Author: WTX News

Beirut wakes to scenes of devastation after a horrific port explosion, over 100 dead, thousands wounded Wednesday morning sees residents of Beirut waking to utter devastation, a day after a massive explosion at the port, residents begin to mourn the deaths of at least 100 people and the thousands wounded.   Smoke was still visible from the port where a towering grain silo had been shattered. The streets littered with debris, building facades have been blown out and damaged vehicles scattered around. At hospitals across the city, people have been waiting all night to hear news of loved ones who had…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 18,708,865 DEATHS: 704,438 RECOVERED: 11,925,744 …………………………………… UK ‘made serious mistake’ over border policy BBC News says the spread of Covid-19 in the UK could have been slowed if quarantine restrictions on arrivals had been introduced earlier, a group of MPs has said.  The Home Affairs committee said a lack of border measures earlier in the pandemic was a “serious mistake.” It added ministers had underestimated the threat of importing the virus from Europe as opposed to Asia. Read the full story on BBC News …………………………………… Global death toll passes 700,000 as Europe faces second wave…

Millions back in lockdown in the Philippines after surge in Covid-19 cases and WHO issues vaccine warning The Philippines has found itself back in lockdown, with millions ordered to stay home on Tuesday, following a surge in global Covid-19 cases and the WHO has warned against relying on a vaccine “silver bullet” to end the pandemic.  More than 18 million people worldwide have been recorded to be infected with the virus since it first emerged in China late last year, and it shows no signs of slowing down.  The Philippines – desperate to contain the spread and relieve pressure on…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 18,447,723 DEATHS: 697,244 RECOVERED: 11,680,369 …………………………………… GCSE students allowed to drop topics in 2021 exams BBC News says GCSE students in England will be able to drop subject areas in history and English literature 2021 exams. It follows concern that schools may not be able to cover all the topics after teaching was disrupted by the pandemic. But headteachers said the proposal only amounted to “tinkering at the edges” when students could face “widespread ongoing disruption”. Read the full story on BBC News …………………………………… Pubs likely to be spared new Covid-19 restrictions, No 10 says…

Lebanon’s foreign minister steps down amid economic crisis Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti has resigned, becoming the first cabinet minister to quit his post amid the severe economic and financial crisis crippling the country.  Hitti submitted his resignation to the prime minister and left without making any comments. He was reportedly unhappy with the government’s performance and lack of movement on promised reforms.  Local media reports said Hitti was also angered by PM Diab’s criticism of French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian following his visit to Beirut last month. Diab has said Le Brian “did not bring anything new” and…

Data leak reveals Iran covered up Covid-19 deaths Iran has covered up the true number of deaths from Covid-19 a BBC Persian service investigation has found. The number of actual deaths is nearly triple what the Iranian government is claiming.  The government’s own records appear to show almost 42,000 people died with Covid-19 symptoms up to 20 July, versus 14.405 reported by its health ministry.  The number of those infected is also almost double its official figure: 452,024 as opposed to 278,827. Iran has been one of the worst-hit countries outside of China.  In the last few weeks, it has…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 18,238,195 DEATHS: 692,872 RECOVERED: 11,449,659 …………………………………… New Covid-19 tests give results in 90 mins BBC News says new 90-minute tests that can detect coronavirus and flu will be rolled out in care homes and laboratories from next week. The “on-the-spot” swab and DNA tests will help distinguish between Covid-19 and other seasonal illnesses, the government said. The health secretary said this would be “hugely beneficial” over the winter. Read the full story on BBC News …………………………………… Major incident declared in Manchester after rise in Covid-19 transmission The Guardian says a major incident has been declared…

In today’s briefing update, the Sunday Papers report on the Tory MP quizzed by police over sexual assault allegations, the government’s blueprint to avoid a second lockdown and leaked emails revealing officers’ fears of a rouge SAS evacuation squad. In our special feature, we look at global coronavirus updates.  ……………………………………… Tory MP quizzed by police over sex attack The Mail on Sunday says a conservative MP has been questioned by police following allegations of rape and sexual assault. The paper says the former minister, who has not been named, is accused of sexual assault and was questioned at a London…

Kylie and Kendall Jenner endorse fake Apple products on Instagram  BBC Click has discovered that dozens of influencers including Kylie and Kendall Jenner have been promoting the sale of fake Apple Airpods on Instagram.  The two sisters have a combined following of 322 million followers on the social media platform.  Apple says cloned earphones may infringe its intellectual property rights, but is now pursuing a case against the Jenner sisters.  But Apple has in the past taken action against influencers believed to be promoting “knock off” AirPods.  Kylie and Kendall Jenner declined to comment.  “Knock off” tech BBC Click’s investigation…

iPhone 12 release date delayed  The release of the iPhone 12 will be delayed Apple has confirmed.  Apple usually reveals the new iPhone in September and then release it a couple of weeks later. But the company has now confirmed they won’t be able to follow the usual schedule, with the iPhone 12 release seemingly being pushed into October.  “Last year we started selling new iPhones in late September, this year we expect supply to be available a few weeks later,” Luca Maestri, Apple’s chief financial officer, told investors in a call following the company’s results. Apple rarely discusses the…

Fiji records its first Covid-19 death but says the virus is not present in Fijian communities On Friday Fiji announced its first coronavirus death, but health officials are telling the people in the Pacific island nation that it was not the precursor to a major outbreak.  Health Minister Ifereimi Waqainabete said the victim was a 66-year-old man who tested positive after returning from India where he had gone to have heart surgery.  “Sadly, despite the best efforts of our health -care professionals, this gentleman passed away yesterday in the isolation ward at Lautoka hospital due to complications from Covid-19,” Waqainabete…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 17,481,953 DEATHS: 676,824 RECOVERED: 10,941,906 …………………………………… …………………………………… Visiting people at home banned in Northern England BBC News says separate households have been banned from meeting each other indoors in Greater Manchester, east Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire following a spike in coronavirus cases. The health secretary said the increase in transmission was “largely due” to people not observing social distancing. Labour criticised the government for a lack of clarity over the measures and for announcing them “late at night”. Read the full story on BBC News …………………………………… Companies ready to defy PM’s planned return…

