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Trump has officially begun to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization as pandemic spikes

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Russian prosecutors demanded that a respected Gulag historian be sentenced to 15 years in prison over alleged sexual assault in a case his allies say has been trumped up to silence him. Yury Dmitriyev spent decades locating and exhuming mass graves of people killed under Joseph Stalin's rule

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Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

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WHO acknowledges 'emerging evidence' of airborne spread of COVID-19

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Scotland will become the first country in the world to add LGBTQ+ history to school curriculum

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A Russian ice cream maker has been accused of promoting homosexuality after using a rainbow on its packaging.

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Jair Bolsonaro removes mask to assure media he's fine after testing positive for coronavirus

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UK to resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia despite 'possible' war crimes in Yemen, government says

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Covid-19 antibodies may only last ‘weeks’, casting doubt on herd immunity - A study of almost 70,000 people in Spain found that 14 per cent who initially positive for antibodies then showed a negative result two months later

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Boris Johnson refuses to apologise for blaming care homes for coronavirus death toll

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Refusal to wear mask should be as taboo as drink-driving, says Royal Society chief

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Scientists warn of potential wave of COVID-linked brain damage

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FBI director: China is 'greatest threat' to US

China is working to be the world's superpower "by any means necessary," Christopher Wray said.

Hong Kong security law: Beijing security office opens in Hong Kong

Mainland agents based in the office can, under a new law, investigate Hong Kongers for security crimes.

Coronavirus: Trump moves to pull US out of World Health Organization

The president follows up his vow to leave the world health body by formally notifying the UN.

JK Rowling joins 150 public figures decrying 'cancel culture'

The letter, also signed by Malcolm Gladwell and Gloria Steinem, denounces "a vogue for public shaming".

Coronavirus: 'The masks you throw away could end up killing a whale'

As the world battles the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more protective equipment is ending up in the sea.

Syria conflict: 'Flagrant' war crimes committed in Idlib battle, UN says

Syrian civilians endured "unfathomable suffering" at the hands of troops and jihadists, the UN says.

Coronavirus: Brazil's President Bolsonaro tests positive

The president, who has belittled the risks posed by the virus, took the test after developing symptoms.

Coronavirus: The tenants enduring Australia's toughest lockdown

The police-enforced lockdown of nine housing towers in Melbourne is sparking community anger.

Coronavirus: Airborne transmission cannot be ruled out, WHO says

The WHO has acknowledged there is evidence that Covid-19 can be spread by airborne particles.

China: Bus plunges into reservoir, killing 21

The vehicle was travelling on a bridge in south-west China when it plunged into a reservoir.

Alex Pullin: Australian world-champion snowboarder dies - reports

Alex Pullin, Australia's flagbearer at the 2014 Winter Olympics, died while spearfishing, local media says.

What unites young people against Obama and Trump

The push to bring down memorials has renewed criticisms of "cancel culture" from current and past presidents.

Your Wednesday Briefing

Jair Bolsonaro, global warming, Sweden’s economy: Here’s what you need to know.

W.H.O. to Review Evidence of Airborne Transmission of Coronavirus

The World Health Organization plans to update its advice after hundreds of experts urged the agency to reconsider the risk of aerosol transmission.

‘It Was Positive’: President of Brazil Says He Has Coronavirus

President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil has repeatedly dismissed the danger posed by the coronavirus. On Tuesday, he disclosed that he had the virus.

Bolsonaro, Students in the U.S., Arctic Fires:Your Wednesday Briefing

Here’s what you need to know.

Intense Arctic Wildfires Set a Pollution Record

High temperatures and dry soil mean ideal conditions for fires. Blazes in June produced more carbon emissions than any other fires in almost two decades of monitoring.

Patient Is Reported Free of H.I.V., but Scientists Urge Caution

Brazilian scientists say the man no longer shows signs of the infection after taking a powerful drug cocktail. But the preliminary results require confirmation.

Why Isn’t the ‘Southern Strategy’ Working?

And what else you need to know today.

U.K. Sanctions, Facebook, Jair Bolsonaro: Your Tuesday Briefing

Here’s what you need to know.

Bolsonaro Takes New Coronavirus Test After Attending Lunch Without Mask

President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil said he would take another test for the coronavirus after a news report indicated he had developed symptoms of Covid-19.

Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today

Evidence continues to build around the risks of transmission at places like bars, restaurants and parties.

These Pictures Capture What Frida Kahlo Was Really Like

A look back at the incredible life of one of art history's most recognized and celebrated icons.

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How A 4th Of July Meal Exposes The Coronavirus Risk For Thousands Of US Food Workers

Hundreds of workers may have contracted COVID-19 to get you the food on your plate this 4th of July. Some may have even died. A BuzzFeed News investigation exposes the cost of your BBQ.

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They Lost Their Loved Ones To COVID-19. Then The Government Lost Their Remains.

“I feel humiliated. We were doubly hit: not given medical attention and not given the body of our father.”

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India Just Banned TikTok

The government ordered 59 Chinese-owned apps to be blocked following border clashes with China that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

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The Artist Who Showed Us What Historical Figures Would Look Like If They Were Alive Today Is Back

From the distant past to 2020.

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25 Of The Most Powerful Photos Of This Week

From the surge in coronavirus cases around the globe to the demand for racial justice and equality in the US, these are the most striking and memorable pictures from this past week.

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Trump's Visa Ban Has Sent Foreign Workers And Families In A Panic: "We Don't Know What Else To Do"

“I was devastated. We never imagined this would occur."

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A Judge Blocked The Deportation Of A 16-Year-Old Boy Who Claims Trump Is Using The Coronavirus As An Excuse

Attorneys say the Honduran boy is trying to join his father in the US after witnessing a murder and then being threatened by a gang.

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DACA Recipients Are Shocked And Relieved After The Supreme Court Ruled Against Trump

"The rush of relief I felt in that moment is indescribable and all I could do was cry to my parents. We didn’t expect this decision at all."

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There Are 68 World Flags With Stars On Them, But It'll Take A Genius To Figure Out Which Ones

This is your time to shine!

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13 Traditions And Customs You Probably Didn't Know Existed In Other Countries

Birthday rituals, taboo moves, and everything in between.

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The Trump Administration Will Soon Deny Work Permits For Asylum-Seekers Who Enter The US Without Authorization

The policy will also block work permits for asylum-seekers who do not file for protections within one year of arrival in the US.

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Victoria coronavirus cases surge as lockdown looms: Live updates

Australian state announces jump in cases as Melbourne prepares for six-week lockdown, US grapples with resurgent virus.

US to restrict visas for some China officials over Tibet

Secretary of State says move is in response to China's policy of obstructing travel of diplomats, journalists to region.

'Killing field': At least 180 bodies discovered in Burkina Faso

Bodies - all male - were found dumped in groups by the roadside, under bridges and in fields in northern town of Djibo.

Demonstrators storm Serbian parliament over coronavirus lockdown

Demonstrators demand President Aleksandar Vucic resign after he issued lockdown order due to surge in COVID-19 cases.

'Life goes on': Brazil's Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

Brazilian leader has repeatedly played down the threat from COVID-19, describing it as 'a little flu'.

FBI chief says China threatens families of overseas critics in US

Programme called 'Fox Hunt' aimed at silencing Beijing's critics living outside of China who are regarded as threats.

Myanmar air raids 'that killed children amount to war crimes'

Amnesty says Myanmar military carried out 'indiscriminate' air strikes in Rakhine, calls for war crimes investigation.

Anti-lockdown protesters storm Serbian Parliament - Live updates

Serbian president says Belgrade may be locked down because of the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.

Remains of massacred student teacher identified in Mexico

Bone fragments found at a site called 'Butchers Ravine' near the dump where the bodies 43 students were burned.

Trump calls for reopening US schools amid COVID-19 pandemic

Trump downplays risk of the coronavirus, announces plan to push states, localities to reopen schools in September.

Coronavirus: Which countries have confirmed cases?

More than 11.6 million infections confirmed in 188 countries and territories, including more than 540,000 deaths.

Aggressive seaweed threatens Hawaii's remote reefs, could spread

The seaweed is producing mats as large as several football fields, killing everything found underneath.

