Junior Digest

SYDNEY,16,July 2020: Australia will continue to advocate “very strongly” for the freedom of navigation through the South China sea, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.

“Australia will continue to adopt a very consistent position,” Morrison told a media briefing in Canberra when asked if the country backed the position of the United States on the South China Sea.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday the United States would support countries that believed China has violated their maritime claims in the South China Sea, but stressed doing so in multilateral and legal forums.

HONG KONG,July12,2020: Hong Kong’s opposition camp set up polling booths across the Chinese-ruled city on Saturday for primary elections aimed at selecting democracy candidates who stand the best chance of success in Legislative Council elections in September.
The primaries come less than two weeks after Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation on the Asian financial hub, stoking concerns that wide-ranging freedoms not seen in mainland China will be crushed.

The law punishes what China describes broadly as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life in prison and allows mainland security agents to operate officially in Hong Kong for the first time.

On the eve of the primaries, police searched the office of independent pollster Robert Chung, whose Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) helps organise the election, raising concerns among activists of interference in the poll.
While the primaries are only for the opposition camp, observers are watching closely as they say the turnout at the election will serve as a litmus test of broader opposition to the national security law.
The election seeks to bolster the chance for democracy candidates to achieve a 35-plus majority in the 70-seat legislature in polls on September 6, potentially giving them power to block government proposals.

Hong Kong’s opposition camp secured a landslide victory in district council elections in November, riding on support for an anti-government protest movement triggered by a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial.
Protests that escalated in June last year and evolved into calls for greater democracy have fizzled since police arrested more than 300 people on July 1, the day after Beijing introduced the national security law.

July 15,2020: The first vaccine against COVID-19 tested in the United States is moving into its final phase with promising results, according to results published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Moderna Inc. in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health started working together and within six weeks had a vaccine called mRNA-1273, said Dr. Nadine Rouphael, one of the authors on the study.

“To be able to publish preliminary results three months later is really unprecedented,” Rouphael said. “It had shown that the vaccine was well tolerated. It has also shown that the vaccine is able to induce a good immune response.”

It is the first vaccine to be tested in the United States, and Emory University is one of three sites for the trial that began March 16.

“These interim results are very encouraging,” said Evan Anderson, the principal investigator for the trial at Emory.

Patients with COVID-19 from Emory University Hospital and Emory University Hospital Midtown started developing “virus-neutralizing” antibodies within six days of testing positive, GPB News previously reported.
Emory’s study consisted of 45 healthy adults, 18 to 55 years of age, who received two vaccinations, 28 days apart, with mRNA-1273 in a dose of 25 μg, 100 μg, or 250 μg. There were 15 participants in each dose group. Three participants did not receive the second vaccination.

One of those participants, 65-year-old Norman Hulme, compared it to a flu shot.

“They wanted to observe me for the next hour just to make sure that there wasn’t some instant reaction or a bad side effect,” Hulme said.

It didn’t hurt and he didn’t notice anything remarkable afterward.
The vaccine did not produce serious side effects, Rouphael said.

“Side effects included pain at injection site and fatigue, some chills and headaches,” she said.

The effects were more common with the larger dose, which is not being pursued.

In the study, researchers looked at antibodies against the receptor-binding domain, part of the spike protein on the outside of the virus.
The RBD is what grips on to human cells and allows the virus to enter them. The researchers focused on antibodies against the RBD because the sequence of the RBD in SARS-CoV-2 distinguishes it from other coronaviruses that cause the common cold.

Rouphael said Phase 3 of the trial will seek to answer the question of whether the vaccine will protect against acquisition of COVID-19.

“We don’t know what the other components of the immune system could also be protective in addition to that antibody, for example, like the T-cell response,” Rouphael said. “A lot remains to be understood about the disease and how somebody who gets exposed actually acquired the infection, and if they do acquire the infection, how severe is.”

A 30,000-person study is set to begin July 27 to prove whether the shots are strong enough to protect against the coronavirus. It will mark the world’s largest study of a potential COVID-19 vaccine so far, according to the Associated Press.

The NIH-developed shot isn’t the only one set for such massive U.S. testing. The government plans similar large studies of the Oxford candidate and another by Johnson & Johnson; separately, Pfizer Inc. is planning its own huge study.

