While billions of people have struggling to keep their business afloat in the pandemic this year, the year has been gracious for billionaire Elon Musk.

According to recent reports, Elon Musk has crossed Mark Zuckerberg to become world's third richest man as his net worth increased to&nbsp;$115.4 billion.

The Founder of social media giant Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, is now on the fourth position with a net worth of&nbsp;$110.8 billion.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/three-little-pigs-elon-musk-unveils-neuralink-brain-computer-implants-323802">Also read|&nbsp;'Three little pigs': Elon Musk unveils Neuralink brain computer implants</a>

The SPaceX and Tesla owner saw an increase of&nbsp;nearly $87.8 billion this year due to an increase of almost 500 per cent in Tesla's shares.

The reports by&nbsp;Bloomberg Billionaire Index have also suggested that Musk, who is quite famous and liked on twitter too, has gained the most among all the billionaires.

As per Bloomberg, "Tesla’s $464 billion market value is now more than retail behemoth Walmart."

Musk is now following Jeff Bezos, world's richest man, with a net worth of&nbsp;$202 billion and Bill Gates, the second richest man who has a net worth of&nbsp;$125 billion.

World's richest woman

The year has been good for Jeff Bezos' ex-wife&nbsp;MacKenzie Scott too, as she climbed the ranks to become world's richest woman after she received&nbsp;a 4 per cent stake in Amazon.com Inc. as part of her divorce from founder Bezos. Now, her net worth is $66.4 billion.

While billions of people have struggling to keep their business afloat in the pandemic this year, the year has been gracious for billionaire Elon Musk. According to recent reports, Elon Musk has crossed Mark Zuckerberg to become world's third richest man as his net worth increased to $115.

While billions of people have struggling to keep their business afloat in the pandemic this year, the year has been gracious for billionaire Elon Musk. According to recent reports, Elon Musk has crossed Mark Zuckerberg to become world's third richest man as his net worth increased to $115.4 billion. The Founder of social media giant Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, is now on the fourth position with a net worth of $110.8 billion. Also read| 'Three little pigs': Elon Musk unveils Neuralink brain computer implants The SPaceX and Tesla owner saw an increase of nearly $87.8 billion this year due to an increase of almost 500 per cent in Tesla's shares. The reports by Bloomberg Billionaire Index have also suggested that Musk, who is quite famous and liked on twitter too, has gained the most among all the billionaires. As per Bloomberg, "Tesla’s $464 billion market value is now more than retail behemoth Walmart." Musk is now following Jeff Bezos, world's richest man, with a net worth of $202 billion and Bill Gates, the second richest man who has a net worth of $125 billion. World's richest woman The year has been good for Jeff Bezos' ex-wife MacKenzie Scott too, as she climbed the ranks to become world's richest woman after she received a 4 per cent stake in Amazon.com Inc. as part of her divorce from founder Bezos. Now, her net worth is $66.4 billion.

Elon Musk becomes world's third richest man; Bezos' ex-wife now world's richest woman

A senior Czech politician invoked a famous Cold War-era phrase by late US president John F Kennedy as he delivered a landmark speech to Taiwan's parliament Tuesday during a visit that has incensed Beijing.&nbsp;

Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil channelled Kennedy's 1963 challenge to communism when he declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" to West Berlin citizens worried about the Soviet Union's looming presence behind the Iron Curtain.

Kennedy "used the phrase 'Ich bin ein Berliner' to show his support for the people of Berlin and the highest values of freedom", Vystrcil said.

"Maybe I can be more humble, but allow me to use the same determined phrase to conclude my speech in your country's parliament, in Taiwan -- I am Taiwanese."

His final declaration -- "I am Taiwanese" -- was delivered in Mandarin and received a standing ovation from lawmakers on the self-ruled island.

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As a precaution against coronavirus he gave his speech wearing a facemask, which was decorated with the flags of the Czech Republic and Taiwan.

Vystrcil is leading a 90-member delegation to Taiwan that Beijing has slammed as a "despicable act".

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned on Monday that Vystrcil would "pay a high price for his short-sighted behaviour and political speculation", while Beijing summoned the Czech ambassador.

Prague then summoned Beijing's ambassador in response to Wang's comments.&nbsp;

Beijing's authoritarian leaders view Taiwan as part of China's territory and have vowed to seize the island, by force if necessary.&nbsp;

It has tried to keep Taiwan diplomatically and economically isolated from the rest of the world, especially after the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-czech-senate-speaker-will-pay-heavy-price-for-taiwan-visit-324169">Also read|&nbsp;China says Czech senate speaker will pay 'heavy price' for Taiwan visit</a>

She rejects Beijing's idea that Taiwan is part of "One China" and views the island as a de facto sovereign nation.

Diplomatic breakthrough

The Czech government accepts Beijing's "One China" policy and does not send official delegations to the island.

But Vystrcil is a member of the right-wing opposition Civic Democrats and is not bound by the protocol.

The delegation, including politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists and journalists, will meet Tsai on Thursday as part of their five-day trip.

Vystrcil said his visit was a way to highlight Czech sovereignty as his country "should not listen to the orders of another country, especially a non-democratic country", a clear reference to Beijing.&nbsp;

He said the Taiwan visit did not violate Czech's interpretation of the "one China" principle.&nbsp;

"We are not against the People's Republic of China," he told reporters.&nbsp;

"We also hope to have good, equal and mutually beneficial ties with the PRC, and similarly equal and mutually beneficial ties with Taiwan."&nbsp;

Taiwanese parliamentary leader Yu Shyi-kun called Vystrcil's visit a diplomatic breakthrough for Taipei that helps prove its existence to the international community.

"He does not yield to threats, intimidations and the lure of incentives... I believe that many countries will learn from Czech in the future," Yu said.&nbsp;

Vystrcil has said his trip follows in the footsteps of late Czech president Vaclav Havel, the dissident leader of the 1989 Velvet Revolution which toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia.

Havel visited Taiwan in 2004, once he left office.&nbsp;

A senior Czech politician invoked a famous Cold War-era phrase by late US president John F Kennedy as he delivered a landmark speech to Taiwan's parliament Tuesday during a visit that has incensed Beijing.