#Muslims face racist backlash for rise in COVID-19 cases in the north of England

Historic $22Bn new trade deal opens up travel corridor between #UAE and #Indonesia

WTX BOOK REVIEW – UNCLE TOM’S CABIN BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE WTX Book Review Don’t blame Uncle Tom … he’s already suffered enough By Yvonne Ridley I wonder how many of you have used the term Uncle Tom as an insult – may be aimed at someone who you think is betraying or selling out their political views, class or friends. There are probably many who don’t even realise the origins of the term. But my latest book review is so relevant to today’s amazing movement Black Lives Matter because the focus is on a novel which triggered the beginning of…

Short review of a book written by Andrew F March ‘The Caliphate of Man’ review by the bookworm Yvonne Ridley. So I read the title of this book and thought “Oh no! Not another Islamophobic, pseudo-intellectual squaring up to have yet another go at the Muslims. I was wrong on several counts. Baby-faced author Andrew F March is indeed an intellectual, an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts and he does have a proven track record of writings on Islamic matters that are indeed worth reading. He also offers something relatively new and fresh in his…

Northern cities hit by Government lockdown – no Eid gatherings allowed.

Trump wants to delay the 2020 Presidential election  President Trump has suggested delaying the November 2020 presidential election saying increased postal voting could lead to fraud and inaccurate results.  He suggests the election should be delayed until people could “properly, securely and safely” vote.  There is little evidence to support the President’s claims but he has long rallied against mail-in voting which he has said would be susceptible to fraud.  US states want to make postal voting easier due to public health concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Under the US constitution, Trump does not have the authority to postpone the…

16-year-old among students held in first arrests under new Hong Kong security law Hong Kong police have arrest four people including a 16-year-old, for suspected offences under the city’s new controversial national security law. The arrests are the first detentions outside of street protests since the legislation came into effect a month ago.  A police spokesman said three men and a woman, all students, were suspected of being involved in an online group that pledged to fight for an independent Hong Kong.  “We arrested for … subversions and for the organising and also the inciting [of] secession,” said Li Kwai-wah,…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 17,195,721 DEATHS: 670,322 RECOVERED: 10,706,687 …………………………………… Lloyds bank loses £676m as it warns the cost of Covid-19 The Guardian says Lloyds Banking Group plunged to a second-quarter loss after putting aside £2.4bn for bad debts, forcing the bank to acknowledge that supporting customers through the Covid-19 crisis would come at a cost. Britain’s biggest high street lender reported a loss of £676m for the three months to June, down from a £1.3bn profit during the same period last year. Analysts had been expecting a £31m loss. Read the full story on The Guardian …………………………………… Virus…

Heathrow calls for coronavirus tests at UK airports The head of Heathrow has called for airports to be allowed to test for coronavirus to avoid the “cliff-edge” of quarantine.  Speaking to the BBC, John Holland-Kaye said changes to travel guidance over Spain showed the need for an alternative. Adding he wanted the government to work with the airport.  But the Culture Secretary told the BBC that because the virus could develop over time, testing was not a “silver bullet.” Mr Holland-Kaye said the passenger would pay the cost of the test, an estimated £150 if conducted at the airport.  He…

Turkey passes controversial social media law to control content Turkey has passed a law regulating social media that critics say will increase censorship and help authorities silence dissent.  President Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, which has a majority with an allied nationalist party, had backed the bill. The assembly began debating the new legislation on Tuesday, and its passage was announced by parliament on Twitter.  The law requires foreign social media sites to appoint Turkish-based representatives to address authorities’ concerns over content and includes deadlines for removal of material they don’t like. Companies could be fined, the blocking of advertisements…

GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY CORONAVIRUS CASES: 16,899,588 DEATHS: 663,540 RECOVERED: 10,462,813 …………………………………… UK sees 30% more food waste as restrictions ease The Guardian says household food waste in the UK has increased by nearly a third as coronavirus lockdown restrictions have been eased and could spiral further, new research has warned.  The government’s waste advisory body, Wrap, said self-reported food waste was up by 30%, reversing progress made at the start of the pandemic as consumers threw away less food while confined to their homes. Read the full story on The Guardian …………………………………… Trump sticks with discredited coronavirus treatment  BBC News…

Germans more optimistic about the post-lockdown world new survey reveals Germans are more confident about life post-lockdown than the French, Spanish and Italians, a Euronews-commissioned poll has found.  Data from the survey has found Germans feel a little less cautious than other Europeans as the continent emerges from months of restrictions due to the pandemic.  The survey recorded the views of 6,000 people in total – 1,500 from each of the participant countries – between July 17-18 to get a better idea of how Covid-19 has continued to affect daily life.  Travel  Borders, for instance, are something that more than…

Netanyahu says Hezbollah ‘is playing with fire’ but group deny involvement in border clash Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hezbollah carried out an infiltration attempt on the Lebanese-Israeli border on Monday, disputing the Iranian-backed Shiite group’s denial of being involved in the clash.  Netanyahu said: “We take a grave view of this attempt to infiltrate our territory, Hezbollah and Lebanon bear full responsibility for this incident and any attack from Lebanese territory against Israel. Hezbollah should know that it is playing with fire.”  Netanyahu was sitting alongside Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz during the televised address hour after the…