The World Health Organization (WHO) has given Beijing a list of global experts to be part of the international investigation team to be sent to China to probe the origin of the coronavirus and is awaiting its approval, according to a media report on Thursday.

In May, the annual meeting of World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the Geneva-based WHO currently headed by India, passed a unanimous resolution to probe the origin of the virus. China also backed the resolution.

In August, a two-member team from the WHO which visited China completed the groundwork for the probe into the animal source and reservoirs of the COVID-19 which first emerged in Wuhan in December last year and later became a global pandemic, creating the worst health crisis across the world.

On Monday, WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director Mike Ryan told a special meeting of the organisation's executive board that it has selected expert candidates from around the world for the mission and it was now up to Beijing to say who would be on the international team and when they would enter China, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

''A list of candidates has been submitted to the Chinese authorities for their consideration and for next steps in order to deploy that team''&nbsp;Ryan told the advisory group of member state representatives, without saying when the list was sent.

At Monday's meeting, representatives from the United States, the European Union, and Australia called on the WHO to send the team and share more details about the mission, the report said.

''Transparency around this work is critical, we are keen to see further information on the membership of the international team and its programme of work,''&nbsp;Australian associate health secretary and WHO executive board member Caroline Edwards said.

However, WHO could not send a team into a member state without its permission, the Post report.

''If, therefore, China would condition entry of an expert group on vetting the expert list, then from an international legal perspective, the WHO's hands are bound,''&nbsp;Ayelet Berman, senior research fellow at the Centre for International Law at the National University Singapore told the Post.

WHO has faced stringent criticism, especially from US President Donald Trump, who accused it of being a puppet of China for not acting in time to halt the spread of the COVID-19 when it broke out in Wuhan.

In his address to the UN General Assembly on September 23, Trump also attacked WHO saying that it is ?virtually controlled by China?. 
Besides halting funding for WHO, the Trump administration formally notified the UN of its decision to withdraw the US from the WHO, breaking off ties with the global health body amidst the raging coronavirus pandemic.

The US has also accused the WHO of siding with China on the outbreak of the virus, alleging the health body misled the world resulting in over a million deaths.

Besides denying Trump's allegations that the virus has escaped from a bio-lab in Wuhan, China also refuted allegations that it emanated from a wet market in the city from bats or pangolins before infecting humans.

For its part, China sought to shift the blame saying that the virus may have originated elsewhere in the world and surfaced in Wuhan. 
Analysts said WHO mission's legitimacy would depend on who was involved and how it was run, particularly after criticism that it had pandered to China during the early weeks of the outbreak.

The WHO's lack of authority to force through its list of experts as final means ''deference to Chinese authorities is hard-wired into this mission,''&nbsp;according to David Fidler, an adjunct senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations in the US.

''Given the geopolitics of the pandemic, this back and forth between the WHO and China will refuel criticism of both the WHO and China and darken the cloud already hanging over the organisation and its relationship with the Chinese government,''&nbsp;he told the Post.

Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs and Centre for European Studies at Renmin University, was quoted by the Post as saying that the expert team should be decided by the WHO based on the professional background&nbsp;to depoliticise&nbsp;the investigation.

According to the Johns Hopkins University data, there are over 36 million COVID-19 cases and over 1 million deaths due to the disease globally.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization (WHO) has given Beijing a list of global experts to be part of the international investigation team to be sent to China to probe the origin of the coronavirus and is awaiting its approval, according to a media report on Thursday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has given Beijing a list of global experts to be part of the international investigation team to be sent to China to probe the origin of the coronavirus and is awaiting its approval, according to a media report on Thursday. In May, the annual meeting of World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the Geneva-based WHO currently headed by India, passed a unanimous resolution to probe the origin of the virus. China also backed the resolution. In August, a two-member team from the WHO which visited China completed the groundwork for the probe into the animal source and reservoirs of the COVID-19 which first emerged in Wuhan in December last year and later became a global pandemic, creating the worst health crisis across the world. On Monday, WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director Mike Ryan told a special meeting of the organisation's executive board that it has selected expert candidates from around the world for the mission and it was now up to Beijing to say who would be on the international team and when they would enter China, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. ''A list of candidates has been submitted to the Chinese authorities for their consideration and for next steps in order to deploy that team'' Ryan told the advisory group of member state representatives, without saying when the list was sent. At Monday's meeting, representatives from the United States, the European Union, and Australia called on the WHO to send the team and share more details about the mission, the report said. ''Transparency around this work is critical, we are keen to see further information on the membership of the international team and its programme of work,'' Australian associate health secretary and WHO executive board member Caroline Edwards said. However, WHO could not send a team into a member state without its permission, the Post report. ''If, therefore, China would condition entry of an expert group on vetting the expert list, then from an international legal perspective, the WHO's hands are bound,'' Ayelet Berman, senior research fellow at the Centre for International Law at the National University Singapore told the Post. WHO has faced stringent criticism, especially from US President Donald Trump, who accused it of being a puppet of China for not acting in time to halt the spread of the COVID-19 when it broke out in Wuhan. In his address to the UN General Assembly on September 23, Trump also attacked WHO saying that it is ?virtually controlled by China?. Besides halting funding for WHO, the Trump administration formally notified the UN of its decision to withdraw the US from the WHO, breaking off ties with the global health body amidst the raging coronavirus pandemic. The US has also accused the WHO of siding with China on the outbreak of the virus, alleging the health body misled the world resulting in over a million deaths. Besides denying Trump's allegations that the virus has escaped from a bio-lab in Wuhan, China also refuted allegations that it emanated from a wet market in the city from bats or pangolins before infecting humans. For its part, China sought to shift the blame saying that the virus may have originated elsewhere in the world and surfaced in Wuhan. Analysts said WHO mission's legitimacy would depend on who was involved and how it was run, particularly after criticism that it had pandered to China during the early weeks of the outbreak. The WHO's lack of authority to force through its list of experts as final means ''deference to Chinese authorities is hard-wired into this mission,'' according to David Fidler, an adjunct senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations in the US. ''Given the geopolitics of the pandemic, this back and forth between the WHO and China will refuel criticism of both the WHO and China and darken the cloud already hanging over the organisation and its relationship with the Chinese government,'' he told the Post. Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs and Centre for European Studies at Renmin University, was quoted by the Post as saying that the expert team should be decided by the WHO based on the professional background to depoliticise the investigation. According to the Johns Hopkins University data, there are over 36 million COVID-19 cases and over 1 million deaths due to the disease globally.

WHO awaits China's nod on list of experts to probe origin of coronavirus

Argentina's&nbsp;government announced on Wednesday that it has become the&nbsp;first country to approve HB4 drought-resistant genetically modified wheat by biotechnology firm Bioceres SA.

No countries have yet given the green light to imports of GMO products and Bioceres said it will only begin marketing HB4 once it is approved for importation by Brazil, the biggest destination for Argentine wheat.

"Today&nbsp;Argentina&nbsp;is leading technological transformation at an international level," the CEO of Bioceres, Federico Trucco, said in a statement issued in conjunction with the country's science and technology ministry.

"HB4 technology provides seeds that are more tolerant to drought, minimizing production losses, and giving greater predictability to yields," the ministry said in the statement.

While other crops such as corn and soybeans have been widely genetically modified to improve yield or withstand threats, GMO wheat has not been approved anywhere for commercial production because of consumers' concerns. Wheat is primarily used for human consumption.

