&nbsp;France&nbsp;reported 7,379 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, the most since lockdown, in what the health ministry described as an exponential surge just days before millions of children are due to return to school for the first time since March.

The daily tally was just shy of the record 7,578 high set on March 31, at the peak of an initial wave of COVID-19 infections that paralysed Europe. The surge has raised the possibility that the government could be forced to shut the country down again.

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"We're doing everything to avoid another lockdown, and in particular a nationwide lockdown," President Emmanuel Macron told journalists earlier on Friday. He added it would be dangerous to rule out any scenario.

In a weekly review of the pandemic, the health ministry said the country was seeing an "exponential progression of virus transmission".

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/paris-plages-seines-open-air-cinema-creates-magic-for-french-movie-lovers-314930">Paris Plages: Seine's open-air cinema creates magic for French movie lovers</a>

Like other hard-hit western European countries,&nbsp;France&nbsp;imposed a sudden and strict lockdown in March, during which most residents were confined to their homes. The restrictions were gradually lifted from May 11 after infections sharply dropped.

The authorities are now searching for ways to limit the spread of the disease without a new lockdown. On Friday, Parisians were ordered to wear masks at all times outdoors in the capital.

The reopening of schools on Tuesday next week has been widely anticipated as a major step back towards normality. More than 12 million children will return to school, most for the first time in more than five months.

So far, the rapid increase in case numbers has yet to lead to a similar surge in hospitalisations or deaths. The ministry reported 20 new COVID-19 deaths on Friday, raising the cumulative total to 30,596. The number of people in hospital with the disease was unchanged at 4,535 and the number in intensive care rose by six to 387.

Authorities say the virus is now spreading among younger people who are less likely to show severe symptoms.

Two weeks after&nbsp;France's lockdown ended on May 11, the number of daily new infections fell to a low of 115 and a seven-day average low of 272. But as the country gradually reopened restaurants, museums and shopping malls, the number of new confirmed cases rose to about 500 per day by the end of June.

That doubled to around 1,000 per day by the end of July, doubled again to around 2,000 by mid-August, and surged above 5,000 this week.

France reported 7,379 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, the most since lockdown, in what the health ministry described as an exponential surge just days before millions of children are due to return to school for the first time since March.

France reported 7,379 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday, the most since lockdown, in what the health ministry described as an exponential surge just days before millions of children are due to return to school for the first time since March. The daily tally was just shy of the record 7,578 high set on March 31, at the peak of an initial wave of COVID-19 infections that paralysed Europe. The surge has raised the possibility that the government could be forced to shut the country down again. "We're doing everything to avoid another lockdown, and in particular a nationwide lockdown," President Emmanuel Macron told journalists earlier on Friday. He added it would be dangerous to rule out any scenario. In a weekly review of the pandemic, the health ministry said the country was seeing an "exponential progression of virus transmission". Also see: Paris Plages: Seine's open-air cinema creates magic for French movie lovers Like other hard-hit western European countries, France imposed a sudden and strict lockdown in March, during which most residents were confined to their homes. The restrictions were gradually lifted from May 11 after infections sharply dropped. The authorities are now searching for ways to limit the spread of the disease without a new lockdown. On Friday, Parisians were ordered to wear masks at all times outdoors in the capital. The reopening of schools on Tuesday next week has been widely anticipated as a major step back towards normality. More than 12 million children will return to school, most for the first time in more than five months. So far, the rapid increase in case numbers has yet to lead to a similar surge in hospitalisations or deaths. The ministry reported 20 new COVID-19 deaths on Friday, raising the cumulative total to 30,596. The number of people in hospital with the disease was unchanged at 4,535 and the number in intensive care rose by six to 387. Authorities say the virus is now spreading among younger people who are less likely to show severe symptoms. Two weeks after France's lockdown ended on May 11, the number of daily new infections fell to a low of 115 and a seven-day average low of 272. But as the country gradually reopened restaurants, museums and shopping malls, the number of new confirmed cases rose to about 500 per day by the end of June. That doubled to around 1,000 per day by the end of July, doubled again to around 2,000 by mid-August, and surged above 5,000 this week.

France sees nearly 7,400 new daily coronavirus cases in exponential surge

Researchers for the first time have identified someone in the United States who was reinfected with the novel coronavirus, according to a study that has not yet been reviewed by outside experts.

The report, published online, describes a 25-year-old man living in Reno, Nevada, who tested positive for the virus in April after showing mild illness. He got sick again in late May and developed more severe COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

"This study likely represents a clear example of&nbsp;reinfection&nbsp;...&nbsp;reinfections are possible - which we already knew, because immunity is never 100 per cent," Kristian Anderson, professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, said in an emailed comment.

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Cases of presumed&nbsp;reinfection&nbsp;have cropped up in other parts of the world, but questions have arisen about testing accuracy. Earlier this week, University of Hong Kong researchers reported details of a 33-year-old man who had recovered in April from a severe case of COVID-19 and was diagnosed four months later with a different strain of the virus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-first-coronavirus-reinfection-case-confirmed-in-hong-kong-322896">World’s 'first' coronavirus reinfection case confirmed in Hong Kong</a>

Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory said they were able to show through sophisticated testing that the virus associated with each instance of the Reno man's infection represented genetically different strains.

They emphasized that&nbsp;reinfection&nbsp;with the virus is probably rare, but said the findings imply that initial exposure to the virus may not result in full immunity for everyone.

"We don't know at what frequency&nbsp;reinfections occur and how that might change over time," Anderson said. "Before we have broader studies illuminating these questions, we can't conclude what a single case of&nbsp;reinfection&nbsp;means for longevity and robustness of COVID-19 immunity and relevance for a future vaccine."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Researchers for the first time have identified someone in the United States who was reinfected with the novel coronavirus, according to a study that has not yet been reviewed by outside experts.