Already, people can start signing up to volunteer for the different studies.

Jaipur/New Delhi, Jul 14,2020: The Congress party on Tuesday removed its Rajasthan leader and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot from all posts on the charges of ‘anti-party’ activities.
Also, two state cabinet ministers Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena, said to be Mr Pilot’s loyalists, were also dropped.
The decision was taken after Mr Pilot along with others leaders gave Congress Legislature Party’s (CLP) meeting in Jaipur a miss. The meeting was called to discuss frictions between the camps of Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot with an open invitation to the former.
Mr Pilot along with others remained cemented in Delhi, 280 km away from the pink city. They missed the meeting on Monday as well.
Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra replaced Mr Pilot as new Congress party chief for Rajasthan. However, no one was appointed deputy chief minister.
Mr Gehlot in the evening met State Governor Kalraj Mishra and presented the proposal of sacking the three leaders from the Congress party which was accepted.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surejewala told mediapersons in Jaipur, “Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and several other leaders spoke to Mr Pilot several times. We appealed to him time and again and assured him of solving all issues. I am sad that he and some of his colleagues have fallen for a trap laid by the BJP…This is unacceptable.”
Reacting on his removal, Mr Pilot said he was being humiliated and his supporters were extremely hurt.
“Truth can be rattled but not defeated,” he wrote in Hindi on his twitter handle.
However, Mr Gehlot while speaking to mediapersons said the decision to sack Mr Pilot and two other cabinet ministers was not taken by him but Congress high command.
On Monday, a resolution was passed by the CLP for a disciplinary action against anyone involved in anti-party activities.
In the 200-member State Assembly, the Congress has 107 MLAs, while the BJP 72. The ruling party has the support of one Rashtyia Lok Dal, two Communist Party of India (Marxist), two Bharatiya Tribal Party MLAs and 13 Independents.

New Delhi, July 12,2020: Stressing that Family Planning was a human rights issue, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said commemorating World Population Day was important as it emphasised the importance of population stabilisation and its vital role in the future of the masses and their health as well as the importance of providing reproductive health services due to the challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic.
Chairing the virtual meeting on the occasion of World Population Day here, in the presence of MoS Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Dr HHarsh Vardhan while highlighting the success of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) programme, said the strategy of putting family planning at the core had helped to achieve remarkable results.
“In the last decade alone, our Crude Birth Rate (CBR) has reduced from 21.8 (SRS 2011) to 20 (SRS 2018) while the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined from 2.4 (SRS 2011) to 2.2 (SRS 2018). And the teenage fertility has halved from 16 (NFHS III) to 7.9 (NFHS IV).”
He noted that these efforts had taken India closer to reaching the replacement fertility level of 2.1 and 25 out of 36 States/UTs have already achieved replacement level fertility.
Referring to Prime Minister’s commitment to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which transformed into a social movement, he urged everyone to make the population stabilisation mission an equally powerful people’s movement. He emphasised that Family Planning provides dignity to women, especially who are poor and marginalised. This needs to therefore be the cornerstone of our efforts for gender equality, maternal and child health, poverty alleviation and propagation of human rights.
Dr Harsh Vardhan also said that India is a fundamental part of the global FP2020 movement, “The Government of India has invested substantial domestic funding to achieve the ambitious FP2020 goals. The major initiatives under Family Planning include Mission Parivar Vikas, Injectable Contraceptive MPA, Family Planning – Logistics Management Information System (LMIS), Family Planning Communications Campaign. The National Family Planning Program has introduced the Injectable Contraceptive in the public health system under the “Antara” program. This contraceptive is highly effective and will meet the changing needs of couples and help women space their pregnancies.” “All this investment has paid us rich dividends in terms of averting nearly 5.5 crore unintended pregnancies, 1.1 crore total births, 18 lakh unsafe abortions and 30,000 maternal deaths as a result of contraceptive use in 2019 alone, as per Track 20 Estimates.”, he added.
Mr Choubey said, “Family planning not only keeps the population stable but also helps ensure good health for women, families and communities. Population stabilisation ensures that resources are available for the development of the maximum population. It is more important for India since at present, about 50 per cent of the country’s population falls in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years.”
The Health Minister also released the AB-HWC Mobile application developed by Ministry of Health and family Welfare. The App is designed to streamline the process of data reporting at AB-Health and Wellness Centres. It is an extension of AB-HWC Portal which is already used by state, district and AB-HWC facility in-charge to report data pertaining to service utilization at AB-HWCs to enable real time performance monitoring and act as a tool for planning. It shall provide real time information on the people who have been screened, dispensation of healthcare services and drugs, footfalls, and referrals made to PHCs.
Noting that Covid-19 has imposed additional responsibilities on the frontline healthcare workers, Dr Harsh Vardhan praised the HWCs for their tireless services towards Covid-19 and also to ensure that non-Covid essential services are not adversely affected

