Major US companies will remain engaged in developing a global 5G mobile standard, as Washington seeks to keep them in the same room as Huawei Technologies, which is already&nbsp;ahead in drawing up the specifications.

The US Commerce Department and other agencies signed off on a rule change on Monday that ensures Huawei’s inclusion in a US trade blacklist will not prevent American companies from international 5G standards-development activities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-is-using-huawei-to-drive-a-wedge-in-the-uk-us-special-relationship-senator-302736">China is using Huawei to drive a wedge in the UK-US special relationship: Senator</a>

“This is not a friendly gesture by the US, but simply a reflection on its part that it is too late and too expensive for any country to develop its own 5G standard,” Jefferies equity analyst Edison Lee said on Tuesday.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-will-the-huawei-cfo-be-extradited-to-the-us-301669/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A Huawei spokeswoman declined to comment on the US decision.

<iframe data-google-container-id="4" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/8134/scmp/web/tech_chinatech/article/outstream1_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/8134/scmp/web/tech_chinatech/article/outstream1_0" scrolling="no" srcdoc="" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe>Lee said feedback from&nbsp;US tech companies likely convinced the Trump administration&nbsp;that it is not realistic for the US to create its own version of 5G. Large US firms, including Intel Corp and Qualcomm, have already contributed plenty to 5G standards under the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), an international collaboration of seven telecoms standard development organisations that draw up complete mobile system specifications.

The stakes are high for US companies to remain in these standards discussions because 3GPP is now at work on introducing Release 16 of the next-generation mobile technology’s global standard. This involves support for new applications such as autonomous driving, smart factories and remote surgeries in the health care sector – among a range of innovations that are expected to help fuel economic growth for countries over the next decade.

“The US has more to lose if their companies are cut off from further participation in that process,” Jefferies’ Lee said. “Huawei has leading patent shares in 5G, which could rise further if US companies stop contributing.”

China’s road to 5G has been filled with difficulties. In 2012, two years before China Mobile launched 4G services on the mainland, various Chinese entities joined an international initiative to research and develop 5G.

The world’s second largest economy is now estimated to account for 35 per cent of 5G standard-essential patent declarations, about 15 per cent of which come from Shenzhen-based Huawei, according to Lee, citing data from German research firm IPlytics. By comparison, US companies’ share is estimated at roughly 13 per cent, he said.

Major US companies will remain engaged in developing a global 5G mobile standard, as Washington seeks to keep them in the same room as Huawei Technologies, which is already ahead in drawing up the specifications.

Major US companies will remain engaged in developing a global 5G mobile standard, as Washington seeks to keep them in the same room as Huawei Technologies, which is already ahead in drawing up the specifications. The US Commerce Department and other agencies signed off on a rule change on Monday that ensures Huawei’s inclusion in a US trade blacklist will not prevent American companies from international 5G standards-development activities. Also read: China is using Huawei to drive a wedge in the UK-US special relationship: Senator “This is not a friendly gesture by the US, but simply a reflection on its part that it is too late and too expensive for any country to develop its own 5G standard,” Jefferies equity analyst Edison Lee said on Tuesday. A Huawei spokeswoman declined to comment on the US decision. Lee said feedback from US tech companies likely convinced the Trump administration that it is not realistic for the US to create its own version of 5G. Large US firms, including Intel Corp and Qualcomm, have already contributed plenty to 5G standards under the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), an international collaboration of seven telecoms standard development organisations that draw up complete mobile system specifications. The stakes are high for US companies to remain in these standards discussions because 3GPP is now at work on introducing Release 16 of the next-generation mobile technology’s global standard. This involves support for new applications such as autonomous driving, smart factories and remote surgeries in the health care sector – among a range of innovations that are expected to help fuel economic growth for countries over the next decade. “The US has more to lose if their companies are cut off from further participation in that process,” Jefferies’ Lee said. “Huawei has leading patent shares in 5G, which could rise further if US companies stop contributing.” China’s road to 5G has been filled with difficulties. In 2012, two years before China Mobile launched 4G services on the mainland, various Chinese entities joined an international initiative to research and develop 5G. The world’s second largest economy is now estimated to account for 35 per cent of 5G standard-essential patent declarations, about 15 per cent of which come from Shenzhen-based Huawei, according to Lee, citing data from German research firm IPlytics. By comparison, US companies’ share is estimated at roughly 13 per cent, he said.

US tech firms to remain involved with Huawei on 5G and other standards

Australia's foreign minister accused China Tuesday of contributing to a climate of "fear and division" over the coronavirus in a speech also attacking Russia and Turkey for spreading disinformation about the disease.

Speaking at the Australian National University in Canberra, Marise Payne said the virus had provided fertile ground for fake news, and highlighted Twitter's action in uncovering the role Russia, China and Turkey had allegedly played on the platform.

"Twitter disclosed over 32,000 accounts as state-linked information operations, which the company attributed to Russia to China and to Turkey," Payne said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-technology/twitter-deletes-170000-accounts-linked-to-chinas-covid-19-spin-hong-kong-protests-305264">Twitter deletes 170,000 accounts linked to China's COVID-19 spin, Hong Kong protests</a>

"For our part, it is troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy to promote their own more authoritarian models."&nbsp;

Payne also labelled Beijing's warnings to citizens against travelling to Australia because of potential racist attacks as "disinformation".

"At a time like this, what we need is cooperation and understanding," she said.

She called for nations to bolster global bodies such as the World Health Organization to counter the "infodemic".

"We will do so through facts and transparency, underpinned by liberal democratic values that we will continue to promote home and abroad," said Payne.

Tensions between Beijing and Canberra have escalated steadily since Australia joined calls for an international probe into the origins of coronavirus and its handling by China.

