US FLEXES MILITARY MUSCLE AT CHINA AS BEIJING DRAWS DOWN IN ITS BORDER SPAT

WITH INDIA

The United States is flexing its military muscle at China on behalf of India

and other Asian allies and partners, amid signs that Washington is finally

ready to take some punitive action against Beijing for its role in spreading

the coronavirus pandemic around the globe.

In the clearest sign yet that the Trump White House will not back down from

its position as a pre-eminent power in the Pacific and beyond, TrumpÂ’s chief

of staff Mark Meadows told Fox News on Monday that the US military “will

continue to stand strong whether itÂ’s in relationship to a conflict between

India and China or anywhere else.”

“We’re not going to stand by and let China or anyone the take the reins in

terms of being the most powerful dominant force, whether itÂ’s in that region

or over here,” Meadows said, disclosing the President Trump is on course to

sign executive orders to “make sure that China is addressed, how we bring

manufacturing back from overseas to make sure the American worker is

supported.”

Soon after Meadow’s remarks, President Trump cryptically tweeted “China has

caused great damage to the United States and the rest of the World!”

MeadowÂ’s remarks came even as Beijing and New Delhi appeared to stand down

from their border claims, about which the US had not offered any reaction

yet although officials had previously expressed hope that the matter would

be settled peacefully.

But reference to its military primacy in the region in the context of the

India-China stand-off came even as two US Navy aircraft carriers steamed

into the South China Sea in a show of force that some Chinese nationalists

found unpalatable.

UK CHOOSES FIGHTS AS IT SEEKS ITS PLACE IN A POST-BREXIT WORLD

The UK reaffirmed its collision course with Beijing and Moscow on Monday as

it sought to establish its place in the world after Brexit.

China’s ambassador to London warned of “consequences” if Britain treats his

country as a “hostile” power in its dealings over Hong Kong and Huawei

Technologies Co., while Russian officials topped the list of people

sanctioned for human rights abuses, sparking a threat of retaliation from

the Kremlin.

“As we forge a dynamic new vision for a truly global Britain, this

Government are absolutely committed to the United Kingdom becoming an even

stronger force for good in the world,” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told

Parliament as he introduced the sanctions. He pledged “to keep the flame of

freedom alive for those brave souls still suffering in the very darkest

corners of the world.”

The announcement of targeted sanctions on 49 individuals and organizations

for human rights abuses immediately sparked calls from senior lawmakers in

Prime Minister Boris JohnsonÂ’s Conservative Party for similar curbs on

China. The demands highlight a tension for the UK as it seeks trade deals

around the world after Brexit while trying to assert itself as a champion of

freedom.

“Britain’s future means balancing different interests and some tough

choices,” said Tom Tugendhat, a Conservative and chairman of Parliament’s

Foreign Affairs Committee. “But to get through this we need to remember what

really matters and hold on to core beliefs -- none more than the rule of

law.”

Tugendhat was joined by former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith as senior MPs

called for the sanctions, currently limited to Russia, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar

and North Korea, to be extended to Chinese officials for the suppression of

protests in Hong Kong and human rights abuses against the Uighur Muslim

minority in Xinjiang. Some said Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam should

be added to the list.

US TO FORCE OUT FOREIGN STUDENTS WHOSE CLASSES MOVE ONLINE DUE TO COVID

The United States said Monday it would not allow foreign students to remain

in the country if all of their classes are moved online in the fall over the

coronavirus crisis.

“Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely

online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United

States,” US Immigration and Custom Enforcement said in a statement.

Students in such programs “must depart the country or take other measures,

such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction to remain in

lawful status,” it said.

F-1 students pursue academic coursework and M-1 students pursue “vocational

coursework,” according to ICE.

WHO REVIEWING REPORT URGING NEW GUIDANCE OVER AIRBORNE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS

The World Health Organization (WHO) is reviewing a report urging it to

update guidance on the novel coronavirus after more than 200 scientists, in

a letter to the health agency, outlined evidence the virus can spread in

tiny airborne particles.

The WHO says SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads primarily

through small droplets expelled from the nose and mouth of an infected

person that quickly sink to the ground.

But in an open letter to the Geneva-based agency, published on Monday in the

Clinical Infectious Diseases journal, 239 scientists in 32 countries

outlined evidence that they say shows floating virus particles can infect

people who breathe them in.

Because those smaller particles can linger in the air, the scientists are

urging WHO to update its guidance.

“We are aware of the article and are reviewing its contents with our

technical experts,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said on Monday in an

email.

CORONAVIRUS: FEAR OVER RISE IN ANIMAL-TO-HUMAN DISEASES

Zoonotic diseases - which jump from animals to humans - are increasing and

will continue to do so without action to protect wildlife and preserve the

environment, UN experts have warned.

They blame the rise in diseases such as Covid-19 on high demand for animal

protein, unsustainable agricultural practices and climate change.