Guwahati, Jul 12,2020: The flood rampage continued in Assam on Saturday as the deluge spread to 20 districts, affecting 6.02 lakh people and claiming two more lives, the disaster management authority said.

A person died in Kokrajhar district and another in Dhubri district, taking death toll due to the deluge to 66, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said in a bulletin.

The flood-hit districts include Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Charaideo, Biswanath, Udalguri, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat and Tinsukia, it said.

The worst-affected district is Dhemaji, followed by Barpeta and Lakhimpur.

The flood waters have submerged 1,109 villages and 46,082 hectares of crop area across Assam. District authorities have set up 92 relief camps and distribution centres in 11 districts, where 8,474 people have taken shelter, the ASDMA said.

The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark in Dibrugarh, Neamatighat in Jorhat, Tezpur in Sonitpur and Dhubri town, the bulletin said.

Embankments, roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure have been damaged at various places in Lakhimpur, Biswanath and Dhemaji districts, the ASDMA said.

It added that a total of 46 camps out of 223 at the Kaziranga National Park, 12 out of 25 camps at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and six out of 40 camps at Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park were inundated.

WARSAW ,13,2020: President Andrzej Duda was marginally ahead in Poland’s presidential election, an exit poll showed on Sunday, in a result with profound implications for relations with the rest of the European Union.

Duda, an ally of the ruling nationalists Law and Justice (PiS), got 50.4% of the vote, according to the exit poll.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the favoured candidate of the main opposition party, the centrist Civic Platform (PO), got 49.6%.

The exit poll by Ipsos has a margin of error of two percentage points for each candidate. Preliminary results are expected on Monday.

CHICAGO,11,2020: The coronavirus pandemic has exposed a clash among medical experts over disease transmission that stretches back nearly a century – to the very origins of germ theory.
The Geneva-based World Health Organization acknowledged this week that the novel coronavirus can spread through tiny droplets floating in the air, a nod to more than 200 experts in aerosol science who publicly complained that the U.N. agency had failed to warn the public about this risk.

Yet the WHO still insists on more definitive proof that the novel coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19, can be transmitted through the air, a trait that would put it on par with measles and tuberculosis and require even more stringent measures to contain its spread.

“WHO’s slow motion on this issue is unfortunately slowing the control of the pandemic,” said Jose Jimenez, a University of Colorado chemist who signed the public letter urging the agency to change its guidance.

Jimenez and other experts in aerosol transmission have said the WHO is holding too dearly to the notion that germs are spread primarily though contact with a contaminated person or object. That idea was a foundation of modern medicine, and explicitly rejected the obsolete miasma theory that originated in the Middle Ages postulating that poisonous, foul-smelling vapors made up of decaying matter caused diseases such as cholera and the Black Death.

“It’s part of the culture of medicine from the early 20th century. To accept something was airborne requires this very high level of proof,” said Dr. Donald Milton, a University of Maryland aerobiologist and a lead author of the open letter.

Such proof could involve studies in which laboratory animals become sickened by exposure to the virus in the air, or studies showing viable virus particles in air samples – a level of proof not required for other modes of transmission such as contact with contaminated surfaces, the letter’s signatories said.

For the WHO, such proof is necessary as it advises countries of every income and resource level to take more drastic measures against a pandemic that has killed more than 550,000 people globally, with more than 12 million confirmed infections.

For example, hospitals would have to provide more healthcare personnel with heavy-duty N95 respiratory masks – personal protective gear already in short supply – and businesses and schools would need to make improvements to ventilation systems and require wearing masks indoors at all times.

