<p>Secrecy and cronyism at China's top disease control agency led to widespread test shortages and flaws that hampered the early response to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>&nbsp;outbreak, an&nbsp;investigation has found.</p>

<p>China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention gave test kit designs and distribution rights exclusively to three then-obscure Shanghai companies with which officials had personal ties, according to the investigation. It was based on interviews with more than 40 doctors, CDC employees, health experts, and industry insiders, as well as hundreds of internal documents, contracts, messages, and emails.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-how-china-let-the-virus-spread-347320/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The Shanghai companies GeneoDx Biotech, Huirui Biotechnology, and BioGerm Medical Technology paid the China CDC for the information and the distribution rights, according to two sources with knowledge of the transaction who asked to remain anonymous to avoid retribution. The price: One million RMB ($146,600) each, the sources said. It's unclear whether the money went to specific individuals.</p>

<p><strong>Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/7-killer-viruses-that-emerged-in-china-and-ravaged-the-world-311142">7 killer viruses that emerged in China and ravaged the world</a></strong></p>

<p>In the meantime, the CDC and its parent agency, the National Health Commission, tried to prevent other scientists and organisations from testing for the virus with their own homemade kits. They took control of patient samples and made testing requirements to confirm&nbsp;coronavirus&nbsp;cases much more complicated.</p>

<p>The flawed testing system at a time when the virus could have been slowed stopped scientists and officials from seeing how fast it was spreading. Chinese authorities failed to report a single new case between January 5 and 17, even as hundreds were infected in Wuhan, the city where the virus was first detected.</p>

<p>The apparent lull in cases meant officials were slow to take early actions such as warning the public or barring large gatherings. It also caused critical shortages of testing kits, barring access to care for many who were infected.</p>

<p>The testing problems, along with other mistakes and delays, allowed the virus to rip through Wuhan undetected and spread across the world.</p>

<p>China was hardly the only country to grapple with testing. In the US, the CDC declined to use a WHO design and insisted on developing its own kits, which turned out to be faulty and led to even longer delays than in China. Still, the hiccups in China were especially consequential because it was the first country to detect the virus.</p>

<p>Because you have only three companies providing testing kits, it kept the capacity of testing very limited, said Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. It was a major problem that led to a rapid increase in cases and deaths. China's foreign ministry and China's top medical agency, the National Health Commission, did not respond to requests for comment.</p>

<p>But interviews and documents suggest that a culture of backdoor connections quietly flourished in a top-down, underfunded public health system. Though none of the first three diagnostics companies tapped to make test kits were well-known in the industry, there were extensive ties between the companies and top China CDC researchers.</p>

<p>The founder of BioGerm, Zhao Baihui, was the former chief technician of the Shanghai CDC's microbiology lab. Emails and financial records obtained by the AP show that Zhao first started BioGerm's predecessor through an intermediary in 2012, while she was still at the Shanghai CDC. In the next five years, she sold thousands of dollars' worth of test kits to her own work through the intermediary. After quitting the CDC in 2017, Zhao went on to spearhead lucrative contracts with Shanghai officials.</p>

<p>Another of the three companies, GeneoDx, enjoyed special access because it is a subsidiary of the state-run firm SinoPharm, which is managed directly by China's cabinet. In October 2019, GeneoDx co-organized an internal CDC training conference on emerging respiratory diseases in Shanghai.</p>

<p>Tan Wenjie, the CDC official who ran the training, was later put in charge of developing test kits.</p>

<p>GeneoDx did not respond to requests for comment or interviews. The National Health Commission did not respond to a request for a comment or an interview with Tan.</p>

<p>The last company, Huirui, is a longtime partner with Tan, the CDC official in charge of test kits. In an interview, CEO Li Hui said the CDC routinely contracted his company to make emergency testing chemicals. He denied any personal relationship with Tan or any payments to the CDC.</p>

<p>We've been working with the CDC to respond to emerging new diseases for about ten years, not just for a day or two, it's normal, Li said.</p>

<p>It's unclear whether the agreements between the China CDC and the three test kit companies violated Chinese law.</p>

<p>They raise questions around potential violations of bribery laws, along with rules against abuse of authority, self-dealing and conflicts of interest, said James Zimmerman, a Beijing-based corporate attorney and former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China.</p>

<p>But other experts caution that the state may have designated the three companies to make test kits under special laws on the procurement of emergency goods during natural disasters.</p>

<p>Things will be different in the middle of a crisis, said Lesli Ligorner, a Beijing-based attorney specializing in anti-corruption law. I wouldn't be so quick to rush to judgment. The first step in making test kits is to get samples of the virus and decode its genetic sequence. This leads to test designs, essentially a recipe for the tests.</p>


Secrecy and cronyism at China's top disease control agency led to widespread test shortages and flaws that hampered the early response to the coronavirus outbreak, an investigation has found.

Secrecy and cronyism at China's top disease control agency led to widespread test shortages and flaws that hampered the early response to the coronavirus outbreak, an investigation has found. China's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention gave test kit designs and distribution rights exclusively to three then-obscure Shanghai companies with which officials had personal ties, according to the investigation. It was based on interviews with more than 40 doctors, CDC employees, health experts, and industry insiders, as well as hundreds of internal documents, contracts, messages, and emails. Watch | The Shanghai companies GeneoDx Biotech, Huirui Biotechnology, and BioGerm Medical Technology paid the China CDC for the information and the distribution rights, according to two sources with knowledge of the transaction who asked to remain anonymous to avoid retribution. The price: One million RMB ($146,600) each, the sources said. It's unclear whether the money went to specific individuals. Also see: 7 killer viruses that emerged in China and ravaged the world In the meantime, the CDC and its parent agency, the National Health Commission, tried to prevent other scientists and organisations from testing for the virus with their own homemade kits. They took control of patient samples and made testing requirements to confirm coronavirus cases much more complicated. The flawed testing system at a time when the virus could have been slowed stopped scientists and officials from seeing how fast it was spreading. Chinese authorities failed to report a single new case between January 5 and 17, even as hundreds were infected in Wuhan, the city where the virus was first detected. The apparent lull in cases meant officials were slow to take early actions such as warning the public or barring large gatherings. It also caused critical shortages of testing kits, barring access to care for many who were infected. The testing problems, along with other mistakes and delays, allowed the virus to rip through Wuhan undetected and spread across the world. China was hardly the only country to grapple with testing. In the US, the CDC declined to use a WHO design and insisted on developing its own kits, which turned out to be faulty and led to even longer delays than in China. Still, the hiccups in China were especially consequential because it was the first country to detect the virus. Because you have only three companies providing testing kits, it kept the capacity of testing very limited, said Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations. It was a major problem that led to a rapid increase in cases and deaths. China's foreign ministry and China's top medical agency, the National Health Commission, did not respond to requests for comment. But interviews and documents suggest that a culture of backdoor connections quietly flourished in a top-down, underfunded public health system. Though none of the first three diagnostics companies tapped to make test kits were well-known in the industry, there were extensive ties between the companies and top China CDC researchers. The founder of BioGerm, Zhao Baihui, was the former chief technician of the Shanghai CDC's microbiology lab. Emails and financial records obtained by the AP show that Zhao first started BioGerm's predecessor through an intermediary in 2012, while she was still at the Shanghai CDC. In the next five years, she sold thousands of dollars' worth of test kits to her own work through the intermediary. After quitting the CDC in 2017, Zhao went on to spearhead lucrative contracts with Shanghai officials. Another of the three companies, GeneoDx, enjoyed special access because it is a subsidiary of the state-run firm SinoPharm, which is managed directly by China's cabinet. In October 2019, GeneoDx co-organized an internal CDC training conference on emerging respiratory diseases in Shanghai. Tan Wenjie, the CDC official who ran the training, was later put in charge of developing test kits. GeneoDx did not respond to requests for comment or interviews. The National Health Commission did not respond to a request for a comment or an interview with Tan. The last company, Huirui, is a longtime partner with Tan, the CDC official in charge of test kits. In an interview, CEO Li Hui said the CDC routinely contracted his company to make emergency testing chemicals. He denied any personal relationship with Tan or any payments to the CDC. We've been working with the CDC to respond to emerging new diseases for about ten years, not just for a day or two, it's normal, Li said. It's unclear whether the agreements between the China CDC and the three test kit companies violated Chinese law. They raise questions around potential violations of bribery laws, along with rules against abuse of authority, self-dealing and conflicts of interest, said James Zimmerman, a Beijing-based corporate attorney and former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China. But other experts caution that the state may have designated the three companies to make test kits under special laws on the procurement of emergency goods during natural disasters. Things will be different in the middle of a crisis, said Lesli Ligorner, a Beijing-based attorney specializing in anti-corruption law. I wouldn't be so quick to rush to judgment. The first step in making test kits is to get samples of the virus and decode its genetic sequence. This leads to test designs, essentially a recipe for the tests.

