President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

"Roger Stone has already suffered greatly," the White House said in a statement. "He was treated very unfairly, as were many others in this case. Roger Stone is now a free man!"

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-takes-down-accounts-and-pages-of-trump-ally-roger-stone-311886">Also read:&nbsp;Facebook takes down accounts and pages of Trump ally Roger Stone</a>

Stone, 67, was scheduled to report by Tuesday to a federal prison in Jesup, Georgia, to begin serving a sentence of three years and four months for lying under oath to US lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

A commutation does not erase a criminal conviction as a pardon does.

The veteran Republican political operative`s friendship with Trump dates back decades.

Stone was among several Trump associates charged with crimes in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation that documented Russian interference in the 2016 race to boost Trump`s candidacy.

In announcing its clemency decision for Stone, the White House took aim at Mueller`s investigation and the prosecutors who brought the case against Stone. The White House said Stone "is victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency."

"There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia. Such collusion was never anything other than a fantasy of partisans unable to accept the result of the 2016 election," the White House said.

Trump`s decision to commute Stone`s sentence marks his most assertive intervention to protect an associate in a criminal case and his latest use of executive clemency to benefit an ally.

Congressional Democrats and other critics have accused Trump of undermining the rule of law by publicly complaining about criminal cases against associates including Stone, former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff condemned Trump`s action, saying: "With this commutation, Trump makes clear that there are two systems of justice in America: one for his criminal friends, and one for everyone else."

A Washington jury in November 2019 convicted Stone on all seven criminal counts of obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress and tampering with a witness.

Stone was convicted for lying to the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee about his attempts to contact WikiLeaks, the website that released damaging emails about Trump`s 2016 Democratic election rival Hillary Clinton that U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were stolen by Russian hackers.

The U.S. Constitution gives a president the "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." Trump`s use of this executive clemency often has benefited allies and well-connected political figures.

He pardoned hardline former Arizona county sheriff Joe Arpaio, former Republican White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, conservative commentator Dinesh D`Souza and convicted "junk bond king" Michael Milken. He also commuted the prison sentence of Democratic former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who had been a contestant on Trump`s former reality TV show.

Stone has been a fixture in American partisan battles dating to the 1970s. Stone, a colourful figure known for his natty attire, has labelled himself an "agent provocateur" and famously has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back.

Trump repeatedly lashed out on Twitter about Stone`s case, accusing prosecutors of being corrupt, the juror forewoman of political bias and the judge of treating his friend unfairly.

Late on Friday, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia denied Stone`s request for a delay in reporting to prison.

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. "Roger Stone has already suffered greatly," the White House said in a statement. "He was treated very unfairly, as were many others in this case. Roger Stone is now a free man!" Also read: Facebook takes down accounts and pages of Trump ally Roger Stone Stone, 67, was scheduled to report by Tuesday to a federal prison in Jesup, Georgia, to begin serving a sentence of three years and four months for lying under oath to US lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. A commutation does not erase a criminal conviction as a pardon does. The veteran Republican political operative`s friendship with Trump dates back decades. Stone was among several Trump associates charged with crimes in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation that documented Russian interference in the 2016 race to boost Trump`s candidacy. In announcing its clemency decision for Stone, the White House took aim at Mueller`s investigation and the prosecutors who brought the case against Stone. The White House said Stone "is victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency." "There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia. Such collusion was never anything other than a fantasy of partisans unable to accept the result of the 2016 election," the White House said. Trump`s decision to commute Stone`s sentence marks his most assertive intervention to protect an associate in a criminal case and his latest use of executive clemency to benefit an ally. Congressional Democrats and other critics have accused Trump of undermining the rule of law by publicly complaining about criminal cases against associates including Stone, former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff condemned Trump`s action, saying: "With this commutation, Trump makes clear that there are two systems of justice in America: one for his criminal friends, and one for everyone else." A Washington jury in November 2019 convicted Stone on all seven criminal counts of obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress and tampering with a witness. Stone was convicted for lying to the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee about his attempts to contact WikiLeaks, the website that released damaging emails about Trump`s 2016 Democratic election rival Hillary Clinton that U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were stolen by Russian hackers. The U.S. Constitution gives a president the "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." Trump`s use of this executive clemency often has benefited allies and well-connected political figures. He pardoned hardline former Arizona county sheriff Joe Arpaio, former Republican White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, conservative commentator Dinesh D`Souza and convicted "junk bond king" Michael Milken. He also commuted the prison sentence of Democratic former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who had been a contestant on Trump`s former reality TV show. Stone has been a fixture in American partisan battles dating to the 1970s. Stone, a colourful figure known for his natty attire, has labelled himself an "agent provocateur" and famously has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back. Trump repeatedly lashed out on Twitter about Stone`s case, accusing prosecutors of being corrupt, the juror forewoman of political bias and the judge of treating his friend unfairly. Late on Friday, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia denied Stone`s request for a delay in reporting to prison.

