Walmart Inc&nbsp;said on Monday there has been no change in its policy on gun sales after two mass shootings over the weekend, including one at a Walmart store, left 31 people dead in Texas and Ohio.

Years of public pressure led Walmart, the largest US arms retailer, to end assault rifle sales in 2015 and in 2018 to raise the minimum age for gun purchases to 21. Some gun control activists and Walmart customers now want the retailer to&nbsp;drop sales of guns and ammunition altogether.

The weekend shooting in Texas unfolded at a popular Walmart store in the border city of El Paso, killing 22 people. In the other weekend mass shooting, in Dayton, Ohio, a gunman killed nine people.

Many people took to social media to post about the deadly shooting using the hashtags #walmartshooting," "#boycottwalmart," and "#guncontrolnow."

Guns Down America, an advocacy group that runs campaigns for gun control, began a petition to urge more change at Walmart late on Monday.

The petition calls on Walmart to stop selling firearms, pledge it will no longer make contributions to lawmakers who take money from gun rights lobby the National Rifle Association, and fund gun buybacks. It also pushes Walmart to use its political influence to advocate for legislative changes to raise the standards for gun ownership in America.&nbsp;

"Federal legislative change will take time, but more and more Americans are dying every day," Igor Volsky, founder and executive director of Guns Down America, told Reuters. "The El Paso shooting happened in their store, they have a responsibility to go further."

It is not the first time that gun-control advocates have signed a petition calling on Walmart to take action. In early 2013, just one month after a gunman in Newtown, Connecticut, shot dead 20 first-graders and six adults at an elementary school, nearly 300,000 people signed a petition urging Walmart to stop selling assault weapons.

It was another two years before Walmart ended such sales.

"A REASON TO BOYCOTT WALMART"

Other gun control activists such as Texas Gun Sense President Ed Scruggs said Walmart, whose stores act as de facto community centres in rural America, could do more to educate children and teenagers on gun safety.

A group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America said it has been asking Walmart to stop letting shoppers walk into its stores with guns - even where doing so is permitted by law. Target and Starbucks have policies asking shoppers not to carry firearms in their stores.&nbsp;

On Twitter, one Florida-based user said Walmart needs more security. Another user, from Irvine, California, said Walmart`s statement outlining that it would not change its gun policies in the wake of the two shootings over the weekend was "shocking."

"If this isn`t a reason to boycott Walmart, I don`t know what is!" the user tweeted.

Some celebrities also demanded more action from the retailer.

"Hey @Walmart! This would be a great opportunity for you to take a true leadership position and stop selling guns," actress Alyssa Milano said in response to a Walmart company tweet saying it was "in shock" over the tragic events in Texas.&nbsp;

For now, Walmart`s policies remain unchanged.

A Walmart spokesman on Monday told Reuters the retailer has not made any change in its firearms sales policy after the mass shootings and that it has not issued a directive to any stores around the country to change policy.

"Our focus has always been on being a responsible seller of firearms," spokesman Randy Hargrove said. "We go beyond federal law, requiring all customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm."&nbsp;

The retailer`s chief executive, Doug McMillon, offered his support to the community of El Paso and reached out to employees via Instagram on Sunday. "I can`t believe I`m sending a note like this twice in one week," he said, referring to an earlier message he sent after two employees were shot by a co-worker in a store in Mississippi.

Walmart`s gun safety policies are more restrictive than many retailers` even as it trails some of its rivals.

Walmart rivals like Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stopped selling guns and ammunition in 2018 and the same year, Dick`s Sporting Goods ended the sale of assault weapons and raised the minimum age to 21 for gun purchases.&nbsp;

In March 2019, Dick`s also said it would pull guns and ammunition off the shelves of 125 of its 720 store, a decision the company said it took because its gun sales were down due to competition from dedicated gun and hunting stores.

That same month, in a call to discuss earnings, the company`s chief executive, Ed Stack, said lower sales during the quarter were partly driven by lower demand for "anything associated with hunting,"&nbsp; 
including guns, ammunition, firearm accessories and hunting apparel. 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Despite such measures from the larger chains, the sale of guns and assault-style weapons continues unabated.

Outdoor goods chains including Bass Pro Shops, Gander Outdoors and Academy Sports continue to sell assault-style rifles. A proliferation of online retailers like AIM Surplus, Armslist and Brownells also sell firearms that can be easily procured.&nbsp;

Armslist called the shootings "horrific" and said in a statement it is a service that does not directly sell guns, but carries ads and listing for private sales. The other companies did not respond to a request for comment.

Walmart Inc said on Monday there has been no change in its policy on gun sales after two mass shootings over the weekend, including one at a Walmart store, left 31 people dead in Texas and Ohio.