Researchers for the first time have identified someone in the United States who was reinfected with the novel coronavirus, according to a study that has not yet been reviewed by outside experts. The report, published online, describes a 25-year-old man living in Reno, Nevada, who tested positive for the virus in April after showing mild illness. He got sick again in late May and developed more severe COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. "This study likely represents a clear example of reinfection ... reinfections are possible - which we already knew, because immunity is never 100 per cent," Kristian Anderson, professor of immunology and microbiology at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California, said in an emailed comment. Cases of presumed reinfection have cropped up in other parts of the world, but questions have arisen about testing accuracy. Earlier this week, University of Hong Kong researchers reported details of a 33-year-old man who had recovered in April from a severe case of COVID-19 and was diagnosed four months later with a different strain of the virus. Also read: World’s 'first' coronavirus reinfection case confirmed in Hong Kong Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory said they were able to show through sophisticated testing that the virus associated with each instance of the Reno man's infection represented genetically different strains. They emphasized that reinfection with the virus is probably rare, but said the findings imply that initial exposure to the virus may not result in full immunity for everyone. "We don't know at what frequency reinfections occur and how that might change over time," Anderson said. "Before we have broader studies illuminating these questions, we can't conclude what a single case of reinfection means for longevity and robustness of COVID-19 immunity and relevance for a future vaccine."

First US novel coronavirus reinfection case identified in study

60 award winners attended the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2020 via a virtual event on Saturday.

"Due to health and other reasons issues, 14 awardees will be not be attending the National Sports Awards functions from various SAI centres," SAi said in a statement.&nbsp;

President of India, Ram Nath Kovind presented&nbsp;the prestigious award&nbsp;to the award winners in virtual mode.&nbsp;

In the virtual format, President of India&nbsp;attended&nbsp;through NIC link from the President's house, via video conferencing, while the recipients were present at SAI and NIC centres in various locations across the country.

The awardees&nbsp;attended the ceremony from various places across the country:&nbsp;Bengaluru, Pune, Sonepat, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Itanagar.Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju, President of the Indian Olympic Association Narendra Dhruv Batra and several other dignitaries will attend the ceremony from Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

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Today is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalSportsDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalSportsDay</a> and I pay my tribute to the 'The Wizard of Indian Hockey' Major Dhyan Chand on his Birth Anniversary. The great sportsman displayed unparalleled dedication and skills in Hockey to bring accolades and honour to India 🇮🇳 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MajorDhyanChand?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MajorDhyanChand</a> <a href="https://t.co/ByCzcUgS4Y">pic.twitter.com/ByCzcUgS4Y</a>
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On National Sports Day, I offer my tributes to the Wizard of Hockey Major Dhyan Chand. On this day I also salute the outstanding talent and great achievements of India’s sportspersons.Govt led by PM Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> is leaving no stone unturned to promote sports in our country.
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajnathsingh/status/1299587240947978240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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There are 74 awards in seven categories. All health and safety protocols, in keeping with the guidelines of the Health Ministry, are being followed at all the venues where dignitaries and awardees will be present.

Further, the Sports Ministry has advised every award winner to undergo a COVID-19 test before reporting to the venue.

Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports.

Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years preceding the award; Arjuna Award is given for consistent outstanding performance for four years; Dronacharya Award goes to the coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events; Dhyan Chand Award is for lifetime contribution to sports development and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar is given to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.

Overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments is given Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy. In addition to these Sports Awards, the spirit of adventure among the people of the country is recognized by bestowing the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.&nbsp;

60 award winners attended the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2020 via a virtual event on Saturday. "Due to health and other reasons issues, 14 awardees will be not be attending the National Sports Awards functions from various SAI centres," SAi said in a statement.

60 award winners attended the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2020 via a virtual event on Saturday. "Due to health and other reasons issues, 14 awardees will be not be attending the National Sports Awards functions from various SAI centres," SAi said in a statement. President of India, Ram Nath Kovind presented the prestigious award to the award winners in virtual mode. In the virtual format, President of India attended through NIC link from the President's house, via video conferencing, while the recipients were present at SAI and NIC centres in various locations across the country. The awardees attended the ceremony from various places across the country: Bengaluru, Pune, Sonepat, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Itanagar.Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju, President of the Indian Olympic Association Narendra Dhruv Batra and several other dignitaries will attend the ceremony from Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. Today is #NationalSportsDay and I pay my tribute to the 'The Wizard of Indian Hockey' Major Dhyan Chand on his Birth Anniversary. The great sportsman displayed unparalleled dedication and skills in Hockey to bring accolades and honour to India 🇮🇳 #MajorDhyanChand pic.twitter.com/ByCzcUgS4Y — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 29, 2020 × On National Sports Day, I offer my tributes to the Wizard of Hockey Major Dhyan Chand. On this day I also salute the outstanding talent and great achievements of India’s sportspersons.Govt led by PM Shri @narendramodi is leaving no stone unturned to promote sports in our country. — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 29, 2020 × There are 74 awards in seven categories. All health and safety protocols, in keeping with the guidelines of the Health Ministry, are being followed at all the venues where dignitaries and awardees will be present. Further, the Sports Ministry has advised every award winner to undergo a COVID-19 test before reporting to the venue. Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is given for the spectacular and outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of four years preceding the award; Arjuna Award is given for consistent outstanding performance for four years; Dronacharya Award goes to the coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious international sports events; Dhyan Chand Award is for lifetime contribution to sports development and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar is given to the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development. Overall top performing university in inter-university tournaments is given Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy. In addition to these Sports Awards, the spirit of adventure among the people of the country is recognized by bestowing the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.

Winners attend National Sports and Adventure Awards 2020 via virtual event

The EU on Friday warned Turkey it could face fresh sanctions,&nbsp;including tough economic measures,&nbsp;unless progress is made in reducing soaring tensions with Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.

EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said the bloc wanted to give "a serious chance to dialogue" but was steadfast in its support for member states Greece and Cyprus in the crisis, which has raised fears of a military standoff.

A dispute over maritime borders and gas drilling rights has reignited the long-running rivalry between Athens and Ankara, with the two neighbours staging rival naval drills.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/turkey-versus-greece-a-long-history-of-disputes-323392">Turkey versus Greece: A long history of disputes</a>

EU foreign ministers meeting for talks in Berlin agreed to a request from Cyprus to sanction more individuals for their role in Turkey's exploratory drilling in waters claimed by the island.

