The Syrian government received the first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday, a gift of 150,000 jabs to Damascus, Syrian and Chinese officials said.&nbsp;

The Chinese vaccines arrived in Damascus airport where they were received by Syria's Health Minister Hassan Ghabbash and China's ambassador to Damascus.&nbsp;

The Chinese batch comes a few days after more than 200,000 jabs were delivered to Syria through the United Nations-led platform, which provides vaccines to the needy. &nbsp;

The new jabs are likely to speed up the inoculation campaign in the war-torn country where a battered health sector has been overwhelmed by the pandemic, and where infections have been on the rise. &nbsp;

Syria was the last country in the Middle East and North Africa to receive the UN-supported jabs, the first batch arriving this week. &nbsp;

UN officials say the quantities are limited and have appealed for more funding and vaccines to help stem the spread of the virus in the country reeling from years of conflict and growing economic hardships.&nbsp;

The UN-provided AstraZeneca vaccines arrived on Wednesday and Thursday. They were part of the UN-led campaign aiming to vaccinate 20% of the country's population before the end of the year. Frontline workers, the elderly and those with chronic diseases were priority. &nbsp;

The Syrian government has registered nearly 22,000 infection cases, including over 1,500 deaths in areas under its control. &nbsp;

Ghabbash said China has been supporting Syria in the face of the pandemic, first with medical and technical expertise and now, with the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm. &nbsp;

"We appreciate this support that will enable the health ministry to fight the spread of this pandemic and to limit its health, social and economic impacts specially in those difficult times that Syria is going through," Ghabbash said at a press conference. &nbsp;

It is not clear how the Chinese vaccines will be distributed. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Syrian government received the first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday, a gift of 150,000 jabs to Damascus, Syrian and Chinese officials said. The Chinese vaccines arrived in Damascus airport where they were received by Syria's Health Minister Hassan Ghabbash and China's ambassador to Damascus.

The Syrian government received the first batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines on Saturday, a gift of 150,000 jabs to Damascus, Syrian and Chinese officials said. The Chinese vaccines arrived in Damascus airport where they were received by Syria's Health Minister Hassan Ghabbash and China's ambassador to Damascus. The Chinese batch comes a few days after more than 200,000 jabs were delivered to Syria through the United Nations-led platform, which provides vaccines to the needy. The new jabs are likely to speed up the inoculation campaign in the war-torn country where a battered health sector has been overwhelmed by the pandemic, and where infections have been on the rise. Syria was the last country in the Middle East and North Africa to receive the UN-supported jabs, the first batch arriving this week. UN officials say the quantities are limited and have appealed for more funding and vaccines to help stem the spread of the virus in the country reeling from years of conflict and growing economic hardships. The UN-provided AstraZeneca vaccines arrived on Wednesday and Thursday. They were part of the UN-led campaign aiming to vaccinate 20% of the country's population before the end of the year. Frontline workers, the elderly and those with chronic diseases were priority. The Syrian government has registered nearly 22,000 infection cases, including over 1,500 deaths in areas under its control. Ghabbash said China has been supporting Syria in the face of the pandemic, first with medical and technical expertise and now, with the Chinese vaccine Sinopharm. "We appreciate this support that will enable the health ministry to fight the spread of this pandemic and to limit its health, social and economic impacts specially in those difficult times that Syria is going through," Ghabbash said at a press conference. It is not clear how the Chinese vaccines will be distributed. (With inputs from agencies)

Syria gets donation of 150,000 COVID-19 shots from China

US President Donald Trump on Sunday launched an attack on former American President Reagan's Presidential foundation. This happened after the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation asked Trump and the Republican party to stop fundraising off the 40th president’s name.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-rejects-trumps-proposal-to-let-russia-back-into-g7-foreign-minister-316152" hreflang="en">Germany rejects Trump's proposal to let Russia back into G7: Foreign Minister</a>

Trump took to Twitter and said: "So the Washington Post is running the Reagan Foundation." Linking Reagan to a mortal media enemy. He also retweeted &nbsp;Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, who said that "Frederick J Ryan Jr, who chairs the Reagan foundation board, is also publisher and chief executive of the Washington Post".