Lithuania to receive 6 Blackhawk helicopters from United States

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 6 July that the State Department has approved a possible sale to Lithuania of 6 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and related equipment. The potential deal is for 6 UH-60M Black Hawks,14 T700-GE-701D engines (12 installed and 2 spares), as well as other systems for an estimated cost of […]

U.S. Army to bring Artificial Intelligence to its combat vehicles

The U.S. Army wants its combat vehicles will drive itself, autonomously select and prioritize targets to ease Soldier burdens in multi-domain operations. To achieve this, Army researchers plan to augment combat vehicles with Artificial Intelligence, or AI. New applications of AI are consolidating data and made possible of streamlining multiple targeting sensors to destroy long-range […]

Israel request to buy 990 million gallons of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel from United States

The Government of Israel has requested to buy approximately 990 million gallons of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Monday in an official notification to Congress. According to a recent service notification, the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government […]

U.S. State Department approves possible sale of 8 Osprey aircraft to Indonesia

The Pentagon confirmed Monday that the State Department has approved a possible sale to Indonesia of 8 MV-22 Block C Osprey aircraft. The potential deal for eight MV-22 Osprey aircraft made by a joint venture of Boeing and Bell Helicopter for an estimated cost of $2 billion, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in an […]

Pentagon clears possible sale of Strykers to Argentina

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of 27 M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $100 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress about the possible sale on Thursday, according to a posting on the agency’s website. The Government of Argentina has requested to buy […]

German Army contracts guided missiles for MARS rocket systems

Germany’s Army, known as the Bundeswehr, plans to procure a batch of new unitary guided missiles with a unitary warhead for the MARS II rocket launcher. According to a press release issued on 2 July by Bundeswehr, the national parliament of the Federal Republic has approved the acquisition of new MARS II rockets. The contract, […]

Israel launches new spy satellite that will be used to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities

Israel’s Ministry of Defense and Israel Aerospace Industries have successfully launched a rocket carrying a new Ofek 16 electro-optical reconnaissance satellite with advanced capabilities into orbit. Some sources reported that a new spy satellite will be used to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities. Israel is one of a small number of countries in the world that […]

U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress arrives in Guam

The U.S. Air Force has deployed B-52H Stratofortress nuclear-capable bomber to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam on July 4. The B-52H Stratofortress bomber, assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Wing, was deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base. The bomber flew the 28-hour mission to demonstrate U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s commitment to the security and […]

U.S. Army looks to buy Soviet-made special ammunition and weapon systems

The U.S. Army is buying an unspecified number of the Non-NATO standard ammunition and Soviet-era weapon systems, according to a government’s main contracting website notice issued earlier this month. According to an updated notice, the Army Contracting Command wants to purchase the Special Ammunition and Weapon Systems (SAWS) for the Department of Defense (DoD), other […]

Serbia receives Chinese-made unmanned combat aerial vehicles

Ministry of the defense Republic of Serbia has taken delivery of the first CH-92A unmanned combat aerial vehicles from China. The surveillance and reconnaissance unmanned aircraft systems, with strike capabilities, was formally handed over at Colonel-pilot Milenko Pavlovic Air Base in Batajnica on 4 July. The CH-92A is a medium-altitude, long-endurance-class UAV purposed for reconnaissance […]

Cyber War Forthcoming: “It Is Not a Matter of If, It Is a Matter of When.”

Cyber aggression can constitute an act of war if it is violent, political and instrumental. Thus, although cyber war has not yet occurred it is likely to in the future.

Opinion – The Survival of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution

The Bolivarian Revolution and its authoritarian resilience can be interpreted as manifestations of a larger global process relating to the decline of the liberal order.

Opinion – Eulogy for American Exceptionalism

The outdated notion of exceptionalism undermines the effectiveness of US foreign policy and harms important areas of international cooperation.

Doom, Boom or Hibernation? Covid-19 and the Defense Industry

The disruption of global value chains is devastating for smaller and more niche companies. Bigger and more diversified players seem to be faring better.

A Critical Analysis of Libya’s State-Building Challenges Post-Revolution

Libya’s security dilemma is tied to the challenges of state-building and democratisation processes reflected through its weak institutions and legitimacy issues.

Evaluating Russia’s Grand Strategy in Ukraine

Russia’s grand strategy toward Ukraine helps achieve the state’s goals of regional hegemony, economic prosperity, and improved world power dynamics.

Covid-19: Learning the Hard Way

Governments, regardless of type, that recognized the magnitude of the threat at the early stages of the outbreak and enforced social isolation early, suffered from lower infection rates.

Banned from Belarus

2010 was a watermark year. The signs for a freer election than in the past had been promising. But December marked a turning point, with candidates in prison on election night amidst Russian interference.

“The Crime He Committed Was to Steal a Cow”: Moral Luck and Gacaca

By rewarding confession and promoting reintegration, the Rwandan justice program Gacaca was marked by a permissive attitude toward individual moral responsibility.

The Importance of Language in Transatlantic Relations: The INF Treaty

Language was crucial both in the making of the INF Treaty in 1987, and in the Treaty's unmaking in 2019.

Post-Brexit EU Defence Policy: Is Germany Leading towards a European Army?

In the wake of Trump's unilateralism, France and Germany have repeated proposals to create a European army, but different ideas persist about what this would mean.

Memory Laws: Censorship in Ukraine

Ukraine had about 5000 Lenin statues placed during the former Soviet Union. Their removal seemed logical and natural: after all, what was Lenin to Ukraine?

Building Back Greener in Africa

ISTANBUL, Jul 07 (IPS) - African leaders highlight the opportunity for a triple dividend: reduced risk, increased resilience and strengthened recovery.COVID-19 continues to race across the African continent. People are dying, and even more are being pushed into hunger and poverty, in many cases risking to overturn years of development gains.

Read the full story, “Building Back Greener in Africa”, on globalissues.org →

Innovative Financial Approaches Key to Unleash SIDS Economic Potential

NEW YORK, Jul 07 (IPS) - Ambassador Lois M Young, is Belize's Permanent Representative at the United Nations and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).Our world is transfixed by the great human toll and economic impact of the worst global pandemic in a century. For the 65 million inhabitants of small island developing states (SIDS), the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is reminiscent of the worst forms of extreme weather events that SIDS contend with annually. Such events cost lives, undermine our hard-earned development gains, and hamper the aspirations and quality of life of our people. Our governments are routinely compelled to shift already scarce resources from social and economic investments to recovery and sustenance in the aftermath of disasters. For decades islands have been treading a development tightrope, which is increasingly precarious with the intensification of adverse climate impacts.

Read the full story, “Innovative Financial Approaches Key to Unleash SIDS Economic Potential”, on globalissues.org →

Non-formal Education Helps Senegalese Women Combat FGM and Harmful Practices

HYDERABAD, India, Jul 07 (IPS) - Growing up in Senegal's southern Casamence region — a conflict zone — Fatou Ndiaye, now 43, often heard gunfire and watched fearfully as she saw people flee their villages. But what she dreaded more than a flying bullet was Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Read the full story, “Non-formal Education Helps Senegalese Women Combat FGM and Harmful Practices”, on globalissues.org →

Donald Trump, Working Class Hero?

SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 07 (IPS) - In his early February annual State of the Union address, US President Donald Trump typically hailed his own policies for increasing wages and jobs to achieve record low US unemployment. Directly appealing to labour for a second term, Trump claimed exclusive credit for the US "blue-collar boom".

Read the full story, “Donald Trump, Working Class Hero?”, on globalissues.org →

Security Council’s Overdue COVID-19 Ceasefire Resolution Must Put Women & Youth at Center

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 07 (IPS) - More than three months after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made an urgent appeal for a global ceasefire in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Security Council has finally passed a resolution supporting his call.

Read the full story, “Security Council’s Overdue COVID-19 Ceasefire Resolution Must Put Women & Youth at Center”, on globalissues.org →

Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Children in South Asia

CANBERRA, Australia, Jul 06 (IPS) - The onset of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020 set off a series of health and economic crises that feed upon each other. The health crisis exacerbates the economic crisis by disrupting supply chains, throwing large number of people (particularly those working in the informal sector) out of work and closing down large numbers of enterprises – particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME).

Read the full story, “Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Children in South Asia”, on globalissues.org →

Why Does Racism Prevail? Leading Scholars Apply their Minds

Jul 06 (IPS) - All people belong to one biological species and there are no human "races". So why does belief in race persist? It may be a scientific misconception, but it is real. It defines the lived experience of many people and determines how governments act and how people treat one another. How did race come to have this power and this durability?

Read the full story, “Why Does Racism Prevail? Leading Scholars Apply their Minds”, on globalissues.org →

Has COVID-19 Pushed Women in Politics off Kenya's Agenda?

