Armenia Newspapers – Internet Newspaper Database

Armenia

Posted on March 12, 2020March 28, 2020 by johnny

Aravot Azg Aztag Golos Armenii Hayastani Hanrapetutyun Haykakan Zhamanak Marmara (newspaper) Yerkir

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Wedding Causes Biggest COVID-19 Infection Chain In India; Groom Dies, Over 100 Test Positive

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Putin declared triumphant in referendum allowing him to rule until 2036 – five hours before polls close

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Taliban sources confirm: Russia did pay extremists to attack US soldiers

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Anonymous Hackers Target TikTok: ‘Delete This Chinese Spyware Now’

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Germany to dissolve special forces unit over far-right links

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China is breaking Hong Kong treaty with UK, says Boris Johnson

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UK will open path to citizenship for 3m Hong Kong citizens, PM says

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Germany to increase penalties for sexual violence against children - As authorities piece together evidence of a pedophile ring that may have included tens of thousands of people, Germany has moved to raise jail time for perpetrators. Possession of child abuse images is also in focus.

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'Utmost horror': China organ harvesting reports being taken very seriously, UK government insists

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Russian influencers and bloggers say they were offered as much as $100,000 to support Putin's bid to extend his term to 2036

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Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off - Botswana’s government is yet to test the remains of the dead animals in what has been described as a ‘conservation disaster’

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Apparent Ballot Stuffer Is Caught Red-Handed At Russian Polling Station In Vote to Extend Putin's Rule

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Hong Kong: US passes sanctions as world condemns new law

The US House Speaker said the law was a "brutal, sweeping crackdown" against Hong Kong's people.

Coronavirus: 'I'm all for masks,' says Trump in change of tone

The president shifts course after his fellow Republicans urge Americans to wear face coverings.

Why Texas is seeing a surge in coronavirus cases

In the last week, the state has seen upwards of 6,000 new cases every day and hospitals are reaching capacity.

Hagia Sophia: Turkey to rule on turning site into mosque

Turkey's Council of State rules on Thursday whether the iconic site can be turned back into a mosque.

Geoffrey Rush: Sydney newspaper loses appeal over defamation payout

Actor Geoffrey Rush will receive a record sum from an Australian newspaper, after it lost an appeal.

Judge gives go-ahead to tell-all book by Trump's niece

A New York court ruled the book's publisher can release the president's niece's family memoir.

CIA did not verbally brief Trump on Russia report, says official

Mr Trump wasn't briefed on Russian allegations due to unverified information, a CIA official says.

Hundreds of elephants found dead in Botswana

Some 350 elephant carcasses have been spotted in Botswana's Okavango Delta since May.

New Zealand health minister resigns after blunders

David Clark had been under fire for breaking lockdown rules and for his response to the pandemic.

Russia reforms: Putin strongly backed by voters, partial results

Victory would allow the president to stay in power until 2036, but critics say he wants to be a tsar.

Xinjiang: US seizes 'forced labour' Chinese hair imports

The products came from Xinjiang - where a million Muslims have been detained for "re-education".

Hong Kong's new security law: Why it scares people

New crimes with severe penalties - what the security law brought in by China means in practice.

U.K. Grants Asylum to Ex-Consulate Worker Who Told of Torture in China

Simon Cheng was held during the height of the Hong Kong protests last year, and his treatment highlighted concerns about China’s legal system.

Late Action on Virus Prompts Fears Over Safety of U.S. Diplomats in Saudi Arabia

Surging outbreaks in the U.S. Embassy and the kingdom and quiet congressional pressure led the State Department belatedly to allow voluntary departures. Some demand more action.

Federal Officials Turn to a New Testing Strategy as Infections Surge

Millions of additional coronavirus tests may be processed with “pooling,” enabling widespread surveillance as the country struggles to reopen.

White House Dismisses Reports of Bounties, but Is Silent on Russia

Robert C. O’Brien, the national security adviser, told Fox News that President Trump knew nothing about the reports because the briefer “decided not to” share unverified intelligence with him.

Germany Disbands Special Forces Group Tainted by Far-Right Extremists

For years, far-right extremists were tolerated inside Germany’s most elite military unit. An underground bunker of explosives has woken the authorities to an alarming problem.

Your Thursday Briefing

Hong Kong law, Uighurs, Seattle: Here’s what you need to know.

Researchers Debate Infecting People on Purpose to Test Coronavirus Vaccines

The technique, called a human challenge trial, has been used to uate other vaccines.

Hong Kong’s New Weapon Against Protesters: A Purple Warning Flag

The police have long used color-coded banners to warn demonstrators, but the wording on the new flag was a stark reminder of the drastic changes.

Who Will Recover Faster From the Virus? Europe or the U.S.?

The United States, with its readiness to fire and hire, normally bounces back faster after a recession. This time, though, Europe’s model may be better.

‘We Have to Act Out Our Freedom’: Protesters Hit Streets in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police invoked Beijing’s new security law for the first time to arrest protesters on the anniversary of the city’s handover to China.

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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Thousands Of Gig Workers Can’t Make A Living Unless They Install A Controversial Contact Tracing App First

Workers say the platforms are exploiting them by making it mandatory to install the Indian government's contact tracing app.

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In Case You Missed It: Australia Just Launched It's Own #ShareTheMicNow Campaign And Here's What Happened

The time is long overdue to let Blak people lead the dialogue on Blak issues.

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UN urges halt in conflict amid coronavirus pandemic: Live updates

Security Council calls for 'cessation of hostilities' for 90 days while US sets new daily record of almost 50,000 cases.

Myanmar sets November 8 date for general election

The nationwide vote is seen as a test for Aung San Suu Kyi and her ruling National League for Democracy.

Delhi opens makeshift 10,000-bed hospital amid coronavirus surge

The city of 25 million has emerged as India's biggest COVID-19 hotspot with 2,742 deaths and 87,000 cases.

Gunmen kill 24 people in attack on Mexican drug rehab centre

Attack in Guanajuato is one of the worst mass slayings since President Lopez Obrador took office in December 2018.

Brazil deliverymen for Uber, other apps protest amid pandemic

The workers complain that their pay has gone down while having to work under more precarious conditions.

Sunbelt's COVID-19 cases spike; some states back off on reopening

Record high cases across the United States Sunbelt have led other states to put their own reopening plans on hold.

Confederate statues removed in Richmond, Virgina

City mayor invokes emergency powers to order immediate removal of statues, citing safety concerns amid protests.

Cases spike in US, states back off on reopening: Live updates

Record high cases across the United States Sunbelt have led distant states to put their own reopening plans on hold.

Russia: Partial results show voters back Putin term extension

Constitution changes will allow President Vladimir Putin to hold power until 2036.

Trump officials defend response to Russia-Taliban intelligence

Trump remained defensive about the intelligence, dismissing stories about it as 'Fake News' made up to 'damage me'.

Turkey's Hagia Sophia and the battle to reconvert it to a mosque

Turkey's highest court is set to decide the status of the Hagia Sophia, but experts say a legal ruling is only symbolic.

San Quentin prison sees 600 new coronavirus cases in 5 days

California jails have seen dramatic increases, prompting 10,000 people to sign a petition calling for prison releases.