Beijing has since taken retaliatory steps, including targeting trade with Australia and discouraging&nbsp;its citizens from visiting the country.

Chinese&nbsp;travellers represent the biggest group of tourists to Australia, as well as a significant and lucrative source of income from university students.

Payne acknowledged Australia may have made itself a target by speaking out for a review on coronavirus, but said it had been in Australia’s best long-term interests.&nbsp;

"There are times to pursue quiet diplomacy behind the scenes, but there are also times to voice our concern and persuade others of the need for a course of action," she said.

Australia's foreign minister accused China Tuesday of contributing to a climate of "fear and division" over the coronavirus in a speech also attacking Russia and Turkey for spreading disinformation about the disease.

Australia's foreign minister accused China Tuesday of contributing to a climate of "fear and division" over the coronavirus in a speech also attacking Russia and Turkey for spreading disinformation about the disease. Speaking at the Australian National University in Canberra, Marise Payne said the virus had provided fertile ground for fake news, and highlighted Twitter's action in uncovering the role Russia, China and Turkey had allegedly played on the platform. "Twitter disclosed over 32,000 accounts as state-linked information operations, which the company attributed to Russia to China and to Turkey," Payne said. Also read: Twitter deletes 170,000 accounts linked to China's COVID-19 spin, Hong Kong protests "For our part, it is troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy to promote their own more authoritarian models." Payne also labelled Beijing's warnings to citizens against travelling to Australia because of potential racist attacks as "disinformation". "At a time like this, what we need is cooperation and understanding," she said. She called for nations to bolster global bodies such as the World Health Organization to counter the "infodemic". "We will do so through facts and transparency, underpinned by liberal democratic values that we will continue to promote home and abroad," said Payne. Tensions between Beijing and Canberra have escalated steadily since Australia joined calls for an international probe into the origins of coronavirus and its handling by China. Beijing has since taken retaliatory steps, including targeting trade with Australia and discouraging its citizens from visiting the country. Chinese travellers represent the biggest group of tourists to Australia, as well as a significant and lucrative source of income from university students. Payne acknowledged Australia may have made itself a target by speaking out for a review on coronavirus, but said it had been in Australia’s best long-term interests. "There are times to pursue quiet diplomacy behind the scenes, but there are also times to voice our concern and persuade others of the need for a course of action," she said.

Australia accuses China of fuelling 'infodemic' over coronavirus pandemic

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain cannot "photoshop" its cultural landscape and complex history as doing so would be a distortion of its past, amid an ongoing row over the removal of statues of historical figures.

"If we start purging the record and removing the images of all but those whose attitudes conform to our own, we are engaged in a great lie, a distortion of our history,"&nbsp;Johnson said.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/churchill-slave-trader-edward-colstons-statues-vandalised-amid-protests-in-uk-304261">Churchill, slave trader Edward Colston's statues vandalised amid protests in UK</a>

Johnson also defended Winston Churchill and said it was "absurd and deplorable" that the former prime minister's monument should have been in any danger.

"He was a hero, and I expect I am not alone in saying that I will resist with every breath in my body any attempt to remove that statue from Parliament Square, and the sooner his protective shielding comes off the better," he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/world-dismantles-historical-artefacts-of-racism-monuments-become-sites-of-protest-304777">World dismantles historical artefacts of racism, monuments become sites of protest</a>

Many monuments of historical figures&nbsp;have been boarded up&nbsp;as anti-racism protesters taking to the streets following the death of African-American George Floyd, have put statues at the forefront of their challenge to Britain's imperialist past.

Earlier this month, a statue of Edward Colston, who made a fortune in the 17th century from the slave trade, was&nbsp;torn down in the port city of Bristol&nbsp;and thrown into harbour.

Johnson is an admirer and biographer of Churchill, and some of those close to him say he wants to emulate him.

But Churchill expressed racist and anti-Semitic views and critics blame him for denying food to India during the 1943 famine which killed more than two million people - aspects of his legacy which some say are not scrutinised enough.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain cannot "photoshop" its cultural landscape and complex history as doing so would be a distortion of its past, amid an ongoing row over the removal of statues of historical figures.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain cannot "photoshop" its cultural landscape and complex history as doing so would be a distortion of its past, amid an ongoing row over the removal of statues of historical figures. "If we start purging the record and removing the images of all but those whose attitudes conform to our own, we are engaged in a great lie, a distortion of our history," Johnson said. Also see: Churchill, slave trader Edward Colston's statues vandalised amid protests in UK Johnson also defended Winston Churchill and said it was "absurd and deplorable" that the former prime minister's monument should have been in any danger. "He was a hero, and I expect I am not alone in saying that I will resist with every breath in my body any attempt to remove that statue from Parliament Square, and the sooner his protective shielding comes off the better," he said. Also read: World dismantles historical artefacts of racism, monuments become sites of protest Many monuments of historical figures have been boarded up as anti-racism protesters taking to the streets following the death of African-American George Floyd, have put statues at the forefront of their challenge to Britain's imperialist past. Earlier this month, a statue of Edward Colston, who made a fortune in the 17th century from the slave trade, was torn down in the port city of Bristol and thrown into harbour. Johnson is an admirer and biographer of Churchill, and some of those close to him say he wants to emulate him. But Churchill expressed racist and anti-Semitic views and critics blame him for denying food to India during the 1943 famine which killed more than two million people - aspects of his legacy which some say are not scrutinised enough.

UK PM Boris Johnson defends Churchill, criticises 'distortion of history'

Top 10 competitive places to work and do business in 2020

Desperation for a way to keep economies from collapsing under the weight of Covid-19 could mean settling for a vaccine that prevents people from getting really sick or dying but doesn't stop them from catching the coronavirus.