"I will not plant HB4 wheat, and I would not recommend that anyone else does, until it has been approved by importing countries. It seems risky in the sense that we could end up with crops that no one wants to buy," said Francisco Santillan, who manages farms in Cordoba, Santa Fe and Buenos Aires province.

Last year, 45 per cent&nbsp;of the 11.3 million tonnes of wheat harvested in&nbsp;Argentina&nbsp;was shipped to Brazil. The head of the Brazilian Wheat Industry Associations, Rubens Barbosa, said the group was following the situation with interest.

"We have requested information from the government because no countries allow the importation of GMO wheat," said Gustavo Idigoras, head of&nbsp;Argentina's CIARA CEC grains export industry chamber.

Dave Green, executive vice president of the Wheat Quality Council, a US&nbsp;trade group, said: "I don't hear anything about GMO wheat efforts here. None of our export customers want any."

Argentina's government announced on Wednesday that it has become the first country to approve HB4 drought-resistant genetically modified wheat by biotechnology firm Bioceres SA.

Argentina's government announced on Wednesday that it has become the first country to approve HB4 drought-resistant genetically modified wheat by biotechnology firm Bioceres SA. No countries have yet given the green light to imports of GMO products and Bioceres said it will only begin marketing HB4 once it is approved for importation by Brazil, the biggest destination for Argentine wheat. "Today Argentina is leading technological transformation at an international level," the CEO of Bioceres, Federico Trucco, said in a statement issued in conjunction with the country's science and technology ministry. "HB4 technology provides seeds that are more tolerant to drought, minimizing production losses, and giving greater predictability to yields," the ministry said in the statement. While other crops such as corn and soybeans have been widely genetically modified to improve yield or withstand threats, GMO wheat has not been approved anywhere for commercial production because of consumers' concerns. Wheat is primarily used for human consumption. "I will not plant HB4 wheat, and I would not recommend that anyone else does, until it has been approved by importing countries. It seems risky in the sense that we could end up with crops that no one wants to buy," said Francisco Santillan, who manages farms in Cordoba, Santa Fe and Buenos Aires province. Last year, 45 per cent of the 11.3 million tonnes of wheat harvested in Argentina was shipped to Brazil. The head of the Brazilian Wheat Industry Associations, Rubens Barbosa, said the group was following the situation with interest. "We have requested information from the government because no countries allow the importation of GMO wheat," said Gustavo Idigoras, head of Argentina's CIARA CEC grains export industry chamber. Dave Green, executive vice president of the Wheat Quality Council, a US trade group, said: "I don't hear anything about GMO wheat efforts here. None of our export customers want any."

Argentina first country to approve HB4 drought-resistant genetically modified wheat

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday vowed his support to&nbsp;Kiev's sovereignty&nbsp;"in the face of Russia's destabilising behaviour" and countering its&nbsp;"malign influence".

Britain and Ukraine have clinched a "strategic partnership agreement"&nbsp;that includes a free trade deal covering goods, services, and tariffs and quotas.

The deal was signed in Downing Street as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a two-day visit to the UK.&nbsp;

It will replace key elements of an existing partnership agreement between&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;and the European Union, as London looks to its post-Brexit future in 2021.

Britain formally left the bloc in January but has remained bound by most of its rules until the end of the year under the terms of its divorce.&nbsp;

"The two leaders discussed the importance of working together to counter Russia's malign influence, both in Ukraine and in the wider region," a Downing Street spokesman said.

"They also expressed their shared concern about the situation in Belarus. The prime minister outlined the steps the UK has taken in response to human rights abuses in the country, including the imposition of sanctions."

"The UK is&nbsp;Ukraine's most fervent supporter," Johnson said in a statement ahead of the signing.&nbsp;

"We are utterly committed to upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of&nbsp;Ukraine," he added, calling the new agreement "the next chapter" in the countries' relationship.&nbsp;

The new deal with Kiev includes a comprehensive preferential free trade agreement covering goods, services, and tariffs and quotas, his office said.

It also details commitments to cooperate on peaceful conflict resolution, defence and security, climate change and human rights.&nbsp;

Russia in 2014 annexed Crimea from&nbsp;Ukraine, a move that also prompted the outbreak of a Moscow-backed separatist conflict in the country's east.

London said it is "a staunch defender of&nbsp;Ukraine's right to self-determination" and noted British troops had trained over 18,000 members of&nbsp;Ukraine's armed forces since 2015.

The UK will also soon lead a multi-national "maritime training initiative" for the Ukrainian Navy, according to Downing Street.

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday vowed his support to Kiev's sovereignty "in the face of Russia's destabilising behaviour" and countering its "malign influence".

The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday vowed his support to Kiev's sovereignty "in the face of Russia's destabilising behaviour" and countering its "malign influence". Britain and Ukraine have clinched a "strategic partnership agreement" that includes a free trade deal covering goods, services, and tariffs and quotas. The deal was signed in Downing Street as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a two-day visit to the UK. It will replace key elements of an existing partnership agreement between Ukraine and the European Union, as London looks to its post-Brexit future in 2021. Britain formally left the bloc in January but has remained bound by most of its rules until the end of the year under the terms of its divorce. "The two leaders discussed the importance of working together to counter Russia's malign influence, both in Ukraine and in the wider region," a Downing Street spokesman said. "They also expressed their shared concern about the situation in Belarus. The prime minister outlined the steps the UK has taken in response to human rights abuses in the country, including the imposition of sanctions." "The UK is Ukraine's most fervent supporter," Johnson said in a statement ahead of the signing. "We are utterly committed to upholding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," he added, calling the new agreement "the next chapter" in the countries' relationship. The new deal with Kiev includes a comprehensive preferential free trade agreement covering goods, services, and tariffs and quotas, his office said. It also details commitments to cooperate on peaceful conflict resolution, defence and security, climate change and human rights. Russia in 2014 annexed Crimea from Ukraine, a move that also prompted the outbreak of a Moscow-backed separatist conflict in the country's east. London said it is "a staunch defender of Ukraine's right to self-determination" and noted British troops had trained over 18,000 members of Ukraine's armed forces since 2015. The UK will also soon lead a multi-national "maritime training initiative" for the Ukrainian Navy, according to Downing Street.

UK pledges Ukraine support to counter Russia's 'malign influence'

Kuwait's new Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah took the oath of office in parliament on Thursday, pledging the Gulf Arab state's commitment to democracy and peace and calling on&nbsp;Kuwaitis to shun divisions.

Sheikh Meshal, 80, a long-serving top security official, was unanimously endorsed the octogenarian Sheikh Meshal for the role in what has been a smooth succession that retained power firmly within the ruling family's oldest ranks following last week's death of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad.

New ruler Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad, 83, assumed power last Wednesday in the US-allied OPEC member state as it faces a liquidity crunch caused by low oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic against the backdrop of continued tensions between larger neighbours Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kuwait-swears-in-new-emir-after-death-of-ruler-331402">Kuwait swears in new emir after death of ruler</a>

Sheik Meshal, in televised remarks, said&nbsp;Kuwait&nbsp;would uphold its regional and international commitments and "its path of peace and democratic approach."

"He pledged to "raise the banner of popular participation and promote a tolerant spirit that shuns division."

Diplomats and analysts say that because of his low-key style and age, Emir Sheikh Nawaf may delegate a larger portion of responsibilities to Sheikh Meshal, a forceful figure who had been deputy head of the National Guard since 2004 and before that headed State Security for 13 years, shunning public-facing roles.