Walmart Inc said on Monday there has been no change in its policy on gun sales after two mass shootings over the weekend, including one at a Walmart store, left 31 people dead in Texas and Ohio. Years of public pressure led Walmart, the largest US arms retailer, to end assault rifle sales in 2015 and in 2018 to raise the minimum age for gun purchases to 21. Some gun control activists and Walmart customers now want the retailer to drop sales of guns and ammunition altogether. The weekend shooting in Texas unfolded at a popular Walmart store in the border city of El Paso, killing 22 people. In the other weekend mass shooting, in Dayton, Ohio, a gunman killed nine people. Many people took to social media to post about the deadly shooting using the hashtags #walmartshooting," "#boycottwalmart," and "#guncontrolnow." Guns Down America, an advocacy group that runs campaigns for gun control, began a petition to urge more change at Walmart late on Monday. The petition calls on Walmart to stop selling firearms, pledge it will no longer make contributions to lawmakers who take money from gun rights lobby the National Rifle Association, and fund gun buybacks. It also pushes Walmart to use its political influence to advocate for legislative changes to raise the standards for gun ownership in America. "Federal legislative change will take time, but more and more Americans are dying every day," Igor Volsky, founder and executive director of Guns Down America, told Reuters. "The El Paso shooting happened in their store, they have a responsibility to go further." It is not the first time that gun-control advocates have signed a petition calling on Walmart to take action. In early 2013, just one month after a gunman in Newtown, Connecticut, shot dead 20 first-graders and six adults at an elementary school, nearly 300,000 people signed a petition urging Walmart to stop selling assault weapons. It was another two years before Walmart ended such sales. "A REASON TO BOYCOTT WALMART" Other gun control activists such as Texas Gun Sense President Ed Scruggs said Walmart, whose stores act as de facto community centres in rural America, could do more to educate children and teenagers on gun safety. A group called Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America said it has been asking Walmart to stop letting shoppers walk into its stores with guns - even where doing so is permitted by law. Target and Starbucks have policies asking shoppers not to carry firearms in their stores. On Twitter, one Florida-based user said Walmart needs more security. Another user, from Irvine, California, said Walmart`s statement outlining that it would not change its gun policies in the wake of the two shootings over the weekend was "shocking." "If this isn`t a reason to boycott Walmart, I don`t know what is!" the user tweeted. Some celebrities also demanded more action from the retailer. "Hey @Walmart! This would be a great opportunity for you to take a true leadership position and stop selling guns," actress Alyssa Milano said in response to a Walmart company tweet saying it was "in shock" over the tragic events in Texas. For now, Walmart`s policies remain unchanged. A Walmart spokesman on Monday told Reuters the retailer has not made any change in its firearms sales policy after the mass shootings and that it has not issued a directive to any stores around the country to change policy. "Our focus has always been on being a responsible seller of firearms," spokesman Randy Hargrove said. "We go beyond federal law, requiring all customers to pass a background check before purchasing any firearm." The retailer`s chief executive, Doug McMillon, offered his support to the community of El Paso and reached out to employees via Instagram on Sunday. "I can`t believe I`m sending a note like this twice in one week," he said, referring to an earlier message he sent after two employees were shot by a co-worker in a store in Mississippi. Walmart`s gun safety policies are more restrictive than many retailers` even as it trails some of its rivals. Walmart rivals like Kroger-owned Fred Meyer stopped selling guns and ammunition in 2018 and the same year, Dick`s Sporting Goods ended the sale of assault weapons and raised the minimum age to 21 for gun purchases. In March 2019, Dick`s also said it would pull guns and ammunition off the shelves of 125 of its 720 store, a decision the company said it took because its gun sales were down due to competition from dedicated gun and hunting stores. That same month, in a call to discuss earnings, the company`s chief executive, Ed Stack, said lower sales during the quarter were partly driven by lower demand for "anything associated with hunting," including guns, ammunition, firearm accessories and hunting apparel. Despite such measures from the larger chains, the sale of guns and assault-style weapons continues unabated. Outdoor goods chains including Bass Pro Shops, Gander Outdoors and Academy Sports continue to sell assault-style rifles. A proliferation of online retailers like AIM Surplus, Armslist and Brownells also sell firearms that can be easily procured. Armslist called the shootings "horrific" and said in a statement it is a service that does not directly sell guns, but carries ads and listing for private sales. The other companies did not respond to a request for comment.

Walmart faces pressure to stop gun sales after latest US mass shootings

The mayor of Hiroshima urged Japan to sign a landmark UN treaty banning nuclear weapons as the city Tuesday marked 74 years since being targeted in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hiroshima-marks-73rd-anniversary-of-atomic-bombing-in-wwii-157247">world's first atomic attack</a>.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led commemorations at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima as residents offered silent prayers, lit candles and placed wreathes to remember those killed in the August 6, 1945 bombing.

And mayor Kazumi Matsui used the occasion to push the Abe administration to sign the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW), approved by more than 120 nations, but rejected by the US and other nuclear armed countries.

"I call on the government of the only country to experience a nuclear weapon in war to accede to the hibakusha's (atomic bomb victims) request that the TPNW be signed and ratified," said Matsui.

"I urge Japan's leaders to manifest the pacifism of the Japanese constitution by displaying leadership in taking the next step towards a world free from nuclear weapons."

The mayor urged world leaders to come to the city to see the memorial for themselves, amid expectations that Pope Francis will visit later this year.

The ongoing threat from atomic weapons in the region was demonstrated as nuclear-armed North Korea fired off two "unidentified projectiles" off its eastern coast -- the latest in a series of tests.

Meanwhile, the US and Russia failed to renew a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-formally-withdraws-from-1987-nuclear-pact-with-russia-mike-pompeo-240169"> Cold War-era nuclear pact </a>last week, triggering renewed fears of an arms race.

Japan remains the only country to have experienced atomic attack -- against Hiroshima and Nagasaki, days ahead of the country's surrender on August 15, 1945 to end World War II.

For his part, Abe reiterated a pledge to serve as a "bridge" between nations with and without nuclear weapons to rid the world of them.

"With help from both sides, I will patiently encourage them to engage in dialogue and I am resolved to lead international efforts towards this end," he said.&nbsp;

The mayor of Hiroshima urged Japan to sign a landmark UN treaty banning nuclear weapons as the city Tuesday marked 74 years since being targeted in the world's first atomic attack.

The mayor of Hiroshima urged Japan to sign a landmark UN treaty banning nuclear weapons as the city Tuesday marked 74 years since being targeted in the world's first atomic attack. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led commemorations at the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima as residents offered silent prayers, lit candles and placed wreathes to remember those killed in the August 6, 1945 bombing. And mayor Kazumi Matsui used the occasion to push the Abe administration to sign the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons (TPNW), approved by more than 120 nations, but rejected by the US and other nuclear armed countries. "I call on the government of the only country to experience a nuclear weapon in war to accede to the hibakusha's (atomic bomb victims) request that the TPNW be signed and ratified," said Matsui. "I urge Japan's leaders to manifest the pacifism of the Japanese constitution by displaying leadership in taking the next step towards a world free from nuclear weapons." The mayor urged world leaders to come to the city to see the memorial for themselves, amid expectations that Pope Francis will visit later this year. The ongoing threat from atomic weapons in the region was demonstrated as nuclear-armed North Korea fired off two "unidentified projectiles" off its eastern coast -- the latest in a series of tests. Meanwhile, the US and Russia failed to renew a Cold War-era nuclear pact last week, triggering renewed fears of an arms race. Japan remains the only country to have experienced atomic attack -- against Hiroshima and Nagasaki, days ahead of the country's surrender on August 15, 1945 to end World War II. For his part, Abe reiterated a pledge to serve as a "bridge" between nations with and without nuclear weapons to rid the world of them. "With help from both sides, I will patiently encourage them to engage in dialogue and I am resolved to lead international efforts towards this end," he said.

Mayor urges Japan to sign UN nuke ban on Hiroshima anniversary

Mexico will investigate the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gunman-kills-20-at-texas-walmart-store-in-us-mass-shooting-240504">mass shooting in El Paso</a>, Texas, that killed 22 people, including eight Mexican citizens, as an act of terrorism and may request the suspected shooter be extradited to Mexico for trial, the country`s foreign minister said on Monday.

Mexico`s involvement in the criminal process against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/el-paso-shooting-suspect-charged-with-capital-murder-police-240716">accused shooter Patrick Crusius </a>comes at a time of high tension between Mexico City and Washington over issues of immigration and trade.

Eight Mexicans were killed in Saturday`s rampage at a Walmart store in the Texas border city, and six of the wounded Mexican nationals remained hospitalized on Monday, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told reporters at the Mexican consulate in El Paso.

He said he would ask US authorities to turn the bodies over to their Mexican families as soon as possible.

