Amid unrest, Melania appeals for racial amity

Washington, August 26

Racial unrest is a harsh reality in the US and we are not proud of parts of our history, United States First Lady Melania Trump has acknowledged, as she recalled her own immigrant story in an appeal for social harmony in the country.

The First Lady, in her address to the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Tuesday from the Rose Garden of the White House, made a passionate plea to Americans to re-elect her husband, President Donald Trump. This was her first major reference to the socio-political unrest in the country following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.

Melania, 50, said, "I arrived in the US when I was 26 years old. Living and working in the land of opportunity was a dream come true, but I wanted more. I wanted to be a citizen. After 10 years of paperwork and patience I studied for the test in 2006 and became an American citizen. It is still one of the proudest moments in my life."

Meanwhile, a third night of street protests over the police shooting of a Black man erupted into gun violence late Tuesday and early Wednesday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, killing two people and wounding one, police said. A teenager has been detained. Social media videos showed chaotic scenes of people running and screaming amid gunfire and others tending to wounds. — PTI/Reuters

Indian gets US citizenship at WH ceremony

Washington: Donald Trump presided over a rare naturalisation ceremony at the White House (WH) where five immigrants, including a software developer from India, were sworn in as US citizens. "Sudha Sundari Narayanan is a phenomenal success. She is a talented software developer," Trump said. PTI

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US blacklists 24 Chinese companies, individuals

Washington, August 26

The United States on Wednesday blacklisted 24 Chinese firms and targeted individuals it said were part of construction and military actions in the South China Sea, its first such move over the disputed waterway.

The US Commerce Department said the two dozen companies "played a role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarise the internationally condemned artificial islands in the South China Sea."

The US also said it would impose visa restrictions on Chinese individuals "responsible for, or complicit in," such action. — Reuters

Only Trump can tackle China: US Secy of State

Trump is the only person who can take on China and its "predatory aggression," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. He also said Trump would not rest until he brings Beijing to justice for "spreading Covid". PTI

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Sri Lanka to adopt ‘India first approach’

Colombo, August 26

Sri Lanka will adopt an "India first approach" as its new foreign policy plank and protect New Delhi's strategic security interests, the country's Foreign Secretary, Jayanath Colombage, has said as he sought to allay concerns amid China's growing presence in the island nation.

Admiral Colombage became the first-ever foreign secretary from a military background when he was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to head the Foreign Ministry on August 14.

In an interview published by Daily Mirror on Wednesday, Colombage said "Sri Lanka will not do anything harmful to India's strategic security interests."

"China is the second-largest economy and India is considered the sixth-largest. In 2018, India was the world's fastest-growing economy. That means we are between two economic giants," he said.

Commenting on the Chinese investment in Hambantota port, Colombage says that Sri Lanka had offered India Hambantota first, but it did not undertake it for whatever reason. — PTI

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24 Covid deaths in Oz

Melbourne/London, August 26

Australia on Wednesday recorded 156 fresh Covid cases and 24 new deaths, the highest single-day increase in the death toll, health officials said.

The country's second most populous state of Victoria recorded 149 new coronavirus cases and all the latest fatalities, 21 of those linked to aged care outbreaks, taking the state's death toll to 462, and the national death toll to 549.

In England, pupils must wear face masks in places with local lockdowns, Education Minister Gavin Williamson has said. Earlier, ministers had ruled out the need for pupils to wear masks in corridors despite WHO's advice at the weekend. — Agencies

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Pakistan Senate rejects two Bills related to FATF grey list

Islamabad, August 26

Pakistan's Opposition-dominated Senate has rejected two Bills related to the tough conditions set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), jeopardising the government's efforts to escape from being blacklisted by the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.

'Desperate move to save ill-gotten money'

Opposition leaders have become desperate to save their corrupt money. They are trying to hide behind the facade of democracy to protect their loot and plunder. — Imran Khan, Pakistan Prime Minister

The move drew a strong reaction from Prime Minister Imran Khan, who accused the Opposition leaders of trying to save their illegal money.

The Anti-Money Laundering (Second Amendment) Bill and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Waqf Properties Bill, passed by the National Assembly a day before, were rejected through a voice vote by the Senate on Tuesday.

The legislations were part of efforts by Pakistan to move from the FATF's grey list to the white list.

The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) put Pakistan on the grey list in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action by the end of 2019, but the deadline was extended later on due to Covid-19.

The 104-member Senate, where the Opposition enjoys a majority, rejected two Bills after Leader of the House Shahzad Waseem refused to tender an apology for remarks that he made against the Opposition leadership last week, Dawn newspaper said.

Waseem without naming the Opposition leaders accused them of being involved in money laundering. The Bills will now be taken up for voting at a joint session of Parliament.

"Today in Senate, the Opposition defeated two critical FATF-related Bills: Anti Money Laundering and ICT Waqf Bills. From day one I have maintained that the self-serving interests of the Opposition leaders and the country's interests are divergent," the PM tweeted.

"The Opposition leaders have become desperate to save their corrupt money by trying to prevent parliament from functioning; by seeking to undermine the government's effective Covid-19 strategy — a recognised global success story — and now by trying to sabotage Pakistan's efforts to exit FATF grey list," he added.

Khan further said the Opposition parties were trying to hide behind the facade of democracy to protect their loot and plunder and using blackmail as a tactic to gain concessions on their cases of corruption. — PTI

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U.S. doctors group calls for transparency in COVID-19 vaccine development

In a letter, the AMA urged the FDA to ensure transparency in the vaccine development process and keep physicians informed of the agency’s plan for review of potential vaccine candidates.

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-doctors-group-calls-for-transparency-in-covid-19-vaccine-development/article32452001.ece

Dad is exhausted after a long day with the kids

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