Sheik Meshal's rise stands in contrast to some other Gulf states, most notably Saudi Arabia, where ruling families are starting to give top jobs to younger princes. Sheik Nawaf and Sheikh Meshal, both brothers of the late ruler, are expected to focus on domestic issues as the country prepares for parliamentary elections this year and the government tries to shore up its finances.

Frequent clashes between the hand-picked cabinet, in which ruling family members hold most senior posts, and the assembly have led to successive government reshuffles and dissolution of parliament, hindering investment and economic reforms.

The new leaders are expected to uphold oil policy and a foreign policy shaped by Sheikh Sabah that strove for unity in a polarised region and balanced ties with Saudi Arabia, Iran and former occupier Iraq.

Kuwait's new Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah took the oath of office in parliament on Thursday, pledging the Gulf Arab state's commitment to democracy and peace and calling on Kuwaitis to shun divisions.

Kuwait's new Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah took the oath of office in parliament on Thursday, pledging the Gulf Arab state's commitment to democracy and peace and calling on Kuwaitis to shun divisions. Sheikh Meshal, 80, a long-serving top security official, was unanimously endorsed the octogenarian Sheikh Meshal for the role in what has been a smooth succession that retained power firmly within the ruling family's oldest ranks following last week's death of Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad. New ruler Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad, 83, assumed power last Wednesday in the US-allied OPEC member state as it faces a liquidity crunch caused by low oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic against the backdrop of continued tensions between larger neighbours Saudi Arabia and Iran. Also read: Kuwait swears in new emir after death of ruler Sheik Meshal, in televised remarks, said Kuwait would uphold its regional and international commitments and "its path of peace and democratic approach." "He pledged to "raise the banner of popular participation and promote a tolerant spirit that shuns division." Diplomats and analysts say that because of his low-key style and age, Emir Sheikh Nawaf may delegate a larger portion of responsibilities to Sheikh Meshal, a forceful figure who had been deputy head of the National Guard since 2004 and before that headed State Security for 13 years, shunning public-facing roles. Sheik Meshal's rise stands in contrast to some other Gulf states, most notably Saudi Arabia, where ruling families are starting to give top jobs to younger princes. Sheik Nawaf and Sheikh Meshal, both brothers of the late ruler, are expected to focus on domestic issues as the country prepares for parliamentary elections this year and the government tries to shore up its finances. Frequent clashes between the hand-picked cabinet, in which ruling family members hold most senior posts, and the assembly have led to successive government reshuffles and dissolution of parliament, hindering investment and economic reforms. The new leaders are expected to uphold oil policy and a foreign policy shaped by Sheikh Sabah that strove for unity in a polarised region and balanced ties with Saudi Arabia, Iran and former occupier Iraq.

Kuwait's new crown prince sworn in at parliament; pledges commitment to democracy and peace

A high-powered Chinese delegation led by ruling Communist Party Politburo member Yang Jiechi is expected to arrive here on Thursday, amid Sri Lanka struggling to boost its foreign reserves after its economy was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Yang, former China's foreign minister, will become the first top ranking Chinese official to travel to the South Asian region since the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, officials here said.

The Chinese delegation led by Yang is also expected to meet President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday.

The visit assumes significance as Sri Lanka is expecting to receive the second tranche of a USD 1.2 billion syndicated Chinese loan. The island nation received the first trance of USD 500 million in March.

The Sri Lankan government had said that the anticipated Panda (Chinese) bonds and the syndicated Chinese loan will strengthen the country's balance of payments in the backdrop of the country's credit rating downgrade by Moody's last week.

Credit ratings agency Moody's downgraded Lanka's sovereign credit rating by two notches, saying the South Asian nation would be hard-pressed to secure funding to service its huge foreign debt.

Sri Lanka was pushed down from "B2" (high credit risk) to "Caa1" (very high credit risk), as the coronavirus pandemic compounded the economic woes of the country.

China is already one of the biggest investors in various infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. But there has been criticism, both locally and internationally, and growing concerns that China has lured Sri Lanka into a debt trap.

The previous Maithripala Sirisena government had entered into a 99-year lease with China in 2017 as a settlement of its debt by way of equity.

Officials said the visit was made possible by a travel bubble created for the purpose and there will be strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. 
Sri Lanka's economy, especially the tourism sector, has been hit hard since last year ? initially by the Easter Sunday attacks, which killed over 250 people and later by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 
The country has so far reported 4,252 infections and 13 deaths. 
The Reserve Bank of India in July this year signed necessary documents for extending a USD 400 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka to boost the nation's draining foreign exchange reserves due to the coronavirus pandemic. 
The currency swap arrangement will remain available till November 2022.

A high-powered Chinese delegation led by ruling Communist Party Politburo member Yang Jiechi is expected to arrive here on Thursday, amid Sri Lanka struggling to boost its foreign reserves after its economy was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

A high-powered Chinese delegation led by ruling Communist Party Politburo member Yang Jiechi is expected to arrive here on Thursday, amid Sri Lanka struggling to boost its foreign reserves after its economy was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Yang, former China's foreign minister, will become the first top ranking Chinese official to travel to the South Asian region since the global outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, officials here said. The Chinese delegation led by Yang is also expected to meet President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday. The visit assumes significance as Sri Lanka is expecting to receive the second tranche of a USD 1.2 billion syndicated Chinese loan. The island nation received the first trance of USD 500 million in March. The Sri Lankan government had said that the anticipated Panda (Chinese) bonds and the syndicated Chinese loan will strengthen the country's balance of payments in the backdrop of the country's credit rating downgrade by Moody's last week. Credit ratings agency Moody's downgraded Lanka's sovereign credit rating by two notches, saying the South Asian nation would be hard-pressed to secure funding to service its huge foreign debt. Sri Lanka was pushed down from "B2" (high credit risk) to "Caa1" (very high credit risk), as the coronavirus pandemic compounded the economic woes of the country. China is already one of the biggest investors in various infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. But there has been criticism, both locally and internationally, and growing concerns that China has lured Sri Lanka into a debt trap. The previous Maithripala Sirisena government had entered into a 99-year lease with China in 2017 as a settlement of its debt by way of equity. Officials said the visit was made possible by a travel bubble created for the purpose and there will be strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols. Sri Lanka's economy, especially the tourism sector, has been hit hard since last year ? initially by the Easter Sunday attacks, which killed over 250 people and later by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The country has so far reported 4,252 infections and 13 deaths. The Reserve Bank of India in July this year signed necessary documents for extending a USD 400 million currency swap facility to Sri Lanka to boost the nation's draining foreign exchange reserves due to the coronavirus pandemic. The currency swap arrangement will remain available till November 2022.

High-level Chinese delegation to visit Colombo as Lanka struggles to boost foreign reserves

The other night, as President Donald Trump convalesced at Walter Reed, I took a spin through social media to see the latest news on his health.

Instead, what I found were a bunch of paranoid partisans posting grainy, zoomed-in photos, analyzing video footage frame by frame, and people straining to connect the dots on far-fetched conspiracy theories involving a cabal of nefarious elites staging an elaborate cover-up.

