WORLD NEWS July 22, 2020 5 U.S. Flexes Muscle With Trump Clashes With Congress as Crisis Widens

Two Drills in Asian Waters MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia is considering cutting spending on the military as low oil prices with the Indian navy helped improve and the coronavirus crisis have pummeled its the interoperability of their forces. economy, a document published by the finance “While operating together, the U.S. ministry shows. The ministry has proposed the and Indian naval forces conducted government cut state spending on the military by high-end exercises designed to maxi- 5% between 2021 and 2023. The proposal, pub- mize training and interoperability, lished on Monday, also includes budget spending including air defense,” the U.S. navy cuts of 10% for the court system, the servicing said. of Russia’s debt and wages for civil servants. Russia, which flexed its military muscle with its India’s relations with China have also 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and been strained after a deadly clash on intervention in the Syrian conflict, dropped out their disputed border in the Himalayas of the list of the top five biggest military spend- last month, prompting calls in India ers in 2018 after its spending fell 3.5%. Last year for closer security ties with the United it returned as the world’s fourth largest military States and its allies including Japan. spender and increased its military expenditures The drills were carried out near In- by 4.5% to $65.1 billion, according to the Stock- dia’s Andaman and Nicobar islands, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell listens as President Don- holm International Peace Research Institute. off the north end of the Malacca ald Trump speaks during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White That amount corresponded to 3.9% of its gross domestic product, it said. Sailors man the rails as aircraft carrier USS Nimitz with Carrier Straits, one of the world’s busiest ship- House, July 20, 2020, in Washington. Strike Group 11, and some 7,500 sailors and airmen depart for a ping routes for trade and fuel, an Indian *** WASHINGTON (AP) — President parties before the November election, and source said. India has a military base KHARTOUM (Reuters) -- Ousted Sudanese 6-month deployment in the Western Pacific from San Diego, Donald Trump acknowledged a “big even more so for the nation, which now California, U.S., June 5, 2017. on the islands. President Omar al-Bashir and some of his for- The U.S. navy said the Nimitz Car- flareup” of COVID-19 cases, but divi- has registered more coronavirus infections mer allies went on trial on Tuesday on charges of NEW DELHI/TOKYO (Dispatches) lenge the country. rier Strike Group was in the Indian sions between the White House and and a higher death count — 140,800 — leading a military coup that brought the autocrat -- The United States is conducting China opposes such exercises and Ocean in support of a free and open Senate Republicans and differences than any other country. to power in 1989. A Sudanese court had already two military exercises in Asian wa- said the U.S. rejection of its claims in Indo-Pacific region. with Democrats posed fresh challenges Trump has insisted that the virus would handed Bashir a two-year sentence in December ters this week involving allies Japan, the South China Sea raised tension and Separately, the U.S. strike group led for a new federal aid package with the “disappear,” but the president’s view did on corruption charges. He also faces trials and in- Australia and India, the U.S. navy undermined stability in the region. U.S. crisis worsening and emergency re- not at all match projections from the lead- vestigations over the killing of protesters. State TV by the Ronald Reagan was carrying out broadcast the judge opening the hearing at a court said on Tuesday. The USS Nimitz and the USS Ron- drills with naval forces from Japan and lief about to expire. ing health professionals straining to halt Trump convened GOP leaders at the the alarming U.S. caseload and death toll. in Khartoum without showing footage of Bashir, The exercises come as military ri- ald Reagan were deployed to the South Australia in the Philippine Sea, U.S. who has been jailed since he was toppled in April valry between the United States and China Sea twice this month but this and Australian officials said on Tues- White House on Monday as Senate Ma- On a conference call with the nation’s jority Leader Mitch McConnell prepared governors Monday, Vice President Mike last year following mass protests against his 30- China is intensifying and days after week, the Nimitz was in the Indian day. year rule. In December, his lawyer told reporters to roll out his $1 trillion package in days. Pence called the rising numbers