<p>Texas, already struggling with a surge in coronavirus cases, was bracing &nbsp;Saturday after storm Hanna strengthened into the first Atlantic hurricane of 2020, with meteorologists warning of heavy rain, storm surge and potentially life-threatening flash flooding.</p>

<p>The storm, with wind speeds of around 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour), strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane overnight and is expected to make landfall by afternoon or early evening, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.</p>

<p>It could bring storm surges of up to five feet and drop up to 18 inches of rain on parts of south Texas, the NHC said, warning of dangerous flash flooding.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/strongest-storm-on-earth-expected-to-weaken-as-it-approaches-hawaii-315853"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Strongest storm on Earth expected to weaken as it approaches Hawaii</strong></a></p>

<p>Hanna was about 85 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, at 10:00 am local time (1500 GMT), and was moving west at about seven miles per hour, an NHC advisory said.</p>

<p>Expected to make a slight turn later in the day, it "should make landfall along the Texas coast within the hurricane warning area this afternoon or early this evening," the advisory continued.</p>

<p>Storm warnings were already in effect along Texas's Gulf Coast early Saturday. In Corpus Christi, a city of 325,000, officials closed libraries and museums as residents braced for the storm, local media reported.</p>

<p>Hanna will roar ashore as Texas is already facing a huge surge in coronavirus infections, with officials instituting a state-wide mask mandate to try to curb the spread of the disease.</p>

<p>Two other storm systems were churning Saturday: Pacific Hurricane Douglas, bearing down on the Hawaiian islands, and Tropical Storm Gonzalo in the Atlantic, near the Windward Islands.</p>

<p>Douglas -- at one point a powerful Category 4 hurricane -- has weakened to a Category 2 storm with wind speeds of 105 miles per hour.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The NHC said Saturday the storm would continue to weaken as it approaches Hawaii, "potentially passing dangerously close to, or over, the islands late tonight through Sunday night," bringing high winds and heavy surf.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hurricane warnings were in effect Saturday in Hawaii and Maui counties as well as Oahu.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Gonzalo was pouring heavy rain on the Windward Islands, but the tropical storm was expected to weaken and dissipate by Sunday night.</p>


Texas, already struggling with a surge in coronavirus cases, was bracing Saturday after storm Hanna strengthened into the first Atlantic hurricane of 2020, with meteorologists warning of heavy rain, storm surge and potentially life-threatening flash flooding.

Texas, already struggling with a surge in coronavirus cases, was bracing Saturday after storm Hanna strengthened into the first Atlantic hurricane of 2020, with meteorologists warning of heavy rain, storm surge and potentially life-threatening flash flooding. The storm, with wind speeds of around 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers per hour), strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane overnight and is expected to make landfall by afternoon or early evening, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. It could bring storm surges of up to five feet and drop up to 18 inches of rain on parts of south Texas, the NHC said, warning of dangerous flash flooding. Also read: Strongest storm on Earth expected to weaken as it approaches Hawaii Hanna was about 85 miles southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas, at 10:00 am local time (1500 GMT), and was moving west at about seven miles per hour, an NHC advisory said. Expected to make a slight turn later in the day, it "should make landfall along the Texas coast within the hurricane warning area this afternoon or early this evening," the advisory continued. Storm warnings were already in effect along Texas's Gulf Coast early Saturday. In Corpus Christi, a city of 325,000, officials closed libraries and museums as residents braced for the storm, local media reported. Hanna will roar ashore as Texas is already facing a huge surge in coronavirus infections, with officials instituting a state-wide mask mandate to try to curb the spread of the disease. Two other storm systems were churning Saturday: Pacific Hurricane Douglas, bearing down on the Hawaiian islands, and Tropical Storm Gonzalo in the Atlantic, near the Windward Islands. Douglas -- at one point a powerful Category 4 hurricane -- has weakened to a Category 2 storm with wind speeds of 105 miles per hour. The NHC said Saturday the storm would continue to weaken as it approaches Hawaii, "potentially passing dangerously close to, or over, the islands late tonight through Sunday night," bringing high winds and heavy surf. Hurricane warnings were in effect Saturday in Hawaii and Maui counties as well as Oahu. Meanwhile, Gonzalo was pouring heavy rain on the Windward Islands, but the tropical storm was expected to weaken and dissipate by Sunday night.

Virus-hit Texas braces as 2020's first hurricane, Hanna, takes aim

<p>A gunman in Darfur, Sudan, killed more than 20 civilians, witnesses have claimed. The incident took place after the field workers returned to their fields for the first time in years.</p>

<p>The victims included two women and few children. This happened when displaced farmers returned back to their fields after they finalised a deal with the local government which involved the landowners and those who care of their fields.</p>

<p>The incident has been confirmed by the tribal chief and witness Ibrahim Ahmad.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/dispute-about-ethiopias-controversial-nile-dam-315672"><strong>Have a look:&nbsp;Dispute about Ethiopia's controversial Nile dam</strong></a></p>

<p>While the farmers returned putting their trust in the government,&nbsp;"armed men came on Friday and opened fire, killing 20 people, including two women and children," Ahmad confirmed.</p>

<p>"Because of the violence we hadn't been back for 16 years, and we thought it was over," he said.</p>