No, I didn’t stumble into a room for QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy theory. In fact, many of the people sharing bogus and unverified claims on my feeds were die-hard Democrats. Some of them were speculating, with no evidence, that Trump was faking his bout with COVID-19 to engender sympathy and boost his reelection chances. Others claimed that Trump had died and been replaced by a body double (nope), that he had gotten a secret vaccine from Russia and was quarantining until it took effect (also nope) or that he had deliberately contracted the disease to distract the public from a New York Times article about his taxes (creative, but doubtful).

None of these theories passed the smell test, but they were retweeted and shared thousands of times anyway. Zignal Labs, a firm that tracks online misinformation, said that the theory that Trump had faked his illness had been mentioned more than 85,000 times on social media and that the hashtag #TrumpCovidHoax, which trended on Twitter in the United States, had been mentioned more than 75,000 times.

To be clear, none of the rumormongering I saw from the left was comparable to a dangerous extremist movement like QAnon, which alleges that the world is controlled by a cabal of satanic pedophiles led by prominent Democrats. And it’s understandable that people would question the official narrative of Trump’s illness. Presidents have a long history of hiding their health problems from the public, and the barrage of conflicting, confusing and dishonest information emanating from Trump and his medical team this week has made it hard to take their claims at face value.

But it is notable how easily the conspiracist’s creed — that the official narrative is always a lie, and that the truth is out there for those willing to dig for it themselves — has penetrated our national psyche. After Trump tested positive for COVID-19 last week, social media sleuths raced to dissect every statement, tweet and photograph that might reveal clues about his real condition. (Is that lump in his jacket a hidden oxygen tank? Was that video edited to remove a telltale cough?)

Unsatisfied with the official explanations given by Trump’s doctors, they sought out their own sources, like the TikTok account of Claudia Conway, the 15-year-old daughter of the former presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway, who offered a grimmer prognosis.

And when the president did emerge from Walter Reed, armchair pulmonologists pored over his homecoming video as if it were a modern-day Zapruder film, looking for evidence that he was still in dire shape.

Trump’s hospitalization — a high-stakes medical drama starring a president who is known to exaggerate his own health — made for perfect conspiracy theory fodder. And according to several experts I talked to, the lack of reliable information coming from Trump administration officials made speculation about a cover-up inevitable.

“Conspiracy theorists love a vacuum,” said Kathryn Olmsted, a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, who has studied the history of conspiracy theories. “If they’re not getting answers, they’re going to come up with their own.”

Some of what’s happening is related to the dynamics of social media platforms, which favor bold, engaging claims over dry and careful ones. But there seems to be something else happening, too — a force that is pulling us all toward conspiracy theories these days, no matter our political persuasion.

On Tuesday, Facebook officially banned the QAnon movement from its services, labeling it a “militarized social movement.” The purge was good news for those of us who have watched QAnon morph from a fringe message board stunt to a dangerous quasi-religion that organizes mass harassment campaigns, spreads life-threatening misinformation and threatens its enemies with violence.

But while QAnon may be a singularly dangerous movement, the reflexive paranoia and rejection of authority it represents is not an isolated phenomenon, or one that is limited to far-right extremists.

On Monday, as I watched a video clip of the president standing on a White House balcony, I was struck by the realization that virtually no one was simply accepting the scene at face value. Democrats were theorizing about what secret maladies he was trying to cover up. Republicans were speculating about what signals he was trying to send to his political opponents. Everyone was “doing their own research,” and looking behind the curtain for the real story. There was no text, only subtext.

I thought of Martin Gurri, a media theorist whose work I find provocative, even if I disagree with some of his conclusions. In his book “The Revolt of the Public,” Gurri writes that social media, and the internet more broadly, have eroded the authority of long-standing mass-media gatekeepers — like the newspaper you’re reading right now — and replaced it with “vital communities” of digital insurgents who are united around shared interests.

These groups, Gurri writes, develop their own sources of authority. For one group, a phalanx of white-coated doctors standing outside Walter Reed might seem authoritative. For another group, a teenage girl’s TikTok feed or a QAnon believer’s YouTube channel might hold more sway. Every group creates its own evidentiary standards, and processes information in its own way. There is no “consensus reality” they can all agree to because the idea of a single, shared reality was an artifact of the 20th century, when most people got information from a handful of big mainstream sources.

I called Gurri, who told me that he wasn’t surprised that people were turning to conspiracy theories about Trump’s illness. Uncertainty always breeds distrust, and in the age of social media, he said, authority is held by people who can effectively get their message out — even if those messages are false or misleading.

&nbsp;

“Dissemination is validation,” he said. “If you can concoct something that travels on the web, then you’re on the same plane as any expert in the world.”

Gurri, a former CIA analyst, is skeptical that we will ever return to accepting information handed to us by elites at face value. There’s simply too much information now, traveling over too many channels, for people on any side to be satisfied with a single, straightforward answer to any question — whether it’s about the president’s blood oxygen levels, an imaginary pedophile cabal or something else entirely.

&nbsp;

I don’t think, as some of Gurri’s fans in Silicon Valley do, that authority and expertise are relics of a bygone age, and I don’t think we should let social media platforms off the hook for amplifying lies and propaganda. But as I look around my feeds this week, it’s hard not to wonder if he’s right that the internet — and the erosion of authority it has enabled — has made conspiracy theorists of us all.

&nbsp;

“This is not Trump,” Gurri said. “This is structural, and even if Trump loses in November, it’s going to continue.”

The other night, as President Donald Trump convalesced at Walter Reed, I took a spin through social media to see the latest news on his health. Instead, what I found were a bunch of paranoid partisans posting grainy, zoomed-in photos, analyzing video footage frame by frame, and people straining to connect the dots on far-fetched conspiracy theories involving a cabal of nefarious elites staging an elaborate cover-up.