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So the Washington Post is running the Reagan Foundation, and RINO Paul Ryan is on the Board of Fox, which has been terrible. We will win anyway, even with the phony <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNews</a> suppression polls (which have been seriously wrong for 5 years)! <a href="https://t.co/fOi3AROxuz">https://t.co/fOi3AROxuz</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1287455273473507330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2020</a></blockquote>
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According to Washington Post's column, Reagan Foundation "has demanded that Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee (RNC) quit raising campaign money by using Ronald Reagan's name and likeness." This column was published on Saturday.&nbsp;

The complaint was about an email sent on July 19. It was from "Donal J Trump" and was titled "Ronald Regan and yours truly". The mail asked for a donation of $45 or more a "limited edition" set of two "iconic" gold-coloured coins, one showing Reagan and the other showed Trump.

"The coins were mounted with a 1987 photograph of Reagan and Trump shaking hands in a White House receiving line – the type of fleeting contact that presidents have with thousands of people a year," as per Washington Post's report. The email was sent to a certain list of people that included reporters it also said: &nbsp;“This offer is NOT available to the general public, so please, do NOT share this email with anyone.”

According to the Post, the RNC has agreed to stop, however, the coins remain available. The Post declined to comment on its connection with Ryan Jr.&nbsp;

Donald Trump's scathing attacks on the former Republican presidents has become a common thing now. First, he hit out at George W Bush for failing to support him during impeachment and on various issues like 9/11 and now, he hit out at former Republican Ronald Reagan's foundation. Trump considers himself to be the best Republican President after Abraham Lincoln. &nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Sunday launched an attack on former American President Reagan's Presidential foundation. This happened after the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation asked Trump and the Republican party to stop fundraising off the 40th president’s name.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday launched an attack on former American President Reagan's Presidential foundation. This happened after the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation asked Trump and the Republican party to stop fundraising off the 40th president’s name. Also read: Germany rejects Trump's proposal to let Russia back into G7: Foreign Minister Trump took to Twitter and said: "So the Washington Post is running the Reagan Foundation." Linking Reagan to a mortal media enemy. He also retweeted Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, who said that "Frederick J Ryan Jr, who chairs the Reagan foundation board, is also publisher and chief executive of the Washington Post". So the Washington Post is running the Reagan Foundation, and RINO Paul Ryan is on the Board of Fox, which has been terrible. We will win anyway, even with the phony @FoxNews suppression polls (which have been seriously wrong for 5 years)! https://t.co/fOi3AROxuz — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2020 × According to Washington Post's column, Reagan Foundation "has demanded that Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee (RNC) quit raising campaign money by using Ronald Reagan's name and likeness." This column was published on Saturday. The complaint was about an email sent on July 19. It was from "Donal J Trump" and was titled "Ronald Regan and yours truly". The mail asked for a donation of $45 or more a "limited edition" set of two "iconic" gold-coloured coins, one showing Reagan and the other showed Trump. "The coins were mounted with a 1987 photograph of Reagan and Trump shaking hands in a White House receiving line – the type of fleeting contact that presidents have with thousands of people a year," as per Washington Post's report. The email was sent to a certain list of people that included reporters it also said: “This offer is NOT available to the general public, so please, do NOT share this email with anyone.” According to the Post, the RNC has agreed to stop, however, the coins remain available. The Post declined to comment on its connection with Ryan Jr. Donald Trump's scathing attacks on the former Republican presidents has become a common thing now. First, he hit out at George W Bush for failing to support him during impeachment and on various issues like 9/11 and now, he hit out at former Republican Ronald Reagan's foundation. Trump considers himself to be the best Republican President after Abraham Lincoln.

Donald Trump slams Ronald Reagan foundation over fundraising coins

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount.&nbsp; 
 
The economy is set for a sharp contraction this year, and President Vladimir Putin is eager to get growth back on track in a bid to boost approval ratings.&nbsp; 
 
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin unveiled a raft of measures Tuesday worth $72 billion aimed at reviving the sputtering economy after weeks of lockdowns that have kept much of the population home from work and shut key industries.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/blood-sucking-mutant-ticks-storm-russia-hospitals-already-overburdened-by-coronavirus-feel-the-sting-302682" hreflang="en">'Blood-sucking' mutant ticks storm Russia: Hospitals already overburdened by coronavirus feel the sting</a> 
 
Aimed at boosting employment, incomes and economic growth, the programme "contains over 500 measures, its cost over two years will be about five trillion rubles," Mishustin told Putin in a televised meeting. 
 
Putin described the plan as a "foundation" for repairing the economy and implementing "long-term structural change". 
 
"It is a matter of crucial importance for us to solve today's acute problems, as well as ensure confident movement forward in the long-term," he said. 
 
Putin said the epidemic had "seriously impacted all spheres of life" and added that he expected to launch the recovery plan next month. 
 
The prime minister said the plan would be rolled out over three separate stages. 
 