Although a knock-out blow against the virus is the ultimate goal, early vaccines may come with limitations on what they can deliver, according to Professor Robin Shattock from Imperial College London who is leading development of an experimental shot.

"Is that protection against infection?" Prof Shattock said. "Is it protection against illness? Is it protection against severe disease? It's quite possible a vaccine that only protects against severe disease would be very useful."

As countries emerge warily from lockdowns, leaders are looking to a&nbsp;preventive shot as the route to return to pre-pandemic life.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vaccine-developed-by-astrazeneca-most-likely-to-protect-for-a-year-ceo-306234" hreflang="en">Vaccine developed by AstraZeneca most likely to protect for a year: CEO</a>

Fueled by billions of dollars in government investment, vaccines from little-known companies like China's CanSino Biologics Inc and giants like Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca Plc are in development.

At least one of the fastest-moving experimental shots has already advanced into human trials after showing an impact on severe disease - but less so on infection - in animals. Experts say such a product would probably be widely used if approved, even if that's as much as it contributes, until a more effective version comes to market.

There are drawbacks, though. While holding the potential to save lives, such vaccines might lead to complacency in lockdown-weary nations, said Dr Michael Kinch, a drug development expert who is associate vice-chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis.

"My guess would be that the day after someone gets immunised, they're going to think, 'I can go back to normal. Everything will be fine,'" he said. "They're not going to necessarily realise that they might still be susceptible to infection."

Covid-19 is already thought to be spread by people without symptoms, and a symptom-preventing vaccine may create even greater numbers of them.

Vaccines are among the most effective weapons against infectious disease, and prevent up to 3 million deaths a year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Yet few, if any, are 100 per cent effective in all people who get them. For example, about 3 per cent of people who get measles vaccine develop a mild form of the disease, and can spread it to others.

In their attempts to confront a rapidly growing threat, developers are turning to technologies that have never been used successfully in humans. More than 130 shots are in the works for Covid-19 prevention, according to the WHO.

Vaccines work by presenting the immune system with a form of a germ - or a key part of it - preparing the body to respond when a real exposure occurs. When that happens, immune proteins called antibodies glom onto the virus, halting its entry to cells. Sometimes vaccines ramp up immune T-cells, which don't do as much to prevent infections, but can slow and eventually stop their progression.

A common approach to raising levels of antibodies is with injection of a virus that's been inactivated or killed. About nine of these are in experimentation: One, made by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd, led to high levels of Covid-targeted antibodies in monkeys.

Another shot developed at the University of Oxford uses an innovative approach in which Covid genes are inserted into a different, harmless virus. Those make proteins that are recognised by the immune system, which raises defences against a real infection.

About a quarter of the experimental shots listed by the WHO, including two already in human studies, follow the same approach as the Oxford vaccine. One of the advantages of the technology is its speed.

AstraZeneca, which is partnering with Oxford, has said it will begin delivering doses for the UK as soon as September, and will have doses for the US, which helped fund development, the following month.

Over the weekend, AstraZeneca and four European Union countries said they reached an agreement to distribute hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccine.

<h4>ANTIBODY LEVELS</h4>

How the shot affects infections and infectiousness still isn't clear. Dr William Haseltine, a former HIV researcher at Harvard University, pointed out in a blog for Forbes that animals had roughly the same amount of viral genetic material, called RNA, in their systems, whether or not they'd received shots. Levels of antibodies against the virus weren't as high as in very protective vaccines, he said.

However, clinical signs of severe infection, like high breathing rate and pneumonia, were better in vaccinated monkeys. That might still make such a shot useful, according to Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

"That vaccine doesn't look like it's a knockout for protecting against infection, but it might be really very good at protecting against disease," Dr Fauci told the medical news website Stat.

The vaccine will be a success whether it heads off infections or severe symptoms, AstraZeneca chief executive officer Pascal Soriot said in a BBC interview. The vaccine's progress to advanced studies was approved by an independent scientific panel, and the company is waiting to see how it performs, a spokesman said.

Dr Fauci's NIAID is partnered with Moderna Inc on a Covid vaccine test whose primary goal is to show their vaccine prevents people from developing symptoms, the company said June 11. Preventing infections is a secondary goal.

Successful preventives must also bar onward transmission, said Dr Daniel Barouch, a researcher at the Centre for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard University.

Effective shots may allow some cells to become infected, but control the growth of the virus before it can be passed on to others, said Dr Barouch, who is developing a vaccine with Johnson &amp; Johnson.

<h4>PREVENTING ILLNESS</h4>

The US Food and Drug Administration is considering options for a vaccine that prevents illness.

"We would potentially consider an indication related to prevention of severe disease, provided available data support the benefits of vaccination," FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum said in response to questions. "For licensure we would not require that a vaccine protect against infection."

Licensed vaccines including some against whooping cough have not been demonstrated to protect against infection with the pathogen that causes the disease but have been demonstrated to protect against symptomatic disease, Mr Felberbaum said.

The notion of using imperfect vaccines and therapies is "fine," Dr Kinch said. "That's just practicality. And we may follow those up with more-perfect. There will never be a truly perfect vaccine."

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"Vaccines need to protect against disease, not necessarily infection," said Dr Dennis Burton, an immunologist and vaccine researcher at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California.

Desperation for a way to keep economies from collapsing under the weight of Covid-19 could mean settling for a vaccine that prevents people from getting really sick or dying but doesn't stop them from catching the coronavirus.