Investigation reveals serious flaws in coronavirus testing, corrupt deals in China

<p>Violence in Afghanistan is "unacceptably high" as delayed peace negotiations get underway, US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday, adding that Washington has asked the warring parties to "stand back and indeed stand down."<br />
<br />
Pompeo`s comments, made in a virtual address to the IISS Manama Dialogue, an annual security conference, came two days after Kabul-backed and Taliban negotiators reached a deal in Doha to proceed with talks on a political settlement to decades of strife.<br />
<br />
The negotiations were to have begun on March 10 under a US-Taliban accord for a US&nbsp;troop withdrawal. But they were delayed by disputes mainly over prisoner releases and the rules and procedure for the talks amid surging violence.<br />
<br />
Pompeo noted that he met with the negotiating teams during a November&nbsp;21 visit to Doha and he said he told both sides that the strife must be reduced.<br />
<br />
"I made clear to them that the violence levels can`t continue while these negotiations go on and it won`t work," Pompeo said.<br />
<br />
"We`ve asked all of them to stand back and indeed stand down in that respect," he said, adding that he hoped that the sides can begin to address some of the "front end" issues, including a nationwide ceasefire.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Violence in Afghanistan is "unacceptably high" as delayed peace negotiations get underway, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday, adding that Washington has asked the warring parties to "stand back and indeed stand down.

Violence in Afghanistan is "unacceptably high" as delayed peace negotiations get underway, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday, adding that Washington has asked the warring parties to "stand back and indeed stand down." Pompeo`s comments, made in a virtual address to the IISS Manama Dialogue, an annual security conference, came two days after Kabul-backed and Taliban negotiators reached a deal in Doha to proceed with talks on a political settlement to decades of strife. The negotiations were to have begun on March 10 under a US-Taliban accord for a US troop withdrawal. But they were delayed by disputes mainly over prisoner releases and the rules and procedure for the talks amid surging violence. Pompeo noted that he met with the negotiating teams during a November 21 visit to Doha and he said he told both sides that the strife must be reduced. "I made clear to them that the violence levels can`t continue while these negotiations go on and it won`t work," Pompeo said. "We`ve asked all of them to stand back and indeed stand down in that respect," he said, adding that he hoped that the sides can begin to address some of the "front end" issues, including a nationwide ceasefire.

Pompeo says violence levels in Afghanistan 'unacceptably high'

<p>Bahrain said on Friday it has granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccine</a>, becoming the second country after Britain to approve it.</p>

<p>Dr. Mariam Al Jalahma, the Gulf State's&nbsp;CEO of&nbsp;National Health Regulatory Authority said in a statement "The approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will add a further important layer to the Kingdom's national COVID-19 response."&nbsp;</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-how-russia-and-the-uk-are-preparing-to-roll-out-vaccines-347323/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Other than Pfizer Inc`s COVID-19 vaccine, Bahrain had also approved Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine in November for use by frontline workers.</p>

<p>There will be an enormous logistical challenge to transport billions of doses at the right temperature across the globe, maintaining the so-called "cold chain" from a vaccine manufacturer into a patient's arm.</p>

<p>Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine for instance, must be stored at a frigid minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit). &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pfizer-ceo-not-certain-if-coronavirus-vaccine-will-prevent-transmission-347495" hreflang="en">Pfizer CEO 'not certain' if coronavirus vaccine will prevent transmission</a></strong></p>

<p>Britain approved Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, jumping ahead of the rest of the world in the race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation programme in history.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson touted the green light from Britain's medicine authority as a global win and a ray of hope for the end of the pandemic, though he recognised the logistical challenges of vaccinating an entire country of 67 million.</p>

<p>Britain's move raised hopes that the tide could soon turn against a virus that has killed nearly 1.5 million people globally, hammered the world economy and upended normal life for billions since it emerged in Wuhan, China, a year ago.</p>

<p>Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted emergency use approval to the vaccine developed by Pfizer and German biotechnology partner BioNTech, which they say is 95% effective in preventing illness, just 23 days after Pfizer published the first data from its final stage clinical trial.</p>

<p>Last month Britain said it expected 10 million doses of the shot in 2020, but the government has said the pace of roll-out will be dependence on delivery. It has ordered 40 million doses in all, enough to vaccinate 20 million people.</p>


Bahrain said on Friday it has granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the second country after Britain to approve it.