in Sunbelt the United States said China’s claims Ocean for exercises with the Indian The exercises are due to end on July it was a “political trial par excellence” more than But the administration criticized the leg- states “serious.” of sovereignty in the South China Sea navy, the U.S. navy said, in the latest 23, Australia’s defense department 30 years after the event. Before any statements or islation’s money for more virus testing Trump raised alarms on Capitol Hill were illegal. sign of growing cooperation between said. evidence could be given, the trial was adjourned and insisted on a full payroll tax repeal when he suggested last month at a rally The United States has long opposed the forces. until Aug. 11 to reconvene in a larger court to al- Later this year, the United States will that could complicate quick passage. The in Oklahoma that he wanted to slow virus China’s territorial claims on the South Rear Admiral Jim Kirk, commander low more lawyers and family members of defen- hold naval exercises with India and Ja- timeline appeared to quickly shift. testing. Testing is seen as the best way to dants to attend. China Sea, sending warships regularly of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, pan in the Bay of Bengal and Australia “We’ve made a lot of progress,” Trump track the virus to contain its spread. An- through the strategic waterway to chal- said in a statement that Monday’s drills might join. said, but added, “Unfortunately, this is other Republican familiar with the process *** something that’s very tough.” said about half of the $25 billion previ- ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Leg- Lawmakers returned to a Capitol still ously approved remains unspent. Senate islature passed a package of police accountabil- off-limits to tourists, another sign of the Democrats are investigating why the ad- ity measures early Tuesday that includes a ban China Vows ‘Forceful’ Response to on neck restraints like the one that was used on nation’s difficulty containing the corona- ministration has left so much on the table. George Floyd before his death in Minneapolis. virus. Rather than easing, the pandemic’s The proposed virus aid package would The sweeping package was said to be one of the UK on Hong Kong devastating cycle is churning again, leav- be the fifth, following the $2.2 trillion bill most substantial changes to the state’s criminal ing Congress little choice but to engineer passed in March, the largest U.S. interven- dition treaties with Hong Kong earlier justice system in years and also bans chokeholds another costly rescue. Businesses are shut- tion of its kind. While many Republicans this month. U.S. President Donald Trump and so-called warrior-style training in which ting down again, many schools will not hoped the virus would ease and economy officers are instructed to view all encounters as has ended preferential economic treat- fully reopen and jobs are disappearing, all rebound, it’s become clear more aid is inherently dangerous. Passage of the measures ment for Hong Kong. while federal aid will expire in days. needed. comes after nearly two months of negotiations Last week, Prime Minister Boris John- House Speaker , D-Calif., The jobless rate remained at double dig- that followed Floyd’s death May 25. The Black son ordered equipment from China’s said any attempt by the White House to its, higher than in the last decade’s Great man was restrained face down in the street while Huawei Technologies to be purged com- block money for testing “goes beyond ig- Recession, and a federal eviction morato- handcuffed and with three officers holding him pletely from Britain’s 5G network by the norance.” rium on millions of rental units approved down, including a white officer who had a knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly 8 minutes. The House end of 2027. The political stakes are high for both in the last bill is about to expire. China - once courted as the prime source approved the measure 102 to 29 just before mid- of investment in British infrastructure night Monday. The Senate passed it 60 to 7 and sent the bill to Gov. Tim Walz a couple of hours projects from nuclear to rail - has accused Armed Man Holds Bus later. Britain of pandering to the United States. Britain claims the new security law *** breaches the guarantees of freedoms, in- JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -- Two members of cluding an independent judiciary. Passengers Hostage in Ukraine the South African cabinet have been admitted to Officials in Hong Kong and Beijing hospital with COVID-19, the presidency said on New spokesman for Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Wenbin speaks have said the law is vital to plug gaps in Tuesday. Thembelani Nxesi, the minister for em- ployment and