A senior Czech politician invoked a famous Cold War-era phrase by late US president John F Kennedy as he delivered a landmark speech to Taiwan's parliament Tuesday during a visit that has incensed Beijing. Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil channelled Kennedy's 1963 challenge to communism when he declared "Ich bin ein Berliner" to West Berlin citizens worried about the Soviet Union's looming presence behind the Iron Curtain. Kennedy "used the phrase 'Ich bin ein Berliner' to show his support for the people of Berlin and the highest values of freedom", Vystrcil said. "Maybe I can be more humble, but allow me to use the same determined phrase to conclude my speech in your country's parliament, in Taiwan -- I am Taiwanese." His final declaration -- "I am Taiwanese" -- was delivered in Mandarin and received a standing ovation from lawmakers on the self-ruled island. × As a precaution against coronavirus he gave his speech wearing a facemask, which was decorated with the flags of the Czech Republic and Taiwan. Vystrcil is leading a 90-member delegation to Taiwan that Beijing has slammed as a "despicable act". Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned on Monday that Vystrcil would "pay a high price for his short-sighted behaviour and political speculation", while Beijing summoned the Czech ambassador. Prague then summoned Beijing's ambassador in response to Wang's comments. Beijing's authoritarian leaders view Taiwan as part of China's territory and have vowed to seize the island, by force if necessary. It has tried to keep Taiwan diplomatically and economically isolated from the rest of the world, especially after the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016. Also read| China says Czech senate speaker will pay 'heavy price' for Taiwan visit She rejects Beijing's idea that Taiwan is part of "One China" and views the island as a de facto sovereign nation. Diplomatic breakthrough The Czech government accepts Beijing's "One China" policy and does not send official delegations to the island. But Vystrcil is a member of the right-wing opposition Civic Democrats and is not bound by the protocol. The delegation, including politicians, entrepreneurs, scientists and journalists, will meet Tsai on Thursday as part of their five-day trip. Vystrcil said his visit was a way to highlight Czech sovereignty as his country "should not listen to the orders of another country, especially a non-democratic country", a clear reference to Beijing. He said the Taiwan visit did not violate Czech's interpretation of the "one China" principle. "We are not against the People's Republic of China," he told reporters. "We also hope to have good, equal and mutually beneficial ties with the PRC, and similarly equal and mutually beneficial ties with Taiwan." Taiwanese parliamentary leader Yu Shyi-kun called Vystrcil's visit a diplomatic breakthrough for Taipei that helps prove its existence to the international community. "He does not yield to threats, intimidations and the lure of incentives... I believe that many countries will learn from Czech in the future," Yu said. Vystrcil has said his trip follows in the footsteps of late Czech president Vaclav Havel, the dissident leader of the 1989 Velvet Revolution which toppled communism in the former Czechoslovakia. Havel visited Taiwan in 2004, once he left office.

'I am Taiwanese': Czech speaker channels Kennedy in Taiwan speech

Glaciers have been melting increasingly due to climate change, and it was widely believed that they end up in oceans upon melting. However, recent studies have found that'll meltwater does not go into the oceans.

The volume of lakes formed by glacier's meltwater has increased to 50 per cent in the last 30 years, new satellite images and data has revealed.

"We have known that not all meltwater is making it into the oceans immediately," lead author Dan Shugar, a geomorphologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary, said in a statement.

"But until now there were no data to estimate how much was being stored in lakes or groundwater."

The study was published in&nbsp;Nature Climate Change on Monday. Shugar believes the study will help other scientists and researchers in identifying hazards to communities that live near these&nbsp;unstable lakes. The study can also help improve the accuracy of the estimates in sea level.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greenland-ice-has-shrunk-beyond-return-study-finds-320639">Also read:&nbsp;Greenland ice has shrunk beyond return, study finds</a>

The glacier lakes are highly unstable and pose a threat to communities living near it, as they are&nbsp;dammed by ice or sediment composed of loose rock and debris. The water from these lakes can cause heavy floods.

Known as glacial lake outbursts, this kind of flooding has been responsible for thousands of deaths in the last century, as well as the destruction of villages, infrastructure and livestock, according to the study, published in Nature Climate Change.

The most recent recorded incident was a glacial lake outburst that washed through the Hunza Valley in Pakistan in May.

The other main sources of sea level rise are ice sheets and the expansion of ocean water as it warms.

"In the past 100 years, 35 percent of global sea-level rises came from glacier melting," Anders Levermann, climate professor at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Change Impact told media.

The glacier melt has increased as the Earth's temperature has increased one degree Celsius since preindustrial times&nbsp;and the temperature in high-mountain areas have increased twice that pace.

The recent study is based on&nbsp;based on 250,000 scenes from NASA's Landsat satellite missions. Through these images, it has been estimated that the current glacial lakes volume at more than 150 cubic kilometres (37 cubic miles), equivalent to one-third the volume of Lake Erie in the United States or twice the volume of Lake Geneva.

Earlier this year, the UN Development Programme had also estimated a threat to almost seven million people from the&nbsp;3,000 glacial lakes that have formed&nbsp;in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region.

Glaciers have been melting increasingly due to climate change, and it was widely believed that they end up in oceans upon melting. However, recent studies have found that'll meltwater does not go into the oceans.

Glaciers have been melting increasingly due to climate change, and it was widely believed that they end up in oceans upon melting. However, recent studies have found that'll meltwater does not go into the oceans. The volume of lakes formed by glacier's meltwater has increased to 50 per cent in the last 30 years, new satellite images and data has revealed. "We have known that not all meltwater is making it into the oceans immediately," lead author Dan Shugar, a geomorphologist and associate professor at the University of Calgary, said in a statement. "But until now there were no data to estimate how much was being stored in lakes or groundwater." The study was published in Nature Climate Change on Monday. Shugar believes the study will help other scientists and researchers in identifying hazards to communities that live near these unstable lakes. The study can also help improve the accuracy of the estimates in sea level. Also read: Greenland ice has shrunk beyond return, study finds The glacier lakes are highly unstable and pose a threat to communities living near it, as they are dammed by ice or sediment composed of loose rock and debris. The water from these lakes can cause heavy floods. Known as glacial lake outbursts, this kind of flooding has been responsible for thousands of deaths in the last century, as well as the destruction of villages, infrastructure and livestock, according to the study, published in Nature Climate Change. The most recent recorded incident was a glacial lake outburst that washed through the Hunza Valley in Pakistan in May. The other main sources of sea level rise are ice sheets and the expansion of ocean water as it warms. "In the past 100 years, 35 percent of global sea-level rises came from glacier melting," Anders Levermann, climate professor at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Change Impact told media. The glacier melt has increased as the Earth's temperature has increased one degree Celsius since preindustrial times and the temperature in high-mountain areas have increased twice that pace. The recent study is based on based on 250,000 scenes from NASA's Landsat satellite missions. Through these images, it has been estimated that the current glacial lakes volume at more than 150 cubic kilometres (37 cubic miles), equivalent to one-third the volume of Lake Erie in the United States or twice the volume of Lake Geneva. Earlier this year, the UN Development Programme had also estimated a threat to almost seven million people from the 3,000 glacial lakes that have formed in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region.

Glacier lakes have increased 50% in last 30 years: Study

South Korean prosecutors indicted the heir to the Samsung empire Tuesday over a controversial merger of two business units seen as a key step towards his succession, in the latest legal blow to the sprawling conglomerate.

Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, committed stock manipulation, breach of trust and other offences when two other subsidiaries, Samsung C&amp;T and Cheil Industries, merged in 2015, the prosecutors said.&nbsp;

Ten other current and former top Samsung executives were also charged.

Lee and his subordinates had carried out "a systemic scheme to take control of the Samsung Group with the least cost", said the prosecution, by deploying "various unfair transactions" that damaged other shareholders' interests. &nbsp;

Lee is already separately being retried on charges of bribery, embezzlement and other offences in connection with the corruption scandal that brought down former South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

The businessman was not detained, but the charges are likely to prove a distraction as his firm seeks to navigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/apple-reportedly-paid-almost-1-billion-to-samsung-for-faltering-on-order-for-screens-313197">Also read:&nbsp;Apple reportedly paid almost $1 billion to Samsung for faltering on order for screens</a>

Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the group, which was founded by Lee's grandfather and has grown to become by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates, or chaebols, that dominate business in the world's 12th-largest economy.

Its overall turnover is equivalent to a fifth of South Korea's gross domestic product and is crucial to the country's economic health.

The firm saw profits rise in April-July with data centres moving to stockpile its DRAM chips to meet surging demand for online activities as a result of global lockdowns.

But the South's economy shrank 3.2 per cent year-on-year in the same period, according to a revised estimate by the central Bank of Korea on Tuesday.

Lee's legal team rejected the charges, calling them "one-sided allegations" by the investigators and "totally untrue".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/south-korean-court-denies-arrest-warrant-request-for-samsung-heir-304387">Also read:&nbsp;South Korean court denies arrest warrant request for Samsung heir</a>

"Every process for the merger was carried out legally," they said, adding the indictment against Lee was "not only beyond comprehension, it's lamentable."

'Cloud of uncertainty'

Chaebol families often have only a small ownership stake in their empires, but maintain control through complex webs of cross-shareholdings between units.&nbsp;

Lee was the largest shareholder in Cheil Industries, and critics say Samsung sought to artificially lower the price of C&amp;T to give him a bigger stake in the merged entity -- a key part of the Samsung structure -- consolidating his grip on the conglomerate.

Lee's latest legal troubles add a layer of "uncertainty" to the company and could "burden the South's economy as a whole", said Kim Dae-jong, a business professor at Sejong University in Seoul.&nbsp;

"The fact that he will have to stand another trial creates a cloud of uncertainty and probably affects Samsung's long-term investment plans," he told AFP.

With the country feeling the economic pain from the outbreak, "the timing isn't good", he added.

Nonetheless Samsung Electronics' shares closed up 0.37 percent in Seoul.

Some chaebol leaders who have been convicted in the past have subsequently received presidential pardons in recognition of their economic roles.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in campaigned in part on a promise of reforming the chaebols and the prosecution's move came despite a civilian review panel recommending Lee should not be indicted, citing a lack of evidence.

Lee was jailed for five years in 2017 after being found guilty of bribery and other offences linked to former president Park, before being cleared of the most serious charges on appeal and released a year later. That case is currently being retried.

Lee apologised in May over the issues, pledging to ensure "there will be no more controversy over the succession" and that he would not allow his children to take over from him at the firm.&nbsp;

"Our technology and products are being hailed as first-class but the public gaze towards Samsung still remains harsh," he said, bowing to the cameras. "This is my fault. I apologise."

South Korean prosecutors indicted the heir to the Samsung empire Tuesday over a controversial merger of two business units seen as a key step towards his succession, in the latest legal blow to the sprawling conglomerate.

South Korean prosecutors indicted the heir to the Samsung empire Tuesday over a controversial merger of two business units seen as a key step towards his succession, in the latest legal blow to the sprawling conglomerate. Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, committed stock manipulation, breach of trust and other offences when two other subsidiaries, Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, merged in 2015, the prosecutors said. Ten other current and former top Samsung executives were also charged. Lee and his subordinates had carried out "a systemic scheme to take control of the Samsung Group with the least cost", said the prosecution, by deploying "various unfair transactions" that damaged other shareholders' interests. Lee is already separately being retried on charges of bribery, embezzlement and other offences in connection with the corruption scandal that brought down former South Korean President Park Geun-hye. The businessman was not detained, but the charges are likely to prove a distraction as his firm seeks to navigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Also read: Apple reportedly paid almost $1 billion to Samsung for faltering on order for screens Samsung Electronics is the flagship subsidiary of the group, which was founded by Lee's grandfather and has grown to become by far the biggest of the family-controlled conglomerates, or chaebols, that dominate business in the world's 12th-largest economy. Its overall turnover is equivalent to a fifth of South Korea's gross domestic product and is crucial to the country's economic health. The firm saw profits rise in April-July with data centres moving to stockpile its DRAM chips to meet surging demand for online activities as a result of global lockdowns. But the South's economy shrank 3.2 per cent year-on-year in the same period, according to a revised estimate by the central Bank of Korea on Tuesday. Lee's legal team rejected the charges, calling them "one-sided allegations" by the investigators and "totally untrue". Also read: South Korean court denies arrest warrant request for Samsung heir "Every process for the merger was carried out legally," they said, adding the indictment against Lee was "not only beyond comprehension, it's lamentable." 'Cloud of uncertainty' Chaebol families often have only a small ownership stake in their empires, but maintain control through complex webs of cross-shareholdings between units. Lee was the largest shareholder in Cheil Industries, and critics say Samsung sought to artificially lower the price of C&T to give him a bigger stake in the merged entity -- a key part of the Samsung structure -- consolidating his grip on the conglomerate. Lee's latest legal troubles add a layer of "uncertainty" to the company and could "burden the South's economy as a whole", said Kim Dae-jong, a business professor at Sejong University in Seoul. "The fact that he will have to stand another trial creates a cloud of uncertainty and probably affects Samsung's long-term investment plans," he told AFP. With the country feeling the economic pain from the outbreak, "the timing isn't good", he added. Nonetheless Samsung Electronics' shares closed up 0.37 percent in Seoul. Some chaebol leaders who have been convicted in the past have subsequently received presidential pardons in recognition of their economic roles. South Korean President Moon Jae-in campaigned in part on a promise of reforming the chaebols and the prosecution's move came despite a civilian review panel recommending Lee should not be indicted, citing a lack of evidence. Lee was jailed for five years in 2017 after being found guilty of bribery and other offences linked to former president Park, before being cleared of the most serious charges on appeal and released a year later. That case is currently being retried. Lee apologised in May over the issues, pledging to ensure "there will be no more controversy over the succession" and that he would not allow his children to take over from him at the firm. "Our technology and products are being hailed as first-class but the public gaze towards Samsung still remains harsh," he said, bowing to the cameras. "This is my fault. I apologise."