Ebrard said he would meet with the Mexican attorney general on Tuesday to share results of the US investigation and build a terrorism case.&nbsp;

"We consider this an act of terrorism, in this case carried out in US territory, but an act of terrorism against Mexicans," Ebrard said at the Mexican consulate in El Paso. "It will be the first investigative case of this importance in the history of Mexico regarding terrorism in United States territory," he added.

A four-page statement believed to have been authored by the suspect and posted on 8chan, an online message board often used by extremists, called the El Paso attack "a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas."

Ebrard also said Mexico may open a case against the sale and distribution of the weapon used in the massacre. He did not elaborate or take questions from the media. El Paso police have said Crusius purchased his weapon legally.

Crusius, 21, has been charged with one Texas state count of capital murder and is being held without bail in El Paso County Jail. The magistrate judge who ordered Crusius to be held, Penny Hamilton, said he likely would face additional state charges and possibly US federal charges as well.

Mexico and the United States have periodically cooperated on high-profile criminal cases, but usually for suspected Mexican drug traffickers who are tried in US courts.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Sunday that Mexico would push to make sure that authorities would be held accountable in the case because they allowed "excesses" such as the "indiscriminate use of arms."

The government of leftist Lopez Obrador has come under pressure in recent months from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to impose tariffs if Mexico did not do more to halt record flows of migrants to the United States.

Mexico will investigate the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, that killed 22 people, including eight Mexican citizens, as an act of terrorism and may request the suspected shooter be extradited to Mexico for trial, the country`s foreign minister said on Monday.

Mexico will investigate the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, that killed 22 people, including eight Mexican citizens, as an act of terrorism and may request the suspected shooter be extradited to Mexico for trial, the country`s foreign minister said on Monday. Mexico`s involvement in the criminal process against accused shooter Patrick Crusius comes at a time of high tension between Mexico City and Washington over issues of immigration and trade. Eight Mexicans were killed in Saturday`s rampage at a Walmart store in the Texas border city, and six of the wounded Mexican nationals remained hospitalized on Monday, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told reporters at the Mexican consulate in El Paso. He said he would ask US authorities to turn the bodies over to their Mexican families as soon as possible. Ebrard said he would meet with the Mexican attorney general on Tuesday to share results of the US investigation and build a terrorism case. "We consider this an act of terrorism, in this case carried out in US territory, but an act of terrorism against Mexicans," Ebrard said at the Mexican consulate in El Paso. "It will be the first investigative case of this importance in the history of Mexico regarding terrorism in United States territory," he added. A four-page statement believed to have been authored by the suspect and posted on 8chan, an online message board often used by extremists, called the El Paso attack "a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas." Ebrard also said Mexico may open a case against the sale and distribution of the weapon used in the massacre. He did not elaborate or take questions from the media. El Paso police have said Crusius purchased his weapon legally. Crusius, 21, has been charged with one Texas state count of capital murder and is being held without bail in El Paso County Jail. The magistrate judge who ordered Crusius to be held, Penny Hamilton, said he likely would face additional state charges and possibly US federal charges as well. Mexico and the United States have periodically cooperated on high-profile criminal cases, but usually for suspected Mexican drug traffickers who are tried in US courts. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Sunday that Mexico would push to make sure that authorities would be held accountable in the case because they allowed "excesses" such as the "indiscriminate use of arms." The government of leftist Lopez Obrador has come under pressure in recent months from US President Donald Trump, who threatened to impose tariffs if Mexico did not do more to halt record flows of migrants to the United States.

Mexico to open first terrorism probe of an event on US territory

US President Donald Trump has<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-imposes-sanctions-on-people-groups-linked-to-venezuelan-food-subsidy-scam-238480"> imposed sanctions</a> on assets of the Venezuelan government, according to an executive order published on Monday.

"All property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that are in the United States ... are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in," the executive order says.

The Trump administration has been ramping up <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/maduro-says-he-repudiates-trump-statement-on-possible-venezuela-blockade-240398">pressure on Caracas</a> in a bid to oust President Nicolas Maduro from power.

The United States and most Latin American countries and Western democracies have called for Maduro to step down and have recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country`s president.

Watch: Venezuela plunges into darkness

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But China and Russia have continued to back Maduro, prompting US national security adviser John Bolton to warn the two countries on Monday against doubling down in their support for him.

US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on assets of the Venezuelan government, according to an executive order published on Monday. "All property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that are in the United States .

US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on assets of the Venezuelan government, according to an executive order published on Monday. "All property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that are in the United States ... are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in," the executive order says. The Trump administration has been ramping up pressure on Caracas in a bid to oust President Nicolas Maduro from power. The United States and most Latin American countries and Western democracies have called for Maduro to step down and have recognised Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country`s president. Watch: Venezuela plunges into darkness × But China and Russia have continued to back Maduro, prompting US national security adviser John Bolton to warn the two countries on Monday against doubling down in their support for him.

Trump imposes sanctions on Venezuelan government's assets in US

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, as Pyongyang's foreign ministry protested that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-defy-norths-warnings-start-joint-drills-240816">joint US-South Korea military drills</a> violated diplomatic agreements.

The North, criticising the US-South Korean drills and their use of high-tech weapons, has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-is-north-korea-conducting-missile-tests-239757">fired a series of missiles and rockets</a> since its leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump agreed at a June 30 meeting to revive stalled denuclearisation talks.

Trump has played down the tests by saying they<a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/north-koreas-missile-tests-not-breach-of-trust-us-president-donald-trump-217629"> did not break any agreement </a>he had with Kim but the talks have yet to resume. Analysts believe the tests are designed both to improve North Korean military capabilities and to pressure Washington to offer more concessions.

A senior Trump administration official said, "We continue to monitor the situation and are consulting closely with our South Korean and Japanese allies."

In Seoul, South Korea`s defence minister and the heads of the National Security Office and the National Intelligence Agency were meeting to discuss North Korea`s firing of short-range projectiles, said Ko Min-jung, a spokeswoman for the presidential office.

South Korea`s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the latest projectiles, the fourth set of launches since July 25, were fired from South Hwanghae province early on Tuesday.

The Yonhap news agency in South Korea said the projectiles flew 450 km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 37 km (23 miles).

The July 25 launches were the first since Trump and Kim met at the heavily armed Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas on June 30.

A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement released through state news agency KCNA that North Korea remains committed to resolving issues through dialogue.

However, Pyongyang "will be compelled to seek a new road as we have already indicated" if South Korea and the United States continue with hostile military moves, he said.&nbsp;

The arrival of new, US-made F-35A stealth fighters in South Korea, the visit of a US nuclear-powered submarine to a South Korean port, and US tests of ballistic missiles are among the steps that have forced North Korea to continue its own weapons development, the spokesman said.

"The US and South Korean authorities remain outwardly talkative about dialogue," he said. "But when they sit back, they sharpen a sword to do us harm."

