Vice President Kamala Harris visited a border patrol facility near the US-Mexico border on Friday and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies. 
 
The visit, her first since becoming vice president five months ago, came amid a rise in migrants caught crossing the border, which has sparked outrage from Republicans, who favour the stricter immigration policies implemented by former President Donald Trump. 
 
President Joe Biden, a Democrat, tasked Harris with spearheading his administration's handling of the broader issue of people fleeing Central American countries for the United States. She visited Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month. 
 
"This issue cannot be reduced to a political issue. We're talking about children, we're talking about families, we're talking about suffering. And our approach has to be thoughtful and effective," Harris said at the conclusion of her short trip. 
 
US&nbsp;authorities have made more than one million arrests of migrants at the US-Mexico border so far in fiscal year 2021, according to preliminary figures. 
 
Republicans have criticised Biden for rolling back restrictive Trump-era immigration policies even as arrests of migrants at the US-Mexico border have reached 20-year highs in recent months. They have also criticised Harris for not visiting the border sooner. 
 
Harris was accompanied in El Paso by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin and Democratic Representative from Texas Veronica Escobar, who called the El Paso area the new "Ellis Island," a reference to the famed area in New York Harbour that processed millions of immigrants as they entered the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Immigration, and particularly the arrival of asylum seekers at the US&nbsp;southern border, has been a hot-button issue for decades. Multiple attempts to reform US&nbsp;laws and create a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrants living in the country illegally have failed in Congress. 
 
Democrats and activists have pressed Biden to further scale back enforcement and ensure humane treatment of migrant children and families arriving at the border.

During the trip, Harris also met with advocates, who urged her administration to end a Trump-era policy that allows US&nbsp;authorities to rapidly expel migrants to Mexico or their home countries, according to one of the participants, Fernando Garcia, the executive director at the El Paso-based Border Network for Human Rights. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Vice President Kamala Harris visited a border patrol facility near the US-Mexico border on Friday and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited a border patrol facility near the US-Mexico border on Friday and urged a focus on children and practical solutions to migration, in a trip meant to blunt Republican criticism of White House immigration policies. The visit, her first since becoming vice president five months ago, came amid a rise in migrants caught crossing the border, which has sparked outrage from Republicans, who favour the stricter immigration policies implemented by former President Donald Trump. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, tasked Harris with spearheading his administration's handling of the broader issue of people fleeing Central American countries for the United States. She visited Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month. "This issue cannot be reduced to a political issue. We're talking about children, we're talking about families, we're talking about suffering. And our approach has to be thoughtful and effective," Harris said at the conclusion of her short trip. US authorities have made more than one million arrests of migrants at the US-Mexico border so far in fiscal year 2021, according to preliminary figures. Republicans have criticised Biden for rolling back restrictive Trump-era immigration policies even as arrests of migrants at the US-Mexico border have reached 20-year highs in recent months. They have also criticised Harris for not visiting the border sooner. Harris was accompanied in El Paso by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin and Democratic Representative from Texas Veronica Escobar, who called the El Paso area the new "Ellis Island," a reference to the famed area in New York Harbour that processed millions of immigrants as they entered the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Immigration, and particularly the arrival of asylum seekers at the US southern border, has been a hot-button issue for decades. Multiple attempts to reform US laws and create a pathway to citizenship for the millions of immigrants living in the country illegally have failed in Congress. Democrats and activists have pressed Biden to further scale back enforcement and ensure humane treatment of migrant children and families arriving at the border. During the trip, Harris also met with advocates, who urged her administration to end a Trump-era policy that allows US authorities to rapidly expel migrants to Mexico or their home countries, according to one of the participants, Fernando Garcia, the executive director at the El Paso-based Border Network for Human Rights. (With inputs from agencies)

Drop politics to fix immigration, Harris says at US-Mexico border

German carmaker Volkswagen will stop selling combustion engines cars in Europe by 2035 as it shifts to electric vehicles, but later in the United States and China, a board member was quoted as saying on Saturday. 
 
"In Europe, we will exit the business with internal combustion vehicles between 2033 and 2035, in the United States and China somewhat later," Klaus Zellmer, Volkswagen board member for sales, told the Muenchner Merkur newspaper. 
 
"In South America and Africa, it will take a good deal longer due to the fact that the political and infrastructure framework conditions are still missing." 
 
By 2050 at the latest, the entire Volkswagen fleet should be CO2-neutral, Zellmer told the newspaper. 
 
In Europe, he is aiming for electric cars to account for 70% of total sales by 2030. This would prepare the company for a possible tightening of the European Union's climate targets and even go beyond them. 
 
