باخبر بلوچستان: June 2020

The robots that can cook and serve your food

The technology that might one day transform our eating out experience.

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Is the hydrogen tech 'revolution' hope or hype?

Can hydrogen - a relatively clean source of fuel - help power the economy of the future?

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Australia seeks long-range missiles in Indo-Pacific defence shift

The country is to significantly lift military spending amid rising US-China instability, its PM says.

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Tom Hanks ‘heartbroken’ as films will not appear in theatres

US actor Tom Hanks said Tuesday that Hollywood has “no idea” when it can return to production, as he described his own recovery after contracting the coronavirus, which has shut down the movie industry.

The “Forrest Gump” and “Philadelphia” Oscar-winner in March became the first high-profile star to come down with COVID-19, shortly before he was due to begin shooting an Elvis Presley biopic in Australia.

“As the canaries in the coal mine for the COVID-19 experience, we are fine — we had about 10 days of very uncomfortable symptoms, not life-threatening, I’m happy to say,” he told a virtual press conference.

Hanks said that he and his wife Rita Wilson were fortunate to be “model recoverers from COVID-19,” but noted that “any number of things” could have gone wrong.

With the virus rampaging across the US — which has recorded more than 126,000 deaths and 2.6 million cases — many states have been criticized for reopening too early.

California gave the all-clear for filming to resume earlier this month, but most major Hollywood productions remain frozen — a situation Hanks does not expect to change soon.

“I have no idea when I will go back to work,” he said. “Nobody has any idea of when they will go back to work.

“But the time will come. We just don’t know when.”

He added: “Everything comes into play — there’s financial concerns, there’s legal concerns, liabilities.”

“There’s physical concerns about ‘how does everybody get to work and go into the same soundstage, and work in such close quarters?'”

Now living in isolation under social distancing rules, Hanks has watched as blockbuster titles postponed their launches, scrambling for dates later this year and into 2021, when studios hope audiences can return.

On Monday, as Los Angeles County experienced a new daily record number of cases, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a “hard pause” in the opening of businesses including movie theaters. Cinemas are also yet to reopen in New York and a number of other US cities.

Hanks’ own World War II naval thriller “Greyhound” will skip the big screen entirely, after Sony agreed to sell the movie as an Apple TV+ exclusive.

Hanks, who wrote the screenplay and stars in the movie, admitted he is “heartbroken” the film will not appear in theaters.

But he described the deal to stream it online worldwide from July 10 as a “savior” that “offers us the opportunity to have the movie out.”

Movie productions have recently resumed in some countries including Iceland, South Korea and New Zealand, but Hanks said he has no timeline for returning to Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis.”

“The answer is nobody knows. And me included,” said Hanks.

He added: “There is nothing but questions as far as starting up physical production again. That’s the terrible news.”

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Jhelum’s Ehsaas Programme recipients complain of misbehavior, delayed payments

The recipients of the Prime Minister’s Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme in Jhelum have complained of misbehavior by staff members and delayed payments.

“I have been visiting here since the past three days and stay here from 6am till late in the evening but I still haven’t received the amount,” a recipient said.

“I had a thumbprint issue which was cleared by NADRA and I was informed that all my data will be available within a few hours,” the man said. He added that the staff at the Ehsaas Programme centre, however, claimed that the data transfer will take three days.

Other people at the centre also said that when the staff members are asked for details they get irritated and misbehave with them. “There isn’t even a water facility here for the visitors,” one of them added.

Recipients have demanded that the government take notice of the issue. The programme is supposed to help us, not create more problems, they said.

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Headlines 9am: Qureshi says India’s interference has become a norm

Here are the headlines from SAMAA TV’s 9am bulletin.

Another 91 people have died of the coronavirus in Pakistan, taking the toll to 4,395. So far, 213,000 infections have been reported across the country while over 108,000 people have recovered.
India’s interference in Pakistan has become a norm and it will do anything to destabilise us, said Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. He said India had staged “the Pulawama drama” when the world called it out on its Kashmir curfew.
Two motorcyclists died on the spot in Pattoki after a truck driver slammed into them. In Shujabad, a passenger bus hit a car, killing a man and injuring three women.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the prices of petroleum products might be reduced by up to Rs12. Pakistanis are currently paying a Rs30 levy on one litre of petrol and high-speed diesel. The Islamabad High Court will hear a petition challenging the Rs25 per litre increase in petrol prices.
The European Union has allowed PIA to operate till July 3. However, the UAE Civil Aviation Authority has written a letter to Pakistan for the authentication of the licences of 50 Pakistani pilots and chartered flight operation officers.
Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a federal cabinet meeting to discuss increasing pensions of the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution and approving auditors for the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan for 2020-21. The cabinet will also discuss licences granted for illegal firearms.
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh will meet a cabinet committee on privatisation.
Nigar Johar Khan has become the Pakistan Army’s first female lieutenant general. She has also been appointed as the first woman surgeon general of the army.
Pakistan cricket team has begun practicing ahead of their clashes with England. Spinner Zafar Gohar and the team physiotherapist’s coronavirus test results have come back negative.

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Oil, power, cement stocks to benefit from interest rate cut

The stocks of oil marketing companies, independent power producers (electricity generating companies), and cement companies are likely to benefit from the reduction in monetary policy rates, a research note by Sherman Securities said Monday.

Pakistan’s economy, just like the rest of the world, is struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for everything dropped as the lockdown was imposed and as a result, the State Bank had to cut interest rates five times between March and June. The latest rate cut was on Thursday, which brought the rates down from a multi-decade high of 13.25% to the single-digit 7%.

This rapid reduction in such a short time will bring down the debt servicing cost of leveraged companies (ones that have high debt on their books) by 40%. All things equal, this reduction in expenses is likely to improve their profit margins and eventual earning per share.

The interest rate, also known as policy rate, is a tool used by the central bank to boost economic growth. Lowering interest rates makes borrowing cheaper for businesses, individuals and the government and encourages spending. Businesses take loans to expand and do new projects, individuals go for car financing and more credit card purchases while the government borrows more to spend more on development projects.

Pakistan’s economy has slipped into the negative zone for the first time in 68 years so the SBP is lowering interest rates to give it a boost. The rate cut will help stimulate economic growth but market analysts have identified a few sectors that may benefit from this as well.

