US Energy Secretary falls for Instagram hoax, netizens say 'Do better'

In a major embarrassment to US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who oversees the country's nuclear arsenal, has fallen for an Instagram hoax. He reposted a message claiming there was a "new Instagram rule" that would allow the social media site to "use your photos." This report was according to images of the since-deleted post on Perry's account, which he also linked to from Twitter, that was carried by US media. But Perry - a two-time presidential candidate and former governor of Texas - was ready.

"Instagram DOES NOT HAVE MY PERMISSION TO SHARE PHOTOS OR MESSAGES," according to the post, which billed itself as offering protection against the new rule if it was displayed on a user's account. There was just one problem. There was no new rule. "There's no truth to this post," BuzzFeed News quoted a spokesperson for Instagram's parent company Facebook as saying. Perry came in for heavy criticism on social media, with various users wondering whether someone who couldn't identify an internet hoax should be in charge of nuclear arms.

US President Donald Trump trolled after his absurd Kashmir statement

Twitter trolls Perry

"You are promoting a fake story. Do better. Or retire as Secretary of Energy. Our nuclear arsenal should be in steadier hands," one user wrote to Perry on Twitter. The energy secretary, who once famously said he would abolish the department he now heads, then turned to Instagram again. In an attempt to control the fallout, he tried to poke fun at his earlier mistake. "I give Instagram the express right to publish, distribute and/or sell any or all of my digital content posted to the account @governorperry," Perry said in a post. "This post I made on my phone shall stand as a legally binding document, in perpetuity throughout the universe."

US 'prepared to engage' with North Korea in nuclear talks: Envoy

US ready for North Korea talks

Meanwhile, the United States is ready to sit down with North Korea to resume long-awaited working-level nuclear talks, a US envoy said Wednesday. Nuclear discussions between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled since a second summit in Hanoi in February ended without an agreement over differences on the extent of denuclearization and sanctions relief in return. But anticipation for renewed dialogue has been on the rise after the United States and its security ally South Korea wrapped up their two-week joint military drill on Tuesday.

(With Inputs from AFP)