EU policymakers have clamped down on exhaust emissions, forcing carmakers to spur development of low-emission technology or face penalties if they exceed limits on CO2 emissions.

German carmaker Volkswagen will stop selling combustion engines cars in Europe by 2035 as it shifts to electric vehicles, but later in the United States and China, a board member was quoted as saying on Saturday.

German carmaker Volkswagen will stop selling combustion engines cars in Europe by 2035 as it shifts to electric vehicles, but later in the United States and China, a board member was quoted as saying on Saturday. "In Europe, we will exit the business with internal combustion vehicles between 2033 and 2035, in the United States and China somewhat later," Klaus Zellmer, Volkswagen board member for sales, told the Muenchner Merkur newspaper. "In South America and Africa, it will take a good deal longer due to the fact that the political and infrastructure framework conditions are still missing." By 2050 at the latest, the entire Volkswagen fleet should be CO2-neutral, Zellmer told the newspaper. In Europe, he is aiming for electric cars to account for 70% of total sales by 2030. This would prepare the company for a possible tightening of the European Union's climate targets and even go beyond them. EU policymakers have clamped down on exhaust emissions, forcing carmakers to spur development of low-emission technology or face penalties if they exceed limits on CO2 emissions.

Volkswagen to end sales of combustion engines in Europe by 2035

Philippine former president Benigno Aquino was laid to rest in a Manila cemetery on Saturday beside his parents, two of the Southeast Asian country's democracy icons. 
 
Hundreds of mourners in black and white, some also wearing yellow - the colour associated with the Aquino family and a 1986 revolution that toppled a dictator - ribbons and face masks, attended a funeral mass and burial ceremony. 
 
Aquino, president from 2010 to 2016, died at age 61 in a Manila hospital on Thursday of kidney failure as a result of diabetes. 
 
"To the man we were so blessed to have as our brother, we will forever be proud of you, thank you, long for you and love you," Maria Elena Aquino-Cruz, an older sister of Aquino, said at the funeral mass. 
 
Aquino's remains were cremated on Thursday. Thousands queued for the public viewing in a church in his alma mater on Friday. 
 
Filipinos lined up along roads to pay respect during the one-hour convoy of dozens of vehicles from his alma mater, Ateneo de Manila University, to the cemetery south of the capital. 
 
The military gave a 21-gun salute and a helicopter rained down yellow flowers. At the Aquino residence at the heart of the capital, supporters left chrysanthemums, yellow bell and sunflower for the late leader. 
 
Among those paying respects to Aquino was vice president and political ally Leni Robredo, and close friends. Most supporters were blocked at the entrance of the cemetery to prevent mass gathering and the spread of COVID-19. 
 
"I pray for another family with the attitude like Noy and his parents that will fight for truth, justice, loyalty, love for God and country," Thelma Chua, 64, wearing a yellow shirt at the funeral, told Reuters. 
 
Known popularly as Noynoy, Aquino rode a wave of public support to the presidency after the 2009 death of his mother, the revered 'People Power' leader Corazon Aquino, who was president from 1986 to 1992. 
 
His namesake father, a staunch critic of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated when he returned from political exile in 1983, planting the seeds for the 1986 People Power revolution that booted the strongman from office. 
 
As president, the younger Aquino led the Philippines in shedding its perennial 'sick man of Asia' image through better governance and robust economic growth. He challenged Beijing's sweeping claims of the South China Sea before the arbitration court in The Hague in 2013. 
 
Aquino, who led a private life after stepping down, is survived by four sisters. 
 
The best tribute for the late president is "to bring back, recover, preserve, safeguard and never again to compromise our dignity as a people and the decency of our leaders as servants, not bosses," Archbishop Socrates Villegas, former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said in his homily. 
 
President Rodrigo Duterte, criticised by the Catholic church and rights group for crassness and his bloody war on drugs but hugely popular as a man of the people, did not attend the funeral.

Philippine former president Benigno Aquino was laid to rest in a Manila cemetery on Saturday beside his parents, two of the Southeast Asian country's democracy icons.

