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Griezmann saves France but Hungary earn famous point in raucous Budapest

Antoine Griezmann rescued a point for France and denied Hungary one of the big European Championship shocks in front of a raucous 60,000 crowd in Budapest. (Photo from BBC) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Antoine Griezmann rescued a point for France and denied Hungary one of the big European Championship shocks in front of a raucous 60,000 crowd in Budapest. Attila Fiola fired Hungary into the lead just before the break as he held off the French defence to slot home after a one-two with Roland Sallai. The goal was met by one of the loudest celebrations football has heard since March 2020 - or even before then - as the Puskas Arena went wild. Les Bleus were not impressive, although they did come back in the second half. World champions France, tipped by many as the tournament favourites, had dominated the first half, with Kylian Mbappe in lively form again, before that goal. The atmosphere was electric, but neither side could find a winner. There’s almost late drama when Presnel Kimpembe appeared to be fouled in the box by Sallai - but France was not given a penalty - and Raphael Varane headed wide with the last touch. France, on four points, has probably done enough to reach the last 16 from Group F - although it is not guaranteed yet - and Hungary have kept their qualification hopes alive. Germany, who lost to France in their opening match, face Portugal at 17:00 BST in Munich.

US Open: Richard Bland shares lead with Russell Henley at Torrey Pines

Richard Bland is making his second US Open appearance 12 years after his first. (Photo by= Getty Images) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] England's Richard Bland shares an unexpected lead in the US Open after a four-under 67 in the second round. BBC reported that the world number 115, playing in the event for only the second time, sits on five-under alongside Russell Henley. Late starter Henley led until a bogey on 18 at Torrey Pines saw him card a 70 to finish level with 48-year-old Bland. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau is level par after a 68, alongside two-time winner Brooks Koepka (73), with Rory McIlroy (73) on one over. Bland lost his European Tour card two years ago, but fought back and won the first title on the circuit in his 478th event in May. "I am very proud," Bland - the oldest man to lead the US Open at the halfway stage - told Sky Sports. Following his emotional British Masters victory, Bland said he found inspiration in Mickelson's US PGA Championship win at the record age of 50 and while the American was ranked 115th in the world. The Englishman, who turned professional in 1996, says he never considered another career despite the long wait for a first European Tour title. Previously, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson's 67 left him two off the pace on three under, alongside world number three Jon Rahm, who carded a 70.

Japan not to support coal power plant exports without more emissions cuts

File photo from January 2018 shows a coal-fired power plant at Sendai port in northeastern Japan. (Photo by= Kyodo) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] TOKYO - Japan will suspend new government support for domestic companies' exports of even high-efficiency coal power plants without technology to further reduce or capture carbon dioxide emissions, the industry minister said Friday. The government decided the previous day to end new financing for coal power projects overseas without emission reduction measures by the year-end in line with the Group of Seven leaders' recent agreement to end government support for "unabated" coal-fired plants. "Whether to grant government support for export will be judged not from the viewpoint of whether they are highly efficient, but whether emission reduction measures are taken," Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama told a regular press conference. Increasing the efficiency of coal-fired power plants can reduce CO2 emissions and Japan has supported the export of such plants. However, Kajiyama's remarks indicate that Tokyo will no longer endorse them unless steps are taken to cut emissions. Mixing coal with ammonia, which does not emit CO2 when burnt, and storing discharged CO2 under the ground would be among the prospective technologies for allowing coal plant exports, though they are still at the experimental stage. The government has yet to decide which methods can meet requirements for its export support.

325 Overseas Filipino Workers repatriated from United Arab Emirates

DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said that the recent arrival was a “clear testament” of the DFA's commitment to bring OFWs home. (Photo from Department of Foreign Affairs ) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] A total of 325 distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have returned to the Philippines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported. In a statement, the DFA said the group of repatriates, which included 88 pregnant distressed overseas Filipinos, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on June 17, Manila Bulletin reported. This was the third flight from UAE this year especially chartered by the DFA through the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) using the DFA’s Assistance To National Fund. DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Sarah Lou Arriola said that the recent arrival was a “clear testament” of the DFA’s commitment to bring OFWs home. She renewed the agency’s vow to continue providing assistance to all OFWs in need. The DFA, through the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Philippine Consulate General in Dubai, will continue to accept applications for future repatriations from the UAE. The previous chartered flight from the UAE last May 31, 2021, brought home 396 overseas Filipinos. The repatriates were subjected to stringent facility-based quarantine provided by the Philippine government, in conformity with the health protocols set by the Department of Health (DOH) – Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and shall be subjected to testing for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Tokyo to allow eateries to serve alcohol amid signs of virus uptrend

