Worldwide / 12

Barnier, Frost Meet as UK Brexit Bill Raises Hackles

September 19, 2020

Critics of the bill had balked at the fact that it makes it possible for the government to override parts of the Brexit divorce deal that the United Kingdom and the European Union agreed past year. If it is not, a US-UK trade deal after Brexit will be unlikely. Pompeo, speaking Wednesday at a news conference with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, said he trusted Britain to find a solution.

Judge blocks 'politically motivated' USPS changes

September 19, 2020

They also sought to force the Postal Service to treat election mail as first class mail. The lawsuit - one of three multistate cases against DeJoy and the USPS - includes allegations that the changes could ultimately benefit President Donald Trump by undermining a voting method that Trump has claimed, without evidence, will lead to a massive fraud and a stolen election.

Trump spreads manipulated video of Biden featuring song by N.W.A.

September 19, 2020

Twitter has not removed the video but has put a "manipulated media" label on it, which leads viewers to a list of other tweets highlighting that the video has been altered. Trump asked as he retweeted a video that showed Biden appearing to play the explicit '90s anti-cop song on his phone and bop along to it. On Wednesday, social media users began changing the song shared in the manipulated video.

Canada's Conservative opposition leader tests positive for COVID-19

September 19, 2020

O'Toole chose to get tested for the virus after his staffer received a positive test a few days ago. Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Wednesday, Sept. "He will stay in isolation at his home in Shawinigan until September 26, in conformance with the instructions of Quebec public health", the Bloc said in a statement.

Teddy Could Impact Maritimes As Post-Tropical Storm

September 19, 2020

Models seem to be a little less bullish on Beta during the mid morning run, and seem to think that the shear will continue for a little while longer than originally thought if that continues into the late runs it would seem like the NHC may update the intensity forecast accordingly.

Kremlin critic Navalny posts update on recovery

September 19, 2020

Analyzes carried out by a special laboratory of the German Federal Army, but also by two other independent laboratories in France and Sweden, determined that Alexei Navalni had been poisoned with a chemical agent from the "Novichok" group, a warfare product created by the Union Soviet in the 70s of the last century in the middle of the Cold War.

Killed, 14 Wounded In Shooting At US Party

September 19, 2020

Before the call, police were not aware of the party, he said. "Sixteen victims is unheard of". The 14 wounded had been taken to hospital and were not in a life-threatening condition, he said. We in the Black community can not offer the removal of police officers from the police department when police brutality occurs and not asked for those responsible in hosting unsafe gatherings to not be held accountable for their actions especially when lives were lost or injured due to frivolous reasons.

Coronavirus: UK faces 'second wave' of epidemic, says Boris Johnson

September 19, 2020

Earlier this week, he said locking down the whole country again would be financially "disastrous" for the United Kingdom and refused to rule one out. Numbers of new cases are reaching levels not seen since April, reflecting a similar picture across Europe, where the World Health Organisation said there were 'alarming rates of transmission.

London's new year fireworks axed due to pandemic

September 19, 2020

The New West End Company, which represents 600 businesses in London's shopping district, repeated Khan's concerns that reintroducing rates would be the "final blow" for business already fighting for survival. The Mayor also said the rising number of cases in the capital was "made worse by the uncertainty caused by the lack of testing capacity". Khan also ruled out any possibility of holding London's New Year's Eve fireworks display, which annually attracts tens of thousands of spectators.

Barack Obama to Release First Volume of Presidential Memoir in November

September 19, 2020

Demand for the book is expected to be extraordinary, and Crown, an imprint of Penguin Random House, has ordered a first printing for the US edition of 3 million copies. The former leader of the free world himself says, "There's no feeling like finishing a book, and I'm proud of this one". Barack Obama also may find his memoir coming out at a time when the 3 November election is still undecided and the country far more preoccupied with who the next president will be than with events of the ...

Migrants moved into new camp on Lesbos after Reliving in overcrowded Moria

September 19, 2020

Notis Mitarachi, the migration affairs minister, says the infections were discovered after some 5,000 migrants made homeless by a fire at a large refugee camp last week. Authorities said the blaze, in which no one was hurt, was started by migrants. "This is an operation for the protection of public health and with a clear humanitarian content", the police said in a statement.

Second wave ‘inevitable’, but does that mean we should lockdown?

September 19, 2020

Meanwhile, people in the North East are awaiting an announcement on Thursday on new restrictions which are expected to come into effect from midnight, while a local lockdown will begin from 6pm in south Wales. "This could be a warning of far worse things to come". There are also fears the infection rate has risen to between 1.1-1.4, although scientists have stated the number must be kept below one.