Philippine former president Benigno Aquino was laid to rest in a Manila cemetery on Saturday beside his parents, two of the Southeast Asian country's democracy icons. Hundreds of mourners in black and white, some also wearing yellow - the colour associated with the Aquino family and a 1986 revolution that toppled a dictator - ribbons and face masks, attended a funeral mass and burial ceremony. Aquino, president from 2010 to 2016, died at age 61 in a Manila hospital on Thursday of kidney failure as a result of diabetes. "To the man we were so blessed to have as our brother, we will forever be proud of you, thank you, long for you and love you," Maria Elena Aquino-Cruz, an older sister of Aquino, said at the funeral mass. Aquino's remains were cremated on Thursday. Thousands queued for the public viewing in a church in his alma mater on Friday. Filipinos lined up along roads to pay respect during the one-hour convoy of dozens of vehicles from his alma mater, Ateneo de Manila University, to the cemetery south of the capital. The military gave a 21-gun salute and a helicopter rained down yellow flowers. At the Aquino residence at the heart of the capital, supporters left chrysanthemums, yellow bell and sunflower for the late leader. Among those paying respects to Aquino was vice president and political ally Leni Robredo, and close friends. Most supporters were blocked at the entrance of the cemetery to prevent mass gathering and the spread of COVID-19. "I pray for another family with the attitude like Noy and his parents that will fight for truth, justice, loyalty, love for God and country," Thelma Chua, 64, wearing a yellow shirt at the funeral, told Reuters. Known popularly as Noynoy, Aquino rode a wave of public support to the presidency after the 2009 death of his mother, the revered 'People Power' leader Corazon Aquino, who was president from 1986 to 1992. His namesake father, a staunch critic of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was assassinated when he returned from political exile in 1983, planting the seeds for the 1986 People Power revolution that booted the strongman from office. As president, the younger Aquino led the Philippines in shedding its perennial 'sick man of Asia' image through better governance and robust economic growth. He challenged Beijing's sweeping claims of the South China Sea before the arbitration court in The Hague in 2013. Aquino, who led a private life after stepping down, is survived by four sisters. The best tribute for the late president is "to bring back, recover, preserve, safeguard and never again to compromise our dignity as a people and the decency of our leaders as servants, not bosses," Archbishop Socrates Villegas, former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, said in his homily. President Rodrigo Duterte, criticised by the Catholic church and rights group for crassness and his bloody war on drugs but hugely popular as a man of the people, did not attend the funeral.

Filipinos bid farewell to former president Benigno Aquino

Chinese regulators said on Saturday Tesla Inc would 'recall' nearly 300,000 China-made and imported Model 3 and Model Y cars for an online software update related to assisted driving, with owners not required to return their vehicles. 
 
The State Administration for Market Regulation said on its website that the move is linked to an assisted driving function in the electric cars, which can currently be activated by drivers accidentally, causing sudden acceleration. 
 
The remote online software 'recall', a first for Tesla cars built in China, covers 249,855 China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars, and 35,665 imported Model 3 sedans. 
 
Tesla, now making Model 3 sedans and Model Y sport-utility vehicles in Shanghai, sold 33,463 China-made electric cars in May, according to industry data.

Chinese regulators said on Saturday Tesla Inc would 'recall' nearly 300,000 China-made and imported Model 3 and Model Y cars for an online software update related to assisted driving, with owners not required to return their vehicles.

Chinese regulators said on Saturday Tesla Inc would 'recall' nearly 300,000 China-made and imported Model 3 and Model Y cars for an online software update related to assisted driving, with owners not required to return their vehicles. The State Administration for Market Regulation said on its website that the move is linked to an assisted driving function in the electric cars, which can currently be activated by drivers accidentally, causing sudden acceleration. The remote online software 'recall', a first for Tesla cars built in China, covers 249,855 China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars, and 35,665 imported Model 3 sedans. Tesla, now making Model 3 sedans and Model Y sport-utility vehicles in Shanghai, sold 33,463 China-made electric cars in May, according to industry data.

Tesla 'recalls' vehicles in China for online software update

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected calls on Friday to fire his health secretary, after pictures appeared of him embracing and kissing an aide in his office, in what he acknowledged was a breach of coronavirus rules. 
 
The Sun newspaper, which published the photographs of Matt Hancock and the aide on its front page, said the images were taken last month, before the government lifted rules banning intimate contact with people outside a person's household. 
 
The aide had been a friend of Hancock's before she was appointed to his staff. Hancock is married. 
 
"I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances," Hancock said. "I have let people down and am very sorry. I remain focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic, and would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter." 
 
Hancock, 42, has been at the centre of the government's fight against the pandemic, often appearing on television to tell the public to follow strict rules and to defend his department against criticism of its response to the crisis. 
 
A spokesperson for Johnson said the prime minister had accepted Hancock's apology, had full confidence in him, and 'considers the matter closed'. 
 
The opposition Labour Party called on Johnson to fire Hancock and demanded an investigation into whether he breached the code governing the behaviour of ministers. 
 
"This matter is definitely not closed, despite the government's attempts to cover it up," a Labour spokesperson said. "Matt Hancock appears to have been caught breaking the laws he created, while having a secret relationship with an aide he appointed to a taxpayer-funded job."