Stage one would stabilise the economy and will be delivered in the current quarter. The next steps aimed to rebuild the economy and put it on a "trajectory for stable economic growth," the prime minister added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/covid-19-russia-death-toll-crosses-5000-as-lockdown-eases-302617" hreflang="en">COVID-19: Russia death toll crosses 5,000 as lockdown eases</a> 
 
Russia has introduced targeted tax cuts and provided some emergency aid for families and people newly unemployed since introducing the lockdown at the end of March. 
 
Yet observers have said that Russia's rescue package falls short of aid provided to populations by other countries with similar economies.

Companies like 'wildflowers' 
Russia has the third highest number of coronavirus cases globally, with more than 423,000 infections, and its death toll topped 5,000 on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
Under strict lockdown measures imposed in March, large swathes of the economy were inactive for weeks, with some regions only recently beginning to ease anti-virus measures. 
 
Industries were delivered a double blow as Putin ordered companies to stop work activities but continue paying salaries. 
 
The lockdown compounded existing problems for the Russian economy, ranging from effects of sanctions following the 2014 Crimea annexation, to the oil price crash this year. 
 
The government's forecast is that the economy will shrink by 9.5 percent in the second quarter and up to six percent for the current year. 
 
Some said the newly unveiled plan would not be enough to aid struggling businesses.&nbsp; 
 
It would only offer "quite modest" support and looks like a symbolic project introduced while the government waits for second quarter data, said Sergei Khestanov, an economist at the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. 
 
The government is unlikely to blanket aid across the sectors, and instead only help select companies deemed to be crucial, he added. 
 
The remaining companies will be treated like "wildflowers" he told AFP, explaining that "if they are there, that's nice, but if they die, it's okay, since new ones will grow". 
 
A draft of the plan cited by TASS news agency included measures ranging from creating a national reserve of medication to developing domestic tourism and spending one trillion rubles on infrastructural projects. 
 
Labour Minister Anton Kotyakov said this week that over two million people in the country were registered as unemployed. 
 
Analysts at the Boston Consulting Group last week predicted unemployment could triple from the pre-crisis figure of 4.6 percent, based on its projections for the worst-case scenario.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount.

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount. The economy is set for a sharp contraction this year, and President Vladimir Putin is eager to get growth back on track in a bid to boost approval ratings. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin unveiled a raft of measures Tuesday worth $72 billion aimed at reviving the sputtering economy after weeks of lockdowns that have kept much of the population home from work and shut key industries. Also read: 'Blood-sucking' mutant ticks storm Russia: Hospitals already overburdened by coronavirus feel the sting Aimed at boosting employment, incomes and economic growth, the programme "contains over 500 measures, its cost over two years will be about five trillion rubles," Mishustin told Putin in a televised meeting. Putin described the plan as a "foundation" for repairing the economy and implementing "long-term structural change". "It is a matter of crucial importance for us to solve today's acute problems, as well as ensure confident movement forward in the long-term," he said. Putin said the epidemic had "seriously impacted all spheres of life" and added that he expected to launch the recovery plan next month. The prime minister said the plan would be rolled out over three separate stages. Stage one would stabilise the economy and will be delivered in the current quarter. The next steps aimed to rebuild the economy and put it on a "trajectory for stable economic growth," the prime minister added. Also read: COVID-19: Russia death toll crosses 5,000 as lockdown eases Russia has introduced targeted tax cuts and provided some emergency aid for families and people newly unemployed since introducing the lockdown at the end of March. Yet observers have said that Russia's rescue package falls short of aid provided to populations by other countries with similar economies. Companies like 'wildflowers' Russia has the third highest number of coronavirus cases globally, with more than 423,000 infections, and its death toll topped 5,000 on Tuesday. Under strict lockdown measures imposed in March, large swathes of the economy were inactive for weeks, with some regions only recently beginning to ease anti-virus measures. Industries were delivered a double blow as Putin ordered companies to stop work activities but continue paying salaries. The lockdown compounded existing problems for the Russian economy, ranging from effects of sanctions following the 2014 Crimea annexation, to the oil price crash this year. The government's forecast is that the economy will shrink by 9.5 percent in the second quarter and up to six percent for the current year. Some said the newly unveiled plan would not be enough to aid struggling businesses. It would only offer "quite modest" support and looks like a symbolic project introduced while the government waits for second quarter data, said Sergei Khestanov, an economist at the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. The government is unlikely to blanket aid across the sectors, and instead only help select companies deemed to be crucial, he added. The remaining companies will be treated like "wildflowers" he told AFP, explaining that "if they are there, that's nice, but if they die, it's okay, since new ones will grow". A draft of the plan cited by TASS news agency included measures ranging from creating a national reserve of medication to developing domestic tourism and spending one trillion rubles on infrastructural projects. Labour Minister Anton Kotyakov said this week that over two million people in the country were registered as unemployed. Analysts at the Boston Consulting Group last week predicted unemployment could triple from the pre-crisis figure of 4.6 percent, based on its projections for the worst-case scenario.