Alligator on gas snaps up worldwide science prize

September 19, 2020

The publication's Ig awards are a spoof of the renowned Nobel science prize. Other 2020 winners included the team that devised a method to identify narcissists by examining their eyebrows; and the group that wanted to see what happened when earthworms were vibrated at high frequency.

World Health Organization warns of 'alarming rates of transmission' of virus in Europe

September 19, 2020

A French association of Covid-19 victims plans to file a legal complaint against Prime Minister Jean Castex, its lawyer said. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said with a recovery rate of more than 78 per cent, India has only 1 million active coronavirus cases.

Alabama reports 2nd death from Hurricane Sally; Alpha forms

September 19, 2020

As of late Wednesday, it was moving north at 12 mph (19 km per hour) after being downgraded to a tropical depression, the US National Hurricane Center said , with maximum winds of 30 mph (50 kmh). The storm caused a construction crane to crash down Wednesday onto a bridge that spans Pensacola Bay in the Florida Panhandle. The National Hurricane Center said the system was moving through southeast Alabama, would cross over central Georgia and reach SC on Thursday night.

China Says Xinjiang 'Concentration Camps' Necessitated By 'Islamic Radicalism' of Uyghur Muslims

September 19, 2020

China has defended its controversial policies in the Xinjiang region, just days after the USA government announced import restrictions on products coming out of the area. But human rights groups have said at least one million people have been incarcerated in camps which they describe as "re-education" centres. But in total almost eight million people out of a population of 22 million could have been through the programme, the new figures suggest.

Barbados gets rid of Queen to ‘leave past’

September 19, 2020

However, the Queen has remained its institutional monarch. Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state . The Queen will be abandoned by a Commonwealth country as she strives to leave behind her "colonial past". Earlier in 1992, Mauritius was the country to do so. Barbados gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966 but still had Elizabeth II as its head of state.

Assange lawyer says Trump offered deal to avoid extradition

September 19, 2020

Assange's lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, said on Friday she observed a meeting where former Republican US Representative Dana Rohrabacher and Charles Johnson, an associate known to have close ties to the Trump campaign, made the offer in 2017. The US government says WikiLeaks put the lives of US informants in conflict zones and others at risk by publishing secret documents. James Lewis, the lawyer representing the US authorities, said Assange was not wanted for publishing the 2007 video but ...

Second wave of coronavirus coming to UK

September 19, 2020

We asked EDP readers whether they would report their neighbours to the police for breaking the rules, and an overwhelming majority of the hundreds who responded said they would not. Hancock said the government's strategy is to suppress the virus while keeping schools and offices open before "the cavalry that's on the horizon of the vaccine and mass testing".

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died

September 19, 2020

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died tonight at the age of 87. Justice Ginsburg served the Supreme Court for 37 years. "Our nation has lost a jurist of historic stature", Chief Justice John Roberts said in the statement.

PM Modi dedicates Kosi Rail Mahasetu to the nation

September 19, 2020

These projects, worth nearly Rs 3000 Crores, will not only strengthen Bihar's rail network but also strengthen West Bengal and eastern India's rail connectivity. He listed the initiatives of the Government to improve the lives of the farmers such as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Neem coated Urea, network of cold storage is being built on a large scale in the country, investment is made on food processing industries and the creation of agricultural ...

Coronavirus restrictions strand hundreds of Hasidic Jews at Ukraine-Belarus border

September 18, 2020

The pilgrims have flocked to Belarus over the past few days, seeking to get into Ukraine by land. "I am ready to repeat this, if necessary, a thousand times", the head of Ukraine's border guard Sergiy Deyneko told pilgrims in an official video released on Wednesday.

Russian Federation working to help reelect Trump, FBI chief says

September 18, 2020

The FBI director said the foreign election interference efforts for the November elections is different from what they have observed in 2016, where the Russians targeted the election infrastructure. The hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee, - established after the September 11 attacks to confront the threat of worldwide terrorism - focused nearly entirely on domestic matters, including violence by white supremacists as well as anti-government extremists.

Brussels meets Brexit Brits in last-ditch effort to avoid no-deal deadlock

September 18, 2020

His warning came as International Trade Secretary Liz Truss denied that trade discussions with the U.S. had come to a halt on Monday. Conor Burns, a former UK trade minister, accused Biden of not understanding the Good Friday Agreement, while another former UK Cabinet minister told Politico Playbook that Biden was a " Brexit and Boris hater" who "doesn't understand" the Northern Ireland issue.

Rare Mediterranean storm batters Greece's Ionian islands

September 18, 2020

Nikos Hardalias, the Greek deputy minister of civil protection, told state television that the islands of Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zakynthos had been hit by the worst of the weather overnight and that there were power outages on all three islands.