The other night, as President Donald Trump convalesced at Walter Reed, I took a spin through social media to see the latest news on his health. Instead, what I found were a bunch of paranoid partisans posting grainy, zoomed-in photos, analyzing video footage frame by frame, and people straining to connect the dots on far-fetched conspiracy theories involving a cabal of nefarious elites staging an elaborate cover-up. No, I didn’t stumble into a room for QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy theory. In fact, many of the people sharing bogus and unverified claims on my feeds were die-hard Democrats. Some of them were speculating, with no evidence, that Trump was faking his bout with COVID-19 to engender sympathy and boost his reelection chances. Others claimed that Trump had died and been replaced by a body double (nope), that he had gotten a secret vaccine from Russia and was quarantining until it took effect (also nope) or that he had deliberately contracted the disease to distract the public from a New York Times article about his taxes (creative, but doubtful). None of these theories passed the smell test, but they were retweeted and shared thousands of times anyway. Zignal Labs, a firm that tracks online misinformation, said that the theory that Trump had faked his illness had been mentioned more than 85,000 times on social media and that the hashtag #TrumpCovidHoax, which trended on Twitter in the United States, had been mentioned more than 75,000 times. To be clear, none of the rumormongering I saw from the left was comparable to a dangerous extremist movement like QAnon, which alleges that the world is controlled by a cabal of satanic pedophiles led by prominent Democrats. And it’s understandable that people would question the official narrative of Trump’s illness. Presidents have a long history of hiding their health problems from the public, and the barrage of conflicting, confusing and dishonest information emanating from Trump and his medical team this week has made it hard to take their claims at face value. But it is notable how easily the conspiracist’s creed — that the official narrative is always a lie, and that the truth is out there for those willing to dig for it themselves — has penetrated our national psyche. After Trump tested positive for COVID-19 last week, social media sleuths raced to dissect every statement, tweet and photograph that might reveal clues about his real condition. (Is that lump in his jacket a hidden oxygen tank? Was that video edited to remove a telltale cough?) Unsatisfied with the official explanations given by Trump’s doctors, they sought out their own sources, like the TikTok account of Claudia Conway, the 15-year-old daughter of the former presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway, who offered a grimmer prognosis. And when the president did emerge from Walter Reed, armchair pulmonologists pored over his homecoming video as if it were a modern-day Zapruder film, looking for evidence that he was still in dire shape. Trump’s hospitalization — a high-stakes medical drama starring a president who is known to exaggerate his own health — made for perfect conspiracy theory fodder. And according to several experts I talked to, the lack of reliable information coming from Trump administration officials made speculation about a cover-up inevitable. “Conspiracy theorists love a vacuum,” said Kathryn Olmsted, a professor of history at the University of California, Davis, who has studied the history of conspiracy theories. “If they’re not getting answers, they’re going to come up with their own.” Some of what’s happening is related to the dynamics of social media platforms, which favor bold, engaging claims over dry and careful ones. But there seems to be something else happening, too — a force that is pulling us all toward conspiracy theories these days, no matter our political persuasion. On Tuesday, Facebook officially banned the QAnon movement from its services, labeling it a “militarized social movement.” The purge was good news for those of us who have watched QAnon morph from a fringe message board stunt to a dangerous quasi-religion that organizes mass harassment campaigns, spreads life-threatening misinformation and threatens its enemies with violence. But while QAnon may be a singularly dangerous movement, the reflexive paranoia and rejection of authority it represents is not an isolated phenomenon, or one that is limited to far-right extremists. On Monday, as I watched a video clip of the president standing on a White House balcony, I was struck by the realization that virtually no one was simply accepting the scene at face value. Democrats were theorizing about what secret maladies he was trying to cover up. Republicans were speculating about what signals he was trying to send to his political opponents. Everyone was “doing their own research,” and looking behind the curtain for the real story. There was no text, only subtext. I thought of Martin Gurri, a media theorist whose work I find provocative, even if I disagree with some of his conclusions. In his book “The Revolt of the Public,” Gurri writes that social media, and the internet more broadly, have eroded the authority of long-standing mass-media gatekeepers — like the newspaper you’re reading right now — and replaced it with “vital communities” of digital insurgents who are united around shared interests. These groups, Gurri writes, develop their own sources of authority. For one group, a phalanx of white-coated doctors standing outside Walter Reed might seem authoritative. For another group, a teenage girl’s TikTok feed or a QAnon believer’s YouTube channel might hold more sway. Every group creates its own evidentiary standards, and processes information in its own way. There is no “consensus reality” they can all agree to because the idea of a single, shared reality was an artifact of the 20th century, when most people got information from a handful of big mainstream sources. I called Gurri, who told me that he wasn’t surprised that people were turning to conspiracy theories about Trump’s illness. Uncertainty always breeds distrust, and in the age of social media, he said, authority is held by people who can effectively get their message out — even if those messages are false or misleading. “Dissemination is validation,” he said. “If you can concoct something that travels on the web, then you’re on the same plane as any expert in the world.” Gurri, a former CIA analyst, is skeptical that we will ever return to accepting information handed to us by elites at face value. There’s simply too much information now, traveling over too many channels, for people on any side to be satisfied with a single, straightforward answer to any question — whether it’s about the president’s blood oxygen levels, an imaginary pedophile cabal or something else entirely. I don’t think, as some of Gurri’s fans in Silicon Valley do, that authority and expertise are relics of a bygone age, and I don’t think we should let social media platforms off the hook for amplifying lies and propaganda. But as I look around my feeds this week, it’s hard not to wonder if he’s right that the internet — and the erosion of authority it has enabled — has made conspiracy theorists of us all. “This is not Trump,” Gurri said. “This is structural, and even if Trump loses in November, it’s going to continue.”

Why conspiracy theories are so addictive right now

The Internet went berserk on Thursday after a stray housefly briefly commanded&nbsp;the US&nbsp;national stage&nbsp;when it perched on Vice President Mike&nbsp;Pence's cropped white hair as he debated his Democratic rival&nbsp;Kamala Harris.

Pence was discussing the somber issue of racial injustice and police reform when the winged interloper outmaneuvered the plexiglass barriers installed to prevent the spread of coronavirus and landed on the man who is just a heartbeat away from the US presidency.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-us-presidential-debate-to-be-virtual-trump-says-wont-participate-333504" hreflang="en">Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate'</a>

The insect sat there for several minutes during the matchup, distracting viewers who perhaps may have been looking for a break from all the talk of taxes and trade.

Taking the&nbsp;top billing at the vice presidential debate, social media&nbsp;immediately pronounced the fly the winner of the event.

Democratic presidential candidate and the&nbsp;running mate of Harris, Joe Biden himself got in on the action, fundraising off the insect drama.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. <a href="https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t">https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t</a> <a href="https://t.co/NbkPl0a8HV">pic.twitter.com/NbkPl0a8HV</a>
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1314031047013732352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 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">
That fly is an American hero.
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) <a href="https://twitter.com/itsgabrielleu/status/1314027218104848384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 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>

"Ok, this is seriously important debate, but no one is gonna remember anything but that fly," tweeted a user named Sykersomatic.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ok, this is seriously important debate, but no one is gonna remember anything but that fly. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPDebate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VPDebate</a>
— Sykersomatic (@Sykersomatic) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sykersomatic/status/1314030887198240773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 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>

Some Democrats took the opportunity to bring up President Donald Trump's COVID-19 infection. "The fly needs to be quarantined," Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar wrote.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The fly needs to quarantined. <a href="https://t.co/0HzCtVVQy3">https://t.co/0HzCtVVQy3</a>
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) <a href="https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1314044835188420611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 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">
If your biggest hit on Pence after that debate is a fly landing on his head, your team probably lost the debate.
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrisonPlanet/status/1314152906749349893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 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">
I appreciate it's harder for Pence just to yell "murdering babies" and "terrorism"' and "brown and yellow people massed at the border" with a fly on his head - WE know that's an antifa fly
— Marie Myung-Ok 명옥 Lee (@MarieMyungOkLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarieMyungOkLee/status/1314180188352188419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 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>

Stephen Colbert, host of "The Late Show" on CBS, suggested that by remaining perched in&nbsp;Pence's hair for two minutes or so, the fly had a greater attention span than Trump himself.

Republican Senator Rand Paul had a different spin: "The deep state planted a bug on @VP. This illegal spying is really out of control."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The deep state planted a bug on <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a>. The illegal spying is really out of control.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/1314029601958617088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 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>

National opinion polls show Trump trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden ahead of the November election, with Biden also showing an advantage in battleground states critical to winning the Electoral College.

The Internet went berserk on Thursday after a stray housefly briefly commanded the US national stage when it perched on Vice President Mike Pence's cropped white hair as he debated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris.