Desperation for a way to keep economies from collapsing under the weight of Covid-19 could mean settling for a vaccine that prevents people from getting really sick or dying but doesn't stop them from catching the coronavirus. Although a knock-out blow against the virus is the ultimate goal, early vaccines may come with limitations on what they can deliver, according to Professor Robin Shattock from Imperial College London who is leading development of an experimental shot. "Is that protection against infection?" Prof Shattock said. "Is it protection against illness? Is it protection against severe disease? It's quite possible a vaccine that only protects against severe disease would be very useful." As countries emerge warily from lockdowns, leaders are looking to a preventive shot as the route to return to pre-pandemic life. Also read: Vaccine developed by AstraZeneca most likely to protect for a year: CEO Fueled by billions of dollars in government investment, vaccines from little-known companies like China's CanSino Biologics Inc and giants like Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca Plc are in development. At least one of the fastest-moving experimental shots has already advanced into human trials after showing an impact on severe disease - but less so on infection - in animals. Experts say such a product would probably be widely used if approved, even if that's as much as it contributes, until a more effective version comes to market. There are drawbacks, though. While holding the potential to save lives, such vaccines might lead to complacency in lockdown-weary nations, said Dr Michael Kinch, a drug development expert who is associate vice-chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis. "My guess would be that the day after someone gets immunised, they're going to think, 'I can go back to normal. Everything will be fine,'" he said. "They're not going to necessarily realise that they might still be susceptible to infection." Covid-19 is already thought to be spread by people without symptoms, and a symptom-preventing vaccine may create even greater numbers of them. Vaccines are among the most effective weapons against infectious disease, and prevent up to 3 million deaths a year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Yet few, if any, are 100 per cent effective in all people who get them. For example, about 3 per cent of people who get measles vaccine develop a mild form of the disease, and can spread it to others. In their attempts to confront a rapidly growing threat, developers are turning to technologies that have never been used successfully in humans. More than 130 shots are in the works for Covid-19 prevention, according to the WHO. Vaccines work by presenting the immune system with a form of a germ - or a key part of it - preparing the body to respond when a real exposure occurs. When that happens, immune proteins called antibodies glom onto the virus, halting its entry to cells. Sometimes vaccines ramp up immune T-cells, which don't do as much to prevent infections, but can slow and eventually stop their progression. A common approach to raising levels of antibodies is with injection of a virus that's been inactivated or killed. About nine of these are in experimentation: One, made by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd, led to high levels of Covid-targeted antibodies in monkeys. Another shot developed at the University of Oxford uses an innovative approach in which Covid genes are inserted into a different, harmless virus. Those make proteins that are recognised by the immune system, which raises defences against a real infection. About a quarter of the experimental shots listed by the WHO, including two already in human studies, follow the same approach as the Oxford vaccine. One of the advantages of the technology is its speed. AstraZeneca, which is partnering with Oxford, has said it will begin delivering doses for the UK as soon as September, and will have doses for the US, which helped fund development, the following month. Over the weekend, AstraZeneca and four European Union countries said they reached an agreement to distribute hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccine. ANTIBODY LEVELS How the shot affects infections and infectiousness still isn't clear. Dr William Haseltine, a former HIV researcher at Harvard University, pointed out in a blog for Forbes that animals had roughly the same amount of viral genetic material, called RNA, in their systems, whether or not they'd received shots. Levels of antibodies against the virus weren't as high as in very protective vaccines, he said. However, clinical signs of severe infection, like high breathing rate and pneumonia, were better in vaccinated monkeys. That might still make such a shot useful, according to Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "That vaccine doesn't look like it's a knockout for protecting against infection, but it might be really very good at protecting against disease," Dr Fauci told the medical news website Stat. The vaccine will be a success whether it heads off infections or severe symptoms, AstraZeneca chief executive officer Pascal Soriot said in a BBC interview. The vaccine's progress to advanced studies was approved by an independent scientific panel, and the company is waiting to see how it performs, a spokesman said. Dr Fauci's NIAID is partnered with Moderna Inc on a Covid vaccine test whose primary goal is to show their vaccine prevents people from developing symptoms, the company said June 11. Preventing infections is a secondary goal. Successful preventives must also bar onward transmission, said Dr Daniel Barouch, a researcher at the Centre for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard University. Effective shots may allow some cells to become infected, but control the growth of the virus before it can be passed on to others, said Dr Barouch, who is developing a vaccine with Johnson & Johnson. PREVENTING ILLNESS The US Food and Drug Administration is considering options for a vaccine that prevents illness. "We would potentially consider an indication related to prevention of severe disease, provided available data support the benefits of vaccination," FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum said in response to questions. "For licensure we would not require that a vaccine protect against infection." Licensed vaccines including some against whooping cough have not been demonstrated to protect against infection with the pathogen that causes the disease but have been demonstrated to protect against symptomatic disease, Mr Felberbaum said. The notion of using imperfect vaccines and therapies is "fine," Dr Kinch said. "That's just practicality. And we may follow those up with more-perfect. There will never be a truly perfect vaccine." "Vaccines need to protect against disease, not necessarily infection," said Dr Dennis Burton, an immunologist and vaccine researcher at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California.

Initial COVID-19 vaccines may not prevent people from getting coronavirus

The US embassy in South Korea has taken down a Black Lives Matter banner, reportedly after pressure from US leaders.

The large banner went up on Saturday but was removed on Monday.

US media said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump were unhappy with the display.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-embassy-in-seoul-displays-black-lives-matter-banner-in-support-of-anti-racism-protests-305757">US embassy in Seoul displays 'Black Lives Matter' banner in support of anti-racism protests</a>

People have marched around the world as part of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations&nbsp;following the death of George Floyd in the US last month.

After taking the banner down, the embassy said it did not intend to "support or encourage donations to any specific organisation".

Black Lives Matter is both a rallying cry for protesters, and a&nbsp;non-profit organisation&nbsp;"whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities".