U.S. Army selects Kongsberg to develop wireless lethality for new gen robotic combat vehicles

The U.S. Army has selected Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace to provide a wireless fire control capability to support its future medium caliber lethality needs for its light and medium Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCV). This decision creates a common architecture across all current robotic lethality fire control for crew-served, medium caliber and anti-tank weapons. In addition […]

South Korea develops new futuristic laser weapon system

South Korean defense contractor Hanwha Defense is currently developing a new vehicle-mounted futuristic weapon system. The new system, called the Laser System for Explosive Disposal or LSED, is designed to neutralize surface landmines and unexploded ordnance. LSED will use a solid-state heat capacity laser beam to heat target ordnance to the point of causing the […]

Chinese new Z-8G transport helicopters spotted near disputed Himalayan border

China’s new Z-8G transport helicopters were recently spotted during a large-scale military exercise near a disputed Himalayan border. The new Z-8G helicopters attached to an army aviation brigade under the PLA 76th Group Army took part in a flight training exercise at an extremely low altitude in plateau area. The Global Times described the Z-8G as a […]

U.S. Pilot died in F-16 fighter jet crash in South Carolina

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that the pilot of an Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft was killed following a crash late Tuesday at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. The incident occurred on the military base around 11:30 p.m. on June 30. The aircraft was on a routine training mission with one pilot […]

German Navy received new NH90 NTH Sea Lion multi-role helicopter

On June 25, the German Navy took delivery of its new NH90 NTH Sea Lion multi-role helicopter, according to a service statement. “In the medium term, it will replace the Sea King Mk 41 and take over its tasks, including search and rescue,” it said in a statement. Also noted that the new NH90 in […]

Patria, Kongsberg to build U.S. Army’s future mortar system

Finnish aerospace and defense Patria Group, along with its partner Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, has announced that it will develop a new mortar system for the U.S. Army. According to a press release issued Tuesday by Patria, the team will provide to the U.S. market a combination of Patria’s mortar systems together with Kongsberg’s U.S. […]

Ukraine fears Russia will use massive military exercises to invade

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar said that Ukraine needs to be mentally prepared for the fact that Russia will not stop using its armed forces for political and economic objectives. “A significant number of military experts and analysts share the opinion about the possibility of a military offensive. NATO also understands how real it […]

35 years of lethality: U.S. Air Force celebrates B-1’s history

Thirty-five years ago, the first B-1B Lancer long-range, multi-mission, supersonic conventional bomber was delivered to the U.S. Air Force. On June 29th, 1985, at 1:55 PM, a B-1B nicknamed Star of Abilene was the first example of the bomber to land at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas as part of a delivery ceremony in front […]

Russia begins trials of new generation unmanned ground vehicle

Russia has begun trials of the new Marker unmanned ground system, the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects announced on 29 June. The Marker unmanned ground system is the joint project of the Center and the Android Technics Scientific Production Association. The modular platform is supposed to become the key element for practice of joint […]

Pentagon awards $2.3 billion contract for advanced missile defense radars

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency awarded a massive production contract to Raytheon Missiles & Defense, worth up to $2.3 billion, for seven gallium nitride (GaN)-based Army/Navy Transportable Radar Surveillance (AN/TPY-2) radars. The AN/TYP-2 system, commonly referred to as “Tippy-two,” is a part of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which is designed to […]

The Maidan Revolution in Ukraine

The reports from Ukraine made International headlines and the actions in Maidan were visible live on social media. Before long, it was hard to discern truth from fiction.

Gender Quotas: Towards an Improved Democracy

Gender quotas improve the overall quality of democracy by improving the quality of representation for everyone.

Opinion — Paradiplomacy in Times of Pandemic: The Paths Ahead

Although the Covid-19 pandemic poses challenges for states and international relations, it has already shown that paradiplomacy has an important role to play

Understanding Ukraine and Belarus: A Memoir

No writer really knows whether their experiences are unique or common, whether their insights are in any way original. Still, I convinced myself that there were some unusual things about my own.

Monitoring the Chernobyl Disaster

This chapter describes the author's travel, stories and experiences during the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which garnered Marples international recognition.

Opinion – Impacts and Restrictions to Human Rights During COVID-19

As democracies are the best environment for human rights, weakening them impacts human rights protection.

Overcoming Empire’s Seduction: Decolonizing International Relations

Post-colonial theory challenges the validity of knowledge on former colonial societies, but is often accused of being deconstructive at the expense of a practical focus.

COVID-19 Speeds the Race for 5G

Public policy that relies on pitting US competitors against their Chinese counterparts misses the point, which is to hasten the necessary proliferation of 5G.

Trump’s Foreign Policy Doctrine of Uncertainty

Trump's foreign policy appears as a manifestation of his personality – impulsive, improvisational and devoid of clear purpose and value, yet unmistakeably realist.

Putin’s Power Grab Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Lockdown has allowed authorities to scrap Presidential limits, yet the crisis has eroded support for the regime and damaged the foundations of Putin’s power.

Opinion – Tackling the Root Causes of Immigration to the US from Honduras

A decrease in immigration would not occur as long as the current U.S. foreign policy towards the Northern Triangle region remains the same.

Opinion – Racial Injustice and the Erosion of America’s Global Standing

Russia, Iran and China are among the last places to look to for human rights leadership, yet their open critiques of racial injustice force the US to look in the mirror.

Nuclear Testing, Never Again

WASHINGTON DC, Jul 01 (IPS) - Seventy-five years ago, on July 16, the United States detonated the world's first nuclear weapons test explosion in the New Mexican desert. Just three weeks later, U.S. Air Force B-29 bombers executed surprise atomic bomb attacks on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing at least 214,000 people by the end of 1945, and injuring untold thousands more who died in the years afterward.

Read the full story, “Nuclear Testing, Never Again”, on globalissues.org →

Cover-up at the UN: You Scratch My Back & I’ll Scratch Yours

UNITED NATIONS, Jul 01 (IPS) - The ongoing battle between China and the United States is threatening to paralyze the most powerful body at the United Nations – the 15-member Security Council (UNSC)—which has virtually gone MIA (missing in action) on some of the key politically-sensitive issues of the day.

Read the full story, “Cover-up at the UN: You Scratch My Back & I’ll Scratch Yours”, on globalissues.org →

Sustainable Tourism and Fisheries Key to Growth in Post-COVID Pacific

BANGKOK, Thailand, Jun 30 (IPS) - Developing countries of Asia and the Pacific are experiencing unbalanced tolls of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grim milestones in infections and deaths have left countless devastated. Yet, we must look at the economic and social impacts in small island developing States (SIDS), where setbacks are likely to undo years of development gains and push many people back into poverty.

Read the full story, “Sustainable Tourism and Fisheries Key to Growth in Post-COVID Pacific”, on globalissues.org →

The Goan Village Women Helping Mitigate Plastic Pollution by Making Eco-friendly Sanitary Pads

PILGAON/GOA, India, Jun 30 (IPS) - Jayashree Parwar has not traveled much outside of her village of Bicholim in the western coastal Indian state of Goa. But the homemaker-turned-social-entrepreneur has been reaching women in dozens of cities across the country with a hygiene product she makes at home along with women from her community.

Called Sakhi (friend in Hindi), the plastic-free sanitary pad is Goa's first menstrual hygiene product made with organic materials.

Read the full story, “The Goan Village Women Helping Mitigate Plastic Pollution by Making Eco-friendly Sanitary Pads”, on globalissues.org →

“Murder Most Foul” – the Death of Olof Palme

STOCKHOLM / ROME, Jun 30 (IPS) - Just as the U.S. is haunted by the 1963 murder of John F. Kennedy, Sweden is troubled by the 1986 murder of its Prime Minister Olof Palme. The American feelings were aired on Bob Dylan´s latest album, Rough and Rowdy Ways, containing a 16 minutes long song with lines like:

Read the full story, ““Murder Most Foul” – the Death of Olof Palme”, on globalissues.org →

India’s Test along the Line of Actual Control

NEW DELHI, Jun 30 (IPS) - Being the sole candidate from the Asia Pacific region for the non-permanent seat of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), India was elected by 184 votes in the 193-member United Nations' General Assembly on June 17, 2020.