An eatery in Tokyo will serve alcohol starting Monday. (Photo by= Kyodo News) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] TOKYO - Eateries in Tokyo will be allowed to serve alcohol from Monday following the lifting of the coronavirus state of emergency in the capital, Gov. Yuriko Koike said Friday, amid signs of an upward trend in infections for the first time in over a month, Kyodo reported. People will be able to drink alcohol alone or in pairs for up to 90 minutes between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at restaurants and bars certified as having taken steps to control infection, Koike told reporters. Tokyo on Friday reported 453 new coronavirus cases, higher than the 435 infections reported last Friday, marking the third day in a row cases have been higher than the same day the previous week. A metropolitan government official expressed strong concern about a rebound, requesting that people "acknowledge the situation is serious." Among the new infections on Friday, 19 people are suspected of contracting a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus, first detected in India. Across Japan, a total of 1,623 new infections were confirmed the same day. Severe cases increased by 12 from Thursday to 775, according to the health ministry. If the situation improves, the metropolitan government will consider further easing measures based on the progress of vaccinations, she said.

Once-in-a-century bamboo blossoms observed in western Japan

Bamboo blossoms near Mineyama Park. (Photo by= The Shikoku Shimbun) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] TAKAMATSU, Japan - A very rare bamboo flowering is being observed in Takamatsu in the western Japan prefecture of Kagawa, much to the surprise of local people, according to The Shikoku Shimbun. Bamboo is said to blossom once every 60 to 120 years, depending on the species. The rare event, at a bamboo forest near Mineyama Park in Takamatsu, extends for about 50 meters along a walking trail. Some of the bamboos have already fallen down after flowering. The phenomenon was spotted by a passerby in late May. "Such an event had not been observed since the park opened about 40 years ago," said a park administration official.

Final protocol of WHO’s solidarity vaccine trials in PH to be finalized ‘until weekend' – DOST

A laboratory worker places a test tube containing a patient's sample into a box during coronavirus detection tests in the virology research labs at UZ Leuven university hospital in Leuven, Belgium, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (Photo by Geert Vanden Wijngaert /Bloomberg via Getty Images / MANILA BULLETIN) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] The final protocol for the World Health Organization’s (WHO) solidarity vaccine trials is expected to be finalized this weekend, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said Friday, June 18, Manila Bulletin reported. DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland has already forwarded the letter of agreement on June 11 “for review” of the Department of Health (DOH), DOST, and the Philippine Solidarity Vaccine Trial team. “The final protocol will be finalized until the weekend as WHO was able to sign an additional agreement with a third vaccine developer,” he said during his weekly report on Friday, June 18. He also noted that the “fund transfer of WHO counterpart to UP (University of the Philippines) Manila is expected to be completed next week.” In a Viber message to the Manila Bulletin, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, who chairs the Task Group on Vaccine Evaluation and Selection (TG-VES), said the final schedule of the WHO’s Solidarity Vaccine Trial (SVT) has yet to be determined. Guevara had disclosed that the WHO will likely relay to them the final schedule of its solidarity vaccine trials this week as well as the brands of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines that will be used in the study.

Crowds gather for hearing of two Apple Daily executives on national security charge

Supporters of the two Apple Daily executives protest outside the court hearing on Jun 19, 2021. (Photo by= AFP/Peter Parks) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] HONG KONG: Crowds gathered outside a Hong Kong court early on Saturday (Jun 19) ahead of a hearing for two executives of newspaper Apple Daily charged under the city's sweeping national security law, in a case that has drawn international condemnation. Editor-in-chief Ryan Law, 47, and chief executive Cheung Kim-hung, 59, were among five Apple Daily executives arrested on Thursday when 500 police raided the outlet's newsroom, which authorities described as a "crime scene." Both are charged with collusion with foreign powers, raising alarm over media freedoms in the financial hub as authorities intensify a crackdown under the contentious legislation. The other three, chief operating officer Chow Tat-kuen, deputy chief editor Chan Puiman and chief executive editor Cheung Chi-wai, were released on bail late on Friday, according to Apple Daily. Dozens of supporters were queuing to get seats in court on Saturday morning, including many former and current employees of Apple Daily, a popular 26-year-old paper. Some held yellow umbrellas or wore Apple Daily T-shirts saying, "No fear, fight on." As investigations into Apple Daily and its senior executives ramp up, some employees and observers have expressed deepening concern over the newspaper's future.