According to research analyst Ahmed Rauf, oil marketing companies, independent power producers and cement companies will benefit from the policy rate cut.

The analyst’s research is based on selected data of listed companies, which represent almost 80% of the market capitalization at the Pakistan Stock Exchange. These companies have total loans of more than Rs2.2 trillion, which is 25% to 30% of the total loans given by the banking sector.

“After adjusting for cash and investment in government securities, the listed corporate sector owes approximately Rs1.5 trillion. A 6.25% reduction in the interest rate will provide a net relief of Rs95 billion to Rs100 billion to the listed corporate sector,” he said.

In other words, this sharp rate cut means listed stocks will benefit by Rs100 billion and will now be paying off their loans at reduced rates of 7% as opposed to 13.25% four months ago.

However, the analyst also said the actual relief will be slightly lower than their estimates since the economic slowdown may exert pressure on the corporate sector, which may rely on additional borrowing.

Rauf said that 60% of the listed corporate debt is contributed by five sectors–oil manufacturing companies, independent power producers, cement, fertilizer and engineering. Apart from the engineering sector, the other sectors mentioned above are fairly insulated from economic slowdowns and thus a sharp reduction in the interest rate may improve their earnings in financial year 2021.

Meanwhile, another analyst, Karim Punjani, pointed out that the policy rate cut will also increase consumer buying, which includes cars, house financing and other goods sold on credit.

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Attock woman impersonating education officer steals millions

A woman was arrested in Attock on Monday for impersonating an education officer and looting millions of rupees from residents, according to the police.

The suspect used to issue fake appointment letters to women. “The fraud was revealed when these women reached the education office with the letters but found that they were fake,” the police said.

An inquiry was then directed by Education CEO Javed Iqbal. It was revealed that the suspect had taken more than Rs1.6 million from people in exchange for the fake documents.

An operation was conducted by Attock ASP Ammara Shirazi and the woman was arrested with her accomplices. Video recordings and cash were found in her possession.

A case has been registered and further investigations are under way.

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Watch SAMAA TV Headlines | 9am | 1 July | Pakistan

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China imposes feared Hong Kong security law

China imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong Tuesday, dramatically tightening its grip on the semi-autonomous city in a historic move decried by Western nations as a threat to the financial hub’s freedoms.

Described by Beijing as a “sword” hanging over the heads of those endangering national security, the law took effect hours after it was signed by President Xi Jinping and just six weeks since it was first unveiled.

Fed up with pro-democracy protests that rocked the city last year, China’s top lawmaking body enacted the legislation following closed-door deliberations that kept details secret until its passage.

The law gives Beijing jurisdiction over “very serious” national security crimes, with offenders facing up to life in prison, according to the text published late Tuesday.

The controversial law also empowers China to set up a national security agency in the city, staffed by officials who are not bound by local law when carrying out duties.

The new suite of powers radically restructures the relationship between Beijing and Hong Kong, toppling the legal firewall that has existed between the city’s independent judiciary and the mainland’s party-controlled courts.

“It marks the end of Hong Kong that the world knew before,” prominent democracy campaigner Joshua Wong tweeted as his political party Demosisto announced it was disbanding.

“With sweeping powers and ill-defined law, the city will turn into a #secretpolicestate.”

Some Hong Kongers responded by deleting Twitter accounts and scrubbing other social media platforms.

In contrast, former city leader Leung Chun-ying took to Facebook to offer bounties of up to HK$1 million ($130,000) for anyone who could help secure the first prosecutions under the new legislation or track down people who have recently fled the city.

Twenty-seven countries, including Britain, France, Germany and Japan, urged Beijing to “reconsider the imposition” of the legislation, saying in a statement to the UN Human Rights Council that it “undermines” the city’s freedoms.

The move has also added fuel to tensions between Beijing and Washington, where condemnation of the move crossed the aisle.

Top Democrat Nancy Pelosi said its “brutal purpose” was to “frighten, intimidate & suppress the speech of Hong Kongers,” and Republican Mitt Romney tweeted that his “heart aches for the people of Hong Kong. Any semblance of freedom and autonomy has vanished.”

As part of the 1997 handover from Britain, Hong Kong was guaranteed certain freedoms — as well as judicial and legislative autonomy — for 50 years in a deal known as “One Country, Two Systems.”

The formula helped to cement the city’s status as a world-class business hub, bolstered by a reliable judiciary and political freedoms unseen on the mainland.

Critics have long accused Beijing of chipping away at that status, but they describe the new security law as the most brazen move yet.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “deeply concerned” and that London would scrutinise the law “to understand whether it is in conflict” with the handover agreement.

The law bans four types of national security crimes: subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security.

The text gave three scenarios in which China might take over a prosecution — complicated foreign interference cases, “very serious” cases and when national security faces “serious and realistic threats.”

Cases can be passed to mainland China, with the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Supreme Court designating the judicial authorities handling them.

Lead perpetrators and serious offenders can receive 10 years to life in prison for engaging in one of the national security crimes.

The law also said certain national security cases could be held behind closed doors without juries in Hong Kong if they contained state secrets, although the verdict and eventual judgments would be made public.

“It’s a fundamental change that dramatically undermines both the local and international community’s confidence towards Hong Kong’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ model and its status as a robust financial centre,” Hong Kong political analyst Dixon Sing told AFP.

On the mainland, national security laws are routinely used to jail critics, especially for the vague offence of “subversion.”

Beijing and Hong Kong’s government reject those allegations.

They have said the law will only target a minority of people, will not harm political freedoms in the city and will restore business confidence after a year of historic pro-democracy protests.

“I urge the international community to respect our country’s right to safeguard national security and Hong Kong people’s aspirations for stability and harmony,” Hong Kong city leader Carrie Lam told the UN Human Rights Council in a video message on Tuesday.

Millions took to the streets last year, while a hard core of protesters frequently battled police in often violent confrontations that saw more than 9,000 arrested.

Hong Kong has banned protests in recent months, citing previous unrest and the coronavirus pandemic, although local transmissions have ended.

Some Western nations warned of potential repercussions ahead of the security law’s passing.

However, many are also wary of incurring Beijing’s wrath and losing lucrative access to the mainland’s huge economy.