The Internet went berserk on Thursday after a stray housefly briefly commanded the US national stage when it perched on Vice President Mike Pence's cropped white hair as he debated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris. Pence was discussing the somber issue of racial injustice and police reform when the winged interloper outmaneuvered the plexiglass barriers installed to prevent the spread of coronavirus and landed on the man who is just a heartbeat away from the US presidency. Also read: Next US Presidential debate to be 'virtual'; Trump says won't 'participate' The insect sat there for several minutes during the matchup, distracting viewers who perhaps may have been looking for a break from all the talk of taxes and trade. Taking the top billing at the vice presidential debate, social media immediately pronounced the fly the winner of the event. Democratic presidential candidate and the running mate of Harris, Joe Biden himself got in on the action, fundraising off the insect drama. Pitch in $5 to help this campaign fly. https://t.co/CqHAId0j8t pic.twitter.com/NbkPl0a8HV — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 8, 2020 × That fly is an American hero. — Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 8, 2020 × "Ok, this is seriously important debate, but no one is gonna remember anything but that fly," tweeted a user named Sykersomatic. Ok, this is seriously important debate, but no one is gonna remember anything but that fly. #VPDebate — Sykersomatic (@Sykersomatic) October 8, 2020 × Some Democrats took the opportunity to bring up President Donald Trump's COVID-19 infection. "The fly needs to be quarantined," Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar wrote. The fly needs to quarantined. https://t.co/0HzCtVVQy3 — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 8, 2020 × If your biggest hit on Pence after that debate is a fly landing on his head, your team probably lost the debate. — Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) October 8, 2020 × I appreciate it's harder for Pence just to yell "murdering babies" and "terrorism"' and "brown and yellow people massed at the border" with a fly on his head - WE know that's an antifa fly — Marie Myung-Ok 명옥 Lee (@MarieMyungOkLee) October 8, 2020 × Stephen Colbert, host of "The Late Show" on CBS, suggested that by remaining perched in Pence's hair for two minutes or so, the fly had a greater attention span than Trump himself. Republican Senator Rand Paul had a different spin: "The deep state planted a bug on @VP. This illegal spying is really out of control." The deep state planted a bug on @VP. The illegal spying is really out of control. — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) October 8, 2020 × National opinion polls show Trump trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden ahead of the November election, with Biden also showing an advantage in battleground states critical to winning the Electoral College.

Internet goes berserk after errant housefly on Pence's head photobombs VP debate

A rare 700-year-old Chinese scroll has been sold for $41.8 million in an auction in Hong Kong.

The 6.6-feet scroll, titled 'Five Drunken Princes Returning on Horseback'&nbsp;is by Ren Renfa, a renowned Chinese artist and government official.

Once owned by Chinese emperors and painted by&nbsp;Yuan&nbsp;dynasty&nbsp;master Ren Renfa (1255-1327), the two metre-long scroll went&nbsp;under the hammer along with other rare artworks.

The artwork was initially estimated to sell between about $10 million and $15.5 million. Many of Ren's 21 paintings are held in museums or owned by private collectors.

"This is a painting that entered the court collection in the 18th century, in the collection of the Emperor Qianlong. It will have the seals of Emperor Qianlong, his son Jiaqing and further emperors of the Qing&nbsp;dynasty," Sotheby's Asia chairman Nicholas Chow said at a media preview on Wednesday.

The scroll shows the five princes and four attendants, who are also all on horseback in a dynamic scene. It&nbsp;has been documented in imperial collections and bears a collection of seals, including those of several emperors.

"It was in the hands of Pu Yi, the last emperor, who took it out of the Forbidden City and after that sold it on the market. And it entered various very important collections in the West. And it's with us here today," Chow added.&nbsp;

Among other works showcased by Sotheby's was a complete scroll from Qing&nbsp;dynasty&nbsp;artist Wang Hui's famous work, "The Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour".

Its twelve scrolls, which are 200 metres (656 feet) long in total, are scattered around the world. Sotheby's described its presentation of a complete scroll as unique.&nbsp;

A rare 700-year-old Chinese scroll has been sold for $41.8 million in an auction in Hong Kong. The 6.6-feet scroll, titled 'Five Drunken Princes Returning on Horseback' is by Ren Renfa, a renowned Chinese artist and government official.

A rare 700-year-old Chinese scroll has been sold for $41.8 million in an auction in Hong Kong. The 6.6-feet scroll, titled 'Five Drunken Princes Returning on Horseback' is by Ren Renfa, a renowned Chinese artist and government official. Once owned by Chinese emperors and painted by Yuan dynasty master Ren Renfa (1255-1327), the two metre-long scroll went under the hammer along with other rare artworks. The artwork was initially estimated to sell between about $10 million and $15.5 million. Many of Ren's 21 paintings are held in museums or owned by private collectors. "This is a painting that entered the court collection in the 18th century, in the collection of the Emperor Qianlong. It will have the seals of Emperor Qianlong, his son Jiaqing and further emperors of the Qing dynasty," Sotheby's Asia chairman Nicholas Chow said at a media preview on Wednesday. The scroll shows the five princes and four attendants, who are also all on horseback in a dynamic scene. It has been documented in imperial collections and bears a collection of seals, including those of several emperors. "It was in the hands of Pu Yi, the last emperor, who took it out of the Forbidden City and after that sold it on the market. And it entered various very important collections in the West. And it's with us here today," Chow added. Among other works showcased by Sotheby's was a complete scroll from Qing dynasty artist Wang Hui's famous work, "The Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour". Its twelve scrolls, which are 200 metres (656 feet) long in total, are scattered around the world. Sotheby's described its presentation of a complete scroll as unique.

Rare 700-year-old scroll fetches $41.8 million in auction

The&nbsp;British parliament's defence committee on Wednesday highlighted&nbsp;''clear evidence of collusion'' between telecoms giant&nbsp;Huawei and the&nbsp;Chinese Communist Party.

The&nbsp;parliament committee has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson&nbsp;to prepone the deadline set to remove all&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;equipment from the United Kingdom.

In&nbsp;July, Johnson had ordered&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;equipment to be purged from the nascent 5G network by the end of 2027. US&nbsp;President Donald Trump claimed credit for the British decision.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-parliamentary-committee-report-huawei-colluded-with-the-chinese-state-333431/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"The West must urgently unite to advance a counterweight to China’s tech dominance," Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence committee, said. "We must not surrender our national security for the sake of short-term technological development."

The Committee did not go into detail about the exact nature of the ties but said it had seen clear evidence of&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;collusion with "the Chinese Communist Party apparatus".

Huawei&nbsp;said the report ''is built on opinion rather than fact. We’re sure people will see through these groundless accusations of collusion and remember instead what&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;has delivered for Britain over the past 20 years."&nbsp;

Trump identifies China as the United States' main geopolitical rival, and has accused the Communist Party-ruled state of taking advantage over trade and not telling the truth over the novel coronavirus outbreak, which he calls the "China plague".

Washington and its allies say&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;technology could be used to spy for China.&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;has repeatedly denied this, and says the United States is simply jealous of its success.

British ministers say the rise to global dominance of&nbsp;Huawei, founded in 1987 by a former People's Liberation Army engineer, has caught the West off-guard.

The defence committee said it supported Johnson's decision to eventually purge&nbsp;Huawei&nbsp;from 5G but noted that "developments could necessitate this date being moved forward, potentially to 2025 which could be considered economically feasible."

The British parliament's defence committee on Wednesday highlighted ''clear evidence of collusion'' between telecoms giant Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party.