Borrell urged Ankara to "abstain from unilateral actions" as a basic condition to allow dialogue,&nbsp;which Germany is trying to broker,&nbsp;to advance.

"We agreed that in the absence of progress in engaging Turkey we could develop a list of further restrictive measures that could be discussed at the European Council on September 24 and 25," Borrell said after the talks.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">Asked what these measures might entail, Borrell said sanctions could be extended to ships or other assets involved in the drilling, as well as prohibiting the use of EU ports and supplies and restricting "economic and financial infrastructure related with this activity".</div>

Wide-ranging sanctions against whole sectors of the Turkish economy could also be considered, he said, but indicated these might only come into play if more targeted measures against the drilling were not effective.&nbsp;

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Athens welcomed Friday's developments. "I think the Greek side has got what it could, that is, possible sanctions if Turkey does not choose de-escalation and does not return to dialogue," Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told Greek media.

"I hope that Turkey will come to its senses, stop the provocations, stop the arbitrary actions and stop violating international law."

But there was anger from Turkey, which said the EU's "unconditional" support for what it called Greece and Cyprus's "maximalist" positions ignored Ankara's legitimate claims and was itself a source of tension.

"As Turkey each time emphasises dialogue and diplomacy, the EU's recourse to the language of sanctions will not help solve the resolution of existing problems and will in fact push our country's determination further," Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement.

"If the EU wants to find a solution in the eastern Mediterranean, they should act without bias and should be an honest mediator."

The crisis splits members of the NATO alliance and in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg stressed "dialogue and de-escalation", a tweet said.

The Turkish presidency said Erdogan told Stolteberg that "NATO should fulfill its responsibility against unilateral steps that disregard international law and harms regional peace."

The EU on Friday warned Turkey it could face fresh sanctions, including tough economic measures, unless progress is made in reducing soaring tensions with Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.

The EU on Friday warned Turkey it could face fresh sanctions, including tough economic measures, unless progress is made in reducing soaring tensions with Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean. EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell said the bloc wanted to give "a serious chance to dialogue" but was steadfast in its support for member states Greece and Cyprus in the crisis, which has raised fears of a military standoff. A dispute over maritime borders and gas drilling rights has reignited the long-running rivalry between Athens and Ankara, with the two neighbours staging rival naval drills. Also see: Turkey versus Greece: A long history of disputes EU foreign ministers meeting for talks in Berlin agreed to a request from Cyprus to sanction more individuals for their role in Turkey's exploratory drilling in waters claimed by the island. Borrell urged Ankara to "abstain from unilateral actions" as a basic condition to allow dialogue, which Germany is trying to broker, to advance. "We agreed that in the absence of progress in engaging Turkey we could develop a list of further restrictive measures that could be discussed at the European Council on September 24 and 25," Borrell said after the talks. Asked what these measures might entail, Borrell said sanctions could be extended to ships or other assets involved in the drilling, as well as prohibiting the use of EU ports and supplies and restricting "economic and financial infrastructure related with this activity". Wide-ranging sanctions against whole sectors of the Turkish economy could also be considered, he said, but indicated these might only come into play if more targeted measures against the drilling were not effective. Athens welcomed Friday's developments. "I think the Greek side has got what it could, that is, possible sanctions if Turkey does not choose de-escalation and does not return to dialogue," Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias told Greek media. "I hope that Turkey will come to its senses, stop the provocations, stop the arbitrary actions and stop violating international law." But there was anger from Turkey, which said the EU's "unconditional" support for what it called Greece and Cyprus's "maximalist" positions ignored Ankara's legitimate claims and was itself a source of tension. "As Turkey each time emphasises dialogue and diplomacy, the EU's recourse to the language of sanctions will not help solve the resolution of existing problems and will in fact push our country's determination further," Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement. "If the EU wants to find a solution in the eastern Mediterranean, they should act without bias and should be an honest mediator." The crisis splits members of the NATO alliance and in a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg stressed "dialogue and de-escalation", a tweet said. The Turkish presidency said Erdogan told Stolteberg that "NATO should fulfill its responsibility against unilateral steps that disregard international law and harms regional peace."

Mediterranean crisis: European Union warns Turkey of imposing fresh sanctions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a rare visit to Norway, warned Oslo against granting the Nobel Peace Prize to Hong Kong pro-democracy activists much on the lines of awarding the prize to China's human rights activist Liu Xiaobo and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in the past, causing strains in bilateral ties.

Later, when asked during media interaction on how China would react if the Nobel prize would go to Hong Kong protesters in future, Wang said “I would only say one thing: In the past, today, and in future, China will firmly reject any attempt by anyone to use the Nobel Peace Prize to interfere in China's internal affairs”.

“China is rock firm on this principle.We don't want to see anyone politicise the Nobel Peace Prize,” he added.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/five-ways-hong-kong-has-changed-under-chinas-security-law-310644">Five ways Hong Kong has changed under China's security law</a>

This year's Nobel peace prize will be announced in Oslo on October 9.

Beginning in early June 2019, Hong Kong was hit by seven straight months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in which more than 9,000 people were arrested.

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Norway, a close US&nbsp;ally and NATO member, will be a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2011 and 2022. China is one of the five permanent members on the council.