“We deplore this decision,” said European Council head Charles Michel.

Washington — which has embarked on a trade war with China — has said the security law means Hong Kong no longer enjoys sufficient autonomy from the mainland to justify special status.

The United States on Monday ended sensitive defence exports to Hong Kong over the law, prompting China to threaten unspecified “countermeasures.”

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Karachi stock exchange attack: Rs10m announced for martyred policeman’s family

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has announced Rs10 million for the policeman killed in Tuesday’s Pakistan Stock Exchange attack.

He visited the CPO on Tuesday and announced Rs5 million for each of the security guards killed in the attack as well.

One police officer and three security guards were martyred in the attack on the stock exchange on Tuesday. Three policemen, two security guards and a stock exchange employee were injured.

The policemen injured in the attack will be given Rs10 million each while the Rangers squad that participated will be given Rs100,000 each as recognition. CM Shah also announced jobs for the children of the security guards killed in the attack.

Four terrorists were killed in the attack. The police said that two men came in a car near the building’s entry point and tried to enter it. They, however, were stopped by the security guards after which the suspects threw a hand grenade at them and opened fire.

The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility.

The police officer killed in the attack, ASI Mohammad Shahid, was two days away from retirement.

An FIR was registered on Tuesday in the attack at the CTD Civil Lines police station on the orders of the Mithadar SHO. It includes sections on terrorism, possession of explosive material, exchange of fire with the police, murder and attempted murder.

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Today’s outlook: Govt discusses higher pensions, lower petrol prices

Here are some of the news stories we are following today (Wednesday):

Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a federal cabinet meeting to discuss increasing pensions of the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution and approving auditors for the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan for 2020-21. The cabinet will also discuss licences granted for illegal firearms.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the prices of petroleum products might be reduced by up to Rs10.
The European Union has allowed PIA to operate till July 3. However, the UAE Civil Aviation Authority has written a letter to Pakistan for the authentication of the licences of 50 Pakistani pilots and charter flight operation officers.
NAB Rawalpindi has summoned Deputy Senate Chairman Saleem Mandviwala at 11am in the Overseas Cooperating Housing Society case.
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh will meet a cabinet committee on privatisation to discuss privatising the assets of PIA Investment Limited and the PIA-owned Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
The Islamabad High Court will hear petitions challenging the Rs25 per litre increase in petrol prices and appointment of Ghulam Sarwar Khan as aviation minister.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will hold a press conference in Lahore at 4pm.
A ceremony will be held at Sindh Governor House to honour the martyrs of the Karachi stock exchange building attack.
Shanghai Electric has offered to buy 67% shares of K-Electric. The offer was made for the sixth time.
ICYMI: Nigar Johar Khan has become the Pakistan Army’s first female lieutenant general. Click here to read the full story.

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Hong Kong: 'Anti-protest' law kicks in as city marks handover

As the city marks 23 years since British rule ended, critics say the new law is "the end of Hong Kong".

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Coronavirus: Czechs hold party to 'farewell' pandemic

Thousands attended the festive event in Prague, sharing food and drink with people around them.

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The Cameroonian waging war against a French war hero’s statue

Essama Andre has repeatedly attacked the statue of French war hero Gen Philippe Leclerc in Doula.

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Persuading China to switch to 'fake' pork

Pork is China's favourite meat dish, but will new meat substitutes tempt consumers to give up meat?

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Coronavirus: The human cost of fake news in India

False and misleading reports have surged in the country during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Did Bushra Ansari just call drama critics ‘corona’?

Veteran actress, playwright and Pakistan’s favourite comedian, Bushra Ansari is trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons.

Ansari decided to leave a long, harsh comment on a review of her drama serial, Zebaish, by YouTube channel Amma TV Aur Mein. It is an online show by Momin Ali Munshi and his mother Lubna Faryad where dramas are reviewed through the lens of an ordinary mom (Amma) watching Pakistani television.

The reviews are supposed to be humorous, blunt and representative of what the common Pakistani woman thinks of the dramas she is watching.

But Ansari did not take lightly to the review of actors Zara Noor Abbas and Asma Abbas for their roles in Zebaish. Here’s what her now deleted comment was:

But Twitter isn’t having it. They want the actor to apologise. Soon after Ansari’s comment, #IStandWithAmma started trending to show support with Faryad.

Bushra Ansari has lost so many fans today and rightly so.
Your inferiority complex SHOWS here. Calling a graceful punjabi woman jaahil paindu when you’ve gained cash and fame for playing saima chaudhry.
— NotsoLonely (@ragermanager) June 30, 2020

I ‘was’ a huge of Bushra Ansari but what she did is totally disgusting and #IStandWithAmma.
— Adambaizar (@adambaizar) June 30, 2020

The choice of words is disgusting used by bushra…. bdw @mominalimunshi
Ki Amaa is my favorite…….#IStandWithAmma yeeesss… Keep it up’ dear Amma
— Soniya Sikandar Ranjha (@SoniyaSikandar) June 30, 2020

What’s wrong with you Bushra Ansari. You wish Corona on someone just because you can’t face criticism. Your whole comment is below the belt. Expected better from you
— Javeria (@javeriahassan22) June 30, 2020

No doubt, Bushra Ansari is a legend of this era beacuse of her versatile acting skills but these type of comments are really disgusting. It was not expected of such a star. This really disappointed whole nation…#TrendingNow #bushraansari pic.twitter.com/elerp07pd0
— Muhammad Sharjeel (@Muhamma55854914) June 30, 2020

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Facebook bans 'violent' Boogaloo-linked network

It said the group seeks violence and is loosely affiliated with the far-right Boogaloo movement

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Facebook bans 'violent' Boogaloo-linked network

It said the group seeks violence and is loosely affiliated with the far-right Boogaloo movement

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Coronavirus: Joe Biden will not hold campaign rallies

"This is the most unusual campaign, I think, in modern history," the Democratic nominee said.

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Russia's Putin appeals to patriotism as key vote reaches climax

Russians have one more day to decide on key reforms, but opponents say the vote is a farce.

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Coronavirus: What's behind new US outbreaks?

Cases are rising in Texas, Florida, Arizona and California - here's a look at the data and the theories.