When the banner was originally displayed on Saturday, the embassy tweeted a photo of it, along with a message of support both in Korean and English.

"The US Embassy stands in solidarity with fellow Americans grieving and peacefully protesting to demand positive change,"&nbsp;the embassy tweet said.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“We will never forget.” The U.S. Embassy is proud to honor the Korean War veterans who fought and sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom by displaying a banner on our Chancery this month. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KoreanWar70Years?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KoreanWar70Years</a> <a href="https://t.co/AsDaqbl0hP">pic.twitter.com/AsDaqbl0hP</a>
— U.S. Embassy Seoul (@USEmbassySeoul) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassySeoul/status/1272714808236707841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"Our #BlackLivesMatter banner shows our support for the fight against racial injustice and police brutality as we strive to be a more inclusive and just society."

The ambassador, Harry Harris, also tweeted a picture of the banner,&nbsp;saying: "USA is a free and diverse nation... from that diversity we gain our strength."

But two days later the banner came down. A rainbow flag, symbolising gay rights, was also removed.

On Tuesday, the embassy posted a picture of a new banner, honouring Korean War veterans.

The US embassy in South Korea has taken down a Black Lives Matter banner, reportedly after pressure from US leaders. The large banner went up on Saturday but was removed on Monday.

The US embassy in South Korea has taken down a Black Lives Matter banner, reportedly after pressure from US leaders. The large banner went up on Saturday but was removed on Monday. US media said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Donald Trump were unhappy with the display. Also read: US embassy in Seoul displays 'Black Lives Matter' banner in support of anti-racism protests People have marched around the world as part of the Black Lives Matter demonstrations following the death of George Floyd in the US last month. After taking the banner down, the embassy said it did not intend to "support or encourage donations to any specific organisation". Black Lives Matter is both a rallying cry for protesters, and a non-profit organisation "whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities". When the banner was originally displayed on Saturday, the embassy tweeted a photo of it, along with a message of support both in Korean and English. "The US Embassy stands in solidarity with fellow Americans grieving and peacefully protesting to demand positive change," the embassy tweet said. “We will never forget.” The U.S. Embassy is proud to honor the Korean War veterans who fought and sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom by displaying a banner on our Chancery this month. #KoreanWar70Years pic.twitter.com/AsDaqbl0hP — U.S. Embassy Seoul (@USEmbassySeoul) June 16, 2020 × "Our #BlackLivesMatter banner shows our support for the fight against racial injustice and police brutality as we strive to be a more inclusive and just society." The ambassador, Harry Harris, also tweeted a picture of the banner, saying: "USA is a free and diverse nation... from that diversity we gain our strength." But two days later the banner came down. A rainbow flag, symbolising gay rights, was also removed. On Tuesday, the embassy posted a picture of a new banner, honouring Korean War veterans.

US embassy in South Korea takes down Black Lives Matter banner

President Donald Trump on Monday rejected pleas from Tulsa, Oklahoma, not to risk aggravating coronavirus risks by holding a rally there, announcing he wants to triple the crowd to 60,000 people.

"We have a 22,000 seat arena, but I think we're also going to take the convention hall next door and that's going to hold 40,000," he told reporters at the White House.

He was responding to criticism from the local Tulsa newspaper and a top public health official in the city about his election campaign rally, which is scheduled for Saturday and comes as Oklahoma is seeing a recent increase in COVID-19 cases.

"This is the wrong time," the Tulsa World newspaper said in a bluntly worded editorial.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-delays-oklahoma-rally-after-decry-of-massacre-on-juneteenth-305547">Trump delays Oklahoma rally after decry of massacre on Juneteenth</a>

"We don't know why he chose Tulsa, but we can't see any way that his visit will be good for the city."

The newspaper pointed out that COVID-19 continues to spread and there is no vaccine.

"It will be our health care system that will have to deal with whatever effects follow," it said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-defends-holding-first-rally-in-months-on-juneteenth-in-tulsa-305494">Trump defends holding first rally in months on Juneteenth in Tulsa</a>

The arena that the Trump campaign has booked holds about 20,000 people, who would be packed closely together.

In a tweet Monday, Trump claimed that applications to attend the rally in the city, which has a population of less than half a million, were flooding in.

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1272521253136498690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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He hadn’t previously mentioned plans to pack a second, bigger venue. The former real estate tycoon frequently exaggerates numbers, regularly claiming that as many as tens of thousands of people are outside the arenas, unable to get in, when that is not true.

Trump said Oklahoma had done “really fantastic work” on fighting Covid-19. He said he’d predicted there would be “hotspots” and “we’ll take care of the hotspots”.

However, the coronavirus pandemic forced Trump to shelve his rally schedule, putting a serious dent in his re-election strategy.

An initial plan to reopen the rallies in Tulsa this Friday, June 19, was criticised because this would coincide with the annual “Juneteenth” commemorations for the end of slavery in the United States.

With protests unfolding across the country against what campaigners call systemic racism against African Americans, Trump’s campaign decided to put the rally off by a day.

President Donald Trump on Monday rejected pleas from Tulsa, Oklahoma, not to risk aggravating coronavirus risks by holding a rally there, announcing he wants to triple the crowd to 60,000 people.