The British parliament's defence committee on Wednesday highlighted ''clear evidence of collusion'' between telecoms giant Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party. The parliament committee has urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to prepone the deadline set to remove all Huawei equipment from the United Kingdom. In July, Johnson had ordered Huawei equipment to be purged from the nascent 5G network by the end of 2027. US President Donald Trump claimed credit for the British decision. "The West must urgently unite to advance a counterweight to China’s tech dominance," Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the defence committee, said. "We must not surrender our national security for the sake of short-term technological development." The Committee did not go into detail about the exact nature of the ties but said it had seen clear evidence of Huawei collusion with "the Chinese Communist Party apparatus". Huawei said the report ''is built on opinion rather than fact. We’re sure people will see through these groundless accusations of collusion and remember instead what Huawei has delivered for Britain over the past 20 years." Trump identifies China as the United States' main geopolitical rival, and has accused the Communist Party-ruled state of taking advantage over trade and not telling the truth over the novel coronavirus outbreak, which he calls the "China plague". Washington and its allies say Huawei technology could be used to spy for China. Huawei has repeatedly denied this, and says the United States is simply jealous of its success. British ministers say the rise to global dominance of Huawei, founded in 1987 by a former People's Liberation Army engineer, has caught the West off-guard. The defence committee said it supported Johnson's decision to eventually purge Huawei from 5G but noted that "developments could necessitate this date being moved forward, potentially to 2025 which could be considered economically feasible."

British parliament's defence committee says Huawei colludes with Chinese Communist Party

The landmark copyright lawsuit between tech giants&nbsp;Google and&nbsp;Oracle has puzzled and divided the&nbsp;Supreme Court of the&nbsp;United States of America.

Trying to resolve an $8 billion-plus copyright dispute, the shorthanded court, down one justice following last month's death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg,&nbsp;heard oral arguments on Wednesday.

The case has been revived after&nbsp;Google's appeal to review&nbsp;a lower court ruling&nbsp;in which&nbsp;Oracle&nbsp;sought&nbsp;damages from the company for&nbsp;copying thousands of lines of computer code from its popular Java programming language without a license in order to make Android, a competing platform that has harmed&nbsp;Oracle's business.

To create Android, which was released in 2007, Google wrote millions of lines of new computer code. But it also used 11,330 lines of code and an organisation that's part of Oracle's Java platform.

Google says what it did is long-settled, common practice in the industry, a practice that has been good for technical progress. And it says there is no copyright protection for the purely functional, noncreative computer code it used, something that couldn't be written another way. But Oracle says Google committed an ''egregious act of plagiarism''&nbsp;and sued.

A jury cleared Google in 2016, but the US&nbsp;Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned that decision in 2018, finding that Google's inclusion of&nbsp;Oracle's software code in Android was not permissible under US&nbsp;copyright law.

Google lawyer Thomas Goldstein told the justices that the disputed Java code should not receive copyright protection because it was the "the only way" to create new programs using the programming language.

Chief Justice John Roberts suggested Google still should have paid&nbsp;Oracle&nbsp;for a license to Java.

"Cracking the safe may be the only way to get the money that you want, but that doesn't mean you can do it," Roberts said.

Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned Goldstein on whether Google had simply piggybacked on&nbsp;Oracle's innovation.

Gorsuch asked, "What do we do about the fact that the other competitors, Apple, Microsoft ... have, in fact, been able to come up with phones that work just fine without engaging in this kind of copying?"

Oracle&nbsp;and Google, two California-based technology giants with combined annual revenues of about $200 billion, have been feuding since&nbsp;Oracle&nbsp;sued for copyright infringement in 2010 in federal court in San Francisco.

Google has said the shortcut commands it copied into Android do not warrant copyright protection because they help developers write programs to work across platforms, a key to software innovation.

The landmark copyright lawsuit between tech giants Google and Oracle has puzzled and divided the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Trying to resolve an $8 billion-plus copyright dispute, the shorthanded court, down one justice following last month's death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, heard oral arguments on Wednesday.

The landmark copyright lawsuit between tech giants Google and Oracle has puzzled and divided the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Trying to resolve an $8 billion-plus copyright dispute, the shorthanded court, down one justice following last month's death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, heard oral arguments on Wednesday. The case has been revived after Google's appeal to review a lower court ruling in which Oracle sought damages from the company for copying thousands of lines of computer code from its popular Java programming language without a license in order to make Android, a competing platform that has harmed Oracle's business. To create Android, which was released in 2007, Google wrote millions of lines of new computer code. But it also used 11,330 lines of code and an organisation that's part of Oracle's Java platform. Google says what it did is long-settled, common practice in the industry, a practice that has been good for technical progress. And it says there is no copyright protection for the purely functional, noncreative computer code it used, something that couldn't be written another way. But Oracle says Google committed an ''egregious act of plagiarism'' and sued. A jury cleared Google in 2016, but the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit overturned that decision in 2018, finding that Google's inclusion of Oracle's software code in Android was not permissible under US copyright law. Google lawyer Thomas Goldstein told the justices that the disputed Java code should not receive copyright protection because it was the "the only way" to create new programs using the programming language. Chief Justice John Roberts suggested Google still should have paid Oracle for a license to Java. "Cracking the safe may be the only way to get the money that you want, but that doesn't mean you can do it," Roberts said. Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned Goldstein on whether Google had simply piggybacked on Oracle's innovation. Gorsuch asked, "What do we do about the fact that the other competitors, Apple, Microsoft ... have, in fact, been able to come up with phones that work just fine without engaging in this kind of copying?" Oracle and Google, two California-based technology giants with combined annual revenues of about $200 billion, have been feuding since Oracle sued for copyright infringement in 2010 in federal court in San Francisco. Google has said the shortcut commands it copied into Android do not warrant copyright protection because they help developers write programs to work across platforms, a key to software innovation.

US Supreme Court puzzled over Google, Oracle high tech copyright clash

The United States&nbsp;national security adviser on&nbsp;on Wednesday cautioned China&nbsp;against any attempt to take Taiwan by force.

At an event at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas,&nbsp;Robert O'Brien said that China was engaged in a massive naval buildup probably not seen since Germany's attempt to compete with Britain's Royal Navy prior to World War One.

But he reminded China that the United States is required by law to provide&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;with the means to defend itself and pointed out any attempt an ''amphibious landing'' would be problematic due to&nbsp;to the 100-mile (160-km) distance between the countries.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-steps-up-arms-sale-to-taiwan-amid-row-with-china-328225">US steps up arms sale to Taiwan amid row with China</a>

The statement is crucial because the United States has never&nbsp;made clear whether it would intervene to protect&nbsp;Taiwan, which China considers its province and has vowed to bring under its control, by force if necessary.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-taiwan-defence-deal-taiwan-buys-jets-from-lockheed-martin-320755/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

O'Brien's comments come at a time when China has significantly stepped up military activity near&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;and when US-China relations have plunged to the lowest point in decades in the run-up to President Donald Trump's November&nbsp;3 re-election bid.

O'Brien repeated US&nbsp;calls for&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;to spend more on its own defense and to carry out military reforms to make clear to China the risks of attempting to invade.

"You can't just spend 1 per cent&nbsp;of your GDP, which the&nbsp;Taiwanese have been doing,&nbsp;1.2&nbsp;per cent, on defense, and hope to deter a China that's been engaged in the most massive military build up in 70 years," he said.

Taiwan&nbsp;needed to "turn themselves into a porcupine" militarily, he said, adding: "Lions generally don't like to eat porcupines."

On Tuesday, the senior US&nbsp;defense official for East Asia called&nbsp;Taiwan's plan to boost defense spending by $1.4 billion next year insufficient.