PH ARMYs adopted whales and more for BTS’ 8th anniversary

Bangtan Boys Philippines is one of the local groups proving it. And get this: They’ve adopted whales. (Photo from Preen PH) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Fanbase projects have evolved over the years. What used to be focused on collecting funds for group album purchases and gifts for artists is now seen as a formidable avenue for philanthropy. Bangtan Boys Philippines is one of the local groups proving it. And get this: They’ve adopted whales. 8ternallyWithBTS is a joint project spearheaded by Bangtan Boys Philippines, TaehgersPH, and ARMY Cavite Fanbase for BTS’s 8th anniversary as a group. It came from their song “Whalien 52” on their album “The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2”. The song is based on the 52-hertz whale, dubbed as “the world’s loneliest whale,” which calls at a higher frequency than other whale species. It holds a meaning relatable to anyone who has felt loneliness in their life. It’s touching for us as well because it feels like we’re not alone anymore since we have BTS as friends through their songs. We didn’t get to choose the whales directly. Balyena org provided a list of specific whales with sample photos that it has collected. Our project representative then chose each whale. Under Balyena org’s whale adoption program, a whale can be adopted and named for a year for P2,500. Those adopting whales also receive a kit that includes a certificate, a photo of the adopted animal’s tail, and a plushie.

Police detain 8 employees of China Gas unit after deadly pipeline blast

Footage from the site of gas pipe explosion in Shiyan city in Hubei, China on Jun 13, 2021. (Photo by= CCTV via Reuters) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] BEIJING: Eight employees of a unit of China Gas Holdings have been detained by local police after a fatal gas pipeline explosion on Sunday, according to a statement by the Shiyan city government, Reuters reported. The blast, which killed 25 people and injured 138, ripped through one of the city's vegetable markets that was filled with shoppers and local residents eating breakfast. The eight employees were part of a unit of China Gas, the Shiyan Dongfeng Zhongran City Gas Development Co, one of the suppliers of gas for the city located in Hubei province. "The safety management system at the company was not rigorous ... and the company did not strictly comply with the rules of pipeline inspections. There were serious faults in the operation of related facilities," the statement said, adding that the incident is still under investigation. China Gas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Shares in Hong Kong-listed China Gas plunged 9.7 percent on Friday.

How elderly Filipino-Americans became victims of a $5M resort Ponzi scam

A rendition of Pagudpud Sands resort. (Photo from FACEBOOK) [아시아뉴스통신=레악카나 기자] Between July 14, 2017, and September 8, 2017, Maria Macasaet invested a total of $265,000 in a project called the Pagudpud Sands Resort LLC (PSR), a luxury condotel project in the province of Ilocos Norte in the Philippines, PH Inquirer reported. She issued a check in two installments of $100,000 and $165,000 on behalf of herself and her husband Ricardo Macasaet, according to court documents Their investments were received by Larry Dela Cruz and Rick Rivera. On July 31, Rivera, identified in court documents as secretary/treasurer of PSR, and Dela Cruz, the CEO, issued Membership Certificates to PSR to Ricardo Macasaet. A website called Pagudpud Sands Resort — describes Dela Cruz and Rivera as partners of PSR Development who are “highly successful in their respective profession, they have always had the dream of bringing a world-class resort to their homeland, The Philippines.” It says PSR will assist Fil-Ams on “how to utilize their Self-Directed Individual Retirement Accounts (SD IRAs) to own real estate. Their victims — at least 30 elderly individuals who lived in the Sacramento and Stockton areas — generated combined investments of $5 million, according to Bonta’s office. PSR is registered in Nevada as a Domestic Limited Liability Company. A business license was issued to the company on March 15, 2016. There would be annual filings until 2021.