(With inputs from agencies)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected calls on Friday to fire his health secretary, after pictures appeared of him embracing and kissing an aide in his office, in what he acknowledged was a breach of coronavirus rules.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rejected calls on Friday to fire his health secretary, after pictures appeared of him embracing and kissing an aide in his office, in what he acknowledged was a breach of coronavirus rules. The Sun newspaper, which published the photographs of Matt Hancock and the aide on its front page, said the images were taken last month, before the government lifted rules banning intimate contact with people outside a person's household. The aide had been a friend of Hancock's before she was appointed to his staff. Hancock is married. "I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances," Hancock said. "I have let people down and am very sorry. I remain focused on working to get the country out of this pandemic, and would be grateful for privacy for my family on this personal matter." Hancock, 42, has been at the centre of the government's fight against the pandemic, often appearing on television to tell the public to follow strict rules and to defend his department against criticism of its response to the crisis. A spokesperson for Johnson said the prime minister had accepted Hancock's apology, had full confidence in him, and 'considers the matter closed'. The opposition Labour Party called on Johnson to fire Hancock and demanded an investigation into whether he breached the code governing the behaviour of ministers. "This matter is definitely not closed, despite the government's attempts to cover it up," a Labour spokesperson said. "Matt Hancock appears to have been caught breaking the laws he created, while having a secret relationship with an aide he appointed to a taxpayer-funded job." (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM Johnson stands by health secretary, who broke COVID-19 rules by kissing aide

Rich countries are opening up societies and vaccinating young people, who are not at great risk from COVID-19, while the poorest countries cruelly lack doses, the World Health Organization said on Friday, condemning a global failure. 
 
The situation in Africa, where new infections and deaths jumped by nearly 40% last week compared to the previous week, is 'so dangerous' as the Delta variant spreads globally, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. 
 
"Our world is failing, as the global community, we are failing," he told a news conference. 
 
Tedros, who is Ethiopian, chastised unnamed countries for reluctance to share doses with low-income countries. He compared it to the HIV/AIDS crisis, when some argued that African nations were unable to use complicated treatments. 
 
"I mean that attitude has to be a thing of the past," Tedros said. "The problem now is a supply problem, just give us the vaccines." 
 
"The difference is between the haves and the have nots,&nbsp;which is now completely exposing the unfairness of our world - the injustice, the inequality, let's face it," he said. 
 
Many developing countries are much better than industrialised countries in carrying out mass vaccination of their populations against infectious diseases from cholera to polio, WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan said. 
 
"The level of paternalism, the level of colonial mindset that say 'we can't give you something because we're afraid you won't use it'. I mean seriously, in the middle of a pandemic?" 
 
COVAX, run jointly by the GAVI vaccine alliance and the WHO, has delivered 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 132 countries since February, but has faced major supply issues since India suspended vaccine exports. 
 
"We have through COVAX this month zero doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, zero doses of SII vaccines (Serum Institute of India), zero doses of J &amp; J (Johnson &amp; Johnson) vaccine," said Bruce Aylward, WHO senior adviser. 
 
"The situation right now is dire." 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Rich countries are opening up societies and vaccinating young people, who are not at great risk from COVID-19, while the poorest countries cruelly lack doses, the World Health Organization said on Friday, condemning a global failure.

Rich countries are opening up societies and vaccinating young people, who are not at great risk from COVID-19, while the poorest countries cruelly lack doses, the World Health Organization said on Friday, condemning a global failure. The situation in Africa, where new infections and deaths jumped by nearly 40% last week compared to the previous week, is 'so dangerous' as the Delta variant spreads globally, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. "Our world is failing, as the global community, we are failing," he told a news conference. Tedros, who is Ethiopian, chastised unnamed countries for reluctance to share doses with low-income countries. He compared it to the HIV/AIDS crisis, when some argued that African nations were unable to use complicated treatments. "I mean that attitude has to be a thing of the past," Tedros said. "The problem now is a supply problem, just give us the vaccines." "The difference is between the haves and the have nots, which is now completely exposing the unfairness of our world - the injustice, the inequality, let's face it," he said. Many developing countries are much better than industrialised countries in carrying out mass vaccination of their populations against infectious diseases from cholera to polio, WHO's top emergency expert Mike Ryan said. "The level of paternalism, the level of colonial mindset that say 'we can't give you something because we're afraid you won't use it'. I mean seriously, in the middle of a pandemic?" COVAX, run jointly by the GAVI vaccine alliance and the WHO, has delivered 90 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to 132 countries since February, but has faced major supply issues since India suspended vaccine exports. "We have through COVAX this month zero doses of AstraZeneca vaccines, zero doses of SII vaccines (Serum Institute of India), zero doses of J & J (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine," said Bruce Aylward, WHO senior adviser. "The situation right now is dire." (With inputs from agencies)

Just give us the vaccines, WHO pleads, as poor countries go wanting

A group of state attorneys general may file a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc's Google as early as next week, accusing the search and advertising giant of violating antitrust law in running its mobile app store, a report said citing sources familiar with the matter.