Trump commutes longtime adviser Roger Stone's prison sentence

New York City prosecutors are very likely to obtain President Donald Trump`s tax returns after a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling, but it may not happen before the Nov. 3 election if he argues in lower courts as expected that their request was too broad and made in bad faith, legal experts said.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is seeking eight years of Trump`s business and personal tax returns and other financial documents as part of a criminal investigation involving a grand jury into the Republican president and the Trump Organization, his family`s real estate business.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-supreme-court-rules-on-donald-trumps-tax-records-312115">Also watch:&nbsp;US Supreme Court rules on Donald Trump's tax records</a>

"I believe the district attorney and the grand jury will get the requested documents, but not right away," said Jessica Roth, a professor at Cardozo School of Law in New York and a former federal prosecutor. "We have many weeks and months of further litigation ahead."

The Republican president, a wealthy real estate developer who refused to give up his holdings in the family business after taking office, has fought hard to keep details of his finances secret.The Republican president, a wealthy real estate developer who refused to give up his holdings in the family business after taking office, has fought hard to keep details of his finances secret. Trump has refused to release his tax returns as other presidents have done and sued to try to block enforcement of subpoenas by Democratic lawmakers and prosecutors for his financial records.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against Trump`s bid to block Vance`s subpoena to Trump`s accounting firm Mazars USA for the financial records, rejecting the president`s claim of absolute presidential immunity from criminal proceedings.

But the justices sent the matter back to lower courts for further litigation, giving Trump the opportunity to object to the subpoena on other grounds.

The ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, said Trump "can challenge the subpoena as an attempt to influence the performance of his official duties. And he can argue that compliance with a particular subpoena would impede his constitutional duties."

"We`re evaluating the appropriate next course of action," Jay Sekulow, Trump`s personal lawyer, said on Friday.

Trump could argue that the subpoena is too burdensome or was issued in bad faith because of political motivations, said George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, who testified last year as a Republican witness in House of Representatives Trump impeachment hearings.

'Really hard argument'

Trump is unlikely to convince a court that the subpoena is too burdensome because it seeks information from Mazars, a third party, and not the president himself, said Harry Sandick, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan. 
"Burden is a really hard argument to make," Sandick said.

U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero, who is presiding over the case, said last October he had seen little evidence of political bias in Vance`s pursuit of the financial records.

Roth said evidence that has been public, including congressional testimony by Trump`s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, provides a "reasonable basis" for Vance`s investigation. Cohen told lawmakers that Trump had inflated and deflated certain assets on financial statements between 2011 and 2013 in part to reduce his real estate taxes.

A loss for Trump before Marrero could still be appealed to the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, likely delaying production of the documents until after the presidential election in which Trump is seeking a second four-year term in office against Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

Sandick said he expects that prosecutors will obtain the tax returns from Mazars in late 2020 or early 2021. 
Roth said prosecutors could get hold of the documents by November if Marrero rules quickly, which he has shown a tendency to do so far, and his ruling is quickly upheld on appeal.

Even if the financial records are turned over before the election, they likely would not be made public quickly barring an illegal leak to media, Sandick said. Under U.S. law, grand jury materials must be kept secret, though they could eventually end up in publicly available court filings if a criminal case is brought in the investigation against Trump or someone else.

"This process is going to be frustrating for many members of the public," Sandick said. "But it is just the price we pay for having a legal system that lets people make arguments."

Vance`s investigation was launched after disclosures of hush payments to two women who said they had past sexual relationships with Trump, pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal - relationships he has denied.

New York City prosecutors are very likely to obtain President Donald Trump`s tax returns after a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling, but it may not happen before the Nov.

