the tension."

The Pentagon announced Monday that the United States has put up to 8,500 military personnel on high alert, in preparation for the possibility of them being deployed as part of NATO forces if Russia invades Ukraine.

A spokesman for the US Department of Defense, John Kirby, said, "The number of military personnel that the Secretary of Defense has put on high alert is 8,500 soldiers," stressing that "at the moment no decision has been taken regarding the deployment of forces outside the United States, but it is very clear that it is not The Russians now have an intention to lower the tension."

In a related context, Russian and Ukrainian officials plan to meet at the negotiating table to discuss the current crisis, next Wednesday, in the French capital, Paris, according to Agence France-Presse.

For its part, the United States stressed that there was "no difference" with the Europeans about imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, nor about the extent of the imminent threat posed by Russia to its western neighbor.

"There is no ambiguity or any difference," State Department spokesman Ned Price said, adding: "We know that, and the Russian Federation knows that."

Earlier on Monday, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, called for "to avoid playing with our nerves and disturbing reactions."

Biden was caught insulting a "Fox News" reporter

Washington: US President Joe Biden was caught on Monday insulting a Fox News reporter, calling him a "stupid son of a whore" on the sidelines of a photo session at the White House.

As reporters were leaving, a reporter for "Fox News," a conservative favorite, asked President Biden if inflation was a political burden ahead of the midterm elections.

"That's a great advantage, more inflation," the Democratic president, probably not knowing his microphone was still on, replied sarcastically, before being heard muttering, "What a stupid son of a bitch."

A reporter who was on the scene said he couldn't hear Biden's words because of the noise, but added: "Listen to a video of the event if you're curious to know what the president really feels when Fox News' Peter Dossey asks him about inflation."

In an interview on "Fox News", Dossey ignored Biden's insult to him and responded indifferently, saying, "No one has checked what he said yet and found it not true."

Dossey later confirmed that Biden called him within an hour and told him, "It's not personal, my friend."

Previously, the White House rushed to explain or reverse any Biden gaffe. But this time, it seemed that the White House had no problem confirming what Biden had said about Dorsey, as the minutes of the session included the president's comment in full, which means that the phrase will find its way to be preserved in the official historical record.

The New York Times reporter, Katie Rogers, posted on her Twitter account a picture taken from the minutes of the session showing the insults launched by Biden.(AFP)

American centers warn against traveling to 15 destinations, including the UAE, Kuwait and Tunisia

Washington: Today, Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against travel to 15 countries and regions, including the UAE, Kuwait and Tunisia, due to the increase in the number of coronavirus infections in them.

The American Centers raised its travel recommendation to “Level IV: Very High” also for Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Mongolia, Niger, Peru, Romania, Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin.(Reuters)