The anticipated lawsuit follows complaints from app developers about Google's management of its Play Store for Android devices, according to a source. The lawsuit has been in the works since last year and has already been delayed, but seems close again, the sources said as per Reuters report. 
 
The investigation by the state attorneys general is being led by Utah, Tennessee, North Carolina and New York. It is unclear how many states will participate. 
 
Two sources said the case is likely to be filed in federal court in Northern California, where related cases are being heard. These include a lawsuit that video game maker Epic Games Inc filed against Google last year, accusing it of having anticompetitive app store rules. It is expected to go to trial in 2022. 
 
There also are two proposed class-action lawsuits over the Play store before the same judge. If the states want to participate in depositions and other pre-trial activities, they would have to file fairly soon, one source said. 
 
Apple Inc and Epic are awaiting the verdict in a similar California lawsuit after a trial that ended last month. 
 
A Google spokesperson defended their app store as open. 
 
"Android is the only major operating system that allows people to download apps from multiple app stores. In fact, most Android devices ship with two or more app stores preinstalled. They can also install additional app stores or apps directly from their browser if they choose," the spokesperson said. 
 
Google was originally seen as more open in how it ran its app store than Apple but has tightened rules recently and increased enforcement of those rules. 
 
The lawsuit is expected to focus on Google's requirement that some apps use the company's payment tools to sell subscriptions and content and pay Google as much as 30% of sales, according to two sources. 
 
App makers like music streaming service Spotify Technology SA and dating services giant Match Group, which owns the Tinder app, have long accused both Google, as well as Apple, of being anti-competitive in demanding mandatory revenue sharing. 
 
This latest lawsuit is being planned at a time of unusually vigorous debate over whether federal antitrust enforcement is too lax. Many people, including Senator Amy Klobuchar who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel, have pressed for tougher enforcement. 
 
Google already faces a federal lawsuit brought by the Justice Department last year and related antitrust cases brought by two separate groups of attorneys general. One is led by Texas and focused on advertising while the other targets Google's alleged efforts to extend its dominance in search to newer markets, like voice assistants. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

A group of state attorneys general may file a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc's Google as early as next week, accusing the search and advertising giant of violating antitrust law in running its mobile app store, a report said citing sources familiar with the matter.

A group of state attorneys general may file a lawsuit against Alphabet Inc's Google as early as next week, accusing the search and advertising giant of violating antitrust law in running its mobile app store, a report said citing sources familiar with the matter. The anticipated lawsuit follows complaints from app developers about Google's management of its Play Store for Android devices, according to a source. The lawsuit has been in the works since last year and has already been delayed, but seems close again, the sources said as per Reuters report. The investigation by the state attorneys general is being led by Utah, Tennessee, North Carolina and New York. It is unclear how many states will participate. Two sources said the case is likely to be filed in federal court in Northern California, where related cases are being heard. These include a lawsuit that video game maker Epic Games Inc filed against Google last year, accusing it of having anticompetitive app store rules. It is expected to go to trial in 2022. There also are two proposed class-action lawsuits over the Play store before the same judge. If the states want to participate in depositions and other pre-trial activities, they would have to file fairly soon, one source said. Apple Inc and Epic are awaiting the verdict in a similar California lawsuit after a trial that ended last month. A Google spokesperson defended their app store as open. "Android is the only major operating system that allows people to download apps from multiple app stores. In fact, most Android devices ship with two or more app stores preinstalled. They can also install additional app stores or apps directly from their browser if they choose," the spokesperson said. Google was originally seen as more open in how it ran its app store than Apple but has tightened rules recently and increased enforcement of those rules. The lawsuit is expected to focus on Google's requirement that some apps use the company's payment tools to sell subscriptions and content and pay Google as much as 30% of sales, according to two sources. App makers like music streaming service Spotify Technology SA and dating services giant Match Group, which owns the Tinder app, have long accused both Google, as well as Apple, of being anti-competitive in demanding mandatory revenue sharing. This latest lawsuit is being planned at a time of unusually vigorous debate over whether federal antitrust enforcement is too lax. Many people, including Senator Amy Klobuchar who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel, have pressed for tougher enforcement. Google already faces a federal lawsuit brought by the Justice Department last year and related antitrust cases brought by two separate groups of attorneys general. One is led by Texas and focused on advertising while the other targets Google's alleged efforts to extend its dominance in search to newer markets, like voice assistants. (With inputs from agencies)

Google likely to soon face antitrust claims over Play store from US states: Report

Britain's GCHQ spy agency has installed a giant multicoloured artwork to celebrate codebreaker and&nbsp;mathematician Alan Turing, who helped turn the tide of World War Two against Nazi Germany but was persecuted for being gay. 
 