Bahrain said on Friday it has granted emergency use authorisation for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the second country after Britain to approve it. Dr. Mariam Al Jalahma, the Gulf State's CEO of National Health Regulatory Authority said in a statement "The approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will add a further important layer to the Kingdom's national COVID-19 response." Other than Pfizer Inc`s COVID-19 vaccine, Bahrain had also approved Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine in November for use by frontline workers. There will be an enormous logistical challenge to transport billions of doses at the right temperature across the globe, maintaining the so-called "cold chain" from a vaccine manufacturer into a patient's arm. Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine for instance, must be stored at a frigid minus 70 degrees Celsius (minus 94 Fahrenheit). Also read: Pfizer CEO 'not certain' if coronavirus vaccine will prevent transmission Britain approved Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, jumping ahead of the rest of the world in the race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation programme in history. Prime Minister Boris Johnson touted the green light from Britain's medicine authority as a global win and a ray of hope for the end of the pandemic, though he recognised the logistical challenges of vaccinating an entire country of 67 million. Britain's move raised hopes that the tide could soon turn against a virus that has killed nearly 1.5 million people globally, hammered the world economy and upended normal life for billions since it emerged in Wuhan, China, a year ago. Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted emergency use approval to the vaccine developed by Pfizer and German biotechnology partner BioNTech, which they say is 95% effective in preventing illness, just 23 days after Pfizer published the first data from its final stage clinical trial. Last month Britain said it expected 10 million doses of the shot in 2020, but the government has said the pace of roll-out will be dependence on delivery. It has ordered 40 million doses in all, enough to vaccinate 20 million people.

After UK, Bahrain approves Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine

<p>The Sri Lankan police investigating the deaths of at least 11 inmates in a prison riot in the country has said it will also probe the alleged excessive use of medicinal drugs by the prisoners that may have made them violent.</p>

<p>The riot broke out over rising coronavirus infections on Sunday in the Mahara prison on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo when some inmates tried to escape, prompting the authorities to use force. The incident happened as pandemic-related unrest has been growing in Sri Lanka's overcrowded prisons.</p>

<p>Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said they would seek medical consultant's' opinion on the alleged use of drugs prescribed for mental illness, thus making them violent.<br />
The government on Thursday asserted in Parliament that the violent behaviour of prisoners was triggered by the alleged use of some drugs.</p>

<p>However, the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists yesterday denied the possibility of medicine usage leading to violent behaviour, saying none of the drugs reported to be stored in the prison could lead to violent behaviour. Instead, they are meant to trigger calmness and mild drowsiness.</p>

<p>Some 11 inmates were killed and 106 injured in the riot.</p>

<p>Rohana said the CID in their probe had recorded 56 statements from prison doctors, nurses, jailors and prisoners.</p>

<p>The main Opposition charged that the transfer of COVID-19 infected inmates from the main Welikada prison to Mahara led to the commotion.</p>

<p>The prisons minister, Lohan Ratwatte, said not a single gunshot was fired at the Mahara prison and the inmates were fighting among themselves.</p>

<p>The government maintained that inmates attacked those found to be COVID-19 positive.</p>

<p>The John Hopkins University's latest data on Sri Lanka says the country has had 26,030 confirmed coronavirus cases and 129 deaths.</p>


The Sri Lankan police investigating the deaths of at least 11 inmates in a prison riot in the country has said it will also probe the alleged excessive use of medicinal drugs by the prisoners that may have made them violent.

The Sri Lankan police investigating the deaths of at least 11 inmates in a prison riot in the country has said it will also probe the alleged excessive use of medicinal drugs by the prisoners that may have made them violent. The riot broke out over rising coronavirus infections on Sunday in the Mahara prison on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo when some inmates tried to escape, prompting the authorities to use force. The incident happened as pandemic-related unrest has been growing in Sri Lanka's overcrowded prisons. Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said they would seek medical consultant's' opinion on the alleged use of drugs prescribed for mental illness, thus making them violent. The government on Thursday asserted in Parliament that the violent behaviour of prisoners was triggered by the alleged use of some drugs. However, the Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists yesterday denied the possibility of medicine usage leading to violent behaviour, saying none of the drugs reported to be stored in the prison could lead to violent behaviour. Instead, they are meant to trigger calmness and mild drowsiness. Some 11 inmates were killed and 106 injured in the riot. Rohana said the CID in their probe had recorded 56 statements from prison doctors, nurses, jailors and prisoners. The main Opposition charged that the transfer of COVID-19 infected inmates from the main Welikada prison to Mahara led to the commotion. The prisons minister, Lohan Ratwatte, said not a single gunshot was fired at the Mahara prison and the inmates were fighting among themselves. The government maintained that inmates attacked those found to be COVID-19 positive. The John Hopkins University's latest data on Sri Lanka says the country has had 26,030 confirmed coronavirus cases and 129 deaths.

Sri Lanka prison riot killings: Use of medicinal drugs probed

<p>Pakistan has issued special permits to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and two other members of the royal family to hunt the internationally protected houbara bustards during the hunting season 2020-21, according to a media report on Friday.</p>

<p>Sources said the two other hunters are governors and one of them is a defaulter as he has not paid the hunting fees for last year.</p>

<p>The hunters had been allocated certain hunting areas in two provinces&nbsp;Balochistan and Punjab, the Dawn newspaper reported.</p>

<p>They said that though the foreign ministry was expected to maintain the protocol and official hierarchy, the name of the most powerful person and ''real''&nbsp;ruler of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman has been mentioned at the bottom of the list of hunters sent to the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad.</p>

<p>The houbara bustard is a resident of the colder Central Asian region. It migrates southwards every year to spend its winters in a relatively warmer environment in Pakistan.<br />
Arab hunters are specially invited by the Pakistan government to hunt houbara bustards.</p>

<p>Owing to its dwindling population, the houbara is not only protected under various international nature conservation treaties but is also protected under local wildlife protection laws. Pakistanis are not allowed to hunt it.</p>

<p>The sources told the newspaper that earlier Prime Minister Imran Khan, when he was in the Opposition, used to criticise the then federal government for issuing houbara hunting permits and had not allowed houbara hunting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ruled, but now has issued the permits to hunters from Saudi Arabia.</p>

<p>The sources said that the hunting permits issued by the foreign ministry's deputy chief of protocol (P&amp;I) on October 16 were delivered to the Saudi Embassy to be sent to the hunters.</p>


Pakistan has issued special permits to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and two other members of the royal family to hunt the internationally protected houbara bustards during the hunting season 2020-21, according to a media report on Friday.

Pakistan has issued special permits to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and two other members of the royal family to hunt the internationally protected houbara bustards during the hunting season 2020-21, according to a media report on Friday. Sources said the two other hunters are governors and one of them is a defaulter as he has not paid the hunting fees for last year. The hunters had been allocated certain hunting areas in two provinces Balochistan and Punjab, the Dawn newspaper reported. They said that though the foreign ministry was expected to maintain the protocol and official hierarchy, the name of the most powerful person and ''real'' ruler of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman has been mentioned at the bottom of the list of hunters sent to the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad. The houbara bustard is a resident of the colder Central Asian region. It migrates southwards every year to spend its winters in a relatively warmer environment in Pakistan. Arab hunters are specially invited by the Pakistan government to hunt houbara bustards. Owing to its dwindling population, the houbara is not only protected under various international nature conservation treaties but is also protected under local wildlife protection laws. Pakistanis are not allowed to hunt it. The sources told the newspaper that earlier Prime Minister Imran Khan, when he was in the Opposition, used to criticise the then federal government for issuing houbara hunting permits and had not allowed houbara hunting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf ruled, but now has issued the permits to hunters from Saudi Arabia. The sources said that the hunting permits issued by the foreign ministry's deputy chief of protocol (P&I) on October 16 were delivered to the Saudi Embassy to be sent to the hunters.