<p>"The gunmen arrived on pickup trucks, some of which had machine guns on them. They surrounded us from all four sides and opened fire," he continued.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-bans-female-genital-mutilation-allows-non-muslims-to-drink-alcohol-312963"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Sudan bans female genital mutilation, allows non-Muslims to drink alcohol</strong></a></p>

<p>Ahmad has also said that the death toll from the open firing may rise as several of the wounded are in a critical state in the hospitals.</p>

<p>An anonymous survivor told AFP&nbsp;that out of all the farmers who had returned to make the best use of the rainy season,&nbsp;14 lost their lives immediately, ans&nbsp;a further six died in hospital.</p>

<p>Darfur has been devastated since 2003 by a conflict that has killed 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million others, according to the United Nations.&nbsp;</p>


A gunman in Darfur, Sudan, killed more than 20 civilians, witnesses have claimed. The incident took place after the field workers returned to their fields for the first time in years.

A gunman in Darfur, Sudan, killed more than 20 civilians, witnesses have claimed. The incident took place after the field workers returned to their fields for the first time in years. The victims included two women and few children. This happened when displaced farmers returned back to their fields after they finalised a deal with the local government which involved the landowners and those who care of their fields. The incident has been confirmed by the tribal chief and witness Ibrahim Ahmad. Have a look: Dispute about Ethiopia's controversial Nile dam While the farmers returned putting their trust in the government, "armed men came on Friday and opened fire, killing 20 people, including two women and children," Ahmad confirmed. "Because of the violence we hadn't been back for 16 years, and we thought it was over," he said. "The gunmen arrived on pickup trucks, some of which had machine guns on them. They surrounded us from all four sides and opened fire," he continued. Also read: Sudan bans female genital mutilation, allows non-Muslims to drink alcohol Ahmad has also said that the death toll from the open firing may rise as several of the wounded are in a critical state in the hospitals. An anonymous survivor told AFP that out of all the farmers who had returned to make the best use of the rainy season, 14 lost their lives immediately, ans a further six died in hospital. Darfur has been devastated since 2003 by a conflict that has killed 300,000 people and displaced 2.5 million others, according to the United Nations.

Gunman open fired at field workers in Sudan; 20 dead, several wounded

<p>After opening its borders for tourists, Germany is now planning to ask the travellers to go through compulsory&nbsp;coronavirus testing before entering the country.</p>

<p>Germany has been more successful than the rest of the Europe in containing the wide spread of the novel coronavirus. The country was in a strict lockdown for almost two months and has successfully reopened its economy.</p>

<p>However, to make sure that the residents continue to stay safe while trying to bring economy back to its old structure, German government says it wants to do everything possible to contain the spread of the virus.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tighter-mask-rules-more-tests-as-who-warns-of-europe-coronavirus-spike-315848"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Tighter mask rules, more tests as WHO warns of Europe coronavirus spike</strong></a></p>

<p>"We are also checking whether it is legally possible to oblige someone to do a test, because it would be an encroachment on freedom," Health Minister Jens Spahn told a local radio channel.</p>

<p>Spahn and his counterparts from the 16 federal states of Germany have also announced that these compulsory coronavirus tests will be free of cost&nbsp;on a voluntary basis.</p>

<p>If tested negative, the travellers will not be asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days. However, the people who test positive will have to be quarantined for atleast 14 days.</p>

<p>The local government claimed that they want to protect their citizens and the travellers, while making sure that their basic human rights are not violated.</p>

<p>The number of new confirmed cases increased sharply on Friday to 815, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed, the biggest tally since mid-May. It remained high on Saturday with 781 new cases.</p>


After opening its borders for tourists, Germany is now planning to ask the travellers to go through compulsory coronavirus testing before entering the country. Germany has been more successful than the rest of the Europe in containing the wide spread of the novel coronavirus.

After opening its borders for tourists, Germany is now planning to ask the travellers to go through compulsory coronavirus testing before entering the country. Germany has been more successful than the rest of the Europe in containing the wide spread of the novel coronavirus. The country was in a strict lockdown for almost two months and has successfully reopened its economy. However, to make sure that the residents continue to stay safe while trying to bring economy back to its old structure, German government says it wants to do everything possible to contain the spread of the virus. Also read: Tighter mask rules, more tests as WHO warns of Europe coronavirus spike "We are also checking whether it is legally possible to oblige someone to do a test, because it would be an encroachment on freedom," Health Minister Jens Spahn told a local radio channel. Spahn and his counterparts from the 16 federal states of Germany have also announced that these compulsory coronavirus tests will be free of cost on a voluntary basis. If tested negative, the travellers will not be asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days. However, the people who test positive will have to be quarantined for atleast 14 days. The local government claimed that they want to protect their citizens and the travellers, while making sure that their basic human rights are not violated. The number of new confirmed cases increased sharply on Friday to 815, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed, the biggest tally since mid-May. It remained high on Saturday with 781 new cases.

Germany to offer compulsory but free coronavirus tests to travellers

An 84-year-old Hsu Hsiu-e and her 83-year-old husband Chang Wan-ji have become Insta famous by modelling in the 'forgotten' clothes and they cannot believe it. The old Taiwanese couple own a laundromat together Houli District, Taichung City, in central Taiwan.