“It would affect our entire way of life. And that’s why it’s a very important question,” said Dr. John Conly, a University of Calgary infectious disease expert who is part of the WHO’s group of experts advising on coronavirus guidelines.

Conly said that so far the studies have not shown viable virus particles floating in the air.

“In my mind, I want to see evidence in those fine mists,” Conly said.
HOW FAR CAN A DROPLET TRAVEL?

The WHO’s latest guidance document, released on Thursday, called for more research on coronavirus aerosol transmission, which it said “has not been demonstrated.”

The agency also repeated a firm cutoff on the size of infectious droplets expelled in coughing and sneezing, noting that most larger droplets are unlikely to travel beyond one meter (3.3 feet) – the basis for their one-meter social distancing guidelines. Milton and others have said larger particles have been shown to spread much farther.

Conly and others maintain that if the virus were truly airborne like measles, there would already be many more cases.

“Would we not be seeing, like, literally billions of cases globally? That’s not the case,” Conly said.

WHO spokeswoman Dr. Margaret Harris rejected the claim by critics that the agency is biased against the idea of aerosol transmission, saying it recognized the possibility of airborne transmission during medical procedures from early on in the pandemic.
Harris said it is “quite possible” that aerosolization is a factor in some so-called super-spreading events in which one infected person infects many others in close quarters. Many of these events have occurred in places such as nightclubs where people are packed together and are not likely to be careful about protecting themselves or others from infection.

“Most super-spreading events have occurred in indoor places with poor ventilation, with crowding, where it’s very difficult for people to socially distance,” Harris said.

That is why, Harris said, the agency has called for urgent studies to figure out “what really happened in these clusters and what were the big factors.”

Karnal (Haryana) , July 12,2020: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday announced that the girl students will be provided passports on the completion of their graduation degrees and the entire process would be completed in college.
“The state government has decided that all girl students should get a passport from their institutions along with their graduation degree”, announced the Haryana CM during a programme “Har Sar Helmet” organised on Saturday to provide learners’ driving licenses and free helmets to about 100 students in Karnal.
He also stated that learner’s licences would be given to students to make them aware of traffic rules.
On this occasion, CM Khattar also distributed helmets to some of the students and added that “such a program is different from the political subject and it would have long term results.”
He further stated that wearing a helmet could reduce the number of fatalities in accidents.
“Around 1,300 accidents take place in the country daily. A majority of the victims without helmet succumb to their injuries. Approximately 13 people die daily in accidents in Haryana,” the Haryana CM added.
“Studies show that if a person drives a vehicle wearing a helmet, there is an 80 per cent chance of survival in the accident.”

New Delhi, Jul 11,2020: Describing solar power as ‘Sure, Pure and Secure’, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Solar Energy would be a major source for providing the energy needs of an aspirational India in the 21st Century.
Speaking after dedicating to the Nation the Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Power project, via video conference, the PM described Solar Energy as one which is ‘Sure, Pure and Secure’, and said that such Solar Energy projects are a true representation of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
‘Sure because of the continuous supply of Energy from the Sun, Pure as it is environment friendly and Secure because it is a secure source for our energy needs,’the PM said.
The PM said the economy is an important aspect of self-reliance and progress.
Referring to the regular dilemma whether to focus on Economy or Ecology, the PM said India resolved such dilemmas by focussing on Solar Energy Projects and other environment friendly measures.
‘Economy and Ecology are not contradictory but complementary to each other,’the PM said.
He said in all the programs of the government, priority is being given to environmental protection as well as Ease of Living.
He referred to programmes like Swachch Bharat, supply of LPG cylinders to the poor households, the development of CNG networks as one which focussed on Ease of Living and improving the lives of the poor and the middle class.
The Prime Minister said that the protection of the environment is not limited to just a few projects, but it is the Way of Life.
PM said it is ensured that the determination towards clean energy is seen in every aspect of life, when launching large projects of renewable energy. Government is making sure that its benefits reach every corner of the country, every section of society, every citizen.
He elaborated this with an example of how the introduction of LED bulbs has reduced the electricity bill.
‘Nearly 40 million tons of carbon dioxide is prevented from going into the environment, due to the LED bulb,’the PM said.
He said this also reduced the Electricity Usage by 6 Billion Units and accrued a saving of Rs 24,000 Crore to the exchequer.
He said that the Government is working towards making our environment, our air, our water also to remain pure and this thinking is also reflected in the policy and strategy on solar energy.
Mr Modi said India’s exemplary progress in the field of Solar Energy would be a major source of interest to the World. He said owing to such major steps, India is being considered as the most attractive market of clean energy.
The Prime Minister said that the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched with the motive to unite the entire World in terms of solar energy. He said the spirit behind was One World, One Sun, One Grid.
The Prime Minister said the Rewa project will make the entire region a major hub for pure and clean energy in this decade.
The Prime Minister praised the effort in that it will also supply power to the Delhi Metro, along with the entire region surrounding Rewa.
He said very soon Madhya Pradesh would be the main centre of Solar Energy in India, as such major projects are in progress in Neemuch, Shajapur, Chattarpur and Omkareshwar.
The biggest beneficiaries of this would be the poor, the middle class, the tribals, the farmers of Madhya Pradesh, he said.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that Madhya Pradesh’s farmers will also make use of the Government’s KUSUM Program and will install Solar Energy plants in their lands as an additional source of income.
He expressed the hope that very soon India will be a major exporter of power.
Prime Minister said India is also focussing reducing its dependence on imports of various hardware needed for solar plants, like Photovoltaic Cells, Battery and Storage.
He said the work is progressing rapidly in this direction and the Government is encouraging the Industry, the youth, MSMEs and StartUps to not miss this opportunity and work for production and betterment of all the inputs required for Solar Energy.