North Korea has repeatedly complained that the United States and South Korea`s joint military drills violate a pledge made by Trump to Kim.

South Korean media reported that US-South Korea joint military exercises had started on Monday. A senior South Korean official said previously the drills would mainly involve computer simulations.

A JCS spokesman told a regular news briefing on Monday the allies were preparing for a joint exercise in the second half of the year but would not confirm the name of the exercise or whether it had already started.

A United Nations report said on Monday Pyongyang has "continued to enhance its nuclear and missile programmes" and used cyberattacks to take in $2 billion to fund the development.&nbsp;

The testing of short-range missiles by North Korea is covered by a 2006 United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme.&nbsp;

Short-range missiles pose no threat to US territory but do put at risk US allies Japan and South Korea and the tens of thousands of US troops stationed in both countries.

Japan's defence ministry said it did not see any imminent threat to Japanese security from the latest projectile launch by North Korea.&nbsp;

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, as Pyongyang's foreign ministry protested that joint US-South Korea military drills violated diplomatic agreements.

North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, the South Korean military said, as Pyongyang's foreign ministry protested that joint US-South Korea military drills violated diplomatic agreements. The North, criticising the US-South Korean drills and their use of high-tech weapons, has fired a series of missiles and rockets since its leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump agreed at a June 30 meeting to revive stalled denuclearisation talks. Trump has played down the tests by saying they did not break any agreement he had with Kim but the talks have yet to resume. Analysts believe the tests are designed both to improve North Korean military capabilities and to pressure Washington to offer more concessions. A senior Trump administration official said, "We continue to monitor the situation and are consulting closely with our South Korean and Japanese allies." In Seoul, South Korea`s defence minister and the heads of the National Security Office and the National Intelligence Agency were meeting to discuss North Korea`s firing of short-range projectiles, said Ko Min-jung, a spokeswoman for the presidential office. South Korea`s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the latest projectiles, the fourth set of launches since July 25, were fired from South Hwanghae province early on Tuesday. The Yonhap news agency in South Korea said the projectiles flew 450 km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 37 km (23 miles). The July 25 launches were the first since Trump and Kim met at the heavily armed Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas on June 30. A North Korean foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement released through state news agency KCNA that North Korea remains committed to resolving issues through dialogue. However, Pyongyang "will be compelled to seek a new road as we have already indicated" if South Korea and the United States continue with hostile military moves, he said. The arrival of new, US-made F-35A stealth fighters in South Korea, the visit of a US nuclear-powered submarine to a South Korean port, and US tests of ballistic missiles are among the steps that have forced North Korea to continue its own weapons development, the spokesman said. "The US and South Korean authorities remain outwardly talkative about dialogue," he said. "But when they sit back, they sharpen a sword to do us harm." North Korea has repeatedly complained that the United States and South Korea`s joint military drills violate a pledge made by Trump to Kim. South Korean media reported that US-South Korea joint military exercises had started on Monday. A senior South Korean official said previously the drills would mainly involve computer simulations. A JCS spokesman told a regular news briefing on Monday the allies were preparing for a joint exercise in the second half of the year but would not confirm the name of the exercise or whether it had already started. A United Nations report said on Monday Pyongyang has "continued to enhance its nuclear and missile programmes" and used cyberattacks to take in $2 billion to fund the development. The testing of short-range missiles by North Korea is covered by a 2006 United Nations Security Council resolution demanding that North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme. Short-range missiles pose no threat to US territory but do put at risk US allies Japan and South Korea and the tens of thousands of US troops stationed in both countries. Japan's defence ministry said it did not see any imminent threat to Japanese security from the latest projectile launch by North Korea.

North Korea fires two more projectiles, threatens to take 'new road'

US President Donald Trump will visit El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday following a mass shooting in the southern border town that killed 22 people, the local mayor said.

"President Trump called me yesterday. He was very gracious in the call... (and) offered to help in any way he could," Dee Margo told a news conference on Monday.

"He is coming out here on Wednesday."

Trump has been accused by his opponents of helping to stir up resentment against ethnic minority groups with his divisive rhetoric, and some locals in El Paso -which has a mainly Hispanic population-&nbsp;have said that the president would not be welcome.

But Margo, who is a member of Trump's Republican party and has been a vocal supporter of the president, defended the prospect of his visit.

"This is the office of the mayor of El Paso in an official capacity welcoming the office of the president of United States, which I consider is my formal duty," he told reporters.

"I will ask President Trump to support our efforts with any and all federal resources that are available."

US President Donald Trump will visit El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday following a mass shooting in the southern border town that killed 22 people, the local mayor said.

US President Donald Trump will visit El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday following a mass shooting in the southern border town that killed 22 people, the local mayor said. "President Trump called me yesterday. He was very gracious in the call... (and) offered to help in any way he could," Dee Margo told a news conference on Monday. "He is coming out here on Wednesday." Trump has been accused by his opponents of helping to stir up resentment against ethnic minority groups with his divisive rhetoric, and some locals in El Paso -which has a mainly Hispanic population- have said that the president would not be welcome. But Margo, who is a member of Trump's Republican party and has been a vocal supporter of the president, defended the prospect of his visit. "This is the office of the mayor of El Paso in an official capacity welcoming the office of the president of United States, which I consider is my formal duty," he told reporters. "I will ask President Trump to support our efforts with any and all federal resources that are available."

Donald Trump To Visit El Paso Tomorrow Following Mass Shooting: Mayor

North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a "flagrant violation" of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of "political will" to improve relations.

The comments by an unnamed&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korean foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency KCNA, came as Pyongyang fired two "unidentified projectiles" off its eastern coast, South&nbsp;Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

There were no further details but the reported firing came after three earlier weapons tests over eight days.

"Despite our repeated warnings, the United States and South Korean authorities have finally started the joint military exercise targeting the DPRK," the foreign ministry spokesman for the nuclear-armed&nbsp;North&nbsp;said, according to KCNA.

"This is an undisguised denial and a flagrant violation of June 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement, Panmunjom Declaration and September Pyongyang Joint Declaration, all of which are agreements to establish new DPRK-US relations and build a lasting and&nbsp;stable peace regime on the Korean peninsula," the spokesman said, referring to the annual joint military exercises that began Monday.

After a year of mutual threats and mounting tension, US President Donald Trump and the&nbsp;North's Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore last year, where both leaders signed a vague pledge to work towards "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".

A second summit in Hanoi in February broke up amid disagreements over sanctions&nbsp;relief and concessions from the&nbsp;North.

Trump and Kim agreed to resume nuclear talks during an impromptu June meeting in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, but that working-level dialogue has yet to begin.

Pyongyang warned last week that further nuclear talks could be derailed if Seoul and Washington pushed ahead with the manoeuvres.