An 84-year-old Hsu Hsiu-e and her 83-year-old husband Chang Wan-ji have become Insta famous by modelling in the 'forgotten' clothes and they cannot believe it. The old Taiwanese couple own a laundromat together Houli District, Taichung City, in central Taiwan. The coupe has owned the laundromat for the past 70 years. In these past 70 years, there have been several instances where people forgot their clothes in the shop and did not come to collect the clothes back. This gave their grandson, Reef Chang, an idea. To save his grandparents from boredom, he convinced them to wear the hundreds of discarded clothes and model for pictures, just for fun. The old couple became Insta-famous withing days. View this post on Instagram 這不是要說阿公在模仿年輕時看小姐的樣子！ 而是一個有點悲傷，關於布達佩斯旅遊紀念T被遺棄的故事...身上的衣服，來自被放了至少8年以上的T恤區，衣服上面寫著布達佩斯，而這位客人一共送洗了五件，分別是黑白灰黃紅，除非他真的很愛這一件T恤的款式，不然一定是一家人出遊時買的吧？但...就是洗了沒有來拿，不知道他們一家的記憶中是否還有布達佩斯。 👴🏼萬吉 上衣：至少8年布達佩斯紀念T 褲子：至少3年以上未取UQ卡其褲 👵🏼秀娥 領巾：兩條被遺棄的手帕綁成 上衣：至少8年布達佩斯紀念T 裙子：阿嬤30年私服 💡溫馨提醒｜洗衣服請記得拿、認同請分享❤️ These old clothes have been abandoned by customers at the laundry for years. Owners of the laundry store, Wanji and Sho-Er who are over 80 years old. Grandson just can't bear to see them overwhelmed with bore everyday. So, ask them to reinterpret fashion, hoping to let everyone know that age is not a barrier to have fun in fashion and even old clothings can transformed into trendy outfits! 💡A friendly reminder｜Don’t forget to pick up your laundry. #萬秀洗衣店 #Wantshow #wantshowasyoung #grandparents #mixandmatch #clothes #craftsman #しょくにん #ootd #wiw #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #budapest #grandma #grandpa #dappei @dappei_tw #juksyootd @mixfitmag_snap @uniqlo_ootd #converse @converse #cool_ootd #plainme_snap #plainme_life #ynet #femmefuture #culturecartel @nataliadornellas #classyvision #vintage A post shared by 萬秀的洗衣店｜WANT SHOW as young (@wantshowasyoung) on Jul 2, 2020 at 7:08am PDT × Their Instagram account, called WantShowAsYoung, has over 147,000 followers from around the world even though the account only has 19 posts. "Their business is not always busy. They would doze off in the shop and their spirits weren't high. So I thought since our family has these clothes, I can remind people to pick up their clothes, and remind my grandparents their life can still be great even in old age," he told the BBC. With the help of his friends who are 'good at fashion', Reef took the shirts, shorts, blouses, and skirts and mixed and matched it. He used some accessories such as borrowed purses, hats and sunglasses. The couple posed infront of the washers and dryers to give it a 'magazine look' The pictures were set up to make them look like they were in Havana, Cuba for holiday. View this post on Instagram 如果今天還是秀娥氣勢贏，那我就會告訴萬吉，說應觀眾要求，必須出一篇秀娥特輯！ 前幾天VOGUE的文章說到：「有一種愛叫萬吉和秀娥的愛❤️」，這是什麼愛？其實孫子也不知道，但當有人把整套好看的西裝送洗未取，拿來給兩人穿上，就算這次沒有相視而笑，就算衣服來自不同主人，也還是會覺得是情侶裝，這應該就是愛吧？ 👴🏼萬吉（身長160） 成套西裝：至少20年以上未取成套雙排扣白西裝 內搭：8年以上未取布達佩斯紀念T（已找到新主人） 腰帶：萬吉的領帶 👵🏼秀娥（身長155） 成套西裝：至少15年以上未取全套卡其西裝 內搭：3年未取白t恤 💡溫馨提醒｜洗衣服請記得拿、認同請分享❤️ These old clothes have been abandoned by customers at the laundry for years. Owners of the laundry store, Wanji and Sho-Er who are over 80 years old. Grandson just can't bear to see them overwhelmed with bore everyday. So, ask them to reinterpret fashion, hoping to let everyone know that age is not a barrier to have fun in fashion and even old clothings can transformed into trendy outfits! 💡A friendly reminder｜Don’t forget to pick up your laundry. #有一種愛叫萬吉和秀娥的愛 #萬秀洗衣店 #Wantshow #wantshowasyoung #grandparents - - - #mixandmatch #clothes #ootd #wiw #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #grandma #grandpa #dappei @dappei_tw #juksyootd @mixfitmag_snap #cool_ootd #plainme_snap #plainme_life #femmefuture @nataliadornellas @irdailystyle @styleshare_kr #classyvision #vintage #古着 #コーディネート #love A post shared by 萬秀的洗衣店｜WANT SHOW as young (@wantshowasyoung) on Jul 16, 2020 at 8:53pm PDT × "Dressed like that, I feel 30 years younger," said Wan-ji. Wan-ji recalled his old days when he had started the laundromat at the age of 14, and said that people had started leaving clothes in the recent years only when clothes became cheaper and more accessible. "In the past, clothes were very expensive. When I got married, it cost an ox-cart loaded with 20 bags of rice to pay for my suit. And back then clothes were so valuable that you could take them to the pawn shop if you needed money," he said. The couple said that clothes pile up as people move to different cities and forget to collect their clothes, or if someone passes away and their family doesn't bother to come pick up the clothes. They have donated hundreds of clothes, but are still left with hundreds more. View this post on Instagram 秀娥開心❤️（萬吉到底說了什麼？） 萬吉看秀娥穿這樣好像講起了什麼事，結果秀娥就突然笑了～這件看起來很少女的衣服不知道什麼原因也被主人遺忘，但阿嬤再度無違和的撐起...另外要說一下萬吉的眼鏡，一個83歲的老人家，以前都戴金框眼鏡，結果某一天他出門回來，自己去配了一副黑框... 👴🏼萬吉（身長160） 外搭：7年以上未取格紋壓扣襯衫 上衣：5年以上未取條紋亨利領襯衫 褲子：阿公私服工作短褲（但堅持工作褲也要熨燙過） 👵🏼秀娥（身長155） 洋裝：10年以上未取吊帶格紋洋裝 內搭：10年以上未取小碎花襯衫 💡溫馨提醒｜洗衣服請記得拿、認同請分享❤️ These old clothes have been abandoned by customers at the laundry for years. Owners of the laundry store, Wanji and Sho-Er who are over 80 years old. Grandson just can't bear to see them overwhelmed with bore everyday. So, ask them to reinterpret fashion, hoping to let everyone know that age is not a barrier to have fun in fashion and even old clothings can transformed into trendy outfits! 💡A friendly reminder｜Don’t forget to pick up your laundry. #萬秀洗衣店 #Wantshow #wantshowasyoung #grandparents #mixandmatch #clothes #craftsman #しょくにん #ootd #wiw #instafashion #style #fashion #couple #夫婦 #80代 #budapest #grandma #grandpa #dappei @dappei_tw #juksyootd @mixfitmag_snap @uniqlo_ootd #converse @converse #cool_ootd #plainme_snap #plainme_life #femmefuture #culturecartel @nataliadornellas #classyvision #vintage #古着 A post shared by 萬秀的洗衣店｜WANT SHOW as young (@wantshowasyoung) on Jul 5, 2020 at 8:58pm PDT × When Reef asked them to model, they weren't sure if anyone would like their style, although the couple claim to be very stylish and fashionable in their golden days. "They didn't understand at first," said Reef. "They also don't understand fashion trends, but when they were young they were very fashionable. They thought why would people of this generation like clothes from their generation?" However, with 147,000 followers, and counting, the Taiwanese couple is now convinced and thankful to their grandson and their fans.