NAIROBI, Jul 06 (IPS) - In 2013, Alice Wahome ran in her third attempt to win the hotly-contested Kandara constituency parliamentary seat in Murang'a County, Central Kenya. As is typical of rural politics, the field was male-dominated, with the stakes being high for all candidates but more especially so for Wahome — no woman had ever occupied the Kandara constituency parliamentary seat.

Read the full story, “Has COVID-19 Pushed Women in Politics off Kenya's Agenda?”, on globalissues.org →

The Missing SDG: Ensure the Digital Age Supports People, Planet, Prosperity & Peace

MONTREAL, Canada, Jul 06 (IPS) - As the nations of the world prepare to gather virtually to assess progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), society is just beginning to imagine what a post-COVID world might be like.

Read the full story, “The Missing SDG: Ensure the Digital Age Supports People, Planet, Prosperity & Peace”, on globalissues.org →

A Pathway to Universal Healthcare in India

BANGALORE, India, Jul 05 (IPS) - Universal healthcare (UHC) is an important global goal because of its close links to poverty reduction and enhancement of the growth potential of countries. While several countries can now be said to be well on their way towards achieving this goal, several others, most notably large ones such as India and Nigeria, are decidedly not.

Read the full story, “A Pathway to Universal Healthcare in India”, on globalissues.org →

The Next American Terrorist

The Growing Irrelevance of Organizational Structure for U.S. Domestic Terrorism Bruce Hoffman, Terrorism Expert, Professor, Georgetown University Bruce Hoffman is a professor at Georgetown University and the Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis Visiting Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security at the Council on Foreign Relations. He has served as a commissioner on the …

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The New Dynamic Cyber Threat Environment

This expert-driven national-security insight can’t be generated for free. We invite you to support quality content by becoming a Cipher Brief Level I Member . Joining this experienced security-focused community is only $10/month (for an annual $120/yr membership). It’s a great and inexpensive way to stay ahead of the national and global security issues that impact …

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Are We Ready for Another Shock?

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Understanding China’s 2025 Ambitions

China is on a multi-year mission to reduce its reliance on foreign technology and as a result, Beijing is investing heavily in its own technological developments. Premier Li Keqiang announced the Made in China 2025 (MIC 2025) initiative in 2015 as a bid to significantly advance the country’s economy and industrial base with a goal …

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A Rare Glimpse Inside the Life of a Spy

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Cold War Fears May be Driving China’s Belligerence on Kashmir

Continue reading "Cold War Fears May be Driving China’s Belligerence on Kashmir"

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Where are Ripples from the Oil War Heading?

Continue reading "Where are Ripples from the Oil War Heading?"

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COVID Lessons Learned From Tackling Extremist Ideologies

Farah Pandith, Former Special Representative to Muslim Communities, US Department of State Farah Pandith served as a political appointee under Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, and most recently she was the first-ever Special Representative to Muslim Communities, serving both Secretaries Hillary Clinton and John Kerry. She is the author of …

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Xi’s Awful Arithmetic

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The Question: Why Would China not Invade Taiwan now?

The Cipher Brief is proud to launch ‘The Question’, designed to make us think forward, consider broader scenarios and challenge each other in constructive ways on the plausibility of future geopolitical events. In our first edition, Cipher Brief Expert Tim Willasey-Wilsey poses the question: Why would China not invade Taiwan now? At the end of …

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US envoy meets officials in Seoul as Kim honors grandfather

President Donald Trump’s point man to North Korea met with South Korean officials on Wednesday for discussions on stalled nuclear diplomacy amid the North’s repeated claims that it has no immediate intent to resume dialogue with the United States. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun’s meetings in Seoul came hours after the North’s state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un visited a mausoleum in Pyongyang to pay tribute to his late grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung on the anniversary of his death. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency didn’t mention any comments by Kim on the status of U.S. talks, which have faltered over disagreements in exchanging sanctions relief and disarmament.

Exhausted cities face another challenge: a surge in violence

Still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and street protests over the police killing of George Floyd, exhausted cities around the nation are facing yet another challenge: a surge in shootings that has left dozens dead, including young children. The spike defies easy explanation, experts say, pointing to the toxic mix of issues facing America in 2020: an unemployment rate not seen in a generation, a pandemic that has killed more than 130,000 people, stay-at-home orders, rising anger over police brutality, intense stress, even the weather. “I think it’s just a perfect storm of distress in America," said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms after a weekend of bloodshed in her city.

US general sees smaller but enduring troop presence in Iraq

Six months after a deadly American airstrike in Baghdad enraged Iraqis and fueled demands to send all U.S. troops home, the top U.S. general for the Middle East is talking optimistically about keeping a smaller, but enduring military presence there. Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command, met Tuesday with Iraq's new prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, and said afterward that he believes the Iraqis welcome the U.S. and coalition troops, especially in the ongoing fight to keep Islamic State militants from taking hold of the country again. “I believe that going forward, they’re going to want us to be with them,” McKenzie told a small group of reporters, speaking by phone hours after he left Iraq.

Brazil's president says hydroxychloroquine to cure his virus

Mary Kay Letourneau, teacher jailed for raping student, dies

Mary Kay Letourneau, a teacher who married her former sixth-grade student after she was convicted of raping him in a case that drew international headlines, has died. Letourneau was a married mother of four having difficulties with her marriage in 1996 when Vili Fualaau was a precocious 12-year-old in Letourneau’s class at Shorewood Elementary in Burien, a south Seattle suburb. Letourneau, then 34, initially told officers the boy was 18, raising suspicions that something sexual was going on.

Window into virus surge: Death, recovery at Houston hospital

Ten people, each in two layers of protective equipment, surrounded her hospital bed. At the foot of the bed, Dr. Joseph Varon called out a rhythm: one-two, one-two, one-two. At least 10 people who were at the funeral later developed coronavirus symptoms, according to her daughter, who fell sick herself.

China blackmailing dissenters in US to return home – FBI chief

Christopher Wray condemns campaign against ex-pats and says Beijing espionage is ‘greatest threat to US economic vitality’Chinese agents have been pursuing hundreds of Chinese nationals living in the US in an effort to force their return, as part of a global campaign against the country’s diaspora, known as Operation Fox Hunt, the FBI director has said.In a speech about the security threat posed by China, during which he said Beijing’s counterintelligence work was “greatest long-term threat to our nation’s information and intellectual property and to our economic vitality”, Christopher Wray gave the example of one Fox Hunt target who was given a choice of going back to China or killing themselves.Fox Hunt was launched six years ago by President Xi Jinping, ostensibly to pursue corrupt officials and business executives who had fled abroad. Beijing has celebrated its claimed successes, publicising the return of hundreds of economic fugitives, and issuing wanted lists of those still at large. The Obama administration complained about the activities of undercover agents in 2015.Wray said the operation’s principal aim now was to suppress dissent among the diaspora.He told the Hudson Institute in Washington: “China describes Fox Hunt as some kind of international anti-corruption campaign. It is not. Instead, Fox Hunt is a sweeping bid by Xi to target Chinese nationals who he sees as threats and who live outside of China, across the world.“We’re talking about political rivals, dissidents and critics seeking to expose China’s extensive human rights violations.”The FBI director said: “Hundreds of these Fox Hunt victims that they target live right here in the United States, and many are American citizens or green card holders. The Chinese government wants to force them to return to China, and China’s tactics to accomplish that are shocking.“For example, when it couldn’t locate one Fox Hunt target, the Chinese government sent an emissary to visit the target’s family here in the US. The message they said to pass on: the target had two options, returned to China promptly or commit suicide.”Wray said that Fox Hunt operations, directed by China’s ministry of public security, were also under way in other countries, and the FBI had been cooperating with its partners to foil Chinese efforts at intimidation. He said Chinese nationals in the US were often coerced by thinly veiled threats against their families back in China.Asked about other coercive tactics used, he replied: “Use your imagination. You’re not going to be far off.”He appealed to anyone in the US who thought they were a Fox Hunt target to “please reach out to your local FBI field office”.Wray portrayed China as an aggressive rival with little or no regard for international or national laws. He said that nearly half the FBI’s 5,000 active counter-intelligence cases were China-related.China was using leverage, pressure or persuasion through intermediaries on federal, state and local officials, as well as US corporations and media, to win support for Chinese foreign policy positions. Wray said such efforts had been stepped up during the coronavirus outbreak, aimed at generating praise for Beijing’s handling of the pandemic.Although he did not say whether China backed either Donald Trump or his presumptive Democratic rival, Joe Biden, he claimed China was pushing its preferences for the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.“China’s malign foreign influence campaign targets our policies, our positions, 24/7, 365 days a year,” Wray said. “So it’s not an election-specific threat; it’s really more of an all-year, all-the-time threat. But certainly that has implications for elections and they certainly have preferences that go along with that.”The FBI director said that China was also involved in mass hacking, identity theft and intellectual property espionage, and there are 1,000 investigations into “China’s actual and attempted theft of technology” in all the bureau’s 56 field offices.“The people of the United States are the victims of what amounts to Chinese theft on a scale so massive that it represents one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history,” Wray said.In an interview on Tuesday, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, said that the US was considering banning the social media platform TikTok and other Chinese-made apps.India banned TikTok and over 50 other Chinese apps last week, in the wake of clashes on the China-India border in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.“We’re certainly looking at it,” Pompeo told Fox News. “With respect to Chinese apps on people’s cellphones, I can assure you the United States will get this one right. I don’t want to get out in front of the president, but it’s something we’re looking at.”

