Police have removed handcuffs shackling Jacob Blake, who is paralyzed after US police shot him repeatedly in the back, to his hospital bed and stopped monitoring him, Blake's lawyer said Friday. African-American Blake, 29, was shot seven times in the back point blank over the weekend by a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin and has no movement from the waist down.

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

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, who attended President Donald Trump`s Republican Party nomination convention, said on Friday he was attacked by what he described as an "angry mob" of more than 100 people near the White House and had to be rescued by the police.

"Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House. Thank you to DC Police Dept for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob," the senator wrote on twitter&nbsp;

erified by Reuters, show the senator and his wife Kelley walking down the street as crowds gathered near them shouting and shoving the police who tried to protect the couple.

The police could be heard asking the crowd to "back-off" as they escorted the senator to his hotel. 
It wasn`t immediately clear as to what led to the attack on Senator Paul.

Also Read: <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/kamala-harris-not-competent-to-be-us-president-ivanka-better-donald-trump-323883">Kamala Harris 'not competent' to be US president, Ivanka better: Donald Trump</a>

Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters had gathered outside the White House on Thursday evening as Trump accepted the Republican Party`s nomination for the 2020 presidential election. Attendees could hear the protesters sounding horns near the White House as he spoke.

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"What happened to Rand &amp; Kelley tonight (and numerous others exiting the RNC) was wrong," tweeted Republican Senator Ted Cruz.

"The police protecting them were heroic, but this needs to stop. This is very close to escalating to serious violence."

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, who attended President Donald Trump`s Republican Party nomination convention, said on Friday he was attacked by what he described as an "angry mob" of more than 100 people near the White House and had to be rescued by the police.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, who attended President Donald Trump`s Republican Party nomination convention, said on Friday he was attacked by what he described as an "angry mob" of more than 100 people near the White House and had to be rescued by the police. "Just got attacked by an angry mob of over 100, one block away from the White House. Thank you to DC Police Dept for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob," the senator wrote on twitter erified by Reuters, show the senator and his wife Kelley walking down the street as crowds gathered near them shouting and shoving the police who tried to protect the couple. The police could be heard asking the crowd to "back-off" as they escorted the senator to his hotel. It wasn`t immediately clear as to what led to the attack on Senator Paul. Also Read: Kamala Harris 'not competent' to be US president, Ivanka better: Donald Trump Hundreds of anti-Trump protesters had gathered outside the White House on Thursday evening as Trump accepted the Republican Party`s nomination for the 2020 presidential election. Attendees could hear the protesters sounding horns near the White House as he spoke. × "What happened to Rand & Kelley tonight (and numerous others exiting the RNC) was wrong," tweeted Republican Senator Ted Cruz. "The police protecting them were heroic, but this needs to stop. This is very close to escalating to serious violence."

US Republican Party Senator Rand Paul alleges he was 'attacked' near White House

The recently concluded UAE-Israel deal dominated the briefings of US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on his current visit to Israel and other countries in the region. It was &nbsp;also the central theme in his headlining address, recorded in Jerusalem, for the Republican National Convention where Donald Trump was officially endorsed as the Republican Presidential candidate.

Extolling the Abraham Accords that seek to normalize relations between UAE and Israel, Pompeo hinted at other Arab states following suit and a plan for the Middle East that normalizes trade and business relations, removal of travel restrictions and greater security cooperation to tackle threats, including Iran, ‘rogue’ regimes and non-state actors.

The symbolic significance of this deal cannot be overstated – the UAE becomes the third Middle eastern country to normalize relations with Israel after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. It is however the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state to take this action.&nbsp;

Though UAE and other Gulf nations have been steadily improving relations with Israel for almost a decade, the formal recognition was held back due to the imperatives of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. The initiative demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from all territories occupied since 1967 in exchange for a &nbsp;diplomatic recognition of the state of Israel. In this case the UAE agreed to recognize Israel in exchange for less – a promise by Israeli PM Netanyahu to temporarily halt annexation of almost a third of West Bank territories, an idea proposed as part of President’s Trump’s middle eastern plan.&nbsp;

The short term political compulsions driving the deal are evident – it provides breathing space to Netanyahu who has been beleaguered by corruption charges and regular protests demanding his resignation. He has portrayed this deal as a vindication of his foreign policy stand that peace with Arab countries does not need a solution of the Palestinian issue. For President Trump, this will be a talking point of his deal making capability in US Presidential Elections in November at a time when opinion polls put him behind his rival Democrat candidate Joe Biden. For the UAE, this has been a ‘diplomatic win’ - &nbsp;garnering them the US favour, benefit of Israel’s ‘hard power’ in its proxy wars and a vindication of its independent foreign policy.&nbsp;

The long term imperatives, however, are more complex and multi-layered and will determine the future of the security in the region.&nbsp;

1.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;At the local level the Arab Spring &amp; following civil unrest has spooked several Gulf monarchies that realize that they need to focus on continuing effective governance to maintain their political legitimacy. Conflict with Israel has been diluted in order to avoid diversion of resources and re-orient the foreign policy aims. In addition, Israel is capable of fulfilling the Gulf states’ need for sophisticated security and surveillance platforms to police their own populations.&nbsp;

2.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;At the regional stage, the UAE and Israel’s foreign policy aims have converged at three main levels.&nbsp;

a.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;A significant common factor has been to counter the Iranian ‘arc of influence’ that extends from Yemen where Iran backed Houthi rebels are engaged in a conflict with Saudi and UAE-led coalition forces supporting President Hadi, Lebanon (via Hezbollah), Iraq &amp; also in Syria with Iran’s support to President Assad. In the last few years, Yemen based Houthi rebels are purported to have acquired sophisticated ‘drone technology’ used to target Saudi airports and military installations and suspected to have disrupted operations at the Dubai airport in 2018. In 2019, attacks on oil tankers, including a UAE vessel just outside the Strait of Hormuz, were also blamed on Iranian proxies. This is a common cause with Israel that has been engaged in a conflict with Hezbollah, has targeted Iranian backed groups in Syria and tackled Hamas in Gaza, with whom Iran has ‘contentious cooperation’.&nbsp;

b.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The second imperative has been countering ‘political Islam’ in all its forms – whether Shia variety allied to Iran or the Sunni groups including the Muslim brotherhood &amp; its offshoots such as Hamas and terror groups like Islamic state and the remnants of Al-Qaeda. Many Arab states realize that Israel’s ‘hard power’ including defence technology, cyber surveillance can be instrumental in helping them protect their own interests.&nbsp;

3.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;At the international level, both UAE and Israel hope that the deal will keep the US sufficiently engaged in the Middle East on their side. For UAE Crown Prince, MBZ (Mohammed Bin Zayed) this is an opportunity to regain the US backing after it garnered backlash from the US Congress for its role in the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and its backing of General Haftar in Libya who is fighting the GNA (Government of National Accord backed by the UN) nominally supported by the US. This deal is also likely to ensure that Israel and UAE can obtain advanced US weaponry and its support in international fora for its strategic objectives. This becomes relevant especially in the context of an increasing China-Iran rapprochement and increased Russian-Iranian cooperation in nations like Syria.&nbsp;

So while these imperatives have pushed the two parties towards the deal, what are the future prospects? There has been commentary on the prospect that if other Arab Gulf states were to follow the UAE, then that can constitute a chance to re-write the security landscape of the region. There has also been a proposal that UAE with its exalted standing in the Middle East can play mediator in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by bringing on board Palestinian stakeholders to develop concrete counter proposals to Trump’s Middle East plan. 
However at least in the short to mid term the above view seems little optimistic. Though Netanyahu has agreed to temporarily to halt West Bank annexation, his hardline &amp; opportunistic politics means that he is unlikely to give concessions that will be required if a lasting Israel-Palestine peace settlement has to be achieved. On the Palestinian side, it is a divided house with too many stakeholders along with radical Islamist groups like Hamas whose use of terror tactics will be a stumbling bloc.

Moreover this deal does not address the fundamental drivers of conflict in the region. The geo-political faultlines have been shifting for almost a decade from the Arab-Israel conflict to the emergence of Iran and its ‘political Islamist’ allies as the ‘bigger fish to fry’. What this deal might end up doing is formalizing the contours of the two opposing blocs that are engaged in proxy conflicts across the Middle East, squeezing out the space that was available to countries like UAE for backchannel negotiations with Iran. While the loosely defined ‘anti-Iran bloc’ has more economic and military power, Iran’s proxies have made sizeable gains across the region - in Yemen (where Houthis control strategic choke points), in Syria (where President Assad has gained control of almost the entire country). In Lebanon, Hezbollah is kept in check mainly by Israeli military action.&nbsp;

In the short to the mid term, Israel’s addition to this ‘club’ of Gulf monarchies and US’s continued attempts to destabilize the Iranian regime can actually exacerbate tensions as Iran will seek to retaliate against the ‘perceived’ grouping. In addition, the self-interests of regional powers are likely to lead them to take individual sides in conflicts blurring the dynamics of the blocs &amp; adding to uncertainty. The UAE’s role in Yemen as both a part of the KSA-led coalition supporting President Hadi &amp; a backer of Southern Transitional Council demanding secession from Yemen is a case in point.&nbsp;

A genuine change in the security architecture of the region will require détente between Middle East’s two rival blocs, addressing the self-interested claims of region’s nations that is complicating proxy conflicts and emergence of one of the international powers as a neutral and unbiased mediator.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The recently concluded UAE-Israel deal dominated the briefings of US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on his current visit to Israel and other countries in the region.

The recently concluded UAE-Israel deal dominated the briefings of US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, on his current visit to Israel and other countries in the region. It was also the central theme in his headlining address, recorded in Jerusalem, for the Republican National Convention where Donald Trump was officially endorsed as the Republican Presidential candidate. Extolling the Abraham Accords that seek to normalize relations between UAE and Israel, Pompeo hinted at other Arab states following suit and a plan for the Middle East that normalizes trade and business relations, removal of travel restrictions and greater security cooperation to tackle threats, including Iran, ‘rogue’ regimes and non-state actors. The symbolic significance of this deal cannot be overstated – the UAE becomes the third Middle eastern country to normalize relations with Israel after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. It is however the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state to take this action. Though UAE and other Gulf nations have been steadily improving relations with Israel for almost a decade, the formal recognition was held back due to the imperatives of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. The initiative demanded a full Israeli withdrawal from all territories occupied since 1967 in exchange for a diplomatic recognition of the state of Israel. In this case the UAE agreed to recognize Israel in exchange for less – a promise by Israeli PM Netanyahu to temporarily halt annexation of almost a third of West Bank territories, an idea proposed as part of President’s Trump’s middle eastern plan. The short term political compulsions driving the deal are evident – it provides breathing space to Netanyahu who has been beleaguered by corruption charges and regular protests demanding his resignation. He has portrayed this deal as a vindication of his foreign policy stand that peace with Arab countries does not need a solution of the Palestinian issue. For President Trump, this will be a talking point of his deal making capability in US Presidential Elections in November at a time when opinion polls put him behind his rival Democrat candidate Joe Biden. For the UAE, this has been a ‘diplomatic win’ - garnering them the US favour, benefit of Israel’s ‘hard power’ in its proxy wars and a vindication of its independent foreign policy. The long term imperatives, however, are more complex and multi-layered and will determine the future of the security in the region. 1. At the local level the Arab Spring & following civil unrest has spooked several Gulf monarchies that realize that they need to focus on continuing effective governance to maintain their political legitimacy. Conflict with Israel has been diluted in order to avoid diversion of resources and re-orient the foreign policy aims. In addition, Israel is capable of fulfilling the Gulf states’ need for sophisticated security and surveillance platforms to police their own populations. 2. At the regional stage, the UAE and Israel’s foreign policy aims have converged at three main levels. a. A significant common factor has been to counter the Iranian ‘arc of influence’ that extends from Yemen where Iran backed Houthi rebels are engaged in a conflict with Saudi and UAE-led coalition forces supporting President Hadi, Lebanon (via Hezbollah), Iraq & also in Syria with Iran’s support to President Assad. In the last few years, Yemen based Houthi rebels are purported to have acquired sophisticated ‘drone technology’ used to target Saudi airports and military installations and suspected to have disrupted operations at the Dubai airport in 2018. In 2019, attacks on oil tankers, including a UAE vessel just outside the Strait of Hormuz, were also blamed on Iranian proxies. This is a common cause with Israel that has been engaged in a conflict with Hezbollah, has targeted Iranian backed groups in Syria and tackled Hamas in Gaza, with whom Iran has ‘contentious cooperation’. b. The second imperative has been countering ‘political Islam’ in all its forms – whether Shia variety allied to Iran or the Sunni groups including the Muslim brotherhood & its offshoots such as Hamas and terror groups like Islamic state and the remnants of Al-Qaeda. Many Arab states realize that Israel’s ‘hard power’ including defence technology, cyber surveillance can be instrumental in helping them protect their own interests. 3. At the international level, both UAE and Israel hope that the deal will keep the US sufficiently engaged in the Middle East on their side. For UAE Crown Prince, MBZ (Mohammed Bin Zayed) this is an opportunity to regain the US backing after it garnered backlash from the US Congress for its role in the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and its backing of General Haftar in Libya who is fighting the GNA (Government of National Accord backed by the UN) nominally supported by the US. This deal is also likely to ensure that Israel and UAE can obtain advanced US weaponry and its support in international fora for its strategic objectives. This becomes relevant especially in the context of an increasing China-Iran rapprochement and increased Russian-Iranian cooperation in nations like Syria. So while these imperatives have pushed the two parties towards the deal, what are the future prospects? There has been commentary on the prospect that if other Arab Gulf states were to follow the UAE, then that can constitute a chance to re-write the security landscape of the region. There has also been a proposal that UAE with its exalted standing in the Middle East can play mediator in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by bringing on board Palestinian stakeholders to develop concrete counter proposals to Trump’s Middle East plan. However at least in the short to mid term the above view seems little optimistic. Though Netanyahu has agreed to temporarily to halt West Bank annexation, his hardline & opportunistic politics means that he is unlikely to give concessions that will be required if a lasting Israel-Palestine peace settlement has to be achieved. On the Palestinian side, it is a divided house with too many stakeholders along with radical Islamist groups like Hamas whose use of terror tactics will be a stumbling bloc. Moreover this deal does not address the fundamental drivers of conflict in the region. The geo-political faultlines have been shifting for almost a decade from the Arab-Israel conflict to the emergence of Iran and its ‘political Islamist’ allies as the ‘bigger fish to fry’. What this deal might end up doing is formalizing the contours of the two opposing blocs that are engaged in proxy conflicts across the Middle East, squeezing out the space that was available to countries like UAE for backchannel negotiations with Iran. While the loosely defined ‘anti-Iran bloc’ has more economic and military power, Iran’s proxies have made sizeable gains across the region - in Yemen (where Houthis control strategic choke points), in Syria (where President Assad has gained control of almost the entire country). In Lebanon, Hezbollah is kept in check mainly by Israeli military action. In the short to the mid term, Israel’s addition to this ‘club’ of Gulf monarchies and US’s continued attempts to destabilize the Iranian regime can actually exacerbate tensions as Iran will seek to retaliate against the ‘perceived’ grouping. In addition, the self-interests of regional powers are likely to lead them to take individual sides in conflicts blurring the dynamics of the blocs & adding to uncertainty. The UAE’s role in Yemen as both a part of the KSA-led coalition supporting President Hadi & a backer of Southern Transitional Council demanding secession from Yemen is a case in point. A genuine change in the security architecture of the region will require détente between Middle East’s two rival blocs, addressing the self-interested claims of region’s nations that is complicating proxy conflicts and emergence of one of the international powers as a neutral and unbiased mediator.