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Mehreen Jabbar shares throwback from Harjaee

Filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar recently took fans back to 2002 with a throwback from the drama serial Harjaee.

Starring Atiqa Odho, Faisal Rehman, Faysal Quraishi and Yasir Nawaz, this was the first commercial TV serial “in which Atiqa played a woman who had all these men wrapped around her finger”.

View this post on Instagram

Throwback to ‘Harjaee’ (2002), the first ‘commercial’ TV serial in which Atiqa played a woman who had all these men wrapped around her finger. @faisalrehmanofficial @faysalquraishi @itsyasirnawaz #atiqaodho #khayaamsarhadi #pakistan #pakistanidrama #tvserials #tv #pakistandrama

A post shared by Mehreen Jabbar (@mehreenjabbarofficial) on Jun 29, 2020 at 11:27am PDT

The show was telecast on Indus Vision, directed by Jabbar and was written by Zoha Hasan. You can watch the promo here.

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Zimbabwe’s ODI tour of Australia postponed due to coronavirus

Cricket Australia announced that the upcoming ODI series between Australia and Zimbabwe has been indefinitely postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Zimbabwe were to travel to Australia for a three-match series scheduled to take place from August 9-15.

“While we are disappointed to postpone the series, CA and Zimbabwe Cricket agree that in the best interest of players, match officials, volunteers as well as our fans, that this is the most practical and sensible decision,” Cricket Australia’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley said as quoted in a statement on the board’s website.

Zimbabwe Cricket’s acting managing director Givemore Makoni said that delaying the tour was the only possible option due to the ongoing situation. “We are, however, looking forward to the rescheduling of the series as soon as practically possible.”

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Raja Pervaiz Ashraf acquitted in Pira Ghaib rental power case

An Islamabad accountability court has acquitted PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the Pira Ghaib rental power case.

The reference was filed by NAB Rawalpindi in 2014. Judge Mohammad Bashir announced his acquittal on Tuesday.

Two other suspects in the case, banker Shaukat Tareen and former Pesco MD Basharat Cheema have been acquitted too.

Last week, the court acquitted Ashraf and other suspects in Sahiwala reference. The court said that NAB could not prove any corruption charges against the suspects. Other people named in the case, including Shaukat Tareen, former Pesco MD Basharat Cheema and Shahid Rafique have been acquitted as well.

A reference against Ashraf was filed in December 2019 after Rana Amjad, the manager of the Sahiwal-Multan project, turned approver in the case.

Ashraf was accused of misusing authority during his tenure as the minister for water and power to obtain approval from the Economic Coordination Committee and the federal cabinet for an increase in the down payment to rental power companies from 7% to 14%, amounting to about Rs22 billion.

He, however, denied the charge.

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Six more Pakistan players cleared to join team in England

The Pakistan Cricket Board on Tuesday announced that six cricketers are now eligible to join the side after being tested negative for coronavirus for the second time in three days.

“Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Wahab Riaz have tested negative for Covid-19 for the second time in three days and, as such, are now eligible to join the Pakistan men’s national cricket team in Worcestershire,” the PCB stated in a statement on its website.

The players were retested on Monday following a first negative test on June 26.

The PCB will now prepare their travel arrangements and departure details will be shared in due course.

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Toshakhana case: Nawaz given till August 17 for court appearance

An accountability court in Islamabad has issued a proclamation for former PM Nawaz Sharif in a case on the use of government vehicles, known as the Toshakhana reference. It is a part of the fake accounts case.

The courts make proclamation under Section 87 of Criminal Code of Procedure to inform people named in different cases that they are required to appear within in a month otherwise they will be declared proclaimed offenders.

The court ruled that Nawaz has till August 17 to appear otherwise he will be declared as an absconder in the case.

Sardar Muzzaffar, the NAB prosecutor, submitted a report on the summon issued to Nawaz. He said that the summon was sent to his London property with the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zardari’s arrest warrant

The court also issued bailable arrest warrant of former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari over his continuous absence. His medical reports and request for exemption to attend court hearings have been rejected too.

Farooq H Naek, who is representing Zardari in the case, said that the arrest warrants should be taken back. Zardari is a big name in politics and the former president. Naek said that he will submit an affidavit in the court saying that Zardari will appear in court.

The accountability judge said that they can’t take back their orders.

The NAB prosecutor, on the other hand, said that they will have to arrest Zardari to bring him to court. He will never come himself.

“The court gave exemption to Yousaf Raza Gillani and he didn’t even come to today’s hearing,” Muzzaffar added.

What is the case?

According to NAB, Nawaz and Zardari received government cars during the tenure of former PM Yousaf Raza Gillani in 2009. The cars were gifted to Pakistan by the UAE and Libya.

NAB claims that laws were eased to give the cars to Nawaz and Zardari. The duty was paid using fake accounts. Nawaz didn’t hold any post in 2008 and still, he was allowed to use the cars without submitting an official request.

The bureau said that Zardari paid 15% of the amount using fake accounts owned by Abdul Ghani Majeed. Majeed allegedly used the account of Ansari Sugar Mills to conduct illegal transactions of more than Rs200 million. He also transferred Rs9.2 million into Zardari’s accounts and gave Rs37 million to Customs collector in Islamabad, according to NAB.

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TikTok denies sharing Indian user data with Chinese govt

TikTok denied Tuesday sharing Indian users’ data with the Chinese government, after New Delhi banned the wildly popular app in a sharp deterioration of relations with Beijing two weeks after a deadly border clash.

“TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and have not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese government,” TikTok India chief Nikhil Gandhi said in a statement.

“Further if we are requested to in the future we would not do so. We place the highest importance on user privacy and integrity,” he said, adding that it had been invited to a meeting with the Indian government “for an opportunity to respond and submit clarifications”.

TikTok is owned by China’s ByteDance and was one of 59 Chinese mobile apps banned late Monday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

There are estimated to be about 120 million TikTok users in India, making the South Asian nation of 1.3 billion people the app’s biggest international market.

The Indian ministry of information technology said that the apps “are engaged in activities… prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order”.

The announcement came after 20 Indian soldiers were killed on June 15 in hand-to-hand clashes with Chinese troops in the first deadly violence on their disputed Himalayan border in 45 years. Chinese casualties are unknown.