Samsung heir charged with fraud over succession-linked deal

Iran has been one of the rare countries where the #MeToo movement was not a success. The regressive policies and thought process in the country regarding women rights played a huge role in the low response for the movement.

However, the situation seems to be changing now as #MeTooIran took over Twitter when several women came forward and shared their stories of sexual assault by&nbsp;a&nbsp;well-known musician Mohsen Namjoo. The singer has been accused of raping women.&nbsp;

Some women have also accused Keyvan Emamverdi, a former bookshop owner who studied archaeology, of sexually assaulting women.

Some of the women have said the accused raped them after making them unconscious by spiking their drinks.

Numerous allegations poured in from various twitter accounts, with some of them wanting to remain anonymous. A lot of anonymous offline reports have also been reported.

A lot of victims have also said that they were still young, and some were minor, when the assaults happened.

The police have called on the accusers to file a complaint against the alleged, and have also given them the option of staying anonymous, if they wish to. The police have also assured that the women will not be charged for&nbsp;drinking alcohol or having extramarital affairs, both of which are illegal in Iran.

The women have also held society as responsible for these assaults as they feel the society and families of the victims have helped cover-up the assaults by thinking of "family honour" first.

Some sociologists have appreciated the movement and have urged them to come forward and use&nbsp;disclosure as a weapon to obtain justice, as Iran lacks the judicial structure&nbsp;to systematically prosecute rapes, said&nbsp;said Azar Tashakor, a sociologist.

Iranian women have supported others who have come ahead to take this step, and some have expressed that this movement should have started much earlier. However, some have also expressed concern over fake reporting of cases for the purpose of revenge or bad-mouthing.

One of Iran's vice presidents on Friday praised women for speaking out and called on the judiciary to "confront" sex offenders.

Iran has been one of the rare countries where the #MeToo movement was not a success. The regressive policies and thought process in the country regarding women rights played a huge role in the low response for the movement.

Iran has been one of the rare countries where the #MeToo movement was not a success. The regressive policies and thought process in the country regarding women rights played a huge role in the low response for the movement. However, the situation seems to be changing now as #MeTooIran took over Twitter when several women came forward and shared their stories of sexual assault by a well-known musician Mohsen Namjoo. The singer has been accused of raping women. Some women have also accused Keyvan Emamverdi, a former bookshop owner who studied archaeology, of sexually assaulting women. Some of the women have said the accused raped them after making them unconscious by spiking their drinks. Numerous allegations poured in from various twitter accounts, with some of them wanting to remain anonymous. A lot of anonymous offline reports have also been reported. A lot of victims have also said that they were still young, and some were minor, when the assaults happened. The police have called on the accusers to file a complaint against the alleged, and have also given them the option of staying anonymous, if they wish to. The police have also assured that the women will not be charged for drinking alcohol or having extramarital affairs, both of which are illegal in Iran. The women have also held society as responsible for these assaults as they feel the society and families of the victims have helped cover-up the assaults by thinking of "family honour" first. Some sociologists have appreciated the movement and have urged them to come forward and use disclosure as a weapon to obtain justice, as Iran lacks the judicial structure to systematically prosecute rapes, said said Azar Tashakor, a sociologist. Iranian women have supported others who have come ahead to take this step, and some have expressed that this movement should have started much earlier. However, some have also expressed concern over fake reporting of cases for the purpose of revenge or bad-mouthing. One of Iran's vice presidents on Friday praised women for speaking out and called on the judiciary to "confront" sex offenders.

#MeToo: Iranian women break silence about sexual abuse through Twitter

A French magazine,&nbsp;Valeurs Actuelles, depicted a French lawmaker as a slave. The magazine has, now, issued an apology after the depiction was criticised by several French government officials.

The lawmaker in the image was&nbsp;Danielle Obono from the far-left party&nbsp;Defiant France, and the magazine mainly caters to the far-right audience.

Obono took to Twitter to condemn the depiction and said, "It seems 'That We-Can-Could-Nothing-Say' #BienPensance . Fortunately, we can still write racist sh**&nbsp;in a tea towel illustrated by the images of a black African French MP repainted as a slave ...&nbsp;The extreme right, odious, stupid and cruel. In short, equal to itself."&nbsp;(translated from French)

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Il paraît 'Qu'on-Peut-Pu-Rien-Dire' <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BienPensance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BienPensance</a>. Heureusement on peut encore écrire de la merde raciste dans un torchon illustrée par les images d'une députée française noire africaine repeinte en esclave... 
L'extrême-droite, odieuse, bête et cruelle. Bref, égale à elle-même. <a href="https://t.co/EupKSXZ207">pic.twitter.com/EupKSXZ207</a>
— Députée Obono (@Deputee_Obono) <a href="https://twitter.com/Deputee_Obono/status/1299411949239906306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Deputy Editor Tagdual Denis, on the other hand, claimed that the image was not intended to hurt Obono and it was surely not a try to gain attention. However, he did add that he regrets the image the magazine is being painted in on social media since the picture came out. "What I regret is that we are always accused of racism ... we are politically incorrect, it''s in our DNA."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-man-freed-from-prison-44-years-after-being-wrongly-convicted-of-rape-323859">Also read:&nbsp;Black man freed from prison 44 years after being wrongly convicted of rape</a>

Prime Minister Jean Castex from the conservative Republicans party tweeted: “This revolting publication calls for unambiguous condemnation. ... The fight against racism will always transcend our differences.”

The junior minister for equality and the only Black member of the French government, Elisabeth Moreno, who has rarely been on the same page as Obono also offered support to her on this matter and tweeted, "I don''t share Danielle Obono''s ideas, but today I offer her all my support.”

A French magazine, Valeurs Actuelles, depicted a French lawmaker as a slave. The magazine has, now, issued an apology after the depiction was criticised by several French government officials.

A French magazine, Valeurs Actuelles, depicted a French lawmaker as a slave. The magazine has, now, issued an apology after the depiction was criticised by several French government officials. The lawmaker in the image was Danielle Obono from the far-left party Defiant France, and the magazine mainly caters to the far-right audience. Obono took to Twitter to condemn the depiction and said, "It seems 'That We-Can-Could-Nothing-Say' #BienPensance . Fortunately, we can still write racist sh** in a tea towel illustrated by the images of a black African French MP repainted as a slave ... The extreme right, odious, stupid and cruel. In short, equal to itself." (translated from French) Il paraît 'Qu'on-Peut-Pu-Rien-Dire' #BienPensance. Heureusement on peut encore écrire de la merde raciste dans un torchon illustrée par les images d'une députée française noire africaine repeinte en esclave... L'extrême-droite, odieuse, bête et cruelle. Bref, égale à elle-même. pic.twitter.com/EupKSXZ207 — Députée Obono (@Deputee_Obono) August 28, 2020 × Deputy Editor Tagdual Denis, on the other hand, claimed that the image was not intended to hurt Obono and it was surely not a try to gain attention. However, he did add that he regrets the image the magazine is being painted in on social media since the picture came out. "What I regret is that we are always accused of racism ... we are politically incorrect, it''s in our DNA." Also read: Black man freed from prison 44 years after being wrongly convicted of rape Prime Minister Jean Castex from the conservative Republicans party tweeted: “This revolting publication calls for unambiguous condemnation. ... The fight against racism will always transcend our differences.” The junior minister for equality and the only Black member of the French government, Elisabeth Moreno, who has rarely been on the same page as Obono also offered support to her on this matter and tweeted, "I don''t share Danielle Obono''s ideas, but today I offer her all my support.”