New York City prosecutors are very likely to obtain President Donald Trump`s tax returns after a major U.S. Supreme Court ruling, but it may not happen before the Nov. 3 election if he argues in lower courts as expected that their request was too broad and made in bad faith, legal experts said. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is seeking eight years of Trump`s business and personal tax returns and other financial documents as part of a criminal investigation involving a grand jury into the Republican president and the Trump Organization, his family`s real estate business. Also watch: US Supreme Court rules on Donald Trump's tax records "I believe the district attorney and the grand jury will get the requested documents, but not right away," said Jessica Roth, a professor at Cardozo School of Law in New York and a former federal prosecutor. "We have many weeks and months of further litigation ahead." The Republican president, a wealthy real estate developer who refused to give up his holdings in the family business after taking office, has fought hard to keep details of his finances secret.The Republican president, a wealthy real estate developer who refused to give up his holdings in the family business after taking office, has fought hard to keep details of his finances secret. Trump has refused to release his tax returns as other presidents have done and sued to try to block enforcement of subpoenas by Democratic lawmakers and prosecutors for his financial records. The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against Trump`s bid to block Vance`s subpoena to Trump`s accounting firm Mazars USA for the financial records, rejecting the president`s claim of absolute presidential immunity from criminal proceedings. But the justices sent the matter back to lower courts for further litigation, giving Trump the opportunity to object to the subpoena on other grounds. The ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, said Trump "can challenge the subpoena as an attempt to influence the performance of his official duties. And he can argue that compliance with a particular subpoena would impede his constitutional duties." "We`re evaluating the appropriate next course of action," Jay Sekulow, Trump`s personal lawyer, said on Friday. Trump could argue that the subpoena is too burdensome or was issued in bad faith because of political motivations, said George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, who testified last year as a Republican witness in House of Representatives Trump impeachment hearings. 'Really hard argument' Trump is unlikely to convince a court that the subpoena is too burdensome because it seeks information from Mazars, a third party, and not the president himself, said Harry Sandick, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan. "Burden is a really hard argument to make," Sandick said. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero, who is presiding over the case, said last October he had seen little evidence of political bias in Vance`s pursuit of the financial records. Roth said evidence that has been public, including congressional testimony by Trump`s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, provides a "reasonable basis" for Vance`s investigation. Cohen told lawmakers that Trump had inflated and deflated certain assets on financial statements between 2011 and 2013 in part to reduce his real estate taxes. A loss for Trump before Marrero could still be appealed to the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, likely delaying production of the documents until after the presidential election in which Trump is seeking a second four-year term in office against Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Sandick said he expects that prosecutors will obtain the tax returns from Mazars in late 2020 or early 2021. Roth said prosecutors could get hold of the documents by November if Marrero rules quickly, which he has shown a tendency to do so far, and his ruling is quickly upheld on appeal. Even if the financial records are turned over before the election, they likely would not be made public quickly barring an illegal leak to media, Sandick said. Under U.S. law, grand jury materials must be kept secret, though they could eventually end up in publicly available court filings if a criminal case is brought in the investigation against Trump or someone else. "This process is going to be frustrating for many members of the public," Sandick said. "But it is just the price we pay for having a legal system that lets people make arguments." Vance`s investigation was launched after disclosures of hush payments to two women who said they had past sexual relationships with Trump, pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal - relationships he has denied.

Prosecutors may not get Trump tax records until after election, experts say

With a surge in number of positive coronavirus cases in the US and upcoming elections,&nbsp;the Trump administration is getting quite desperate to make all arrangements of not only finding a cure/vaccine, but also getting it to the citizens.

In such a move, the Trump administration has agreed to invest more than half a billion in tax dollars in ApiJect Systems America, a new company whose&nbsp;injector is not approved by federal health authorities and the company hasn't yet set up a factory to manufacture the devices.

“The fact of this matter is, it would be crazy for people to just rely on us. I would be the first to say it,” said ApiJect CEO Jay Walker. “We should be America's backup at this point, but probably not its primary.”

ApiJect, which has only developed 1,000 prototypes so far, is not clear whether those devices can deliver the vaccines that are currently in development.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-going-to-be-bullied-or-threatened-by-the-president-experts-react-to-trumps-threats-of-reopening-us-schools-312427">Also read|&nbsp;Not going to be bullied or threatened by the President: Experts react to Trump's threats of reopening US schools</a>

The Founder of the company, Marc Koska, has been working on creating an ultra low-cost prefilled syringe that would reduce the need to reuse needles in the developing world. With no intentions of delivering a vaccine to the entire nation, the US government has now, in very surprising turns of events, become his biggest customer. The move was strange as the company received a no-bid contract from&nbsp;Defence Department under an exception for “unusual and compelling urgency."

The government promised ApiJect $138 million to produce 100 million of its devices by the end of the year, which will require the company to retrofit new manufacturing lines in existing factories.

In addition to this, the company has been offered another $456 million as part of a public-private partnership contract to bring online several new factories to make another 500 million devices to “contain the pandemic spread to minimize the loss of life and impact to the United States economy,” said the document.

The product was spotted by Admiral Brett P. Giroir, HHS's assistant secretary for health, at the World Health Organization's Global Conference on Primary Health Care in Astana, Kazakhstan. Walker had presented the prototype to Giroir just to explain the work that his company was trying to achieve, and Giroir was adamant on having this product in the US.