Read the full story, “India’s Test along the Line of Actual Control”, on globalissues.org →

Are We Going from San Francisco?

SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR, Jun 30 (IPS) - Seventy-five years ago, on 26 June 1945, before the Japanese surrender ending the Second World War, fifty nations gathered at San Francisco's Opera House to sign the United Nations (UN) Charter.

Read the full story, “Are We Going from San Francisco?”, on globalissues.org →

Managing an Epidemic Within a Pandemic

Jun 29 (IPS) - While COVID-19 has made the headlines every day over the past two months, services for tuberculosis (TB), one of the oldest diseases in the world, have been interrupted due to the lockdown. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2019, India had an estimated 2.7 million new cases and 440,000 deaths due to TB in 2018—the highest in the world.

Read the full story, “Managing an Epidemic Within a Pandemic”, on globalissues.org →

Put Climate at the Heart of COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plans

WASHINGTON DC, Jun 29 (IPS) - Cast your mind back. Six months ago—it seems like a lifetime—the world's attention was on Madrid. The United Nations was meeting to take stock of international progress in fighting climate change. Headlines were dominated by young people pointing out—rightly—that governments were still not doing enough. They demanded urgent and ambitious action to cut emissions and help the most vulnerable.

Read the full story, “Put Climate at the Heart of COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plans”, on globalissues.org →

Africa’s Post-pandemic Future Needs to Embrace Youth in Agriculture

Jun 29 (IPS) - Warnings at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic that Africa could be hit by a wave of up to 10 million cases within six months thankfully now seem unfounded, although it is still far too early to be over-confident.

Read the full story, “Africa’s Post-pandemic Future Needs to Embrace Youth in Agriculture”, on globalissues.org →

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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The Future of Hong Kong

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GOP candidate is latest linked to QAnon conspiracy theory

When Lauren Boebert was asked in May about QAnon, she didn't shy away from the far-right conspiracy theory, which advances unproven allegations about a so-called deep state plot against President Donald Trump that involves satanism and child sex trafficking. The GOP-leaning rural western Colorado district will likely support the party's nominee in the November general election. Boebert is part of a small but growing list of Republican candidates who have in some way expressed support for QAnon.

Analysis: Trump fights to keep a job Dems say he isn't doing

President Donald Trump is asking Americans to let him keep his job. The questions have gotten louder in recent days following revelations that Trump didn’t read at least two written intelligence briefings about Russia paying bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of Americans in Afghanistan. “He is not doing his job,” said Michael Hayden, the former director of both the CIA and National Security Agency.

Video: Florida police laugh about shooting rubber bullets

24 shot to death in attack on drug rehab center in Mexico

Gunmen burst into an unregistered drug rehabilitation center in central Mexico and opened fire Wednesday, killing 24 people and wounding seven, authorities said. Police in the north-central state of Guanajuato said the attack occurred in the city of Irapuato. Apparently the attackers shot everyone at the rehab center.

Putin headed for victory in reform vote that could keep him in power until 2036

Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to have secured his political future on Wednesday with 78 percent of votes counted supporting a controversial national referendum that could see the former KGB agent stay in power until 2036. The referendum proposed more than 200 constitutional amendments, one of which will see presidential term limits reset, allowing Putin to run for the job again in 2024 and in 2030 if he chooses. Official results, after 98% of ballots had been counted, showed that the former KGB officer who has ruled Russia for more than two decades as president or prime minister had easily won the right to run for two more six-year terms, Reuters reported.

Putin headed for victory in reform vote that could keep him in power until 2036

A referendum's result gives Putin the opportunity to be Russia’s longest-serving ruler since Peter the Great.

LAPD funding slashed by $150M, reducing number of officers

City leaders voted Wednesday to slash the Los Angeles Police Department budget by $150 million, reducing the number of officers to a level not seen for more than a decade amid nationwide demands to shift money away from law enforcement agencies during America's reckoning over police brutality and racial injustice. About two-thirds of the funding was earmarked for police overtime and will be used to provide services and programs for communities of color, including a youth summer jobs program. The City Council’s 12-2 vote will drop the number of officers from 9,988 as of last month to 9,757 by next summer, abandoning a goal of 10,000 officers touted by political leaders and only reached in 2013.

Dreams’ PSVR addition is being used to show carbon footprint

The United Nations Environment Programme is behind the project

Hachalu Hundessa: 'Eighty-one killed' in protests over Ethiopian singer's death

Popular Oromo musician Hachalu Hundessa was shot dead on Monday night, sparking widespread unrest.

GOP candidate is latest linked to QAnon conspiracy theory

State-backed COVID-19 disinfo spreads faster and farther than local news outlets in 4 languages

Questionable stories on COVID-19 from state-backed outlets in Russia, China, Turkey and Iran are being shared more widely than reporting by major news organizations around the world, according to Oxford analysts. French, German, Spanish and English news sites see far less social engagement than these foreign-originated ones in their languages. The study is part of ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 disinformation campaigns by the Computational Propaganda Project.

CIA official chose not to tell Trump of Russia bounty report, top adviser claims

* Robert O’Brien condemned for deflecting blame on to briefer * Trump under pressure to explain why he did not act on reportThe US national security adviser said a CIA official tasked with briefing the president decided not to tell him about reports that Russia paid bounties to the Taliban for killing American soldiers because it was “unverified intelligence”.The claim from Robert O’Brien came as top members of the administration gave differing accounts on the status of intelligence reports on Russian bounty payments, and why Trump had not taken action in response, but had repeatedly pressed to re-admit Russia to the G7 club of nations.Trump himself continued to suggest that the allegations of Russia paying Taliban fighters to kill Americans were a “hoax”.It has been reported that the intelligence was included in the written presidential daily brief (PDB) given by the CIA. O’Brien appeared to suggest it had not been included in verbal briefings given to Trump.“The president’s career CIA briefer decided not to brief him because it was unverified intelligence,” O’Brien told Fox News, adding: “She made that call and, you know what, I think she made the right call, so I’m not going to criticize her. And knowing the facts that I know now, I stand behind that call.”O’Brien was severely criticised for putting the blame for a major policy issue on a relatively junior CIA official.“This is the same scapegoating play that the White House ran in the coronavirus context – blaming Trump’s intelligence briefer for something that is chiefly and fundamentally a failing of the White House staff,” said Ned Price, a former CIA analyst and national security spokesman.He added: “We now know that the information was included in Trump’s written PDB, which is how the intelligence community regularly flags items that the President needs to know. Nothing in the PDB is discretionary; everything in that short document is in there because – in the estimation of the intelligence community – the president needs to know it to fulfill his charge.”Intelligence experts have also pointed out that intelligence routinely briefed to the president is rarely “verified”, but presented with varying degrees of confidence.Trump continued to insist he had not been told, and questioned the veracity of the reports.“From what I hear, and I hear pretty good, the intelligence people – many of them – didn’t believe it happened at all,” the president told Fox News. “I think it’s a hoax. I think it’s a hoax by the newspapers and the Democrats.”Meanwhile, Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, insisted that the Russian threat in Afghanistan was real and had been properly addressed, implying the president had been kept informed.“We took this seriously; we handle it appropriately,” Pompeo, a former CIA director, told reporters. “The president has been consistently aware of the challenges that Russia presents to us and he is aware of the risk in Afghanistan.“It’s why we have spent so much time over this past year at the president’s direction to reduce risk to our forces in Afghanistan in a way no previous administration has done.”Pompeo said it was up to the president whether to invite Russia to meetings of the G7 group of major industrialised democracies, but added: “I think it is wholly important and appropriate for the United States to continue to have dialogue with the Russians to convince them to change some of the activities that are inconsistent with what it is the United States needs to do to preserve security and freedom for its own people.”A former senior US official confirmed to the Guardian that reports of Russian bounties were circulating inside the White House before the summer of 2019, and raised concern, but at that point had not been fully corroborated.The official said that more detailed information had surfaced since then, but added it was likely that president had ignored the news as it conflicted with his desire to cultivate good relations with Vladimir Putin.“He doesn’t like hearing bad news about all kinds of things, unless he’s forced to,” the former senior official said.CNN cited former officials on Wednesday as saying Trump’s resistance to intelligence warnings about Russia led his national security team, including those who delivered the PDB to brief him verbally less often on Russia-related threats to the US.A former Taliban spokesman, Mullah Manan Niazi, told the Daily Beast: “The Taliban have been paid by Russian intelligence for attacks on US forces - and on Isis forces - in Afghanistan from 2014 up to the present.”