Old Taiwanese couple get Insta-famous by posing in left-over clothes

<p>After 86 years an all-faiths museum once again echoed to the sound of Islamic prayers in Turkey. For Turkish Islamists, the&nbsp;re-conversion is a landmark moment as it was a long-awaited restoration of the symbol of Ottoman might.</p>

<p>However, for many others in Turkey and around the world, it&nbsp;is a setback to one of the world's greatest cultural landmarks.</p>

<p>The Hagia Sophia has nothing to do with religion, or Jesus Christ or Prophet Muhammad. It is revered by Christians and Muslims alike, but is not sacred to either of them.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-friday-prayers-held-at-hagia-sophia-315819/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The structure was constructed by one sovereign as a church and was then converted into a mosque by another sovereign. The process went on for centuries as there were crusades and wars.</p>

<p>While it is a symbol of religious pride and of the conquest mentality, there is nothing particularly sacred about this monument's heritage.</p>

<p>In a picture posted on Instagram of TRT World of the cathedral of Cordoba, the caption read, "Over the centuries, hundreds of mosques across Europe have been turned into churches as part of an attempt to erase the Muslim identity."</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDAyfCMKU-g/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Over the centuries, hundreds of mosques across Europe have been turned into churches. As a part of an attempt to erase the Muslim identity, several components such as domes and arches reflecting Islamic or Turkish architecture were purposely destroyed or altered, says architect Mehmet Emin Yilmaz. Yilmaz, who explored the Turkish architectural works in the lands dominated by the Ottoman Empire by travelling country by country, determined that 329 Turkish architectural works such as mosques, lodges and tombs were converted into churches across 18 countries. Swipe for some of the mosques that have been converted into churches around Europe. Photos: @mimaremin and Getty ∙ #Conversion #Architecture #GreatMosqueofCordoba #MezquitaCatedral #Europe #Greece #Bulgaria #Mosque #Church</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/trtworld/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> TRT World</a> (@trtworld) on <time datetime="2020-07-24T05:00:48+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Jul 23, 2020 at 10:00pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>The cathedral, popularly known as&nbsp;the cathedral of our lady of the assumption, is located in Cordoba, Spain. It was previously&nbsp;an Islamic place of worship, but was converted into a cathedral the 13th century.</p>

<p>The caption on the picture&nbsp;reads, "An attempt to erase Muslim identity".&nbsp;This media network is using a 13th century conquest to justify Erdogan's current decision. The post used one wrong to justify another and is&nbsp;trying to blur the lines between ancient empires and modern-day republics.</p>