China also sought a speedy conclusion to a free trade deal with Norway.&nbsp;

Talks on a free-trade pact began in 2008, but relations between Oslo and Beijing were frozen from 2010 to 2016 after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident, Liu Xiabao. However, negotiations resumed in 2017.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a rare visit to Norway, warned Oslo against granting the Nobel Peace Prize to Hong Kong pro-democracy activists much on the lines of awarding the prize to China's human rights activist Liu Xiaobo and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in the past, causing strains in bilateral ties.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on a rare visit to Norway, warned Oslo against granting the Nobel Peace Prize to Hong Kong pro-democracy activists much on the lines of awarding the prize to China's human rights activist Liu Xiaobo and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in the past, causing strains in bilateral ties. Later, when asked during media interaction on how China would react if the Nobel prize would go to Hong Kong protesters in future, Wang said “I would only say one thing: In the past, today, and in future, China will firmly reject any attempt by anyone to use the Nobel Peace Prize to interfere in China's internal affairs”. “China is rock firm on this principle.We don't want to see anyone politicise the Nobel Peace Prize,” he added. Also see: Five ways Hong Kong has changed under China's security law This year's Nobel peace prize will be announced in Oslo on October 9. Beginning in early June 2019, Hong Kong was hit by seven straight months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests in which more than 9,000 people were arrested. Norway, a close US ally and NATO member, will be a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2011 and 2022. China is one of the five permanent members on the council. China also sought a speedy conclusion to a free trade deal with Norway. Talks on a free-trade pact began in 2008, but relations between Oslo and Beijing were frozen from 2010 to 2016 after the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to a Chinese dissident, Liu Xiabao. However, negotiations resumed in 2017.

China warns Norway against granting Nobel Peace Prize to Hong Kong democracy activists

Police have removed handcuffs shackling Jacob Blake, who is paralyzed after US police shot him repeatedly in the back, to his hospital bed and stopped monitoring him, Blake's lawyer said Friday.

African-American Blake, 29, was shot seven times in the back point blank over the weekend by a white police officer in&nbsp;Kenosha, Wisconsin and has no movement from the waist down.

Word that Blake was tied to his hospital bed in Wisconsin, his father said one ankle was shackled, had caused a further uproar amid a groundswell of national anger over yet another shooting of a black man by police.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/washington-thousands-march-to-denounce-racism-on-anniversary-of-kings-speech-323805" hreflang="en">Washington: Thousands march to denounce racism on anniversary of King's speech</a>

Blake's attorney Patrick Cafferty said Blake was restrained in his hospital bed and officers were watching over him because of an outstanding warrant stemming from a domestic violence-related incident in July.

Police union gives its version of Blake's shooting

Meanwhile, the Kenosha police union on Friday offered the most detailed accounting to date on officers' perspective of the moments leading up to police shooting Jacob Blake, saying he had a knife and fought with officers, putting one of them in a headlock and shrugging off two attempts to stun him.

The statement from Brendan Matthews, attorney for the Kenosha Professional Police Association, goes into more detail than anything that has been released by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is investigating.

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US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to address the protests and said ''Kenosha has been very quiet for the third night in a row or, since the National Guard has shown up. That’s the way it works, it’s all very simple. Portland, with a very ungifted mayor, should request help from the Federal Government. If lives are endangered, we’re going in!''

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Kenosha has been very quiet for the third night in a row or, since the National Guard has shown up. That’s the way it works, it’s all very simple. Portland, with a very ungifted mayor, should request help from the Federal Government. If lives are endangered, we’re going in!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1299575308442652672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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'Self-defense'

A high-profile lawyer representing the 17-year-old shooter charged with killing two protesters and wounding another during demonstrations on the streets of&nbsp;Kenosha, Wisconsin said on Friday that his client had acted in self-defense.

Atlanta-based attorney Lin Wood said video footage of the altercation would vindicate Kyle Rittenhouse despite what he described as misinformation being spread by the media.

"Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. Murder charges are factually unsupportable. An egregious miscarriage of justice is occurring with respect to this 17-year old boy," Wood said on Twitter.

Summer&nbsp;of&nbsp;protests

The shooting of Blake in front of three of his children has turned&nbsp;Kenosha, a predominantly white city of about 100,000 people on Lake Michigan, into the latest flashpoint in ongoing nationwide protests over police brutality and racism.

It also galvanized protesters who gathered in Washington on Friday to commemorate the 1963 march where Martin Luther King Jr made his historic "I Have a Dream" speech.

The summer of protests ignited after video footage showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a Black man, George Floyd. Floyd later died and the since-fired officer has been charged with murder.

Police have removed handcuffs shackling Jacob Blake, who is paralyzed after US police shot him repeatedly in the back, to his hospital bed and stopped monitoring him, Blake's lawyer said Friday.

Police have removed handcuffs shackling Jacob Blake, who is paralyzed after US police shot him repeatedly in the back, to his hospital bed and stopped monitoring him, Blake's lawyer said Friday. African-American Blake, 29, was shot seven times in the back point blank over the weekend by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin and has no movement from the waist down. Word that Blake was tied to his hospital bed in Wisconsin, his father said one ankle was shackled, had caused a further uproar amid a groundswell of national anger over yet another shooting of a black man by police. Also read: Washington: Thousands march to denounce racism on anniversary of King's speech Blake's attorney Patrick Cafferty said Blake was restrained in his hospital bed and officers were watching over him because of an outstanding warrant stemming from a domestic violence-related incident in July. Police union gives its version of Blake's shooting Meanwhile, the Kenosha police union on Friday offered the most detailed accounting to date on officers' perspective of the moments leading up to police shooting Jacob Blake, saying he had a knife and fought with officers, putting one of them in a headlock and shrugging off two attempts to stun him. The statement from Brendan Matthews, attorney for the Kenosha Professional Police Association, goes into more detail than anything that has been released by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which is investigating. US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to address the protests and said ''Kenosha has been very quiet for the third night in a row or, since the National Guard has shown up. That’s the way it works, it’s all very simple. Portland, with a very ungifted mayor, should request help from the Federal Government. If lives are endangered, we’re going in!'' Kenosha has been very quiet for the third night in a row or, since the National Guard has shown up. That’s the way it works, it’s all very simple. Portland, with a very ungifted mayor, should request help from the Federal Government. If lives are endangered, we’re going in! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2020 × 'Self-defense' A high-profile lawyer representing the 17-year-old shooter charged with killing two protesters and wounding another during demonstrations on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin said on Friday that his client had acted in self-defense. Atlanta-based attorney Lin Wood said video footage of the altercation would vindicate Kyle Rittenhouse despite what he described as misinformation being spread by the media. "Kyle Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. Murder charges are factually unsupportable. An egregious miscarriage of justice is occurring with respect to this 17-year old boy," Wood said on Twitter. Summer of protests The shooting of Blake in front of three of his children has turned Kenosha, a predominantly white city of about 100,000 people on Lake Michigan, into the latest flashpoint in ongoing nationwide protests over police brutality and racism. It also galvanized protesters who gathered in Washington on Friday to commemorate the 1963 march where Martin Luther King Jr made his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. The summer of protests ignited after video footage showed a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on the neck of a Black man, George Floyd. Floyd later died and the since-fired officer has been charged with murder.