Iran sentences journalist to death, months after he was mysteriously detained

Iranian dissident and journalist Rouhollah Zam has been sentenced to death, months after he was apprehended by Iranian forces in mysterious circumstances.

UK will honor passport promise to eligible Hong Kong residents

• Analysis: Why China's national security law could change Hong Kong forever • Police make first arrests under new law • Photos: Law sparks protests in Hong Kong

What is the West Bank and why is it important?

The West Bank came under Israel's control in 1967. It remains critical to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

They were arrested for breaking lockdown rules. Then they died in police custody

Indian police officers could face murder charges over the deaths of a father and son in custody, while under arrest for breaking coronavirus restrictions, a court has ruled.

Russian voters overwhelmingly back a ploy by Putin to rule until 2036

Russians went to the polls Wednesday to cast ballots in a nationwide referendum on constitutional amendments.

Beyond Meat is coming to Alibaba's grocery stores in China

Beyond Meat is on a roll in China.

Netflix is investing $100 million in Black-owned banks

Netflix on Tuesday said it would invest in Black-owned banks in an effort to help close the wealth gap between Black and White America.

Adidas executive who described racism discussions as 'noise' is stepping down

Adidas' global head of human resources, Karen Parkin, is leaving the company less than a month after a group of employees reportedly asked the company to investigate her for alleged racial discrimination.

The US economy is falling apart but Wall Street had its best quarter in decades

It has been a rough quarter for the US economy, with the country plunging into a pandemic-fueled recession. Yet the stock market is alive and kicking -- in fact, it's having its best quarter in more than 20 years.

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

Coronavirus: Trump says he looks like Lone Ranger in a mask and likes it

"I'm all for masks. I think masks are good," Trump said. "People have seen me wearing one." Trump's comments came a day after Republican lawmakers suggested that he wear a mask in public to set a good example for Americans.

Biden campaign outraises Trump for second straight month

Democrat Joe Biden outraised President Donald Trump's re-election campaign for the second straight month and for the second quarter of 2020, figures released Wednesday showed. Biden, the Democratic National Committee and related fundraisers brought in a staggering $141 million in June, the campaign's best fundraising month ever and $10 million more than Trump.

Australia considering 'safe haven' offer to Hong Kongers

Australia is actively considering providing safe haven to Hong Kong residents in response to China's sweeping new security law, it said Thursday, a move likely to further inflame tensions with Beijing. PM Scott Morrison said the situation in Hong Kong was "very concerning" and his govt was "very actively" considering proposals to welcome in Hong Kong residents.

Russians grant Putin right to extend his rule until 2036 in landslide vote

Official results, after 98% of ballots had been counted, showed that the Russian President had easily won the right to run for two more six-year terms after the current one ends in 2024. That means Putin, 67, could rule until the age of 83.

US coronavirus cases rise by nearly 50,000 in biggest one-day spike of pandemic

Brazil is the only other country to report more than 50,000 new cases in one day. The United States reported at least 49,286 cases on Tuesday. More than half of new US cases each day come from Arizona, California, Florida and Texas, home to 30% of the country's population.

Donald Trump tweets that Russia bounty allegations are 'Fake News'

UK will honour its word on immigration to those eligible in Hong Kong, says Raab

EU must prepare for possibility Brexit deal can't be reached: Merkel

The European Union must prepare for the possibility that talks for a deal with Britain over their future relationship could fail, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday."I will keep pushing for a good solution, but the EU and Germany too must and should prepare for the case that an agreement is not reached."

Hong Kong police make first arrests under new security law

One man with a Hong Kong independence flag was arrested at a protest in the city's Causeway Bay shopping district after police issued multiple warnings to the crowd that they might be in violation of the law, according to a police statement on Twitter.

Pakistan coronavirus tally reaches 2,13,470

As many as 1,00,802 coronavirus patients have recovered so far, making it almost half of the total cases in the country, it said. The viral infection has claimed 91 more lives in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 4,395. Another 2,741 patients are in critical condition.

Calls for UN probe of China forced birth control on Uighurs

Politicians around the world were referring to an Associated Press investigation published this week that found the Chinese government is taking draconian measures to slash birth rates among Uighurs and other minorities, while encouraging some of the country's Han majority to have more children.

China takes measures against 4 US media companies

'Raise a glass': UK Treasury faces backlash after hailing pubs reopening on Saturday

Offical Twitter account encourages patrons to ‘grab a drink’, but tone accused of being in poor taste given UK’s Covid-19 death toll

Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage

The Treasury has been accused of taking an irresponsible approach to the coronavirus epidemic after a backlash to a post on its official Twitter account that hailed Saturday’s scheduled reopening of England’s pubs.

“Grab a drink and raise a glass, pubs are reopening their doors from 4 July,” the tweet read, while a graphic carried the message: “Pubs are back”.

'No kissing': Amsterdam's red light district reopens after coronavirus shutdown

Sex workers welcome the chance to earn again but with strict rules about face-to-face contact, hygiene and making clients check for symptoms

Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage

Amsterdam’s famed red light district has reopened after a long coronavirus shutdown, with sex workers and clients having to observe new rules to prevent infection.

The Netherlands ordered all brothels closed in mid-March and had originally planned to keep them shut until September, but recently brought the date forward as Covid-19 cases dropped.

China vows to stop UK granting Hongkongers residency

Chinese ambassador says UK offer breaches international law, after UK foreign secretary admits it cannot force Beijing to let citizens leave

China has said the UK has no right to grant residency to Hongkongers fleeing a harsh new national security law, and vowed to take “corresponding measures” to stop such a move.

The comments, from the Chinese embassy in the UK, come after prime minister Boris Johnson pledged to honour a promise to offer nearly 3 million residents of the former British colony, those with British National (Overseas) status (BNO), the right to settle in the UK.

Ethiopia protests: more than 80 killed as singer's murder lays bare grievances

Troops on Addis Ababa streets as political tensions erupt over Haacaaluu death and wider Oromo claims

Ethiopian troops have been deployed in the country’s capital in a second day of unrest, sparked by the assassination of the popular musician Haacaaluu Hundeessaa, which has claimed more than 80 lives.