Russia unveils $72-billion virus recovery plan 

&nbsp;An unlikely hero of his country's bushfire relief efforts, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../australia-oust-britain-in-knife-edge-atp-cup- quarter-final-273204">Nick Kyrgios</a> enters the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-first-grand-slam-of-2020-kicks-off-tomorrow-275222">Australian Open</a> on a rare surge of goodwill from a&nbsp;sports-loving public long infuriated by his failure to convert talent into trophies.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australian-government-pledges-52-million-to-revive-tourism-in-bushfire-ravaged-states-275169">Australian government pledges $52 million to revive tourism in bushfire-ravaged states</a>

For a player branded "polarising" for his long rap sheet of indiscretions, Kyrgios has been a galvanising force in raising funds and awareness as Australia comes to terms with the unprecedented devastation left by the fires.

Also read-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-nadal-and-federer-pledge-a250000-towards-relief-workers-in-charity-event-274432">Australian Open: Nadal, Federer pledge A$250,000 towards bushfire relief</a>

The 24-year-old has raised thousands off his own racquet after pledging A$200 ($137) for every ace he bashes down in the home summer but it his efforts away from the court that has caught the eye.

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I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MoreToCome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MoreToCome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayTuned?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayTuned</a>
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickKyrgios/status/1212677231270645762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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His appeals on a social media platform boasting over 1.6 million followers have inspired a bigger wave of generosity, nudging celebrities and top athletes from other&nbsp;sports&nbsp;to open their wallets.

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Come out in your green and gold in Sydney this Thursday and support <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamAustralia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamAustralia</a> in the <a href="https://twitter.com/ATPCup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ATPCup</a> quarter finals at 10am. 🇦🇺 🟢🟡🎾<a href="https://t.co/g27WPldXK1">https://t.co/g27WPldXK1</a>
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickKyrgios/status/1214400291220553728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Hearts have also been opened toward Kyrgios, who drew warm applause from the terraces last Wednesday during the "Rally4Relief" charity event at Rod Laver Arena where he broke down in tears when speaking of the toll of the bushfires.

Kyrgios has long had an army of social media detractors poised to take issue with every misstep but he has never had trouble attracting a crowd at Melbourne Park or indeed any tennis event he cares to sign up for.

"Every time I play here, I'm well-supported," Kyrgios told reporters on Saturday.

"All my practices are pretty full. I think people are excited to see me."

"I guess with everything going on, the other stuff outside tennis, maybe that's more what they support rather than my tennis itself," he added of his fundraising efforts.

"Everything I'm doing is just because I care."

Public support for Kyrgios is arguably at its strongest since 2014 when as a 19-year-old he beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon during an exhilarating run to the quarter-finals.

He reached the Australian Open quarters the following year but has not been seen in the last eight at a Grand Slam since.

The ensuing five years have had their moments, with six titles and some brilliant wins over the 'Big Three' of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Beating the elite in the best-of-five sets remains a final frontier which many suspect Kyrgios will never achieve due to his aversion to hard training and the constraints that would be placed on him by a full-time coach.

"I think there's a lot of young guys that are right now, no offence, just better than him," world number seven Alex Zverev said of Kyrgios recently.

"It is not a three-set match where you can win in an hour-and-20 and get off the court. To beat the best, you have to play at your best for a longer period of time."

Kyrgios seeded 23rd, will open his campaign against Italy's Lorenzo Sonego on Tuesday, a player he beat in their one previous clash on the Cincinnati hardcourt last year.

The A$200 pledged for every ace he strikes in Melbourne will be deservedly cheered but respect in the locker room may prove harder to come by if he makes another early exit from his home Grand Slam.

An unlikely hero of his country's bushfire relief efforts, Nick Kyrgios enters the Australian Open on a rare surge of goodwill from a sports-loving public long infuriated by his failure to convert talent into trophies.