Paralysed US police shooting victim Jacob Blake released from handcuffs in hospital bed

A refugee rescue vessel funded by British street artist Banksy called for urgent help late Friday after lending assistance to a boat in the Mediterranean that was carrying at least one dead migrant.

The boat, named 'Louise Michel' after the 19th-century&nbsp;French feminist anarchist, said it was "reaching the State of Emergency" after encountering the boat 130 people as they attempted to cross the expanse dividing Europe and Africa.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/street-artist-banksy-pays-tribute-to-uks-health-service-297136">Street artist Banksy pays tribute to UK's health service</a>

"There is already one dead person on the boat. We need immediate assistance," the crew of the 31-meter&nbsp;Louise Michel wrote on Twitter, saying other migrants had fuel burns and had been at sea for days.

It has been operational since last week. On Thursday it rescued 89 people, including 14 women and four children, from a rubber boat in distress, the group said on its website.

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In picture: Migrants rescued by the Louise Michel in the Mediterranean Sea

A former French Navy boat daubed in pink and white, the 30-meter long Louise Michel was bought with proceeds from the sale of&nbsp;Banksy&nbsp;artwork, the group said. The side of the vessel's cabin features an artwork of a girl holding a heart-shaped life buoy in his familiar stencilled style.

The boat was around 90 kilometres southeast of the Italian island of Lampedusa early on Saturday, according to the global ship tracking website Marine Traffic.

Thousands of people are thought to have died making the dangerous crossing across the Mediterranean to flee conflict, repression and poverty in Africa and the Middle East.&nbsp;

Banksy's decision to fund the high-speed boat follows a body of work by the artist that has levelled scathing judgements on Europe's halting response to the migrant crisis.

Painted in hot pink and white, the Louise Michel features a Banksy artwork depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy.&nbsp;

Early this month, humanitarian organisations said they would resume migrant rescues in the Mediterranean Sea where none have operated since the Ocean Viking docked in Italy in early July.

Before the Ocean Viking's last mission, rescue operations in the Mediterranean had been suspended for months due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

More than 100,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean last year from north Africa with more than 1,200 dying in the attempt, according to the International Organization for Migration.

A refugee rescue vessel funded by British street artist Banksy called for urgent help late Friday after lending assistance to a boat in the Mediterranean that was carrying at least one dead migrant.

A refugee rescue vessel funded by British street artist Banksy called for urgent help late Friday after lending assistance to a boat in the Mediterranean that was carrying at least one dead migrant. The boat, named 'Louise Michel' after the 19th-century French feminist anarchist, said it was "reaching the State of Emergency" after encountering the boat 130 people as they attempted to cross the expanse dividing Europe and Africa. Also read: Street artist Banksy pays tribute to UK's health service "There is already one dead person on the boat. We need immediate assistance," the crew of the 31-meter Louise Michel wrote on Twitter, saying other migrants had fuel burns and had been at sea for days. It has been operational since last week. On Thursday it rescued 89 people, including 14 women and four children, from a rubber boat in distress, the group said on its website. In picture: Migrants rescued by the Louise Michel in the Mediterranean Sea A former French Navy boat daubed in pink and white, the 30-meter long Louise Michel was bought with proceeds from the sale of Banksy artwork, the group said. The side of the vessel's cabin features an artwork of a girl holding a heart-shaped life buoy in his familiar stencilled style. The boat was around 90 kilometres southeast of the Italian island of Lampedusa early on Saturday, according to the global ship tracking website Marine Traffic. Thousands of people are thought to have died making the dangerous crossing across the Mediterranean to flee conflict, repression and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. Banksy's decision to fund the high-speed boat follows a body of work by the artist that has levelled scathing judgements on Europe's halting response to the migrant crisis. Painted in hot pink and white, the Louise Michel features a Banksy artwork depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy. Early this month, humanitarian organisations said they would resume migrant rescues in the Mediterranean Sea where none have operated since the Ocean Viking docked in Italy in early July. Before the Ocean Viking's last mission, rescue operations in the Mediterranean had been suspended for months due to the global coronavirus pandemic. More than 100,000 migrants tried to cross the Mediterranean last year from north Africa with more than 1,200 dying in the attempt, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Banksy-funded Mediterranean rescue boat calls for urgent assistance

Hurricane&nbsp;Laura&nbsp;tore through Louisiana on Thursday, killing at least 14 people&nbsp;and flattening buildings across a wide swatch of the state before moving into Arkansas with heavy rains.

While out of 10 people,&nbsp;half died from using carbon monoxide-producing portable generators indoors,&nbsp;the remaining deaths were either caused by trees falling on people's homes or drowning.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/unsurvivable-storm-surge-hurricane-laura-batters-southern-us-states-323483">'Unsurvivable storm surge': Hurricane Laura batters southern US states</a>

In Westlake, a chemical plant caught fire when hit by&nbsp;Laura, and the flames continued to send a chlorine-infused plume of smoke skyward nearly 24 hours after landfall.

Laura&nbsp;caused less mayhem than forecasts predicted, but officials said it remained a dangerous storm and that it would take days to assess the damage. At least 867,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas remained without power on Thursday afternoon.

"This was the most powerful storm to ever make landfall in Louisiana," Governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference. "It's continuing to cause damage and life-threatening conditions."

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Laura's maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour&nbsp;upon landfall easily bested Hurricane Katrina, which sparked deadly levee breaches in New Orleans in 2005, and arrived with wind speeds of 125 mph.