Amid mutual recriminations, the nuclear-armed Asian giants have reinforced the border between the Ladakh region and Tibet with thousands of extra troops, aircraft and hardware.

The deaths have triggered outrage on social media with calls to boycott Chinese goods, with Chinese flags set on fire at scattered street protests.

Last week, one of Delhi’s main hotel associations said that its members were barring Chinese guests and would stop using Chinese-made products.

Chinese electronic firms also have a major presence in India, with cellphone brands like Xiaomi and Oppo enjoying an almost 65-percent market share.

E-commerce giants including US giant Amazon — which sell huge volumes of Chinese gadgets — have agreed to display the country of origin of goods on their platforms, according to media reports.

Modi’s government has also ordered all sellers to do the same on its GeM portal, which is used for tens of billions of dollars’ worth of state purchases.

Goods made in China, including some raw materials vital to Indian pharmaceutical firms, are also starting to pile up at Indian ports and airports because of more stringent customs checks, media reports said.

Despite long-prickly relations, India and China have steadily built up strong economic ties in recent years.

Annual bilateral trade is worth some $90 billion, with a deficit of around $50 billion in China’s favour.

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New York’s Broadway closed until at least January 2021

New York’s iconic Broadway theater district will stay closed through the end of the year, its trade association said Monday, due to the unpredictability of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Broadway League did not set a date for performances to resume, but is offering refunds and exchanges for tickets purchased for all shows through January 3, 2021.

The association said plans to safely re-open New York’s most bankable tourist attraction were being developed, including on screening and testing showgoers, along with cleaning and sanitizing protocols.

Reopening the arts and entertainment sectors, a major feature of life in New York, technically is in the final phase of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s four-part plan to return economic and cultural activity to the state.

Plays and musicals are considered mass gatherings, likely the last facet of pre-coronavirus life to reopen.

The Broadway League projected that performances could resume in early 2021 “over a series of rolling dates” to end its longest shutdown in history.

“The alchemy of 1,000 strangers bonding into a single audience fueling each performer on stage and behind the scenes will be possible again when Broadway theaters can safely host full houses,” Thomas Schumacher, chairman of the board of The Broadway League, said in a statement.

“The safety of our cast, crew, orchestra and audience is our highest priority and we look forward to returning to our stages only when it’s safe to do so,” he added.

Social distancing impossible

Along with virtually all events in the city, Broadway’s theaters shut in mid-March, when 31 productions were running and eight were in rehearsals with spring opening dates.

Broadway’s closure is a major blow: in normal times, those theaters would be raking in $33 million a week in ticket sales.

“Frozen” — a show based on Disney’s blockbuster hit movie — has already said it would remain permanently closed.

According to Broadway World, “Frozen” brought in some $155 million at the box office and was seen by more than 1.35 million viewers.

The plays “Hangmen” — which had not yet opened — and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” also announced their closures, though they were both more limited productions than a musical.

Playing before empty stadiums, or before severely reduced crowds, simply wouldn’t work for Broadway, professionals say.

“The financial model for Broadway is such that social distancing just won’t work,” Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, said in May.

“A show could not maintain its bills even with houses that were 50 percent or less occupied.”

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Pakistan cricketers indulge in recreational activities during isolation in Worcestershire

Pakistan cricketers spent some quality time indulging in recreational activities in Worcestershire.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared images of its players playing table tennis, darts and snooker on social media website Twitter.

Our players and coaching staff are keeping themselves active in Worcestershire pic.twitter.com/LPTeHpwXaP
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 29, 2020

The Pakistan team arrived in Manchester on Sunday for their three-match Test series and three T20Is against England, before moving to Worcestershire. They will spend 14 days in isolation here before heading to Derbyshire on July 13.

The side are also scheduled to play two intra-squad matches on the tour.

The schedule for the two training games, which are to be played behind closed doors, will be announced in due course.

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Sukkur man dons burqa to meet friend at hospital

A man donned a burqa to meet a woman at a hospital in Sukkur on Monday, according to the police.

He wore a skirt underneath the burqa.

The hospital’s administration got dubious of him when they saw the hair on his feet after which they caught him and handed him over to the police.

The police said that the man admitted that he was going to meet a woman admitted in the hospital and had, therefore, disguised himself.

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Coronavirus: Human trial of India vaccine in July

This is the first Indian vaccine and developed from a weakened strain of the virus isolated locally.

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Okara SHO accused of ‘raping, torturing’ woman

A woman accused SHO Anjum Zia of Okara’s Hujra Shah Muqeem police station of raping and torturing her.

She said that the suspect promised to marry her and called her to his place. “My family told me that if he doesn’t marry me, I should either leave him or persuade him for marriage,” the woman said.

“We had an argument over this. He [the SHO] came back late at night after 11pm with a wooden stick in his hand and started beating me,” she added.

DPO Omar Saeed Malik has immediately ordered a detailed investigation into the matter. A special inquiry team has been formed and a report will be presented within three days.

According to the police, medical tests of the woman have been conducted and an FIR will be registered after the reports come out.

SAMAA TV tried contacting SHO Zia for comments but he didn’t respond.

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Chiniot man arrested for posting weapon pictures on social media

The Chiniot police have arrested a man for uploading pictures and videos displaying guns on his social media account.

The Chenab police located his house and arrested him after one of his videos went viral. His pistol has been seized too.

The action was taken on the orders of DPO Syed Hasnain Asghar. A case has been registered too.

Last year, the police along with the Federal Investigation Agency launched a campaign to crackdown against the display of weapons on social media. The police said that they will arrest the suspects and block their social media accounts too.

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FIR registered in Pakistan Stock Exchange attack

An FIR was registered on Tuesday in the attack on the Pakistan Stock Exchange building on Karachi’s II Chundrigar Road.

The FIR has been registered at the CTD Civil Lines police station on the orders of the Mithadar SHO. It includes sections on terrorism, possession of explosive material, exchange of fire with the police, murder and attempted murder.

It includes sections 302 (punishment of murder), 324 (attempt to murder), 353 (assaulting on-duty public servant) of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with some sections of the Sindh Arms Act too.

Four suspected terrorists tried to storm into the Pakistan Stock Exchange building Monday morning. They, however, were all killed by the security officers. One police officer and two security guards were martyred in the attack, said the spokesperson of the Karachi police.