<p>Although, it&nbsp;expected from the TRT World as the media house is considered to be Erdogan's propaganda arm.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-turks-mark-hagia-sophias-first-friday-prayers-post-reconversion-315781"><strong>Have a look:&nbsp;How Turkey marked Hagia Sophia's first Friday prayers post reconversion</strong></a></p>

<p>However, what TRT World does not highlight is Erdogan's&nbsp;authoritarianism.</p>

<p>Not once did Erdogan consult any of the stakeholders in the Turkish parliament before taking this decision and&nbsp;did not allow any deliberation on his decision.</p>

<p>In&nbsp;doing so, he has reversed the very secular and democratic credentials of Turkey. His&nbsp;country anyway does not have an impressive record of tolerance for Christians, and&nbsp;most of them have escaped to Europe. Only about a hundred thousand Christians are said to be living in the Turkey,&nbsp;as of today.</p>

<p>This decision carries the danger of causing more frictions between the Christian and Islamic communities as critics believe that&nbsp;Erdogan is using the Hagia Sophia as a tool to legitimise his ambitions.</p>


After 86 years an all-faiths museum once again echoed to the sound of Islamic prayers in Turkey. For Turkish Islamists, the re-conversion is a landmark moment as it was a long-awaited restoration of the symbol of Ottoman might.

After 86 years an all-faiths museum once again echoed to the sound of Islamic prayers in Turkey. For Turkish Islamists, the re-conversion is a landmark moment as it was a long-awaited restoration of the symbol of Ottoman might. However, for many others in Turkey and around the world, it is a setback to one of the world's greatest cultural landmarks. The Hagia Sophia has nothing to do with religion, or Jesus Christ or Prophet Muhammad. It is revered by Christians and Muslims alike, but is not sacred to either of them. The structure was constructed by one sovereign as a church and was then converted into a mosque by another sovereign. The process went on for centuries as there were crusades and wars. While it is a symbol of religious pride and of the conquest mentality, there is nothing particularly sacred about this monument's heritage. In a picture posted on Instagram of TRT World of the cathedral of Cordoba, the caption read, "Over the centuries, hundreds of mosques across Europe have been turned into churches as part of an attempt to erase the Muslim identity." View this post on Instagram Over the centuries, hundreds of mosques across Europe have been turned into churches. As a part of an attempt to erase the Muslim identity, several components such as domes and arches reflecting Islamic or Turkish architecture were purposely destroyed or altered, says architect Mehmet Emin Yilmaz. Yilmaz, who explored the Turkish architectural works in the lands dominated by the Ottoman Empire by travelling country by country, determined that 329 Turkish architectural works such as mosques, lodges and tombs were converted into churches across 18 countries. Swipe for some of the mosques that have been converted into churches around Europe. Photos: @mimaremin and Getty ∙ #Conversion #Architecture #GreatMosqueofCordoba #MezquitaCatedral #Europe #Greece #Bulgaria #Mosque #Church A post shared by TRT World (@trtworld) on Jul 23, 2020 at 10:00pm PDT × The cathedral, popularly known as the cathedral of our lady of the assumption, is located in Cordoba, Spain. It was previously an Islamic place of worship, but was converted into a cathedral the 13th century. The caption on the picture reads, "An attempt to erase Muslim identity". This media network is using a 13th century conquest to justify Erdogan's current decision. The post used one wrong to justify another and is trying to blur the lines between ancient empires and modern-day republics. Although, it expected from the TRT World as the media house is considered to be Erdogan's propaganda arm. Have a look: How Turkey marked Hagia Sophia's first Friday prayers post reconversion However, what TRT World does not highlight is Erdogan's authoritarianism. Not once did Erdogan consult any of the stakeholders in the Turkish parliament before taking this decision and did not allow any deliberation on his decision. In doing so, he has reversed the very secular and democratic credentials of Turkey. His country anyway does not have an impressive record of tolerance for Christians, and most of them have escaped to Europe. Only about a hundred thousand Christians are said to be living in the Turkey, as of today. This decision carries the danger of causing more frictions between the Christian and Islamic communities as critics believe that Erdogan is using the Hagia Sophia as a tool to legitimise his ambitions.

Is Hagia Sophia a new tool for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan?

<p>The US President Donald Trump has cancelled&nbsp;the Republican convention that was&nbsp;supposed to be held in Florida next month.</p>

<p>Trump says the time is not right, which one would believe is due to the rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases in the US. Due to the surge in cases, large gatherings are not allowed.&nbsp;However, the President did not cancel the event due to the virus.</p>

<p>The Republican convention was supposed to be a gathering of all Republican delegates. It was scheduled to be held between August 24-27 in Jacksonville, Florida. The party would have announced its presidential and vice presidential nominee.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-us-election-why-trump-cancelled-the-republican-convention-315821/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>In other words, Trump would have formally announced his re-election bid during the Florida convention.&nbsp;He would have also released the party manifesto.</p>

<p>"So I told my team it's time to cancel. The Jacksonville, Florida, component of the GOP convention will be starting in North Carolina for the Monday, as always has been planned. We were never taking that off. That's remaining as it is. The delegates are going to get together. That's where they do their nomination," said the US President Donald Trump.</p>

<p>Trump's campaign manager said that by cancelling the event the President has put the health and safety of the American people first.</p>