The NHC said&nbsp;Laura's eye had crossed into southern Arkansas late Thursday afternoon and was heading to the northeast at 15 mph (24 kph). The storm could dump 7 inches&nbsp;of rain on portions of Arkansas, likely causing flash floods.

Laura&nbsp;was downgraded to a tropical depression by the NHC at 10 p.m., and the forecaster said it will move to the mid-Mississippi Valley later on Friday and then to the mid-Atlantic states on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump, who said he considered delaying his Republican presidential nomination acceptance speech over the storm, promised to visit the Gulf Coast "very shortly."

"It turned out we got a little bit lucky," Trump said. "It was very big. It was very powerful but it passed quickly."

Hurricane Laura tore through Louisiana on Thursday, killing at least 14 people and flattening buildings across a wide swatch of the state before moving into Arkansas with heavy rains.

Hurricane Laura tore through Louisiana on Thursday, killing at least 14 people and flattening buildings across a wide swatch of the state before moving into Arkansas with heavy rains. While out of 10 people, half died from using carbon monoxide-producing portable generators indoors, the remaining deaths were either caused by trees falling on people's homes or drowning. Also see: 'Unsurvivable storm surge': Hurricane Laura batters southern US states In Westlake, a chemical plant caught fire when hit by Laura, and the flames continued to send a chlorine-infused plume of smoke skyward nearly 24 hours after landfall. Laura caused less mayhem than forecasts predicted, but officials said it remained a dangerous storm and that it would take days to assess the damage. At least 867,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas remained without power on Thursday afternoon. "This was the most powerful storm to ever make landfall in Louisiana," Governor John Bel Edwards told a news conference. "It's continuing to cause damage and life-threatening conditions." Laura's maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour upon landfall easily bested Hurricane Katrina, which sparked deadly levee breaches in New Orleans in 2005, and arrived with wind speeds of 125 mph. The NHC said Laura's eye had crossed into southern Arkansas late Thursday afternoon and was heading to the northeast at 15 mph (24 kph). The storm could dump 7 inches of rain on portions of Arkansas, likely causing flash floods. Laura was downgraded to a tropical depression by the NHC at 10 p.m., and the forecaster said it will move to the mid-Mississippi Valley later on Friday and then to the mid-Atlantic states on Saturday. US President Donald Trump, who said he considered delaying his Republican presidential nomination acceptance speech over the storm, promised to visit the Gulf Coast "very shortly." "It turned out we got a little bit lucky," Trump said. "It was very big. It was very powerful but it passed quickly."

Hurricane Laura slams Louisiana, kills 14, but less damage than forecast

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's brain-machine interface company Neuralink showcased a working device on Friday, shedding new light into the progress of the secretive company.

Co-founded by Tesla Inc and SpaceX CEO&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;in 2016, San Francisco Bay Area-based Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence.

While the touted benefits of the company's brain-machine interface range from providing anxiety relief to helping paralysed people control devices, the more immediate goal of the company appears to be allowing people to control their phones and computers with chips that can be implanted on brain.

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In picture: V2 of the Neuralink brain-machine interface surgery bot 

"An implantable device can actually solve these problems,"&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;said on a webcast Friday, mentioning ailments such as memory loss, hearing loss, depression and insomnia.

<img alt="Musk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b11df4b6-2297-4850-bbaa-4b89ff001c97" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2847%29_5.jpg" />

In picture: Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;is seen on a screen during a video message&nbsp; 
 
"Live webcast of working @Neuralink device," Musk said in tweet, adding that it will take place on Friday.

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Live webcast of working <a href="https://twitter.com/neuralink?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Neuralink</a> device 
Friday 3pm Pacific <a href="https://t.co/PouLbrGzFU">https://t.co/PouLbrGzFU</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1298494373278220290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Musk&nbsp;did not provide a timeline for those treatments, appearing to retreat from earlier statements that human trials would begin by the end of this year. Neuralink's first clinical trials with a small number of human patients would be aimed at treating paralysis or paraplegia, the company's head surgeon Dr. Matthew MacDougall said.

Neuroscientists unaffiliated with the company said the presentation indicated that Neuralink had made great strides but cautioned that longer studies were needed.

Musk&nbsp;presented what he described as the "three little pigs demo." Gertrude, the pig with a Neuralink implant in the part of its brain that controls the snout, required some coaxing by&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;to appear on camera, but eventually began eating off of a stool and sniffing straw, triggering spikes on a graph tracking the animal's neural activity.

Musk&nbsp;said the company had three pigs with two implants each, and also revealed a pig that previously had an implant. They were "healthy, happy and indistinguishable from a normal pig,"&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;said.&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;said the company predicted a pig's limb movement during a treadmill run at "high accuracy" using implant data.

Musk is soon expected to announce human trials for the technology that has been successful on mice and even apes. 
 
"Will show neurons firing in real-time on August 28th. The matrix in the matrix," Musk tweeted last month. 
 
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also claimed that a new Neuralink chip will allow users to hear sounds that previously were impossible to human ears. 
 
He confirmed the new feature last month over an exchange with a Twitter user who asked: "If we implement Neuralink - can we listen to music directly from our chips? Great feature." Musk replied with a simple, "yes". 
 
Musk founded Neuralink in 2016 but has only held one major public presentation so far.

The Silicon Valley entrepreneur's&nbsp;&nbsp;net worth topped $100 billion on Friday, according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list, as the shares of electric-car maker Tesla Inc see a more than five-fold surge in value this year.