Trump Administration Notifies Congress It Will Withdraw From WHO

The Trump administration formally notified Congress and the United Nations that the U.S. is withdrawing from the World Health Organization. President Donald Trump first said the U.S. would end funding to the WHO back in May. He's criticized the agency's response to the coronavirus pandemic and accused it of helping China cover up the outbreak. U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez confirmed that Congress had received formal notice and wrote on Twitter: "This won't protect American lives or interests — it leaves Americans sick & America alone."

Trump Administration Moves to Withdraw from WHO

AP Explains: Bolsonaro has downplayed virus fears for months

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for months flirted with the new coronavirus as he flouted social distancing at lively demonstrations and encouraged crowds during outings from the presidential residence, often without a mask. Here's a look at what Bolsonaro has said as the tally grew.

US gives formal notice it is withdrawing from World Health Organisation next year

The US announced it would withdraw from the World Health Organisation in a statement Tuesday.The United Nations announced the country would withdraw from the organisation after it received a letter from president Donald Trump more than a month ago.

Trump's decision to withdraw from the WHO couldn't come at a worse time

Brazil's Bolsonaro tests positive for Covid-19

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for Covid-19, Bolsonaro himself announced, speaking on Brazilian TV channels Tuesday.

Gravedigger takes Covid-19 more seriously than Brazil's President

Adenilson Costa has worked at the Vila Formosa graveyard for a quarter of a century and he says he has never seen the fresh graves fill up so fast.

Australia's second-largest city to be locked down for six weeks to curb second wave

• LIVE UPDATES: Florida hospitals run out of beds • Several English pubs forced to close again days after reopening • US is in a 'free fall' with Covid-19: doctors

New French minister faces rape allegations

France's newly appointed interior minister Gerald Darmanin could face a fresh investigation into an alleged rape following a court ruling, sources close to the case told CNN on Tuesday.

World leader gives young people unusual Covid-19 advice

President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro touted the power of unproven medicine as he told the world he had tested positive for coronavirus. CNN's Bill Weir reports that his former health minister and a gravedigger have different views about the pandemic.

The UK is reopening for business. London may never be the same

London has seen more than its share of crises. The 2000-year old metropolis has endured an influenza pandemic, the Blitz and several financial meltdowns over just the past century.

Time could be running out for the 747

The 747 is perhaps the most popular plane in Boeing's history. But the embattled aircraft maker could be getting close to finally pulling the plug on the once groundbreaking jumbo jet with the distinctive second-floor bulge.

Tesla stock topped $1,200. Here's how it could hit $2,000

Tesla's stock soared 26% during the holiday-shortened week, topping $1,000, $1,100 and $1,200 in the process. Tesla is now worth more than most blue chip firms in the S&P 500.

China is storing an epic amount of oil at sea. Here's why

China bought so much foreign oil at dirt-cheap prices this spring that a massive traffic jam of tankers has formed at sea waiting to offload crude.

Energy drink? A UK startup is turning coffee into fuel

Coffee chains create a lot of waste, from disposable takeaway cups to the used grounds that are sent to rot in landfills.

US cities are losing 36 million trees a year. Here's why it matters

If you're looking for a reason to care about tree loss, the nation's latest heat wave might be it. Trees can lower summer daytime temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a recent study.

Miami's Little Haiti wasn't a target for developers. Until the seas started to rise

Trump: Kanye West's White House bid 'interesting'

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that rapper Kanye West's declaration that he is running for president was "very interesting." "If he did it, he would have to view this as a trial run for what's going to happen in four years," said Trump.

FBI director: China is 'greatest threat' to US

"The stakes could not be higher," FBI director Christopher Wray said, adding: "China is engaged in a whole-of-state effort to become the world's only superpower by any means necessary," he added.

US to leave WHO in July 2021: UN

The United States will leave the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 6, 2021, the United Nations said on Tuesday, after receiving notification of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of becoming a puppet for China during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump shaped by 'bullying' father, niece says in new book

Mary Trump describes the US president as a lying narcissist who was shaped by his domineering father, according to excerpts of her memoir published on Tuesday. Mary is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr, Trump's older brother. The White House immediately hit back, describing the memoir as "a book of falsehoods."

China opens new Hong Kong security agency headquarters

The new base is the Metropark Hotel, a skyscraper overlooking Hong Kong's Victoria Park. A plaque bearing the security agency's name was unveiled early Wednesday in front of Hong Kong government and police officials

US announces visa restrictions for Chinese officials under Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act

Tear gas, arrests as Kenyans protest police brutality

Australia warns of 'arbitrary detention' risk in China

Pakistan coronavirus cases reach 234,508

Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan warn Israel on annexation

Egypt, France, Germany and Jordan on Tuesday warned Israel against annexing parts of the Palestinian territories, saying that doing so could have consequences for bilateral relations. They, along with most other European countries, oppose Israeli plans that envisage annexing parts of the occupied West Bank as part of a peace deal that is promoted by President Donald Trump.

Flooding kills 2, disrupts entrance exams in southern China

Severe flooding and heavy rains have killed at least two people in southern China and disrupted the first day of widely anticipated college entrance exams being held one month late because of the coronavirus. The Chinese language exam in She county in southern Anhui province was cancelled after only 500 of the 2,000 students had reached the exam site by 10 am on Tuesday.

New at Saudi hajj: Bottled holy water, sterilized pebbles

audi Arabia has issued guidelines for the 1,000 or so pilgrims that will be allowed to perform the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca later this month, an experience that will be unlike any before because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Global report: WHO says 'evidence emerging' of airborne coronavirus spread

WHO bows to pressure from scientists about risk from aerosol transmission; Brazil’s Bolsonaro tests positive; Israel health chief resigns

Coronavirus latest updates US still ‘knee-deep’ in pandemic says Fauci Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for Covid-19

The World Health Organization has acknowledged new evidence that the coronavirus spreads more widely in the air than it had previously suggested, as the Trump administration gave official notification of its withdrawal from the group.

A day after a group of scientists said the global body was underplaying the risk of airborne transmission between people, a senior WHO official said there was “evidence emerging” of airborne transmission of the coronavirus, but that it was not definitive.

Fauci: US is ‘still knee-deep in first wave’ of pandemic as it passes 130,000 deaths

Top public health expert urges further action as new cases surge to record highs of around 50,000 a day across country

The United States is “still knee-deep in the first wave” of the coronavirus pandemic, one of the country’s top public health experts has warned, as the country surpassed 130,000 Covid-19 deaths and new polling indicates Donald Trump’s approval rating over his handling of the crisis has remained low.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said on Monday that America’s grasp of the pandemic was “really not good” and urged further action as new cases of the virus continue to surge to record highs of about 50,000 a day across the country. More than 131,200 have died in the US as of Tuesday, according to Johns Hopkins figures.

French coronavirus study finds black immigrant deaths doubled at peak

Statistics agency is first in France to cross-check Covid-19 fatalities with country of origin

Death rates among immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa doubled in France and tripled in the Paris region at the height of France’s coronavirus outbreak, finds a study from the French government’s statistics agency.

The INSEE agency’s findings, published on Tuesday, are the closest France has come to acknowledging with numbers the disproportionate impact of the virus on the country’s black immigrants and members of other overlooked minority groups.