The&nbsp;North's spokesman on Monday also&nbsp;accused the US, apart from holding the exercises, of "deploying a large amount of latest offensive military equipment" in the&nbsp;

South.

"All the above facts prove that the US and South Korean authorities do not have the political will at all to implement the joint statements whereby they committed to improving the DPRK-US relations and the inter-Korean relations and that they remain unchanged in their position to continue to face us as an enemy," the spokesman said.

He added that Pyongyang remains "unchanged in our stand to resolve the issues through dialogue," but warned that it was becoming more difficult.

"The prevailing situation is dramatically dampening down our desire for implementing the DPRK-US agreements and the inter-Korean agreements, which also affects the prospect of future dialogue," he said.

Pyongyang may have to seek "a new road," but if the US and South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;continue to disregard the&nbsp;North's warnings, "we will make them pay a heavy price," the&nbsp;North's spokesman said.

North Korea on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a "flagrant violation" of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of "political will" to improve relations.

North Korea on Tuesday said US-South Korean war games are a "flagrant violation" of efforts to reach peace on the Korean peninsula and reflect a lack of "political will" to improve relations. The comments by an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency KCNA, came as Pyongyang fired two "unidentified projectiles" off its eastern coast, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. There were no further details but the reported firing came after three earlier weapons tests over eight days. "Despite our repeated warnings, the United States and South Korean authorities have finally started the joint military exercise targeting the DPRK," the foreign ministry spokesman for the nuclear-armed North said, according to KCNA. "This is an undisguised denial and a flagrant violation of June 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement, Panmunjom Declaration and September Pyongyang Joint Declaration, all of which are agreements to establish new DPRK-US relations and build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean peninsula," the spokesman said, referring to the annual joint military exercises that began Monday. After a year of mutual threats and mounting tension, US President Donald Trump and the North's Kim Jong Un held a historic summit in Singapore last year, where both leaders signed a vague pledge to work towards "denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula". A second summit in Hanoi in February broke up amid disagreements over sanctions relief and concessions from the North. Trump and Kim agreed to resume nuclear talks during an impromptu June meeting in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, but that working-level dialogue has yet to begin. Pyongyang warned last week that further nuclear talks could be derailed if Seoul and Washington pushed ahead with the manoeuvres. The North's spokesman on Monday also accused the US, apart from holding the exercises, of "deploying a large amount of latest offensive military equipment" in the South. "All the above facts prove that the US and South Korean authorities do not have the political will at all to implement the joint statements whereby they committed to improving the DPRK-US relations and the inter-Korean relations and that they remain unchanged in their position to continue to face us as an enemy," the spokesman said. He added that Pyongyang remains "unchanged in our stand to resolve the issues through dialogue," but warned that it was becoming more difficult. "The prevailing situation is dramatically dampening down our desire for implementing the DPRK-US agreements and the inter-Korean agreements, which also affects the prospect of future dialogue," he said. Pyongyang may have to seek "a new road," but if the US and South Korea continue to disregard the North's warnings, "we will make them pay a heavy price," the North's spokesman said.

US, South Korea Lack 'Political Will' On Peace Talks: North Korea

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/communist-party-has-full-confidence-in-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-china-240981">China's central government</a> on Tuesday warned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-100-flights-cancelled-as-hong-kong-protesters-launch-city-wide-strike-240696">Hong Kong protesters</a> that they should not underestimate "the immense strength of the central government".

At a press briefing in Beijing, Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, also said "those who play with fire will perish by it".&nbsp;

The remark has come a day after a series of rallies&nbsp;that included bloody clashes between protesters and pro-government men brandishing poles.

The demonstrations were triggered by opposition to a planned law that would have allowed extraditions of criminals to mainland China.

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They evolved into a wider movement for democratic reform and a halt to eroding freedoms, with protesters' anger fuelled by Lam's refusal to publicly acknowledge their grievances.

The semi-autonomous southern Chinese city has been wracked by two months of protests and clashes between police and increasingly hardcore demonstrators in the biggest threat to Beijing's rule since its 1997 handover from Britain.

In a press conference, Lam on Monday warned the city was nearing a "very dangerous situation" as she framed the protests as a challenge to China's sovereignty.

Under the terms of the 1997 handover deal with Britain, Hong Kong has rights and liberties unseen on the Chinese mainland, including an independent judiciary and freedom of speech.&nbsp;

But many say those rights are being curtailed.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of city leader Carrie Lam, an independent inquiry into police tactics, an amnesty for those arrested, a permanent withdrawal of a reviled extradition bill, and the right to elect their leaders.

China's central government on Tuesday warned Hong Kong protesters that they should not underestimate "the immense strength of the central government". At a press briefing in Beijing, Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, also said "those who play with fire will perish by it".

China's central government on Tuesday warned Hong Kong protesters that they should not underestimate "the immense strength of the central government". At a press briefing in Beijing, Yang Guang, spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, also said "those who play with fire will perish by it". The remark has come a day after a series of rallies that included bloody clashes between protesters and pro-government men brandishing poles. The demonstrations were triggered by opposition to a planned law that would have allowed extraditions of criminals to mainland China. × They evolved into a wider movement for democratic reform and a halt to eroding freedoms, with protesters' anger fuelled by Lam's refusal to publicly acknowledge their grievances. The semi-autonomous southern Chinese city has been wracked by two months of protests and clashes between police and increasingly hardcore demonstrators in the biggest threat to Beijing's rule since its 1997 handover from Britain. In a press conference, Lam on Monday warned the city was nearing a "very dangerous situation" as she framed the protests as a challenge to China's sovereignty. Under the terms of the 1997 handover deal with Britain, Hong Kong has rights and liberties unseen on the Chinese mainland, including an independent judiciary and freedom of speech. But many say those rights are being curtailed. Protesters are demanding the resignation of city leader Carrie Lam, an independent inquiry into police tactics, an amnesty for those arrested, a permanent withdrawal of a reviled extradition bill, and the right to elect their leaders.

Central government has immense strength, those who play with fire will perish: China to Hong Kong protesters

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italys-di-maio-says-government-to-survive-rules-out-alternative-majority-paper-236830">The Italian government</a> on Monday won a confidence vote in the Senate on a decree targeting charities operating migrant rescue ships, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-rescue-sailboat-defies-italys-salvini-docks-in-italy-233653">in a victory for Interior Minister Matteo Salvini</a> and his far-right League party.

The government of the League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement has been riven by internal strife in recent weeks but won the vote by 160 to 57.&nbsp;

It would have had to resign had it lost the motion. 
&nbsp; 
The decree drawn up by Salvini, who also serves as deputy prime minister, toughens sanctions on charity ships that seek to bring migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to Italy.

The decree had already been passed by the lower house and so now becomes law just a couple of days before parliament closes on Wednesday for the summer recess.