Washington, July 15,2020: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an order ending the preferential treatment enjoyed by Hong Kong, as his administration adopts an increasingly tough stance on China.
“Hong Kong will now be treated the same as mainland China,” the president told reporters at the White House.
Trump also signed a bipartisan legislation, called the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which will give the US administration powerful new tools to hold responsible Chinese officials and the entities who suppress upon the rights of people in Hong Kong.
The ex-British colony enjoys unique freedoms not seen in mainland China.
Many people in the territory fear the new security law imposed by Beijing will bring an end to Hong Kong’s special status, agreed to under a 1984 pact between China and the UK.
The legislation – which outlaws criticism of China’s government – is the most sweeping change to the political landscape of Hong Kong since it was handed back to China by the UK in 1997.

Washington, July 11,2020: US President Donald Trump is working on an executive order to establish a merit-based immigration system, the White House has said.
The White House statement came soon after Trump, in an interview with Telemundo News channel, said he is working on an executive order on immigration that will include a “road to citizenship” for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme.

Responding to a question, Trump said his action on the DACA is going to be part of a much bigger bill on immigration.

“It’s going to be a very big bill, a very good bill, and a merit-based bill and it will include DACA, and I think people are going to be very happy,” the president.

“One of the aspects of the bill is going to be DACA. We’re going to have a road to citizenship,” Trump said, drawing sharp criticism from quarters in his camp. Senator Ted Cruz described the move as a mistake.

“As the president announced today, he is working on an executive order to establish a merit-based immigration system to further protect US workers,” the White House said in a statement.
“Furthermore, the president has long said he is willing to work with the Congress on a negotiated legislative solution to DACA, one that could include citizenship, along with strong border security and permanent merit-based reforms,” the White House said.

“This does not include amnesty. Unfortunately, Democrats have continually refused these offers as they are opposed to anything other than totally open borders,” said the White House in a statement.

During the interview, Trump alleged the Opposition broke the deal with him on the DACA.

“I had a deal with the Democrats and they broke the deal. The DACA could have been taken care of two years ago, but the Democrats broke the deal. All of a sudden they just broke it for no reason. Actually, they had a court case that slightly went their way, and they said, ‘Oh, let’s not talk about the deal anymore,'” he said.

Trump said the recent Supreme Court ruling gave the president tremendous powers when they said that you could take in, in this case, 700,000 or so people.
“Based on the powers that they (SC) gave, I’m going to be doing an immigration bill. One of the aspects of the bill that you will be very happy with, and that a lot of people will be, including me and a lot of Republicans, by the way, will be the DACA. It will give them a road to citizenship,” Trump said.