Neglected zoonotic diseases kill two million people a year, they say.

Covid-19 is set to cost the global economy $9tn (£7.2tn) over two years.

Ebola, West Nile virus and Sars are also all zoonotic diseases: they started

in animals, and made the jump to humans.

But that jump is not automatic. It is driven, according to the report by the

United Nations Environment Programme and the International Livestock

Research Institute, by the degradation of our natural environment - for

example through land degradation, wildlife exploitation, resource extraction

and climate change. This alters the way animals and humans interact.

"In the last century we have seen at least six major outbreaks of novel

coronaviruses," said Inger Andersen, under-secretary general and executive

director of the UN Environment Programme.

Meat production, for example, has increased by 260% in the last 50 years, Ms

Andersen said.

"We have intensified agriculture, expanded infrastructure and extracted

resources at the expense of our wild spaces," she explained.

"Dams, irrigation and factory farms are linked to 25% of infectious diseases

in humans. Travel, transport and food supply chains have erased borders and

distances. Climate change has contributed to the spread of pathogens."

The report offers governments strategies on how to prevent future outbreaks,

such as incentivizing sustainable land management, improving biodiversity

and investing in scientific research.

IRAN'S HARDLINE LAWMAKERS MOVE TO SUMMON ROUHANI: REPORT

Iran's hardline lawmakers plan to summon the president for questioning, a

move that could ultimately lead to impeachment, media reported on Monday,

amid growing discontent over the government's economic policies.

Iranians' daily struggle to make ends meet has become harder since the

reimposition of U.S. sanctions in 2018, and the economy has been further

damaged by rising inflation, growing unemployment, a slump in the rial and

the coronavirus crisis.

A motion to question President Hassan Rouhani was signed by 120 lawmakers

out of 290 and handed to the presiding board of the assembly, Iran's

semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. To take effect, the motion must

be passed to the president by the presiding board.

However, analysts say the board might hold back from issuing the summons,

mindful that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's top authority,

has called for unity among the branches of authority at a time when Iran

faces mounting U.S. pressure.

A move by parliament to question Rouhani's predecessor was blocked by a rare

intervention by Khamenei.

"The lawmakers have various questions for the president, including the

reasons behind the foreign exchange market crisis as well as the high prices

of basic goods and basic necessities of the people today," Tasnim quoted

Tehran lawmaker Eqbal Shakeri as saying.

Analysts say the hardline Khamenei may be happy to have a weakened Rouhani,

but he does not want to harm the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic by

forcing the president out of office with less than one year of his

second-term left.

Parliament has no major influence on foreign affairs or nuclear policy,

which are set by Khamenei. But it might bolster hardliners in the 2021

election for president and toughen the anti-Western tilt of Tehran's foreign

policy.

UK SLAPS VISA BAN, ASSET FREEZE UNDER NEW SANCTIONS REGIME AGAINST HUMAN

RIGHTS ABUSERS

Two top Myanmar army officials involved in atrocities against Rohingya

Muslims are among 49 individuals and entities named by the Boris Johnson

government on Monday under a new regime of sanctions unveiled against

abusers of human rights.

The regime equips the post-Brexit UK with new powers to freeze assets and

stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from

entering the country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from

the British economy, foreign secretary Dominic Raab announced.

Those identified in the first such list of sanctions are mostly Russian and

Saudi Arabian individuals, but also include Myanmar army commander-in-chief

Min Aung Hlaing and Soe Win, deputy commander-in-chief – both named in

relation to Rohinyas in Rakhine state.

It is the first time that the UK has sanctioned people or entities for human

rights violations and abuses under a UK-only regime. It previously joined

collective sanctions imposed by the United Nations and the European Union.

Raab said the regime will allow the UK to target individuals and

organisations around the world unlike conventional geographic sanctions

regime, which only target a country. It could also include those who commit

unlawful killings perpetrated against journalists and media workers, or

violations and abuses motivated on the grounds of religion or belief.

A special unit will consider the use of future sanctions, with teams across

the department monitoring human rights issues. They will ensure targets

under the landmark regime will have to meet stringent legal tests before the

UK decides to designate, ensuring the sanctions are robust and powerful.

CHINA REBUKES BRITAIN OVER ‘GROSS INTERFERENCE’ IN HONG KONG

ChinaÂ’s Ambassador to London accused Britain on Monday of gross interference

and making irresponsible remarks over BeijingÂ’s imposition of new security

legislation in Hong Kong that he said could damage future Chinese

investment.

Britain has described the security law as a “clear and serious” violation of

the 1984 Joint Declaration under which it handed back its colony to China 13

years later and said that London would offer around three million residents

a path to British citizenship.

“The U.K. government keeps making irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong

affairs,” Ambassador Liu Xiaoming told reporters in the strongest rebuke

Beijing has issued to London since Britain criticised the security law. On

the British offer to give British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport holders

in Hong Kong a path to British citizenship, he said:

“This move constitutes gross interference in China’s internal affairs and

openly tramples on the basic norms governing international relations.” He

said China would decide on its response after seeing how Britain proceeded

with its passport offer.

