Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to annex parts of the occupied West Bank in the coming months, vowing to move ahead with the explosive plan despite a growing chorus of condemnations by key allies.
The Palestinians, with wide international backing, seek the entire West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state. Annexing large chunks of this territory would all but destroy the faint remaining hopes of a two-state solution.
In an apparent reference to the friendly administration of President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said on Monday Israel had a historic opportunity to redraw the Mideast map that could not be missed. Israeli media quoted him as saying he would act in July.
This is an opportunity that we will not let pass, he told members of his conservative Likud party. He added that the historic opportunity to annex the West Bank had never before occurred since Israel's founding in 1948.
The comments threatened to push Israel closer to a confrontation with ..

Israeli leader vows to push ahead with annexing West Bank

PTI Automatic

With Brazil emerging as one of the world's most infected countries, President Jair Bolsonaro is deflecting all responsibility for the coronavirus crisis, casting blame on mayors, governors, an outgoing health minister and the media.
By contrast, he portrays himself as a clear-eyed crusader willing to defend an unpopular idea  that shutting down the economy to control COVID-19 will ultimately cause more suffering than allowing the disease to run its course. The refusal of governors to fall into line with his decree allowing gyms to open, he said, verged on authoritarianism.
Asked about Brazil's death toll surpassing China's, he feigned impotence: I don't work miracles. What do you want me to do? Confronted with a travel ban imposed on Brazil by the US because of widespread COVID-19, one of his advisers called it press hysteria.
Since the outbreak started, the Brazilian leader has avoided acknowledging the potential effects of his actions, particularly in undermining local leaders' ...

In Bolsonaro's Brazil, everyone else is to blame for virus

President Donald Trump honoured America's fallen service members on Monday as he commemorated Memorial Day in back-to-back appearances in the midst of the pandemic.
Together we will vanquish the virus and America will rise from this crisis to new and even greater heights," Trump said during a ceremony at Baltimore's historic Fort McHenry.
No obstacle, no challenge and no threat is a match for the sheer determination of the American people.
Earlier, Trump silently honoured the nation's war dead at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, which like Fort McHenry is currently off limits to the public because of the pandemic.
Presidents on Memorial Day typically lay a wreath and speak at the hallowed burial ground in Virginia. But the coronavirus crisis, soon to claim its 100,000th life in the U.S., made this year different.
Many attendees arrived wearing masks but removed them for the outdoor ceremony in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Trump, maskless as always in public, ...

Trump honours fallen soldiers on Memorial Day in twin events

Coming to the support of healthcare heroes and essential workers during the current coronavirus pandemic, an Indian NGO has received recognition from an influential US Congressman for donating protecting equipments worth USD 150,000 across the country.
Art of Living Foundation on May 22 received a special congressional recognition from US Congressman Tom Suozzi with the acknowledgement for the efforts being made by it across the country during this coronavirus pandemic.
Towards a larger global effort, Art of Living in partnership with IAHV (International Association for Human Values) in USA have raised USD 350,000 to support the daily wage labourers in India.
This effort has contributed to distribution of over 75 million meals to the marginalized segment of the population.
To all the doctors, the paramedics, frontline workers and all other healthcare professionals, for your services, your dedication, we cannot express our gratitude enough, said spiritual leader, and founder of the Art 

Indian NGO donates USAD150K of PPE to health care workers in US

Vicki L Friedman always wanted to play golf with her adult sons but until this spring couldn't find time to learn the game and practice.
Shaun Warkentin was looking for a diversion when his young sons tired of jumping on the backyard trampoline and being indoors.
He discovered the joy of taking them fishing.
Neighbourhood and park trails across the country have been getting higher-than-usual use by runners, walkers and bicyclists as people find ways to get fresh air while maintaining social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak.
Golf courses are welcoming more beginners and people returning to the game, states have seen robust sales of fishing licenses since the coronavirus hit full force in the U.S. in March and fitness tracking technology has shown a surge in the number of steps recorded.
Friedman, who lives in Chesapeake, Virginia, took up golf at age 54 after the community college where she works ordered employees to do their jobs from home.
That gave her more than an extra ..