President Donald Trump on Monday rejected pleas from Tulsa, Oklahoma, not to risk aggravating coronavirus risks by holding a rally there, announcing he wants to triple the crowd to 60,000 people. "We have a 22,000 seat arena, but I think we're also going to take the convention hall next door and that's going to hold 40,000," he told reporters at the White House. He was responding to criticism from the local Tulsa newspaper and a top public health official in the city about his election campaign rally, which is scheduled for Saturday and comes as Oklahoma is seeing a recent increase in COVID-19 cases. "This is the wrong time," the Tulsa World newspaper said in a bluntly worded editorial. Also read: Trump delays Oklahoma rally after decry of massacre on Juneteenth "We don't know why he chose Tulsa, but we can't see any way that his visit will be good for the city." The newspaper pointed out that COVID-19 continues to spread and there is no vaccine. "It will be our health care system that will have to deal with whatever effects follow," it said. Also read: Trump defends holding first rally in months on Juneteenth in Tulsa The arena that the Trump campaign has booked holds about 20,000 people, who would be packed closely together. In a tweet Monday, Trump claimed that applications to attend the rally in the city, which has a population of less than half a million, were flooding in. Almost One Million people request tickets for the Saturday Night Rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2020 × He hadn’t previously mentioned plans to pack a second, bigger venue. The former real estate tycoon frequently exaggerates numbers, regularly claiming that as many as tens of thousands of people are outside the arenas, unable to get in, when that is not true. Trump said Oklahoma had done “really fantastic work” on fighting Covid-19. He said he’d predicted there would be “hotspots” and “we’ll take care of the hotspots”. However, the coronavirus pandemic forced Trump to shelve his rally schedule, putting a serious dent in his re-election strategy. An initial plan to reopen the rallies in Tulsa this Friday, June 19, was criticised because this would coincide with the annual “Juneteenth” commemorations for the end of slavery in the United States. With protests unfolding across the country against what campaigners call systemic racism against African Americans, Trump’s campaign decided to put the rally off by a day.

Trump rejects Tulsa rally coronavirus concerns, saying will triple crowd

Black smoke was billowing Tuesday from a cruise ship docked at a port near Tokyo as crewmembers and dozens of firefighters and coast guard personnel battled to control it.

The cause of the smoke was not immediately known, and the coast guard reported no injuries.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-tally-rises-to-91-on-italian-cruise-ship-docked-in-japan-294394">Coronavirus tally rises to 91 on Italian cruise ship docked in Japan</a>

The local coast guard branch said the smoke was coming from the top deck of the Asuka II, one of Japan''s largest cruise ships.

No passengers were on the ship, its operator NYK Line said. The company said 153 crew members were on board for essential duty and were fighting the fire.

The cruise ship has been docked in Yokohama Port, west of Tokyo, since early April after returning from Singapore where it had undergone maintenance.

Yokohama Port is where the Diamond Princess cruise ship earlier this year had a coronavirus outbreak that infected more than 700 people. The ship has since left.&nbsp;

Black smoke was billowing Tuesday from a cruise ship docked at a port near Tokyo as crewmembers and dozens of firefighters and coast guard personnel battled to control it.

Black smoke was billowing Tuesday from a cruise ship docked at a port near Tokyo as crewmembers and dozens of firefighters and coast guard personnel battled to control it. The cause of the smoke was not immediately known, and the coast guard reported no injuries. Also read: Coronavirus tally rises to 91 on Italian cruise ship docked in Japan The local coast guard branch said the smoke was coming from the top deck of the Asuka II, one of Japan''s largest cruise ships. No passengers were on the ship, its operator NYK Line said. The company said 153 crew members were on board for essential duty and were fighting the fire. The cruise ship has been docked in Yokohama Port, west of Tokyo, since early April after returning from Singapore where it had undergone maintenance. Yokohama Port is where the Diamond Princess cruise ship earlier this year had a coronavirus outbreak that infected more than 700 people. The ship has since left.

Cruise ship docked near Tokyo catches fire; black smoke billows

Photo-sharing app Instagram is set to overtake Twitter as a news source, research suggests.

The 2020 Reuters Institute Digital News report found the use of Instagram for news had doubled since 2018.

The trend is strongest among young people. Nearly a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds used Instagram as a source of news about coronavirus as per the research. But social media platforms were also among the least-trusted sources.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/two-years-after-testing-in-india-whatsapp-launches-payment-feature-in-brazil-306193" hreflang="en">Two years after testing in India, WhatsApp launches payment feature in Brazil</a>

Just 26 per cent&nbsp;of people said they trusted social media as a source of information about the virus. A similar percentage said they trusted news that had been shared via chat apps such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

National governments and news organisations, by contrast, were both trusted by about 59 per cent&nbsp;of respondents.

Instagram is now used by more than a third of all people who answered the survey, and two-thirds of under-25s. And 11&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;use it for news, putting it just one point behind Twitter.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/do-black-lives-matter-yes-say-siri-alexa-and-google-assistant-305068" hreflang="en">Do black lives matter? Yes, say Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant</a>

"Instagram's become very popular with younger people", said Nic Newman, lead author of the report. "They really respond well to stories that are told simply and well with visual images".

Stand-out visual stories in recent months have helped, climate change, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the coronavirus have all seen massive engagement on the platform.

"It's not that one necessarily replaces the other," Newman said. "They might use Facebook and Instagram, or might use Twitter and Instagram."

Instagram is owned by Facebook, which now reaches 85 per cent&nbsp;of people each week. The company's dominance in how stories are being told "remains incredibly important", he added. The firm also owns WhatsApp.

The coronavirus pandemic also seems to have offered a temporary reprieve to a downward trend in how much news organisations are trusted.

Only 38&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of people said they trusted the news most of the time. Less than half - 46 per cent&nbsp;- said they trusted their favoured news source.

In total, 40 countries were surveyed. Only in six of them did a majority say they could trust "most of the news most of the time".

The case was particularly poor in the UK, where only 28&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of respondents backed the statement. That figure was 12 percentage points lower than the nation's response in the 2019 report.

That plummet in confidence was only matched by Chile and Hong Kong, which have both seen violent street protests - and still rank more highly than the UK, on 30&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;each.