Tesla Inc's factory in Nevada was a target of a "serious" cybersecurity attack according to&nbsp;a media report that claimed an employee of the company helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) thwart the attack.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's brain-machine interface company Neuralink showcased a working device on Friday, shedding new light into the progress of the secretive company.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's brain-machine interface company Neuralink showcased a working device on Friday, shedding new light into the progress of the secretive company. Co-founded by Tesla Inc and SpaceX CEO Musk in 2016, San Francisco Bay Area-based Neuralink aims to implant wireless brain-computer interfaces that include thousands of electrodes in the most complex human organ to help cure neurological conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia and spinal cord injuries and ultimately fuse humankind with artificial intelligence. While the touted benefits of the company's brain-machine interface range from providing anxiety relief to helping paralysed people control devices, the more immediate goal of the company appears to be allowing people to control their phones and computers with chips that can be implanted on brain. In picture: V2 of the Neuralink brain-machine interface surgery bot "An implantable device can actually solve these problems," Musk said on a webcast Friday, mentioning ailments such as memory loss, hearing loss, depression and insomnia. In picture: Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk is seen on a screen during a video message "Live webcast of working @Neuralink device," Musk said in tweet, adding that it will take place on Friday. Live webcast of working @Neuralink device Friday 3pm Pacific https://t.co/PouLbrGzFU — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 26, 2020 × Musk did not provide a timeline for those treatments, appearing to retreat from earlier statements that human trials would begin by the end of this year. Neuralink's first clinical trials with a small number of human patients would be aimed at treating paralysis or paraplegia, the company's head surgeon Dr. Matthew MacDougall said. Neuroscientists unaffiliated with the company said the presentation indicated that Neuralink had made great strides but cautioned that longer studies were needed. Musk presented what he described as the "three little pigs demo." Gertrude, the pig with a Neuralink implant in the part of its brain that controls the snout, required some coaxing by Musk to appear on camera, but eventually began eating off of a stool and sniffing straw, triggering spikes on a graph tracking the animal's neural activity. Musk said the company had three pigs with two implants each, and also revealed a pig that previously had an implant. They were "healthy, happy and indistinguishable from a normal pig," Musk said. Musk said the company predicted a pig's limb movement during a treadmill run at "high accuracy" using implant data. Musk is soon expected to announce human trials for the technology that has been successful on mice and even apes. "Will show neurons firing in real-time on August 28th. The matrix in the matrix," Musk tweeted last month. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also claimed that a new Neuralink chip will allow users to hear sounds that previously were impossible to human ears. He confirmed the new feature last month over an exchange with a Twitter user who asked: "If we implement Neuralink - can we listen to music directly from our chips? Great feature." Musk replied with a simple, "yes". Musk founded Neuralink in 2016 but has only held one major public presentation so far. The Silicon Valley entrepreneur's net worth topped $100 billion on Friday, according to the Forbes real-time billionaires list, as the shares of electric-car maker Tesla Inc see a more than five-fold surge in value this year. Tesla Inc's factory in Nevada was a target of a "serious" cybersecurity attack according to a media report that claimed an employee of the company helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation(FBI) thwart the attack.

'Three little pigs': Elon Musk unveils Neuralink brain computer implants

US President Donald Trump on Friday paid his "highest respect" to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and voiced concern over his "great friend" resigning for health reasons.

"I want to pay my highest respect to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a very great friend of mine," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a campaign rally in New Hampshire.&nbsp;

"We've had a great relationship and I just feel very badly about it, because it must be very severe for him to leave."

Trump&nbsp;said Abe loved his country very much, adding that he planned to call the Japanese leader. World leaders from all across the globe bid adieu to Abe, wished him luck for his future and health and congratulated him for his wonderful term.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-abe-resigns-how-the-world-is-reacting-to-the-news-323702">Japan PM Abe resigns: How the world is reacting to the news</a>

Ending weeks of speculation, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Friday that he is stepping down for health reasons a second time.

Shinzo Abe had earlier made two trips to the hospital amid speculation over his health.

“I cannot be prime minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people. I have decided to step down from my post,” Abe, 65, told a news conference.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/possible-successors-stack-up-as-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe-resigns-323622" hreflang="en">Possible successors stack up as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns</a>

Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021.

Shinzo Abe's resignation announcement has now triggered an election in his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to replace him as its president, followed by a vote in parliament to elect a new prime minister.

With Abe’s conservative LDP and Komeito holding a strong majority in the more powerful Lower House, whoever becomes the next LDP president will almost certainly become prime minister.

US President Donald Trump on Friday paid his "highest respect" to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and voiced concern over his "great friend" resigning for health reasons.

US President Donald Trump on Friday paid his "highest respect" to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and voiced concern over his "great friend" resigning for health reasons. "I want to pay my highest respect to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a very great friend of mine," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a campaign rally in New Hampshire. "We've had a great relationship and I just feel very badly about it, because it must be very severe for him to leave." Trump said Abe loved his country very much, adding that he planned to call the Japanese leader. World leaders from all across the globe bid adieu to Abe, wished him luck for his future and health and congratulated him for his wonderful term. Also read: Japan PM Abe resigns: How the world is reacting to the news Ending weeks of speculation, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on Friday that he is stepping down for health reasons a second time. Shinzo Abe had earlier made two trips to the hospital amid speculation over his health. “I cannot be prime minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people. I have decided to step down from my post,” Abe, 65, told a news conference. Also see: Possible successors stack up as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns Abe has battled the disease ulcerative colitis for years and two recent hospital visits within a week had fanned questions on whether he could stay in the job until the end of his term as ruling party leader, and hence, premier, in September 2021. Shinzo Abe's resignation announcement has now triggered an election in his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to replace him as its president, followed by a vote in parliament to elect a new prime minister. With Abe’s conservative LDP and Komeito holding a strong majority in the more powerful Lower House, whoever becomes the next LDP president will almost certainly become prime minister.

Trump pays 'highest respect' to resigning Japanese Prime Minister Abe

August 29 in history: Discovery of electromagnetic induction, testing of USSR's first atomic bomb and more

Thousands of people took part in a march in&nbsp;Washington&nbsp;on Friday to denounce racism, on the anniversary of the march in 1963 where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr made his historic "I Have a Dream" speech.

"You might have killed the dreamer, but you can't kill the dream," civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton told Friday's crowd.

Activists and politicians gave speeches, including Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who appeared in a recorded video. Many referenced US&nbsp;Representative John Lewis, a civil rights hero who spoke at the 1963 march and died in July.

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Speakers stressed the importance of voting in November's election and links between activism for Black civil rights, disability rights and LGBT rights and against gun violence, among other causes.