Koska said Giroir was “blown away” by their technology and told them that if a pandemic hit, the strategic national stockpile was going to need a very fast way to get injections filled with vaccines or therapeutics and ready to deliver.

So few weeks later when the pandemic hit and a call for a possible shortage of needles was made,&nbsp;ApiJect, unexpectedly, found a no-bid contract from the US government.

(With inputs from agencies)

With a surge in number of positive coronavirus cases in the US and upcoming elections, the Trump administration is getting quite desperate to make all arrangements of not only finding a cure/vaccine, but also getting it to the citizens.

With a surge in number of positive coronavirus cases in the US and upcoming elections, the Trump administration is getting quite desperate to make all arrangements of not only finding a cure/vaccine, but also getting it to the citizens. In such a move, the Trump administration has agreed to invest more than half a billion in tax dollars in ApiJect Systems America, a new company whose injector is not approved by federal health authorities and the company hasn't yet set up a factory to manufacture the devices. “The fact of this matter is, it would be crazy for people to just rely on us. I would be the first to say it,” said ApiJect CEO Jay Walker. “We should be America's backup at this point, but probably not its primary.” ApiJect, which has only developed 1,000 prototypes so far, is not clear whether those devices can deliver the vaccines that are currently in development. Also read| Not going to be bullied or threatened by the President: Experts react to Trump's threats of reopening US schools The Founder of the company, Marc Koska, has been working on creating an ultra low-cost prefilled syringe that would reduce the need to reuse needles in the developing world. With no intentions of delivering a vaccine to the entire nation, the US government has now, in very surprising turns of events, become his biggest customer. The move was strange as the company received a no-bid contract from Defence Department under an exception for “unusual and compelling urgency." The government promised ApiJect $138 million to produce 100 million of its devices by the end of the year, which will require the company to retrofit new manufacturing lines in existing factories. In addition to this, the company has been offered another $456 million as part of a public-private partnership contract to bring online several new factories to make another 500 million devices to “contain the pandemic spread to minimize the loss of life and impact to the United States economy,” said the document. The product was spotted by Admiral Brett P. Giroir, HHS's assistant secretary for health, at the World Health Organization's Global Conference on Primary Health Care in Astana, Kazakhstan. Walker had presented the prototype to Giroir just to explain the work that his company was trying to achieve, and Giroir was adamant on having this product in the US. Koska said Giroir was “blown away” by their technology and told them that if a pandemic hit, the strategic national stockpile was going to need a very fast way to get injections filled with vaccines or therapeutics and ready to deliver. So few weeks later when the pandemic hit and a call for a possible shortage of needles was made, ApiJect, unexpectedly, found a no-bid contract from the US government. (With inputs from agencies)

US invests heavily in a company, without a factory, to deliver COVID-19 vaccine

The US President Donald Trump had recently announced on his Twitter account that he may stop funding the schools that refuse to reopen amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.

Group of health experts, education experts and parents have now come forward against this threat made my Trump on Twitter a couple of days ago, that he still maintains.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-to-cut-off-funding-to-us-schools-if-they-dont-reopen-by-november-311787">Also read:&nbsp;Trump threatens to cut off funding to US schools if they don't reopen by November</a>

"In Germany, Denmark, Norway, &nbsp;Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children &amp; families. May cut off funding if not open!," Trump had tweeted. He later criticised CDC's guidelines, calling them to be "very tough and expensive guidelines".

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I disagree with <a href="https://twitter.com/CDCgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CDCgov</a> on their very tough &amp; expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1280857657365200902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Public health agencies must make recommendations based on evidence, not politics," the American Academy of Pediatrics, two national teachers' unions and a school superintendents' group said.

Since Trump threatened to cut off the funding for schools, parents and concerned citizens have been calling out the President on his careless statement and have advised schools and everyone else to listen to and rely on experts, rather than Trump.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-to-sue-trump-over-order-revoking-foreign-student-visas-312110">Also read:&nbsp;California to sue Trump over order revoking foreign student visas</a>

"We should leave it to health experts to tell us when the time is best to open up school buildings, and listen to educators and administrators to shape how we do it," AAP, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the School Superintendents Association said in a joint statement.

Trump has also accused the Democratic party of not allowing schools and businesses to reopen so that the economy of the country crashes, which will adversely affect Trump's chances of getting re-elected later this year.