Protests after Haacaaluu’s murder on Monday tapped into grievances fuelled by decades of government repression and what the Oromo, Ethiopia’s biggest ethnic group, describe as their historic exclusion from political power.

Coronavirus live news: US reports 50,000 new cases as WHO warns on Middle East

Worst-hit nation records another new daily record of infections; Middle East at ‘critical threshold’ says health body; NZ health minister David Clark resigns. Follow all the latest updates

California rolls back reopening of bars and restaurants Global report: first tourists arrive in Greece as Brazil cases hit 60,000 Oxford offers world best hope of vaccine this year, UK MPs told Australia coronavirus live blog

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Tokyo confirmed more than 100 new coronavirus infection cases on Thursday, according to public broadcaster NHK, the Japanese capital’s highest daily tally in two months.

The city of 14 million initially sought to hold new daily cases below 20 since Japan lifted a state of emergency on May 25, but its tally has consistently exceeded 50 recently, Reuters reports.This week, the metropolitan government said it would move away from numerical targets and rely more on expert advice to rein in the virus and avert further economic slowdown. Tokyo’s daily count last exceeded 100 on May 2.

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More than 15,000 prisoners have been freed from overcrowded jails in the Philippines, in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

The 15,322 prisoners, mostly older people, were released between 17 March and June 22, following an order allowing people who are awaiting trial, but unable to afford bail, to be sent home. Most are accused of less serious crimes.There is growing concern about the spread of Covid-19 inside crowded prisons, where social distancing is impossible and hygiene is often poor. Dozens of countries have allowed some inmates to return home, but rights groups have warned that prisoner releases have been too few and too slow.

'Mummy, what's his name?': expert's daughter invades BBC interview

Dr Clare Wenham was speaking to BBC news when girl appeared with picture of unicorn

After more than three months of the pandemic, parents across the country are familiar with the challenges of juggling home working with childcare.

But those perils were exposed in epic style when an expert being interviewed on the BBC News channel was interrupted by a young girl waving a picture of a unicorn.Dr Clare Wenham was being asked about the issue of local lockdowns in England when her daughter Scarlett appeared on screen and started talking to her.

Hundreds of elephants dead in mysterious mass die-off

Botswana’s government is yet to test the remains of the dead animals in what has been described as a ‘conservation disaster’

More than 350 elephants have died in northern Botswana in a mysterious mass die-off described by scientists as a “conservation disaster”.

A cluster of elephant deaths was first reported in the Okavango Delta in early May, with 169 individuals dead by the end of the month. By mid June, the number had more than doubled, with 70% of the deaths clustered around waterholes, according to local sources who wish to remain anonymous.

Exclusive: water firms discharged raw sewage into England's rivers 200,000 times in 2019

Untreated effluent flowed into waterways for more than 1.5m hours, data shows

England’s privatised water firms paid £57bn in dividends since 1991

Water companies in England discharged raw sewage into rivers on more than 200,000 occasions last year, according to data obtained by the Guardian.

The analysis reveals untreated human waste was released into streams and rivers for more than 1.5m hours in 2019.

Geoffrey Rush case: Daily Telegraph and Nationwide News lose defamation appeal against actor

Oscar winner to be awarded full $2.9m in damages after judges reject all publisher’s grounds of appeal

The Sydney Daily Telegraph will have to pay the actor Geoffrey Rush a record $2.9m in damages after the tabloid lost its appeal against a historic defamation ruling.

The newspaper and its publisher, Nationwide News – part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, had challenged an Australian federal court decision from April 2019 that found claims conveyed in two of its news articles from 2017 that the Oscar winner had behaved inappropriately towards a colleague were not credible.

US seizes items thought to be made from hair of Muslims in Chinese labor camps

Border officials say shipment contained 13 tons of weaves and other hair products worth $800,000

US federal authorities have seized a shipment of products made from human hair believed to have been taken from Muslims in labor camps in China’s western Xinjiang province.

Customs and Border Protection officials said that 13 tons (11.8 metric tonnes) of weaves and other hair products worth an estimated $800,000 were in the shipment.

Colombia army chief says 118 soldiers investigated for sexual abuse of minors

General says army has ‘zero tolerance’ for sexual abusers45 have been fired and 73 have faced investigations since 2016

At least 118 members of the Colombian army have been investigated since 2016 for alleged involvement in sexual abuse against minors, the head of the army has said, amid accusations of sexual violence by soldiers against young girls.

CIA official chose not to tell Trump of Russia bounty report, top adviser claims

Robert O’Brien condemned for deflecting blame on to brieferTrump under pressure to explain why he did not act on report

The US national security adviser said a CIA official tasked with briefing the president decided not to tell him about reports that Russia paid bounties to the Taliban for killing American soldiers because it was “unverified intelligence”.

Russians overwhelmingly back amendments that will keep Putin in power, early returns show

The constitutional changes will let President Vladimir Putin run twice more after his current term expires in 2024.

With Hong Kong security law, China writes broad international powers for itself

The law asserts extraterritorial jurisdiction over critics of Beijing anywhere in the world — potentially ensnaring such people should they set foot in Hong Kong.

Ethiopia protests spark Internet shutdown and fears of high death toll after singer killed

Residents of multiple cities said that protests over the death of Hachalu Hundessa continued across the region Wednesday. The violence further threatened Ethiopia’s transition to multiparty democracy.

Putin’s term-limit win suggests stagnation, not strength

"Who is there to replace him today?" Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov asked.

As Europeans embark on summer holidays, Americans have fewer options

U.S. travelers remain banned in many places, or face quarantine on arrival.

Federal judge strikes down Trump asylum rule targeting Central Americans

The ruling is a defeat for the administration as it continues an asylum crackdown and coronavirus border restrictions.

A photographer in Mexico uses an imperfect camera to document an uncertain time

Luis Antonio Rojas documented the coronavirus pandemic unfolding in Mexico City through the lens of a toy camera.

The pandemic stranded Palestinians abroad. Politics kept them there.

Amid travel restrictions, some are struggling to get home.

Some Canadian businesses want to let Americans back in. Most Canadians don’t.

Surveys show Canadians support border restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus, amid a sense they’ve handled the pandemic better than the United States.

Whatever Israel decides, a one-state reality looms

"Annexation is dragging and displaying the two-state solution’s corpse before the world."

China’s security law sends chill through Hong Kong, 23 years after handover

Pro-democracy parties disbanded, and people deleted social media accounts en masse as Beijing passed measures intended to eliminate political opposition.

What is happening in Hong Kong?

Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a sweeping new national security law that will dramatically overhaul the city’s freedoms.