labor, and Gwede Mantashe, the min- during a news conference in Beijing, July 17, 2020. national security exposed by recent riots. China has repeatedly told Western powers ister for mineral resources, were taken to hospital on Monday. Both men had been self-isolating after LONDON/BEIJING (Dispatches) -- security legislation,” Raab said. to stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs. testing positive for the novel coronavirus around a China threatened a “forceful counter- The decision appeared to infuriate Bei- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ar- week ago. “We wish both minister Nxesi and min- attack” on Tuesday in response to jing. “China will make a forceful counter- rived in the United Kingdom on Monday to ister Mantashe well and a speedy recovery,” the Britain’s announcement that it would attack to the UK’s wrong actions,” said discuss China, 5G and a Brexit free trade presidency said in a statement, adding that being in suspend its extradition treaty with Chinese foreign ministry spokesman deal with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. hospital would give them access to better medical Hong Kong following Beijing’s intro- Wang Wenbin at a daily news conference Pompeo, who did not speak to report- attention and monitoring. Africa’s most industrial- duction of a national security law for on Tuesday. ers on the plane, was due to be greeted by ized economy now has one of the highest rates of the former British colony. “China urges the UK to give up its fan- U.S. Ambassador Woody Johnson shortly infection of the novel coronavirus in the world, with On Monday, British Foreign Secretary tasies of continuing colonial influence in after landing. 372,628 confirmed cases and 5,173 deaths. Dominic Raab told parliament the extra- Hong Kong and immediately correct its “While in London, Secretary Pompeo will *** dition treaty would be suspended imme- mistakes,” he said. meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NEW YORK (AP) — Channel stars diately and an arms embargo would be Raab said he would extend a longstanding Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to discuss , and extended to Hong Kong. arms embargo on China to include Hong global priorities, including the COVID-19 Ukrainian law enforcement officers lie on the ground behind a car were accused of sexual harassment by a frequent “We will not consider re-activating Kong, meaning no exports of weapons or economic recovery plans, issues related to on-air guest in a lawsuit filed Monday that the those arrangements, unless and until there ammunition and a ban on any equipment the People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.) and near a passenger bus, which was seized by an unidentified person in network called frivolous and untrue. In the same are clear and robust safeguards, which are which might be used for internal repres- Hong Kong, and the U.S.-UK Free Trade the city of Lutsk, Ukraine July 21, 2020. case, a former Fox employee said she was ha- rassed and raped by news anchor Ed Henry, who able to prevent extradition from the UK sion, like shackles and smoke grenades. Agreement negotiations,” the State Depart- LUTSK, Ukraine (AP) — An armed on Facebook. being misused under the new national Australia and Canada suspended extra- ment said ahead of his visit. was fired July 1 shortly after the network became man seized a long-distance bus and In a Telegram account reportedly aware of the accusations. Hannity and Carlson took people in it hostage in north- belonging to him, Plokhoy apparently represent two-thirds of Fox’s lucrative prime- western Ukraine on Tuesday launch- admitted to taking people on the bus time lineup, while Kurtz hosts the weekend “Me- Biden Appeals to Muslims to Help Him Oust Trump ing an hours-long standoff with po- hostage, said that “the state has always dia Buzz” show. None of the men have been men- lice, Ukrainian authorities said. been and always is the first terrorist” tioned before in any misconduct allegations at WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrat Joe Biden urged our country,” Biden said. “But we all know that your voice About 10 people are currently be- and demanded that top Ukrainian offi- Fox until the charges were made by Cathy Areu. Muslim Americans to join him in the fight to defeat hasn’t always gotten recognized or represented.” ing held hostage, Ukraine’s Security cials release statements on their social *** President Donald Trump as he addressed an online sum- Emgage Action has titled the event “Million Muslim Service said in a Facebook statement. media pages calling themselves terror- SEOUL (Reuters) -- South Korea and the Unit- mit hosted by the advocacy organization Emgage Action Votes,” underscoring its emphasis on boosting Muslim turn- Police earlier had put