Israel-UAE deal: A symbolic peace unlikely to address the conflict triggers in Middle East

By:&nbsp;Ghadi Francis for WION 
 
Equations in West Asia are changing. Israel struck a peace deal with UAE recently. The agreement was brokered by the USA. Hezbollah, the organisation in Lebanon often finds itself part of various equations in the region. WION spoke with Ibrahim Al Moussawi, Lebanese&nbsp;MP and Hezbollah spokesperson on situation in West Asia and the organisation's role in it. 
 
WION: First viewers in the world, West Asia see Hezbollah as the villain or terrorist group. Where would you like to start in defining what Hezbollah is regarding in the area in the region?

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: Well thank you for giving the opportunity to give a kind of review of Hezbollah. It's not the viewer who views Hezbollah as the terrorist or the villain of West Asia, I would say we're a, simply we are a resistance movement against occupation, when you resist them, you resist an action, that is a reaction to an action, we resist the Israeli occupation, the Israeli invasion, the Israeli expansionist trend in the area. We all know that Israel is one manifestation of the new liberal, capitalist,....... colonial West.

We have to remember that the number one supporter of Israel in the whole world is the USA, and America itself ,the United States of America is responsible for most of the problems all over the world, you know it spreads the military bases all over and it interferes in internal affairs of many countries, it supports operations.

I will simply put Hezbollah as a group of people, organised people, who stood against the occupation against the operation. they are rightful people. We are rightful people. We support the right, the independence, the liberty, we have never attacked anyone, we have never come to anybody's land, we are talking about our land, we are talking about West Asia, we are talking about Palestine, occupied Palestine, not Israel, the manifestation or the cancerous &nbsp;glands (reference to Israel) that has been put by the West into this part of the area, our sense, the existence of Israel.

We are suffering not only in the Lebanon, in the Arab world, in Syria, we have .... heights that are occupied in Egypt during the ....., we have .... it has no full independence, also we are talking about Jordan, we are talking about west bank and Gaza, we are talking about Palestine.

So here you are talking about a ... high regime in the 21st century that is oppressing people, killing people, that are not allowing them to go to schools, there are a lot of massacres, ....... of massacres that they have done. It is evident for everybody, yet the United States continues to support it, with high tech weaponry, with the Veto power, in the United Nations, in the Security Council, and we are in a position to defend, to liberate and to fight operations.

WION: Okay, since you spoke profoundly about the ideology problem with Israel, where do you stand today when the UAE and Saudi Arabia are going to start flights after their peace deal? How does Hezbollah react to that?

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: Well we have, actually this is not the first time that an Arab country has done&nbsp;what the UAE did. Egypt has done this. It is of&nbsp;1980s.

Also, Jordan, we know about it, yet the Jordanians are not immune to the Israeli aggression, now they are talking about annexing&nbsp;parts of Jordan or if they are talking about a kind of exodus of the Palestinians to go to Jordan. Up till now there is a B plan in the Israeli agenda, in case they want the Palestinians to evacuate from Palestine from the remaining part of Palestine they want to send them to Jordan, as a second country or alternative country for them.

So here you talk about an Israeli occupation, an Israeli entity that we never recognized.&nbsp;We will never recognise [Israel] at any time because this is Palestine first. After this it can be about&nbsp;UAE or&nbsp;Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, Oman or any other country. You're talking about things that came to the public but it has always been there. We have never been surprised at all with the new ties between UAE...

[WION: Do you think how were they publicized is it really just the way..you..]

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: I would say it's a combination of so many different things, we know now that ....&nbsp;Netanyahu now is in a political dilemma and so is&nbsp;Trump. They want to have more points in their record to go to the race.&nbsp;For Trump, it is about the&nbsp;presidential race next November and for the Israeli entity, it is the problem of the political stalemate. So its there in the internal politics there but it has always been a fixed part of their agenda when it comes to the Palestinians and the Arabs.

WION: Having spoken about that, about the presidential race, about how this would affect or give them like I have delivered something to give to their voters. I want to ask you we have witnessed.. change in Europe, after the Syrian uprising and the Syrian war, the Europeans were affected, and they changed many.. many actions from the voters...

Today, as Hezbollah do you see that you really have effect (read influence) from West Asia to the world in the Presidential race. Because Syria did have effect in the Presidential races in Europe. Do you see Hezbollah's activities in the Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the GCC even countries as a strategic force in &nbsp;the West Asia. How does Hezbollah affect the elections in the United States?

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: We do not work or function on all of the places that you mentioned specially you said GCC or other places but if you mean the clout, the influence, the sympathy of the people, here in the Arab world we have to make a complete dichotomy between the regimes, the governments and the people, &nbsp;because if you go to the peoples opinion and you have rightful public opinion, pollsters will have complete leader-front results. The people hearts, the people minds are with Palestine, are against the normalisation of relations with Israel. They support the rightful case or cause of the Palestinians, of the resistance and this is very important if there were any kind of poll that would tell you and reflect the genuine, the real opinion of the people with a completely different regimes and governments, in this sense they are imposed from above, they are being supported by the Western colonialist powers in order to continue to perpetuate the interest of the West in out areas and you can see this.

The great arms deals that take place&nbsp;funnel&nbsp;billions of dollars to the West perpetuating&nbsp;their economy. And&nbsp;they are happy about the wars in our area. Now when you talk about West Asia, this is very important question from your side that I appreciate, when you talk about west Asia, those people all together and the resistance movement and the elites, those people who are sober enough, are aware enough, are conscious enough of the western American agenda in our area, they have to collaborate their efforts and co-ordinate and be whistle-blower, if we have something in Beirut, all of the people, all of the masses, all over the Arab world or the Islamic world or the West Asia they should be able to reflect their support to the cause of the oppressed people.

After all, if you want to make a differentiation, what's happening, you are talking here about right and wrong, you are talking about just and peace &amp; oppression and war, we are to the side of peace and the resistance and liberty and the independence away from the intervention of the expansionist, colonialist powers like United States or parts of Europe.

WION: But my question was..in the sense to make it as simple as possible. Does Hezbollah &amp; the prevailing of Hezbollah, the survival of Hezbollah in Lebanon &amp; Syria and the survival of Iran against the sanctions. Does this power in the West Asia affect the Presidential race in the United States?

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: To a certain extent, you know there&nbsp;are many, so many files in the department, we represent one or two .. in it. When the United States wants to prevail in Iraq and then the resistance in Iraq fails it and make it a complete failure, this is going to put a bad record, a bad remark for Trump

WION: Is this what's happening?

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: This is what's happening, absolutely. Withdrawn their troops from there, this has reshuffled the papers in the area and I would say that, the kind of rising resistance in the region is going to put an end to this colonialist expansionist American trend in the area, if this was not the case, I would say many of the powers in the West Asia would crumble and would collapse, even if you talk about governments.

Absolutely, I mean, even if you take this aside. &nbsp;Take India for example. It&nbsp;is a&nbsp;rising and important power.

India is not like&nbsp;United States or America. India is the country of Mahatma Gandhi. It's has history of revolution of peaceful people against British colonial power for centuries.

Had it not been for the will and determination of Indian people and leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, India would still be under the mandate of a Western power.

That's why people's movement is important in putting an end to colonial power and in raising hope for real independence.

That's why we want to collaborate as people. We are an organisation, we are a party, but we do represent millions of people all over the region &amp; we have to convince them.. the problem is that, here in this part of the world they used to say that the Israeli army is the invincible army, you can do nothing about it. It is supported by the United States, that it is going to guarantee their supremacy..supremacy of the Israeli forces, so you can do nothing about it.

Because we are the people who have determination, resolve, will, faith in our culture, our civilization. This is the same that is there in India &amp; in West Asia, for different cultures &amp; people, they have this patience, they have this perseverance, they have this faith in their culture.. then we will win &amp; we will prevail &amp; they will definitely fail.

If we are going to surrender, and say we are going to nothing about it, they are going to perpetuate &amp; make their colonial power survive.

Now this is not what we want to see.

WION: What kind of.. What kind of industrial or.. What kind of aspirations do you all have ----

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: There are many levels, we can coordinate our efforts together what they lack, we can give they have.. &nbsp;for example when you talk about India you think about a high-tech&nbsp;country. Even those who are making America prosper are Indians and not&nbsp;Americans.&nbsp;When you talk about talk about talent in in&nbsp;Silicon Valley,&nbsp;when you talk about those who are earning or those who have a high PhD per capita in America, you consider Indian-Americans. They are basically Indians or they come from Asia, not only from Pakistan..other countries.

And they were able to create the system that could serve as a magnetic absorb all of the capabilities &amp; creative power of people of all over the world.

We have to have this determination, we have to have this decision that we want to get with this brain drain. There is a brain drain happening in these areas &amp; they go to America &amp; they make more &amp; more perpetuation for the American glory per say.

That's why I believe we have huge opportunity in building..in high-tech, in technology.. in different areas weather industry or economy or agriculture, different areas of co-operation can work here

 
WION: And one more question because I didn't have .. this, one more which is the typical we are gonna ask.... being said its the 3rd biggest explosion&nbsp;in the world [Ibrahim Al Moussawi: True, 3rd or 4th we are not sure] Maybe, Beirut explosion, what happened afterwards..a lot of media is trying to deliver the message that &nbsp;Hezbollah has to do with the cargoes &amp; everything.

What do you have to say or to comment about the tremendous explosion that happened in Beirut, where does Hezbollah stand regarding that?

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: First of all, there is an organized campaign from the West, from America, from different mouthpieces in Europe like Der Spiegel, Le Figaro and other media outlets. They want to portray that&nbsp;Hezbollah was behind Beirut blast.

We have UNIFIL.. their ships..monitoring ships, monitoring &nbsp;systems in the Mediterranean. And they can watch every single thing that happened.

Hezbollah&nbsp;has&nbsp;categorically refused &amp; denied any responsibility or&nbsp; any connection with this explosion. We have never used the port of Beirut for any kind of military or security action.

It's under the supervision of the Lebanese state, Lebanese Army, the Lebanese security forces.

All of what you hear here of there by the Western media is the kind of agenda that they want to put Hezbollah name there, so it can do other actions and they can..if you want &nbsp;..mislead people about our identity, of our true figure.

We were in a complete shock after what&nbsp;happened. This is one of the result&nbsp;of huge corruption in the Lebanese state.&nbsp;[WION: They think the...] and we support investigation. &nbsp;Look when you talk about the investigation we have never done anything to jump to conclusions.

The investigation is underway.&nbsp;We have to wait&nbsp;till the investigation is concluded and then we will all see what happens.

WION: Okay, because anyone who is watching can see the port of Haifa is the.. most...

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: If you are alluding.. If you are alluding that the Israelis have interest, that they have keen interest, and they do serve many&nbsp;of their great interests in having an alternative place rather than the port of Beirut, this is one option.

But if we want to hold others responsible, we have to have a full evidence about it.

WION: There is one more question; Everyone in Lebanon will hear the lobby..intelligentia you are speaking about resolution that would happen ..or the talks that would happen with Iran, between United States &amp; Iran, once they are resumed many things would change, maybe after the Presidential race &amp; even say Nasrallah and President Bashar al-Assad have said many&nbsp;times that this kind of President is better than others, that Trump would serve better because he is bluntly stupid actually this what has been said. But regardless, what do you have to say about the Iranian-American talks and how would they affect. Do you really like look forward to that.. it would set peace..

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: I would say, look you are talking about very fluctuating issue that has to do with the Republicans &amp; the Democrats in America. Now with Trump would going to the Presidential race in next November, everybody is waiting. And he has said that he is going to finalize a deal with Iran within one week or whatever. But here you are talking about ab locate. &nbsp;Part of our.. we here in Lebanon are suffering from a very complicated manifold crisis that has to do with economy, monetary issues, financial issues, economic issues, social issues and there is a blockade against Lebanon by United States America, by part of its Arab countries that support United States America. We would rather depend on ourselves, we should not be waiting for anything. 
I would say if a deal has been concluded between Iran &amp; America, I believe this is going to help all over the region. But we do not pin hopes on what our enemies will do or wouldn't do. We have to depend on ourselves &amp; continue.

Patience, Perseverance &amp; Determination will help.

WION: This is something, I do not know if you are free to it answer or not, because you are speaking like that. We know that Hezbollah is a part of the Parliament, part of society in Lebanon and its not like [Ibrahim Al MOussawi: part of the govt, yes]. But still, you have a big percentage of Lebanese society that would say all the crisis, all the sanctions, all these issues are Hezbollah's fault and they are Lebanese &amp; they are perpetuating their points of views in Western media. So what do you have to say about Lebanon, are these...

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: They are not big percentage to tell you the truth ... We have a political division in the country, simply. Actually, sometimes people are being misled, certain are being misled.

I would say up till now, I would say ..and you have the right to go and see, as a party, as a political party we enjoy wider public support in the country.

Here you are talking about the wider public support in the country.

Though there is a political campaign against us from the Western media, there is a blockade &amp; they are pin-pointing against us. We know very well that Feltman said we have spent 500 million dollars in order to tarnish the image of Hezbollah in order to distort the image of Hezbollah.

Now they are doing the same, they are subduing, they are subjugating the Lebanese into kind of blockade &amp; say we are doing this because of Hezbollah. So they are trying to plant a wedge between Hezbollah &amp; Public. This is not going to happen.

the people are smart and keen enough to understand, others who are like serving .... as mouthpeice to the West and saying they are doing it because of the Hazebollah, you are talking keen about collaborative with, or represting the western view of the politics, while if you talk about the Lebanese, real Lebanese all over the factions they wouldn't agree with this description.

WION: Would you like to tell us about how strong is Hezbollah?

Ibrahim Al Moussawi: Look.. look we're strong and we are determined, we have resolve, we have determination, we have the voted people, dedicated people because we have this faith. It is not a matter of how many people do you have, it's not matter of how many arms and what kind of arms do you have. Look, those who have been supported by the Western part, we know very well that the west has the hi-tech, they have the best arms all over the world, they have the best intelligence all over, they have people who are fighting with them.

I believe this is something to do with the soul or the spirit of the West Asia or the Asians, here you talk about, we in this part of the world have spirit, have a different spirit, not a materialistic spirit. In India, you have this kind of homage and devotion for certain spiritual forces, that they define it. Here we believe in Allah, we believe in God, even the region here, it's the place of the heavenly religions you know,

Christianity, Judaism, Islam came to this part. The prophets, the messengers came here, we have this link with God, we have this link with heaven, we have this link with the divine and I believe when you talk about divinity, no matter how much you talk about materialistic things, it falls down.

By: Ghadi Francis for WION Equations in West Asia are changing. Israel struck a peace deal with UAE recently. The agreement was brokered by the USA. Hezbollah, the organisation in Lebanon often finds itself part of various equations in the region.