Pak issues special permit to Saudi Crown Prince, two others to hunt rare houbara bustards: Report

<p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he hoped France would soon get rid of President Emmanuel Macron, describing him as a burden on France which was enduring dangerous times.</p>

<p>"Macron is a trouble for France. With Macron, France is passing through a very, very dangerous period. I hope that France will get rid of Macron trouble as soon as possible," Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul.</p>

<p>There have been weeks of tensions between France and Turkey, which reached a peak last month after the beheading of a French schoolteacher who showed his pupils cartoons mocking Islam's Prophet Mohammed.</p>

<p>In the wake of the beheading of history teacher Samuel Paty in France, President Emmanuel Macron delivered a passionate defence of free speech, including the right to mock religion, prompting Erdogan to question his mental health. France responded by recalling its ambassador to Ankara for consultations.</p>

<p>In an interview, Macron accused Turkey of adopting a "bellicose" stance towards its NATO allies, saying tensions could ease if Erdogan showed respect and did not tell lies.</p>

<p>Following a spate of Islamist attacks in recent weeks, France has&nbsp;been taking steps to ban radical Islamist groups and to cut off foreign funds to them.</p>

<p>Ankara and Paris have also traded accusations over their roles in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and&nbsp;Erdogan&nbsp;attacked France over its perceived backing for Armenia.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-france-pushes-for-sanctions-against-turkey-at-the-european-union-347317/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Erdogan also said "As you know, my dear brother (Azerbaijan president) Ilham Aliyev had some advice for the French. What did he say? 'If they love Armenians so much, then they should give Marseilles to the Armenians'. I am making the same recommendation. If they love them so much, they should give Marseilles to the Armenians."</p>

<p>France has accused Turkey of fueling clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated by ethnic Armenians. Ankara, which backs its ethnic Turkic kin in Azerbaijan, denies this.</p>

<p>The Macron government is reportedly leading a diplomatic effort for sanctions against Turkey at the European Union. The plan is to target Turkey over its provocations in the eastern Mediterranean which is a region rich in natural resources where Greece and Turkey have overlapping claims.</p>


Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he hoped France would soon get rid of President Emmanuel Macron, describing him as a burden on France which was enduring dangerous times.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said he hoped France would soon get rid of President Emmanuel Macron, describing him as a burden on France which was enduring dangerous times. "Macron is a trouble for France. With Macron, France is passing through a very, very dangerous period. I hope that France will get rid of Macron trouble as soon as possible," Erdogan told reporters after Friday prayers in Istanbul. There have been weeks of tensions between France and Turkey, which reached a peak last month after the beheading of a French schoolteacher who showed his pupils cartoons mocking Islam's Prophet Mohammed. In the wake of the beheading of history teacher Samuel Paty in France, President Emmanuel Macron delivered a passionate defence of free speech, including the right to mock religion, prompting Erdogan to question his mental health. France responded by recalling its ambassador to Ankara for consultations. In an interview, Macron accused Turkey of adopting a "bellicose" stance towards its NATO allies, saying tensions could ease if Erdogan showed respect and did not tell lies. Following a spate of Islamist attacks in recent weeks, France has been taking steps to ban radical Islamist groups and to cut off foreign funds to them. Ankara and Paris have also traded accusations over their roles in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Erdogan attacked France over its perceived backing for Armenia. Erdogan also said "As you know, my dear brother (Azerbaijan president) Ilham Aliyev had some advice for the French. What did he say? 'If they love Armenians so much, then they should give Marseilles to the Armenians'. I am making the same recommendation. If they love them so much, they should give Marseilles to the Armenians." France has accused Turkey of fueling clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but populated by ethnic Armenians. Ankara, which backs its ethnic Turkic kin in Azerbaijan, denies this. The Macron government is reportedly leading a diplomatic effort for sanctions against Turkey at the European Union. The plan is to target Turkey over its provocations in the eastern Mediterranean which is a region rich in natural resources where Greece and Turkey have overlapping claims.

I hope France will get rid of Macron, says Turkey President Erdogan

<p>Ferrero Rocher is one of the most adored chocolates out there, it's chocolatey, it's nutty, it's an ideal equilibrium to calm that sweet tooth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And, since it's pretty fancy chocolate, it's also a little bit expensive, comparing to other regular chocolates.</p>

<p>Furthermore, that is the reason it's so difficult to comprehend why somebody would squander it by transforming it into a monster of a dish.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A viral image of something many refer to as 'Ferrero Rocher Manchurian' is here to make everybody gag and unmistakably, the shrewd creation has satisfied its motivation.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here to annoy you with a photo of the nicest thing I've found online.<br />
<br />
Enjoy! <a href="https://t.co/3FMESZVtfN">pic.twitter.com/3FMESZVtfN</a></p>
— Joanna #SaveMollem (@thatdoggonelady) <a href="https://twitter.com/thatdoggonelady/status/1334361010648481792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The picture of the 'Ferrero Rocher Manchurian' can be can easily mistaken&nbsp;for some chilli Manchurian balls but thanks to that one chocolate ball, which has been cracked open, and shows viewers&nbsp;what a 'disgusting' food recipe that could be.</p>

<p>It was shared on&nbsp;Twitter&nbsp;by user @thatdoggonelady for the sole purpose of annoying everyone.&nbsp;The user&nbsp;did&nbsp;try to make up for putting this abomination in the world with a more satisfying&nbsp;food&nbsp;picture</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Because I'm clearly upsetting everyone with the image, here's something more palatable.<br />
<br />
A trio of deliciousness: pasteis de nata (custard tart), toucinho de ceu (almond cake) and chicken empadinha (like a mini pie).<br />
<br />
I hope I'm forgiven now. <a href="https://t.co/gCeExKTSdD">pic.twitter.com/gCeExKTSdD</a></p>
— Joanna #SaveMollem (@thatdoggonelady) <a href="https://twitter.com/thatdoggonelady/status/1334371461981741056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The picture was shared by different Twitter handles however the one thing normal between them was that the formula didn't settle well with netizens.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Why isn't this illegal? <a href="https://t.co/DkeVSp7Gz0">https://t.co/DkeVSp7Gz0</a></p>
— Alia Dalwai (@alia_dalwai) <a href="https://twitter.com/alia_dalwai/status/1334432223278157824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Missing you Thanos 😭😭😭 <a href="https://t.co/TMFJpVsYht">https://t.co/TMFJpVsYht</a></p>
— Ritushree (Sonal)🌈 (@QueerNaari) <a href="https://twitter.com/QueerNaari/status/1334459043499261956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Twitter clients before long took to the post and overflowed it with images and responses to communicate their sheer disturb towards such food mixes.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I try to be very non-judgemental with strange food combos on the internet because, you know, everyone likes different things and what one eats is a personal preference<br />
<br />
but then I come across things like this right here <a href="https://t.co/gwyKt22jFU">https://t.co/gwyKt22jFU</a></p>
— Annanya (@annanyajohari) <a href="https://twitter.com/annanyajohari/status/1334420990646841345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">As if one virus was not enough.. <a href="https://t.co/5QT2VAIoxK">https://t.co/5QT2VAIoxK</a></p>
— benefit lumberjacks. (@shivillex) <a href="https://twitter.com/shivillex/status/1334414997074583556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Ferrero Rocher is one of the most adored chocolates out there, it's chocolatey, it's nutty, it's an ideal equilibrium to calm that sweet tooth. And, since it's pretty fancy chocolate, it's also a little bit expensive, comparing to other regular chocolates.