Beijing, Jul 15 ,2020: China has firmly denounced the Hong Kong Autonomy Act adopted in the United States, and is intending to impose sanctions against relevant US citizens and organizations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he had signed legislation and an Executive Order punishing China for the encroachment on Hong Kong autonomy. He told reporters that he signed into law the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, which had passed unanimously through Congress, and gave him tools to hold those accountable who suppress freedom. The Executive Order signed by the president ends US preferential treatment for Hong Kong and will ensure it is treated the same as mainland China.
“The US law maliciously decries the Hong Kong National Security Act, it includes threats to impose sanctions on China, gravely violates international law and basic rules of international relations, is a gross interference in Hong Kong’s and China’s internal affairs. The Chinese government strongly condemns this,” the ministry said in a statement.
It added that China will take the necessary retaliatory measures and impose sanctions against US citizens and organizations related to this law.
“Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, Hong Kong’s affairs are exclusively internal affairs of China, no foreign country has the right to intervene. China is unwavering in its determination and will to protect national sovereignty and security, to ensure the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, as well as to resist the outside forces’ intervention in Hong Kong’s internal affairs,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, adding that Washington’s plans to impede the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Act were doomed for failure.
According to the statement, Beijing calls on the United States “to fix its mistakes and to not enact the so-called Hong Kong Autonomy Act, to stop any interference in China’s internal affairs, including in Hong Kong’s,” however, if the United States stands its ground, China will take countermeasures.
Washington’s move comes in the wake of Beijing’s recently approved security law, which outlaws separatist, subversive and terrorist activities in Hong Kong. On June 30, Chinese President Xi Jinping signed it into effect.
The legislation has been condemned by the Hong Kong opposition, as well as Western officials, who claim it would undermine the city’s autonomy guaranteed during its transition from the United Kingdom to China. The new law has been met by a wave of protests in the city, as some residents fear their rights may be infringed upon.
Both Hong Kong’s leadership and the central government in Beijing say the law would not affect residents’ rights. Beijing maintains that the recent unrest in Hong Kong is a result of foreign interference and vows to respect the “one country, two systems’ principle.

Johannesburg [South Africa], July 10 ,2020: Extending solidarity to ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement, Cricket South Africa (CSA) acting CEO Dr Jacques Faul said that the national sporting body would use its platform to educate and listen to others on all forms of discrimination.
“Black Lives Matter. It is as simple as that. As a national sporting body representing more than 56 million South Africans and with the privileged position of owning a platform as large as we do, it is of vital importance that we use our voice to educate and listen to others on topics involving all forms of discrimination,” Faul said in a statement.
CSA was founded on the principles of non-racialism and inclusion at unity. The vision of CSA, to become a truly national sport of winners supported by the majority, finds resonance in the ethos of “Black Lives Matter”, as per the statement.
During the Nelson Mandela International Day celebrations on July 18, CSA will further spread the message of anti-racism through the BLM campaign.
“We also speak out against all forms of violence and in particular, the scourge that is Gender-Based Violence and various other causes that are of importance to our society and the organization,” the acting CEO concluded.
On Wednesday, England and West Indies cricketers took a knee to show their solidarity against racism and support the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement before the start of the first Test of the three-match series at the Ageas Bowl.
Prior to the three-match Test series, both England and West Indies had already announced that they would be sporting a ‘Black Lives Matter’ logo on their jerseys to show support with the anti-racism movement.
The ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement gained momentum following the death of an African-American man named George Floyd, after a police officer, later identified as Derek Chauvin, pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck as suggested by the viral videos.
Ever since Floyd’s demise, many sportspersons have come out to talk about their experience with racism.
Windies opening batsman Chris Gayle also said that he had faced racism, and added that it is a myth that the menace of racism exists just in football.
The Premier League resumed its suspended season in June and all teams have been sending out a strong message to show solidarity with the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. All teams have been taking a knee to show their support, while jerseys of all teams have ‘Black Lives Matter’ imprinted on them.