Americans finding ways to stay active while keeping distance

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to move the Republican convention out of Charlotte in North Carolina if its Democratic Governor did not remove the restrictions on social distancing measures which are in force due to coronavirus pandemic.
The four-day Republican National Convention in Charlotte is scheduled to be held from August 14 to August 27 and it is here that President Trump would officially be nominated by the Republican Party for his re-election for the presidential elections on November 3.
However, the once-in-a four-year convention is right now in jeopardy or expected to lose its shine because of the social distancing measures being enforced in the State by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.
The convention attracts hundreds and thousands of Trump supporters and Republican leaders from across the country wherein they pack into a giant indoor stadium for four days.
I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican ...

Donald Trump threatens to move the GOP convention out of Charlotte due to COVID 19 restrictions

An Indian-American non-profit body on Monday announced the first tranche of USD 10,000 dedicated for the rescue and relief operations for those affected by the devastation caused by super Cyclone Amphan in coastal belts of Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal.
Sewa International said it has released the money as it is committed to provide all support to those affected by super cyclone Amphan.
Sewa International with on the ground partners/volunteers is committed to providing all support to the affected people in this hour of need, said Swadesh Katoch, vice president of Disaster Recovery, Sewa International.
We have partnered with relief organisations in India over the past two decades, and our people are already in the area working on rescue and relief operations, he said in a statement.
Cyclone Amphan, the strongest to hit the region in nearly two decades, has killed over 85 people and directly affected around 1.5 crore others and destroyed more than 10 lakh houses in India.
In ...

Indian American NGO releases USD 10,000 for Amphan disaster relief

Egypt's medical union on Monday blamed the government for increasing levels of coronavirus infections and deaths among healthcare professionals, its sharpest criticism yet of the country's handling of the pandemic.
Citing growing frustration over a lack of protective equipment, testing and hospital beds for front-line doctors, the union described the Egyptian health ministry's negligence as a crime of killing by irresponsibility.
The union reported that 19 doctors have died and 350 have contracted the virus, according to official figures, although testing of medical staff remains limited.
The health ministry bears full responsibility, it said, as a result of its failure to protect them. Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country, has officially recorded 17,967 infections and 783 fatalities due to COVID-19.
Although it's a modest toll compared with the U.S. and Europe, the curve is rapidly accelerating. With under-resourced quarantine hospitals filling up, many fear the worst is yet 

Egypt's doctors criticize government over virus 'negligence'

The World Health Organisation said Monday that it will temporarily drop hydroxychloroquine  the malaria drug US President Trump says he is taking  from its global study into experimental COVID-19 treatments, saying that its experts need to review all available evidence to date.
In a press briefing, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that in light of a paper published last week in the Lancet that showed people taking hydroxychloroquine were at higher risk of death and heart problems, there would be a temporary pause on the hydroxychloroquine arm of its global clinical trial.
This concern relates to the use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in COVID-19, Tedros said, adding that the drugs are approved treatments for people with malaria or autoimmune diseases. Other treatments in the trial, including the experimental drug remdesivir and an HIV combination therapy, are still being tested.
Tedros said the executive group behind WHO's global Solidarity trial met on ...

UN trial for virus therapies pauses testing on Trump's drug

The Pakistan government would reimpose a strict lockdown in the country if violations of the safety measures against the spread of coronavirus continued, senior official said on Monday.
Pakistan's coronavirus cases on Monday reached 56,349 with 1,748 new patients while the death toll climbed to 1,167 after 34 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours.
The warning by the Pakistan government comes weeks after after the nation had started phase-wise easing of the nation-wide lockdown earlier this month.
In a message, Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza said the government eased lockdown before Eid but people flouted necessary standard operating procedures (SOPs) creating fear and uncertainty.
As we promised when we eased the lockdown, if this trend continues we may reimpose strict lockdowns after Eid, he said.
He observed that apparently there was perception that threat of the coronavirus was over.
"Unfortunately, there is now this thinking among us that this disease (COVID-19) 

Pak warns to reimpose lockdown if flouting of coronavirus safety measures continues: official

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's embattled top aide on Monday refused to quit and defended his actions of driving over 400 kilometres to his parents' home at the height of the coronavirus stay-at-home lockdown, seen as a breach of rules.
Dominic Cummings, who as Johnson's Chief Strategy Adviser is mostly a behind the scenes figure, addressed an unusual press briefing in the Rose Garden of 10 Downing Street in London as furore over his journey continued to escalate into a crisis threatening the UK Prime Minister's authority.
He said he did not to tell the prime minister when he decided to drive his family 260 miles (over 400 kms) during lockdown, when his wife developed COVID-19 symptoms.
He said he believed he was acting "reasonably" and within the law.
Cummings also said he had not considered resigning over the issue - but should have made a statement on it earlier.
"I don't think I am so different and that is one rule for me and one rule for other people," he said in a ...