DONALD TRUMP SAYS U.S. SCHOOLS MUST REOPEN IN FALL AMID PANDEMIC

President Donald Trump said on Monday that U.S. schools must open in the

fall - a decision over which he has limited power - as governors struggle

with a nationwide rise in coronavirus infections and states reverse and

pause attempts to reopen.

Schools are largely under the jurisdiction of state and local governments.

Educators have struggled with decisions over opening schools considering the

risk of infection to both students and faculty.

“SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!” Mr. Trump wrote in a Twitter post.

It was not immediately clear what schools Mr. Trump was referring to —

elementary and high schools or colleges and universities - or what actions

Trump was considering.

ANTI-CHINA PROTESTS HELD IN POK AGAINST ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS

Protests against China and Pakistan have been taking place in Muzaffarabad

city of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) against the illegal construction of

Dams on the Neelam and Jhelum rivers.

On Monday, a massive protest rally was held by residents to condemn illegal

construction of Neelum Jhelum and Kohala Hydro power projects.

The protesters highlighted environmental impacts caused by the dams

constructed by Pakistan and China.

A Social media campaign on Twitter trend with Hashtag #SaveRiversSaveAJK was

also launched to highlight the issue on global platform.

The protesters asked under which law is the river agreement of disputed

region was signed between Pakistan and China? They said that Pakistan and

China are violating UN Security Council resolutions by occupying rivers.

AMAZON, FACEBOOK, APPLE, GOOGLE CEOS TO TESTIFY TO HOUSE ON JULY 27

The chief executive officers of Amazon.com Inc., Facebook Inc., Alphabet

Inc. and Apple Inc. will testify on July 27 before a congressional panel

investigating competition in the technology industry, according to an

announcement from the House Judiciary Committee.

Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook are likely to face a

torrent of critical questions from lawmakers on the panelÂ’s antitrust

subcommittee as the investigation builds a case for revamping antitrust

enforcement.

Bezos may be in for a particularly tough session. Unlike the other chiefs,

the worldÂ’s richest man will be addressing Congress for the first time, and

his company has sparred with subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline over

previous testimony by another company official and allegations of

anticompetitive conduct.

The appearances may be virtual, according to the Monday evening

announcement, which said additional details on the format would be

forthcoming.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU TURNS DOWN WHITE HOUSE INVITATION AMID PANDEMIC

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has turned down a White House invitation to

celebrate the new regional free trade agreement in Washington with U.S

President Donald Trump and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Trump and López Obrador are due to meet Wednesday Washington, but Trudeau

spokesperson Chantal Gagnon said Monday that while Canada wishes the U.S.

and Mexico well, Trudeau wonÂ’t be there.

“While there were recent discussions about the possible participation of

Canada, the prime minister will be in Ottawa this week for scheduled Cabinet

meetings and the long-planned sitting of Parliament,” Gagnon said.

Trudeau is conducting online Cabinet meetings instead of in person meetings

because of the coronavirus pandemic.

CHINA ARRESTS TOP XI CRITIC, PLANS CRACKDOWN ON POLITICAL FOES

A Beijing law professor who has been an outspoken critic of China's ruling

Communist Party and President Xi Jinping was taken away by authorities on

Monday, several friends and colleagues told Reuters.

Xu Zhangrun, 57, a professor at the prestigious Tsinghua University, came to

prominence in July 2018 for denouncing the removal of the two-term limit for

China's leader, which allows Xi to remain in office beyond his current

second term.

He Weifang, a prominent Peking University law professor who has long known

Xu, told Reuters that Xu had been deeply worried and anxious about China's

direction in recent years.

"He felt that the country was going backwards and that as a public

intellectual, he has the duty to speak up," He said.

He said Xu was last seen by friends on Sunday.

Since the 2018 article, Xu has written other critiques of the party. At the

peak of China's coronavirus outbreak in February, he wrote an article

calling for freedom of speech.

Geng Xiaonan, a friend of Xu, said she believed XuÂ’s arrest was linked to a

book he published in New York last month, a collection of ten political

essays with scathing criticisms of Xi and the Communist PartyÂ’s rule.

News of XuÂ’s detention came as the official Legal Daily reported that a

special working group on political security was added to a law enforcement

task force first established in April to defuse any social unrest stemming

from the government’s response to the virus. The group “recently” convened

its first meeting in Beijing, the article said.

At the gathering, it was emphasized that “protecting the safety of the

political system” and “safeguarding the regime’s security” should be the

first priority.

Most recently in May, before China's delayed annual parliamentary meeting,

he wrote an article accusing Xi of trying to bring the Cultural Revolution

back to China.

Under Xi, China has tightened censorship and clamped down on dissent.