Coronavirus live news: US gives WHO official notice of its withdrawal next year

Joe Biden says he would return the US to the WHO if elected; WHO acknowledges ‘evidence emerging’ of airborne spread of Covid-19; Jair Bolsonaro tests positive. Follow the latest updates

Global report: WHO says ‘evidence emerging’ of airborne coronavirus spread US officially notifies World Health Organization of its withdrawal Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus Australia: Melbourne returns to six-week lockdown

6.00am BST

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he is confident that he will swiftly recover from the new coronavirus thanks to treatment with hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that has not been proven effective against Covid-19.Bolsonaro said he tested positive for the new coronavirus on Tuesday after months of downplaying its severity while deaths mounted rapidly inside the country.The president told reporters he underwent a lung X-ray on Monday after experiencing fever, muscle aches and malaise. As of Tuesday, his fever had subsided, he said, and he attributed the improvement to hydroxychloroquine.Later Tuesday, he posted a video to Facebook of him taking his third dose of hydroxychloroquine, which has also been promoted by President Donald Trump.

“Today I’m a lot better, so certainly it’s working, Bolsonaro said, downing the dose with a glass of water. We know today there are other remedies that can help fight the coronavirus. We know none of them have their efficacy scientifically proven, but I’m one more person for whom this is working. So I trust hydroxychloroquine. And you?”Brazil, the world’s sixth-biggest nation, with more than 210 million people, is one of the outbreak’s most lethal hot spots. More than 65,000 Brazilians have died from Covid-19, and over 1.5 million have been infected.Both numbers are the worlds second-highest totals, behind those of the U.S., though the true figures are believed to be higher because of a lack of widespread testing. On Tuesday alone, 1,254 deaths were confirmed.Other world leaders who have had bouts with Covid-19 include British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain’s Prince Charles, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.

5.45am BST

Here are the key global developments from the last few hours:

Donald Trump's behavior was shaped by his 'sociopath' father, niece writes in bombshell book

Guardian obtains copy of Too Much and Never EnoughAuthor thanks president’s sister for ‘enlightening information’Mary Trump: eight of her most shocking claims

Donald Trump’s extraordinary character and outrageous behaviour “threaten the world’s health, economic security and social fabric” and were shaped by his “high-functioning sociopath” father during childhood, according to a bombshell book written by the president’s niece.

China blackmailing dissenters in US to return home – FBI chief

Christopher Wray condemns campaign against ex-pats and says Beijing espionage is ‘greatest threat to US economic vitality’

Chinese agents have been pursuing hundreds of Chinese nationals living in the US in an effort to force their return, as part of a global campaign against the country’s diaspora, known as Operation Fox Hunt, the FBI director has said.

'Brief shining of the light': Japan's fireflies dance - and mate - in isolation amid Covid-19

Next year visitors to Tatsuno ‘will once again see fireflies dance wonderfully’, says mayor

Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage

As the sun sets in the Japanese town of Tatsuno, thousands of fireflies begin glowing, producing a spectacle that usually draws crowds of delighted visitors.

But this year, the dance of the incandescent insects is being performed without spectators, after coronavirus prevention measures forced organisers of a popular firefly festival to cancel the event.

Denial of women's concerns contributed to medical scandals, says inquiry

Review into vaginal mesh and other products reveals much patient harm was ‘avoidable’

An arrogant culture in which serious medical complications were dismissed as “women’s problems” contributed to a string of healthcare scandals over several decades, an inquiry ordered by the government has found.

The review of vaginal mesh, hormonal pregnancy tests and an anti-epilepsy medicine that harmed unborn babies paints a damning picture of a medical establishment that failed to acknowledge problems even in the face of mounting safety concerns, leading to avoidable harm to patients.

London-born twins face deportation to different countries

Exclusive: Darrell and Darren Roberts face deportation to countries they have never visited

Twins who were born in London and have never left the UK face deportation to different countries in the Caribbean where they have no close relatives, their families have told the Guardian.

Darrell Roberts, 24, has been issued with a deportation notice informing him that the Home Office plans to send him to the Dominican Republic following a prison sentence, even though he has no connection with the country. He believes officials named it in error; his father was born on Dominica, another Caribbean island.

Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin, Australian Olympian, believed drowned on Gold Coast

The two-time world snowboarding champion, 32, was pulled unconscious from the water at Palm Beach

The Australian Olympian Alex “Chumpy” Pullin is believed to have drowned on the Gold Coast.

Police said a 32-year-old spearfisher had died after being pulled from the surf at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast.

DNA analysis identifies second Mexican student among 43 disappeared in 2014

Christian Rodríguez named after testing at Austrian university43 Ayotzinapa teachers college students abducted by police

Nearly six years after 43 Mexican students were kidnapped and forcibly disappeared, a new forensic science study has identified the remains of a second member of the missing group.

Omar Gómez Trejo, head of the special unit of the attorney general’s office charged with reinvestigating the case, said on Tuesday that remains found in November were subjected to DNA analysis this year at the University of Innsbruck in Austria.

'Disappointing' Zuckerberg meeting fails to yield results, say Facebook boycott organizers

Civil rights groups say company did not commit to concrete plan to address hate speech and misinformation

The organizers behind a major advertiser boycott of Facebook have called a meeting with Mark Zuckerberg and other executives “disappointing”, saying the company failed to commit to concrete solutions for addressing hate speech and misinformation on the platform.

Officials at Facebook, including Zuckerberg, the CEO, and Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer, met with members of the coalition of civil rights groups over video chat for an hour on Tuesday to discuss the largest boycott in Facebook history, which has gained the support of more than 1,000 of its advertisers, including Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Starbucks.

Brazil’s president, who had been skeptical of coronavirus, tests positive for it

The U.S. ambassador to Brazil said he would also be tested after hosting President Jair Bolsonaro for a Fourth of July barbecue.

U.S. commander expects Iraq will ask American troops to stay

Marine Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., who heads U.S. Central Command, said the United States must remain patient as Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi challenges groups with formidable military and political clout.

Bubonic plague triggers health alert in China after herder is infected

Officials are stepping up precautions, banning the hunting, skinning and transportation of rodents that can carry the deadly bacteria.

Trump hosts Mexico’s president, an unlikely ally

The two would-be populists have developed a conspicuous friendship in an age of crisis.

Trump administration sends letter withdrawing U.S. from World Health Organization over coronavirus response

The withdrawal is effective July 6, 2021.

As Trump pressures schools to reopen, here’s how other countries have handled the return to the classroom

Well beyond a billion students were sent home from schools as the novel coronavirus spread around the world.

Why Israel is seeing a coronavirus spike after initially crushing the outbreak

The government says weddings are the main culprit, but critics blame politics for the public health failure.

There was an effective vaccine. An outbreak struck anyway.

"A vaccine dose that remains in a vial is zero-percent effective."

Battling second virus wave, Australia puts city of Melbourne under lockdown

The new measures threaten to derail the recovery of a country that had enjoyed relative success in conquering the virus.

Teachers face threats, and books are banned as China pushes party line in Hong Kong schools

Historical texts and discussions that might go against Beijing’s desired narrative are being erased as officials impose “patriotic education.”

Why Guyana’s political stalemate matters

The newly oil-rich Caribbean nation is entering the fifth month of a tense standoff after a disputed election.

Leading Iraqi researcher assassinated outside his house in Baghdad

Hisham al-Hashimi was among the world’s top experts on the Islamic State and an adviser to the Iraqi government.