UK PM's aide refuses to quit; cities "exceptional circumstances" for 400-km drive during lockdown

Two proposed British Grands Prix could be moved into August if it means the UK government do not insist on a 14-day quarantine period, according to Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle.
Plans for two races at the English track were thrown into turmoil when the government offered no exemption to elite sport in its plan to introduce a two-week isolation period for arrivals into the country from June 8.
F1 organisers are aiming to start the season with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5 behind closed doors, followed by a second race at the Red Bull Ring a week later.
It was hoped Silverstone could then host two races in back-to-back weekends, also without spectators.
"We have got our original dates in mid-to-late July but we have got a degree of flexibility in August. I don't think it will be a problem finding dates for two races," Pringle told Sky Sports.
"What we need is the green light from government and that will take time. Formula One as a championship needs that ...

Quarantine measures could push Silverstone races into August

In an unusual move, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's embattled aide on Monday faced up to the media to make a public statement to defend his actions of driving 260 miles to his parents' home at the height of the coronavirus stay-at-home lockdown, seen as a breach of rules.
Dominic Cummings, who as Johnson's Chief Strategy Adviser is mostly a behind the scenes figure, addressed the press briefing in the Rose Garden of 10 Downing Street in London as furore over his journey continued to escalate into a crisis threatening the UK PM's authority.
"I think I behaved legally and responsibly throughout, given the circumstances. I understand that some people do not feel I should have left but I respectfully disagree," said Cummings, explaining in detail that the reason he undertook the journey on March 31 was to ensure his four-year-old child would have family support if he and his wife got too ill to look after him.
"In terms of the rules, they made clear that if you are dealing with ...

UK PM's aide cites "exceptional circumstances" for 260-mile drive to parents home during lockdown

Tennis world number seven Alexander Zverev will join Novak Djokovic's Balkan tournament next month, boosting the cast of top players to descend on Belgrade as the professional season is frozen by the coronavirus.
"The phenomenal news I want to announce today is that Sasa Zverev, Alexander Zverev, will come to Belgrade," Djokovic told a press conference in the Serbian capital on Monday.
The German will join world number three Dominic Thiem and Grigor Dimitrov, ranked 19, in Belgrade on 13-14 June for the first stop of the Adria Tour.
"Three of the world's greatest tennis stars. I'm really very grateful to them," said Djokovic.
Whether spectators will be allowed remains uncertain.
"I hope some rules will be changed by June 13 and maybe we'll have the opportunity to have the audience as well," the world number one said.
"Of course, this is still uncertain, like many other things related to this situation caused by the coronavirus."
The Adria Tour, which Djokovic announced on his 33rd ...

Djokovic says Zverev to join Balkan tournament line-up

Joe Biden made his first in-person appearance in more than two months on Monday as he marked Memorial Day by laying a wreath at a veterans park near his Delaware home.
Since abruptly canceling a March 10 rally in Cleveland at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has waged much of his campaign from his home in Wilmington.
When Biden emerged on Monday, he wore a face mask, in contrast to President Donald Trump, who has refused to cover his face in public as health officials suggest.
Biden and his wife, Jill, laid a wreath of white flowers tied with a white bow, and bowed their heads in silence at the park.
The appearance was a milestone in a presidential campaign that has largely been frozen by the coronavirus outbreak.
While the feasibility of traditional events such as rallies and the presidential conventions are in doubt, Biden's emergence suggests he won't spend the nearly five months that remain until the election entirely at ...

Biden makes 1st in-person appearance in more than 2 months

Venezuelan authorities celebrated Monday as the first of five Iranian tankers loaded with gasoline docked in the South American country, delivering badly needed fuel to the crisis-stricken nation that sits atop the world's largest oil reserves.
The gasoline shipments are arriving in defiance of stiff sanctions by the Trump administration against both nations and they mark a new era in the burgeoning relationship between Venezuela and Iran, which is expanding its footprint in the Western Hemisphere.
We keep moving forward and winning, Venezuela's Minister of Energy Tareck El Aissami tweeted.
State TV played images of the ship pulling through Caribbean waters as Venezuelan fighter jets flew overhead.
Aissami posted photographs on his Twitter account of the sun rising over the tanker docked at El Palito refinery.
Washington says both Iran and Venezuela are ruled by repressive regimes.
It recently offering a $15 million reward for Maduro's arrest on drug smuggling charges in a maximum ...