An unlikely hero of his country's bushfire relief efforts, Nick Kyrgios enters the Australian Open on a rare surge of goodwill from a sports-loving public long infuriated by his failure to convert talent into trophies. Also read- Australian government pledges $52 million to revive tourism in bushfire-ravaged states For a player branded "polarising" for his long rap sheet of indiscretions, Kyrgios has been a galvanising force in raising funds and awareness as Australia comes to terms with the unprecedented devastation left by the fires. Also read- Australian Open: Nadal, Federer pledge A$250,000 towards bushfire relief The 24-year-old has raised thousands off his own racquet after pledging A$200 ($137) for every ace he bashes down in the home summer but it his efforts away from the court that has caught the eye. I’m kicking off the support for those affected by the fires. I’ll be donating $200 per ace that I hit across all the events I play this summer. #MoreToCome #StayTuned — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 2, 2020 × His appeals on a social media platform boasting over 1.6 million followers have inspired a bigger wave of generosity, nudging celebrities and top athletes from other sports to open their wallets. Come out in your green and gold in Sydney this Thursday and support #TeamAustralia in the @ATPCup quarter finals at 10am. 🇦🇺 🟢🟡🎾https://t.co/g27WPldXK1 — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 7, 2020 × Hearts have also been opened toward Kyrgios, who drew warm applause from the terraces last Wednesday during the "Rally4Relief" charity event at Rod Laver Arena where he broke down in tears when speaking of the toll of the bushfires. Kyrgios has long had an army of social media detractors poised to take issue with every misstep but he has never had trouble attracting a crowd at Melbourne Park or indeed any tennis event he cares to sign up for. "Every time I play here, I'm well-supported," Kyrgios told reporters on Saturday. "All my practices are pretty full. I think people are excited to see me." "I guess with everything going on, the other stuff outside tennis, maybe that's more what they support rather than my tennis itself," he added of his fundraising efforts. "Everything I'm doing is just because I care." Public support for Kyrgios is arguably at its strongest since 2014 when as a 19-year-old he beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon during an exhilarating run to the quarter-finals. He reached the Australian Open quarters the following year but has not been seen in the last eight at a Grand Slam since. The ensuing five years have had their moments, with six titles and some brilliant wins over the 'Big Three' of Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Beating the elite in the best-of-five sets remains a final frontier which many suspect Kyrgios will never achieve due to his aversion to hard training and the constraints that would be placed on him by a full-time coach. "I think there's a lot of young guys that are right now, no offence, just better than him," world number seven Alex Zverev said of Kyrgios recently. "It is not a three-set match where you can win in an hour-and-20 and get off the court. To beat the best, you have to play at your best for a longer period of time." Kyrgios seeded 23rd, will open his campaign against Italy's Lorenzo Sonego on Tuesday, a player he beat in their one previous clash on the Cincinnati hardcourt last year. The A$200 pledged for every ace he strikes in Melbourne will be deservedly cheered but respect in the locker room may prove harder to come by if he makes another early exit from his home Grand Slam.

Melbourne Park ready to embrace the Kyrgios that cares

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-gun-owners-protest-over-tightening-of-laws-265383">New&nbsp;Zealand</a>&nbsp;moved to&nbsp;ban&nbsp;large&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;political&nbsp;donations&nbsp;and misleading social media advertisements Tuesday amid concerns about offshore interference in next year's general election.

Justice Minister Andrew Little said the move,&nbsp;which bars&nbsp;donations&nbsp;over NZ$50 (US$33),&nbsp;was aimed at protecting&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand's democracy from a growing international threat.

"We need to protect the integrity of our elections. These changes will reduce the risk of&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;money influencing our election outcomes," he said.

"We don't want our elections to go the way of recent overseas examples where&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;interference appears to have been at play."

Little did not say which countries prompted the&nbsp;ban&nbsp;but experts have consistently pointed the finger at China.

"It's in China's interest to extend influence in&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand, there's nothing wrong with that,&nbsp;that's what great powers do," Rodney Jones, a&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;economist based in Beijing told Newshub earlier this year.

"It's up to us. We need to set boundaries well ahead of time."

US intelligence says&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;interference played a major part in the 2016 American presidential election and a Canadian intelligence report this year found cyber-attackers targeted half the national elections held in major democracies in 2018.

New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;goes to the polls in late 2020, when centre-left Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will seek a second term. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Under existing laws,&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;political&nbsp;donations&nbsp;in&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;are capped at NZ$1,500 (US$975), although some say loopholes effectively raise the threshold to NZ$30,000.

The&nbsp;new&nbsp;limit for&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;or anonymous&nbsp;donations&nbsp;will be NZ$50.