“The law enforcement agencies of Pakistan successfully foiled a terrorist attack targeting the Pakistan Stock Exchange in Karachi, ” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

“The externally-supported cowardly attack is another manifestation of the state-sponsored terrorism being perpetrated against Pakistan, which is highly condemnable,” it said. “Pakistan has been consistently sensitizing the international community about the Indian leadership’s threatening statements to use terrorism as a tool to destabilise Pakistan”.

Pakistan has already shared with the international community, incriminating evidence about the Indian Intelligence Agency RAW’s involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan, it added.

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Watch SAMAA TV Headlines | 9am | 30 June | Pakistan

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Today’s outlook: Pakistan opens Kartarpur Corridor, PIA reduces fares

Here are some of the news stories we are expecting to follow today (Tuesday):

The PIA has reduced its fares by Rs4,500 for one-way domestic flights. Travelling to Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to now cost Rs12,000 as opposed to Rs16,000.
Pakistan has opened its side of the Kartarpar Corridor with SOPs for the convenience of the Sikh devotees. No pilgrim from India, however, visited the gurdwara as the registration of pilgrims remain suspended there.
Another eight areas of Rawalpindi will be sealed until July 10. These localities have reported several coronavirus cases.
The Federal Cabinet meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled. The participants were supposed to discuss on a 12-point agenda including pension and issuing licenses for an illegal weapon.
The Rs7,294.9 billion budget for the fiscal year 2020-21 has been okayed in the lower house of the Parliament.
The Lahore High Court has ordered Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif to get himself tested for coronavirus from the Institute of Public Health on July 2.
ICYMI: Panic and fear gripped Karachi’s II Chundrigar after four suspected terrorists tried to storm into the Pakistan Stock Exchange building Monday morning. Click here to read the full story.

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Power outage in Sindh as Jamshoro grid station catches fire

A power outage was reported in 10 districts of Sindh after a fire erupted at a 500KV grid station in Jamshora early Tuesday morning.

The power supply to Karachi was suspended too. The K-Electric, in a statement, said that the grid station provides power supply of 600 Megawatts to the city, of which 200 MW was suspended.

The inferno was contained and extinguished within two hours. Four fire trucks participated in the operation. The power was restored in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Thatta, Badin and Karachi after seven hours of extensive repair work.

The Power Division has asked the National Transmission and Dispatch Company to submit a technical report over the fire.

The electric wires that fell on the Indus Highway have been picked up during clearance work too.

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YouTube bans prominent white supremacist channels

The move comes as internet companies face a backlash over racist content and hate speech.

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China passes controversial Hong Kong security law

Beijing has passed the law, the BBC has learned, deepening fears for the city's freedoms.

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Coronavirus-hit Arizona reverses course on reopening

Arizona emerges as a new US virus epicentre, joining other Sun Belt states like Florida and Texas.

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Kweichow Moutai: 'Elite' alcohol brand is China's most valuable firm

Kweichow Moutai's share price rockets thanks to its popular and sought-after baijiu drink.

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Venezuela tells EU ambassador to leave country

Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa's expulsion comes after the EU placed sanctions on 11 Venezuelan officials.

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Coronavirus overwhelms Afghanistan’s war-ravaged hospitals

Corruption, medical supply shortages and militant attacks have deepened the country's health crisis.

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Coronavirus: How much does your boss need to know about you?

Firms are collecting a lot more information about staff as they try to contain coronavirus risks.

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Watch SAMAA TV Headlines | 12pm | 29 June | Pakistan

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Zafar Mirza tells coronavirus patients to only take prescribed medicines

People shouldn’t choose themselves what medicines should be given to the coronavirus patients in their family, but rely on a doctor’s prescription instead.

This is what Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza remarked while speaking on SAMAA TV’s programme Naya Din on Monday.

“Actemra injections are under clinical trials in Punjab only while the use of remdesivir is currently in a trial phase,” Dr Mirza said.

Dr Mirza urged people to adhere to the doctor’s instructions because doing otherwise, like choosing dosage or medicines on their own, might further worsen any patient’s health.

Giving an update on the plasma therapy, he said the government hasn’t been recommending people to donate their plasma since the therapy is still under trial. “The Government of Pakistan will not promote plasma donations unless its trials show any positive outcome.”

Once, it begins bearing fruit, then might urge the people to donate their plasma to critical COVID-19 patients. He said people should contact authorities if they want to give plasma instead of personally approaching coronavirus patients.

This, as Dr Mirza puts it, is extremely dangerous and can put their lives at risk if a complication occurs in the absence of any healthcare professional.

As of Monday, over 205,000 infections and 4,200 deaths have been reported in Pakistan. More than 95,000 people have defeated the virus.

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Younis Khan sees Jofra Archer as ‘threat’ in England-Pakistan series

Pakistan batting coach and former cricketing legend Younis Khan singled out fast-rising paceman Jofra Archer as a “major threat” in his team’s forthcoming matches against England.

The Pakistan squad left on Sunday for England, where they will play three Tests and as many Twenty20 internationals, starting in the first week of August.

Younis said 25-year-old Archer has made a reputation for himself since qualifying to play for England and going on to play a key role in last year’s Ashes and the triumphant World Cup campaign.

“He (Archer) is a real match winner and a threat,” Younis told AFP before the team’s departure.

“Archer has strong nerves which he proved while bowling a crucial super over in the World Cup final,” said Younis of England’s nail-biting win over New Zealand at Lord’s last year.

“He has bite in his bowling and his high arm action is very good and gives him nip in his bowling,” he added.

But Younis — himself playing a key role in Pakistan’s 2-2 series draw in England in 2016 with a double hundred in the last Test at The Oval — said Barbados-born Archer can be countered.

“There is hype around him so that can be an added pressure on him. I have told the batsmen to play close to the body and play on the back foot because his in-swinger can be very dangerous.”

Younis remembered playing Archer in Pakistan’s practice game against Sussex in 2016.

“I remember playing him in the side game,” said Younis of Archer’s debut first-class match. “He got five wickets in the match but was not on top of his bowling at the time like he is now.”