"Too many Universities and School Systems are about Radical Left Indoctrination, not Education," he said in a Twitter post on Friday. "Therefore, I am telling the Treasury Department to re-examine their Tax-Exempt Status and/or Funding, which will be taken away if this Propaganda or Act Against Public Policy continues. Our children must be Educated, not Indoctrinated!"

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Too many Universities and School Systems are about Radical Left Indoctrination, not Education. Therefore, I am telling the Treasury Department to re-examine their Tax-Exempt Status...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1281616586273468416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2020</a></blockquote>
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However, this threat was dismissed by experts quickly as most of the primary and secondary funding is local, so the Treasury Department can not help in such a case.

In their statement, AAP and the other groups urged Congress to provide more money to schools so they could reopen safely, calling the idea of withholding funds a "misguided approach."

Trump's opponent in the upcoming elections and former Vice President, Joe Biden, has advised schools to continue&nbsp;online classes as of now, as the cases have crossed three million this week in the country.

"We're not going to be bullied or threatened by the president," Maryland's Larry Hogan, another Republican governor, told a local media channel.

The US President Donald Trump had recently announced on his Twitter account that he may stop funding the schools that refuse to reopen amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country.

The US President Donald Trump had recently announced on his Twitter account that he may stop funding the schools that refuse to reopen amid the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country. Group of health experts, education experts and parents have now come forward against this threat made my Trump on Twitter a couple of days ago, that he still maintains. Also read: Trump threatens to cut off funding to US schools if they don't reopen by November "In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS. The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!," Trump had tweeted. He later criticised CDC's guidelines, calling them to be "very tough and expensive guidelines". I disagree with @CDCgov on their very tough & expensive guidelines for opening schools. While they want them open, they are asking schools to do very impractical things. I will be meeting with them!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 8, 2020 × "Public health agencies must make recommendations based on evidence, not politics," the American Academy of Pediatrics, two national teachers' unions and a school superintendents' group said. Since Trump threatened to cut off the funding for schools, parents and concerned citizens have been calling out the President on his careless statement and have advised schools and everyone else to listen to and rely on experts, rather than Trump. Also read: California to sue Trump over order revoking foreign student visas "We should leave it to health experts to tell us when the time is best to open up school buildings, and listen to educators and administrators to shape how we do it," AAP, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the School Superintendents Association said in a joint statement. Trump has also accused the Democratic party of not allowing schools and businesses to reopen so that the economy of the country crashes, which will adversely affect Trump's chances of getting re-elected later this year. "Too many Universities and School Systems are about Radical Left Indoctrination, not Education," he said in a Twitter post on Friday. "Therefore, I am telling the Treasury Department to re-examine their Tax-Exempt Status and/or Funding, which will be taken away if this Propaganda or Act Against Public Policy continues. Our children must be Educated, not Indoctrinated!" Too many Universities and School Systems are about Radical Left Indoctrination, not Education. Therefore, I am telling the Treasury Department to re-examine their Tax-Exempt Status... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2020 × However, this threat was dismissed by experts quickly as most of the primary and secondary funding is local, so the Treasury Department can not help in such a case. In their statement, AAP and the other groups urged Congress to provide more money to schools so they could reopen safely, calling the idea of withholding funds a "misguided approach." Trump's opponent in the upcoming elections and former Vice President, Joe Biden, has advised schools to continue online classes as of now, as the cases have crossed three million this week in the country. "We're not going to be bullied or threatened by the president," Maryland's Larry Hogan, another Republican governor, told a local media channel.

Not going to be bullied or threatened by the President: Experts react to Trump's threats of reopening US schools

Most infamous and shocking presidential pardons in the history of US

Masked Singapore locals come out to cast vote in 'new normal' style

New York Mayor had earlier announced that the city will be painting a 'Black Lives Matter' mural on the street directly outside the Trump Tower.

City employees began painting the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' on a stretch of Fifth Avenue, right outside the entrance of Trump Tower on Thursday.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, who had authorised the painting of the mural, came to lend a helping hand in painting the yellow mural.

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Our city isn’t just painting the words on Fifth Avenue. We’re committed to the meaning of the message. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlackLivesMatter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlackLivesMatter</a> <a href="https://t.co/VE6MT80qDI">pic.twitter.com/VE6MT80qDI</a>
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/1281260917880164354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"President Trump said we would be denigrating the luxury of Fifth Avenue. Let me tell you: we're not denigrating anything, we are liberating Fifth Avenue, we are uplifting Fifth Avenue," de Blasio said on Thursday in response to Trump's tweet last week criticizing de Blasio for "denigrating" the area.

He added, "Who built this city, who built this nation, and never got the acknowledgement, the recognition..."