At least 24 killed in armed attack on Mexican drug rehab clinic

Twenty-four people were shot dead after a group of gunmen stormed a drug rehab center in Central Mexico and opened fire on patients and employees, the second deadly attack on the facility since last month. Read Full Article at RT.com

Zoom fails to publish transparency report, delays it until ‘later’

Following months of privacy concerns raised by both state and private actors, online video company Zoom, which has seen its user numbers spike during the Covid-19 pandemic, has missed its own transparency report deadline. Read Full Article at RT.com

BangBros sends Mia Khalifa cease and desist notice as 1.5 million call for ex-pornstar’s videos to be taken down

More than 1.5 million people have backed a petition calling for Mia Khalifa’s videos to be taken off popular porn websites. But the wave of support has also landed the ex-pornstar in legal wranglings with industry giant BangBros. Read Full Article at RT.com

UK turns to Germany in bid to finally get its Covid-19 contact tracing app off the ground, ambassador says

Germany’s ambassador to the UK says British health services have reached out to their German counterparts to find a solution to the UK's embarrassing predicament over its yet-to-be-launched coronavirus contact tracing app. Read Full Article at RT.com

Over 300 arrested as Hong Kong protestors decry new security law (VIDEO)

Tensions were high in Hong Kong in the wake of the introduction of a new national security law, with police and protesters clashing and numerous arrests being made, including several under the contentious legislation. Read Full Article at RT.com

US sanctions move for Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline spells end of Transatlantic bond – German ex-Chancellor Schroeder

Aside from being an affront to EU sovereignty and an imminent threat to European jobs, the sweeping US sanctions targeting the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline mark the end of the Transatlantic partnership, Gerhard Schroeder has said. Read Full Article at RT.com

Erdogan blasts EU’s restrictive treatment of Turkey amid coronavirus outbreak as ‘political’

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized the EU over its restrictive treatment of the country after the bloc kept its coronavirus-related travel ban in place. Read Full Article at RT.com

Russia, Syria & Iran say ‘no military solution’ to Syria crisis as leaders blast illegal oil capture, US' sanctions ‘bypassing’ UN

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the US for “bypassing the UN” to impose “illegal” sanctions on Syria. He said humanitarian efforts in the war-torn country are increasingly important during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read Full Article at RT.com

India to ban Chinese firms from road projects as tensions mount over border dispute

Chinese companies will be barred from developing India’s roads and highways, the country’s transport minister has announced, as New Delhi and Beijing continue to lock horns over a territorial standoff. Read Full Article at RT.com

Beijing orders AP, CBS & other US outlets to submit information on China operations in tit-for-tat media war with US

China’s Foreign Ministry has ordered US news organizations to submit information about their operations inside the country within seven days, in what it says is a self-defense move against Washington’s restrictions on its media. Read Full Article at RT.com

Two asteroids to race past Earth as NASA pens deal with Space Force to bolster planetary defenses

Just one day after World Asteroid Day, NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has warned of two space rocks due to soar through the Earth’s backyard, as planetary defense preparations start to ramp up. Read Full Article at RT.com

Hong Kong police arrest 1st person under new security law banning independence flags

A man holding a Hong Kong independence flag became the first person to be detained under a new law introduced by China. As protests over the legislation gain foreign support, Beijing said other nations should stop interfering. Read Full Article at RT.com

Mysterious Deaths Of Over 350 Elephants In African Perplex Scientists

The mysterious deaths of over 350 elephants in Botswana over a period of two months have perplexed scientists and researchers, reports say. The carcasses of the elephants are strewn around the...

Judge Lifts Ban On "Tell-All" Book By Trump's Niece

An appeals court judge in New York has lifted a temporary ban on the publication of a potentially explosive "tell-all" book by President Donald Trump's niece, court documents showed.

Jeff Bezos's Wealth At Record $171.6 Billion, Ex-Wife 2nd Richest Woman

Jeff Bezos's net worth has smashed through its previous peak, even after he relinquished a quarter of his stake in Amazon.com Inc. as part of a divorce settlement last year.

Twitter Removes Image Shared By Trump Over Copyright Claim

Twitter Inc has taken down an image tweet by the U.S. President Donald Trump on June 30, in response to a report from a copyright holder.

US Records Over 52,000 Coronavirus Cases In Highest Single-Day Spike

New daily coronavirus cases in the United States soared past 50,000 for the first time Wednesday, as the World Health Organization delivered a grave warning that the global pandemic is accelerating.

US Regulators Complete Test Flights On Boeing 737 MAX

Air safety regulators successfully completed three days of flight tests on the Boeing 737 MAX, a key step in recertifying the plane, US officials said Wednesday.

Brazil Crosses 60,000 Coronavirus Deaths

Brazil topped 60,000 deaths from the novel coronavirus after recording more than 1,000 fatalities over the last 24 hours, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

UK Offers Hong Kong Residents Citizenship In Response To China's New Law

Britain on Wednesday extended Hong Kong residents a broader path to citizenship in response to China's sweeping new security law for the former UK territory.

Boeing 737 MAX Takes Test Flight After More Than A Year Of Grounding

US regulators conducted the first test flight of the Boeing 737 MAX on Monday, a key step in recertifying the jet that has been grounded for more than a year following two fatal crashes.

Trump Says He Would Have "No Problem" Using Mask In "Tight" Quarters

US President Donald Trump, who has yet to be seen in public wearing a face mask during the coronavirus pandemic, said Wednesday he would have "no problem" doing so, while reiterating his belief that...

Russian Voters Back Reforms Allowing Vladimir Putin To Rule Until 2036

Russians overwhelmingly approved a package of constitutional changes in a nationwide vote, partial results showed Wednesday, allowing President Vladimir Putin to potentially extend his two-decade rule...

COVID-19: California Suspends Indoor Dining At Los Angeles Restaurants

California's governor on Wednesday ordered restaurants to close indoor dining in Los Angeles and 18 other counties badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

As the coronavirus pandemic persists, here's one encouraging sign for Chinese exports

The global coronavirus pandemic shows little signs of letting up, and some say that's creating further demand for China's medical products.

Pakistan central bank governor says coronavirus lockdowns are a 'luxury of the rich'

Pakistan has reported more than 213,000 coronavirus cases and more than 4,300 people have died.

The S&P 500 'could get ugly' in the near future, Jim Cramer warns

The S&P 500 could be riding into a "make-or-break moment" in the short term, the "Mad Money" host said.

Twitter removes an image tweeted by Trump for violating its copyright policy

Trump's tweet showed a "meme" version of a picture taken by Damon Winter for the New York Times in 2015. The publication filed the takedown notice.

Coronavirus live updates: California rolls back reopening, NYC pauses indoor dining plans

The coronavirus has infected more than 10.49 million people around the world as of Wednesday, killing at least 511,851 people.

Stock futures steady after Nasdaq hits record to start third quarter

Futures held steady Wednesday evening as investors looked ahead to two jobs reports on Thursday, the week's final day of trading.

Threatening sanctions over Hong Kong is the 'logic of bandits,' Chinese official says

As geopolitical tensions rise over the central government's growing grip on Hong Kong, a Chinese official portrayed international criticism as irrational.

How China's national security law could change Hong Kong forever

Hong Kong's status as a world financial hub looks to be under threat. Beijing has expedited a new national security law, which some experts warn has the potential to erode the very structure that grants the region major privileges on the international stage.

Tesla tops Toyota to become largest automaker by market value

Tesla just became the world's most valuable automaker.

Hong Kong makes first arrests under China's new national security law

The national security law came into force late Tuesday, hours before Hong Kong marked the city's handover from the U.K. to China.

Thousands attend a street party in Prague to say goodbye to the coronavirus pandemic

The street party was held despite an uptick in the number of coronavirus cases reported in the Czech Republic last week.

5 reasons why Singapore's upcoming general election is worth watching

Singapore is set to hold general election on July 10 — a little more than a month after the country started easing restrictions put in place to contain one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in Southeast Asia.

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Chinese Envoy to UK Argues London Hong Kong Remarks Are ‘Gross Interference’ in Internal Affairs

On Wednesday, the UK Foreign Office summoned Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming to express "deep concerns" over the new national security law for Hong Kong passed by China's top legislative body and signed by President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.

US Armed Service Committee Approves Legislation to Make Pentagon Strip Confederate Names From Bases

Earlier, US President Donald Trump tweeted that would veto the defence authorisation bill if it contains an amendment calling for changing the Confederate-related names of US military bases.