Fearing supply shortfall, European Union wants to buy more COVID vaccines

September 18, 2020

The hacking, which took place over a decade, had more recently involved looking for vulnerabilities in the systems of firms developing Covid-19 vaccines, testing technology, and treatments, the U.S. The global agency has also warned that the same companies making vaccines might not have the capacity to make enough vaccines for everyone who requires one.

World's oldest sperm found perfectly preserved after 100m years

September 18, 2020

The study, published in the journal Royal Society Proceedings B, also has implications for understanding the evolutionary history of an unusual mode of sexual reproduction involving "giant sperm". The "spectacular find" was unearthed by an worldwide team of palaeontologists preserved inside a female ostracod - a type of tiny crustacean that resembles a mussel.

German police suspended over far-right chat groups

September 18, 2020

While some of the suspects may get charged with the dissemination of Nazi propaganda and "hate speech", others are being accused of an apparent failure to report their colleagues. All 29 were suspended with immediate effect on Wednesday, and disciplinary proceedings opened. So far the investigation was based on data from a single mobile telephone.

Erdogan says willing to meet with Greek PM over east Med tensions

September 18, 2020

Michel's visit to the island comes a day after Turkey said its Yavuz drillship would continue its search for oil and gas off Cyprus until 12 October, despite global calls to withdraw. "In view of the EU Council meeting next week, we underscored the importance of staying united on the messages [to Turkey] and determined to implement our decisions if the illicit actions continue", Anastasiades said.

Navalny's Team: Water Bottle with Poison Traces Found in Hotel Room

September 18, 2020

Fearing Navalny had likely been poisoned, they made a decision to quickly gather anything that could have contained signs of it. Mr Navalny's Instagram said they returned to the room an hour after learning he had become ill and packed the bottles and other items for further inspection.

China in Focus: Chinese Scientists Create Man-Made Virus

September 18, 2020

Yan claims , in her article, that alternate theories have been censored, but the scientific journal Nature Medicine on March 17, 2020, gave global attention to the theory, publishing a paper by five scientists who looked for evidence that SARS-CoV-2 was made in a lab.

South Africa to fight graft, boost mining in economic recovery plan

September 18, 2020

Social, religious, political, and other gatherings will now be permitted, so long as the number of people does not exceed 50% of the normal capacity of the venue. Travel may be restricted to and from certain countries that have high infection rates. Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! "It was already clear by mid-April that a severe, prolonged lockdown would have devastating socioeconomic consequences, including thousands of ...

Former Pence aide who helped organise White House coronavirus response backs Biden

September 18, 2020

Troye says in the ad it was "terrifying" and "awful" to work in the Trump White House, and the president cared more about being re-elected than protecting Americans from the coronavirus . The entirely positive letter reads, in part, "Having been on several conference calls into the late night hours starting in January, to supporting you day and night in every possible way to help you succeed in this mission, I have witnessed first hand how dedicated and committed all of you have been to doing ...

United Kingdom defends planned Brexit deal breach as Biden slams move

September 18, 2020

Adding: "Many in the United States and in Congress consider the issues of the Good Friday Agreement and a potential US-UK free trade agreement inextricably linked". British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab speaks at a press conference with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 in Washington.

Global coronavirus cases hit 30m as second wave fears grow

September 18, 2020

Elsewhere in the world, India has become the latest epicentre of the disease after reporting another record daily increase in infections on Thursday, with more than 97,000 new cases. "[The recommendation is] based on our understanding of the incubation period and transmission of the disease". From those almost five million cases recorded in Europe, WHO says 226,524 people have died.

PM Narendra Modi’s 70th birthday

September 18, 2020

Modi turned 70 on Thursday. The BJP will celebrate Modi's birthday as "Sewa Diwas" and organise public welfare activities across the country for a week. Born to Hiraba and Damodardas Modi in Vadnagar in Mehsana district of Gujarat, he joined RSS when he was 8 - Modi would attend the local youth meetings after a day's work at the family tea stall.

U.S. under secretary of state arrives in Taiwan

September 18, 2020

China's foreign secretary Zhao Lijian sharply criticised the meeting, stating: "We once again warn the U.S. that China is firmly opposed to the USA and Taiwan engaging in official exchanges under any pretext". "The United States honours President Lee's legacy by continuing our strong bonds with Taiwan and its vibrant democracy through shared political and economic values", spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement announcing Krach's trip.

Jewish New Year: Peace Deals, BDS Takes Hit & Important Petition

September 18, 2020

Standard diplomatic thinking has posited that peace between Israel and the Palestinians was the first step in securing a larger peace between Israel and her neighbours throughout the Middle East . During his address at the ceremony, Netanyahu said the peace accords would "bring an end to the Israeli-Arab conflict once and for all". "The UAE seeks like any country that takes its military seriously, to modernize its military, always, so our request for the F35 and other systems pre-dates this ...