Ferrero Rocher is one of the most adored chocolates out there, it's chocolatey, it's nutty, it's an ideal equilibrium to calm that sweet tooth. And, since it's pretty fancy chocolate, it's also a little bit expensive, comparing to other regular chocolates. Furthermore, that is the reason it's so difficult to comprehend why somebody would squander it by transforming it into a monster of a dish. A viral image of something many refer to as 'Ferrero Rocher Manchurian' is here to make everybody gag and unmistakably, the shrewd creation has satisfied its motivation. Here to annoy you with a photo of the nicest thing I've found online. Enjoy! pic.twitter.com/3FMESZVtfN — Joanna #SaveMollem (@thatdoggonelady) December 3, 2020 × The picture of the 'Ferrero Rocher Manchurian' can be can easily mistaken for some chilli Manchurian balls but thanks to that one chocolate ball, which has been cracked open, and shows viewers what a 'disgusting' food recipe that could be. It was shared on Twitter by user @thatdoggonelady for the sole purpose of annoying everyone. The user did try to make up for putting this abomination in the world with a more satisfying food picture Because I'm clearly upsetting everyone with the image, here's something more palatable. A trio of deliciousness: pasteis de nata (custard tart), toucinho de ceu (almond cake) and chicken empadinha (like a mini pie). I hope I'm forgiven now. pic.twitter.com/gCeExKTSdD — Joanna #SaveMollem (@thatdoggonelady) December 3, 2020 × The picture was shared by different Twitter handles however the one thing normal between them was that the formula didn't settle well with netizens. Why isn't this illegal? https://t.co/DkeVSp7Gz0 — Alia Dalwai (@alia_dalwai) December 3, 2020 × Missing you Thanos 😭😭😭 https://t.co/TMFJpVsYht — Ritushree (Sonal)🌈 (@QueerNaari) December 3, 2020 × Twitter clients before long took to the post and overflowed it with images and responses to communicate their sheer disturb towards such food mixes. I try to be very non-judgemental with strange food combos on the internet because, you know, everyone likes different things and what one eats is a personal preference but then I come across things like this right here https://t.co/gwyKt22jFU — Annanya (@annanyajohari) December 3, 2020 × As if one virus was not enough.. https://t.co/5QT2VAIoxK — benefit lumberjacks. (@shivillex) December 3, 2020 ×

Bizarre recipe of Ferrero Rocher Manchurian is making netizens cringe at the 'abomination'

<p>Pfizer Inc's CEO Albert Bourla has said that the company&nbsp;is "not certain" if those who receive its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccine</a>&nbsp;will be able to transmit the coronavirus to others, just one day after the UK became the first to approve the inoculation.</p>

<p>In an ongoing meeting with NBC, when Bourla was asked by the host in the event that he will have the option to send the contamination to others on the off chance that he is inoculated, Pfizer CEO answered that "it should be analysed".</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/volunteers-face-severe-hangover-headache-and-pain-after-getting-pfizer-vaccine-shot-342518">Volunteers face 'severe hangover', headache and pain after getting Pfizer vaccine shot</a></strong></p>

<p>“Even though I’ve had the protection, am I still able to transmit it to other people?” NBC’s Lester Holt asked in an interview on Thursday night, prompting a startling response from Bourla:</p>

<p>''I think this is something that needs to be examined. We are not certain about that right now.'' said&nbsp;Albert Bourla.</p>

<p>Bourla’s response was one of the highlights before the special was released before special, just days after the UK became the world’s first country to give formal authorisation to Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine for mass rollout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Britain approved&nbsp;Pfizer&nbsp;Inc's COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, jumping ahead of the rest of the world in the race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation programme in history.</p>

<p>Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted emergency use approval to the vaccine developed by&nbsp;Pfizer&nbsp;and German biotechnology partner BioNTech, which they say is 95% effective in preventing illness, just 23 days after&nbsp;Pfizer&nbsp;published the first data from its final stage clinical trial.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-how-russia-and-the-uk-are-preparing-to-roll-out-vaccines-347323/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>After Pfizer's claim that the COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective based on initial trial results, a few volunteers said that they suffered side effects comparable to a flu jab, with one comparing them to "a severe hangover".</p>

<p>One of the volunteers of the trial, Texas lobbyist Glenn Deshields compared side effects of the shot as being similar to "a severe hangover" whereas another one, 45-year old Carrie said that she went through fever, body aches and headache after the second shot.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Carrie also said that signing up for the trial was a “civic duty” and said Monday’s positive news left her feeling “very proud”.She said that 'There are so many people who have had it and suffered.'She had received her first shot back in September and her second last month.</p>

<p>Top US&nbsp;infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci&nbsp;suggested the British regulators had failed to scrutinise the data carefully enough and had waved the vaccine through - comments that were prominently reported on the main British TV news channels.</p>

<p>England has purportedly effectively put in a request of 40 million dosages of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 antibody to give the twofold portion vaccination to in any event 20 million individuals.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The CEO of MHRA, June Raine repeated that the "main" need on vaccination is the wellbeing of the residents. The Medicines and Healthcare items Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on December 2 guaranteed that the mRNA-based immunization is 95 percent compelling "regardless old enough, sex or race".&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the news preparation, it was additionally educated that the MHRA is working "hard" to convey the inoculation to all individuals beginning from the ones most weak individuals. MHRA said that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 antibody is like different immunizations that are created over the world "and the results are low" with no particular safety measures or tests needed before vaccination. Raine communicated trust in the endorsement and guaranteed that the wellbeing of the antibody has been investigated with 'no stone being left unturned'.</p>


Pfizer Inc's CEO Albert Bourla has said that the company is "not certain" if those who receive its vaccine will be able to transmit the coronavirus to others, just one day after the UK became the first to approve the inoculation.