"When we say 'Black Lives Matter' there is no more American statement, there's no more patriotic statement, because there is no America without Black America. We are acknowledging the truth in ourselves and in America. By saying 'Black lives matter' we are righting a wrong," de Blasio said.

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Told that <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYCMayor</a> Bill de Blasio wants to paint the fabled &amp; beautiful Fifth Avenue, right in front of Trump Tower/Tiffany, with a big yellow Black Lives Matter sign. “Pigs in a Blanket, Fry ‘Em Like Bacon”, referring to killing Police, is their chant. NYC Police are furious!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1276206200393064449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Trump had earlier criticised the idea of painting the mural and had said that the mural will be destroying the luxury of the Fifth Avenue. He had also called this phrase to be a 'symbol of hate' and said, "Maybe our GREAT Police, who have been neutralized and scorned by a mayor who hates &amp; disrespects them, won't let this symbol of hate be affixed to New York's greatest street. Spend this money fighting crime instead!"

New York Mayor had earlier announced that the city will be painting a 'Black Lives Matter' mural on the street directly outside the Trump Tower. City employees began painting the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' on a stretch of Fifth Avenue, right outside the entrance of Trump Tower on Thursday.

New York Mayor had earlier announced that the city will be painting a 'Black Lives Matter' mural on the street directly outside the Trump Tower. City employees began painting the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' on a stretch of Fifth Avenue, right outside the entrance of Trump Tower on Thursday. Mayor Bill de Blasio, who had authorised the painting of the mural, came to lend a helping hand in painting the yellow mural. Our city isn’t just painting the words on Fifth Avenue. We’re committed to the meaning of the message. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/VE6MT80qDI — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) July 9, 2020 × "President Trump said we would be denigrating the luxury of Fifth Avenue. Let me tell you: we're not denigrating anything, we are liberating Fifth Avenue, we are uplifting Fifth Avenue," de Blasio said on Thursday in response to Trump's tweet last week criticizing de Blasio for "denigrating" the area. He added, "Who built this city, who built this nation, and never got the acknowledgement, the recognition..." "When we say 'Black Lives Matter' there is no more American statement, there's no more patriotic statement, because there is no America without Black America. We are acknowledging the truth in ourselves and in America. By saying 'Black lives matter' we are righting a wrong," de Blasio said. Told that @NYCMayor Bill de Blasio wants to paint the fabled & beautiful Fifth Avenue, right in front of Trump Tower/Tiffany, with a big yellow Black Lives Matter sign. “Pigs in a Blanket, Fry ‘Em Like Bacon”, referring to killing Police, is their chant. NYC Police are furious! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2020 × Trump had earlier criticised the idea of painting the mural and had said that the mural will be destroying the luxury of the Fifth Avenue. He had also called this phrase to be a 'symbol of hate' and said, "Maybe our GREAT Police, who have been neutralized and scorned by a mayor who hates & disrespects them, won't let this symbol of hate be affixed to New York's greatest street. Spend this money fighting crime instead!"

Painting it yellow: New York city starts painting 'Black Lives Matter' outside Trump Tower

New Zealand's former Prime Minister Helen Clark has been appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to lead a review of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Describing this duty as "exceptionally challenging", she has warned that the danger of the pandemic will not decrease easily and the possibility of such a crisis rising again still exists. reminding everyone that this is the sixth time in the last 17 years that such a crisis has arised.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unknown-pneumonia-deadlier-than-coronavirus-sweeping-across-kazakhstan-warns-chinese-embassy-312099">Also read|&nbsp;'Unknown Pneumonia' deadlier than coronavirus sweeping across Kazakhstan, warns Chinese Embassy</a>

Clark said that&nbsp;if the world remained "flat-footed" in its response to pandemics, it faces future economic, social and political crisis.

"This is going to happen again. If the world is as flat-footed in response as it has been to this we are in serious ongoing economic, social, political crisis," she said in a local TV interview.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bubonic-plague-being-well-managed-in-china-not-high-risk-who-311353">Also read|&nbsp;Bubonic plague being 'well managed' in China, not high risk: WHO</a>

The statement came after the WHO on Thursday announced that Helen Clark and Liberia's former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will lead a panel investigating and scrutinising the global response to the ongoing pandemic.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called both women "strong-minded, independent leaders" and gave them the freedom to&nbsp;assess WHO's and governments' responses to the pandemic.

Clark and Sirleaf have to choose their panel members. Clark has described this to be a challenging but important job. "But there's also a very real job to do, which is to look at how the WHO has been able to lead. Does it have the right mechanisms? What actually happened here? And there's a lot of politics in that," she said.