By: Ghadi Francis for WION Equations in West Asia are changing. Israel struck a peace deal with UAE recently. The agreement was brokered by the USA. Hezbollah, the organisation in Lebanon often finds itself part of various equations in the region. WION spoke with Ibrahim Al Moussawi, Lebanese MP and Hezbollah spokesperson on situation in West Asia and the organisation's role in it. WION: First viewers in the world, West Asia see Hezbollah as the villain or terrorist group. Where would you like to start in defining what Hezbollah is regarding in the area in the region? Ibrahim Al Moussawi: Well thank you for giving the opportunity to give a kind of review of Hezbollah. It's not the viewer who views Hezbollah as the terrorist or the villain of West Asia, I would say we're a, simply we are a resistance movement against occupation, when you resist them, you resist an action, that is a reaction to an action, we resist the Israeli occupation, the Israeli invasion, the Israeli expansionist trend in the area. We all know that Israel is one manifestation of the new liberal, capitalist,....... colonial West. We have to remember that the number one supporter of Israel in the whole world is the USA, and America itself ,the United States of America is responsible for most of the problems all over the world, you know it spreads the military bases all over and it interferes in internal affairs of many countries, it supports operations. I will simply put Hezbollah as a group of people, organised people, who stood against the occupation against the operation. they are rightful people. We are rightful people. We support the right, the independence, the liberty, we have never attacked anyone, we have never come to anybody's land, we are talking about our land, we are talking about West Asia, we are talking about Palestine, occupied Palestine, not Israel, the manifestation or the cancerous glands (reference to Israel) that has been put by the West into this part of the area, our sense, the existence of Israel. We are suffering not only in the Lebanon, in the Arab world, in Syria, we have .... heights that are occupied in Egypt during the ....., we have .... it has no full independence, also we are talking about Jordan, we are talking about west bank and Gaza, we are talking about Palestine. So here you are talking about a ... high regime in the 21st century that is oppressing people, killing people, that are not allowing them to go to schools, there are a lot of massacres, ....... of massacres that they have done. It is evident for everybody, yet the United States continues to support it, with high tech weaponry, with the Veto power, in the United Nations, in the Security Council, and we are in a position to defend, to liberate and to fight operations. WION: Okay, since you spoke profoundly about the ideology problem with Israel, where do you stand today when the UAE and Saudi Arabia are going to start flights after their peace deal? How does Hezbollah react to that? Ibrahim Al Moussawi: Well we have, actually this is not the first time that an Arab country has done what the UAE did. Egypt has done this. It is of 1980s. Also, Jordan, we know about it, yet the Jordanians are not immune to the Israeli aggression, now they are talking about annexing parts of Jordan or if they are talking about a kind of exodus of the Palestinians to go to Jordan. Up till now there is a B plan in the Israeli agenda, in case they want the Palestinians to evacuate from Palestine from the remaining part of Palestine they want to send them to Jordan, as a second country or alternative country for them. So here you talk about an Israeli occupation, an Israeli entity that we never recognized. We will never recognise [Israel] at any time because this is Palestine first. After this it can be about UAE or Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, Oman or any other country. You're talking about things that came to the public but it has always been there. We have never been surprised at all with the new ties between UAE... [WION: Do you think how were they publicized is it really just the way..you..] Ibrahim Al Moussawi: I would say it's a combination of so many different things, we know now that .... Netanyahu now is in a political dilemma and so is Trump. They want to have more points in their record to go to the race. For Trump, it is about the presidential race next November and for the Israeli entity, it is the problem of the political stalemate. So its there in the internal politics there but it has always been a fixed part of their agenda when it comes to the Palestinians and the Arabs. WION: Having spoken about that, about the presidential race, about how this would affect or give them like I have delivered something to give to their voters. I want to ask you we have witnessed.. change in Europe, after the Syrian uprising and the Syrian war, the Europeans were affected, and they changed many.. many actions from the voters... Today, as Hezbollah do you see that you really have effect (read influence) from West Asia to the world in the Presidential race. Because Syria did have effect in the Presidential races in Europe. Do you see Hezbollah's activities in the Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the GCC even countries as a strategic force in the West Asia. How does Hezbollah affect the elections in the United States? Ibrahim Al Moussawi: We do not work or function on all of the places that you mentioned specially you said GCC or other places but if you mean the clout, the influence, the sympathy of the people, here in the Arab world we have to make a complete dichotomy between the regimes, the governments and the people, because if you go to the peoples opinion and you have rightful public opinion, pollsters will have complete leader-front results. The people hearts, the people minds are with Palestine, are against the normalisation of relations with Israel. They support the rightful case or cause of the Palestinians, of the resistance and this is very important if there were any kind of poll that would tell you and reflect the genuine, the real opinion of the people with a completely different regimes and governments, in this sense they are imposed from above, they are being supported by the Western colonialist powers in order to continue to perpetuate the interest of the West in out areas and you can see this. The great arms deals that take place funnel billions of dollars to the West perpetuating their economy. And they are happy about the wars in our area. Now when you talk about West Asia, this is very important question from your side that I appreciate, when you talk about west Asia, those people all together and the resistance movement and the elites, those people who are sober enough, are aware enough, are conscious enough of the western American agenda in our area, they have to collaborate their efforts and co-ordinate and be whistle-blower, if we have something in Beirut, all of the people, all of the masses, all over the Arab world or the Islamic world or the West Asia they should be able to reflect their support to the cause of the oppressed people. After all, if you want to make a differentiation, what's happening, you are talking here about right and wrong, you are talking about just and peace & oppression and war, we are to the side of peace and the resistance and liberty and the independence away from the intervention of the expansionist, colonialist powers like United States or parts of Europe. WION: But my question was..in the sense to make it as simple as possible. Does Hezbollah & the prevailing of Hezbollah, the survival of Hezbollah in Lebanon & Syria and the survival of Iran against the sanctions. Does this power in the West Asia affect the Presidential race in the United States? Ibrahim Al Moussawi: To a certain extent, you know there are many, so many files in the department, we represent one or two .. in it. When the United States wants to prevail in Iraq and then the resistance in Iraq fails it and make it a complete failure, this is going to put a bad record, a bad remark for Trump WION: Is this what's happening? Ibrahim Al Moussawi: This is what's happening, absolutely. Withdrawn their troops from there, this has reshuffled the papers in the area and I would say that, the kind of rising resistance in the region is going to put an end to this colonialist expansionist American trend in the area, if this was not the case, I would say many of the powers in the West Asia would crumble and would collapse, even if you talk about governments. Absolutely, I mean, even if you take this aside. Take India for example. It is a rising and important power. India is not like United States or America. India is the country of Mahatma Gandhi. It's has history of revolution of peaceful people against British colonial power for centuries. Had it not been for the will and determination of Indian people and leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, India would still be under the mandate of a Western power. That's why people's movement is important in putting an end to colonial power and in raising hope for real independence. That's why we want to collaborate as people. We are an organisation, we are a party, but we do represent millions of people all over the region & we have to convince them.. the problem is that, here in this part of the world they used to say that the Israeli army is the invincible army, you can do nothing about it. It is supported by the United States, that it is going to guarantee their supremacy..supremacy of the Israeli forces, so you can do nothing about it. Because we are the people who have determination, resolve, will, faith in our culture, our civilization. This is the same that is there in India & in West Asia, for different cultures & people, they have this patience, they have this perseverance, they have this faith in their culture.. then we will win & we will prevail & they will definitely fail. If we are going to surrender, and say we are going to nothing about it, they are going to perpetuate & make their colonial power survive. Now this is not what we want to see. WION: What kind of.. What kind of industrial or.. What kind of aspirations do you all have ---- Ibrahim Al Moussawi: There are many levels, we can coordinate our efforts together what they lack, we can give they have.. for example when you talk about India you think about a high-tech country. Even those who are making America prosper are Indians and not Americans. When you talk about talk about talent in in Silicon Valley, when you talk about those who are earning or those who have a high PhD per capita in America, you consider Indian-Americans. They are basically Indians or they come from Asia, not only from Pakistan..other countries. And they were able to create the system that could serve as a magnetic absorb all of the capabilities & creative power of people of all over the world. We have to have this determination, we have to have this decision that we want to get with this brain drain. There is a brain drain happening in these areas & they go to America & they make more & more perpetuation for the American glory per say. That's why I believe we have huge opportunity in building..in high-tech, in technology.. in different areas weather industry or economy or agriculture, different areas of co-operation can work here WION: And one more question because I didn't have .. this, one more which is the typical we are gonna ask.... being said its the 3rd biggest explosion in the world [Ibrahim Al Moussawi: True, 3rd or 4th we are not sure] Maybe, Beirut explosion, what happened afterwards..a lot of media is trying to deliver the message that Hezbollah has to do with the cargoes & everything. What do you have to say or to comment about the tremendous explosion that happened in Beirut, where does Hezbollah stand regarding that? Ibrahim Al Moussawi: First of all, there is an organized campaign from the West, from America, from different mouthpieces in Europe like Der Spiegel, Le Figaro and other media outlets. They want to portray that Hezbollah was behind Beirut blast. We have UNIFIL.. their ships..monitoring ships, monitoring systems in the Mediterranean. And they can watch every single thing that happened. Hezbollah has categorically refused & denied any responsibility or any connection with this explosion. We have never used the port of Beirut for any kind of military or security action. It's under the supervision of the Lebanese state, Lebanese Army, the Lebanese security forces. All of what you hear here of there by the Western media is the kind of agenda that they want to put Hezbollah name there, so it can do other actions and they can..if you want ..mislead people about our identity, of our true figure. We were in a complete shock after what happened. This is one of the result of huge corruption in the Lebanese state. [WION: They think the...] and we support investigation. Look when you talk about the investigation we have never done anything to jump to conclusions. The investigation is underway. We have to wait till the investigation is concluded and then we will all see what happens. WION: Okay, because anyone who is watching can see the port of Haifa is the.. most... Ibrahim Al Moussawi: If you are alluding.. If you are alluding that the Israelis have interest, that they have keen interest, and they do serve many of their great interests in having an alternative place rather than the port of Beirut, this is one option. But if we want to hold others responsible, we have to have a full evidence about it. WION: There is one more question; Everyone in Lebanon will hear the lobby..intelligentia you are speaking about resolution that would happen ..or the talks that would happen with Iran, between United States & Iran, once they are resumed many things would change, maybe after the Presidential race & even say Nasrallah and President Bashar al-Assad have said many times that this kind of President is better than others, that Trump would serve better because he is bluntly stupid actually this what has been said. But regardless, what do you have to say about the Iranian-American talks and how would they affect. Do you really like look forward to that.. it would set peace.. Ibrahim Al Moussawi: I would say, look you are talking about very fluctuating issue that has to do with the Republicans & the Democrats in America. Now with Trump would going to the Presidential race in next November, everybody is waiting. And he has said that he is going to finalize a deal with Iran within one week or whatever. But here you are talking about ab locate. Part of our.. we here in Lebanon are suffering from a very complicated manifold crisis that has to do with economy, monetary issues, financial issues, economic issues, social issues and there is a blockade against Lebanon by United States America, by part of its Arab countries that support United States America. We would rather depend on ourselves, we should not be waiting for anything. I would say if a deal has been concluded between Iran & America, I believe this is going to help all over the region. But we do not pin hopes on what our enemies will do or wouldn't do. We have to depend on ourselves & continue. Patience, Perseverance & Determination will help. WION: This is something, I do not know if you are free to it answer or not, because you are speaking like that. We know that Hezbollah is a part of the Parliament, part of society in Lebanon and its not like [Ibrahim Al MOussawi: part of the govt, yes]. But still, you have a big percentage of Lebanese society that would say all the crisis, all the sanctions, all these issues are Hezbollah's fault and they are Lebanese & they are perpetuating their points of views in Western media. So what do you have to say about Lebanon, are these... Ibrahim Al Moussawi: They are not big percentage to tell you the truth ... We have a political division in the country, simply. Actually, sometimes people are being misled, certain are being misled. I would say up till now, I would say ..and you have the right to go and see, as a party, as a political party we enjoy wider public support in the country. Here you are talking about the wider public support in the country. Though there is a political campaign against us from the Western media, there is a blockade & they are pin-pointing against us. We know very well that Feltman said we have spent 500 million dollars in order to tarnish the image of Hezbollah in order to distort the image of Hezbollah. Now they are doing the same, they are subduing, they are subjugating the Lebanese into kind of blockade & say we are doing this because of Hezbollah. So they are trying to plant a wedge between Hezbollah & Public. This is not going to happen. the people are smart and keen enough to understand, others who are like serving .... as mouthpeice to the West and saying they are doing it because of the Hazebollah, you are talking keen about collaborative with, or represting the western view of the politics, while if you talk about the Lebanese, real Lebanese all over the factions they wouldn't agree with this description. WION: Would you like to tell us about how strong is Hezbollah? Ibrahim Al Moussawi: Look.. look we're strong and we are determined, we have resolve, we have determination, we have the voted people, dedicated people because we have this faith. It is not a matter of how many people do you have, it's not matter of how many arms and what kind of arms do you have. Look, those who have been supported by the Western part, we know very well that the west has the hi-tech, they have the best arms all over the world, they have the best intelligence all over, they have people who are fighting with them. I believe this is something to do with the soul or the spirit of the West Asia or the Asians, here you talk about, we in this part of the world have spirit, have a different spirit, not a materialistic spirit. In India, you have this kind of homage and devotion for certain spiritual forces, that they define it. Here we believe in Allah, we believe in God, even the region here, it's the place of the heavenly religions you know, Christianity, Judaism, Islam came to this part. The prophets, the messengers came here, we have this link with God, we have this link with heaven, we have this link with the divine and I believe when you talk about divinity, no matter how much you talk about materialistic things, it falls down.

Exclusive: Hezbollah not behind Beirut explosion, we are people standing against 'occupation', says Spokesperson

In the United States, the race to the White House is heating up. After the Democratic Convention, a four-day celebration of the US president has begun.&nbsp;

The difference, though, is unlike the Democratic one, this is not an entirely virtual event.&nbsp;

Watch |

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-trump-formally-nominated-for-republican-party-ticket-322856/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

At least 336 Republican delegates from all over America have gathered in Charlotte, North America.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republicans-nominate-donald-trump-for-second-term-to-take-on-biden-in-the-fall-322842">Republicans nominate Donald Trump for second term, to take on Biden in the fall</a>

For the next three days, they will be honouring what they call "The Great American Story" and US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

The convention will highlight four years of the Trump administration, the promises he delivered on, the governance he has transformed, the international agreements he has secured and the greatness that America has achieved under him.&nbsp;

The convention began with the nomination of Donald Trump for his second term and will culminate with a live acceptance speech by Trump, all the way from the White House.&nbsp;

Amid all this, take a look at some of the developments in America.&nbsp;

There are large-scale protests outside the Charlotte Convention Centre, where dozens of 'Black Lives Matter' demonstrators are facing off with the police.&nbsp;

The authorities say the protesters are trying to derail the Convention, though the protesters say they just want Trump to acknowledge their concerns in his speech.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, most leading news websites have been inundated with Trump campaign ads. This is because the Trump campaign has invested heavily in 'premium' or 'unskippable' ads on most websites.&nbsp;

Also, the Trump campaign is using snippets from the 'Howdy Modi' event held last year to woo Indian American voters.&nbsp;

In fact, they have released an entire campaign video dedicated to America's friendship with India, headline as "four more years".&nbsp;

There are some other controversies too that surround the Republican Convention. The row about mail-in voting, which Trump says will lead to fraud.&nbsp;

The pandemic is driving many Americans to vote through this system but there are concerns as US Postal Service is cash-strapped and will find it difficult to function on a national scale.&nbsp;

However, Democrat-run House of Representatives has recently voted to provide US Postal Service with $25 billion to fix the system.