He said it needed to invest in capabilities including more coastal defense cruise missiles, naval mines, fast-attack craft, mobile artillery and advanced surveillance assets.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry, in a response provided to Reuters, said they will "strive for an adequate budget" in accordance with their needs to build a solid national defense force.

The United States national security adviser on on Wednesday cautioned China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force. At an event at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Robert O'Brien said that China was engaged in a massive naval buildup probably not seen since Germany's attempt to compete with Britain's Royal Navy prior to World War One.

The United States national security adviser on on Wednesday cautioned China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force. At an event at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, Robert O'Brien said that China was engaged in a massive naval buildup probably not seen since Germany's attempt to compete with Britain's Royal Navy prior to World War One. But he reminded China that the United States is required by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and pointed out any attempt an ''amphibious landing'' would be problematic due to to the 100-mile (160-km) distance between the countries. Also read: US steps up arms sale to Taiwan amid row with China The statement is crucial because the United States has never made clear whether it would intervene to protect Taiwan, which China considers its province and has vowed to bring under its control, by force if necessary. O'Brien's comments come at a time when China has significantly stepped up military activity near Taiwan and when US-China relations have plunged to the lowest point in decades in the run-up to President Donald Trump's November 3 re-election bid. O'Brien repeated US calls for Taiwan to spend more on its own defense and to carry out military reforms to make clear to China the risks of attempting to invade. "You can't just spend 1 per cent of your GDP, which the Taiwanese have been doing, 1.2 per cent, on defense, and hope to deter a China that's been engaged in the most massive military build up in 70 years," he said. Taiwan needed to "turn themselves into a porcupine" militarily, he said, adding: "Lions generally don't like to eat porcupines." On Tuesday, the senior US defense official for East Asia called Taiwan's plan to boost defense spending by $1.4 billion next year insufficient. He said it needed to invest in capabilities including more coastal defense cruise missiles, naval mines, fast-attack craft, mobile artillery and advanced surveillance assets. Taiwan's Defense Ministry, in a response provided to Reuters, said they will "strive for an adequate budget" in accordance with their needs to build a solid national defense force.

US warns China against any attempt to take Taiwan by force

The German government and its allies have called for Russian answers on&nbsp;Kremlin critic Alexei&nbsp;Navalny's&nbsp;poisoning to fully investigate the matter.

Earlier, the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed that the blood and urine samples taken from&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;in Germany by the watchdog's own experts contained&nbsp;"cholinesterase inhibitor",&nbsp;a type of Novichok&nbsp;nerve agent.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/the-curious-case-of-russian-kremlin-critics-who-were-allegedly-poisoned-321943">The curious case of Russian Kremlin critics who were allegedly poisoned</a>

OPCW chief Fernando Arias "considered that these results constitute a matter of grave concern," the Hague-based watchdog said in a statement.

The traces "have similar structural characteristics as the toxic chemicals" found in two Novichok chemicals that were banned by the Hague-based body in 2019, it said.

The specific type of Novichok found in the&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;samples was however not itself one of those placed on the banned list last year, the OPCW added.

They came as&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;said in an interview that he hoped to return to Russia within months, while showing his trembling hands as evidence of the nerve damage he suffered.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-navalny-makes-his-1st-video-appearance-after-getting-discharged-from-hospital-332929/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

German Ambassador Gudrun Lingner said in a statement to the Executive Council meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,&nbsp;“It is up to Russia — where the chemical attack occurred — to shed light on the incident, and to provide an explanation on how a chemical nerve agent came to be used in a reckless act against a Russian citizen on Russian soil.”

"The next steps will be discussed in the Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and with the EU partners," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement to reporters.

"Any use of chemical weapons is totally unacceptable and won't go without a response," Maas added.

Western powers have demanded answers from Russia over the poisoning, while&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;himself has blamed the Kremlin.&nbsp;

Navalny&nbsp;was airlifted to Berlin for treatment after falling ill on a flight in Siberia on August&nbsp;20 and Germany and other Western governments have called on Russia to help in investigations into what happened.

Navalny&nbsp;has been discharged from hospital and plans to return to Russia.

Moscow has denied accusations by&nbsp;Navalny&nbsp;that it was involved in the poisoning.

A spokesman for German&nbsp;Chancellor Angela Merkel had said the country&nbsp;will not rule out consequences for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project if Russia fails to thoroughly investigate the incident.

Asked whether Merkel would protect the multi-billion-euro pipeline from Russia to Europe if Germany were to seek sanctions over the Navalny case, spokesman Steffen Seibert said: "The chancellor believes it would be wrong to rule anything out from the start."

Nord Stream 2, a $11-billion&nbsp;pipeline near completion beneath the Baltic Sea, is set to double Russian natural-gas shipments to Germany, Europe's largest economy.

It has long been in the crosshairs of the United States, which has criticised European countries for their reliance on energy from Russia.

The German government and its allies have called for Russian answers on Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's poisoning to fully investigate the matter. Earlier, the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed that the blood and urine samples taken from Navalny in Germany by the watchdog's own experts contained "cholinesterase inhibitor", a type of Novichok nerve agent.

The German government and its allies have called for Russian answers on Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's poisoning to fully investigate the matter. Earlier, the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW confirmed that the blood and urine samples taken from Navalny in Germany by the watchdog's own experts contained "cholinesterase inhibitor", a type of Novichok nerve agent. Also see: The curious case of Russian Kremlin critics who were allegedly poisoned OPCW chief Fernando Arias "considered that these results constitute a matter of grave concern," the Hague-based watchdog said in a statement. The traces "have similar structural characteristics as the toxic chemicals" found in two Novichok chemicals that were banned by the Hague-based body in 2019, it said. The specific type of Novichok found in the Navalny samples was however not itself one of those placed on the banned list last year, the OPCW added. They came as Navalny said in an interview that he hoped to return to Russia within months, while showing his trembling hands as evidence of the nerve damage he suffered. German Ambassador Gudrun Lingner said in a statement to the Executive Council meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, “It is up to Russia — where the chemical attack occurred — to shed light on the incident, and to provide an explanation on how a chemical nerve agent came to be used in a reckless act against a Russian citizen on Russian soil.” "The next steps will be discussed in the Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and with the EU partners," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a statement to reporters. "Any use of chemical weapons is totally unacceptable and won't go without a response," Maas added. Western powers have demanded answers from Russia over the poisoning, while Navalny himself has blamed the Kremlin. Navalny was airlifted to Berlin for treatment after falling ill on a flight in Siberia on August 20 and Germany and other Western governments have called on Russia to help in investigations into what happened. Navalny has been discharged from hospital and plans to return to Russia. Moscow has denied accusations by Navalny that it was involved in the poisoning. A spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel had said the country will not rule out consequences for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project if Russia fails to thoroughly investigate the incident. Asked whether Merkel would protect the multi-billion-euro pipeline from Russia to Europe if Germany were to seek sanctions over the Navalny case, spokesman Steffen Seibert said: "The chancellor believes it would be wrong to rule anything out from the start." Nord Stream 2, a $11-billion pipeline near completion beneath the Baltic Sea, is set to double Russian natural-gas shipments to Germany, Europe's largest economy. It has long been in the crosshairs of the United States, which has criticised European countries for their reliance on energy from Russia.

Germany and allies call out Russia for answers on Navalny poisoning

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.