New Zealand's former Prime Minister Helen Clark has been appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to lead a review of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Zealand's former Prime Minister Helen Clark has been appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to lead a review of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Describing this duty as "exceptionally challenging", she has warned that the danger of the pandemic will not decrease easily and the possibility of such a crisis rising again still exists. reminding everyone that this is the sixth time in the last 17 years that such a crisis has arised. Also read| 'Unknown Pneumonia' deadlier than coronavirus sweeping across Kazakhstan, warns Chinese Embassy Clark said that if the world remained "flat-footed" in its response to pandemics, it faces future economic, social and political crisis. "This is going to happen again. If the world is as flat-footed in response as it has been to this we are in serious ongoing economic, social, political crisis," she said in a local TV interview. Also read| Bubonic plague being 'well managed' in China, not high risk: WHO The statement came after the WHO on Thursday announced that Helen Clark and Liberia's former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will lead a panel investigating and scrutinising the global response to the ongoing pandemic. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called both women "strong-minded, independent leaders" and gave them the freedom to assess WHO's and governments' responses to the pandemic. Clark and Sirleaf have to choose their panel members. Clark has described this to be a challenging but important job. "But there's also a very real job to do, which is to look at how the WHO has been able to lead. Does it have the right mechanisms? What actually happened here? And there's a lot of politics in that," she said.

Flat-footed response will bring back crisis: former New Zealand PM Helen Clark

July 10 in history: First communication satellite, launch of New Zealand dollar and more

A 57-year-old Chinese man has been arrested in the US for using using US funds to develop expertise for China in&nbsp;the areas of rheumatology and immunology.

Song Guo Zheng was arrested while he was boarding a charter flight to China from&nbsp;Anchorage, Alaska.

Zheng had three large bags, one small suitcase and briefcase with two laptops, three cellular telephones, several USB drives, several silver bars, expired Chinese passports for his family, deeds for property in China, among other items, the Justice Department said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-former-lawyer-michael-cohen-back-in-jail-after-home-confinement-fails-312112">Also read:&nbsp;Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, back in jail after home confinement fails</a>

"A rheumatology professor and researcher with strong ties to China has been ordered held without bond to face a charge of grant fraud for not disclosing that he was engaged in a sophisticated scheme to use approximately $4.1 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop China`s expertise in the areas of rheumatology and immunology," the release said on Thursday.

It has been alleged that Zheng had been suing the US funds since 2014, and had not established his strong ties with Beijing to his US employers.

He has been arrested on the count of fraud of receiving federal funds, and on the count of issuing and making false statements about his employment in China and lying to his US employers.

The investigation is ongoing, but if proven guilty Zheng could face 15 years behind bars.

A 57-year-old Chinese man has been arrested in the US for using using US funds to develop expertise for China in the areas of rheumatology and immunology. Song Guo Zheng was arrested while he was boarding a charter flight to China from Anchorage, Alaska.

A 57-year-old Chinese man has been arrested in the US for using using US funds to develop expertise for China in the areas of rheumatology and immunology. Song Guo Zheng was arrested while he was boarding a charter flight to China from Anchorage, Alaska. Zheng had three large bags, one small suitcase and briefcase with two laptops, three cellular telephones, several USB drives, several silver bars, expired Chinese passports for his family, deeds for property in China, among other items, the Justice Department said. Also read: Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, back in jail after home confinement fails "A rheumatology professor and researcher with strong ties to China has been ordered held without bond to face a charge of grant fraud for not disclosing that he was engaged in a sophisticated scheme to use approximately $4.1 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop China`s expertise in the areas of rheumatology and immunology," the release said on Thursday. It has been alleged that Zheng had been suing the US funds since 2014, and had not established his strong ties with Beijing to his US employers. He has been arrested on the count of fraud of receiving federal funds, and on the count of issuing and making false statements about his employment in China and lying to his US employers. The investigation is ongoing, but if proven guilty Zheng could face 15 years behind bars.

Chinese man arrested for using US funds to develop Chinese expertise

Interim President of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez Chavez, on Thursday (local time) said she has tested positive for COVID-19.

"The COVID-19 test turned out to be positive. I feel normal and will work in isolation," she tweeted, according to a Sputnik report.

Bolivia`s minister of health, head of the Central Bank and head of the presidential administration have already been diagnosed with the coronavirus, the report said.

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Worldwide, more than 12.1 million people have been infected with the coronavirus, with fatalities related to the virus over 552,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Bolivia has registered about 43,000 COVID-19 cases so far, with more than 1,500 fatalities.Earlier, this week, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro had tested positive for COVID-19.

Interim President of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez Chavez, on Thursday (local time) said she has tested positive for COVID-19. "The COVID-19 test turned out to be positive.

