KNSK

Beijing, Jun 19 (PTI):

China on Friday reacted guardedly to calls for a boycott of Chinese products and investments in India following the brutal attack on Indian soldiers at the Galwan Valley, saying it values its relations with New Delhi and both countries are in talks to ease the situation.

The boycott calls and the growing anti-India sentiment is causing a sense of disquiet in China especially among its telecom companies like Huawei, Xiaomi and Oppo etc which made a big dent in the Indian market, the second-largest in the world after China in mobile phones.

China is the biggest beneficiary of the bilateral trade with India, with about USD 60 billion balance of trade in its favour in about USD 92.68 total trade in 2019.

Asked about growing calls in India to boycott Chinese products and investments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the responsibility for the crisis

Toront o, Jun 19

(PTI): While coughing, fever and difficulty in breathing are common symptoms of COVID-19, a new case study has found that pink eye is also a reason to be tested for the disease.

The study, published in the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, determined that conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis can also be primary symptoms of COVID-19.

The researchers noted that in March, a 29-year-old woman arrived at the Royal Alexandra Hospital’s Eye Institute of Alberta with a severe case of conjunctivitis and minimal respiratory symptoms.

After the patient had undergone several days of treatment with little improvement - and after it

Karachi, Jun 19

(PTI): Two Pakistani paramilitary soldiers were among four people killed in separate incidents of a roadside bomb explosion targeting a security vehicle and a hand grenade attack on a government office in Sindh province on Friday, police said.

Two Pakistan Rangers personnel and a civilian were killed when a

Zhao Lijian (File)

lies with India.

“I would like to reiterate that regarding the serious situation in the Galwan valley, the right and wrong is very clear and the responsibility entirely lies with the Indian side,” he said.

On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the two sides agreed to “cool down” tensions on the ground “as soon as possible”.

During the conversation, Jaishankar conveyed to Wang India’s protest in had been determined that the woman had recently returned home from Asia - a resident ordered a COVID19 test. The test came back positive, according to the researchers.

“What is interesting in this case, and perhaps very different to how it had been recognised at that specific time, was that the main presentation of the illness was not a respiratory symptom. It was the eye,” said Carlos Solarte, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta in Canada.

“There was no fever and no cough, so we weren’t led to suspect COVID-19 at the beginning. We didn’t know it could present primarily with the eye and not with the lungs,” Solarte said. Academic studies at the outset of the pandemic roadside bomb targeting the vehicle of the security troops exploded near a railway station in Ghotki town in Sindh province. Three other persons, including a paramilitary official, were also injured in the blast.

The remote-controlled blast took place near the vehicle of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers which was parked at the main railway station in Ghotki, the strongest terms on the violent face-off and said the unprecedented development will have “serious impact” on the bilateral ties.

“The Chinese side took premeditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties. It reflected an intent to change the facts on the ground in violation of all our agreements to not change the status quo,” Jaishankar told Wang.

At the Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing, spokesman Zhao said, “Both identified conjunctivitis as a secondary symptoms in about 10 to 15 per cent of COVID-19 cases, he said.

Since then, scientists have gained greater knowledge of how the virus can transmit through and affect the body’s mucous membrane system, of which the conjunctiva - the clear, thin membrane that covers the front surface of the eye - is an extension.

While the finding provides important new health information for the public, it also makes eye exams more complicated for ophthalmologists and staff, the researchers noted.

“The patient in this case eventually recovered well without any issues. But several of the residents and staff who were in close contact with the patient had to be under quarantine,” said Solarte.

“Fortunately, none who were involved in her care also tested positive,” he said. Patients coming into an eye clinic with conjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis are now treated as potential cases of COVID-19 and extra precautions are taken by staff, according to the researchers. police said.

Two Pakistan Rangers troops and a civilian who were at a meat shop in a market near the railway station were killed in the explosion, they said.

Hours later, a man was killed and eight others injured when unidentified assailants hurled a hand grenade at a government office in the congested Liaquatabad area of Karachi, China and India are in communication with each other through diplomatic and military channels on easing the situation. “China values our bilateral relations. We hope the Indian side can work with China to jointly maintain the long-term development of bilateral relations,” he said.

Twenty Indian Army personnel were killed in the clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley on Monday night, in the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff between the two countries. “The impact of rising tensions between China and India following the latest border brawl seems to be spreading to Chinese companies in India,” a report in the state-run Global Times said on Friday.