French magazine depicts Black lawmaker as slave; issues apology

Bangladesh`s Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday.

The deal announced by the Bangladeshi generic drugmaker comes after Dhaka said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines being developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus.

SII has partnered with AstraZeneca, the Gates Foundation and the Gavi vaccine alliance to produce more than a billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for global supply.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-delhi-records-highest-single-day-cases-in-august-death-toll-rises-to-over-4400-323981">Also read|&nbsp;COVID-19: Delhi records highest single-day cases in August; death toll rises to over 4,400</a>

"The investment amount will be treated as an advance and once the vaccine receives regulatory approvals, SII will include Bangladesh among the countries who will be the first to receive an agreed quantity of this vaccine from SII on a priority basis," Beximco said in a statement.

It did not give details about the size of the investment in SII nor how many vaccines Beximco might receive.

"This landmark agreement reflects the deep-rooted desire for collaboration between the two countries and as representatives of the two nations, between us we can go a long way towards helping to mitigate the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," the heads of both companies said in the statement.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-has-one-of-lowest-global-covid-19-fatality-rates-029-cases-on-ventilators-harsh-vardhan-323962">Also read|&nbsp;India has one of lowest global COVID-19 fatality rates, 0.29% cases on ventilators: Harsh Vardhan</a>

It said Beximco would be the exclusive supplier in Bangladesh for the vaccine being developed by SII and that the Bangladeshi company would discuss with the government the number of doses it wants. Beximco will also secure additional doses to be distributed to the private pay market in Bangladesh.

The Serum Institute is the world`s largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume. It is holding trials for three potential coronavirus vaccines, including one licensed to AstraZeneca by Oxford University.

Bangladesh has also approved a late-stage trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China`s Sinovac Biotech Ltd in the hope of being a priority recipient for the jab.

Bangladesh confirmed 47 more deaths and reported 2,211 new cases on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the country to 306,794 with 4,174 deaths.

India reported a record daily jump of 77,266 coronavirus infections on Friday, taking its total number of cases to 3.39 million with 61,529 deaths.

Bangladesh`s Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday.

Bangladesh`s Beximco Pharmaceuticals is investing in the Serum Institute of India (SII) to ensure Dhaka gets priority access to COVID-19 vaccines being developed by the Indian drug manufacturer, the company said on Friday. The deal announced by the Bangladeshi generic drugmaker comes after Dhaka said this month it was ready to hold trials of candidate vaccines being developed by India as both countries seek to curb the spread of the virus. SII has partnered with AstraZeneca, the Gates Foundation and the Gavi vaccine alliance to produce more than a billion doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for global supply. Also read| COVID-19: Delhi records highest single-day cases in August; death toll rises to over 4,400 "The investment amount will be treated as an advance and once the vaccine receives regulatory approvals, SII will include Bangladesh among the countries who will be the first to receive an agreed quantity of this vaccine from SII on a priority basis," Beximco said in a statement. It did not give details about the size of the investment in SII nor how many vaccines Beximco might receive. "This landmark agreement reflects the deep-rooted desire for collaboration between the two countries and as representatives of the two nations, between us we can go a long way towards helping to mitigate the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," the heads of both companies said in the statement. Also read| India has one of lowest global COVID-19 fatality rates, 0.29% cases on ventilators: Harsh Vardhan It said Beximco would be the exclusive supplier in Bangladesh for the vaccine being developed by SII and that the Bangladeshi company would discuss with the government the number of doses it wants. Beximco will also secure additional doses to be distributed to the private pay market in Bangladesh. The Serum Institute is the world`s largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume. It is holding trials for three potential coronavirus vaccines, including one licensed to AstraZeneca by Oxford University. Bangladesh has also approved a late-stage trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by China`s Sinovac Biotech Ltd in the hope of being a priority recipient for the jab. Bangladesh confirmed 47 more deaths and reported 2,211 new cases on Friday, taking the total number of cases in the country to 306,794 with 4,174 deaths. India reported a record daily jump of 77,266 coronavirus infections on Friday, taking its total number of cases to 3.39 million with 61,529 deaths.

Bangladesh's Beximco signs COVID-19 vaccine deal with India's Serum Institute

Brazil expanded its requirements Friday for rape victims seeking an abortion, including a rule that medical staff must tell the woman she can see the embryo or fetus via ultrasound.

The new regulations published by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's health ministry also stipulate that the rape "must be reported to police" regardless of the woman's wishes, that she must give doctors "a detailed account" of what happened, and that she must be "expressly warned" she can be prosecuted for fraud and aborting illegally if she is unable to prove her claim.

Brazil allows abortion only in cases of rape, danger to the woman's life or the severe birth defect anencephaly.

Even those exceptions are controversial among the religious right in Latin America's largest country, which has powerful conservative Catholic and Evangelical Christian communities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eldest-son-of-brazils-president-jair-bolsonaro-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-323087">Also read:&nbsp;Eldest son of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus</a>

The new rules issued by interim health minister Eduardo Pazuello, an active-duty army general, came on the heels of an outcry earlier this month over the case of a 10-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by her uncle and was refused an abortion in her home state, Espirito Santo.

She then flew across the country to the northeastern city of Recife, where she was able to undergo the procedure.

However, she was met outside the hospital by far-right activists and politicians who staged a furious protest.

Demonstrators were informed of the girl's identity and the hospital where she was to be admitted in a video posted online by far-right activist Sara Winter, a prominent Bolsonaro supporter with close ties to Women's Minister Damares Alves, an Evangelical pastor.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/brazil-president-jair-bolsonaro-and-his-non-normal-antics-314020">Also read:&nbsp;Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his 'non-normal' antics</a>

The new regulations from the health ministry, published in the official gazette, triggered immediate outcry from abortion rights supporters.

"I have just introduced a bill in Congress to block today's health ministry decree, which is an obstacle to legal abortion and constitutes psychological violence against women," leftist lawmaker and doctor Jandira Feghali wrote on Twitter.