MASSIVE protests rock Serbian capital after new Covid-19 lockdown announcement (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

Mounted police used teargas and truncheons to disperse a crowd of several thousand protesters gathered outside the Serbian parliament in Belgrade, opposed to the government’s announcement of a new coronavirus lockdown. Read Full Article at RT.com

Masks are Covid-19 ‘new normal’ and those refusing them should be SHAMED like drunk drivers, says Royal Society chief

Royal Society president Venki Ramakrishnan urged everyone to wear facemasks as the “new normal” until the coronavirus disappears, comparing the refusal to do so with antisocial behaviors like driving without seatbelts or drunk. Read Full Article at RT.com

Seven TORTURE CHAMBERS & cells inside shipping containers discovered in Dutch police raid after crack of encrypted chat app

Six Dutch men have been arrested after a Franco-Dutch police operation to crack the EncroChat encrypted text app led authorities to seven shipping containers outfitted as grisly torture chambers and cells near the Belgian border. Read Full Article at RT.com

This again? New coronavirus lockdown triggers second wave of panic buying in Australia (VIDEOS)

A new wave of panic buying has hit Melbourne, with major queues lining up outside supermarkets after local authorities announced the reintroduction of stricter anti-coronavirus measures – that don’t actually prohibit shopping. Read Full Article at RT.com

Five asteroids to fly past Earth in coming week, as NASA identifies space rock with highest odds of hitting us

NASA’s asteroid watchers have given a heads-up about five asteroids headed toward Earth in the coming days, while the agency’s automated Sentry system has identified the space rock which has the highest chance of impact. Read Full Article at RT.com

Deutsche Bank agrees to pay $150MN fine over ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Deutsche Bank has said it will pay $150 million as part of a settlement with New York regulators, after being accused of violating anti-money laundering rules in its relations with the late disgraced tycoon Jeffrey Epstein. Read Full Article at RT.com

South America’s Covid-19 crisis has exposed the inequalities of the region & the lack of real progress addressing poverty

As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in South America, it is the poorest who are worst affected. The pandemic has highlighted the societal problems that countries have been unable to eradicate. Read Full Article at RT.com

When worlds collide: Viral TikTok challenge causes Dogecoin cryptocurrency to surge in value

The Dogecoin cryptocurrency has surged in value by 20 percent in just one week, after a viral TikTok challenge urged users of the popular app to buy in and push its value to $1. Read Full Article at RT.com

Beware of FAKE JOURNALISTS! Daily Beast exposes network of false personas that tricked news outlets into publishing their op-eds

The Daily Beast says it has identified a network of fake personas used to sneak opinion pieces aligned with UAE government policy to legitimate media outlets. Twitter agreed to suspend some of their accounts. Read Full Article at RT.com

Brazil's Bolsonaro tests positive for Covid-19

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has revealed he has tested positive for the coronavirus. Bolsonaro, who has been criticized for downplaying the virus, was tested on Monday after developing symptoms including a fever. Read Full Article at RT.com

‘Price on your heads’: Aide to Venezuelan ‘president’ Guaido threatens journalists with FBI investigation over ‘Twitter hack’

Nothing says you represent an internationally recognized government like telling people who mock you on Twitter that the FBI is after them and that there is a “price” on their heads. Just ask Juan Guaido’s ‘ambassador’ to the UK. Read Full Article at RT.com

All come from dust: Study shows that when dying, stars fertilize the universe with their ashes

New findings show that when stars die they gently sprinkle chemical-rich ashes throughout the cosmos. The revelation helps to explain how the element carbon arrived in the Milky Way. Read Full Article at RT.com

Boundary With China Not Demarcated, Under Negotiation, Says Bhutan

The boundary between Bhutan and China is under negotiation and has not been demarcated, the Royal Bhutanese embassy in India has said.

Trapped Illegal Workers In Saudi See Pandemic As Only Escape Route

Jobless and broke, Sudanese electrician Hatem is stranded in limbo in Riyadh like countless other illegal workers, but he hopes the fast-spreading coronavirus will offer a chance for escape. While...

Trump Cheated On SATs, Score Got Him Into Wharton: Niece's Book

President Donald Trump paid a proxy to take a standardized college entrance exam for him when he was a high school student, his niece writes in a tell-all book scheduled to be published next week.

China Opens Hong Kong Headquarters For Its Secret Police

China opened a new office on Wednesday for its intelligence agents to operate openly in Hong Kong for the first time under a tough new security law, in a public display of its tightening control over...

Trump Says Harvard Move To Online Courses Due To Coronavirus "Ridiculous"

US President Donald Trump lashed out at Harvard University on Tuesday, calling its decision to move all its courses online in the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic "ridiculous."

Malnutrition In Poorer Nations Costs Firms Up To $850 Billion: Study

Hunger, poor nutrition and obesity not only present a health burden in developing countries but carry a hidden economic penalty that costs businesses up to $850 billion a year, according to a new...

"Without Historical Precedent": Climate Change Turns Lakes Green In US

Global warming is turning clear mountain lakes green in the western United States because of an increase in algae blooms "without historical precedent", researchers reported on Tuesday.

US To Maintain "Strong Stand" On TikTok: Mike Pence

US Vice President Mike Pence said on Tuesday the United States would "continue to take a strong stand" regarding Chinese entities that threaten US security, including the social media app TikTok.

Product Of His "Sociopath" Father, Says Trump's Niece In Tell-All

Donald Trump's niece describes the US president as a lying narcissist who was shaped by his domineering father, according to excerpts of her memoir published Tuesday.

Blinding Prey, Shooting Pups: Controversial Hunting Methods Return To US

Luring bears with bait including bacon and donuts, using flashlights to blind prey and shooting wolf pups in their dens will become legal across Alaska Thursday under a new federal law rolling back...

US Probing Allegations TikTok Violated Children's Privacy: Report

The Federal Trade Commission and the US Justice Department are looking into allegations that popular app TikTok failed to live up to a 2019 agreement aimed at protecting children's privacy, according...

What Donald Trump Said On Kanye West's US Presidential Bid

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that rapper Kanye West's declaration that he is running for president was "very interesting."

China's jobs problem runs deeper than the coronavirus

New hiring and management practices could help China boost productivity in the economic uncertainty of the post-coronavirus environment.

FBI chief slams Chinese cyberattacks on U.S., calls it 'one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history'

Wray's comments come on the heels of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's threat to ban TikTok as well as other Chinese social media apps citing national security concerns.

Samsung's next major smartphone launch set for August 5

Samsung is expected to unveil a new version of its Note smartphone.

Vietnam's outlook is 'one of the brightest' in Asia, UBS says

A rebounding economy and a new trade deal are reasons why the outlook for Vietnam is positive despite the coronavirus pandemic, said Edward Teather of UBS Research.

Asia Pacific stocks mixed as WHO warns coronavirus deaths could start to rise again

Stocks in Asia Pacific traded mixed on Wednesday morning as concerns around the coronavirus pandemic continue to linger.

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday, shortly after the presidential palace said he had been displaying symptoms associated with the disease.

Coronavirus live updates: San Francisco delays reopening of indoor dining as U.S. nears 3 million cases

The coronavirus has infected more than 11.64 million people around the world as of Tuesday, killing at least 538,780 people.

WHO says coronavirus deaths could start to rise again after cases accelerated in recent weeks, shouldn't 'be a surprise'

"I don't think it should be a surprise if the deaths start to rise again. It will be very unfortunate but it may happen."

Stock futures flat following sell-off on Wall Street

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost nearly 400 points on Tuesday.

White House begins the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization

The notice to the U.N. was the first step in a yearlong process that will rely on several factors outside of Trump's control, including cooperation from Congress and the president's Trump's own reelection in November, neither of which are assured.

The pandemic has boosted freelance work — and hiring for these jobs is booming

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc in the global jobs market, but a new report suggests freelance roles are booming as employers and employees look for more flexible positions.

Dubai reopens to tourists: 'We have to be realistic' but 'confident' on sector rebound

Dubai is betting on travelers for an economic boost despite low worldwide travel volumes and scorching Gulf summer weather.

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Secretary of Defence: US Deterred in Past Year Aggressive Activities by N Korea, Iran, Russia, China

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Department of Defense has in the past year deterred aggressive activities by North Korea, Iran, Russia and China, Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said in a Message to the Force on Accomplishments in Implementation of the National Defence Strategy.

Independent Inquiry Launched to Examine Abuse Allegations in British Gymnastics

British gymnasts have started to come forward following the release of the Netflix documentary Athlete A, which exposes the abuse US gymnasts experienced at the hands of convicted paedophile and former Olympic doctor Larry Nassar. British Gymnastics has launched an independent inquiry following complaints of abuse by several athletes.

US Defence Secretary, Japanese, Australia Ministers Urge North Korea to Return to Negotiations

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Defence Secretary Mark Esper and Japanese and Australian defence ministers Taro Kono and Linda Reynolds urged North Korea to return to the negotiating table on denuclearization, according to their joint statement circulated by the Pentagon.

Asian Stocks Trade Higher, While Australia's S&P/ASX Edges Down

The main stock indexes on Wall Street edged lower in overnight trading, as several US states, including Texas, Florida, Arizona, and California, have registered a surge in novel coronavirus cases.

COVID-19 Drug Could Be More Effective than Rushed Vaccine - Expert on India Setting ‘Wrong’ Deadline

New Delhi (Sputnik): With 11.4 million COVID cases across the globe, drug manufacturers are racing against the clock to develop a vaccine and bring life and the economy back to their normal course. Among 140 companies, Bharat Biotech expressed confidence in being able to make their vaccine ready by the country's independence day on 15 Aug.