Some 5-Star politicians have expressed reservations about the decree, and some of its senators did not back it in Monday's vote.&nbsp;

Their defection was compensated by the fact the centre-right opposition party Forza Italia did not take part in the vote, saying they agreed with the aims of the decree.

Confidence votes are often used by Italian governments as a way of speeding legislation through parliament, truncating debate and sweeping away opposition amendments.

The decree hikes maximum fines for ships that enter Italian waters without authorization to 1 million euros ($1.12 million) from a previous 50,000.&nbsp;

It also provides for the arrest of captains who ignore orders to stay away and calls on naval authorities to seize their boats automatically.

Salvini has clashed repeatedly with humanitarian groups that pick up migrants off the coast of Libya to bring them to Italy, preventing them from docking until other EU countries agree to take in most of them.

In June, the German vessel Sea-Watch, captained by Carola Rackete, was seized when it entered the port of Lampedusa without permission.&nbsp;

Rackete was later freed from house arrest, prompting Salvini to denounce the judge who issued the ruling.&nbsp;

Salvini`s popularity has soared on the back of his uncompromising, anti-migrant position.&nbsp;

A poll by the Winpoll agency published on Friday in business daily Il Sole 24 ore put support for the League at 39 per cent, making it easily the country`s most popular party with more than double its share of the vote at last year's parliamentary election.

The Italian government on Monday won a confidence vote in the Senate on a decree targeting charities operating migrant rescue ships, in a victory for Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and his far-right League party.

The Italian government on Monday won a confidence vote in the Senate on a decree targeting charities operating migrant rescue ships, in a victory for Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and his far-right League party. The government of the League and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement has been riven by internal strife in recent weeks but won the vote by 160 to 57. It would have had to resign had it lost the motion. The decree drawn up by Salvini, who also serves as deputy prime minister, toughens sanctions on charity ships that seek to bring migrants rescued in the Mediterranean to Italy. The decree had already been passed by the lower house and so now becomes law just a couple of days before parliament closes on Wednesday for the summer recess. Some 5-Star politicians have expressed reservations about the decree, and some of its senators did not back it in Monday's vote. Their defection was compensated by the fact the centre-right opposition party Forza Italia did not take part in the vote, saying they agreed with the aims of the decree. Confidence votes are often used by Italian governments as a way of speeding legislation through parliament, truncating debate and sweeping away opposition amendments. The decree hikes maximum fines for ships that enter Italian waters without authorization to 1 million euros ($1.12 million) from a previous 50,000. It also provides for the arrest of captains who ignore orders to stay away and calls on naval authorities to seize their boats automatically. Salvini has clashed repeatedly with humanitarian groups that pick up migrants off the coast of Libya to bring them to Italy, preventing them from docking until other EU countries agree to take in most of them. In June, the German vessel Sea-Watch, captained by Carola Rackete, was seized when it entered the port of Lampedusa without permission. Rackete was later freed from house arrest, prompting Salvini to denounce the judge who issued the ruling. Salvini`s popularity has soared on the back of his uncompromising, anti-migrant position. A poll by the Winpoll agency published on Friday in business daily Il Sole 24 ore put support for the League at 39 per cent, making it easily the country`s most popular party with more than double its share of the vote at last year's parliamentary election.

Italy government wins a confidence vote on decree targeting migrant rescue ships

The Syrian army said on Monday it was resuming military operations in a Russian-led campaign in northwest Syria that has uprooted tens of thousands and killed hundreds, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-moves-to-oversee-all-online-content-raises-concerns-over-censorship-240008">blaming Turkey for</a> not abiding by its commitments under a truce deal.

Syrian state media said on Thursday the ceasefire would depend on militants complying <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-air-strikes-in-northwest-syria-after-ceasefire-declared-observatory-240282">with a Russian-Turkish deal</a> last year aimed at creating an Idlib buffer zone.

'The agreement to a truce was conditional. This did not happen.. We resume our military operations against terrorist organisations,' said the army statement.&nbsp;

Since Damascus declared a ceasefire on Thursday night, its warplanes have not mounted air strikes, though the combatants are still shelling each other.

Damascus accuses Turkey and the rebels it supports of failing to comply with the terms of the de-escalation agreement which requires heavy weapons and jihadist insurgents to be withdrawn from a buffer zone.

Under its deals with Moscow, Ankara has forces stationed on the ground in the Idlib region at a dozen military positions.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry declined immediate comment.

The region - including Idlib province and parts of nearby Hama - was part of the last major stronghold of armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, who has vowed to reclaim all of Syria.

Rebel factions, which had agreed to the latest ceasefire to give civilians a reprieve from the heavy bombing while reserving the right to respond to attacks, said the Syrian army had violated the ceasefire by maintaining its shelling of populated areas.

A week-long aerial attack on cities in Hama and southern Idlib province before the ceasefire led to the most civilian casualties since Russian jets joined the Syrian army on April 26 in the offensive to recapture the enclave.

The Russian-led campaign has been costly to Moscow and its Syrian ally.

They appear to have failed to secure any significant territorial gains despite weeks of relentless bombing and have suffered heavy human losses, according to Western military experts.

Rebels said they were prepared to continue another round of fierce fighting after the Syrian army`s unilateral announcement to end the ceasefire.

"Today (Syrian President) Assad's gangs announced they were resuming the battles and we tell them we are ready and our will to fight is there and God willing we will inflict heavy casualties,' Captain Naji Mustafa, spokesman for the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front (NLF) coalition of mainstream rebels group, told Reuters.

Rebels say Moscow has deployed special troops to make a military breakthrough with no success in one of the biggest campaigns waged by Moscow in Syria since its direct intervention in September 2015.&nbsp;

For three months, an army offensive backed by Russia has killed at least 400 civilians in northwest Syria and uprooted more than 440,000 people, the United Nations says.

Residents and rescuers say the three-month-old campaign has left dozens of villages and towns in ruins.

Russia and its Syrian army ally deny their jets indiscriminately hit civilian areas with cluster munitions and incendiary weapons, which residents in opposition areas say are meant to paralyse everyday life.

 
&nbsp;

The Syrian army said on Monday it was resuming military operations in a Russian-led campaign in northwest Syria that has uprooted tens of thousands and killed hundreds, blaming Turkey for not abiding by its commitments under a truce deal.