Pakistan’s highest Test run scorer with 10,099, Younis said Pakistan should also be cautious of England’s most experienced bowlers — James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

“Anderson and Broad have a wealth of experience. They are always a great pair. Whenever England have won they have the major share, but in August the weather will be dry and not very overcast so they can be handled properly.”

Pakistan need to score 300-350 in the first innings, in order to challenge England in bowling, the coach said.

The squad has a new pace battery with lanky Shaheen Shah Afridi as spearhead supported by 17-year-old Naseem Shah and Mohammad Abbas, who also played a key role on 2018 tour. “You face challenges in England as your technique as well as nerves are put to test. I am sure our team will be up to that task,” said Younis.

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Mandi Bahauddin vegetable sellers use park as storage facility

The Canal View Public Park in Mandu Bahauddin, that was shut down for public three months back, has been turned into a vegetable market by the vendors.

Vegetable vendors are using the park’s rooms and canteen to store vegetables since its closure in March. Skins of garlic, onion capsicum and bitter gourd can be seen spread across the park.

On June 5, the Punjab government opened all public parks, but the Mandi Bahauddin residents could not avail the opportunity because of different encroachments.

The deputy commissioner has ordered the municipal committee and assistant commissioner to remove all encroachments around public parks.

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Headlines 9am: 49 coronavirus deaths reported, monsoon rains expected

Here are the headlines from SAMAA TV’s 9am bulletin.

There has been a significant decrease in the coronavirus deaths across Pakistan. Forty-nine deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours.
Lahore woke up to heavy rain Monday morning and the weather turned pleasant. People who were worried about the rising mercury took a sigh of relief.
Gangsters remain active in Rajanpur after the arrest of Chotu gang members. Suspected gangsters opened fire on the houses of different villagers for not paying them extortion money. The people were forced to hide in the fields, while many animals were killed. The villagers staged a protest and asked for protection.
Author Fatima Bhutto has criticised the Sindh government’s decision to name a police training college in Saeedabad after Shahid Hayat, who was allegedly accused of the murder of Murtaza Bhutto. “I’ve never forgotten their complicity with my father’s killers. A monument will remind everyone else.” she wrote in a tweet.
Five men, including three brothers, were killed after being released from jail in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala Monday morning. Ten men were in a wagon and returning to their village when gunmen on motorcycles stopped the vehicle and opened fire on it. Five injured men have been shifted to a hospital.
The Pakistan Army said Sunday that its troops have shot down an Indian “spying” quadcopter in Hot Spring Sector along the Line of Control. In a statement, the ISPR said that the quadcopter had intruded 850 meters on Pakistan’s side of the Line of Control.

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Karachi stock exchange attack: Sindh Rangers say four terrorists killed

Panic and fear gripped Karachi’s II Chundrigar after four suspected terrorists tried to storm into the Pakistan Stock Exchange building Monday morning. All terrorists have been killed.

Two people, including a security guard, have reportedly been injured and shifted to a hospital. More casualties are feared too.

The police said that two men came in a car near the building’s entry point and tried to enter it. They, however, were stopped by the security guards after which the suspects threw a hand grenade at them and opened fire.

A picture of a car parked outside the entrance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The terror suspects reportedly tried to enter the building in this car.

There are, however, reports that some people were still inside the building and locked themselves in their offices. The building has now been vacated.

Immediately after the attack, the police and Sindh Rangers reached the site and cordoned off the area. The security personnel vacated the building. The bomb disposal squad reached the site too.

The Sindh Rangers have said that all terror suspects involved in the attack have been killed, adding that a clearance operation is underway.

Four bags have been seized from the terrorists which included four SMGs, hand grenades, weapons, water bottles and dates.

City SSP says there were four alleged terrorists and all of them were killed during an exchange of fire with the security forces.

According to rescue officials, seven bodies from the site have been shifted to the Civil Hospital, Karachi, and Jinnah hospital.

The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed the attack.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail has taken notice of the attack and summoned a detailed investigative report summoned. This is an attack on the economy of the country, he said.

Ahmed Chinoy, the director of the Pakistan Stock Exchange, said that the security guards played a big role in stopping the terrorists from storming the building.

The PSX is located on II Chundrigar Road, one of the busiest roads of the metropolitan city. Branches of multiple banks are also located inside the building.

On June 10, two people were injured in two separate attacks on Rangers in Karachi, the police said. The first attack targeted a Rangers vehicle in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, according to police officials. A paramilitary soldier was injured in the attack. The second cracker attack occurred near a Rangers post at Manzil Pump

This is a breaking story and will be updated as more details become available.

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Pakistan arrive in England for Test, T20I series

The Pakistan cricket team arrived in England on Sunday for their Test and T20I tour which is scheduled to begin in August.

The side reached Manchester after which they were moved to Worcestershire, where they will spend 14 days in isolation before heading to Derbyshire on July 13 to train for the Test series.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared videos and images of the team’s arrival in England on its Twitter account.

Pakistan team arrival Manchester #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/FWWPtgUjEs
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 28, 2020

Worcestershire#PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/2Txg7csbJR
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 28, 2020

The schedule for the Test and T20I series, which will be played behind closed doors, will be announced soon.

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Rolling Stones warn Trump of legal action over song use

British rock legends The Rolling Stones have threatened legal action against Donald Trump for the US president’s use of their song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” at campaign rallies.

The band has appointed performing rights organisation BMI to try to stop him using the song, according to a statement given to US website, Deadline, overnight Saturday.

“The BMI have notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorised use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement,” read the statement, which was retweeted by the Rolling Stones official Twitter account.

“If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed.”

The letter is the latest in a campaign to stop Trump using the song at rallies which dates back to 2016.

It was initially played at Republican party primaries.

The BMI added that it has not yet received any response from lawyers acting for Trump.

The Stones are not the first major act to call on the president to stop using their songs.

Earlier this month, the family of rock musician Tom Petty issued a cease and desist letter over Trump’s use of “I Won’t Back Down” at a rally in Tulsa on June 20.

His family posted an open letter on Twitter saying the late singer “would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate”.

Queen complained when Trump walked on stage to their anthem “We Are The Champions” during a Republican Party event in Cleveland, Ohio, in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election.

Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Aerosmith, Adele, Neil Young and the estate of singer Prince have all hit out after the use of songs by Trump.