But, Louis DeJoy, US Postmaster General is still in two minds, saying that the money won't be enough to solve the problem.&nbsp;

The Democrats called him a Republican operative and blamed him for undertaking some operation changes in the system to suit Trump's party.&nbsp;

DeJoy testified before the US House Committee earlier today and the details of the testimony are still awaited.&nbsp;

It seems Trump's wax replicas are also in trouble.

Trump is the best-selling model for the Shanghai-based arts organisation.

Zheng Sheng, the manager of the company, is still waiting for new orders for Trump's replicas as the Wuhan virus has hit the orders.&nbsp;

He is now thinking of switching to make Biden's replicas and in the US too, the tide is seeming to turn into Joe Biden's favour.&nbsp;

Even before the Republican National Convention began, the American media was lauding Biden for his performance at the Democratic event.

Much to Biden's surprise, Fox News, Trump's primary source for most of his arguments, praised him.

Three days ago, Fox News carried this headline: 'Biden promises a healing presence in a speech praised by Left and Right'.&nbsp;

Trump may be losing his friends in the media and the Republican Convention could be his last chance to win them back.&nbsp;

In the United States, the race to the White House is heating up. After the Democratic Convention, a four-day celebration of the US president has begun. The difference, though, is unlike the Democratic one, this is not an entirely virtual event.

In the United States, the race to the White House is heating up. After the Democratic Convention, a four-day celebration of the US president has begun. The difference, though, is unlike the Democratic one, this is not an entirely virtual event. Watch | At least 336 Republican delegates from all over America have gathered in Charlotte, North America. Also read | Republicans nominate Donald Trump for second term, to take on Biden in the fall For the next three days, they will be honouring what they call "The Great American Story" and US President Donald Trump. The convention will highlight four years of the Trump administration, the promises he delivered on, the governance he has transformed, the international agreements he has secured and the greatness that America has achieved under him. The convention began with the nomination of Donald Trump for his second term and will culminate with a live acceptance speech by Trump, all the way from the White House. Amid all this, take a look at some of the developments in America. There are large-scale protests outside the Charlotte Convention Centre, where dozens of 'Black Lives Matter' demonstrators are facing off with the police. The authorities say the protesters are trying to derail the Convention, though the protesters say they just want Trump to acknowledge their concerns in his speech. Meanwhile, most leading news websites have been inundated with Trump campaign ads. This is because the Trump campaign has invested heavily in 'premium' or 'unskippable' ads on most websites. Also, the Trump campaign is using snippets from the 'Howdy Modi' event held last year to woo Indian American voters. In fact, they have released an entire campaign video dedicated to America's friendship with India, headline as "four more years". There are some other controversies too that surround the Republican Convention. The row about mail-in voting, which Trump says will lead to fraud. The pandemic is driving many Americans to vote through this system but there are concerns as US Postal Service is cash-strapped and will find it difficult to function on a national scale. However, Democrat-run House of Representatives has recently voted to provide US Postal Service with $25 billion to fix the system. But, Louis DeJoy, US Postmaster General is still in two minds, saying that the money won't be enough to solve the problem. The Democrats called him a Republican operative and blamed him for undertaking some operation changes in the system to suit Trump's party. DeJoy testified before the US House Committee earlier today and the details of the testimony are still awaited. It seems Trump's wax replicas are also in trouble. Trump is the best-selling model for the Shanghai-based arts organisation. Zheng Sheng, the manager of the company, is still waiting for new orders for Trump's replicas as the Wuhan virus has hit the orders. He is now thinking of switching to make Biden's replicas and in the US too, the tide is seeming to turn into Joe Biden's favour. Even before the Republican National Convention began, the American media was lauding Biden for his performance at the Democratic event. Much to Biden's surprise, Fox News, Trump's primary source for most of his arguments, praised him. Three days ago, Fox News carried this headline: 'Biden promises a healing presence in a speech praised by Left and Right'. Trump may be losing his friends in the media and the Republican Convention could be his last chance to win them back.

Are Americans listening to Donald Trump's 'Great American story'?

Incumbent US President Donald Trump's sister called him "cruel" and apparently confirmed her niece Mary's previous allegations that he had a friend take his SATs to get into college, according to audio clips secretly recorded by the latter.

The transcripts and audio excerpts have exclusively been obtained by the Washington Post from Mary Trump, author of a recent tell-all book about the US president -- "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created The World's Most Dangerous Man."&nbsp;Some 950,000 copies were sold the day of the memoir's release, with the White House branding the memoir as a "book of falsehoods".

Mary has, in her book, said that Donald Trump is unfit to be the president and has voiced support for his rival Joe Biden. She revealed to the Post that she had secretly taped 15 hours of face-to-face conversations with Maryanne Trump Barry, the president's older sister, in 2018 and 2019.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-says-mary-trumps-book-is-a-lie-calls-it-stupid-and-vicious-314609">Also read |&nbsp;Donald Trump says Mary Trump's book is a lie; calls it 'stupid' and 'vicious'</a>

"His goddamned tweet and lying, oh my God," Barry says in one of the audio clips.&nbsp;

"I'm talking too freely, but you know. The change of stories. The lack of preparation. The lying. Holy shit."

Barry, a retired federal appellate judge, however, has never spoken publically about disagreements with President Donald Trump.

She goes on to say in another recording: "It's the phoniness of it all. It's the phoniness and this cruelty. Donald is cruel."

About Trump paying someone to take his SATs, the conversation, according to the Washington Post, goes like this: "He went to Fordham for one year and then he got into University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams."&nbsp;

"I even remember the name. That person was Joe Shapiro," Barry adds.

Mary has, however, said in her book that it was not Joe Shapiro that went to Penn with Donald Trump.

Mary Trump began taping conversations in 2018 with her aunt after she claims that her relatives had lied about the value of the family estate two decades earlier during a legal battle over her inheritance.

On Saturday evening, to this end, the White House provided a statement from Donald Trump. It said, "Every day it's something else, who cares. I miss my brother, and I'll continue to work hard for the American people. Not everyone agrees, but the results are obvious. Our country will soon be stronger than ever before."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-younger-brother-robert-dies-at-71-320888">Also read |&nbsp;Donald Trump's younger brother, Robert, dies at 71</a>

'I miss my brother' is in reference to the president's brother Robert Trump who died last week.

Robert Trump had gone&nbsp;to court to try to block its publication, arguing that Mary was violating a non-disclosure agreement signed in 2001 after the settlement of her grandfather's estate, but to no avail.

Incumbent US President Donald Trump's sister called him "cruel" and apparently confirmed her niece Mary's previous allegations that he had a friend take his SATs to get into college, according to audio clips secretly recorded by the latter.

Incumbent US President Donald Trump's sister called him "cruel" and apparently confirmed her niece Mary's previous allegations that he had a friend take his SATs to get into college, according to audio clips secretly recorded by the latter. The transcripts and audio excerpts have exclusively been obtained by the Washington Post from Mary Trump, author of a recent tell-all book about the US president -- "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created The World's Most Dangerous Man." Some 950,000 copies were sold the day of the memoir's release, with the White House branding the memoir as a "book of falsehoods". Mary has, in her book, said that Donald Trump is unfit to be the president and has voiced support for his rival Joe Biden. She revealed to the Post that she had secretly taped 15 hours of face-to-face conversations with Maryanne Trump Barry, the president's older sister, in 2018 and 2019. Also read | Donald Trump says Mary Trump's book is a lie; calls it 'stupid' and 'vicious' "His goddamned tweet and lying, oh my God," Barry says in one of the audio clips. "I'm talking too freely, but you know. The change of stories. The lack of preparation. The lying. Holy shit." Barry, a retired federal appellate judge, however, has never spoken publically about disagreements with President Donald Trump. She goes on to say in another recording: "It's the phoniness of it all. It's the phoniness and this cruelty. Donald is cruel." About Trump paying someone to take his SATs, the conversation, according to the Washington Post, goes like this: "He went to Fordham for one year and then he got into University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams." "I even remember the name. That person was Joe Shapiro," Barry adds. Mary has, however, said in her book that it was not Joe Shapiro that went to Penn with Donald Trump. Mary Trump began taping conversations in 2018 with her aunt after she claims that her relatives had lied about the value of the family estate two decades earlier during a legal battle over her inheritance. On Saturday evening, to this end, the White House provided a statement from Donald Trump. It said, "Every day it's something else, who cares. I miss my brother, and I'll continue to work hard for the American people. Not everyone agrees, but the results are obvious. Our country will soon be stronger than ever before." Also read | Donald Trump's younger brother, Robert, dies at 71 'I miss my brother' is in reference to the president's brother Robert Trump who died last week. Robert Trump had gone to court to try to block its publication, arguing that Mary was violating a non-disclosure agreement signed in 2001 after the settlement of her grandfather's estate, but to no avail.

Trump's sister calls him 'cruel' in audio recorded by niece, says report

Facebook Inc is considering halting political advertising after US presidential election to curb post-election misinformation.

The company has spoken with experts about potential election scenarios, including the possibility of US President Donald Trump using the platform to dispute election results.

The New York Times reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources, that Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and some company executives met daily about how to minimise ways the platform could be used to dispute the election and have discussed the option of a political ads "kill switch" after the November 3 election.

Twitter has, meanwhile, said it was planning for an election period that effectively continued to Inauguration Day in January and for misinformation policies to cover any unique scenarios.

"We take the learnings from every recent election around the world and use them to improve our election integrity work," Twitter vice president of public policy Jessica Herrera-Flanigan said.

"This includes partnering with the government, civil society and our peer companies to better identify, understand and mitigate threats to the public conversation, both before or after an election."

Last year, Twitter Inc banned political ads, but Facebook has maintained that it does not want to stifle political speech.

In June, Facebook started labeling all posts and ads about voting with links to authoritative information, including those from politicians.

Facebook Inc is considering halting political advertising after US presidential election to curb post-election misinformation. The company has spoken with experts about potential election scenarios, including the possibility of US President Donald Trump using the platform to dispute election results.

Facebook Inc is considering halting political advertising after US presidential election to curb post-election misinformation. The company has spoken with experts about potential election scenarios, including the possibility of US President Donald Trump using the platform to dispute election results. The New York Times reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources, that Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg and some company executives met daily about how to minimise ways the platform could be used to dispute the election and have discussed the option of a political ads "kill switch" after the November 3 election. Twitter has, meanwhile, said it was planning for an election period that effectively continued to Inauguration Day in January and for misinformation policies to cover any unique scenarios. "We take the learnings from every recent election around the world and use them to improve our election integrity work," Twitter vice president of public policy Jessica Herrera-Flanigan said. "This includes partnering with the government, civil society and our peer companies to better identify, understand and mitigate threats to the public conversation, both before or after an election." Last year, Twitter Inc banned political ads, but Facebook has maintained that it does not want to stifle political speech. In June, Facebook started labeling all posts and ads about voting with links to authoritative information, including those from politicians.

Facebook mulling halting political ads after US election to curb misinformation

A federal appeals court refused to give US President Donald Trump immediate relief to stop his accounting records from being turned over to a New York state grand jury. He had filed an emergency motion with the court to stop the release of his tax returns after a lower court judge denied his request to halt the sharing of his tax documents.

The appeals court has now scheduled arguments for September 1 over whether the subpoena of Trump's records should be paused.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals' schedule raises the possibility Trump's records could go to the grand jury before the hearing unless the President seeks help from the Supreme Court.

Lawyers for Trump had filed an emergency request Friday for the court to put a subpoena for his financial documents and tax returns on hold until the higher court can weigh in on the matter.

The filing followed a ruling by US District Judge Victor Marrero, who denied Trump's request to delay letting Manhattan's district attorney obtain his tax returns for a criminal investigation into his family's real estate business while Trump pursues an appeal.

US District Judge Victor Marrero issued his decision a day after rejecting Trump's arguments that the grand jury subpoena from district attorney Cyrus Vance to obtain his tax returns from the accounting firm Mazars USA was "wildly overbroad."

In refusing to delay the subpoena, Marrero said Trump had failed to show his appeal would likely succeed, or that he would be irreparably harmed absent a stay.

Vance, a Democrat, will not obtain Trump's tax returns immediately, after the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan scheduled oral arguments for September 1 on the Republican president's request for a stay.

In Thursday's ruling, Marrero said throwing out the subpoena would effectively give the president immunity from Vance's criminal probe to which the US Supreme Court in July declared he was not entitled.

The legal battle and grand jury secrecy rules make it unlikely the tax returns will become public before the November 3 election in which Trump is seeking a second term.

Unlike other recent presidents, Trump has refused to release his tax returns.

Vance's investigation into Trump and his Trump Organisation was spurred by disclosures of hush money payments to pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who said they had sexual relationships with Trump. He has denied their claims.

(with inputs from agencies)

A federal appeals court refused to give US President Donald Trump immediate relief to stop his accounting records from being turned over to a New York state grand jury.

A federal appeals court refused to give US President Donald Trump immediate relief to stop his accounting records from being turned over to a New York state grand jury. He had filed an emergency motion with the court to stop the release of his tax returns after a lower court judge denied his request to halt the sharing of his tax documents. The appeals court has now scheduled arguments for September 1 over whether the subpoena of Trump's records should be paused. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals' schedule raises the possibility Trump's records could go to the grand jury before the hearing unless the President seeks help from the Supreme Court. Lawyers for Trump had filed an emergency request Friday for the court to put a subpoena for his financial documents and tax returns on hold until the higher court can weigh in on the matter. The filing followed a ruling by US District Judge Victor Marrero, who denied Trump's request to delay letting Manhattan's district attorney obtain his tax returns for a criminal investigation into his family's real estate business while Trump pursues an appeal. US District Judge Victor Marrero issued his decision a day after rejecting Trump's arguments that the grand jury subpoena from district attorney Cyrus Vance to obtain his tax returns from the accounting firm Mazars USA was "wildly overbroad." In refusing to delay the subpoena, Marrero said Trump had failed to show his appeal would likely succeed, or that he would be irreparably harmed absent a stay. Vance, a Democrat, will not obtain Trump's tax returns immediately, after the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan scheduled oral arguments for September 1 on the Republican president's request for a stay. In Thursday's ruling, Marrero said throwing out the subpoena would effectively give the president immunity from Vance's criminal probe to which the US Supreme Court in July declared he was not entitled. The legal battle and grand jury secrecy rules make it unlikely the tax returns will become public before the November 3 election in which Trump is seeking a second term. Unlike other recent presidents, Trump has refused to release his tax returns. Vance's investigation into Trump and his Trump Organisation was spurred by disclosures of hush money payments to pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who said they had sexual relationships with Trump. He has denied their claims. (with inputs from agencies)

Trump files emergency motion to block release of his tax records, court denies bid

A former California police officer who lived a double life as the "Golden State Killer" was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for a string of 1970s and `80s murders and rapes that were solved through the use of public genealogy websites.

A Sacramento County judge granted prosecutors` request that Joseph James DeAngelo, 74, serve life in prison without the possibility of parole following emotional statements from victims or their family members in open court.

A seemingly frail DeAngelo showed no emotion during the nearly two-hour sentencing, held in a makeshift courtroom inside a ballroom at Sacramento State University so that victims and family members could spread out amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When given the opportunity to speak, DeAngelo slowly rose from a wheelchair, took off a mask, looked around at surviving victims and relatives of those he murdered and said: "I`ve listened to all your statements. Each one of them.