But things changed substantially once the coronavirus crisis hit.

A slightly differently worded question in April - about the level of trust in information about the coronavirus - saw news organisations surge to a 59&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;trust rating, on a par with national governments.

The report's authors speculate the identical levels of trust as a result of news organisations amplifying public health advice.

But that sudden high has already started to fall.

"What we're seeing is relatively high levels of trust - at the time of the lockdowns - in the media and national governments. But we have some polling since then, which shows that trust in the media fell 11 percentage points between April and May," Newman said.

While not officially part of the report, that recent polling suggests that the "moment of national unity" may have passed.

Amid all this analysis of trust issues, most people - what the report calls the "silent majority" - prefer what they consider "objective" news.

The authors of the report had not asked this question since 2013, since when the use of opinion and open stances on news reporting has grown.

In nine countries where this was explored, all said they preferred news from sources with "no point of view".

The strongest preference was in Germany, Japan, the UK and Denmark. These are "all countries with strong and independent public broadcasters", the report noted.

In contrast, the US - "where both politics and the media have become increasingly partisan over the years" - many more people said they prefer news which shares their point of view.

Photo-sharing app Instagram is set to overtake Twitter as a news source, research suggests. The 2020 Reuters Institute Digital News report found the use of Instagram for news had doubled since 2018.

Photo-sharing app Instagram is set to overtake Twitter as a news source, research suggests. The 2020 Reuters Institute Digital News report found the use of Instagram for news had doubled since 2018. The trend is strongest among young people. Nearly a quarter of 18 to 24-year-olds used Instagram as a source of news about coronavirus as per the research. But social media platforms were also among the least-trusted sources. Also read: Two years after testing in India, WhatsApp launches payment feature in Brazil Just 26 per cent of people said they trusted social media as a source of information about the virus. A similar percentage said they trusted news that had been shared via chat apps such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. National governments and news organisations, by contrast, were both trusted by about 59 per cent of respondents. Instagram is now used by more than a third of all people who answered the survey, and two-thirds of under-25s. And 11 per cent use it for news, putting it just one point behind Twitter. Also read: Do black lives matter? Yes, say Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant "Instagram's become very popular with younger people", said Nic Newman, lead author of the report. "They really respond well to stories that are told simply and well with visual images". Stand-out visual stories in recent months have helped, climate change, the Black Lives Matter movement, and the coronavirus have all seen massive engagement on the platform. "It's not that one necessarily replaces the other," Newman said. "They might use Facebook and Instagram, or might use Twitter and Instagram." Instagram is owned by Facebook, which now reaches 85 per cent of people each week. The company's dominance in how stories are being told "remains incredibly important", he added. The firm also owns WhatsApp. The coronavirus pandemic also seems to have offered a temporary reprieve to a downward trend in how much news organisations are trusted. Only 38 per cent of people said they trusted the news most of the time. Less than half - 46 per cent - said they trusted their favoured news source. In total, 40 countries were surveyed. Only in six of them did a majority say they could trust "most of the news most of the time". The case was particularly poor in the UK, where only 28 per cent of respondents backed the statement. That figure was 12 percentage points lower than the nation's response in the 2019 report. That plummet in confidence was only matched by Chile and Hong Kong, which have both seen violent street protests - and still rank more highly than the UK, on 30 per cent each. But things changed substantially once the coronavirus crisis hit. A slightly differently worded question in April - about the level of trust in information about the coronavirus - saw news organisations surge to a 59 per cent trust rating, on a par with national governments. The report's authors speculate the identical levels of trust as a result of news organisations amplifying public health advice. But that sudden high has already started to fall. "What we're seeing is relatively high levels of trust - at the time of the lockdowns - in the media and national governments. But we have some polling since then, which shows that trust in the media fell 11 percentage points between April and May," Newman said. While not officially part of the report, that recent polling suggests that the "moment of national unity" may have passed. Amid all this analysis of trust issues, most people - what the report calls the "silent majority" - prefer what they consider "objective" news. The authors of the report had not asked this question since 2013, since when the use of opinion and open stances on news reporting has grown. In nine countries where this was explored, all said they preferred news from sources with "no point of view". The strongest preference was in Germany, Japan, the UK and Denmark. These are "all countries with strong and independent public broadcasters", the report noted. In contrast, the US - "where both politics and the media have become increasingly partisan over the years" - many more people said they prefer news which shares their point of view.

Instagram will overtake Twitter as source of news: Study

Japanese geisha "Chacha" sits on her knees with her fingertips neatly placed on the wooden floor, gracefully bowing to an audience sitting not in front of her but miles away, watching online.

Beneath spotlights, the graceful 32-year-old geisha performs a traditional dance, moving like a butterfly and artfully unfolding and fluttering her fan.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/actress-or-spy-gong-li-unveils-hidden-layers-of-yeteryear-star-jean-yu-in-saturday-fiction-247698">Actress or spy? Gong Li unveils hidden layers of yeteryear star Jean Yu in 'Saturday Fiction'</a>

The audience would usually be a group of older, wealthy men, watching appreciatively inside a traditional parlour lined with woven tatami mats.

But today, Chacha's audience is looking back at her from a computer screen, and ranges from a young woman with a glass of wine in her hand to a family with several curious children.

"How have you been at home?" asks Chacha, addressing her audience.

Despite Western misconceptions, geishas are not prostitutes, but rather entertainers and raconteurs highly skilled in traditional Japanese dance, musical instruments and games.

Almost everything in the repertoire of these performers,&nbsp;from singing and dancing in small enclosed spaces, to entertaining customers with witty conversation and delicately pouring sake in a customer's cup,&nbsp;is at odds with the social distancing rules of the coronavirus pandemic.