Chinese smartphone maker Oppo on Wednesday cancelled the live online launch of its flagship 5G handset in India, it said. S.Korea on alert over second COVID-19 wave

Seoul, Jun 19 (IAN S):

South Korea is on alert over another potential COVID19 wave in the summer, as a significant downturn in the virus appears unlikely, a media report said on Friday.

The country’s COVID19 cases have been on a steady rise this month, according to the Yonhap News Agency report.

The number of new infections reached 754 in the first 17 days of June, already surpassing 729 cases in total reported in May, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

The country reported 38 more additional cases on June 9 when the season’s first heat wave advisory was issued in Seoul.

South Korea reported 49 new cases Friday, including 32 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,306, according to the KCDC. South Korea has successfully flattened the virus curve, but the country has been grappling with a continued increase in cluster infections in the greater Seoul area since it relaxed social distancing in early May. police said.

According to police, people had lined up outside the Ehsaas programme office to collect cash being distributed by the government under the initiative to help poor people hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Two people riding on a motorcycle came to the Ehsaas programme office. One of them hurled a hand grenade at the office which led to an explosion,” a police official said.

Nine people were injured in the explosion. They were shifted to the nearby Abbasi Shaheed hospital where one of them succumbed to his injuries, the official said.

No group has claimed responsibility for either attacks, which occurred at a time when the country is battling the coronavirus pandemic.

Pakistan has been witnessing scores of militant attacks in recent times.

Friday’s attacks came a week after a powerful bomb blast ripped through a crowded market in the garrison city of Rawalpindi on June 12, killing one person and injuring 12 others, including three children.

Geneva, Jun 19 (AP):

The head of WHO said the coronavirus pandemic is “accelerating” and that more than 150,000 cases were reported yesterday - the” highest single-day number so far.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said nearly half of the newly reported cases were from the Americas, with significant numbers from South Asia and the Middle East. “We are in a new and dangerous phase,” he said, warning that restrictive measures are still needed to stop the pandemic. “Many people are understandably fed up with being at home (and) countries are understandably eager to open up their societies.”

But Tedros warned that the virus is still “spreading fast” and that measures like social distancing, mask wearing and hand-washing are still critical. He noted the toll would be especially great on refugees in particular, of whom more than 80 per cent live in mostly developing nations.

Bruss els , Jun 19

(IAN S): European Union (EU) leaders on Friday gathered for a virtual conference to reach a consensus on how to deploy the coronavirus rescue fund amid disagreements over who should bear the brunt of the cost, the bloc or individual member states.

“We have a collective responsibility to deliver. Today EU leaders will discuss our long term EU budget and the recovery plan to fight COVID19. Now is the time to engage,” President of the European Council Charles Michel tweeted ahead of the summit.

“President of the European Commission Ur

San Francis co, Jun

19 (IAN S): In a first direct action against US President Donald Trump, Facebook on Friday removed a Trump campaign ad featuring a symbol used by Nazis for political dissenters, saying the ad violated its policies.

The ad with an upsidedown red triangle symbol was posted under accounts for Donald Trump, VP Mike Pence and the Trump Campaign, reports Axios.

“Our policy prohibits using a banned hate group’s symbol to identify political prisoners without the context that condemns or discusses the symbol,” a Facebook spokesman was quoted as saying.

This is the first action against Trump campaign by Facebook in recent times.

The social network is facing criticism for its inaction over Trump posts that glorified violence in the aftermath of the death of African-American George Floyd.

Facebook took down the ad that went after antifa and leftist groups with a sula von der Leyen said the meeting was “a crucial step on road out of the crisis”, reports Efe news.

“I am very happy to present to European leaders our recovery package called Next Generation EU,” she said in a video statement.

“This proposal is ambitious and it is balanced. Together with a new MFF this is a huge stimulus of 1,850 billion euros and it does not only help the economies of the countries which were hit the hardest by the virus it also helps the country whose economies have been hit indirectly because of the lockdowns.”

Von der Leyen said the

Donald Trump (File)

prominent display of an inverted red triangle in a black outline.

Tr ump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh said in a statement: “The inverted red triangle is a symbol used by Antifa, so it was included in an ad about Antifa. We would note that Facebook still has an inverted red triangle emoji in use, which looks exactly the same, so it’s curious that they would target only this ad.”

Several former and existing Facebook employees the EU to overcome the crisis in a resilient, sustainable and digital manner.

“For common success, we must stay focused on the big picture. We must all pull together, we cannot afford any delay.”

The Commission will discuss a 750 billion euro rescue fund which will cushion hard struck European economies via a mixture of loans, grants and mutualized debt.

The objective will be to raise funds in financial markets which will be repaid between 2028 and 2058.