The Syrian army said on Monday it was resuming military operations in a Russian-led campaign in northwest Syria that has uprooted tens of thousands and killed hundreds, blaming Turkey for not abiding by its commitments under a truce deal. Syrian state media said on Thursday the ceasefire would depend on militants complying with a Russian-Turkish deal last year aimed at creating an Idlib buffer zone. 'The agreement to a truce was conditional. This did not happen.. We resume our military operations against terrorist organisations,' said the army statement. Since Damascus declared a ceasefire on Thursday night, its warplanes have not mounted air strikes, though the combatants are still shelling each other. Damascus accuses Turkey and the rebels it supports of failing to comply with the terms of the de-escalation agreement which requires heavy weapons and jihadist insurgents to be withdrawn from a buffer zone. Under its deals with Moscow, Ankara has forces stationed on the ground in the Idlib region at a dozen military positions. The Turkish Foreign Ministry declined immediate comment. The region - including Idlib province and parts of nearby Hama - was part of the last major stronghold of armed opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, who has vowed to reclaim all of Syria. Rebel factions, which had agreed to the latest ceasefire to give civilians a reprieve from the heavy bombing while reserving the right to respond to attacks, said the Syrian army had violated the ceasefire by maintaining its shelling of populated areas. A week-long aerial attack on cities in Hama and southern Idlib province before the ceasefire led to the most civilian casualties since Russian jets joined the Syrian army on April 26 in the offensive to recapture the enclave. The Russian-led campaign has been costly to Moscow and its Syrian ally. They appear to have failed to secure any significant territorial gains despite weeks of relentless bombing and have suffered heavy human losses, according to Western military experts. Rebels said they were prepared to continue another round of fierce fighting after the Syrian army`s unilateral announcement to end the ceasefire. "Today (Syrian President) Assad's gangs announced they were resuming the battles and we tell them we are ready and our will to fight is there and God willing we will inflict heavy casualties,' Captain Naji Mustafa, spokesman for the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front (NLF) coalition of mainstream rebels group, told Reuters. Rebels say Moscow has deployed special troops to make a military breakthrough with no success in one of the biggest campaigns waged by Moscow in Syria since its direct intervention in September 2015. For three months, an army offensive backed by Russia has killed at least 400 civilians in northwest Syria and uprooted more than 440,000 people, the United Nations says. Residents and rescuers say the three-month-old campaign has left dozens of villages and towns in ruins. Russia and its Syrian army ally deny their jets indiscriminately hit civilian areas with cluster munitions and incendiary weapons, which residents in opposition areas say are meant to paralyse everyday life.

Syrian army resumes military operations against rebels in northwest Syria

The children crammed into the bus and sat in two neat lines, poring over notebooks at desks where once there had been passenger seats.&nbsp;

From the overhead baggage bins, a teacher hung their exploits: coloured alphabet letters, watercolour paintings.

In the border city of Tijuana just miles<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-900-children-separated-at-us-border-since-policy-halted-aclu-239605"> from the US border</a>, in a dirt parking lot adjoining <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-says-migrant-numbers-at-us-border-down-40-since-may-239609">a migrant shelter</a>, that bus is offering a rare chance at school to Central American and Mexican children.

For most of the several dozen who have passed through the program since it began in mid-July, education was a distant dream in the weeks or months since their parents decided to uproot and head north to seek refuge or a better life.

Estefania Rebellon, director of the program called Yes We Can, said it offers specialised bilingual education for children who tend to have low literacy and struggle with social skills. Providing care and security is important too.&nbsp;

"These are children from very dangerous areas, where they have very big issues with trust," she said.&nbsp;

Despite shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, over the weekend that left 22 people dead, including eight Mexicans, she said the violence they saw in their home countries was likely worse.

Police say the gunman posted a racist, anti-immigrant manifesto before the shooting.

She said it was upsetting that vulnerable people could not count on finding safety in the United States, even to run basic errands such as back-to-school shopping.

"It's atrocious that there's the amount of hate in this country that's been converted into mass shootings. It's taken innocent lives," she said.&nbsp;

Rebellon, who also works as an actress in Los Angeles, said she knows what it is like to feel lost as a migrant child.

When she was 10 years old, she moved to Miami from Colombia, where her parents had received death threats.&nbsp;

The school became her refuge. 
&nbsp; 
When she saw large groups of Central American migrants arriving in Tijuana late last year, she launched a school program for children in tents at a large shelter.&nbsp;

The "tiny home movement" - an eponymous social movement that advocates for smaller homes - inspired her to try the same concept in an old bus.

Rebellon's bus used to have a capacity for 55 people - but with the old interior torn out, it can now seat 80 children.&nbsp;

The bus has welcomed aboard 37 students ages 5 to 12 since opening and will take in another 20 children in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

Yes, We Can also launch a program for teenagers in tents outside, Rebellon said.&nbsp;

The three teachers, accredited in Mexico, have experience working with displaced children in Latin America.&nbsp;

Yes, We Can is working to bring on a fourth teacher who speaks two indigenous languages, in addition to Spanish and English.&nbsp;

Most of the children are from families that are stuck in limbo in Tijuana for weeks or months as they inch higher on a long waitlist to apply for asylum in the United States.&nbsp;

They come from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala as well as Mexican cities in states including Guerrero and Michoacan, where locals often fear getting caught in the crossfire of warring drug gangs.&nbsp;

Rebellon said parents from those cities have told her that teachers often refuse to show up at school for fear of getting killed or kidnapped, and some children had missed school for several months.

If the program can secure enough funding, Rebellon said she would like to expand to Ciudad Juarez and Mexicali, other border cities with surging migrant populations.

"We can be on a bus, in a house, in a boat," she said. "It's more about what we teach the children."

 
&nbsp;

The children crammed into the bus and sat in two neat lines, poring over notebooks at desks where once there had been passenger seats. From the overhead baggage bins, a teacher hung their exploits: coloured alphabet letters, watercolour paintings.