That has been devastating for geisha like Chacha, who has seen her salary evaporate and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of government stimulus funds.

That's where the online service has come in.

It grew from a project called "Meet Geisha", initially conceived as a way to bring groups of tourists to see geisha perform on stage in a more relaxed and less intimidating environment.

Launched last year by an IT firm, it was supposed to capitalise on an influx of tourists, including those coming for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

But with the coronavirus pandemic forcing the postponement of the Games and shutting down international travel, the firm looked at other options.

"I was playing 'Animal Crossing' all the time during the state of emergency!" she added.

While Japan has been spared the worst of the coronavirus outbreak, a state of emergency was declared during a spike in cases and the pandemic has nixed most forms of nightlife, including geisha parties.

They approached the geisha community in Hakone, around 80 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, about an online option, said project manager Tamaki Nishimura.

While geisha culture is strongly associated with the city of Kyoto, communities exist throughout Japan, with about 150 active geisha in Hakone.

Japanese geisha "Chacha" sits on her knees with her fingertips neatly placed on the wooden floor, gracefully bowing to an audience sitting not in front of her but miles away, watching online.

Japanese geisha "Chacha" sits on her knees with her fingertips neatly placed on the wooden floor, gracefully bowing to an audience sitting not in front of her but miles away, watching online. Beneath spotlights, the graceful 32-year-old geisha performs a traditional dance, moving like a butterfly and artfully unfolding and fluttering her fan. Also read: Actress or spy? Gong Li unveils hidden layers of yeteryear star Jean Yu in 'Saturday Fiction' The audience would usually be a group of older, wealthy men, watching appreciatively inside a traditional parlour lined with woven tatami mats. But today, Chacha's audience is looking back at her from a computer screen, and ranges from a young woman with a glass of wine in her hand to a family with several curious children. "How have you been at home?" asks Chacha, addressing her audience. Despite Western misconceptions, geishas are not prostitutes, but rather entertainers and raconteurs highly skilled in traditional Japanese dance, musical instruments and games. Almost everything in the repertoire of these performers, from singing and dancing in small enclosed spaces, to entertaining customers with witty conversation and delicately pouring sake in a customer's cup, is at odds with the social distancing rules of the coronavirus pandemic. That has been devastating for geisha like Chacha, who has seen her salary evaporate and is eagerly awaiting the arrival of government stimulus funds. That's where the online service has come in. It grew from a project called "Meet Geisha", initially conceived as a way to bring groups of tourists to see geisha perform on stage in a more relaxed and less intimidating environment. Launched last year by an IT firm, it was supposed to capitalise on an influx of tourists, including those coming for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But with the coronavirus pandemic forcing the postponement of the Games and shutting down international travel, the firm looked at other options. "I was playing 'Animal Crossing' all the time during the state of emergency!" she added. While Japan has been spared the worst of the coronavirus outbreak, a state of emergency was declared during a spike in cases and the pandemic has nixed most forms of nightlife, including geisha parties. They approached the geisha community in Hakone, around 80 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, about an online option, said project manager Tamaki Nishimura. While geisha culture is strongly associated with the city of Kyoto, communities exist throughout Japan, with about 150 active geisha in Hakone.

Coronavirus forces Japanese geishas to offer their services online

Donald Trump has postponed his planned election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the scene of one of the&nbsp;worst race massacres in US history, amid outcry over its clash with the Juneteenth holiday marking the end of US slavery.

The gathering, which had also caused alarm among health officials tackling the coronavirus pandemic – was to be held on 19 June, the anniversary of the day in 1865 when a general read out Abraham Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation in Texas, freeing slaves in the last un-emancipated state.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-defends-holding-first-rally-in-months-on-juneteenth-in-tulsa-305494">Trump defends holding first rally in months on Juneteenth in Tulsa</a>

On Friday night, the US president reversed his decision to hold a rally then as a “celebration” of that day, pushing it back one day to “honour requests” from the African American community.

The change came as Trump further stoked controversy over race issues and policing by saying that chokeholds sounded “so innocent and so perfect”, and once again claimed he has been the best president for black Americans, only partially conceding that Abraham Lincoln may have surpassed him.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-trump-says-police-generally-should-not-use-choke-holds-305497">US President Trump says police generally should not use choke holds</a>

As Black Lives Matter protests reverberate around the US and the world, the choice of date had been criticised as incendiary given the historic symbolism of the Tulsa race massacre in which up to 300 black Americans were killed by white mobs.

Donald Trump has postponed his planned election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the scene of one of the worst race massacres in US history, amid outcry over its clash with the Juneteenth holiday marking the end of US slavery.

Donald Trump has postponed his planned election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the scene of one of the worst race massacres in US history, amid outcry over its clash with the Juneteenth holiday marking the end of US slavery. The gathering, which had also caused alarm among health officials tackling the coronavirus pandemic – was to be held on 19 June, the anniversary of the day in 1865 when a general read out Abraham Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation in Texas, freeing slaves in the last un-emancipated state. Also read: Trump defends holding first rally in months on Juneteenth in Tulsa On Friday night, the US president reversed his decision to hold a rally then as a “celebration” of that day, pushing it back one day to “honour requests” from the African American community. The change came as Trump further stoked controversy over race issues and policing by saying that chokeholds sounded “so innocent and so perfect”, and once again claimed he has been the best president for black Americans, only partially conceding that Abraham Lincoln may have surpassed him. Also read: US President Trump says police generally should not use choke holds As Black Lives Matter protests reverberate around the US and the world, the choice of date had been criticised as incendiary given the historic symbolism of the Tulsa race massacre in which up to 300 black Americans were killed by white mobs.

Trump delays Oklahoma rally after decry of massacre on Juneteenth

Russia marks National day amid surge in coronavirus cases

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