The 10-metre&nbsp;by 10-metre artwork in the centre of the agency's doughnut-shaped headquarters depicts Turing inside the wheels of the 'bombe' codebreaker machine that he designed. 
 
Considered the father of modern computing, Turing led a team that cracked the Nazis' naval Enigma code for British spies, a breakthrough dramatised in the 2014 thriller 'The Imitation Game'. 
 
But he pleaded guilty to gross indecency in 1952 after a sexual relationship with another man and, forced to have hormonal injections, killed himself two years later aged 41 by eating an apple laced with cyanide. 
 
Unveiled on his birthday as a new 50-pound note featuring Turing entered circulation, the work at GCHQ in the western English city of Cheltenham was created by 3D artist Joe Hill and features 15 hidden codes. 
 
It also carries a famous Turing quote: "Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine." 
 
Years after his death, Turing has become a symbol of the prejudice suffered by gay people during his lifetime. 
 
"He was embraced for his brilliance but persecuted for being gay," GCHQ Director Jeremy Fleming said. 
 
Turing joined the Government Code &amp; Cypher School, a precursor to GCHQ, in 1939 to help break German codes. With Polish help, he broke Naval Enigma. He left GCHQ in 1945. 
 
GCHQ is Britain's biggest spy agency. Its job is to eavesdrop on the world to protect British security, though it also disrupts communications. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Britain's GCHQ spy agency has installed a giant multicoloured artwork to celebrate codebreaker and mathematician Alan Turing, who helped turn the tide of World War Two against Nazi Germany but was persecuted for being gay.

Britain's GCHQ spy agency has installed a giant multicoloured artwork to celebrate codebreaker and mathematician Alan Turing, who helped turn the tide of World War Two against Nazi Germany but was persecuted for being gay. The 10-metre by 10-metre artwork in the centre of the agency's doughnut-shaped headquarters depicts Turing inside the wheels of the 'bombe' codebreaker machine that he designed. Considered the father of modern computing, Turing led a team that cracked the Nazis' naval Enigma code for British spies, a breakthrough dramatised in the 2014 thriller 'The Imitation Game'. But he pleaded guilty to gross indecency in 1952 after a sexual relationship with another man and, forced to have hormonal injections, killed himself two years later aged 41 by eating an apple laced with cyanide. Unveiled on his birthday as a new 50-pound note featuring Turing entered circulation, the work at GCHQ in the western English city of Cheltenham was created by 3D artist Joe Hill and features 15 hidden codes. It also carries a famous Turing quote: "Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine." Years after his death, Turing has become a symbol of the prejudice suffered by gay people during his lifetime. "He was embraced for his brilliance but persecuted for being gay," GCHQ Director Jeremy Fleming said. Turing joined the Government Code & Cypher School, a precursor to GCHQ, in 1939 to help break German codes. With Polish help, he broke Naval Enigma. He left GCHQ in 1945. GCHQ is Britain's biggest spy agency. Its job is to eavesdrop on the world to protect British security, though it also disrupts communications. (With inputs from agencies)

Britain's spy agency honours codebreaker Turing in giant artwork

Sudan has formally asked the United Nations Security Council to meet and discuss a dispute over a giant dam being built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, a government statement said. 
 
Ethiopia is pinning its hopes of economic development and power generation on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), while the two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, are concerned about it and seeking a binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam. 
 
Egypt relies on the Nile River for as much as 90% of its fresh water and sees the dam as an existential threat. Sudan is concerned about the operation of its own Nile dams and water stations. 
 
Sudan's Foreign Minister Mariam Sadiq al-Mahdi called on the Security Council to hold a session as soon as possible to discuss GERD and 'its impact on the safety and security of millions of people', the government statement said on Tuesday. 
 
In a letter to the council head, she called on him to urge Ethiopia to stop the 'unilateral' filling of the dam 'which exacerbates the dispute and poses a threat to regional and international peace and security', the statement added. 
 
Ethiopian officials did not immediately return messages seeking comment. 
 
Sudan and Egypt had already agreed this month to work together on all levels to push Ethiopia to negotiate 'seriously' on an agreement, after African Union-sponsored talks remained deadlocked. The two countries called on the international community to intervene. 
 