"There's no need for anyone other than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/air-new-zealand-named-top-carrier-globally-in-annual-airline-awards-264722">New&nbsp;Zealanders</a> to donate to our&nbsp;political&nbsp;parties or seek to influence our elections," Little said.

The changes also require online&nbsp;political&nbsp;advertisements to contain details about their creators, which Little said was aimed at stopping the "avalanche of fake news social media ads" seen during overseas elections.

"Anonymous online advertisements aimed at interfering with our democracy will be prohibited," he said.&nbsp;

"If someone wants to advertise online they need to say who they are, the same as if the ad&nbsp;was published in a newspaper."

New&nbsp;Zealand's spy chief raised concerns about&nbsp;foreign&nbsp;political&nbsp;donations&nbsp;during a rare public appearance at a parliamentary committee hearing in April.

"In broad terms, I can say that we have seen activities by state actors that concern us," &nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;Security Intelligence Service director-general Rebecca Kitteridge said.

The measures must now pass parliament, where the governing coalition has a majority.

New Zealand moved to ban large foreign political donations and misleading social media advertisements Tuesday amid concerns about offshore interference in next year's general election.

New Zealand moved to ban large foreign political donations and misleading social media advertisements Tuesday amid concerns about offshore interference in next year's general election. Justice Minister Andrew Little said the move, which bars donations over NZ$50 (US$33), was aimed at protecting New Zealand's democracy from a growing international threat. "We need to protect the integrity of our elections. These changes will reduce the risk of foreign money influencing our election outcomes," he said. "We don't want our elections to go the way of recent overseas examples where foreign interference appears to have been at play." Little did not say which countries prompted the ban but experts have consistently pointed the finger at China. "It's in China's interest to extend influence in New Zealand, there's nothing wrong with that, that's what great powers do," Rodney Jones, a New Zealand economist based in Beijing told Newshub earlier this year. "It's up to us. We need to set boundaries well ahead of time." US intelligence says foreign interference played a major part in the 2016 American presidential election and a Canadian intelligence report this year found cyber-attackers targeted half the national elections held in major democracies in 2018. New Zealand goes to the polls in late 2020, when centre-left Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will seek a second term. Under existing laws, foreign political donations in New Zealand are capped at NZ$1,500 (US$975), although some say loopholes effectively raise the threshold to NZ$30,000. The new limit for foreign or anonymous donations will be NZ$50. "There's no need for anyone other than New Zealanders to donate to our political parties or seek to influence our elections," Little said. The changes also require online political advertisements to contain details about their creators, which Little said was aimed at stopping the "avalanche of fake news social media ads" seen during overseas elections. "Anonymous online advertisements aimed at interfering with our democracy will be prohibited," he said. "If someone wants to advertise online they need to say who they are, the same as if the ad was published in a newspaper." New Zealand's spy chief raised concerns about foreign political donations during a rare public appearance at a parliamentary committee hearing in April. "In broad terms, I can say that we have seen activities by state actors that concern us," New Zealand Security Intelligence Service director-general Rebecca Kitteridge said. The measures must now pass parliament, where the governing coalition has a majority.

New Zealand to ban foreign political donations over $33

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle's charity is making use of young royal Archie's name to bring someone's ambitious project to life. 
 
The royals donated USD 5,000 in the name of their baby boy Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in order to provide help for building a swimming pool in Guinjata Bay, Mozambique. 
 
This came to light when the swim coach Adam Knight, who runs a JustGiving.com for almost a month, saw a mystery donor by the name -&nbsp;Archie HMW who donated the money to him. 
 
"I said to my colleague, 'That has to be Harry and Meghan," he shared with Harper's Bazaar, cited news agency. 
 
"We made some calls and were able to verify that it was from them, which is just incredible. Without that donation and support this would not be happening," he detailed. 
 
After this huge donation, a swimming pool could be completed by August next year and will provide a safe space for kids to train and learn how to swim. 
 
"Having our own pool means we'll be able to double the number of swimming lessons and also help create paying jobs for the teachers we've trained," 
Adam shared. 
 