Pfizer Inc's CEO Albert Bourla has said that the company is "not certain" if those who receive its vaccine will be able to transmit the coronavirus to others, just one day after the UK became the first to approve the inoculation. In an ongoing meeting with NBC, when Bourla was asked by the host in the event that he will have the option to send the contamination to others on the off chance that he is inoculated, Pfizer CEO answered that "it should be analysed". Also read: Volunteers face 'severe hangover', headache and pain after getting Pfizer vaccine shot “Even though I’ve had the protection, am I still able to transmit it to other people?” NBC’s Lester Holt asked in an interview on Thursday night, prompting a startling response from Bourla: ''I think this is something that needs to be examined. We are not certain about that right now.'' said Albert Bourla. Bourla’s response was one of the highlights before the special was released before special, just days after the UK became the world’s first country to give formal authorisation to Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine for mass rollout. Britain approved Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, jumping ahead of the rest of the world in the race to begin the most crucial mass inoculation programme in history. Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted emergency use approval to the vaccine developed by Pfizer and German biotechnology partner BioNTech, which they say is 95% effective in preventing illness, just 23 days after Pfizer published the first data from its final stage clinical trial. After Pfizer's claim that the COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective based on initial trial results, a few volunteers said that they suffered side effects comparable to a flu jab, with one comparing them to "a severe hangover". One of the volunteers of the trial, Texas lobbyist Glenn Deshields compared side effects of the shot as being similar to "a severe hangover" whereas another one, 45-year old Carrie said that she went through fever, body aches and headache after the second shot. Carrie also said that signing up for the trial was a “civic duty” and said Monday’s positive news left her feeling “very proud”.She said that 'There are so many people who have had it and suffered.'She had received her first shot back in September and her second last month. Top US infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci suggested the British regulators had failed to scrutinise the data carefully enough and had waved the vaccine through - comments that were prominently reported on the main British TV news channels. England has purportedly effectively put in a request of 40 million dosages of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 antibody to give the twofold portion vaccination to in any event 20 million individuals. The CEO of MHRA, June Raine repeated that the "main" need on vaccination is the wellbeing of the residents. The Medicines and Healthcare items Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on December 2 guaranteed that the mRNA-based immunization is 95 percent compelling "regardless old enough, sex or race". In the news preparation, it was additionally educated that the MHRA is working "hard" to convey the inoculation to all individuals beginning from the ones most weak individuals. MHRA said that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 antibody is like different immunizations that are created over the world "and the results are low" with no particular safety measures or tests needed before vaccination. Raine communicated trust in the endorsement and guaranteed that the wellbeing of the antibody has been investigated with 'no stone being left unturned'.

Pfizer CEO 'not certain' if coronavirus vaccine will prevent transmission

<p>US&nbsp;President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe&nbsp;Biden</a>&nbsp;on Thursday said in an interview that his family’s dealings, including those of his son, Hunter will not conflict with his role as commander in chief, dismissing prior allegations of inappropriate business deals.</p>

<p>Biden, in an interview with CNN, said ''My son, my family, will not be involved in any business, any enterprise, that is in conflict with or appears to be in conflict, with the appropriate distance from, the presidency and government.''</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-senate-report-reveals-joe-biden-son-hunters-links-with-chinese-ukrainian-firms-329865">US Senate report reveals Joe Biden son Hunter's links with Chinese, Ukrainian firms</a></strong></p>

<p>According to a US Senate Committee report,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-elections-2020-trump-applauds-selfs-approach-towards-covid-calls-bidens-approach-anti-science-329852">Joe Biden's</a>&nbsp;son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president&nbsp;during the Obama administration.</p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-hunter-bidens-business-links-with-china-330056/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/us-election-2020-facebook-removes-fake-pages-created-in-china-targeting-trump-biden-329641">&nbsp;Biden&nbsp;</a>and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals."</p>

<p>The Senate Committee report claimed that that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a "vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe", while adding that Hunter and Archer formed "significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was the vice president."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier, US President Donald Trump had made accusations that&nbsp;Hunter Biden engaged in unethical practices in Ukraine. No evidence has been verified to support the allegations, and Joe Biden has called them false and discredited.</p>

<p>However,&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected Trump's criticism of Hunter and said that although he did ''make very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his&nbsp;past business.</p>


US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said in an interview that his family’s dealings, including those of his son, Hunter will not conflict with his role as commander in chief, dismissing prior allegations of inappropriate business deals.

US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said in an interview that his family’s dealings, including those of his son, Hunter will not conflict with his role as commander in chief, dismissing prior allegations of inappropriate business deals. Biden, in an interview with CNN, said ''My son, my family, will not be involved in any business, any enterprise, that is in conflict with or appears to be in conflict, with the appropriate distance from, the presidency and government.'' Also read: US Senate report reveals Joe Biden son Hunter's links with Chinese, Ukrainian firms According to a US Senate Committee report, Joe Biden's son Hunter was paid $50,000 a month to serve as the board of Burisma which is a Ukrainian natural gas company with a corrupt owner while his father was the US vice president during the Obama administration. The report said the Treasury records accessed by Chairman Grassley and Chairman Johnson showed Hunter Biden and his family including his associates were involved in "potential criminal activity relating to transactions with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals." The Senate Committee report claimed that that Hunter Biden and his family were involved in a "vast financial network that connected them to foreign nationals and foreign governments across the globe", while adding that Hunter and Archer formed "significant and consistent financial relationships with the corrupt oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky during their time working for Burisma and their firms made millions of dollars from that association while Joe Biden was the vice president." Earlier, US President Donald Trump had made accusations that Hunter Biden engaged in unethical practices in Ukraine. No evidence has been verified to support the allegations, and Joe Biden has called them false and discredited. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin had rejected Trump's criticism of Hunter and said that although he did ''make very good money in Ukraine'' but Moscow is not aware of anything criminal about his past business.

Joe Biden says his son Hunter’s business dealings will be kept away from presidency

<p>NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden on Friday requested US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> to pardon&nbsp;WikiLeaks co-founder&nbsp;Julian Assange for&nbsp;espionage charges.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency during your time in office, please: free Julian Assange. You alone can save his life. <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a></p>
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) <a href="https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/1334608745192677380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Incumbent US President Donald Trump has a few weeks left in the White House, and now he wants to save his allies and children from prosecution. Once they leave the White House, Trump and his inner circle could be sued. Until Trump holds office, he is immune to any legal action.</p>