Interim President of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez Chavez, on Thursday (local time) said she has tested positive for COVID-19. "The COVID-19 test turned out to be positive. I feel normal and will work in isolation," she tweeted, according to a Sputnik report. Bolivia`s minister of health, head of the Central Bank and head of the presidential administration have already been diagnosed with the coronavirus, the report said. × Worldwide, more than 12.1 million people have been infected with the coronavirus, with fatalities related to the virus over 552,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Bolivia has registered about 43,000 COVID-19 cases so far, with more than 1,500 fatalities.Earlier, this week, Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro had tested positive for COVID-19.

Bolivia's president says she has tested positive for the coronavirus

Former lawyer of the US President Donald Trump has been put behind bars after he refused to adhere to a gag order&nbsp; as a condition of serving his criminal sentence under home confinement.

Michael Cohen, 53, was taken to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, according to his lawyer, Jeffrey Levine. Cohen has now been jailed for the second time, after he was earlier released in May from New York federal prison over concerns of possible exposure to coronavirus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-coronavirus-cases-rise-by-record-60565-in-a-single-day-312106">Also read:&nbsp;US coronavirus cases rise by record 60,565 in a single day</a>

Cohen had earlier been proven guilty in cases of hush money, various financial crimes and lying to Congress over construction plans of Trump Tower in Moscow. He had served one out of three year sentence, and was originally eligible for a release in November 2021. But he was given a discount due to the pandemic.

On Thursday, he was ordered to a federal courthouse in Manhattan to convert his furlough to home confinement, Levine said outside of the courthouse. He was asked to not contact the media in any form, whether it was the news media or social media. However, objection from his side led to him being put behind bars again as the&nbsp;US&nbsp;Marshals Service&nbsp;came with "shackles" and ordered Cohen remanded to the jail in Brooklyn.

"I've never seen any language like this in my life," Levine said.

The order for arrest came after Cohen was spotted outside a restaurant, which he says did not violate the terms of his home confinment.&nbsp;He said Levine told him that, when Cohen objected to giving up his book and other First Amendment rights, the authorities said they would try to work it out. But instead, 90 minutes later, the U.S. marshals showed up with shackles and an order to arrest Cohen.

Trump has maintained a distance from Cohen, whom he has publically called a "rat", and Cohen, in return, has termed Trump as a "racist," a "con man" and "a cheat."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
...anticipated release date will be late September.
— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelCohen212/status/1278648268285792258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Cohen is also writing a book about Donald Trump about which he has said "there is so much I want to say and intend to say. But now is not the right time. Soon."

Levine said he would try to get Cohen`s arrest order vacated.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Former lawyer of the US President Donald Trump has been put behind bars after he refused to adhere to a gag order as a condition of serving his criminal sentence under home confinement.

Former lawyer of the US President Donald Trump has been put behind bars after he refused to adhere to a gag order as a condition of serving his criminal sentence under home confinement. Michael Cohen, 53, was taken to the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, according to his lawyer, Jeffrey Levine. Cohen has now been jailed for the second time, after he was earlier released in May from New York federal prison over concerns of possible exposure to coronavirus. Also read: US coronavirus cases rise by record 60,565 in a single day Cohen had earlier been proven guilty in cases of hush money, various financial crimes and lying to Congress over construction plans of Trump Tower in Moscow. He had served one out of three year sentence, and was originally eligible for a release in November 2021. But he was given a discount due to the pandemic. On Thursday, he was ordered to a federal courthouse in Manhattan to convert his furlough to home confinement, Levine said outside of the courthouse. He was asked to not contact the media in any form, whether it was the news media or social media. However, objection from his side led to him being put behind bars again as the US Marshals Service came with "shackles" and ordered Cohen remanded to the jail in Brooklyn. "I've never seen any language like this in my life," Levine said. The order for arrest came after Cohen was spotted outside a restaurant, which he says did not violate the terms of his home confinment. He said Levine told him that, when Cohen objected to giving up his book and other First Amendment rights, the authorities said they would try to work it out. But instead, 90 minutes later, the U.S. marshals showed up with shackles and an order to arrest Cohen. Trump has maintained a distance from Cohen, whom he has publically called a "rat", and Cohen, in return, has termed Trump as a "racist," a "con man" and "a cheat." ...anticipated release date will be late September. — Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) July 2, 2020 × Cohen is also writing a book about Donald Trump about which he has said "there is so much I want to say and intend to say. But now is not the right time. Soon." Levine said he would try to get Cohen`s arrest order vacated. (With inputs from Reuters)

Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, back in jail after home confinement fails

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