Earlier this month, Arab states called on the Security Council to discuss the dispute and Ethiopia's plans to go ahead with the second filling of the dam this summer even without an agreement with Sudan and Egypt. 
 
Ethiopia rejected the Arab League resolution in its entirety, its Foreign Ministry said. 
 
Arab League envoy to the UN, Maged Abdel Fattah, said on Tuesday evening that Sudan and Egypt are working on a draft resolution to the Security Council on GERD if Ethiopia doesn't reach a deal. 
 
Arab states will lobby for the draft resolution to be approved, he told the Egyptian private TV channel Sada Elbalad, adding that he doesn't expect world powers to block it. 
 
Ethiopia previously rejected calls from Egypt and Sudan to involve mediators outside the African Union. 
 
Sudan said earlier in June that it was open to a partial interim agreement on the multibillion-dollar dam, with specific conditions. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Sudan has formally asked the United Nations Security Council to meet and discuss a dispute over a giant dam being built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, a government statement said.

Sudan has formally asked the United Nations Security Council to meet and discuss a dispute over a giant dam being built by Ethiopia on the Blue Nile, a government statement said. Ethiopia is pinning its hopes of economic development and power generation on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), while the two downstream countries, Egypt and Sudan, are concerned about it and seeking a binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam. Egypt relies on the Nile River for as much as 90% of its fresh water and sees the dam as an existential threat. Sudan is concerned about the operation of its own Nile dams and water stations. Sudan's Foreign Minister Mariam Sadiq al-Mahdi called on the Security Council to hold a session as soon as possible to discuss GERD and 'its impact on the safety and security of millions of people', the government statement said on Tuesday. In a letter to the council head, she called on him to urge Ethiopia to stop the 'unilateral' filling of the dam 'which exacerbates the dispute and poses a threat to regional and international peace and security', the statement added. Ethiopian officials did not immediately return messages seeking comment. Sudan and Egypt had already agreed this month to work together on all levels to push Ethiopia to negotiate 'seriously' on an agreement, after African Union-sponsored talks remained deadlocked. The two countries called on the international community to intervene. Earlier this month, Arab states called on the Security Council to discuss the dispute and Ethiopia's plans to go ahead with the second filling of the dam this summer even without an agreement with Sudan and Egypt. Ethiopia rejected the Arab League resolution in its entirety, its Foreign Ministry said. Arab League envoy to the UN, Maged Abdel Fattah, said on Tuesday evening that Sudan and Egypt are working on a draft resolution to the Security Council on GERD if Ethiopia doesn't reach a deal. Arab states will lobby for the draft resolution to be approved, he told the Egyptian private TV channel Sada Elbalad, adding that he doesn't expect world powers to block it. Ethiopia previously rejected calls from Egypt and Sudan to involve mediators outside the African Union. Sudan said earlier in June that it was open to a partial interim agreement on the multibillion-dollar dam, with specific conditions. (With inputs from agencies)

Sudan asks UN Security Council to meet over Ethiopia's controversial Blue Nile dam

SoftBank Group Corp CEO Masayoshi Son said on Wednesday share buybacks remain an option, amid a slide in the conglomerate's shares. 
 
"Buybacks are always on my mind as an important option but when and how big requires balanced thinking," Son said at SoftBank's annual shareholders' meeting, adding that the group also needs to consider alternative uses of its capital. 
 
Shares in SoftBank, which completed a record 2.5 trillion yen ($22.6 billion) buyback programme in May, have slid amid weakness in tech stocks. That has helped widen its conglomerate discount, the gap between the value of its assets and share price, to about 50%. 
 
"I believe our potential is much bigger than the discounted share price," said Son, calling on shareholders to take a long-term view on the company.

SoftBank Group Corp CEO Masayoshi Son said on Wednesday share buybacks remain an option, amid a slide in the conglomerate's shares. "Buybacks are always on my mind as an important option but when and how big requires balanced thinking," Son said at SoftBank's annual shareholders' meeting, adding that the group also needs to consider alternative uses of its capital.

SoftBank Group Corp CEO Masayoshi Son said on Wednesday share buybacks remain an option, amid a slide in the conglomerate's shares. "Buybacks are always on my mind as an important option but when and how big requires balanced thinking," Son said at SoftBank's annual shareholders' meeting, adding that the group also needs to consider alternative uses of its capital. Shares in SoftBank, which completed a record 2.5 trillion yen ($22.6 billion) buyback programme in May, have slid amid weakness in tech stocks. That has helped widen its conglomerate discount, the gap between the value of its assets and share price, to about 50%. "I believe our potential is much bigger than the discounted share price," said Son, calling on shareholders to take a long-term view on the company.