He is not just happy that people can hone their swimming skills but added that "it also provides employment opportunities in an area that thrives on marine eco-tourism and scuba diving trips, but has so many living below the poverty line".&nbsp;

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle's charity is making use of young royal Archie's name to bring someone's ambitious project to life.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle's charity is making use of young royal Archie's name to bring someone's ambitious project to life. The royals donated USD 5,000 in the name of their baby boy Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in order to provide help for building a swimming pool in Guinjata Bay, Mozambique. This came to light when the swim coach Adam Knight, who runs a JustGiving.com for almost a month, saw a mystery donor by the name - Archie HMW who donated the money to him. "I said to my colleague, 'That has to be Harry and Meghan," he shared with Harper's Bazaar, cited news agency. "We made some calls and were able to verify that it was from them, which is just incredible. Without that donation and support this would not be happening," he detailed. After this huge donation, a swimming pool could be completed by August next year and will provide a safe space for kids to train and learn how to swim. "Having our own pool means we'll be able to double the number of swimming lessons and also help create paying jobs for the teachers we've trained," Adam shared. He is not just happy that people can hone their swimming skills but added that "it also provides employment opportunities in an area that thrives on marine eco-tourism and scuba diving trips, but has so many living below the poverty line".

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle donate $5000 for swimming pool in Mozambique

We could all learn a thing or two from this man. A superstar is normally synonymous with lavish living and an opulent lifestyle. However, Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, whose net worth is reportedly valued at USD 714 million, has a different and simple way of living.

As per reports, the 63-year-old spends just USD 102 per month and even has plans of giving his entire fortune to charity.&nbsp; 
 
In an interview with a Hong Kong based magazine, Jayne Stars, Chow stressed that his dream is to "be a happy and normal person." 
 
"The hardest thing in life is not about how much money you earn, but how to keep a peaceful mindset and live the rest of your life in a simple and carefree manner," he said, according to Jakarta Post. 
 
The publication noted that Chow usually chooses public transportation and does charity, instead of spending the money on himself. 
 
The article further quoted him as saying, "I don`t wear clothes for other people. As long as I think it`s comfortable, then it`s good enough for me."Chow has worked in various hit films, including `A Better Tomorrow` (1986), `Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon` (2000) and `The Killer` (1989), among others.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

We could all learn a thing or two from this man. A superstar is normally synonymous with lavish living and an opulent lifestyle. However, Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, whose net worth is reportedly valued at USD 714 million, has a different and simple way of living.

We could all learn a thing or two from this man. A superstar is normally synonymous with lavish living and an opulent lifestyle. However, Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat, whose net worth is reportedly valued at USD 714 million, has a different and simple way of living. As per reports, the 63-year-old spends just USD 102 per month and even has plans of giving his entire fortune to charity. In an interview with a Hong Kong based magazine, Jayne Stars, Chow stressed that his dream is to "be a happy and normal person." "The hardest thing in life is not about how much money you earn, but how to keep a peaceful mindset and live the rest of your life in a simple and carefree manner," he said, according to Jakarta Post. The publication noted that Chow usually chooses public transportation and does charity, instead of spending the money on himself. The article further quoted him as saying, "I don`t wear clothes for other people. As long as I think it`s comfortable, then it`s good enough for me."Chow has worked in various hit films, including `A Better Tomorrow` (1986), `Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon` (2000) and `The Killer` (1989), among others.

'Crouching Tiger' actor Chow Yun-fat may donate entire fortune to charity

The latest celebrity couple to join the fight against gun ownership in the United States, singer John Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen donated the sum of&nbsp;$25,000 to the cause of anti-gun&nbsp;March for Our Lives movement.&nbsp;

Standing in support of the&nbsp;Parkland shooting survivors, Legend said,&nbsp;&quot;We support the students. We&#39;re proud of the students. We&#39;ve already sent them money. We sent them $25,000 to help with whatever costs they have for organising, and we believe that our gun culture needs to change in America.&quot;

In addition to providing for the money, Legend also suggested&nbsp;widespread changes need to be made to prevent future gun-related tragedies, both large and small-scale.

He said:&nbsp;&quot;We stand out among other major countries in the world when it comes to these types of massacres, but also in the everyday gun violence that people have to deal with. I don&#39;t think that we should accept that as normal. I think we&#39;ve decided that everyone having unfettered access to guns is more important than all of us being safe, and I think we need to reshape that balance a bit so that we&#39;re all more safe.&quot;

John Legend is married to actress and social media influencer Chrissy Teigen and has a child with her, Luna who is one-year-old while there is a second child on the way. Talking about&nbsp;the country&#39;s responsibility to protect children, he said, &quot;I don&#39;t want our kids to keep going to these shooter drills, and all these other things that I can&#39;t even believe kids are dealing with right now,&quot; he explained. &quot;They shouldn&#39;t have to deal with that. But I&#39;m glad these kids from Parkland are saying enough is enough, and we support them.&quot;

&nbsp;

They are the latest celebrity couple who support Parkland shooting survivors and the anti-gun March for Our Lives movement