<p>Reportedly, Donald Trump is considering a way to keep his kids and allies safe from prosecution. Trump has discussed with his advisers whether he could fetch pre-emptive pardons to protect his three eldest children - Donald Trump Junior, Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-does-us-president-trump-want-pre-emptive-pardons-for-himself-and-family-347019/amp">Why does US President Trump want pre-emptive pardons for himself and family?</a></strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/doctors-warning-julian-assange-could-die-in-uk-jail-281295/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The solicitation from Snowden came as Assange sits in a UK jail anticipating an adjudicator's decision, planned for January, on his removal to the US to confront an 18-check arraignment for supposed undercover work and connivance to submit hacking. Whenever indicted, he could confront a US jail sentence of as long as 175 years. He was captured in London in April 2019 in the wake of taking asylum in the Ecuadorian international safe haven for a very long time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Assange distributed a huge number of released grouped records in 2010 and 2011 uncovering US military bad behavior. The 48-year-old is purportedly in chronic weakness following quite a while of repression. In excess of 60 specialists from eight distinct nations composed an open letter before the end of last year saying they were worried that he could bite the dust in care if he's not moved from the high-security Belmarsh Prison to an emergency clinic. Their solicitation was denied.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Snowden, the previous CIA and NSA temporary worker who uncovered mass reconnaissance of Americans by US insight administrations, was conceded perpetual residency in Russia in October subsequent to taking shelter in the nation since 2013. He's been accused of two tallies of reconnaissance and burglary of government property. Russia, which has no removal settlement with the US, recently conceded Snowden's impermanent refuge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trump's archetype, Barack Obama, denied Snowden's solicitation for an exculpation. In any case, Trump, who said in 2013 that Snowden was a "spy who should be executed," has reevaluated that position lately. Trump told correspondents in August that he would consider exculpating Snowden.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Individuals from the two sides of the US political separation have asked Trump to acquit Snowden and Assange. US Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) a month ago reestablished her requires the president to exculpate the two men, saying they uncovered the guiltiness of the covert government at extraordinary a disregard for one's own needs.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> Since you're giving pardons to people, please consider pardoning those who, at great personal sacrifice, exposed the deception and criminality of those in the deep state. <a href="https://t.co/aeXklUsNSd">https://t.co/aeXklUsNSd</a></p>
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/1331919709055422473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">if <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> wants to show everyone he's one of the people, anti establishment and not apart of the swamp, he would pardon<br />
<br />
1. Assange<br />
2. Snowden<br />
3. Ulbricht</p>
— Luke Rudkowski (@Lukewearechange) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lukewearechange/status/1332416756393025536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>After Gabbard was assaulted for supporting him, Snowden himself noticed that the general population has betrayed legislators who smear informants.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Politicians take note: smearing whistleblowers and publishers with obvious bullshit no longer gets you showered in likes, it gets you ratioed by a furious public.<br />
<br />
It is time to end the war on whistleblowers. <a href="https://t.co/bMfzUU5VCt">pic.twitter.com/bMfzUU5VCt</a></p>
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) <a href="https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/1332694402549100547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Trump will have just until January 20 to make a move except if he's fruitful in getting the courts to topple Democrat Joe Biden's media-proclaimed political race triumph. Digital recording host Jen Perelman, a Florida Democrat who ran fruitlessly to take Debbie Wasserman-Shultz's legislative seat, proposed that Snowden's possibilities could be more awful under the following organization. "Is oversight going to be more regrettable under Biden?" she inquired.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Snowden prior uncovered that in 2013 then-VP Biden was considering nations around the globe to caution them that in the event that they award refuge to the informant, they will be confronted with "results" from Washington.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Different eyewitnesses applauded Snowden for asking Trump to consider Assange's case even before his own. "How tolerant and caring of you," one analyst said. Another stated, "The individuals of America and the world will be everlastingly thankful to the daring truth-tellers, be they informants or legitimate writers, regardless of whether they don't all acknowledge it yet."</p>


NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden on Friday requested US President Donald Trump to pardon WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange for espionage charges. Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency during your time in office, please: free Julian Assange.

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden on Friday requested US President Donald Trump to pardon WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange for espionage charges. Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency during your time in office, please: free Julian Assange. You alone can save his life. @realDonaldTrump — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) December 3, 2020 × Incumbent US President Donald Trump has a few weeks left in the White House, and now he wants to save his allies and children from prosecution. Once they leave the White House, Trump and his inner circle could be sued. Until Trump holds office, he is immune to any legal action. Reportedly, Donald Trump is considering a way to keep his kids and allies safe from prosecution. Trump has discussed with his advisers whether he could fetch pre-emptive pardons to protect his three eldest children - Donald Trump Junior, Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Also read: Why does US President Trump want pre-emptive pardons for himself and family? The solicitation from Snowden came as Assange sits in a UK jail anticipating an adjudicator's decision, planned for January, on his removal to the US to confront an 18-check arraignment for supposed undercover work and connivance to submit hacking. Whenever indicted, he could confront a US jail sentence of as long as 175 years. He was captured in London in April 2019 in the wake of taking asylum in the Ecuadorian international safe haven for a very long time. Assange distributed a huge number of released grouped records in 2010 and 2011 uncovering US military bad behavior. The 48-year-old is purportedly in chronic weakness following quite a while of repression. In excess of 60 specialists from eight distinct nations composed an open letter before the end of last year saying they were worried that he could bite the dust in care if he's not moved from the high-security Belmarsh Prison to an emergency clinic. Their solicitation was denied. Snowden, the previous CIA and NSA temporary worker who uncovered mass reconnaissance of Americans by US insight administrations, was conceded perpetual residency in Russia in October subsequent to taking shelter in the nation since 2013. He's been accused of two tallies of reconnaissance and burglary of government property. Russia, which has no removal settlement with the US, recently conceded Snowden's impermanent refuge. Trump's archetype, Barack Obama, denied Snowden's solicitation for an exculpation. In any case, Trump, who said in 2013 that Snowden was a "spy who should be executed," has reevaluated that position lately. Trump told correspondents in August that he would consider exculpating Snowden. Individuals from the two sides of the US political separation have asked Trump to acquit Snowden and Assange. US Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) a month ago reestablished her requires the president to exculpate the two men, saying they uncovered the guiltiness of the covert government at extraordinary a disregard for one's own needs. .@realDonaldTrump Since you're giving pardons to people, please consider pardoning those who, at great personal sacrifice, exposed the deception and criminality of those in the deep state. https://t.co/aeXklUsNSd — Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) November 26, 2020 × if @realDonaldTrump wants to show everyone he's one of the people, anti establishment and not apart of the swamp, he would pardon 1. Assange 2. Snowden 3. Ulbricht — Luke Rudkowski (@Lukewearechange) November 27, 2020 × After Gabbard was assaulted for supporting him, Snowden himself noticed that the general population has betrayed legislators who smear informants. Politicians take note: smearing whistleblowers and publishers with obvious bullshit no longer gets you showered in likes, it gets you ratioed by a furious public. It is time to end the war on whistleblowers. pic.twitter.com/bMfzUU5VCt — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) November 28, 2020 × Trump will have just until January 20 to make a move except if he's fruitful in getting the courts to topple Democrat Joe Biden's media-proclaimed political race triumph. Digital recording host Jen Perelman, a Florida Democrat who ran fruitlessly to take Debbie Wasserman-Shultz's legislative seat, proposed that Snowden's possibilities could be more awful under the following organization. "Is oversight going to be more regrettable under Biden?" she inquired. Snowden prior uncovered that in 2013 then-VP Biden was considering nations around the globe to caution them that in the event that they award refuge to the informant, they will be confronted with "results" from Washington. Different eyewitnesses applauded Snowden for asking Trump to consider Assange's case even before his own. "How tolerant and caring of you," one analyst said. Another stated, "The individuals of America and the world will be everlastingly thankful to the daring truth-tellers, be they informants or legitimate writers, regardless of whether they don't all acknowledge it yet."

NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden urges Trump to grant clemency to WikiLeaks' Julian Assange

<p>India's economy will return to growth in 2021/22 and higher spending in the budget due in February will lay the foundations for even stronger growth in the next four to five years, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Reuters on Thursday.</p>

<p>With the world's second-highest cases of coronavirus despite a severe lockdown of its 1.3 billion people early on in the pandemic, India's economy is expected to contract nearly 10 per cent&nbsp;in the 2020/21 financial year.</p>

<p>But recovery is taking hold now, Sitharaman told the Reuters Global Investment Outlook Summit, 2021.</p>

<p>"I would think 2021-22 will be very big, good traction year for achieving a really good rate of growth that itself is going to be a launching pad for 4-5 years of growing at a good speed, provided we do enough on the budget and spend on infrastructure," she said.</p>

<p>Unlike other countries such as the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom which poured billions of dollars in relief measures, the Indian government has been more measured in its approach because of limited resources and to curb its budget deficit from ballooning.</p>

<p>Sitharaman suggested the government could ease up on spending in the months ahead to boost the growth rate.</p>

<p>"I have to be conscious that if I don't spend now, then the stimulus is meaningless, if I don't spend now the revival is going to get deferred and we can't afford that."</p>


India's economy will return to growth in 2021/22 and higher spending in the budget due in February will lay the foundations for even stronger growth in the next four to five years, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Reuters on Thursday.

India's economy will return to growth in 2021/22 and higher spending in the budget due in February will lay the foundations for even stronger growth in the next four to five years, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Reuters on Thursday. With the world's second-highest cases of coronavirus despite a severe lockdown of its 1.3 billion people early on in the pandemic, India's economy is expected to contract nearly 10 per cent in the 2020/21 financial year. But recovery is taking hold now, Sitharaman told the Reuters Global Investment Outlook Summit, 2021. "I would think 2021-22 will be very big, good traction year for achieving a really good rate of growth that itself is going to be a launching pad for 4-5 years of growing at a good speed, provided we do enough on the budget and spend on infrastructure," she said. Unlike other countries such as the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom which poured billions of dollars in relief measures, the Indian government has been more measured in its approach because of limited resources and to curb its budget deficit from ballooning. Sitharaman suggested the government could ease up on spending in the months ahead to boost the growth rate. "I have to be conscious that if I don't spend now, then the stimulus is meaningless, if I don't spend now the revival is going to get deferred and we can't afford that."

India's next budget to focus on boosting growth, says finance minister

<p>As bilateral ties between Nepal and India have seen a thaw in recent days, the stalled high-level visits and exchanges have resumed.<br />
<br />
After three back to back high-level visits from India, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Army Chief General MM Naravane, and Chief of R&amp;AW Samant Goel -- Kathmandu is sending its foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali to New Delhi on a return visit, Nepali and Indian officials told IANS.<br />
<br />
At the invitation of External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar, foreign minister Gyawali will be visiting New Delhi on December 22 and 23 to take part in the Sixth meeting of Joint Commission between Nepal and India at foreign minister level. The joint commission is the highest level mechanism between the two countries. During the occasion, Gyawali will call on the Prime Minister Modi and other leaders.<br />
<br />
In an interview with a local television channel, Gyawali confirmed that he is visiting New Delhi on a bilateral visit and would raise the issue of boundary dispute strongly.<br />
<br />
Ties between Nepal and India had hit rock-bottom after Nepal issued a new map in May. The map was issued in response to India opening a strategic road to the Lipulekh border region, which is claimed by Nepal. Then India called it " cartographic assertion" and declined to sit in talks.<br />
<br />
"Whether I go on an official visit or to take part in the meeting of the joint commission, the boundary dispute would be the major agenda from our side," Gyawali said in the interview.<br />
<br />
After a month-long silence, Nepal`s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli rang up his Indian counterpart on India`s Independence Day on August 15 where both leaders agreed to work together and resume talks and dialogue that had been stalled since November last year after India came up with a new political map followed by the Covid pandemic.<br />
<br />
The issue of a boundary dispute is already on the table and India is ready to discuss it, Gyawali said in the interview. During the recent Nepal visit of Indian foreign secretary, the issue of boundary dispute figured in the meeting and both sides agreed to work on the remaining part of the border.<br />
<br />
Nepal and India have several disputes and claims on the bilateral border and a dedicated technical team is working on the ground.<br />
<br />
The joint commission takes up bilateral issues, seeks resolutions or instructs mechanisms to resolve them.<br />
<br />
More than three dozen issues and bilateral agenda will be discussed in the meeting ranging from political to security to trade, commerce, transit, economic cooperation, connectivity, water resources, energy cooperation, inundation, India funded projects in Nepal to economic partnership among others.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


As bilateral ties between Nepal and India have seen a thaw in recent days, the stalled high-level visits and exchanges have resumed. After three back to back high-level visits from India, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Army Chief General MM Naravane, and Chief of R&AW Samant Goel -- Kathmandu is sending its foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali to New Delhi on a return visit, Nepali and Indian officials told IANS.

As bilateral ties between Nepal and India have seen a thaw in recent days, the stalled high-level visits and exchanges have resumed. After three back to back high-level visits from India, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Army Chief General MM Naravane, and Chief of R&AW Samant Goel -- Kathmandu is sending its foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali to New Delhi on a return visit, Nepali and Indian officials told IANS. At the invitation of External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar, foreign minister Gyawali will be visiting New Delhi on December 22 and 23 to take part in the Sixth meeting of Joint Commission between Nepal and India at foreign minister level. The joint commission is the highest level mechanism between the two countries. During the occasion, Gyawali will call on the Prime Minister Modi and other leaders. In an interview with a local television channel, Gyawali confirmed that he is visiting New Delhi on a bilateral visit and would raise the issue of boundary dispute strongly. Ties between Nepal and India had hit rock-bottom after Nepal issued a new map in May. The map was issued in response to India opening a strategic road to the Lipulekh border region, which is claimed by Nepal. Then India called it " cartographic assertion" and declined to sit in talks. "Whether I go on an official visit or to take part in the meeting of the joint commission, the boundary dispute would be the major agenda from our side," Gyawali said in the interview. After a month-long silence, Nepal`s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli rang up his Indian counterpart on India`s Independence Day on August 15 where both leaders agreed to work together and resume talks and dialogue that had been stalled since November last year after India came up with a new political map followed by the Covid pandemic. The issue of a boundary dispute is already on the table and India is ready to discuss it, Gyawali said in the interview. During the recent Nepal visit of Indian foreign secretary, the issue of boundary dispute figured in the meeting and both sides agreed to work on the remaining part of the border. Nepal and India have several disputes and claims on the bilateral border and a dedicated technical team is working on the ground. The joint commission takes up bilateral issues, seeks resolutions or instructs mechanisms to resolve them. More than three dozen issues and bilateral agenda will be discussed in the meeting ranging from political to security to trade, commerce, transit, economic cooperation, connectivity, water resources, energy cooperation, inundation, India funded projects in Nepal to economic partnership among others.

Nepal's foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali to visit India for bilateral talks

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Vyomica Berry

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.