<p>His&nbsp;approach towards the pandemic has always been very casual from quoting random death estimates to politicising the mask, if health and safety had been a concern, Trump would have never planned a rally in Florida in the first place.</p>

<p>Reports claim that Trump originally&nbsp;wanted to hold the Republican Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina but the state's governor was skeptical of hosting a large gathering amid the pandemic. He insisted on limiting the crowd size, but Trump did not want social distancing, he wanted a full house. So, the location was switched.</p>

<p>Trump says the rally was cancelled because of the spike in coronavirus cases in Florida. However, the&nbsp;truth is that the Sheriff in Jacksonville said his city is not ready for the event.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/k-pop-fans-and-tiktok-users-played-trump-hundreds-of-seats-remain-empty-in-tulsa-rally-307532"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;K-Pop fans and TikTok users played Trump; hundreds of seats remain empty in Tulsa rally</strong></a></p>

<p>Florida is currently No-3&nbsp;in terms of COVID-19 cases, after California and New York. So, if the reasons are carefully studied, it would be safe to say that Trump did not choose to cancel the convention, he was forced to.</p>

<p>"I want to thank the Jacksonville community and its great mayor, great guy, really great guy. They wanted it so badly. And all of the other political representatives in Jacksonville and in Florida," Trump said.</p>

<p>According to a Quinnipiac poll, 80 per cent of Florida voters disapprove of Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump.</p>

<p>Another reason why Trump was forced to cancel the event was due to the&nbsp;Tulsa factor. Republicans apparently had shelled out 2.2 million dollars for the&nbsp;June event and Trump was expecting a sold-out venue.</p>

<p><img alt="Trump's rally" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74511977-3290-4e47-b9a7-7e0da1919a8e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Trump%27s%20rally.jpg" /></p>

<p>Much to his dismay, people barely showed up while some were scared of the coronavirus, others&nbsp;were not really excited about cheering Trump.</p>

<p>Things got worse when health officials said that the indoor rally fuelled coronavirus cases in Oklahoma, meaning that those who showed up either caught the virus or transmitted it.</p>

<p>Considering the previous event was a disaster, probably Trump took a hint and decided to play it safe instead of taking a risk, especially when all estimates point at his White House exit.</p>


The US President Donald Trump has cancelled the Republican convention that was supposed to be held in Florida next month. Trump says the time is not right, which one would believe is due to the rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases in the US.

The US President Donald Trump has cancelled the Republican convention that was supposed to be held in Florida next month. Trump says the time is not right, which one would believe is due to the rapidly rising number of coronavirus cases in the US. Due to the surge in cases, large gatherings are not allowed. However, the President did not cancel the event due to the virus. The Republican convention was supposed to be a gathering of all Republican delegates. It was scheduled to be held between August 24-27 in Jacksonville, Florida. The party would have announced its presidential and vice presidential nominee. In other words, Trump would have formally announced his re-election bid during the Florida convention. He would have also released the party manifesto. "So I told my team it's time to cancel. The Jacksonville, Florida, component of the GOP convention will be starting in North Carolina for the Monday, as always has been planned. We were never taking that off. That's remaining as it is. The delegates are going to get together. That's where they do their nomination," said the US President Donald Trump. Trump's campaign manager said that by cancelling the event the President has put the health and safety of the American people first. His approach towards the pandemic has always been very casual from quoting random death estimates to politicising the mask, if health and safety had been a concern, Trump would have never planned a rally in Florida in the first place. Reports claim that Trump originally wanted to hold the Republican Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina but the state's governor was skeptical of hosting a large gathering amid the pandemic. He insisted on limiting the crowd size, but Trump did not want social distancing, he wanted a full house. So, the location was switched. Trump says the rally was cancelled because of the spike in coronavirus cases in Florida. However, the truth is that the Sheriff in Jacksonville said his city is not ready for the event. Also read: K-Pop fans and TikTok users played Trump; hundreds of seats remain empty in Tulsa rally Florida is currently No-3 in terms of COVID-19 cases, after California and New York. So, if the reasons are carefully studied, it would be safe to say that Trump did not choose to cancel the convention, he was forced to. "I want to thank the Jacksonville community and its great mayor, great guy, really great guy. They wanted it so badly. And all of the other political representatives in Jacksonville and in Florida," Trump said. According to a Quinnipiac poll, 80 per cent of Florida voters disapprove of Governor Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump. Another reason why Trump was forced to cancel the event was due to the Tulsa factor. Republicans apparently had shelled out 2.2 million dollars for the June event and Trump was expecting a sold-out venue. Much to his dismay, people barely showed up while some were scared of the coronavirus, others were not really excited about cheering Trump. Things got worse when health officials said that the indoor rally fuelled coronavirus cases in Oklahoma, meaning that those who showed up either caught the virus or transmitted it. Considering the previous event was a disaster, probably Trump took a hint and decided to play it safe instead of taking a risk, especially when all estimates point at his White House exit.