Beijing to Join US-Russia Talks If US Cuts Nukes to Chinese Level, China's Foreign Ministry Says

BEIJING (Sputnik) - China is ready to join the disarmament talks with the United States and Russia if Washington agrees to reduce its nuclear arsenal to the Chinese level, Director-General of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Arms Control Department Fu Cong said.

Taliban Demands Release of 600 Blacklisted Insurgents, Pakistani Fighters - Source

KABUL (Sputnik) - The Afghan government is hanging back on releasing 600 of prisoners on the Taliban's* list under the US-negotiated deal due to the fact that some of them are on the US and Afghan security blacklists and others are Pakistani fighters, a knowledgeable source in the government told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Dutch Police Arrest Six Men After Discovering Torture Chambers and Cells Inside Shipping Containers

The police raid targeted the men after cracking encrypted text messages in EncroChat and discovering they had been formulating a detailed plan to take their fellow criminals hostage.

7 Protesters Involved in Violent Riots in Portland Face Charges

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Charges have been filed against seven individuals who took part in violent riots in Portland, Oregon this past weekend, the US Justice Department said in a press release.

Boeing Plans New Starliner Test Flight After Spacecraft Gets 80 Changes

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Boeing and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration implemented more than 80 changes to the new manned-flight Starliner spacecraft after an unmanned test in December of 2019 failed to meet its intended goals and are looking to test launch it later this year, a NASA official told a press conference.

Video: China Unveils New Hong Kong Security Office in Refitted Hotel

Chinese state media confirmed on Wednesday that Beijing has selected the Metropark Hotel Causeway Bay in Hong Kong as the new headquarters for its National Security Office in the semi-autonomous territory.

Providing Basic Income Could Cost Canada Up to $72 Billion, Parliamentary Budget Watchdog Estimates

TORONTO (Sputnik) - Providing a guaranteed basic income for Canadians struggling with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could cost the government up to $72 billion, the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer said in a report.

Trudeau Won't Visit Trump. Most Canadians Don't Want To Cross The Border Either

When Canada's prime minister opted not to meet President Trump this week, it sent a message about his country's mood: Most of his fellow citizens want to keep the border closed over coronavirus fears.

Melbourne Imposes Coronavirus Lockdown, Starts With A Group Of Public Housing Towers

NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Melissa Davey, Melbourne bureau chief for The Guardian, about a new coronavirus lockdown in Australia and how it is affecting residents of Melbourne's public housing.

Brazilian President Tests Positive For The Coronavirus

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for the coronavirus. He has consistently downplayed the dangers of the virus throughout the pandemic.

Tyrant Vs. Tycoon: Syrian President Starts A Public Fight With Billionaire Cousin

The Syrian government, which faces the collapse of the country's economy, has started a public fight with President Bashar al-Assad's cousin, who is said to be the wealthiest businessman in Syria.

Iraq's Leading Expert On ISIS Shot Dead After Receiving Threats

One of Iraq's leading security experts has been shot dead after threats from both ISIS and Iran-backed militias. Iraq's prime minister has vowed to find the killers.

U.S. Killing Of Iran's Gen. Soleimani 'Was Unlawful,' U.N. Expert Says

President Trump said the U.S. targeted Iran's Qassem Soleimani because of an imminent threat. A U.N. investigator says the U.S. has produced no evidence to back that up.

Amid New Surge In Virus Cases, Israel's Top Public Health Official Resigns

Siegal Sadetzki said Tuesday that Israeli leaders ignored her warnings and the country reopened too fast. "The compass handling the pandemic lost its direction," she said in her resignation letter.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Tests Positive For Coronavirus

The 65-year-old leader revealed the result Tuesday on national TV. Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed the virus's dangers, despite Brazil suffering the world's second-largest outbreak.

Opinion: Companies Have A Duty To Defend Democracy

A survey of 50 former U.S. ambassadors shows they believe democracy and elections are the top issues that companies need to prepare to publicly address.

In Show Of Force, U.S. Navy Sends Aircraft Carriers To South China Sea

NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Greg Poling of the Center for Strategic and International Studies about the deployment of two U.S. aircraft carriers to conduct exercises in the disputed South China Sea.

Is Brazil's President Among The Country's People Infected With COVID-19?

Brazil's president has been outspoken in his rejection of special measures to mitigate the coronavirus. The results of his latest COVID-19 test will be released Tuesday.

With Ban On Foreigners, Thailand Hopes Locals Will Visit Tourist Spots

Thailand is very heavily dependent on tourism. The coronavirus has hit the industry hard. In Southeast Asia, there are fears tourism might never fully recover.

COVID-19: Many People Stay Sick After Recovering From Coronavirus

One in 10 people infected with the coronavirus suffers from fatigue, muscle aches or neurological disorders for weeks after surviving an infection. What long-term damage does the virus do to the body?

Humiliation and Abuse in Lebanon's Kafala System

Lebanon's kafala system provides citizens with migrant household labor, though its critics say it's more like slavery. Workers have virtually no rights and must often endure hunger, beatings and humiliation. The economic crisis could change this.

The Ischgl Outbreak: Families of COVID-19 Victims Seek Justice

Mismanagement of a coronavirus outbreak in Ischgl, the Austrian resort town known for its après-ski debauchery, helped spread the pathogen across Europe. Now the relatives of those who died want justice.

Evidence Casts New Doubts on Russian Doping Whistleblower

For five years, the sporting world has been gripped by Russian manipulation of the anti-doping system. Now new evidence suggests the whistleblower who went into a witness protection program during the scandal may not have been entirely truthful.

Israeli Annexation Plans: The West Bank Faces a New Reckoning

Beginning July 1, the Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, could begin the process of annexing parts of the West Bank, despite this being a violation of international law. For many inhabitants of the region, their future is at stake.

Justice Cooperation: Lack of Deal Between EU and UK Imperils Security

With the growing risk of a hard Brexit, the danger is increasing that European and British collaboration on law enforcement will be discontinued. So far, the back-up plans haven’t been very convincing.

Corona in the Slaughterhouse: The High Price of Cheap Meat

German slaughterhouses have been hit recently with horrifying coronavirus outbreaks, with over 1,000 cases in one facility. The industry, and its biggest players, share the blame. Change could be coming. By DER SPIEGEL Staff

Coronavirus Heaven: Why Meatpacking Plants Are Superspreaders

As the recent outbreak in Germany shows, meat processing facilities offer perfect conditions for the transmission of coronaviruses, with cool temperatures and people cramped in close quarters. Additional changes are needed to protect workers – and theoretically even consumers.

The Curse of Black Gold: Vast Oil Find Puts Guyana on the Verge of Riches - or Failure

Guyana has always been one of South America's poorest countries. But now that ExxonMobil has discovered a new oil field off the coast, the tiny nation could become one of the world's richest. But will it be a blessing or a curse?

China Versus the World: An Emboldened Beijing Tries to Consolidate Its Power

Beijing is ruthlessly expanding its power. But resistance is growing around the world -- and Germany will soon play a key role.

What's Wrong With America?: "The Despair Is Smoldering in Society"

Millions of Americans have seen their wages stagnate for decades, even as the wealthiest have grown fantastically rich. The economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton believe the health-care system is partly to blame, and the coronavirus is highlighting the broader dangers American society is facing.

The UK Steers Toward a No-Deal Brexit in the Middle of the Pandemic

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson seems to be planning to take his country out of the European Union at the end of the year, even without a deal. The Continent is trying to limit the damage, but it would spell disaster for the British.