And I`m really sorry to everyone I`ve hurt."

Prosecutors afterward said they did not think DeAngelo`s apology was sincere. They also showed video of him in his jail cell, climbing on a desk and standing on one leg while cleaning, which they said proved he did not need to use a wheelchair.

In June, DeAngelo confessed to 13 murders and 13 rape-related charges for crimes carried out between 1975 and 1986 as part of a plea deal with prosecutors sparing him from a potential death sentence.

DeAngelo, whom a prosecutor on Friday called a bogeyman who haunted California for decades, also publicly admitted to dozens more rapes for which the statute of limitations had expired. Prosecutors said he invaded 120 homes across 11 counties during his crime spree.

The identity of the Golden State Killer remained a mystery, his crimes unsolved, for decades until DeAngelo`s arrest in Sacramento County on April 24, 2018.

Investigators tied DeAngelo to the crimes using a then-novel technique of tracing him through family DNA from commercial genealogy websites.

NO MERCY

Prosecutors from counties where he carried out his crimes told Judge Michael Bowman that he deserved no mercy.

"Over four decades - that`s a long time to wait for justice," said Diana Becton, the Contra Costa County District Attorney, where some of DeAngelo`s crimes occurred.

Bowman said he had no power to determine what type of prison DeAngelo is sent to.

"But the survivors have spoken clearly - the defendant deserves no mercy," he said, as those in the courtroom burst into loud applause.

Courtney Strouse`s mother was raped by DeAngelo in the 1970s, and until her death in 2016 she awoke repeatedly during the nights to check on her children and make sure all doors and windows were locked, Strouse said.

Strouse said she had learned to live in constant fear, but that Friday`s sentencing brought some relief.

"It`s nice to have the bogeyman gone," she said. "It`s like a fable you`re told all your life about the bogeyman and now he`s gone."

A former California police officer who lived a double life as the "Golden State Killer" was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for a string of 1970s and `80s murders and rapes that were solved through the use of public genealogy websites.

A former California police officer who lived a double life as the "Golden State Killer" was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for a string of 1970s and `80s murders and rapes that were solved through the use of public genealogy websites. A Sacramento County judge granted prosecutors` request that Joseph James DeAngelo, 74, serve life in prison without the possibility of parole following emotional statements from victims or their family members in open court. A seemingly frail DeAngelo showed no emotion during the nearly two-hour sentencing, held in a makeshift courtroom inside a ballroom at Sacramento State University so that victims and family members could spread out amid the coronavirus pandemic. When given the opportunity to speak, DeAngelo slowly rose from a wheelchair, took off a mask, looked around at surviving victims and relatives of those he murdered and said: "I`ve listened to all your statements. Each one of them. And I`m really sorry to everyone I`ve hurt." Prosecutors afterward said they did not think DeAngelo`s apology was sincere. They also showed video of him in his jail cell, climbing on a desk and standing on one leg while cleaning, which they said proved he did not need to use a wheelchair. In June, DeAngelo confessed to 13 murders and 13 rape-related charges for crimes carried out between 1975 and 1986 as part of a plea deal with prosecutors sparing him from a potential death sentence. DeAngelo, whom a prosecutor on Friday called a bogeyman who haunted California for decades, also publicly admitted to dozens more rapes for which the statute of limitations had expired. Prosecutors said he invaded 120 homes across 11 counties during his crime spree. The identity of the Golden State Killer remained a mystery, his crimes unsolved, for decades until DeAngelo`s arrest in Sacramento County on April 24, 2018. Investigators tied DeAngelo to the crimes using a then-novel technique of tracing him through family DNA from commercial genealogy websites. NO MERCY Prosecutors from counties where he carried out his crimes told Judge Michael Bowman that he deserved no mercy. "Over four decades - that`s a long time to wait for justice," said Diana Becton, the Contra Costa County District Attorney, where some of DeAngelo`s crimes occurred. Bowman said he had no power to determine what type of prison DeAngelo is sent to. "But the survivors have spoken clearly - the defendant deserves no mercy," he said, as those in the courtroom burst into loud applause. Courtney Strouse`s mother was raped by DeAngelo in the 1970s, and until her death in 2016 she awoke repeatedly during the nights to check on her children and make sure all doors and windows were locked, Strouse said. Strouse said she had learned to live in constant fear, but that Friday`s sentencing brought some relief. "It`s nice to have the bogeyman gone," she said. "It`s like a fable you`re told all your life about the bogeyman and now he`s gone."

California's 'Golden State Killer' sentenced to life in prison

In an unprecedented case, a former chief security officer for Uber Technologies was criminally charged on Thursday with trying to cover up a 2016 hacking that exposed personal information of about 57 million of the ride-hailing company's customers and drivers.

The US Department of Justice charged Joseph Sullivan, 52, with felony obstruction of justice, saying he took "deliberate steps" to keep the Federal Trade Commission from learning about the hack while the agency was monitoring Uber security in the wake of an earlier breach.

The case was believed to be first time a corporate information security officer has been charged with concealing a hack.

Sullivan, himself a former federal prosecutor, arranged to pay the hackers $100,000 under Uber’s program for rewarding security researchers who report flaws. That amount was by far the most Uber had paid through the bounty program, which was not meant to cover theft of sensitive data.

A former chief of security at Facebook, Sullivan now works as chief information security officer at Cloudflare. 
In past interviews, security staff said the Uber payout was intended to force the hackers into the open to accept the money and to ensure that the data, especially driver’s license information on Uber contractors, was destroyed. 
The complaint says Sullivan had the hackers sign non-disclosure agreements that falsely stated they had not stolen data. It alleges that then-CEO Travis Kalanick was aware of Sullivan’s actions.

A spokeswoman for Kalanick declined to comment. A spokesman for Sullivan said that the charges had no merit, that Sullivan had worked with his colleagues on the case and that disclosure matters were decided by the legal department.

“If not for Mr. Sullivan’s and his team’s efforts, it’s likely that the individuals responsible for this incident never would have been identified at all,” said spokesman Brad Williams.

Kalanick’s successor as CEO -- current Uber chief Dara Khosrowshahi -- disclosed the payoff, then fired Sullivan and a deputy after learning the extent of the breach. Uber then paid $148 million to settle claims by all 50 US states and Washington, D.C. that it had been to slow to reveal the hack.

The Uber case will resonate for the increasing number of companies that deal directly with hackers.

Many have bounty programs like Uber’s, which are generally seen as a tool to improve security and provide an incentive for hackers to stay within the law. But some participants do not play by the rules.

In the Uber case, the FBI noted, the two main hackers went on to attack other companies, which the agency said could have been averted if Sullivan had gone first to law enforcement. Both have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

The case also suggests that companies that pay hackers to get rid of ransomware, malicious programs that encrypt their files, are not exempt from requirements to report losses of personally sensitive information.

In an unprecedented case, a former chief security officer for Uber Technologies was criminally charged on Thursday with trying to cover up a 2016 hacking that exposed personal information of about 57 million of the ride-hailing company's customers and drivers.

In an unprecedented case, a former chief security officer for Uber Technologies was criminally charged on Thursday with trying to cover up a 2016 hacking that exposed personal information of about 57 million of the ride-hailing company's customers and drivers. The US Department of Justice charged Joseph Sullivan, 52, with felony obstruction of justice, saying he took "deliberate steps" to keep the Federal Trade Commission from learning about the hack while the agency was monitoring Uber security in the wake of an earlier breach. The case was believed to be first time a corporate information security officer has been charged with concealing a hack. Sullivan, himself a former federal prosecutor, arranged to pay the hackers $100,000 under Uber’s program for rewarding security researchers who report flaws. That amount was by far the most Uber had paid through the bounty program, which was not meant to cover theft of sensitive data. A former chief of security at Facebook, Sullivan now works as chief information security officer at Cloudflare. In past interviews, security staff said the Uber payout was intended to force the hackers into the open to accept the money and to ensure that the data, especially driver’s license information on Uber contractors, was destroyed. The complaint says Sullivan had the hackers sign non-disclosure agreements that falsely stated they had not stolen data. It alleges that then-CEO Travis Kalanick was aware of Sullivan’s actions. A spokeswoman for Kalanick declined to comment. A spokesman for Sullivan said that the charges had no merit, that Sullivan had worked with his colleagues on the case and that disclosure matters were decided by the legal department. “If not for Mr. Sullivan’s and his team’s efforts, it’s likely that the individuals responsible for this incident never would have been identified at all,” said spokesman Brad Williams. Kalanick’s successor as CEO -- current Uber chief Dara Khosrowshahi -- disclosed the payoff, then fired Sullivan and a deputy after learning the extent of the breach. Uber then paid $148 million to settle claims by all 50 US states and Washington, D.C. that it had been to slow to reveal the hack. The Uber case will resonate for the increasing number of companies that deal directly with hackers. Many have bounty programs like Uber’s, which are generally seen as a tool to improve security and provide an incentive for hackers to stay within the law. But some participants do not play by the rules. In the Uber case, the FBI noted, the two main hackers went on to attack other companies, which the agency said could have been averted if Sullivan had gone first to law enforcement. Both have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The case also suggests that companies that pay hackers to get rid of ransomware, malicious programs that encrypt their files, are not exempt from requirements to report losses of personally sensitive information.

US charges former Uber security chief with covering up massive 2016 hacking

A firefighting helicopter pilot was killed in a crash, and dozens of homes burned in California on Wednesday as hundreds of lightning-sparked blazes forced tens of thousands of people to flee their dwellings.

Nearly 11,000 lightning strikes were documented during a 72-hour stretch this week in the heaviest spate of thunderstorms to hit California in over a decade, igniting 367 individual fires. Almost two dozen of them have grown into major conflagrations, authorities said.

Multiple fires raced through northern California`s drought-parched wine country, shutting down Interstate 80 at Fairfield, about 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Sacramento, as flames leapt across the highway, trapping motorists caught in a hectic evacuation.

Four residents whose communities were overrun by flames hours earlier in the same area suffered burns but survived, though the severity of their injuries was not immediately known, said Will Powers a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).

He said thousands of residents were under mandatory evacuation orders in four-county area stricken by a cluster of nine wind-driven fires collectively dubbed the LNU Complex, which were triggered by lightning on Monday.

In central California, a helicopter was on a water-dropping mission in Fresno County about 160 miles (258 km) south of San Francisco when the aircraft crashed, killing the pilot, a private contractor, CalFire said.

The LNU complex of fires burned largely unchecked across some 46,000 acres (18,615 hectares) of hills and mountains around Fairfield and the neighboring town of Vacaville late Tuesday and early Wednesday. At least 50 homes and other structures were destroyed and another 50 damaged, CalFire said.

Wearing a singed nightgown, Diane Bustos said her husband abandoned their car as it caught fire and then blew up on the west side of Vacaville early Wednesday. She lost both her shoes while she and her family ran for their lives.

"I made it, God saved me," Bustos told local television station KPIX.

There were social media accounts of people trapped in the blaze, but CalFire`s Powers said authorities had no reports of missing persons.

A Reuters reporter saw dozens of burned-out homesteads and houses in the Vacaville-Fairfield area, dead livestock among torched properties and some animals wandering loose.

"We are experiencing fires the like of which we haven`t seen in many, many years," California Governor Gavin Newsom told a news conference, adding he had requested 375 fire engines from out of state to assist in battling the blazes. He declared a statewide fire emergency on Tuesday.

The last time California experienced dry lightning storms of such devastating proportions was in 2008, said CalFire spokesman Scott Maclean.

Fanned by "red-flag" high winds, the fires are racing through vegetation parched by a record-breaking heat wave that began on Friday. Meteorologists have said the extreme heat and lightning storms were both linked to the same atmospheric weather pattern - an enormous high-pressure area hovering over America`s desert Southwest.

The largest group of fires, called the SCU Lightning Complex, had scorched at least 85,000 acres some 20 miles east of Palo Alto, while a third cluster, the CZU August Lightning Complex, grew to more than 10,000 acres and forced evacuations around 13 miles south of Palo Alto.

A firefighting helicopter pilot was killed in a crash, and dozens of homes burned in California on Wednesday as hundreds of lightning-sparked blazes forced tens of thousands of people to flee their dwellings.

A firefighting helicopter pilot was killed in a crash, and dozens of homes burned in California on Wednesday as hundreds of lightning-sparked blazes forced tens of thousands of people to flee their dwellings. Nearly 11,000 lightning strikes were documented during a 72-hour stretch this week in the heaviest spate of thunderstorms to hit California in over a decade, igniting 367 individual fires. Almost two dozen of them have grown into major conflagrations, authorities said. Multiple fires raced through northern California`s drought-parched wine country, shutting down Interstate 80 at Fairfield, about 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Sacramento, as flames leapt across the highway, trapping motorists caught in a hectic evacuation. Four residents whose communities were overrun by flames hours earlier in the same area suffered burns but survived, though the severity of their injuries was not immediately known, said Will Powers a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). He said thousands of residents were under mandatory evacuation orders in four-county area stricken by a cluster of nine wind-driven fires collectively dubbed the LNU Complex, which were triggered by lightning on Monday. In central California, a helicopter was on a water-dropping mission in Fresno County about 160 miles (258 km) south of San Francisco when the aircraft crashed, killing the pilot, a private contractor, CalFire said. The LNU complex of fires burned largely unchecked across some 46,000 acres (18,615 hectares) of hills and mountains around Fairfield and the neighboring town of Vacaville late Tuesday and early Wednesday. At least 50 homes and other structures were destroyed and another 50 damaged, CalFire said. Wearing a singed nightgown, Diane Bustos said her husband abandoned their car as it caught fire and then blew up on the west side of Vacaville early Wednesday. She lost both her shoes while she and her family ran for their lives. "I made it, God saved me," Bustos told local television station KPIX. There were social media accounts of people trapped in the blaze, but CalFire`s Powers said authorities had no reports of missing persons. A Reuters reporter saw dozens of burned-out homesteads and houses in the Vacaville-Fairfield area, dead livestock among torched properties and some animals wandering loose. "We are experiencing fires the like of which we haven`t seen in many, many years," California Governor Gavin Newsom told a news conference, adding he had requested 375 fire engines from out of state to assist in battling the blazes. He declared a statewide fire emergency on Tuesday. The last time California experienced dry lightning storms of such devastating proportions was in 2008, said CalFire spokesman Scott Maclean. Fanned by "red-flag" high winds, the fires are racing through vegetation parched by a record-breaking heat wave that began on Friday. Meteorologists have said the extreme heat and lightning storms were both linked to the same atmospheric weather pattern - an enormous high-pressure area hovering over America`s desert Southwest. The largest group of fires, called the SCU Lightning Complex, had scorched at least 85,000 acres some 20 miles east of Palo Alto, while a third cluster, the CZU August Lightning Complex, grew to more than 10,000 acres and forced evacuations around 13 miles south of Palo Alto.

Lightning-sparked fires rage across California, tens of thousands flee

A former engineer at Apple, David Shayer, has claimed in a detailed blog post that he was once asked to help the US Department of Energy build a "top secret" iPod.

Shayer, one of the early software engineers hired to work on the first iPod, said he was sitting at his desk in 2005 when his boss's boss at Apple (AAPL) asked him to take on a "special assignment" for the company. 
&nbsp; 
Shayer claimed only two others within Apple knew about the project: the vice-president of the iPod division and the senior vice president of hardware.&nbsp;

All those involved have since left the company, he said.