Caught in a lie: Here's why Donald Trump was forced to cancel Florida convention

Concorde crash: As families pay tributes, here's what happened 20 years ago

Protests and special service held in Greece over conversion of Hagia Sophia

Tit for tat: US and China order shut down of each other's consulates over 'political provocation'

<p>Cipla Ltd has received Indian regulatory approval to sell anti-viral drug favipiravir to treat COVID-19, the drugmaker said on Friday, as coronavirus infections in the world`s third worst-hit nation show no sign of abating.</p>

<p>The Drug Controller General of India granted Cipla accelerated approval to make and sell favipiravir in an effort to meet the "urgent and unmet" need for COVID-19 treatment options in the country, the company said.</p>

<p>Indian drugmakers including Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd are racing to supply generic versions of favipiravir, originally developed by Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp as Avigan for treating influenza.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-vaccine-chinese-candidate-shows-promise-in-animal-trials-315696"><strong>Also read|&nbsp;Coronavirus vaccine: Chinese candidate shows promise in animal trials</strong></a></p>

<p>India reported over 49,000 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus with 740 new deaths on Friday, marking the biggest daily surge in cases, as officials in some states complained of shortages of vital drugs for those hospitalized.</p>

<p>Globally, coronavirus cases have crossed 15.5 million.</p>

<p>Cipla said it would launch favipiravir as "Ciplenza" in the first week of August, priced at $0.91 (INR 68) per 200 mg tablet.</p>

<p>Separately on Friday, much smaller Indian drugmaker Jenburkt Pharmaceuticals Ltd said it would launch its own version of favipiravir, priced at $ 0.52 (INR 39) per tablet.</p>

<p>Glenmark, meanwhile, sells a tablet of favipiravir for $1 (INR 75), with a patient typically requiring 122 tablets over 14 days for a treatment course, the company said. On Thursday, Glenmark said its version of the drug had showed promise in a late-stage clinical trial.</p>


Cipla Ltd has received Indian regulatory approval to sell anti-viral drug favipiravir to treat COVID-19, the drugmaker said on Friday, as coronavirus infections in the world`s third worst-hit nation show no sign of abating.

Cipla Ltd has received Indian regulatory approval to sell anti-viral drug favipiravir to treat COVID-19, the drugmaker said on Friday, as coronavirus infections in the world`s third worst-hit nation show no sign of abating. The Drug Controller General of India granted Cipla accelerated approval to make and sell favipiravir in an effort to meet the "urgent and unmet" need for COVID-19 treatment options in the country, the company said. Indian drugmakers including Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd are racing to supply generic versions of favipiravir, originally developed by Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp as Avigan for treating influenza. Also read| Coronavirus vaccine: Chinese candidate shows promise in animal trials India reported over 49,000 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus with 740 new deaths on Friday, marking the biggest daily surge in cases, as officials in some states complained of shortages of vital drugs for those hospitalized. Globally, coronavirus cases have crossed 15.5 million. Cipla said it would launch favipiravir as "Ciplenza" in the first week of August, priced at $0.91 (INR 68) per 200 mg tablet. Separately on Friday, much smaller Indian drugmaker Jenburkt Pharmaceuticals Ltd said it would launch its own version of favipiravir, priced at $ 0.52 (INR 39) per tablet. Glenmark, meanwhile, sells a tablet of favipiravir for $1 (INR 75), with a patient typically requiring 122 tablets over 14 days for a treatment course, the company said. On Thursday, Glenmark said its version of the drug had showed promise in a late-stage clinical trial.

Cipla gets India approval to sell COVID-19 drug Favipiravir

<p>An entity linked to the deceased founder of India`s Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd owed the coffee chain 35.35 billion rupees ($472.5 million), an investigation report released by the company showed on Friday.</p>

<p>Coffee Day founder V.G. Siddhartha was found dead in a river in southern India last July in an apparent suicide amid speculation that he was under intense financial strain.</p>

<p>The Bengaluru-headquartered company had then appointed an investigator to scrutinize its accounts and the circumstances leading to the statements made in a letter purportedly written by Siddhartha.</p>

<p>Mysore Amalgamated Coffee Estates Ltd, an entity linked separately to Siddhartha and involved in a business relationship with Coffee Day, owed Coffee Day $472 million as of July 31, 2019 - the day Siddhartha`s deceased body was found by authorities - the synopsis of the investigation report released by Coffee Day to stock exchanges showed on Friday.</p>

<p>About $360 million of that amount still needed to be addressed, the report said.</p>

<p>A significant portion of the amount may have been spent to buy back shares from private equity investors, repay loans and funding investments outside the scope of the investigation, the report said. As a result, the amounts may not be precise, it added.</p>

<p>Coffee Day, which also exports coffee, sells coffee-vending machines and houses a logistics business called Sical, currently had a debt of 32 billion rupees ($427.7 million), it said.</p>

<p>It is India`s largest coffee chain with more than 1,000 cafes that brew cappuccinos and lattes for India`s booming moneyed class, and competes with the likes of Starbucks Corp, Barista and Coca-Cola Co-owned Costa Coffee.</p>

<p>The company, whose revenue has taken a hit in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is in the process of selling off more assets to raise cash and cut debt, it added.</p>


An entity linked to the deceased founder of India`s Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd owed the coffee chain 35.35 billion rupees ($472.5 million), an investigation report released by the company showed on Friday.