US Media Date 'Russian Bounties' 5 Years Back, Name 'Key Middleman' in 'Money Transfers'

The explosive reports on "Russian bounties" offered to Taliban-linked militants to kill US soldiers are slowly turning into some kind of a saga, as now US media has offered new "details" on the claims.

Harvard Grad Threatens to ‘Stab’ Those Who Say ‘All Lives Matter’, Loses Job, Receives Death Threats

The kerfuffle began on Tuesday after a Harvard University graduate appeared in a viral video comparing a paper cut to a knife wound as the same as saying “all lives matter” in response to “Black Lives Matter”. The activist threatened in the now-deleted video to “stab” anyone with “the nerve, the sheer entitled caucasity, to say ‘all lives matter’”.

Remains of Missing Fort Hood Soldier Likely Found After One Suspect Commits Suicide

The lawyer for the family of missing 20-year-old US Army Pfc. Vanessa Guillen is demanding justice for the Texas-based soldier, whose remains may have been found by investigators just hours before authorities confirmed the suicide of a key suspect in the case.

At Least 24 Killed, 7 Injured in Attack in Mexican City of Irapuato - Authorities

The attack took place in the city of Irapuato in Guanajuato, on Wednesday afternoon, as Pedro Cortés Zavala, secretary of Citizen Security confirmed the deaths. There was no immediate information on a suspect(s).

‘Alarming’: Research Identifies Over 1,000 Phrases That Trick, Activate Voice Assistants

A new information technology study on voice assistants has resulted in the creation of a list of more than 1,000 word sequences that can trigger the devices to begin invading users’ privacy and listening to nearby conversations.

New Zealand Health Minister Resigns Amid Calls to Step Down Over COVID-19 Response

David Clark stepped down as Health Minister after facing a backlash for his breaching of Level 4 quarantine rules. Recently he had been pressured to resign, as over 2,000 New Zealanders signed a petition calling for him to be sacked.

'Oh Canada!' The History and Meaning Behind the Canadian National Holiday

Each year, Canadians come together in celebration to mark their nation's holiday - Canada Day. Falling this year on Wednesday, the country's 153rd birthday will be uniquely quiet, as it makes moves to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.

Apple to Temporarily Close 30 More US Stores as Coronavirus Cases Continue to Surge

Recent surges in COVID-19 coronavirus cases have forced several southern and western US states to pause reopening plans. The country's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has warned that infections could rise to 100,000 new daily cases if the outbreak is not quickly contained.

China's Ambassador in UK Summoned to Foreign Office Over 'Deep Concern' About Hong Kong Law - Report

The national security law for Hong Kong was unanimously passed by the top Chinese legislative body, the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), on Tuesday, later signed by President Xi Jinping. The law aimed at strengthening security and safety, is seen by Hong Kong residents as a violation of their liberties.

Venezuela's National Electoral Council Sets December 6 as Parliamentary Elections Date

Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) on Wednesday set December 6 as the date for parliamentary elections.

Germany Disbands Elite Military Unit Following Reports Of Right Wing Extremism

Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said the Special Forces Command, or KSK, had created a "wall of secrecy" around itself and she announced the partial disbanding of the commando force.

Referendum In Russia Passes, Allowing Putin To Remain President Until 2036

The vote approves constitutional changes, including a reset on presidential terms that will allow Putin to run twice more after his current six-year term expires in 2024.

International Doctors Start Residencies At U.S. Hospitals Amid COVID-19 Surge

Totaling about 4,000, they began working Wednesday. They'll face two historic challenges: the coronavirus pandemic and some of the most restrictive immigration policies the U.S. has seen in decades.

Hong Kong Police Arrest Hundreds Of Protesters Under New National Security Law

Police in Hong Kong have arrested nearly 400 protesters since the new controversial national security law imposed by Beijing took effect Wednesday.

U.N. Security Council Demands Cease-Fire In Conflict Areas, Due To COVID-19

The Security Council has struggled for months to pass a resolution related to COVID-19 because of tussling between the U.S. and China over a reference to the World Health Organization.

Delay Appears Likely In Israel's Plans To Annex Parts Of West Bank

The proposal, which has Trump administration support, has hit resistance both inside and outside Israel in recent weeks. "It seems unlikely to me that this will happen today," says one Cabinet member.

In Iraq, Rising Virus Cases And Oxygen Shortages Stoke Outrage, Fears Of 'Chaos'

Crowds have seized supplies for ill relatives, and officials warn the health system could collapse. "This is a war against the coronavirus and we have lost the war," says an Iraqi official.

Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

A map of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world. The respiratory disease has spread rapidly across six continents and has killed thousands of people.

Syrian Filmmaker Speaks Out On Torture: 'I Was Holding This Pain For A Long Time'

Oscar-nominated documentary maker Feras Fayyad delivered the first witness testimony in a crimes against humanity trial against a former Syrian government official in Germany.

5 Takeaways From China's Hong Kong National Security Law

Those charged under the new law could be tried on the mainland. Legal experts say the measure ends any remaining autonomy the region enjoys under Chinese rule.

Hong Kong Residents Reflect On The Future On Anniversary Of End Of British Rule

On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong transitioned from British colony to Chinese region. Hong Kongers born in the year of the handover reflect on how their lives and futures have been shaped by that moment.

A Spike In Coronavirus Cases Causes Outrage In Iraq

A spike in coronavirus cases and a shortage of medical resources has led to panic and unrest in Iraq. Some hospitals are filling, and family members have seized oxygen tanks for loved ones.

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. Economists Angus Deaton and Anne Case 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.

Alone on the Adriatic: The Italian Resort of Rimini Opens Carefully to Summer Tourists

Germans are finally able to travel to their favorite holiday destination again: Italy. In the tourist city of Rimini, hosts are setting up lounge chairs and putting out the umbrellas, but even so, this summer won't be the same.

ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos: "We Had to Act"

The European Central Bank's bond-buying program has been heavily criticized in Germany. But ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos says it is a necessity in these times of crisis. He also praises the German response to the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

A Global Scramble for the Coming Coronavirus Vaccine

A vast rivalry is developing between the U.S. and China in the race to develop a coronavirus vaccine. The health of billions of people depends on the outcome. How can the vaccine be fairly distributed? By DER SPIEGEL Staff

Sweden: Public Approval of Lax Coronavirus Policies Is Waning

Popular support for Sweden's lax response to the coronavirus is waning and the situation in the country's retirement homes is concerning. The architect of the Swedish approach, Anders Tegnell, is standing by his prescribed course.