Sixteen lawmakers in the lower house, including Feghali, wrote a letter to UN human-rights chief Michelle Bachelet urging her to intervene against the decree as a matter of protecting women's rights.

Brazil expanded its requirements Friday for rape victims seeking an abortion, including a rule that medical staff must tell the woman she can see the embryo or fetus via ultrasound.

Brazil expanded its requirements Friday for rape victims seeking an abortion, including a rule that medical staff must tell the woman she can see the embryo or fetus via ultrasound. The new regulations published by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's health ministry also stipulate that the rape "must be reported to police" regardless of the woman's wishes, that she must give doctors "a detailed account" of what happened, and that she must be "expressly warned" she can be prosecuted for fraud and aborting illegally if she is unable to prove her claim. Brazil allows abortion only in cases of rape, danger to the woman's life or the severe birth defect anencephaly. Even those exceptions are controversial among the religious right in Latin America's largest country, which has powerful conservative Catholic and Evangelical Christian communities. Also read: Eldest son of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro tests positive for coronavirus The new rules issued by interim health minister Eduardo Pazuello, an active-duty army general, came on the heels of an outcry earlier this month over the case of a 10-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by her uncle and was refused an abortion in her home state, Espirito Santo. She then flew across the country to the northeastern city of Recife, where she was able to undergo the procedure. However, she was met outside the hospital by far-right activists and politicians who staged a furious protest. Demonstrators were informed of the girl's identity and the hospital where she was to be admitted in a video posted online by far-right activist Sara Winter, a prominent Bolsonaro supporter with close ties to Women's Minister Damares Alves, an Evangelical pastor. Also read: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro and his 'non-normal' antics The new regulations from the health ministry, published in the official gazette, triggered immediate outcry from abortion rights supporters. "I have just introduced a bill in Congress to block today's health ministry decree, which is an obstacle to legal abortion and constitutes psychological violence against women," leftist lawmaker and doctor Jandira Feghali wrote on Twitter. Sixteen lawmakers in the lower house, including Feghali, wrote a letter to UN human-rights chief Michelle Bachelet urging her to intervene against the decree as a matter of protecting women's rights.

Brazil expands requirements for abortion in rape cases

A top BSF official said on Saturday that a major underground tunnel that was found in Samba, originating from Pakistan, was constructed with the knowledge and "hand" of the neighbouring nation.

The remarks of BSF Inspector General (Jammu frontier) N S Jamwal came after the Border Security Force (BSF) detected a tunnel just beneath the Indo-Pak international border fence in Galar area of Samba.

He lauded the force personnel for their alertness in detecting the tunnel and said, "We were getting information that a tunnel was dug out from the Pakistan side in Samba. We were working on the information when one of our teams managed to locate it on Friday evening."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-children-and-unemployed-turn-to-opium-for-quick-cash-323907">Also read:&nbsp;Afghan children and unemployed turn to opium for quick cash</a>

Jamwal, who rushed to inspect the tunnel on Saturday morning, told reporters that it was dug out from Pakistan side and was over 150 metres inside the Indian territory.

The tunnel's opening was properly reinforced with sandbags carrying markings of 'Karachi and Shakargarh', clearly indicating that it was dug out from Pakistan side and ended here, he said.

The IG said the preliminary investigation revealed that it was a freshly dug tunnel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-to-restore-internet-in-rohingya-refugee-settlement-323924">Also read:&nbsp;Bangladesh to restore internet in Rohingya refugee settlement</a>

"There is a hand and knowledge of Pakistan establishment in such kind of construction," Jamwal said.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the BSF said the tunnel was unearthed in a special anti-tunnelling drive which was launched all along the IB in Jammu region in view of the prevailing security scenario in the recent times.

"A vigilant BSF patrol party, while carrying out in-depth scanning, detected a tunnel with a depth of approximately 25 feet and about 3-4 feet in diameter near border fencing in Galar area," it said.

The BSF said Pakistan-made sand bags carrying markings of 'Shakargarh' and 'Karachi' factories were found hiding the mouth of the tunnel.

"The opening of the tunnel is around 170 metres from the IB in the Indian territory in the field of a local farmer," it said, adding that the alert BSF troops foiled the nefarious design of Pakistan to help terrorists infiltrate into the Indian territory.

"The tunnel's origin is in Pakistan close to the IB. The efforts of alert BSF troops deployed in our multi-tiered counter-infiltration grid once again resulted in neutralizing the evil designs of terrorists in deep connivance with Pakistan establishment," the statement said.

The BSF said there have been regular inputs about the presence of terrorists in Pakistan border villages desperately looking to infiltrate into Indian territory but the troops foiled all attempts by the anti-national elements.

A top BSF official said on Saturday that a major underground tunnel that was found in Samba, originating from Pakistan, was constructed with the knowledge and "hand" of the neighbouring nation.

A top BSF official said on Saturday that a major underground tunnel that was found in Samba, originating from Pakistan, was constructed with the knowledge and "hand" of the neighbouring nation. The remarks of BSF Inspector General (Jammu frontier) N S Jamwal came after the Border Security Force (BSF) detected a tunnel just beneath the Indo-Pak international border fence in Galar area of Samba. He lauded the force personnel for their alertness in detecting the tunnel and said, "We were getting information that a tunnel was dug out from the Pakistan side in Samba. We were working on the information when one of our teams managed to locate it on Friday evening." Also read: Afghan children and unemployed turn to opium for quick cash Jamwal, who rushed to inspect the tunnel on Saturday morning, told reporters that it was dug out from Pakistan side and was over 150 metres inside the Indian territory. The tunnel's opening was properly reinforced with sandbags carrying markings of 'Karachi and Shakargarh', clearly indicating that it was dug out from Pakistan side and ended here, he said. The IG said the preliminary investigation revealed that it was a freshly dug tunnel. Also read: Bangladesh to restore internet in Rohingya refugee settlement "There is a hand and knowledge of Pakistan establishment in such kind of construction," Jamwal said. Meanwhile, in a statement, the BSF said the tunnel was unearthed in a special anti-tunnelling drive which was launched all along the IB in Jammu region in view of the prevailing security scenario in the recent times. "A vigilant BSF patrol party, while carrying out in-depth scanning, detected a tunnel with a depth of approximately 25 feet and about 3-4 feet in diameter near border fencing in Galar area," it said. The BSF said Pakistan-made sand bags carrying markings of 'Shakargarh' and 'Karachi' factories were found hiding the mouth of the tunnel. "The opening of the tunnel is around 170 metres from the IB in the Indian territory in the field of a local farmer," it said, adding that the alert BSF troops foiled the nefarious design of Pakistan to help terrorists infiltrate into the Indian territory. "The tunnel's origin is in Pakistan close to the IB. The efforts of alert BSF troops deployed in our multi-tiered counter-infiltration grid once again resulted in neutralizing the evil designs of terrorists in deep connivance with Pakistan establishment," the statement said. The BSF said there have been regular inputs about the presence of terrorists in Pakistan border villages desperately looking to infiltrate into Indian territory but the troops foiled all attempts by the anti-national elements.