The latest celebrity couple to join the fight against gun ownership in the United States, singer John Legend and his wife Chrissy Teigen donated the sum of $25,000 to the cause of anti-gun March for Our Lives movement. Standing in support of the Parkland shooting survivors, Legend said, "We support the students. We're proud of the students. We've already sent them money. We sent them $25,000 to help with whatever costs they have for organising, and we believe that our gun culture needs to change in America." In addition to providing for the money, Legend also suggested widespread changes need to be made to prevent future gun-related tragedies, both large and small-scale. He said: "We stand out among other major countries in the world when it comes to these types of massacres, but also in the everyday gun violence that people have to deal with. I don't think that we should accept that as normal. I think we've decided that everyone having unfettered access to guns is more important than all of us being safe, and I think we need to reshape that balance a bit so that we're all more safe." John Legend is married to actress and social media influencer Chrissy Teigen and has a child with her, Luna who is one-year-old while there is a second child on the way. Talking about the country's responsibility to protect children, he said, "I don't want our kids to keep going to these shooter drills, and all these other things that I can't even believe kids are dealing with right now," he explained. "They shouldn't have to deal with that. But I'm glad these kids from Parkland are saying enough is enough, and we support them."

Star couple John Legend, Chrissy Teigen donate $25,000 to students against gun violence

Australia&#39;s wealthy Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reportedly made a large personal donation to the conservative Liberal Party during the recent fiercely fought election in a move ridiculed by the Labor opposition. 
 
The multi-millionaire, whose Liberal/National coalition was narrowly re-elected, handed over US$760,000 (Aus$1 million) of his own money in the final weeks of the campaign with the party &quot;desperate for finances&quot;, The Australian newspaper said today. 
 
The party did not deny the alleged bail-out but said in a statement that &quot;the claim in todays Australian that the Liberal Party is either in debt or broke is false&quot;. 
 
The newspaper said the money was a &quot;tightly kept secret&quot; and was used to fund television advertising, direct mail-outs and opinion polls. 
 
The donation was mocked by senior opposition Labor politician Anthony Albanese, who told broadcaster Channel Nine: &quot;I wish we had someone who had a lazy Aus$1 million sitting in the corner that could just plonk into the campaign&quot;. 
 
Labor relies on donations and affiliation fees from trade unions for much of its funding. 
 
Turnbull is reportedly worth Aus$200 million through his previous careers as a barrister, businessman and investment banker. 
 
Under Australian law, political parties receive public funding according to how well they perform in an election. 
 
The funding, which is received after the polls, is usually insufficient to pay for campaigns, with parties having to approach donors - individuals and companies - to boost their kitty. 
 
All donations above Aus$13,000 at the national level have to be disclosed, with the latest contributions to be revealed in 2017. 
 
The Liberal Party`s New South Wales branch had Aus$4.4 million withheld from its coffers earlier this year by the electoral commission over its failure to disclose the identity of major donors in 2011 state elections. 
 
(AFP)

Turnbull had donated $760,000 in the final weeks of campaign to help with the finances. The Liberal party did not deny the bailout

Australia's wealthy Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reportedly made a large personal donation to the conservative Liberal Party during the recent fiercely fought election in a move ridiculed by the Labor opposition. The multi-millionaire, whose Liberal/National coalition was narrowly re-elected, handed over US$760,000 (Aus$1 million) of his own money in the final weeks of the campaign with the party "desperate for finances", The Australian newspaper said today. The party did not deny the alleged bail-out but said in a statement that "the claim in todays Australian that the Liberal Party is either in debt or broke is false". The newspaper said the money was a "tightly kept secret" and was used to fund television advertising, direct mail-outs and opinion polls. The donation was mocked by senior opposition Labor politician Anthony Albanese, who told broadcaster Channel Nine: "I wish we had someone who had a lazy Aus$1 million sitting in the corner that could just plonk into the campaign". Labor relies on donations and affiliation fees from trade unions for much of its funding. Turnbull is reportedly worth Aus$200 million through his previous careers as a barrister, businessman and investment banker. Under Australian law, political parties receive public funding according to how well they perform in an election. The funding, which is received after the polls, is usually insufficient to pay for campaigns, with parties having to approach donors - individuals and companies - to boost their kitty. All donations above Aus$13,000 at the national level have to be disclosed, with the latest contributions to be revealed in 2017. The Liberal Party`s New South Wales branch had Aus$4.4 million withheld from its coffers earlier this year by the electoral commission over its failure to disclose the identity of major donors in 2011 state elections. (AFP)

Australia PM donated hundreds of dollars to party's election bid

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