Australia to boost defence spending by £151bn as PM warns of 'more dangerous' world after coronavirus pandemic

Sharp funding increase comes amid deteriorating relationship with China

Vanessa Guillen: Suspect linked to missing Fort Hood soldier dies by suicide, police say

News came a day after unidentified remains were found by investigators

Coronavirus: Health officials urge Americans to stay at home on 4 July as cases surge

'We don't want any more closures, but our numbers are going through the roof'

McConnell splits with Trump on defence bill veto and bases named for Confederate generals

Senators have agreed on language to compel the Pentagon to 'remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honour or commemorate the Confederate States of America' from its holdings

Trump again claims coronavirus is 'going to just disappear' as US sees record number of new cases

More than 48,000 coronavirus cases were announced across the country on Tuesday, the highest number since the pandemic began

Woman shot in the back while trying to remove Nazi flag from garden in Oklahoma

Victim is expected to make full recovery but could still be charged with theft

Trump news: President says he still hopes coronavirus 'will disappear' as US death toll closes in on 130,000 amid surge in infections

President praises economy despite record unemployment and spiking coronavirus cases as Russian bounty scandal enters sixth day

Three-storey building collapses in New York City

Gym property recently targeted for 'dangerously bulging' foundations

Israel's annexation plan: Netanyahu misses target date for starting controversial move

Boris Johnson wrote an op-ed in an Israeli newspaper urging the government not to go ahead with annexation

'Perverse': Justice slams Supreme Court ruling allowing taxpayer money to be given to religious schools

Ruling overturns lower court order that shut down public funding of scholarships to private religious schools

Russia working with Taliban to force US troops out of Afghanistan, Pentagon says, amid row over Kremlin 'bounties'

US intelligence sources have claimed that Russian agents were paying bounties to Taliban-connected fighters for killing American troops

Hong Kong protests: More than 370 arrested during clashes with teargas and rubber bullets as new security law enters effect

Police fire water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds, as thousands attend illegal rally in central Hong Kong

At least 24 dead and seven others injured after gunmen storm a drug rehabilitation center in Mexico

AT least 24 people were killed and seven others injured in an armed attack on a drug rehabilitation facility in Mexico. The attack took place in the town of Irapuato, near the city of Guanajuato, on Wednesday. Secretary of Security Pedro Alberto Cortes Zavala confirmed the horrific incident, the second to happen in the town […]

Chess champ’s YouTube podcast taken down for referring to ‘black against white’

A CHESS champ’s Youtube podcast was taken down because it referred to “black against white”. The series was removed because it contained “harmful and dangerous” content. Croatian ace Antonio Radic’s ‘Agadmator’s Chess Channel’ has over 700,000 subscribers – attracting 275million hits on YouTube – with fans loving his analysis of games. He was assessing a […]

Dog groomer transforms her poodles into crazy multicoloured creations with vegan dye

A DOG groomer shows why her five pet poodles are truly to dye for. Leslie Burgreen Waldrep, 39, applies crazy designs on her hounds using non-toxic vegan dye. In two hours they are transformed into tropical birds, polar bears and characters in movie Lady and the Tramp. Mum-of-two Leslie, from Sheffield, Alabama, US, said: “My […]

Inside £120m divorce of author Dan Brown after he ‘led double life & had string of sordid affairs’

IT’S a plot twist that could have been taken from one of his novels — bookish Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown standing accused by his ex-wife of having a string of sordid affairs. The couple had settled into a comfortably mundane existence in a quiet rural idyll during their 21 years of marriage. But […]

Brit tourists hit with massive Covid tax by pub owners as they arrive in Spain after lockdown

BRITS flocking back to Spanish resorts have been stunned by a “Covid tax” charged by bar owners. UK holidaymakers were furious at having to find extra cash to help pay for the personal protective equipment being worn by staff. A Spanish consumer rights group has declared the charge illegal but the first Brits arriving after […]

Tinder app not working for thousands as messages fail to send

TINDER was not working for thousands of people last night. Users have reported messages failing to send and getting an error 50000 alert. Independent outage monitor Down Detector detected a huge spike in Tinder down reports throughout the whole of yesterday. Some 50 per cent had server connection issues while more than a quarter were […]

Horrifying moment journalist’s shoulder is heard cracking after Russian cops trying to kick him out of Putin vote

HARROWING footage recorded the moment a journalist’s shoulder snapped after cops at a polling booth — suspected of voter fraud — set up on him. David Frenkel arrived at the voting station in St Petersburg today to report on claims of ballot box stuffing in a vote to extend Vladimir Putin’s rule over Russia until […]

Disgusting moment man kills a cat and BARBEQUES it in the street in front of horrified commuters

THIS is the disgusting moment a man kills a cat and then barbeques it in the street as commuters pass by. The homeless man, who is not named, tried to cook the cat using a makeshift fire on a pavement near to the Campiglia Marittima station in the province of Livorno, Tuscany. According to reports […]

Terrifying moment CNN news reporter is mugged at knifepoint live ON AIR by homeless man

A CNN reporter in Brazil was mugged while in the middle of a live broadcast. Bruna Macedo and her news crew were near the Bandeiras Bridge in São Paulo to report on the rising water level in the Teté River because of heavy rain. The suspect had initially appeared in the background looking over a […]

Misery for Brits as dozens of reopened beaches in Majorca, Tenerife & Alicante get ‘unsuitable for swimming warnings’

SUNSEEKING Brits face misery as reopened beaches in Majorca, Tenerife and Alicante have been slapped with “unsuitable for swimming” warnings. Spanish ecologists have given dozens of the country’s beaches ‘black flags’ for being overly polluted and poorly managed – including tourist hotspots. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, protective face masks and surgical gloves […]

Black Death outbreak in Mongolia as two brothers are infected with bubonic plague after eating marmot meat

TWO brothers in Mongolia have contracted deadly bubonic plague after eating marmot meat, it’s reported. Urgent checks have been carried out on 146 people with whom they were in contact. But there are some 500 who these contacts have been in touch with, say reports. The bacterial infection can kill adults within 24 hours if not […]

Millions of Hong Kong residents with ‘British National Overseas’ status can permanently move to UK, Boris reveals

DOMINIC Raab vowed Britain will not “kowtow” to China as he opened the door to three million Hong Kongers. The Foreign Secretary said all holders of British National (Overseas) passports there can seek sanctuary in the UK. Beijing has passed a draconian “subversion and terrorism” law that allows it to punish opposition to its Communist […]

China Appears to Have Tamed a Second Wave of Coronavirus in Just 21 Days with No Deaths

On Wednesday, Beijing reported just one new confirmed case following an aggressive campaign of testing

New Zealand’s Health Minister Resigns After Coronavirus Blunders

David Clark had earlier described himself as an “idiot” for breaking the nation's lockdown measures

24 Shot to Death in Attack on Drug Rehab Center in Mexico

Police in the north-central state of Guanajuato said the attack occurred in the city of Irapuato.

U.S. Customs Seizes 13-Ton Shipment of Human Hair Weaves, Believed to Have Been Cut From Prisoners in Chinese Internment Camps

The production of these goods constitutes a very serious human rights violation,' a Customs & Border Patrol official said

Russians Voters Agree to Extend President Putin’s Rule Until 2036

A majority of Russians approved amendments to the country's constitution, although balloting was tarnished by widespread reports of voting irregularities

U.K. Prime Minister Offers 3 Million Hong Kong Residents Path to British Citizenship

U.K Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke out following China's imposition of new security laws on the region

Reports of Russian Bounties for Taliban Fighters Further Strain Trump’s Bond With Veterans

Trump's relationship with the military community has often been tested

These Are the 10 ‘Most Urgent’ Cases of Threats to Press Freedom Around the World in July 2020

In mid-June, Maria Ressa, the co-founder of award-winning Philippines-based news site Rappler and critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, was convicted of cyber libel. The move against Ressa — who was one of four journalists and one news organization named TIME 2018 Person of the Year for their “pursuit of greater truths” in the face of…

China Tells U.S. to Stop ‘Oppressing Chinese Companies’ After Latest Huawei Move

U.S. regulators declared telecom equipment suppliers Huawei and ZTE to be national security threats

Turkey Says Up to 60 Migrants Feared Dead After Boat Sinks

Turkey launched a search-and-rescue mission involving helicopters and boats after the boat carrying migrants across Lake Van was reported missing