Tunnel under IB was constructed with knowledge, 'hand' of Pak: BSF IG

An Italian coastguard vessel came to the rescue Saturday of a rescue vessel funded by British street artist Banksy, which sent out a distress signal on Saturday with more than 200 migrants onboard.

The German-flagged MV Louise Michel said it was stranded and needed urgent help after lending assistance to a boat that was carrying at least one dead migrant.

The 31-metre (101-foot) vessel's crew said it was overcrowded and unable to move after encountering another boat attempting to cross the expanse of sea dividing Europe and Africa with 130 people on board.

"There is already one dead person on the boat. We need immediate assistance," the Louise Michel crew wrote on Twitter, saying other migrants had fuel burns and had been at sea for days.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/banksy-funded-mediterranean-rescue-boat-calls-for-urgent-assistance-323836">Also read:&nbsp;Banksy-funded Mediterranean rescue boat calls for urgent assistance</a>

An Italian coastguard patrol boat was launched from Lampedusa island and took on board the migrants most in need of aid, many of them women and children.

"In view of the danger the situation posed, the coastguards sent a patrol boat from Lampedusa... which took on board the 49 people in the most fragile condition -- 32 women, 13 children and four men," the coastguard said in a statement.

Banksy artwork

The vessel's crew of 10 had earlier rescued another 89 people from a rubber boat in distress on Thursday.

They said on Twitter that there were a total 219 people on board and that they had requested assistance from the Italian and Maltese authorities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/street-artist-banksy-pays-tribute-to-uks-health-service-297136">Also read:&nbsp;Street artist Banksy pays tribute to UK's health service</a>

The boat -- named after 19th-century French anarchist Louise Michel -- was around 90 kilometres (55 miles) southeast of Lampedusa on Saturday, according to the global ship tracking website Marine Traffic.

Thousands of people are thought to have died making the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean to flee conflict, repression and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.

Sea-Watch 4, which has rescued 201 migrants and is itself in search of a host port, also decided to help the Louise Michel "in the face of the lack of reaction" from the authorities, a spokesman for the German NGO Sea-Watch, which charters the boat with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), told AFP.

The Italian left-wing collective Mediterranea, meanwhile, announced it would send the ship Mare Ionio from the port of Augusta in Sicily to assist.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/banksy-unveils-first-rat-infested-painting-made-inside-his-bathroom-during-lockdown-292800">Also read:&nbsp;Banksy unveils first rat infested painting made inside his bathroom during lockdown</a>

Banksy's decision to fund the high-speed boat follows a body of work by the artist that has levelled scathing judgements on Europe's halting response to the migrant crisis.

Painted in hot pink and white, the Louise Michel features a Banksy artwork depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy.

'An anti-fascist fight'

The motor yacht, formerly owned by French customs, is smaller but considerably faster than other charity rescue vessels -- enabling it to outrun Libyan coastguard boats, according to The Guardian.

Its crew is "made up of European activists with long experience in search and rescue operations" and is captained by German human rights activist Pia Klemp, who has also captained other such rescue vessels, the paper reported.

Banksy's involvement in the rescue mission goes back to September 2019 when he sent Klemp an email asking how he could contribute.

Klemp, who initially thought it was a joke, told the paper she believed she was chosen because of her political stance, The Guardian said.

"I don't see sea rescue as a humanitarian action, but as part of an anti-fascist fight," she told the paper.

Early this month, humanitarian organisations said they would resume migrant rescues in the Mediterranean Sea, where none have operated since the Ocean Viking docked in Italy in early July.

Before the Ocean Viking's last mission, rescue operations in the Mediterranean had been suspended for months due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

An Italian coastguard vessel came to the rescue Saturday of a rescue vessel funded by British street artist Banksy, which sent out a distress signal on Saturday with more than 200 migrants onboard.

An Italian coastguard vessel came to the rescue Saturday of a rescue vessel funded by British street artist Banksy, which sent out a distress signal on Saturday with more than 200 migrants onboard. The German-flagged MV Louise Michel said it was stranded and needed urgent help after lending assistance to a boat that was carrying at least one dead migrant. The 31-metre (101-foot) vessel's crew said it was overcrowded and unable to move after encountering another boat attempting to cross the expanse of sea dividing Europe and Africa with 130 people on board. "There is already one dead person on the boat. We need immediate assistance," the Louise Michel crew wrote on Twitter, saying other migrants had fuel burns and had been at sea for days. Also read: Banksy-funded Mediterranean rescue boat calls for urgent assistance An Italian coastguard patrol boat was launched from Lampedusa island and took on board the migrants most in need of aid, many of them women and children. "In view of the danger the situation posed, the coastguards sent a patrol boat from Lampedusa... which took on board the 49 people in the most fragile condition -- 32 women, 13 children and four men," the coastguard said in a statement. Banksy artwork The vessel's crew of 10 had earlier rescued another 89 people from a rubber boat in distress on Thursday. They said on Twitter that there were a total 219 people on board and that they had requested assistance from the Italian and Maltese authorities. Also read: Street artist Banksy pays tribute to UK's health service The boat -- named after 19th-century French anarchist Louise Michel -- was around 90 kilometres (55 miles) southeast of Lampedusa on Saturday, according to the global ship tracking website Marine Traffic. Thousands of people are thought to have died making the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean to flee conflict, repression and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. Sea-Watch 4, which has rescued 201 migrants and is itself in search of a host port, also decided to help the Louise Michel "in the face of the lack of reaction" from the authorities, a spokesman for the German NGO Sea-Watch, which charters the boat with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), told AFP. The Italian left-wing collective Mediterranea, meanwhile, announced it would send the ship Mare Ionio from the port of Augusta in Sicily to assist. Also read: Banksy unveils first rat infested painting made inside his bathroom during lockdown Banksy's decision to fund the high-speed boat follows a body of work by the artist that has levelled scathing judgements on Europe's halting response to the migrant crisis. Painted in hot pink and white, the Louise Michel features a Banksy artwork depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy. 'An anti-fascist fight' The motor yacht, formerly owned by French customs, is smaller but considerably faster than other charity rescue vessels -- enabling it to outrun Libyan coastguard boats, according to The Guardian. Its crew is "made up of European activists with long experience in search and rescue operations" and is captained by German human rights activist Pia Klemp, who has also captained other such rescue vessels, the paper reported. Banksy's involvement in the rescue mission goes back to September 2019 when he sent Klemp an email asking how he could contribute. Klemp, who initially thought it was a joke, told the paper she believed she was chosen because of her political stance, The Guardian said. "I don't see sea rescue as a humanitarian action, but as part of an anti-fascist fight," she told the paper. Early this month, humanitarian organisations said they would resume migrant rescues in the Mediterranean Sea, where none have operated since the Ocean Viking docked in Italy in early July. Before the Ocean Viking's last mission, rescue operations in the Mediterranean had been suspended for months due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Italian coastguard comes to aid of Banksy-funded rescue boat

Emily Miller, the spokesperson for&nbsp;US Food and Drug Administration, has been fired days after her appointment in the office. The decision was taken by FDA&nbsp;Commissioner Stephen Hahn.