Shayer said he met with two engineers from Bechtel, a US defense contractor, and was told they would build the iPod — all he had to do was provide any assistance they required from Apple.&nbsp;

The iPods had to look and function like regular iPods, but would contain some custom hardware that could record data and not be detected by the average user, Shayer said.

This narrative is in contrast with the company's clashes with the FBI and Department of Justice in recent years over its refusal to build backdoors in iPhones.

Shayer, however, said he never found out exactly what kind of hardware the two Bechtel engineers were looking to add to the secret iPod.&nbsp;

In his blog post though, he has noted: they may have been building a "stealth Geiger counter" for measuring radioactivity.

"You could walk around a city, casually listening to your tunes, while recording evidence of radioactivity—scanning for smuggled or stolen uranium, for instance, or evidence of a dirty bomb development program—with no chance that the press or public would get wind of what was happening," he wrote.

A former engineer at Apple, David Shayer, has claimed in a detailed blog post that he was once asked to help the US Department of Energy build a "top secret" iPod.

A former engineer at Apple, David Shayer, has claimed in a detailed blog post that he was once asked to help the US Department of Energy build a "top secret" iPod. Shayer, one of the early software engineers hired to work on the first iPod, said he was sitting at his desk in 2005 when his boss's boss at Apple (AAPL) asked him to take on a "special assignment" for the company. Shayer claimed only two others within Apple knew about the project: the vice-president of the iPod division and the senior vice president of hardware. All those involved have since left the company, he said. Shayer said he met with two engineers from Bechtel, a US defense contractor, and was told they would build the iPod — all he had to do was provide any assistance they required from Apple. The iPods had to look and function like regular iPods, but would contain some custom hardware that could record data and not be detected by the average user, Shayer said. This narrative is in contrast with the company's clashes with the FBI and Department of Justice in recent years over its refusal to build backdoors in iPhones. Shayer, however, said he never found out exactly what kind of hardware the two Bechtel engineers were looking to add to the secret iPod. In his blog post though, he has noted: they may have been building a "stealth Geiger counter" for measuring radioactivity. "You could walk around a city, casually listening to your tunes, while recording evidence of radioactivity—scanning for smuggled or stolen uranium, for instance, or evidence of a dirty bomb development program—with no chance that the press or public would get wind of what was happening," he wrote.

Apple helped US build a 'top secret' iPod, claims former engineer

Iran unveiled a surface-to-surface ballistic missile that Defence Minister Amir Hatami said had a range of 1,400 kilometres and a new cruise missile on Thursday, ignoring US demands that Tehran halt its missile programme.

"The surface-to-surface missile, called martyr Qassem Soleimani, has a range of 1,400 km and the cruise missile, called martyr Abu Mahdi, has a range of over 1,000 km," Hatami said in a televised speech.

Pictures of the missiles were shown on state TV.

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Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in January in a US strike on their convoy in Baghdad airport.

The announcement comes as the United States is pushing to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled out the United States from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran.

"Missiles and particularly cruise missiles are very important for us ... the fact that we have increased the range from 300 to 1,000 in less than two years is a great achievement," said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

"Our military might and missile programmes are defensive." 
&nbsp;

Iran unveiled a surface-to-surface ballistic missile that Defence Minister Amir Hatami said had a range of 1,400 kilometres and a new cruise missile on Thursday, ignoring US demands that Tehran halt its missile programme.

Iran unveiled a surface-to-surface ballistic missile that Defence Minister Amir Hatami said had a range of 1,400 kilometres and a new cruise missile on Thursday, ignoring US demands that Tehran halt its missile programme. "The surface-to-surface missile, called martyr Qassem Soleimani, has a range of 1,400 km and the cruise missile, called martyr Abu Mahdi, has a range of over 1,000 km," Hatami said in a televised speech. Pictures of the missiles were shown on state TV. Soleimani, head of Iran's elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were killed in January in a US strike on their convoy in Baghdad airport. The announcement comes as the United States is pushing to extend a U.N.-imposed arms embargo against Iran, which is due to expire in October under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when President Donald Trump pulled out the United States from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. "Missiles and particularly cruise missiles are very important for us ... the fact that we have increased the range from 300 to 1,000 in less than two years is a great achievement," said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. "Our military might and missile programmes are defensive."

Iran announces locally made ballistic and cruise missiles, amid US tensions

The stage is all set for Democrats as the much-talked-about convention will begin on Monday, where Joe Biden will formally become the candidate to challenge Donald Trump for November 3 election.&nbsp;

However, the US president has ensured that Biden and his vice-presidential select Kamala Harris will not the only ones to get attention this week.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/theyre-going-to-engage-in-lies-kamala-harris-on-trumps-birther-remarks-321035">'They're going to engage in lies': Kamala Harris on Trump's birther remarks</a>

So, before the end of the Democratic convention, Trump will kick off his campaign with speeches in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Arizona.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-tiktok-controversy-trump-gets-verified-account-on-triller-320922">Amid TikTok controversy, Trump gets verified account on Triller</a>

And on Thursday, when Biden will be officially named as the Democratic presidential candidate, Trump will deliver a speech in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the blue-collar town where Biden grew up and which he still describes as his spiritual home.&nbsp;

The theme of Trump's campaign tour this week is "highlighting Joe Biden's record of failure".

Trump's campaign has also put millions of dollars for a digital aid campaign that will begin on the same day when the Democratic convention kicks off.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Democrats have brought in musical giants, that include John Legend, Common, Billie Eilish and the Chicks who will perform in this high-profile four-day event.&nbsp;

Also, former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, and 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton will also be a part of this convention.&nbsp;

The stage is all set for Democrats as the much-talked-about convention will begin on Monday, where Joe Biden will formally become the candidate to challenge Donald Trump for November 3 election.

The stage is all set for Democrats as the much-talked-about convention will begin on Monday, where Joe Biden will formally become the candidate to challenge Donald Trump for November 3 election. However, the US president has ensured that Biden and his vice-presidential select Kamala Harris will not the only ones to get attention this week. Also read | 'They're going to engage in lies': Kamala Harris on Trump's birther remarks So, before the end of the Democratic convention, Trump will kick off his campaign with speeches in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Arizona. Also read | Amid TikTok controversy, Trump gets verified account on Triller And on Thursday, when Biden will be officially named as the Democratic presidential candidate, Trump will deliver a speech in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the blue-collar town where Biden grew up and which he still describes as his spiritual home. The theme of Trump's campaign tour this week is "highlighting Joe Biden's record of failure". Trump's campaign has also put millions of dollars for a digital aid campaign that will begin on the same day when the Democratic convention kicks off. Meanwhile, Democrats have brought in musical giants, that include John Legend, Common, Billie Eilish and the Chicks who will perform in this high-profile four-day event. Also, former president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, and 2016 Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton will also be a part of this convention.

As Biden set for Democratic convention, Trump aims to steal thunder

In an attempt to back his father-in-law and US President Donald Trump's argument, Jared Kushner has said he would "absolutely" send his children to schools once they reopen despite the risks of a rise in coronavirus infections.&nbsp;

Trump has continued to push for schools reopening in the US and also threatened to divert federal spending for failure to do so.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-97000-kids-contracted-coronavirus-in-the-last-two-weeks-of-july-in-us-319413">At least 97,000 kids contracted coronavirus in the last two weeks of July in US</a>

Kushner, who is also a White House adviser has brushed aside any concerns of children contracting the deadly virus, saying "because children have a six times higher chance to die from the flu than from the coronavirus, so based on the data I've seen I don’t believe that’s a risk," in an interview to CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday.&nbsp;

"Our school’s not opening back up five days a week, I wish they would but we absolutely will be sending our kids back."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-once-again-speaks-in-favour-of-reopening-schools-317915">Donald Trump once again speaks in favour of reopening schools</a>

On Wednesday, Trump has released eight recommendations for schools to resume working, which includes providing 125 million reusable masks to school districts across the country.

There have not been enough studies on how coronavirus reacts to children, however, some schools in the US reported a sharp uptick in coronavirus cases after reopening.&nbsp;

A few days ago, a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that 97,000 children in the US tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks of July.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

In an attempt to back his father-in-law and US President Donald Trump's argument, Jared Kushner has said he would "absolutely" send his children to schools once they reopen despite the risks of a rise in coronavirus infections.

In an attempt to back his father-in-law and US President Donald Trump's argument, Jared Kushner has said he would "absolutely" send his children to schools once they reopen despite the risks of a rise in coronavirus infections. Trump has continued to push for schools reopening in the US and also threatened to divert federal spending for failure to do so. Also read | At least 97,000 kids contracted coronavirus in the last two weeks of July in US Kushner, who is also a White House adviser has brushed aside any concerns of children contracting the deadly virus, saying "because children have a six times higher chance to die from the flu than from the coronavirus, so based on the data I've seen I don’t believe that’s a risk," in an interview to CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday. "Our school’s not opening back up five days a week, I wish they would but we absolutely will be sending our kids back." Also read | Donald Trump once again speaks in favour of reopening schools On Wednesday, Trump has released eight recommendations for schools to resume working, which includes providing 125 million reusable masks to school districts across the country. There have not been enough studies on how coronavirus reacts to children, however, some schools in the US reported a sharp uptick in coronavirus cases after reopening. A few days ago, a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that 97,000 children in the US tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks of July.

Would 'absolutely' send my children when schools reopen: Jared Kushner

Donald Trump said Saturday he will try a controversial "snapback" to force a return of UN sanctions against Iran, after the Security Council rejected Washington's bid to extend the arms embargo against the Islamic republic.

"We'll be doing a snapback," the president said, referring to the contested argument that the US remains a "participant" in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — despite Trump's withdrawal from it — and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms.

The president added that the US will make its move next week.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-may-probably-not-attend-putins-urgent-iran-summit-320868">Also read:&nbsp;Trump may 'probably not' attend Putin's 'urgent' Iran summit</a>

Washington's defeat at the Security Council on Friday highlighted its isolation on Iran since Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018.

Only two of the Council's 15 members voted in favor of the US resolution.&nbsp;

Washington's European allies all abstained, Russia and China voted against it, and Iran mocked the Trump administration for winning the support of just one other country, the Dominican Republic.

Trump argued Saturday that Iran was a "different ballgame" now, and that the country no longer has the funds to sponsor terror.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/edward-snowden-asks-to-return-to-the-us-trump-to-take-a-look-at-pardoning-320867">Also read:&nbsp;Edward Snowden asks to return to the US; Trump to 'take a look' at pardoning</a>

"Iran wants me to lose so badly" in November's presidential election, he added.

If Trump follows through, the snapback could plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises, experts warn.&nbsp;

European allies have been skeptical on whether Washington can force sanctions and say the attempt may delegitimize the Security Council.

The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18.

Donald Trump said Saturday he will try a controversial "snapback" to force a return of UN sanctions against Iran, after the Security Council rejected Washington's bid to extend the arms embargo against the Islamic republic.

Donald Trump said Saturday he will try a controversial "snapback" to force a return of UN sanctions against Iran, after the Security Council rejected Washington's bid to extend the arms embargo against the Islamic republic. "We'll be doing a snapback," the president said, referring to the contested argument that the US remains a "participant" in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — despite Trump's withdrawal from it — and therefore can force a return to sanctions if it sees Iran as being in violation of its terms. The president added that the US will make its move next week. Also read: Trump may 'probably not' attend Putin's 'urgent' Iran summit Washington's defeat at the Security Council on Friday highlighted its isolation on Iran since Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018. Only two of the Council's 15 members voted in favor of the US resolution. Washington's European allies all abstained, Russia and China voted against it, and Iran mocked the Trump administration for winning the support of just one other country, the Dominican Republic. Trump argued Saturday that Iran was a "different ballgame" now, and that the country no longer has the funds to sponsor terror. Also read: Edward Snowden asks to return to the US; Trump to 'take a look' at pardoning "Iran wants me to lose so badly" in November's presidential election, he added. If Trump follows through, the snapback could plunge the Council into one of its worst-ever diplomatic crises, experts warn. European allies have been skeptical on whether Washington can force sanctions and say the attempt may delegitimize the Security Council. The embargo on conventional arms is due to expire on October 18.

Trump says will try 'snapback' to force return of UN Iran sanctions

A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier conducted exercises in the contested South China Sea on Friday, the U.S. navy said in a statement.

U.S. Navy conducts exercises in South China Sea

United States President Donald Trump's younger brother, Robert Trump, has been hospitalised in New York.

The president&nbsp;visited his younger brother Robert in a New York City hospital for about 45 minutes on Friday, before heading for his New Jersey country club where he planned to spend the night.

Trump told a news conference prior to the visit that his brother was in the hospital but did not elaborate on the reason.

“I have a wonderful brother. We’ve had a great relationship for a long time, from day one,” Trump said. “Hopefully he’ll be all right, but he’s having a hard time.”

Robert Trump, one of four siblings to the president, recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Trump family seeking to stop publication of a tell-all book by the president's niece Mary titled 'Too Much and Never Enough.'

The president has said that Mary Trump's book was a violation of a nondisclosure agreement she signed in connection to a financial settlement she received from the Trump family.

Mary is the daughter of the brothers' eldest sibling, Fred Trump Jr., who struggled with alcoholism and died in 1981 at the age of 43.

Robert Trump had previously worked for his older brother as a top executive at the Trump Organisation. Once a regular bold face name in Manhattan's social pages, he has kept a lower profile in recent years.

United States President Donald Trump's younger brother, Robert Trump, has been hospitalised in New York. The president visited his younger brother Robert in a New York City hospital for about 45 minutes on Friday, before heading for his New Jersey country club where he planned to spend the night.

United States President Donald Trump's younger brother, Robert Trump, has been hospitalised in New York. The president visited his younger brother Robert in a New York City hospital for about 45 minutes on Friday, before heading for his New Jersey country club where he planned to spend the night. Trump told a news conference prior to the visit that his brother was in the hospital but did not elaborate on the reason. “I have a wonderful brother. We’ve had a great relationship for a long time, from day one,” Trump said. “Hopefully he’ll be all right, but he’s having a hard time.” Robert Trump, one of four siblings to the president, recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Trump family seeking to stop publication of a tell-all book by the president's niece Mary titled 'Too Much and Never Enough.' The president has said that Mary Trump's book was a violation of a nondisclosure agreement she signed in connection to a financial settlement she received from the Trump family. Mary is the daughter of the brothers' eldest sibling, Fred Trump Jr., who struggled with alcoholism and died in 1981 at the age of 43. Robert Trump had previously worked for his older brother as a top executive at the Trump Organisation. Once a regular bold face name in Manhattan's social pages, he has kept a lower profile in recent years.

Trump visits hospitalised younger brother in New York

A US journalist has finally asked President Donald Trump a question he wanted an answer of for five years.

In a White House briefing held on Thursday, &nbsp;SV Dáte asked Trump: "after three and a half years (of Trump’s presidency), do you regret at all, all the lying you've done to the American people?"

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/book-trouble-trumps-ex-lawyer-michael-cohen-accuses-trump-of-colluding-with-russia-to-win-elections-320361">Book trouble: Trump's ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, accuses Trump of colluding with Russia to win elections</a>

Apparently, the question startled the US president and he responded, "all the what?".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wechat-signal-users-in-us-increase-after-trump-threatens-ban-320356#:~:text=More%20users%20in%20the%20United,shared%20with%20Reuters%20on%20Thursday.&amp;text=Signal%20did%20not%20immediately%20respond%20to%20request%20for%20comment.">WeChat, Signal users in US increase after Trump threatens ban</a>

However, Dáte, a White House correspondent, once again, daringly repeated his point: "All the lying, all the dishonesties".&nbsp;

"That who has done," Trump said.