"In so many ways, we stand together today in the symbolic shadow of history, but we are making history together right now," said Martin Luther King III, Martin Luther King Jr's son.

The half-mile march from the Lincoln Memorial to the Martin Luther King Memorial, on a hot, humid day in the US&nbsp;capital, comes amid a summer of racial unrest book-ended by two high-profile incidents in which Black men were shot by police.

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FILE PHOTO: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is seen in&nbsp;Washington

Nationwide protests began in May, sparked by the killing of George Floyd, an African-American man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

This week, protests broke out in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after police officers shot another African-American man, Jacob Blake, multiple times in front of his children. Though Blake survived, lawyers said he has been paralyzed.

"We will not be your docile slave. We will not be a footstool to oppression," said Letetra Widman, Blake's sister.

George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, appeared on stage as well. At times, he stopped to collect himself, apparently overcome with emotion.

"I wish George was here to see this," he said.

Allisa Findley, sister of Botham Jean, an African-American man killed in Dallas by an off-duty police officer who said she mistook his apartment for her own, said: "I am tired of adding new names, adding new hashtags to an already long list of victims of police terror. We cannot allow our brothers and sisters to only be remembered for how they died."

'Too&nbsp;little,&nbsp;too&nbsp;late'

James Jarell, a business owner from Delaware, said recent demonstrations of support from corporations and professional athletes was not enough. "For people who live with the terror of getting shot by the police every day, this is too little, too late," he said.

Bella Ridenoure of Arlington, Virginia said President Donald Trump should have acknowledged Black frustrations during his speech on Thursday that closed out the Republican National Convention.

"How much does it hurt President Trump to acknowledge racism?" the 43-year-old government worker said. "Instead, he played politics and is now making it look like we are criminals who want the police defunded."

Sharpton's National Action Network, which planned the event, took steps to protect marchers from the coronavirus pandemic, in which Black people have suffered disproportionately. At one point, a speaker directed attendees to stand with their arms out to ensure there was enough distance between them. Staff wiped down the podium and microphones between speakers.

Black people are more likely to be sickened and die from the virus and to lose jobs from the economic fallout, statistics show.

Though many people wore masks, many others did not.

A virtual commemoration is also planned, featuring Reverend William Barber, a prominent civil rights activist and the co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign. It will also include civil rights activists, politicians, artists and entertainers.

Kerrigan Williams, a founder of Freedom Fighters DC, said the activist group was organizing its own march later on Friday to promote a more radical agenda that includes replacing police departments with other public safety systems.

Separately, a wing of the Movement for Black Lives, a network of Black activists and organizations, has scheduled the "Black National Convention" on Friday night, following national conventions by the Democratic and Republican parties over the past two weeks.

Thousands of people took part in a march in Washington on Friday to denounce racism, on the anniversary of the march in 1963 where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr made his historic "I Have a Dream" speech.

Thousands of people took part in a march in Washington on Friday to denounce racism, on the anniversary of the march in 1963 where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr made his historic "I Have a Dream" speech. "You might have killed the dreamer, but you can't kill the dream," civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton told Friday's crowd. Activists and politicians gave speeches, including Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who appeared in a recorded video. Many referenced US Representative John Lewis, a civil rights hero who spoke at the 1963 march and died in July. Speakers stressed the importance of voting in November's election and links between activism for Black civil rights, disability rights and LGBT rights and against gun violence, among other causes. "In so many ways, we stand together today in the symbolic shadow of history, but we are making history together right now," said Martin Luther King III, Martin Luther King Jr's son. The half-mile march from the Lincoln Memorial to the Martin Luther King Memorial, on a hot, humid day in the US capital, comes amid a summer of racial unrest book-ended by two high-profile incidents in which Black men were shot by police. FILE PHOTO: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is seen in Washington Nationwide protests began in May, sparked by the killing of George Floyd, an African-American man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. This week, protests broke out in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after police officers shot another African-American man, Jacob Blake, multiple times in front of his children. Though Blake survived, lawyers said he has been paralyzed. "We will not be your docile slave. We will not be a footstool to oppression," said Letetra Widman, Blake's sister. George Floyd's brother, Philonise Floyd, appeared on stage as well. At times, he stopped to collect himself, apparently overcome with emotion. "I wish George was here to see this," he said. Allisa Findley, sister of Botham Jean, an African-American man killed in Dallas by an off-duty police officer who said she mistook his apartment for her own, said: "I am tired of adding new names, adding new hashtags to an already long list of victims of police terror. We cannot allow our brothers and sisters to only be remembered for how they died." 'Too little, too late' James Jarell, a business owner from Delaware, said recent demonstrations of support from corporations and professional athletes was not enough. "For people who live with the terror of getting shot by the police every day, this is too little, too late," he said. Bella Ridenoure of Arlington, Virginia said President Donald Trump should have acknowledged Black frustrations during his speech on Thursday that closed out the Republican National Convention. "How much does it hurt President Trump to acknowledge racism?" the 43-year-old government worker said. "Instead, he played politics and is now making it look like we are criminals who want the police defunded." Sharpton's National Action Network, which planned the event, took steps to protect marchers from the coronavirus pandemic, in which Black people have suffered disproportionately. At one point, a speaker directed attendees to stand with their arms out to ensure there was enough distance between them. Staff wiped down the podium and microphones between speakers. Black people are more likely to be sickened and die from the virus and to lose jobs from the economic fallout, statistics show. Though many people wore masks, many others did not. A virtual commemoration is also planned, featuring Reverend William Barber, a prominent civil rights activist and the co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign. It will also include civil rights activists, politicians, artists and entertainers. Kerrigan Williams, a founder of Freedom Fighters DC, said the activist group was organizing its own march later on Friday to promote a more radical agenda that includes replacing police departments with other public safety systems. Separately, a wing of the Movement for Black Lives, a network of Black activists and organizations, has scheduled the "Black National Convention" on Friday night, following national conventions by the Democratic and Republican parties over the past two weeks.

Washington: Thousands march to denounce racism on anniversary of King's speech

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