Miller, who had only been on the job for few days, had apparently already created problems among the career officials within the agency. Miller was responsible for prepping the commissioner for the emergency use authorization on convalescent plasma.&nbsp;

Though she has been fired from her post, she will be retained as an&nbsp;"appointee" at the agency for the time being, as since she was appointed by&nbsp;the White House personnel office, any decision to remove her as an appointee would have to be approved by that office, and not the agency.

"Ms. Miller remains an appointee at the FDA and generally we do not discuss personnel matters," Stephanie Caccomo, the FDA media relations director told local media.

Her removal from the post has sparked rumours about the agency's intentions about information related to the novel coronavirus, following the recent criticism Hahn faced when he attended a press conference with the US President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to announce the FDA had granted an emergency use authorization for the plasma treatment. Hanh was criticised, and he later apologised, for&nbsp;exaggerating the lifesaving benefits of the treatment.

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When the news broke out, Miller, too, jotted down a facebook post in which she said, "For as long as I’m in this role, I will work nonstop to get information on COVID-19 treatments and the vaccine process communicated to people as accurately and quickly as possible."

"I will not lie. I will not do anything that violates my personal ethics and values," she added.&nbsp;

To clear the air, Hanh has assured that he, or any other member of the agency, has never taken a decision based on the US politics.&nbsp;"The decisions the scientists at the FDA are making are done on data only," the commissioner said in a statement.

Emily Miller, the spokesperson for US Food and Drug Administration, has been fired days after her appointment in the office. The decision was taken by FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn.

Emily Miller, the spokesperson for US Food and Drug Administration, has been fired days after her appointment in the office. The decision was taken by FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn. Miller, who had only been on the job for few days, had apparently already created problems among the career officials within the agency. Miller was responsible for prepping the commissioner for the emergency use authorization on convalescent plasma. Though she has been fired from her post, she will be retained as an "appointee" at the agency for the time being, as since she was appointed by the White House personnel office, any decision to remove her as an appointee would have to be approved by that office, and not the agency. "Ms. Miller remains an appointee at the FDA and generally we do not discuss personnel matters," Stephanie Caccomo, the FDA media relations director told local media. Her removal from the post has sparked rumours about the agency's intentions about information related to the novel coronavirus, following the recent criticism Hahn faced when he attended a press conference with the US President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to announce the FDA had granted an emergency use authorization for the plasma treatment. Hanh was criticised, and he later apologised, for exaggerating the lifesaving benefits of the treatment. When the pandemic began in March, I was living in Houston. I felt out of position because I’ve always worked in DC in... Posted by Emily Miller on Wednesday, August 26, 2020 × When the news broke out, Miller, too, jotted down a facebook post in which she said, "For as long as I’m in this role, I will work nonstop to get information on COVID-19 treatments and the vaccine process communicated to people as accurately and quickly as possible." "I will not lie. I will not do anything that violates my personal ethics and values," she added. To clear the air, Hanh has assured that he, or any other member of the agency, has never taken a decision based on the US politics. "The decisions the scientists at the FDA are making are done on data only," the commissioner said in a statement.

FDA spokesperson Emily Miller fired; to continue as 'appointee'

The ruling Communist Party of Nepal's central secretariat meeting scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled as two senior ministers are in self-isolation after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokharel and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa are self-isolating at home after a staffer at the Crisis Management Center (CCMC) tested positive for the virus. Both ministers are the members of the CCMC.

A source close to the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) said the decision to stay in home isolation was taken as a precautionary measure as the staffer had recently attended a CCMC meeting in Kathmandu.

Both Pokharel and Thapa regularly attend the CCMC meetings as key members of the body constituted by the government to ensure effective measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/reform-process-of-sri-lankan-constitution-would-be-underway-very-soon-minister-323876">Also read|&nbsp;Reform process of Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon: Minister</a>

Both the ministers have already undergone tests to check if they have contracted the virus, a senior member of the CPN Standing Committee said, adding that the new date of the meeting will be fixed as soon as their reports arrive.

The ministers are also the members of the nine-member Secretariat body of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). The meeting was supposed to deliberate and endorse the report submitted earlier by a six-member panel headed by General Secretary Bishnu Paudel to resolve the intra-party feud in the CPN.

This is the second time the Secretariat meeting of the NCP has been postponed recently. The meeting was earlier deferred for Saturday as another senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal was in home isolation after nine security personnel, including his driver, tested positive for the virus.

The CPN is passing through a crisis after senior leaders of the party including executive chairman Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda&nbsp;demanded that K P Sharma Oli resign from both as Nepal's Prime Minister and the party chief.

The ruling Communist Party of Nepal's central secretariat meeting scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled as two senior ministers are in self-isolation after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

The ruling Communist Party of Nepal's central secretariat meeting scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled as two senior ministers are in self-isolation after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwar Pokharel and Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa are self-isolating at home after a staffer at the Crisis Management Center (CCMC) tested positive for the virus. Both ministers are the members of the CCMC. A source close to the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) said the decision to stay in home isolation was taken as a precautionary measure as the staffer had recently attended a CCMC meeting in Kathmandu. Both Pokharel and Thapa regularly attend the CCMC meetings as key members of the body constituted by the government to ensure effective measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Also read| Reform process of Sri Lankan Constitution would be underway very soon: Minister Both the ministers have already undergone tests to check if they have contracted the virus, a senior member of the CPN Standing Committee said, adding that the new date of the meeting will be fixed as soon as their reports arrive. The ministers are also the members of the nine-member Secretariat body of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). The meeting was supposed to deliberate and endorse the report submitted earlier by a six-member panel headed by General Secretary Bishnu Paudel to resolve the intra-party feud in the CPN. This is the second time the Secretariat meeting of the NCP has been postponed recently. The meeting was earlier deferred for Saturday as another senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal was in home isolation after nine security personnel, including his driver, tested positive for the virus. The CPN is passing through a crisis after senior leaders of the party including executive chairman Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda demanded that K P Sharma Oli resign from both as Nepal's Prime Minister and the party chief.

Nepal ruling party's Standing Committee meeting postponed

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Deeksha Teri

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