the number at 20. ists. ed States are trying to agree on the scale, scope to mobilize Muslim voters ahead of the presidential elec- out in November. It was unclear how many people had According to Gerashchenko, police and timing of annual military exercises with the tion. The pro-Biden letter from Muslim American elected of- been on board to start with, and wheth- have identified the man as Maksim novel coronavirus threatening to disrupt the travel “I want to earn your vote not just because he’s not worthy ficials decried a number of Trump’s domestic and interna- er any escaped. Krivosh, a 44-year-old Ukrainian born of U.S. troops, South Korean officials said on of being president,” the presumptive presidential nominee tional policies, including his administration’s travel ban and Police sealed off the center of Lutsk, in Russia. Krivosh had allegedly been Tuesday. South Korean Defense Minister Jeong told participants. “I want to work in partnership with you, his pullout from the Iran nuclear deal. a city 400 kilometers (250 miles) west convicted twice on a wide range of Kyeong-doo and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Es- make sure your voices are included in the decision-making In his address, he pledged to include Muslim American of the capital Kyiv. The assailant is charges — robbery, fraud, illegal arms per had a telephone call on Tuesday but could not process as we work to rebuild our nation.” voices in his administration, if elected, and to speak out decide on details of the exercises, which usually armed and carrying explosives, police handling — and spent a total of 10 begin in early August, officials said. U.S. Forces Biden also reiterated a pledge to overturn a Trump admin- against human rights abuses against Muslim minorities said. They said he threw a hand gre- years behind bars. Korea (USFK) has reported nearly 50 cases of the istration ban on travelers from several predominantly Mus- around the world. nade that failed to explode at officers Interior Minister Arsen Avakov trav- coronavirus among its troops, employees and their lim countries, calling it “vile.” Other state- and local-level Muslim American officials and shot at them at least twice during eled to Lutsk to supervise operations. families in the past three weeks, including 10 on Wa’el Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, said by email that signing onto the pro-Biden letter hail from several states, the still-ongoing siege. Ukrainian media reported that gun- Monday. All were confirmed upon arrival or while the organization was seeking to maximize Muslim Ameri- including Michigan. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zel- shots were regularly heard at the scene. in two-week mandatory quarantine. The spike in can turnout in key battleground states. In Michigan alone “A lot is at stake,” Alzayat said. “The importance of Mus- enskiy said negotiations with the man It wasn’t immediately clear whether coronavirus cases linked to U.S. forces has raised — one of the states where the organization has chapters and lim American voter participation in this upcoming election are currently underway. “We’re doing anyone has been injured. According to concern in South Korea. The city of Pyeongtaek, where Trump won in 2016 by fewer than 11,000 votes — cycle is greater than it has ever been.” everything to free the hostages,” Zel- reports, Krivosh tried to reach out to home to a big U.S. base, has asked the South Ko- he said he believed there are more than 150,000 registered Farooq Mitha, senior adviser for Muslim engagement with rean government to ensure that all U.S. soldiers enskiy told reporters. journalists through hostages and their get tested before their arrival. The possible dis- Muslim voters. Biden’s campaign, said reaching out to Muslim American The man called the police himself phones, demanding that they spread ruption of the exercises comes at a sensitive time. Several prominent Muslim American elected officials en- voters is a priority for Biden, pointing to his own appoint- at 9:25 a.m. (0625 GMT) after taking the word about his demands and get U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned the dorsed Biden for president in a letter organized by Emgage ment as an example. The campaign has hosted events with control of the bus and introduced him- more reporters to arrive to the scene. value of the drills and in 2018 even suggested to Action ahead of the summit. Muslim Americans and met with community leaders over self as Maksim Plokhoy, Deputy Inte- Zelenskiy said earlier on Tuesday he North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that he would “Muslim American voices matter to our communities, to the past months, he said. rior Minister Anton Gerashchenko said is personally monitoring the situation. end them.