"You have done," the reported replied, after which Trump cut him off and pointed his finger towards the next journalist to ask him any question during the briefing.&nbsp;

Later, Dáte took to Twitter, where he expressed delight for able to ask the question to Trump.

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For five years I've been wanting to ask him that.
— S.V. Dáte (@svdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/svdate/status/1294037622390697984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

"For five years I've been wanting to ask him that," he wrote on Twitter.

Dáte later said that he tried to ask him the same question in March, but was sidelined, in an interview to The Guardian.

"Maybe he didn’t recognise me this time," he said.&nbsp;

"You know, he has this group of folks that he normally asks questions of."

He further said Trump's false claims are "singular piece of his presidency that will be remembered in 10 years".

Dáte was not surprised with Trump's reaction, however, when asked whether he would again intend to ask the same question, he said, "Yes, absolutely". 
&nbsp;

A US journalist has finally asked President Donald Trump a question he wanted an answer of for five years. In a White House briefing held on Thursday, SV Dáte asked Trump: "after three and a half years (of Trump’s presidency), do you regret at all, all the lying you've done to the American people?

A US journalist has finally asked President Donald Trump a question he wanted an answer of for five years. In a White House briefing held on Thursday, SV Dáte asked Trump: "after three and a half years (of Trump’s presidency), do you regret at all, all the lying you've done to the American people?" Also read | Book trouble: Trump's ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, accuses Trump of colluding with Russia to win elections Apparently, the question startled the US president and he responded, "all the what?". Also read | WeChat, Signal users in US increase after Trump threatens ban However, Dáte, a White House correspondent, once again, daringly repeated his point: "All the lying, all the dishonesties". "That who has done," Trump said. "You have done," the reported replied, after which Trump cut him off and pointed his finger towards the next journalist to ask him any question during the briefing. Later, Dáte took to Twitter, where he expressed delight for able to ask the question to Trump. For five years I've been wanting to ask him that. — S.V. Dáte (@svdate) August 13, 2020 × "For five years I've been wanting to ask him that," he wrote on Twitter. Dáte later said that he tried to ask him the same question in March, but was sidelined, in an interview to The Guardian. "Maybe he didn’t recognise me this time," he said. "You know, he has this group of folks that he normally asks questions of." He further said Trump's false claims are "singular piece of his presidency that will be remembered in 10 years". Dáte was not surprised with Trump's reaction, however, when asked whether he would again intend to ask the same question, he said, "Yes, absolutely".

'Do you regret lying?' Journalist's question unsettles Donald Trump

The Pentagon is planning to form a new task force to investigate UFOs that have been observed by US military aircraft.

The task force is expected to be officially unveiled in the next few days, according to the officials.

Officials have long expressed concerns about the appearance of the unidentified aircraft that have flown over US military bases, posing a risk to military jets. Some believe they may be drones potentially operated by earthly adversaries seeking to gather intelligence rather than extraterrestrials.

Pentagon has even released three short videos showing US aircraft encountering these phenomena.

President Donald Trump in April called the footage "a hell of a video" and told Reuters he wonders "if it's real."

In May CNN obtained "hazard reports" detailing encounters between US Navy aircraft and "unidentified aerial phenomena" from the Navy Safety Center.

The reports describe the observed phenomena as "Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)" -- the Pentagon's official terminology for drone aircraft.

The Pentagon is planning to form a new task force to investigate UFOs that have been observed by US military aircraft. The task force is expected to be officially unveiled in the next few days, according to the officials.

The Pentagon is planning to form a new task force to investigate UFOs that have been observed by US military aircraft. The task force is expected to be officially unveiled in the next few days, according to the officials. Officials have long expressed concerns about the appearance of the unidentified aircraft that have flown over US military bases, posing a risk to military jets. Some believe they may be drones potentially operated by earthly adversaries seeking to gather intelligence rather than extraterrestrials. Pentagon has even released three short videos showing US aircraft encountering these phenomena. President Donald Trump in April called the footage "a hell of a video" and told Reuters he wonders "if it's real." In May CNN obtained "hazard reports" detailing encounters between US Navy aircraft and "unidentified aerial phenomena" from the Navy Safety Center. The reports describe the observed phenomena as "Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)" -- the Pentagon's official terminology for drone aircraft.

Pentagon to launch task force to investigate UFO sightings

Amid the heightened tensions, the United States and China on Sunday will discuss the "phase one" of the trade deal signed earlier this year.&nbsp;

In January, Beijing and Washington halted a months-long trade war with a partial truce, but the arrival of coronavirus crisis and a number of issues that followed the pandemic, including China's new security law worsened the relations between both the countries.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-says-trumps-china-trade-deal-is-failing-badly-318457">Biden says Trump's China trade deal is 'failing' badly</a>

The purchases by China according to the deal have been lagging and US President Donald Trump has sharpened his attack towards China at a time when the US is less than 100 days away from the presidential elections.&nbsp;

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-china-to-discuss-trade-deal-and-other-grievances-on-august-15-amid-spat-318255">United States, China to discuss trade deal and other grievances on August 15 amid spat</a>

"The outcome of the trade talk will signal if both sides are willing to continue to keep the deal, which will signal whether the relationship will deteriorate further," said Iris Pang, chief economist for greater China at ING, reported news agency AFP.&nbsp;

The world's two largest economies have so far not confirmed the talks, but the deal calls for a meeting after every six months, which would begin from Saturday.&nbsp;

In June, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said China would continue its commitments made in the deal and the US would be looking for a second deal, but in the same month, a Chinese State Council counsellor said the pandemic has had an "impact" on the agreement and that ties between the countries are "very unsatisfactory." 
&nbsp;

Amid the heightened tensions, the United States and China on Sunday will discuss the "phase one" of the trade deal signed earlier this year. In January, Beijing and Washington halted a months-long trade war with a partial truce, but the arrival of coronavirus crisis and a number of issues that followed the pandemic, including China's new security law worsened the relations between both the countries.

Amid the heightened tensions, the United States and China on Sunday will discuss the "phase one" of the trade deal signed earlier this year. In January, Beijing and Washington halted a months-long trade war with a partial truce, but the arrival of coronavirus crisis and a number of issues that followed the pandemic, including China's new security law worsened the relations between both the countries. Also read | Biden says Trump's China trade deal is 'failing' badly The purchases by China according to the deal have been lagging and US President Donald Trump has sharpened his attack towards China at a time when the US is less than 100 days away from the presidential elections. Also read | United States, China to discuss trade deal and other grievances on August 15 amid spat "The outcome of the trade talk will signal if both sides are willing to continue to keep the deal, which will signal whether the relationship will deteriorate further," said Iris Pang, chief economist for greater China at ING, reported news agency AFP. The world's two largest economies have so far not confirmed the talks, but the deal calls for a meeting after every six months, which would begin from Saturday. In June, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said China would continue its commitments made in the deal and the US would be looking for a second deal, but in the same month, a Chinese State Council counsellor said the pandemic has had an "impact" on the agreement and that ties between the countries are "very unsatisfactory."

Amid troubled ties, US, China to resume talks on trade deal

The United States health officials said on Thursday that the country would ensure distributing free coronavirus vaccine once the drug is proven effective.&nbsp;

"We are not at all reducing the regulatory rigour with which we will evaluate and hopefully approve vaccines," said Paul Mango, a senior health department official to reporters, as quoted by news agency AFP.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russias-first-covid-19-vaccine-not-in-advanced-test-stages-who-320318">Russia's first Covid-19 vaccine not in advanced test stages: WHO</a>

The US has invested over $10 billion in six vaccine projects and signed agreements intended to deliver hundreds of millions of doses if they get approved following clinical trials.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/phase-3-trials-of-russian-covid-19-vaccine-to-start-in-philippines-in-october-320155">Phase 3 trials of Russian COVID-19 vaccine to start in Philippines in October</a>

The government will bear the expenses of the vaccine doses, but medical professionals who will give these to patients will be paid by insurers.&nbsp;

"Most" private insurers have agreed to waive any out-of-pocket costs to their customers, said Mango.&nbsp;

"We are on track to deliver hundreds of millions of doses by January 2021," he added.

Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said he was "cautiously optimistic" that at least one of the six candidates backed by the US would able to come up with the vaccine by the end of this year.&nbsp;

The US officials, though, continued their scepticism towards what Russia earlier this week declared as world's first COVID-19 vaccine.&nbsp;

"I hope that the Russians have actually definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective, but I seriously doubt that they've done that," said Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease.&nbsp;

Collins compared the vaccine, dubbed as "Sputnik V" to a game of "Russian roulette". 
&nbsp;

The United States health officials said on Thursday that the country would ensure distributing free coronavirus vaccine once the drug is proven effective. "We are not at all reducing the regulatory rigour with which we will evaluate and hopefully approve vaccines," said Paul Mango, a senior health department official to reporters, as quoted by news agency AFP.

The United States health officials said on Thursday that the country would ensure distributing free coronavirus vaccine once the drug is proven effective. "We are not at all reducing the regulatory rigour with which we will evaluate and hopefully approve vaccines," said Paul Mango, a senior health department official to reporters, as quoted by news agency AFP. Also read | Russia's first Covid-19 vaccine not in advanced test stages: WHO The US has invested over $10 billion in six vaccine projects and signed agreements intended to deliver hundreds of millions of doses if they get approved following clinical trials. Also read | Phase 3 trials of Russian COVID-19 vaccine to start in Philippines in October The government will bear the expenses of the vaccine doses, but medical professionals who will give these to patients will be paid by insurers. "Most" private insurers have agreed to waive any out-of-pocket costs to their customers, said Mango. "We are on track to deliver hundreds of millions of doses by January 2021," he added. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), said he was "cautiously optimistic" that at least one of the six candidates backed by the US would able to come up with the vaccine by the end of this year. The US officials, though, continued their scepticism towards what Russia earlier this week declared as world's first COVID-19 vaccine. "I hope that the Russians have actually definitively proven that the vaccine is safe and effective, but I seriously doubt that they've done that," said Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease. Collins compared the vaccine, dubbed as "Sputnik V" to a game of "Russian roulette".

US officials say coronavirus vaccine will be free for all citizens

The US government has for the first time seized vessels allegedly loaded with Iranian fuel in violation of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. Watch report.

1st Iranian fuel cargo confiscated by US: Fuel supply line defies US sanctions

The Trump administration has relaxed certain provisions for H-1B visas, allowing people to come back for the same job in a similar position.&nbsp;

The US Department of State, in its advisory, permitted "travel by applicants seeking to resume ongoing employment in the United States in the same position with the same employer and visa classification".&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-makes-exception-to-visa-ban-h-1b-holders-can-enter-us-on-this-condition-320068">America makes exception to visa ban; H-1B holders can enter US on this condition</a>

In the latest advisory, the state department has also allowed children and spouse of primary visa holders to travel with them.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/how-will-h1-b-visa-suspension-impact-indian-companies-307963">How will H1-B visa suspension impact Indian companies?</a>

This is the first relaxations given by the US administration following June 22 proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, which suspended the entry into the country under H-1B and L-1 visa categories. &nbsp;

The decision was taken as the coronavirus pandemic saw unemployment levels triggered by the coronavirus pandemic rising at record levels in the US.&nbsp;

With the new changes, people employed in in critical infrastructure sectors including healthcare and information technology, whose roles are important for their respective organisations to flourish are also allowed to get the visas.

The state department has issued five guidelines and the applicant must meet at least two of them to get a visa.&nbsp;

Healthcare personnel, people involved in COVID-19 research work, travelling to fulfil contractual obligations or because of a request by any US government agency will also be allowed entry into the US.

 
&nbsp;

The Trump administration has relaxed certain provisions for H-1B visas, allowing people to come back for the same job in a similar position. The US Department of State, in its advisory, permitted "travel by applicants seeking to resume ongoing employment in the United States in the same position with the same employer and visa classification".

The Trump administration has relaxed certain provisions for H-1B visas, allowing people to come back for the same job in a similar position. The US Department of State, in its advisory, permitted "travel by applicants seeking to resume ongoing employment in the United States in the same position with the same employer and visa classification". Also read | America makes exception to visa ban; H-1B holders can enter US on this condition In the latest advisory, the state department has also allowed children and spouse of primary visa holders to travel with them. Also read | How will H1-B visa suspension impact Indian companies? This is the first relaxations given by the US administration following June 22 proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, which suspended the entry into the country under H-1B and L-1 visa categories. The decision was taken as the coronavirus pandemic saw unemployment levels triggered by the coronavirus pandemic rising at record levels in the US. With the new changes, people employed in in critical infrastructure sectors including healthcare and information technology, whose roles are important for their respective organisations to flourish are also allowed to get the visas. The state department has issued five guidelines and the applicant must meet at least two of them to get a visa. Healthcare personnel, people involved in COVID-19 research work, travelling to fulfil contractual obligations or because of a request by any US government agency will also be allowed entry into the US.

Trump administration relaxes rules to get H-1B visas

US President Donald Trump has hair rinsing complaints. He says the bathroom fixtures do not work to his liking.

And the US government has, to this end, proposed rule changes that would allow shower heads to boost water pressure -- all this amid a vigorous presidential campaign and the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Energy plan followed comments from Trump last month a White House event on rolling back regulations. He said he believed water does come out fast enough from fixtures.

"So what do you do? You just stand there longer or you take a shower longer? Because my hair - I don't know about you, but it has to be perfect."

Last December, Trump said environmental regulators were looking at sinks, faucets and toilets to revise rules meant to conserve water and fuel that heats it.

"People are flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once," Trump told a meeting of small business leaders at the White House.

Consumer groups decried the plan, saying current rules saved consumers money by conserving water and fuel. 
The proposal would effectively allow shower fixtures to include multiple shower heads that would get around the 2.5 gallon (9.4 liter) per minute standard Congress set in 1992, when Trump's fellow Republican George H.W. Bush was president.

The Energy Department also proposed easier standards on clothes washers. The Trump administration says its regulatory rollbacks save average American households $3,100 a year. But conservationists say easing bathroom fixture standards could boost energy and water costs.

It was uncertain whether the plan would be finalised. Trump is campaigning for reelection and trails in opinion polls ahead of the vote November 3. If he wins and the proposal advances it could also face court battles.

David Friedman, vice president of advocacy at the organization Consumer Reports and a former Energy Department official, said there was no need to change the rules because tests show today's shower heads "achieve high levels of customer satisfaction," while saving money. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump has hair rinsing complaints. He says the bathroom fixtures do not work to his liking. And the US government has, to this end, proposed rule changes that would allow shower heads to boost water pressure -- all this amid a vigorous presidential campaign and the coronavirus pandemic.