And singer Betty Buckley also recently urged composer Andrew Lloyd Webber to stop the president using “Memory” at his campaign rallies.

Buckley sang the song in the original Broadway production of “Cats” in the early 1980s.

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” was a track first heard 51 years ago, on the 1969 album “Let It Bleed”.

Written by frontman Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, it was voted by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time

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Gunmen attack Pakistani stock exchange in Karachi

Gunmen attack the stock exchange in Karachi, with local media reporting a number of people killed or wounded.

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Brexit: Where are we now?

It's been out of the headlines for the past few months, but Brexit is back on the political menu.

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Take a dip in Haripur’s magical waterfall

Nestled between towering mountains and lush greenery is a spot that has recently attracted tourists from across the country — the Noori Waterfall.

Hidden into the depths of mountains, the 30-meter high waterfall is located 60km away from Islamabad in Haripur. The waterfall has become a popular spot for tourists as the temperatures go up.

The water shooting out from natural springs and falling into the pond is a sight to behold, according to tourists.

“The best part about the water here is that it’s cool in summers and warm in winters,” a visitor said.

Due to the lack of proper roads, tourists have to hike through a difficult hilly terrain to reach the waterfall. The waterfall, however, makes up for the hard work.

The people visiting the waterfall said that if the government invests into developing the area into a tourist spot, they will be able to attract a lot of people and make huge revenues.

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Watch SAMAA TV Headlines | 9am | 29 June | Pakistan

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This Multan man has a pet lion at his house

While most people like to keep a cat or a dog as their pets, this man from Multan has upped the ante and has found a companion in a lion.

Zubair has named the lion Leo and calls him his best friend. “I wanted to keep a lion as a pet since childhood,” he said. “Even though it can be dangerous, I still managed to fulfil my wish.”

Leo has a metal cuff around its neck and Zubair controls him with the chain attached to the cuff. There is a cage in the house as well where the animal is kept.

“Leo plays with me and is treated like royalty at our house,” Zubair said, explaining that due to high temperatures and heat an air-conditioner has been installed for the lion.

The animal-lover added that he makes sure the lion is fed meat timely.

According to Mudassir Hasan, the assistant director of the Punjab Wildlife Department, there’s no permit needed to keep a lion if the person gets it from within Punjab.

“A permit is only needed if the lion is imported. Otherwise, anyone could keep them at home,” he said. However, he stressed that the owners should keep the adult big cats caged, rather than allowing them to roam freely.

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Faisalabad vegetables cost more now as transport fares go up

Vegetables are being sold for Rs10 to Rs50 more than their actual cost in Faisalabad after the petrol prices were hiked by Rs25 per litre last week.

The federal government had brought the petrol price up to Rs100/ litre after which many businesses increased their charges to cope with the losses.

Onion which was being sold for Rs30/kg till Friday is now being sold for Rs40/kg. Similarly, a kilogramme of potatoes now cost Rs70/kg and ginger 350/kg.

The vegetable sellers have cited increase in fares for the hike. They complained that they used to pay Rs300 to a rickshaw to transport their vegetable but now they’re asked to pay Rs500.

On the other hand, bus owners are also charging 10 to 15% more fares.

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Lahore wakes up to light showers

Lahore residents woke up to rain and cold breeze on Monday morning.

The city has been facing severe heat for the last few weeks, but the monsoon rains have reduced the temperature to 29 degrees Celsius.

The Met Office has forecast intermittent rain in Lahore this week. Major areas of Lahore are set to witness pleasant weather in the coming days as the temperature is expected not to go past 35 degrees Celsius.

On the other hand, light rain has been reported in some areas of Karachi as well Monday morning.

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Singapore hands out coronavirus tracing devices

The government's TraceTogether tokens are aimed at people who do not have smartphones.

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Hebei: China locks down 400,000 people after virus spike near Beijing

It's a small spike in Hebei near Beijing - but enough for officials to reinstate a strict lockdown.

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Trump tweets — then deletes — video on ‘white power’

US President Donald Trump on Sunday shared a video of a stand-off between anti-Trump protesters and his supporters in which a man chants “white power” — before deleting it amid an outcry.

“Thank you to the great people of The Villages,” Trump tweeted alongside the video clip. “The Radical Left Do Nothing Democrats will Fall in the Fall.”

The footage, apparently shot in a Florida retirement community, shows a man driving a golf-cart bearing “Trump 2020” and “America First” signs being heckled by a roadside protester chanting “racist.”

As they yell at each other, the driver repeatedly mouths the words “white power” with a raised fist.

“White power! There you go, white power. Did you hear that?” the protester yells back at him.

The phrase “white power” is considered synonymous with a call for white supremacism. The phrase has been espoused by neo-Nazis, skinheads and Ku Klux Klan members.

Trump tweeted the video shortly after 7:30 am. At 11 am it had been removed from his account — and the White House shortly after issued a statement saying the president had not heard the “white power” chant before sharing the footage.

Washington, United States | AFP | Sunday 6/29/2020 – 01:33 UTC+5 | 507 words

ADDS DEMOCRATS’ REACTION, BIDEN TWEET

US President Donald Trump on Sunday shared a video of a stand-off between anti-Trump protesters and his supporters in which a man chants “white power” — before deleting it amid an outcry.

“Thank you to the great people of The Villages,” Trump tweeted alongside the video clip. “The Radical Left Do Nothing Democrats will Fall in the Fall.”

As they yell at each other, the driver repeatedly mouths the words “white power” with a raised fist.

“White power! There you go, white power. Did you hear that?” the protester yells back at him.

The phrase “white power” is considered synonymous with a call for white supremacism. The phrase has been espoused by neo-Nazis, skinheads and Ku Klux Klan members.

“President Trump is a big fan of The Villages. He did not hear the one statement made on the video,” said White House spokesman Judd Deere.

“What he did see was tremendous enthusiasm from his many supporters.”

Trump has long been accused of fanning racial tensions, including during the nationwide reckoning over racial inequality triggered by the death-in-custody of African American George Floyd a month ago.

Infamously, after deadly violence pitted neo-Nazis against counter-protesters in the Virginia city of Charlottesville in 2017, Trump declared there to be “very fine people on both sides.”

The “Villages” video triggered an immediate backlash.