Gurugram, Jul 13,2020: Amid the reports of further disengagement of the Chinese and Indian troops in Galwan valley in the eastern after a stiff faceoff, the Indo- Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) chief Chief SS Deswal on Sunday said that all the country’s land is under “full possession” of our security and defence forces.
ITBP DG Deswal who is also holding the additional charge of the Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a plantation drive held at a BSF camp in Bhondsi here.
“All the country’s land is with us. Our land is in full possession of our security forces,” Mr Deswal told reporters here when he was asked to comment on the current military standoff along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.
“All our borders are safe, be it the eastern, western or northern. The security forces of the country are very active, capable and dedicated.
They are capable to protect the borders against any kind of enemy with all their might and efficiency,” he further said.
When asked if the ITBP had moved more troops to its eastern part of LAC posts along the LAC, Mr Deswal said the forces are moved across the country as per requirement.
“The morale of the army and border guarding forces is very high. Since independence, the security forces have made numerous sacrifices to protect the country’s borders and for security of the country whether it is external threat or internal security,” he said.
He also said that the ITBP is old an experienced force which was created way back in 1962 to protect Himalayan border with China and has best experience of mountain warfare.
The Himalayan border guarding force ITBP is mandated to guard 3,488 Km long LAC with China.

Washington DC [USA], July 15,2020: After China declared primaries held by Hong Kong’s pro-democratic parties on the weekend ‘illegal’, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has called for a free and fair Legislative Council election in the city.
Taking to Twitter, Pompeo on Tuesday congratulated the Hong Kong’s pro democrats for a successful primary.
“Congratulations to Hong Kong’s pan-democrats for a successful primary. The Legislative Council election in September should be equally free and fair,” Pompeo tweeted.
The territory-wide primary came less than two weeks after Beijing’s imposition of the national security law on the city.
Late on Monday, Beijing’s top representatives in Hong Kong labelled the primaries “illegal” and accused organisers of colluding with foreign powers in a “serious provocation” of Hong Kong’s electoral system and to seize the private data of voters.
“The goal of organiser Benny Tai and the opposition camp is to seize the ruling power of Hong Kong and carry out a Hong Kong version of ‘colour revolution’,” said a spokesperson for the liaison office, whose chief is also in charge of implementing the national security laws.
According to South China Morning Post, a total of 5,92,211 votes were cast via mobile app and about 21,000 paper ballots were cast in the two-day primary election.
The 52 candidates were running in all five geographical constituencies, as well as in the health services and district council (second) functional constituencies.
Political activist Joshua Wong was the top candidate in Kowloon East, while two of the localists he endorsed — former journalist Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam and incumbent lawmaker Eddie Chu Hoi-dick — came first in New Territories East and New Territories West, respectively.
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, and Sunny Cheung Kwan-yang took the first two places in Kowloon West.

New Delhi , July 10,2020:: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Friday commented on the ongoing tense situation with China in Ladakh and stated that the final goal is the restoration of the status quo ante on the border.
“We are generally happy with the disengagement and de-escalation. People will keep a close watch on the PROCESS and the PROGRESS. But let us remember, the declared goal is the restoration of status quo ante as on May 5, 2020,” he tweeted.
India and China have begun a long process of disengagement in eastern Ladakh after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval spoke to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday evening.
The conversation finalised the disengagement in eastern Ladakh and de-escalation along the LAC.

Washington D.C. [US], July 10 ,2020: The United States recommends that China meet with Russia at an early date to consider next steps for trilateral arms control negotiations, US State Department spokesperson said on Thursday.
“The United States welcomes China’s commitment to engage in arms control negotiations. As such, prudent next steps will need to include face-to-face meetings between the United States and China. The Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control, Ambassador Marshall Billingslea, will invite the Chinese government to join in good faith negotiations in Vienna, Austria,” said State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus.
“The United States also recommends that China meet with Russia at an early date to consider next steps for trilateral arms control negotiations. We will all bring different perspectives and objectives to the negotiating table and will surely have disagreements. But it is time for dialogue and diplomacy between the three biggest nuclear weapons powers on how to prevent a new arms race,” she added.
According to a Sputnik report, on June 22, Russia and the US launched talks in Vienna in an effort to rescue New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last pact limiting the two countries’ nuclear arsenals that is set to expire in February. China repeatedly declined the invitation to join the talks, dashing United States’ hopes of making them trilateral, the report said.

New Delhi, Jul 12,2020: Hardik Patel, known as the face of the Patidar agitation in Gujarat, was on Saturday appointed as the working president of the state Congress.
Hardik Patel, who led the Patidar reservation agitation in Gujarat, had joined the Congress in March, 2019, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.