Share buybacks remain an option for SoftBank, says CEO Son

The first person charged under the national security law in Hong Kong pleaded not guilty as his trial began on Wednesday, almost a year after he was accused of driving his motorbike into officers at a rally while carrying a flag with a protest slogan. 
 
The case of Tong Ying-kit is seen as a departure from Hong Kong's common law traditions, as he was denied bail and a jury, and a test of the government's claim that the slogan 'Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our times' is secessionist. 
 
Tong, 24, was arrested on July 1, 2020, hours after the enactment of the national security law, which punishes what China deems as subversion, secessionism, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. 
 
Tong faces charges of terrorism and inciting secession, as well as an alternative charge of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, which can lead to up to seven years in prison. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. 
 
Tong has been denied bail. Hong Kong's common law has traditionally allowed defendants to seek release unless prosecutors can show lawful grounds for their detention. Under the new law, the burden is now placed on the defendant to prove they will not break the law if released on bail. 
 
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision to deny Tong a trial by jury, citing a threat to the personal safety of jurors and their family members. 
 
His trial will be held by a panel of three judges instead: Esther Toh, Anthea Pang and Wilson Chan. 
 
Hong Kong's Judiciary describes trial by jury as one of the most important features of the city's legal system, a common law tradition designed to offer defendants additional protection against the possibility of authorities overreaching their power. 
 
Article 46 of the security law, drafted by Beijing, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party and conviction rates are close to 100%, states three instances in which juries can be scrapped: protecting state secrets, cases involving foreign forces and protecting jurors' safety. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The first person charged under the national security law in Hong Kong pleaded not guilty as his trial began on Wednesday, almost a year after he was accused of driving his motorbike into officers at a rally while carrying a flag with a protest slogan.

The first person charged under the national security law in Hong Kong pleaded not guilty as his trial began on Wednesday, almost a year after he was accused of driving his motorbike into officers at a rally while carrying a flag with a protest slogan. The case of Tong Ying-kit is seen as a departure from Hong Kong's common law traditions, as he was denied bail and a jury, and a test of the government's claim that the slogan 'Liberate Hong Kong! Revolution of our times' is secessionist. Tong, 24, was arrested on July 1, 2020, hours after the enactment of the national security law, which punishes what China deems as subversion, secessionism, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. Tong faces charges of terrorism and inciting secession, as well as an alternative charge of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, which can lead to up to seven years in prison. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Tong has been denied bail. Hong Kong's common law has traditionally allowed defendants to seek release unless prosecutors can show lawful grounds for their detention. Under the new law, the burden is now placed on the defendant to prove they will not break the law if released on bail. On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision to deny Tong a trial by jury, citing a threat to the personal safety of jurors and their family members. His trial will be held by a panel of three judges instead: Esther Toh, Anthea Pang and Wilson Chan. Hong Kong's Judiciary describes trial by jury as one of the most important features of the city's legal system, a common law tradition designed to offer defendants additional protection against the possibility of authorities overreaching their power. Article 46 of the security law, drafted by Beijing, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party and conviction rates are close to 100%, states three instances in which juries can be scrapped: protecting state secrets, cases involving foreign forces and protecting jurors' safety. (With inputs from agencies)

First person charged under Hong Kong's national security law pleads not guilty

Canada's Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that will open the way to legalise betting on single games or sporting events, which is currently illegal except for on horse racing. 
 
The vote sent gambling shares higher as it is seen helping them win back customers from offshore websites and US&nbsp;casinos. 
 
After the bill receives royal ascent from the chief justice of the Supreme Court in coming days, it will be up to each of Canada's provinces and territories to decide how to implement legal betting on sports events. 
 
Some provinces have said they would move quickly to get the rules in place. Previously, parlays or combinations of two or more bets into a single wager were the only legal way to bet on sports in Canada.

Canada's Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that will open the way to legalise betting on single games or sporting events, which is currently illegal except for on horse racing.

Canada's Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that will open the way to legalise betting on single games or sporting events, which is currently illegal except for on horse racing. The vote sent gambling shares higher as it is seen helping them win back customers from offshore websites and US casinos. After the bill receives royal ascent from the chief justice of the Supreme Court in coming days, it will be up to each of Canada's provinces and territories to decide how to implement legal betting on sports events. Some provinces have said they would move quickly to get the rules in place. Previously, parlays or combinations of two or more bets into a single wager were the only legal way to bet on sports in Canada.

Canada's Senate vote opens way for single event betting

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Zee News Rajasthan

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Gandharv Walia

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