US President Donald Trump has hair rinsing complaints. He says the bathroom fixtures do not work to his liking. And the US government has, to this end, proposed rule changes that would allow shower heads to boost water pressure -- all this amid a vigorous presidential campaign and the coronavirus pandemic. The Department of Energy plan followed comments from Trump last month a White House event on rolling back regulations. He said he believed water does come out fast enough from fixtures. "So what do you do? You just stand there longer or you take a shower longer? Because my hair - I don't know about you, but it has to be perfect." Last December, Trump said environmental regulators were looking at sinks, faucets and toilets to revise rules meant to conserve water and fuel that heats it. "People are flushing toilets 10 times, 15 times, as opposed to once," Trump told a meeting of small business leaders at the White House. Consumer groups decried the plan, saying current rules saved consumers money by conserving water and fuel. The proposal would effectively allow shower fixtures to include multiple shower heads that would get around the 2.5 gallon (9.4 liter) per minute standard Congress set in 1992, when Trump's fellow Republican George H.W. Bush was president. The Energy Department also proposed easier standards on clothes washers. The Trump administration says its regulatory rollbacks save average American households $3,100 a year. But conservationists say easing bathroom fixture standards could boost energy and water costs. It was uncertain whether the plan would be finalised. Trump is campaigning for reelection and trails in opinion polls ahead of the vote November 3. If he wins and the proposal advances it could also face court battles. David Friedman, vice president of advocacy at the organization Consumer Reports and a former Energy Department official, said there was no need to change the rules because tests show today's shower heads "achieve high levels of customer satisfaction," while saving money.

Amid presidential campaign and coronavirus pandemic, Trump has hair rinsing complaints

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned Russia and said that Russia would pay an enormous price if they were offering bounties to kill US soldiers.

Pompeo warns Russia against bounties on US soldiers

The family of a 23-year-old Black man who died after a violent encounter with Aurora, Colorado, police officers filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city and its police on Tuesday, alleging murder and routine use of excessive force against Black people.

The man, Elijah McClain, was walking on the street alone in August 2019 when he was stopped by three officers based on a report that he was "being suspicious."

According to the complaint, the officers held him in two carotid holds around his neck, tackled him although he presented no physical threat, and medics attending to him administered an overdose of the sedative ketamine which left him unconscious.

McClain died days later in the hospital.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/minneapolis-police-bodycam-videos-show-struggle-before-floyd-death-319852" hreflang="en">Minneapolis police bodycam videos show struggle before Floyd death</a>

"Plaintiffs bring this action seeking both accountability for the profound loss of a beautiful soul, and to ensure that Elijah did not die in vain by sending a resounding message that racism and brutality have no place in American law enforcement," McClain's family wrote in the complaint.

A spokeswoman for Aurora said the city attorney's office was reviewing the complaint but had no immediate comment.&nbsp;

McClain's family maintains that he had committed no crime and was stopped unlawfully. Citing previous instances of Aurora police forcefully detaining Black people, they alleged that McClain's case was part of a pattern of racist policing.

The Colorado Attorney General's Office issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that it had launched a broad investigation of Aurora police department patterns and practices that might pose civil rights violations. The office is conducting a separate inquiry into McClain's death, it said.

The case drew renewed scrutiny and public ire in June as protesters against racial injustice and police brutality took to the streets across the United States after George Floyd, a Black man, died in Minneapolis when an officer knelt on his neck.&nbsp;

The officers' forceful restraint of McClain lasted 18 minutes, and he was handcuffed and on the ground for 15, the complaint said.

"I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe please. I can’t. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe, please stop," were among his last words, according to the complaint.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/family-sues-minneapolis-for-george-floyds-death-in-police-hands-313555" hreflang="en">Family sues Minneapolis for George Floyd's death in police hands</a>

The officers have said McClain tried to take their guns, but there is no body camera footage supporting those statements, the complaint said.

The lawsuit also named Aurora Fire Rescue Department personnel as defendants, alleging that medics failed to care for McClain when they injected him with ketamine, which impaired his breathing. The complaint said McClain showed no signs of resisting when medics administered the sedative.

Three Aurora officers were fired and a fourth resigned last month after authorities found they shared photos of themselves re-enacting the chokehold near the site of the McClain encounter. One of the officers who detained McClain was among those fired.&nbsp;

The Justice Department said last month that it opened a civil rights probe of the incident last year. Colorado's governor appointed a special prosecutor to review the case in June.

The family of a 23-year-old Black man who died after a violent encounter with Aurora, Colorado, police officers filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city and its police on Tuesday, alleging murder and routine use of excessive force against Black people.

The family of a 23-year-old Black man who died after a violent encounter with Aurora, Colorado, police officers filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city and its police on Tuesday, alleging murder and routine use of excessive force against Black people. The man, Elijah McClain, was walking on the street alone in August 2019 when he was stopped by three officers based on a report that he was "being suspicious." According to the complaint, the officers held him in two carotid holds around his neck, tackled him although he presented no physical threat, and medics attending to him administered an overdose of the sedative ketamine which left him unconscious. McClain died days later in the hospital. Also read: Minneapolis police bodycam videos show struggle before Floyd death "Plaintiffs bring this action seeking both accountability for the profound loss of a beautiful soul, and to ensure that Elijah did not die in vain by sending a resounding message that racism and brutality have no place in American law enforcement," McClain's family wrote in the complaint. A spokeswoman for Aurora said the city attorney's office was reviewing the complaint but had no immediate comment. McClain's family maintains that he had committed no crime and was stopped unlawfully. Citing previous instances of Aurora police forcefully detaining Black people, they alleged that McClain's case was part of a pattern of racist policing. The Colorado Attorney General's Office issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that it had launched a broad investigation of Aurora police department patterns and practices that might pose civil rights violations. The office is conducting a separate inquiry into McClain's death, it said. The case drew renewed scrutiny and public ire in June as protesters against racial injustice and police brutality took to the streets across the United States after George Floyd, a Black man, died in Minneapolis when an officer knelt on his neck. The officers' forceful restraint of McClain lasted 18 minutes, and he was handcuffed and on the ground for 15, the complaint said. "I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe please. I can’t. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe, please stop," were among his last words, according to the complaint. Also read: Family sues Minneapolis for George Floyd's death in police hands The officers have said McClain tried to take their guns, but there is no body camera footage supporting those statements, the complaint said. The lawsuit also named Aurora Fire Rescue Department personnel as defendants, alleging that medics failed to care for McClain when they injected him with ketamine, which impaired his breathing. The complaint said McClain showed no signs of resisting when medics administered the sedative. Three Aurora officers were fired and a fourth resigned last month after authorities found they shared photos of themselves re-enacting the chokehold near the site of the McClain encounter. One of the officers who detained McClain was among those fired. The Justice Department said last month that it opened a civil rights probe of the incident last year. Colorado's governor appointed a special prosecutor to review the case in June.

Family of Colorado Black man who died after police encounter sues city, police

In the latest from the United States, a recent study on COVID-19 and its impact on children has revealed that more than 97,000 children in the US have now tested positive for coronavirus. Trump's claim that children are 'virtually immune' to coronavirus now falls flat.

Recent Study: 97,000 children in US tested coronavirus positive

US secret service agents shot and wounded a man who was apparently armed outside the White House. This comes after US President Donald Trump was seen briefly evacuating in the middle of a press conference. Watch report.

Security alert at White House | Trump briefly leaves a press conference in the middle

Seattle's city council on Monday approved a reduction in the budget of the city's police department of less than 1 per cent after months of protests demanding that it defund the force, but signaled deeper cuts might be on the way.

By a vote of 7-1, the council approved a revised 2020 budget that reduced the department`s budget by $3.5 million for the remainder of the year and invested $17 million in community public safety programs.

The cut to the department's $409-million annual budget fell way short of the 50 per cent demanded by protesters following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in police custody on May 25.

Local media said Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best had announced her resignation to staff. According to a report in the New York Times, Best said in a message to the Police Department that she would retire next month and was "confident the department will make it through these difficult times."

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Council President Lorena González called the cut a "down-payment for future potential reductions" to the department's budget.

Defunding advocates oppose the militarization of U.S. police forces and say officers are called on to deal with issues like addiction, mental illness and homelessness that could be better addressed by social services.

Law-enforcement supporters say cuts to police spending will lead to more crime.

The council begins 2021 budget talks in September and Mayor Jenny Durkan and Best had earlier signaled their willingness to rethink policing and consider $76 million in proposed cuts to the department's 2021 budget.

The revised 2020 budget came after a council inquest into the department, which revealed that 56 per cent of 911 calls are for non-criminal activity and only 3 per cent of calls result in arrest.

The rebalanced budget reduces executive pay and eliminates 100 police officers. It also reduces the budget for travel, public affairs, training and recruitment and makes cuts to specialized units like SWAT, harbor patrol, homeland security, mounted patrol and officers in schools.

The budget also removes officers from the city's homeless outreach team. More than a dozen business and neighborhood groups signed a letter from the Downtown Seattle Association opposing that move.

"In defunding SPD, the council moved with speed and pettiness rather than with precision and thoughtfulness," the association said in a statement.

Multiple demonstrations for and against "defunding the police" have taken place at city hall over the past week. 
Anti-police protesters smashed windows at businesses perceived to support the police and set fire to the construction site at a juvenile detention facility.

The SPD has been under a federal consent decree for excessive use of force since 2011.

Seattle's city council on Monday approved a reduction in the budget of the city's police department of less than 1 per cent after months of protests demanding that it defund the force, but signaled deeper cuts might be on the way.

Seattle's city council on Monday approved a reduction in the budget of the city's police department of less than 1 per cent after months of protests demanding that it defund the force, but signaled deeper cuts might be on the way. By a vote of 7-1, the council approved a revised 2020 budget that reduced the department`s budget by $3.5 million for the remainder of the year and invested $17 million in community public safety programs. The cut to the department's $409-million annual budget fell way short of the 50 per cent demanded by protesters following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in police custody on May 25. Local media said Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best had announced her resignation to staff. According to a report in the New York Times, Best said in a message to the Police Department that she would retire next month and was "confident the department will make it through these difficult times." The Seattle Police Department (SPD) did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Council President Lorena González called the cut a "down-payment for future potential reductions" to the department's budget. Defunding advocates oppose the militarization of U.S. police forces and say officers are called on to deal with issues like addiction, mental illness and homelessness that could be better addressed by social services. Law-enforcement supporters say cuts to police spending will lead to more crime. The council begins 2021 budget talks in September and Mayor Jenny Durkan and Best had earlier signaled their willingness to rethink policing and consider $76 million in proposed cuts to the department's 2021 budget. The revised 2020 budget came after a council inquest into the department, which revealed that 56 per cent of 911 calls are for non-criminal activity and only 3 per cent of calls result in arrest. The rebalanced budget reduces executive pay and eliminates 100 police officers. It also reduces the budget for travel, public affairs, training and recruitment and makes cuts to specialized units like SWAT, harbor patrol, homeland security, mounted patrol and officers in schools. The budget also removes officers from the city's homeless outreach team. More than a dozen business and neighborhood groups signed a letter from the Downtown Seattle Association opposing that move. "In defunding SPD, the council moved with speed and pettiness rather than with precision and thoughtfulness," the association said in a statement. Multiple demonstrations for and against "defunding the police" have taken place at city hall over the past week. Anti-police protesters smashed windows at businesses perceived to support the police and set fire to the construction site at a juvenile detention facility. The SPD has been under a federal consent decree for excessive use of force since 2011.

Seattle reduces police funding, signals deeper cuts ahead

Amid the growing number of concerns in the United States, a new trend has surfaced in the country.&nbsp;According to a new research published on August 9, a record number of people are now giving up US citizenship.

In the first half of 2020, over 5,800 gave up their citizenship of the US, as compared to the 2,072 Americans who gave it up in all of 2019, as per data from Bambridge Accountants.

Major turmoil in the country

The US has been the stage of a lot of turmoil in 2020, as protests against racism intensified and continue to swell cities sporadically. Additionally, the ambivalent response to COVID-19 has made US the hardest-hit country in the entire world. The US has recorded 5 million cases of the virus alone.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/china-says-it-opposes-barbarous-hong-kong-sanctions-by-united-states-319003" hreflang="en">China says it opposes 'barbarous' Hong Kong sanctions by United States</a>

As per the firm’s data, the number of citizens giving up their citizenship of the country has shot up tremendously. To reach this conclusion they studied government data on citizenship, which is published every three months.

Alistair Bambridge told CNN that those who gave up their citizenship were mostly people who were already out of the States and those who had decided “they’ve had enough of everything”.

The central factors influencing people’s decisions to give up their citizenship may be primarily based on Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, clubbed with political movements brewing in the country.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/joe-biden-calls-trump-first-racist-president-of-the-united-states-315267" hreflang="en">Joe Biden calls Trump 'first' racist president of the United States</a>

More than politics

Besides being dissatisfied with the contemporary socio-political landscape in the country, many have left the country due to taxes, as per Bambridge.

Citizens of the US who move to other countries have to file tax returns every year regardless of where they are.&nbsp; In addition, they also have to divulge details of their foreign bank accounts, investments, and pensions, among many other financial details.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/technology/quantum-leap-united-states-unveils-blueprint-for-virtually-unhackable-internet-315799" hreflang="en">'Quantum' leap: United States unveils blueprint for virtually 'unhackable internet'</a>

Even though citizens are eligible to assert claim over $1.200 stimulus cheques, with $500 for each child, Bambridge believed the taxation system is simply “too much”.

In order to forego their citizenship of the US, Americans are required to pay $2,350 and physically appear at a US embassy in the country where they’re situated.

A high stake presidential election in November may further influence the rate of relinquishing citizenship among expat Americans. Bambridge believes the numbers will go up if Trump is re-elected.

Amid the growing number of concerns in the United States, a new trend has surfaced in the country. According to a new research published on August 9, a record number of people are now giving up US citizenship.

Amid the growing number of concerns in the United States, a new trend has surfaced in the country. According to a new research published on August 9, a record number of people are now giving up US citizenship. In the first half of 2020, over 5,800 gave up their citizenship of the US, as compared to the 2,072 Americans who gave it up in all of 2019, as per data from Bambridge Accountants. Major turmoil in the country The US has been the stage of a lot of turmoil in 2020, as protests against racism intensified and continue to swell cities sporadically. Additionally, the ambivalent response to COVID-19 has made US the hardest-hit country in the entire world. The US has recorded 5 million cases of the virus alone. Also read: China says it opposes 'barbarous' Hong Kong sanctions by United States As per the firm’s data, the number of citizens giving up their citizenship of the country has shot up tremendously. To reach this conclusion they studied government data on citizenship, which is published every three months. Alistair Bambridge told CNN that those who gave up their citizenship were mostly people who were already out of the States and those who had decided “they’ve had enough of everything”. The central factors influencing people’s decisions to give up their citizenship may be primarily based on Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, clubbed with political movements brewing in the country. Also read: Joe Biden calls Trump 'first' racist president of the United States More than politics Besides being dissatisfied with the contemporary socio-political landscape in the country, many have left the country due to taxes, as per Bambridge. Citizens of the US who move to other countries have to file tax returns every year regardless of where they are. In addition, they also have to divulge details of their foreign bank accounts, investments, and pensions, among many other financial details. Also read: 'Quantum' leap: United States unveils blueprint for virtually 'unhackable internet' Even though citizens are eligible to assert claim over $1.200 stimulus cheques, with $500 for each child, Bambridge believed the taxation system is simply “too much”. In order to forego their citizenship of the US, Americans are required to pay $2,350 and physically appear at a US embassy in the country where they’re situated. A high stake presidential election in November may further influence the rate of relinquishing citizenship among expat Americans. Bambridge believes the numbers will go up if Trump is re-elected.

More Americans are relinquishing their US citizenship than ever before

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