An entity linked to the deceased founder of India`s Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd owed the coffee chain 35.35 billion rupees ($472.5 million), an investigation report released by the company showed on Friday. Coffee Day founder V.G. Siddhartha was found dead in a river in southern India last July in an apparent suicide amid speculation that he was under intense financial strain. The Bengaluru-headquartered company had then appointed an investigator to scrutinize its accounts and the circumstances leading to the statements made in a letter purportedly written by Siddhartha. Mysore Amalgamated Coffee Estates Ltd, an entity linked separately to Siddhartha and involved in a business relationship with Coffee Day, owed Coffee Day $472 million as of July 31, 2019 - the day Siddhartha`s deceased body was found by authorities - the synopsis of the investigation report released by Coffee Day to stock exchanges showed on Friday. About $360 million of that amount still needed to be addressed, the report said. A significant portion of the amount may have been spent to buy back shares from private equity investors, repay loans and funding investments outside the scope of the investigation, the report said. As a result, the amounts may not be precise, it added. Coffee Day, which also exports coffee, sells coffee-vending machines and houses a logistics business called Sical, currently had a debt of 32 billion rupees ($427.7 million), it said. It is India`s largest coffee chain with more than 1,000 cafes that brew cappuccinos and lattes for India`s booming moneyed class, and competes with the likes of Starbucks Corp, Barista and Coca-Cola Co-owned Costa Coffee. The company, whose revenue has taken a hit in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, is in the process of selling off more assets to raise cash and cut debt, it added.

Coffee Day owed $472 million by deceased founder's firm: Report

<p>Bad loans in the Indian banking system could soar to almost 15% of total loans by March 2021 as the coronavirus crisis leads to rising levels of household and corporate debt, the Financial Stability and Development Council said in a report published on Friday.</p>

<p>Indian banks have been battling rising bad loans for years but managed to get gross non-performing assets (NPAs) down to 8.5% in March, compared to 9.3% in September 2019, following strict new rules imposed by the central bank.</p>

<p>As India`s economy feels the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, macro stress tests indicate that the gross NPA ratio of all banks could increase to 12.5% by next March under a baseline scenario and may escalate to 14.7% under a very severely stressed scenario, the report said. It did not give details of that scenario.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coffee-day-owed-472-million-by-deceased-founders-firm-report-315761"><strong>Also read|&nbsp;Coffee Day owed $472 million by deceased founder's firm: report</strong></a></p>

<p>"The pandemic has the potential to amplify financial vulnerabilities, including corporate and household debt burdens in the case of severe economic contraction," the report said.</p>

<p>The semi-annual report is compiled by the Financial Stability and Development Council - an umbrella group of regulators - and released by the Reserve Bank of India.</p>

<p><strong>Financial sector risks</strong></p>

<p>The report highlighted that relief measures for borrowers introduced as part of measures to help India`s economy through the pandemic, such as deferments of loan and interest payments for six months, may have implications for the financial health of banks, going forward.</p>

<p>"Nearly half of the customers accounting for around half of outstanding bank loans opted to avail the benefit of the relief measures," it stated.</p>

<p>The report also highlighted the problems for over 9,500 shadow banks, known as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), in India, which have been battling a liquidity crisis over the last couple of years.</p>

<p>"The declining share of market funding for NBFCs is a concern as it has the potential to accentuate liquidity risk for NBFCs as well as for the financial system," the report stated.</p>

<p>However, the report said contagion risks through financial networks have moderated due to the higher capital buffers introduced in recent years and a shrinking interbank market.</p>


Bad loans in the Indian banking system could soar to almost 15% of total loans by March 2021 as the coronavirus crisis leads to rising levels of household and corporate debt, the Financial Stability and Development Council said in a report published on Friday.

Bad loans in the Indian banking system could soar to almost 15% of total loans by March 2021 as the coronavirus crisis leads to rising levels of household and corporate debt, the Financial Stability and Development Council said in a report published on Friday. Indian banks have been battling rising bad loans for years but managed to get gross non-performing assets (NPAs) down to 8.5% in March, compared to 9.3% in September 2019, following strict new rules imposed by the central bank. As India`s economy feels the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, macro stress tests indicate that the gross NPA ratio of all banks could increase to 12.5% by next March under a baseline scenario and may escalate to 14.7% under a very severely stressed scenario, the report said. It did not give details of that scenario. Also read| Coffee Day owed $472 million by deceased founder's firm: report "The pandemic has the potential to amplify financial vulnerabilities, including corporate and household debt burdens in the case of severe economic contraction," the report said. The semi-annual report is compiled by the Financial Stability and Development Council - an umbrella group of regulators - and released by the Reserve Bank of India. Financial sector risks The report highlighted that relief measures for borrowers introduced as part of measures to help India`s economy through the pandemic, such as deferments of loan and interest payments for six months, may have implications for the financial health of banks, going forward. "Nearly half of the customers accounting for around half of outstanding bank loans opted to avail the benefit of the relief measures," it stated. The report also highlighted the problems for over 9,500 shadow banks, known as non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), in India, which have been battling a liquidity crisis over the last couple of years. "The declining share of market funding for NBFCs is a concern as it has the potential to accentuate liquidity risk for NBFCs as well as for the financial system," the report stated. However, the report said contagion risks through financial networks have moderated due to the higher capital buffers introduced in recent years and a shrinking interbank market.

Indian banks' bad debt ratio could hit nearly 15% by March in worst-case scenario: Report

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