Monkey steals man's phone, proceeds to take hilarious selfies

September 18, 2020

Zackrydz Rodzi, a 20-year-old student, said his phone had gone missing whilst he had been sleeping late on Saturday morning, and he was not able to find it again until Sunday afternoon. However, Zackrydz's joy of retrieving his lost phone was soon overtaken by the excitement of finding hilarious content made by the macaque. His relative also jokingly pointed out that there might be photos on the phone or some other evidence that would explain how the phone found itself in the jungle.

SAD decides to oppose three agriculture-related Bills in Parliament

September 18, 2020

She added that she was deeply hurt that despite her and her party's persistent pleas and efforts in this regard, the government "had not taken farmers on board". "My decision symbolises my party's vision, its glorious legacy and its commitment to go to any extent to safeguard the interests of farmers", she said in her four-page resignation letter addressed to the PM.

Vaccine "Nationalism" Puts Lives At Risk, Says European Union Chief

September 18, 2020

In an implicit swipe at US President Donald Trump's approach to the pandemic, von der Leyen said Europe would lead the world in the search for vaccine and support multilateral bodies like the World Health Organization. The bloc's leaders also jousted for months over a joint plan to rescue their coronavirus-throttled economies. She explained that earlier, the position had been that developing economical relationships with Russian Federation should help to move things forward in other areas, ...

India pushes supplies to disputed China border ahead of winter

September 18, 2020

According to Mahajan, compared to the physically and psychologically battle-hardened Indian troops, Chinese troops mostly are from urban areas and not used to hardships or prolonged deployment under field conditions. Recently India commissioned the third road from Darcha to Leh which is much shorter distance wise and less prone to closure. The defence minister told parliament that China had been building up its infrastructure in the remote mountains for decades and the government was trying ...

Moderna's COVID vaccine expected to be ready by end of year

September 18, 2020

Despite the World Health Organization and other groups repeatedly stressing that no-one will be safe from Covid-19 until everyone is, and a number of global initiatives meant to ensure equitable access to any vaccine developed, countries have scrambled to put themselves at the front of the queue.

Trump eyes executive order to punish arms trade with Iran

September 18, 2020

Security Council diplomat said on condition of anonymity. He stopped short of saying whether and how Britain would implement the snapback sanctions. But when asked by a reporter today why the U.S.is pushing through with sanctions despite the worldwide community's rejection of their legality to enforce the sanctions, Abrams said he was confident that the other member nations would see the necessity for snapback sanctions.

Barr Pushed Aggressive Federal Charges Against Rioters

September 18, 2020

Barr said the Black Lives Matter movement is "not interested in black lives". The president has since claimed that the lockdown measures saved "millions of lives," although the COVID-19 death toll in the U.S.is now heading toward the 240,000 death projection from the White House that seemed extreme to many at the time.

Greek police arrest migrant fire suspects

September 18, 2020

The news of this fire came a few days after a massive fire broke out in Europe's largest migrant camp, Moria camp, on Lesbos island in Greece, leaving almost 12,000 people homeless. Late Tuesday, police said a wildfire broke out near a camp with 4,600 asylum-seekers on the eastern island of Samos but it was not immediately threatening the camp.

Ruling may force thousands of immigrants in state to leave

September 18, 2020

Here's everything you need to know about this major decision . The 9th Circuit Court just ended TPS for more than 300,000 undocumented immigrants. More than 300,000 people from 10 different nations now use the program, some of whom have lived and worked in the United States for decades. Trump has sharply criticized the program, sometimes along racial lines, and in one infamous and widely criticized incident two years ago, the president reportedly referred to the program's beneficiaries ...

Belarus activists make list of police from protest crackdown

September 18, 2020

Belarus is closing its borders with Lithuania and Poland , and "strengthening the border" with Ukraine , announced President Alexander Lukashenko , as quoted by RIA Novosti . German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, whose country holds the European Union's rotating presidency, noted that and his colleagues from other EU countries will meet Monday to consider how to proceed with sanctions.

Covid: UK does not have enough testing capacity, Boris Johnson admits

September 18, 2020

In an ideal world, I would like to test absolutely everybody that wants a test immediately. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I think we are getting to the point where potentially we are losing our ability to accurately track the virus.

Queen Elizabeth II must suppress 'personal views' as global status threatened

September 18, 2020

Barbados is shedding its colonial tradition and with it its head of state , Queen Elizabeth II . " This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving ", she added. Today's population of under 300,000 is overwhelmingly of African descent. According to the Daily Mail, Prime Minister Mia Mortley quoted the island nation's first premier Errol Barrow in a written speech warning against "loitering on colonial premises".

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