However, all EU member states need to back the proposal crafted by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to go ahead.

The commission is aiming to reach an agreement and close the pact in July so the Eurochamber can give its approval and the national ratification processes can conclude this year.

Member states agree that a post-pandemic rewrote an open letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg this month, criticizing his inaction over controversial posts from Trump on glorifying violence and calling him to start factchecking world leaders and labelling harmful posts.

While Twitter put out a “public interest notice” on Trump tweet for violating the platform’s policies about glorifying violence, Facebook refused to take action when the tweet was cross-posted to its plat

Pink eye may be primary symptom of COVID-19: study

Pink eye should be considered a symptom of possible COVID-19 infection, according to new research.

2 Pak soldiers among 4 killed in bomb blasts

Security personnel cordon off the area of a roadside bomb and a hand-grenade attack in Karachi, Pakistan on Friday. (AP/PTI)

EU holds economic recovery plan summit

European Council president Charles Michel prepares to speak to EU leaders during an EU summit. (AP/PTI)

FELICITATION

The Yongnyah Hongnyü Union Dimapur with immense pride and honour extend our heartfelt congratulations to Shri. B. Longai Phom, S/o Late Belaü on being promoted to the post of District Planning Officer (DPO) Longleng District and for bringing laurels to our Village. The Union wishes him good health and success as he endeavors to shoulder higher level of tasks and responsibilities ahead. DP -2830

(Y. ONGSHEM PHOM) (C. BANGNYEI PHOM)

General Secretary President

FELICITATION

With immense pride and joy, we the Tamang Buddhist Youths' Association (TBYA) Lama Basti, Borlengri-2 K/A, Assam would like to convey our heartiest congratulations to Miss Tanu Lama, D/O Mr. Ram Bd. Lama from Holy Cross Hr. Sec. School Dimapur for securing 84.4% and distinction in four subjects in Commerce stream in the recently declared HSSLC Examination 2020.

We TBYA thank her for bringing laurels to the Association and the community through her outstanding performance.

The Association also congratulates all the successful candidates of HSLC and HSSLC of (TBYA) and extends best wishes for their future endeavours. Sd/- Sd/- President (TBYA) General Secretary (TBYA) DP -2827

Miss. Sangdolma Lama Mr. Kiran Lama recovery plan would enable

form. covery plan is needed but there are disagreements over several details such as the amount of money spent and implementing stricter terms and conditions on the allocation of funds, a move backed by the so-called Frugal Four: Austria, Denmark, Sweden and The Netherlands.

The four-member states spearheaded by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte are opposed to the concept of mutualized debt which would be covered by the EU collectively and instead back countries being issued loans to be paid back.

Rutte has said the countries more in favour of austerity would prefer a time-limited fund, which would finalize in late 2022, for the economies that were most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

France, Spain, Italy, Portugal are supportive of the Brussels plan, which includes their demands to issue common debt and prioritize subsidies to prevent their public debt from soaring when taking out loans.

APPRECIATION

The farmers of Shingo Sütak, Longpa Village would like to express our gratitude to the Department of Agriculture particularly to DAO Mokokchung and her team for giving us the opportunity to avail the PMKSY (Per drop-more crop) and RKVY (Power Tiller Path) Programmes 2019-20.

This gesture by the department is an encouragement to the farmers and keen to work hard and produce more. On behalf of Shingo Sütak Farmers

Longpa Village

MKC-147 Mokokchung

OFFICE OF THE NEW TSARU VILLAGE STUDENTS’ UNION Tuensang: Nagaland FELICITATION

With immense pride and joy, we the New Tsaru Village Students' Union convey our heartiest congratulations to all the successful students who have cleared the recently declared HSLC and HSSLC result 2020.

The Union prays and wishes them all a very bright future and success in all their educational endeavor.

(KHUMPISE) (TIAKHABA)

K-1114 President, NTVSU General Secretary, NTVSU

OFFICE OF THE HEALTH CENTRE MANAGING COMMITTEE Primary Health Centre, Tzurangkong Chungtiayimsen ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Tsurangkong Range Council and the Health Centre Managing Committee (HCMC), PHC Tsurangkong, deeply appreciates the act of generosity of our Honourable Minister Shri Temjen Imna Along Longkumer for the handsome donation towards the renovation of the lone Primary Health Centre of Tsurangkong Range.

Furthermore, the Range Council and the Health Committee would also like to thank the Border Magistrate, Merangmen Circle Shri K. Fürhesie Nyuwi for his selfless service rendered during the renovation of the PHC .