Venezuela celebrates docking of tanker with Iran gasoline

Zlatan Ibrahimovic may have picked up an Achilles tendon injury that could put the AC Milan forward's season at risk, according to reports in Italy on Monday.
The Gazzetta Dello Sport reports that the Swede hurt his calf in training but various outlets claim that the injury may also involve his Achilles tendon, which would rule him out for weeks, with Serie A potentially restarting next month.
Contacted by AFP, Milan didn't comment on Ibrahimovic's physical condition.  Aged 38, Ibrahimovic rejoined the seven-time European champions during this season's winter transfer window. He suffered a calf injury shortly after signing in January.
He returned to Italy two weeks ago from Sweden, where he had been training with Hammarby, in order to prepare for a possible return to Serie A action.

Ibrahimovic suffers potential Achilles injury: reports

The coronavirus crisis could "potentially threaten" the existence of the German Football Association (DFB), its treasurer Stephan Osnabruegge warned Monday.
"The DFB is in the deepest economic crisis of the recent past," said Osnabruegge at the German FA's virtual extraordinary meeting.
He said "far-reaching cuts" must be made to avoid a worst-case scenario, which would see the DFB receiving 96.5 million euros ($105.1 million) less than planned this year, resulting in a forecasted loss of 77 million euros.
All but 13.8 million euros of that figure would be covered by the governing body's financial reserves.
However, the DFB would then be expected to avoid bankruptcy due to the equity capital it has available.
The German FA is eager to avoid laying off jobs, but some staff have been put on reduced hours since May 1.
Planned wage increases have been suspended and the German FA's management has agreed to reduced salaries of between 10 and 30 percent.
According to 2019 figures, the German 

Coronavirus could bankrupt German FA, warns treasurer

A Muslim man has been arrested by the UK police for breaking into a gurdwara in an area in eastern England where a stabbing incident was reported earlier.
Guru Arjan Gurdwara on Stanhope Street in Derbyshire reported a break-in to Derbyshire Police after its front doors were found smashed in the early hours of Monday morning.
"From the evidence obtained thus far, the male's attire and the note which was left (behind), (it) appears that he is of Muslim background," the gurdwara said in a Facebook post.
"This is an area with a multicultural community, where all have lived and worked together for many years. Especially during these times, faith-based charities have been at the forefront. This incident nor this message will create any tension between relations, but how you react to this will," it added.
Urging for calm, the gurudwara said an individual or a small group was probably behind the incident.
"We should not malign the whole Muslim community and therefore request people to ...

Muslim man arrested for breaking into UK gurdwara

Sri Lanka may restrict the repatriation of its stranded citizens abroad as 80 of the recent returnees have been found to be carrying coronavirus into the country, a senior government official said on Monday.
Sri Lanka has so far reported 1,148 infected cases of coronavirus with 10 deaths.
Since Sunday, 56 Sri Lankans returnees from Kuwait have been found to be positive of coronavirus.
Dr Anil Jasinghe, the Director General of Health Services, said that about 80 of the recent returnees have been found to be carrying the virus into the country.
The government will review the frequency of flights which brings back Sri Lankans from abroad, he said.
He said the repatriation of its stranded citizens abroad may be restricted.
Jasinghe said a wider time gap between the flights would allow the health authorities to deal with those repatriated more closely.
Sri Lanka reported its 10th COVID-19 fatality when a 51-year old woman returnee from Kuwait passed away on Monday, health officials ...

Sri Lanka may restrict repatriation of stranded citizens as cases of coronavirus rise : Official

German airline Lufthansa said Monday it has received approval for a 9 billion-euro ($9.8 billion) "stabilization package from a government support fund to keep the company going through the turbulence from the coronavirus outbreak, but cautions the deal has not been approved by the European Union's executive commission.
Lufthansa, which has lost most of its passenger business due to travel restrictions during the outbreak, said the government's fund has agreed to take non-voting holdings in return for 5.7 billion euros, plus a 3 billion-euro credit line and 300 million euros in share purchases.
That would leave the government fund with a 20-percent stake in the company and two seats on the board of directors.
One of those seats would be on the audit committee. The airline said however that the government agreed not to vote its shares at shareholder meetings unless there was a takeover of the company.
The company's trading statement said that the deal has not been approved by the ...

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