The children crammed into the bus and sat in two neat lines, poring over notebooks at desks where once there had been passenger seats. From the overhead baggage bins, a teacher hung their exploits: coloured alphabet letters, watercolour paintings. In the border city of Tijuana just miles from the US border, in a dirt parking lot adjoining a migrant shelter, that bus is offering a rare chance at school to Central American and Mexican children. For most of the several dozen who have passed through the program since it began in mid-July, education was a distant dream in the weeks or months since their parents decided to uproot and head north to seek refuge or a better life. Estefania Rebellon, director of the program called Yes We Can, said it offers specialised bilingual education for children who tend to have low literacy and struggle with social skills. Providing care and security is important too. "These are children from very dangerous areas, where they have very big issues with trust," she said. Despite shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, over the weekend that left 22 people dead, including eight Mexicans, she said the violence they saw in their home countries was likely worse. Police say the gunman posted a racist, anti-immigrant manifesto before the shooting. She said it was upsetting that vulnerable people could not count on finding safety in the United States, even to run basic errands such as back-to-school shopping. "It's atrocious that there's the amount of hate in this country that's been converted into mass shootings. It's taken innocent lives," she said. Rebellon, who also works as an actress in Los Angeles, said she knows what it is like to feel lost as a migrant child. When she was 10 years old, she moved to Miami from Colombia, where her parents had received death threats. The school became her refuge. When she saw large groups of Central American migrants arriving in Tijuana late last year, she launched a school program for children in tents at a large shelter. The "tiny home movement" - an eponymous social movement that advocates for smaller homes - inspired her to try the same concept in an old bus. Rebellon's bus used to have a capacity for 55 people - but with the old interior torn out, it can now seat 80 children. The bus has welcomed aboard 37 students ages 5 to 12 since opening and will take in another 20 children in the coming weeks. Yes, We Can also launch a program for teenagers in tents outside, Rebellon said. The three teachers, accredited in Mexico, have experience working with displaced children in Latin America. Yes, We Can is working to bring on a fourth teacher who speaks two indigenous languages, in addition to Spanish and English. Most of the children are from families that are stuck in limbo in Tijuana for weeks or months as they inch higher on a long waitlist to apply for asylum in the United States. They come from Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala as well as Mexican cities in states including Guerrero and Michoacan, where locals often fear getting caught in the crossfire of warring drug gangs. Rebellon said parents from those cities have told her that teachers often refuse to show up at school for fear of getting killed or kidnapped, and some children had missed school for several months. If the program can secure enough funding, Rebellon said she would like to expand to Ciudad Juarez and Mexicali, other border cities with surging migrant populations. "We can be on a bus, in a house, in a boat," she said. "It's more about what we teach the children."

At US-Mexico border, a bus becomes a school for migrant children in limbo

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolsonaro-vows-to-fight-illegal-deforestation-in-brazil-240639">Deforestation in Brazil's rainforest</a> has jumped around 67 per cent in the first seven months of the year, according to preliminary data from Brazil's space research agency, which the government has attacked as misleading and harmful to the national interest.

The monitoring system registered destruction of 2,255 square kilometres (557,223 acres) of the Amazon forest in July, more than triple the 597 square kilometres spotted on July 2018, according to National Institute for Space Research (INPE). That is nearly the landmass of Luxembourg and the most monthly deforestation registered by INPE in years.

The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest, a bulwark against global warming often called the "lungs of the world" because of the vast amounts of carbon it soaks up. Brazil contains roughly 60 per cent of the rainforest.

Environmentalists and researchers<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jair-bolsonaro-defends-child-labour-in-brazil-sparking-outcry-233674"> blame President Jair Bolsonaro's</a> rhetoric in favour of economic development in the Amazon for emboldening loggers, ranchers, and informal miners since he assumed office in January.

Bolsonaro has vehemently criticized the data from INPE and fired the head of the agency on Friday over what he called "lies" that hurt the country's trade talks.

"News like this that does not match the truth causes great damage to the image of Brazil," Bolsonaro said in a press conference last week.

However, the space research agency, independent scientists and environmentalists have defended the data as accurate.&nbsp;

Fired INPE director Ricardo Galvao told Reuters on Saturday that he continued to defend the figures as showing an "undeniable" spike in deforestation.

Due to cloud cover and other factors, deforestation registered in a certain month may have happened in a prior month, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said last week.&nbsp;

At a news conference with Bolsonaro, the minister suggested that discrepancies of that kind made it impossible to trust the data.

Salles said deforestation should only be measured with more exact annual figures, published in the so-called PRODES data series, instead of the rapid-response DETER data, which is updated almost daily.

Yet comparing longer periods - the first seven months of the year, for example - virtually eliminates concerns over when the deforestation took place, according to Tasso Azevedo, coordinator of geographic initiative MapBiomas.&nbsp;

MapBiomas is a collaboration between universities, non-profit groups and technology companies to monitor deforestation, drawing from several different sources including INPE data.

Tasso called the government criticism of the DETER data baseless, estimating its accuracy at more than 90 per cent.

Sharp rises in the rapid-response data have consistently corresponded with an increase in the year-end figure, he added.

The annual PRODES figures have always shown even worse deforestation than detected by the faster DETER data over the past decade.

"Why does (Salles) spend so much time trying to say that the alerts happened earlier or later when he could use the same time to take some action," Azevedo said.

"Instead of indicating what they're doing to reduce deforestation, they're criticizing the deforestation data."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Deforestation in Brazil's rainforest has jumped around 67 per cent in the first seven months of the year, according to preliminary data from Brazil's space research agency, which the government has attacked as misleading and harmful to the national interest.

Deforestation in Brazil's rainforest has jumped around 67 per cent in the first seven months of the year, according to preliminary data from Brazil's space research agency, which the government has attacked as misleading and harmful to the national interest. The monitoring system registered destruction of 2,255 square kilometres (557,223 acres) of the Amazon forest in July, more than triple the 597 square kilometres spotted on July 2018, according to National Institute for Space Research (INPE). That is nearly the landmass of Luxembourg and the most monthly deforestation registered by INPE in years. The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest, a bulwark against global warming often called the "lungs of the world" because of the vast amounts of carbon it soaks up. Brazil contains roughly 60 per cent of the rainforest. Environmentalists and researchers blame President Jair Bolsonaro's rhetoric in favour of economic development in the Amazon for emboldening loggers, ranchers, and informal miners since he assumed office in January. Bolsonaro has vehemently criticized the data from INPE and fired the head of the agency on Friday over what he called "lies" that hurt the country's trade talks. "News like this that does not match the truth causes great damage to the image of Brazil," Bolsonaro said in a press conference last week. However, the space research agency, independent scientists and environmentalists have defended the data as accurate. Fired INPE director Ricardo Galvao told Reuters on Saturday that he continued to defend the figures as showing an "undeniable" spike in deforestation. Due to cloud cover and other factors, deforestation registered in a certain month may have happened in a prior month, Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said last week. At a news conference with Bolsonaro, the minister suggested that discrepancies of that kind made it impossible to trust the data. Salles said deforestation should only be measured with more exact annual figures, published in the so-called PRODES data series, instead of the rapid-response DETER data, which is updated almost daily. Yet comparing longer periods - the first seven months of the year, for example - virtually eliminates concerns over when the deforestation took place, according to Tasso Azevedo, coordinator of geographic initiative MapBiomas. MapBiomas is a collaboration between universities, non-profit groups and technology companies to monitor deforestation, drawing from several different sources including INPE data. Tasso called the government criticism of the DETER data baseless, estimating its accuracy at more than 90 per cent. Sharp rises in the rapid-response data have consistently corresponded with an increase in the year-end figure, he added. The annual PRODES figures have always shown even worse deforestation than detected by the faster DETER data over the past decade. "Why does (Salles) spend so much time trying to say that the alerts happened earlier or later when he could use the same time to take some action," Azevedo said. "Instead of indicating what they're doing to reduce deforestation, they're criticizing the deforestation data."

Brazil deforestation climbs 67% through July as government attacks data

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