New York mayor blames 'dislocation' caused by coronavirus for wave of shootings that left 10 dead and 54 injured over weekend

'The court system is not working, the economy is not working, people have been penned up for months and months – so many issues underlying this challenge'

Trump news: President's niece claims he cheated on his SATs in sensational tell-all book, as he falsely insists US has lowest Covid mortality rate

US to pull out of WHO in 2021 despite surge in coronavirus

Mary Trump book: President paid someone to take SATs for him and went to movies night his brother died, niece claims

Mary Trump also quotes Donald's sister saying of his run for president: 'He's a clown — this will never happen'

Trump claims Confederate flag is 'freedom of speech' after Nascar ban it

'They've chosen to go a certain way and other people chose to go a different route'

Trump launches scathing attack on Harvard University for keeping classes online

'They ought to be ashamed of themselves,' president says of university officials

US gives formal notice it is withdrawing from World Health Organisation next year

'To call Trump's response to Covid chaotic and incoherent doesn't do it justice'

'I wanted to do everything possible': The son who sailed solo across the Atlantic to his father

With flights cancelled at the outbreak of coronavirus, Juan Manuel Ballestero decided he had to get home to Argentina from Portugal and so set sail alone, writes Daniel Politi

Teenager who died of Covid-19 attended church gathering before being given hydroxychloroquine

Florida 17-year-old taken to church party where masks and social distancing were not enforced

Everyone at Trump's Republican Convention to be tested daily for coronavirus, organisers announce

'We're going to have temperature checks, we're going to sanitise'

Syrian families in Turkey marrying off 'underage daughters for money amid coronavirus crisis', campaigners warn

Exclusive: 'Sometimes to be a second or third wife of a man. This is to get rid of them. To have one less plate at the table,' says secretary general of ECPAT Turkey

Senator who lost both legs in Iraq hits back at Tucker Carlson claim that she hates America

'You're not supposed to criticise Tammy Duckworth in any way because she once served in the military,' host says before criticising her

Exiled Uighurs push for ICC to investigate Chinese 'genocide' in Xinjiang

'There is now a clear legal pathway to justice,' lawyer says

Ghislaine Maxwell latest news: Jeffrey Epstein’s ex will die from coronavirus, conspiracy theorists claim

GHISLAINE Maxwell has been transferred to New York ahead of her trial, reports say. She is being held at Brooklyn’s tough Metropolitan Detention Centre before she appears in court on Friday. The arrested socialite has been charged with several offences relating to sex crimes with minors. It is believed the former girlfriend of convicted sex […]

Massive illegal raves ‘filled with Brits break out all-over Majorca as revellers pay €100 to party without masks’

BRITS have reportedly been partying at illegal raves in Majorca with hundreds of others without wearing face masks. Brazen parties happened at a home near the Costa de la Calma region in Calvia, Spain over the weekend. Up to 200 people were reportedly at the rave, with none following social-distancing rules or wearing masks. Cops […]

Cockpit window ‘CRACKED on Boeing plane carrying 178 passengers sending it plunging 18,000 feet and trashing cabin’

OVER one hundred passengers were onboard a Boeing passenger aircraft when it plunged 10,000 feet in three minutes after the cockpit window cracked. The aircraft was forced to do an emergency landing in China after an electrically-heated cockpit windscreen started sparking, and then suddenly cracked. Ruili Airlines Flight 6558 reported the malfunction just 30 minutes […]

‘Perfect mum’ strangles son, 11, to death for playing too much on phone then releases chilling vid appeal to find him

A ‘PERFECT’ mum who strangled her 11-year-old son to death with a washing line for playing on his phone released a chilling video appeal, claiming he had gone missing. Alexandra Dougokenski has been charged by police in Brazil for her son Rafael’s murder on July 2 after she confessed to the shocking crime. The 33-year-old […]

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for Covid and removes mask in front of reporters

BRAZIL’S president Jair Bolsonaro has tested positive for coronavirus – but later took his mask off and said he felt “perfectly well”. The right-wing populist, who previously dismissed coronavirus as a “little flu,” took the test yesterday after developing symptoms. Bolsonaro, who at 65 is classed as within an at risk group, told reporters he […]

Ghislaine Maxwell targeted ‘schoolgirls in uniform with braces’ claims Epstein victim Maria Farmer who reported pair

GHISLAINE Maxwell would bring schoolgirls in uniform and wearing braces for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse, the first accuser to report the couple to the FBI has claimed. Maria Farmer explained just how strikingly young the girls allegedly recruited by Maxwell for Epstein would be during an interview with Australian TV show 60 Minutes. Ms Farmer was […]

Australian man stopped speeding at 76mph reveals he was trying to fight off deadly snake in his lap with a knife

A MAN who was stopped speeding at 76mph revealed that he was trying to fight off a deadly snake in his lap with a knife, according to reports. Jimmy, 27, was cruising on a motorway when he spotted a reptile slithering towards his leg on June 15 in Queensland, Australia. The snake in his cab […]

Dog breeders selling ‘excess stock’ puppies to animal testing labs to die in agony during experiments in France

DOG breeders struggling to sell puppies during the coronavirus pandemic are flogging off surplus pets for experiments. All excess breeds of dog and puppy “are destined for the scalpel”, to die in agony in French animal testing labs, warns campaign group One Voice. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates “A decree […]

Fearless diver who gets up close and personal with great white sharks says don’t worry as ‘most people’ survive attacks

A FEARLESS diver who gets close and person with great white sharks for extraordinary pictures is not concerned as “most people” survive attacks. The terrifying marine creatures tend to scare most people, but not photographer Dickie Chivell, who snapped one as it flew towards the camera with its jaw wide open. Other images showed the […]

Deutsche Bank fined £118million after cosy relationship with Jeffrey Epstein who used accounts to pay off sex victims

DEUTSCHE Bank has been fined £118million for a lack of oversight in its dealings with three clients including paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The bank acknowledged it made a “critical mistake” in allowing Epstein to open accounts that were later used to pay off victims of his abuse. The New York State Department of Financial Service […]

Andalucia & Costa del Sol report 22k incidents of bad behaviour by visitors after shutting 55 beaches over coronavirus

WARDENS patrolling Spanish holiday spots including Costa del Sol have reported 22,000 incidents after forcing 55 beaches shut. Authorities in Spain’s southern Andalucia region closed the overcrowded beaches yesterday amid fears of a second killer coronavirus wave. Thirty of those beaches temporarily shut in Brit holiday spots of Costa Del Sol to maintain the 1.5metre […]

Woman trying to pose for photo with wild BEAR flees in terror as it angrily lunges at her

THIS is the terrifying moment a woman dices with death as she foolishly tries to pose for a photo with a giant bear. However, instead of getting a memorable snap she is forced to run for her life when the camera-shy beast suddenly lunges at her. The nail-biting incident was caught on camera in Bacău, Romania, […]

What Happens Next With the U.K., Brexit and Coronavirus

It’s hard managing the greatest health crisis of the last century on the fly; it’s even harder when that health crisis is accompanied by a global economic depression. Some countries have seemingly pulled it off. The United Kingdom isn’t one of them. And we haven’t even gotten through Brexit yet. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is…

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro Tests Positive for Coronavirus But Says He Feels ‘Perfectly Well’

Bolsonaro, who announced his results live on CNN Brazil, added he is taking hydroxychloroquine

Russian Space Agency Official Accused of Relaying Information to Spy Agency Charged With Treason

(MOSCOW) — An adviser to the director of Russia’s state space corporation has been detained on treason charges, the nation’s top security agency said Tuesday. Ivan Safronov, a former journalist who served as an adviser to Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin, was detained in Moscow by agents of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the main KGB…

Dutch Police Arrest 6 Men After Uncovering Makeshift Soundproof ‘Torture Chamber’

Authorities said police conducted the raid before the torture chamber could be used and alerted potential victims

Johnny Depp Takes Stand in U.K. Libel Trial Denying Claims of Abuse

(LONDON) — Johnny Depp gave evidence in a London court on Tuesday, denying claims that he hit ex-wife Amber Heard and accusing her of assaulting him and depicting him as a “monster.” Depp sat in the witness box in a wood-paneled High Court courtroom on the first day of his libel case against The Sun…

Vladimir Putin Sheds the Last Pretenses of Legitimacy to Extend His Rule

For Russians, Putin's power grab changes nothing. But for the West, it should have game-changing consequences

The U.S. Just Sent 2 Aircraft Carriers to the South China Sea. China Isn’t Happy

China accused the U.S. of flexing its military muscles in the South China Sea by conducting joint exercises with two aircraft carrier groups

Chinese-Owned TikTok Pulls App From Hong Kong Mobile Stores Amid National Security Law

TikTok, which has insisted it operates independently of Beijing despite its Chinese ownership, may be able to argue the withdrawal is a move to escape requests to censor content or share user data

Hong Kong Grants Police Sweeping New Powers Under National Security Law

Police can seek the security minister’s permission to order publishers, service providers and hosting services to remove messages, restrict or cease access to the message, or restrict or cease access by any person to the platform

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro Tested for COVID-19 After Exhibiting Symptoms

Bolsonaro could be seen coughing during a Thursday broadcast on his social networks, when he sat next to six other people, none of whom wore a mask