Removal of swab test for vaccinated inbound Filipino eyed

A health worker takes a swab of a woman in Brgy. Pasadena in San Juan City on May 6, 2020. (Photo by Michael Varcas) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) is inclined to recommend that Filipinos who have been fully vaccinated abroad no longer be required to undergo swab tests for COVID-19 when they arrive in the Philippines,PhilStar reported. At a press briefing, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire however said these Filipinos who forgo swab tests still have to be monitored closely. Vergeire noted that Filipinos who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination will still have to undergo the required quarantine for seven days. “If you recall, that was the opinion of experts, that if you do not require swab tests, the incoming travelers must be isolated and quarantined. You’re good but, of course, we would always want to defer to testing, especially if we would want to do contact tracing, of all of these things,” she added. But the official clarified that nothing is final yet because one challenge that they have to face is how to validate the authenticity of vaccination cards. According to Vergeire, a similar policy may apply for returning overseas Filipinos who received their COVID-19 jabs in the Philippines. “They leave the country but when they return, they will (undergo quarantine) for seven days without any testing at all,” she said. She added these Filipinos will be monitored and if they do not develop symptoms within seven days.

Australia taking China to WTO over wine duties

Beijing has imposed tough economic sanctions on a range of Australian products in recent months. (Photo by= AFP/NOEL CELIS) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] SYDNEY: Australia is lodging a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization over China's imposition of anti-dumping duties on Australian wine exports, the government announced Saturday (Jun 19), AFP reported. The decision follows "extensive consultation with Australia's winemakers", it said in a statement, adding that "Australia remains open to engaging directly with China to resolve this issue." The move is the latest incident in an escalating trade and diplomatic stand-off between Australia and its largest trading partner, and follows warnings by Prime Minister Scott Morrison that his government will respond to countries trying to use "economic coercion" against it. The action also came just days after a summit of the G7 grouping of advanced economies that echoed Australia's call for a tougher stand against China's trade practices and more assertive stance globally. Morrison attended the summit as part of a G7 plus formula that also brought in the leaders of South Korea, South Africa and India. Beijing has imposed tough economic sanctions on a range of Australian products in recent months, including tariffs or disruption across several agricultural sectors, coal, wine and tourism. Australia has already taken Beijing to the WTO over its tariffs on Australian barley.

Thai tourism set for sluggish reboot as Phuket stutters on 'sandbox'

An empty street market is seen near the beach in Phuket, Thailand, Mar 31, 2021. (Photo by= REUTERS/Jorge Silva) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] BANGKOK: Thailand's planned reopening of the resort island Phuket next month to vaccinated visitors, bypassing quarantine requirements, has met a lukewarm response, with hotel bookings indicating expected occupancy of less than 20 percent so far, Reuters reported. The "Phuket Sandbox" initiative from Jul 1 will allow free movement on the island for tourists fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with no self-isolation on arrival. They will be given a green light to travel elsewhere in Thailand after 14 days. But there are a few tricky conditions, too, and many industry professionals have complained that uncertainty and constant rule changes are deterring bookings. The plan will not be finalised until later this month. "This will be a slow process. None of us are expecting a 100 percent occupancy on Jul 2," said Anthony Lark, president of the Phuket Hotels Association. Thai Airways is on board, with direct flights from six European cites to Phuket from July, although it anticipates only a fraction of seats being filled, with about 100 passengers in the first week, the airline's representatives said. The government hopes the Phuket Sandbox will draw 129,000 visitors to the country in the third quarter - a far cry from the average 3.3 million monthly arrivals to Thailand in 2019.

ICC case vs Duterte may take 3 months in pretrial body

The International Criminal Court in The Hague, The Netherlands (Photo from the ICC website) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA — Although the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has found grounds to prosecute crimes against humanity in President Duterte’s war against illegal drugs, the first step of the process will likely take at least three months PH Inquirer reported. Param-Preet Singh, a lawyer with the Human Rights Watch, said the case was submitted to the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber by former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda who determined that members of the Philippine National Police illegally killed several thousand civilians from 2016 -2019. Singh said that for the case to move forward, the judges of the PTC would examine if the prosecutor had “presented reasonable grounds to proceed and that she’s adhered to the [Rome] Statute” that created the ICC. Singh made the remarks in an online forum with journalists in Manila and HRW officials from New York and Geneva on Wednesday evening. But the day before, Malacañang said it would not cooperate with the ICC because the Philippines, which was a party to the Rome Statute from Nov. 1, 2011, withdrew from the ICC on March 17, 2019. Leftist lawmakers mocked Malacañang’s position and dared the President to cooperate with the ICC. For Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Mr. Duterte “may not even want to participate in the investigation but, eventually, the long arms of justice will catch you.”

First-ever black Filipina being pushed to become Ms. Universe

The 22-year-old stunner, Chelsea Anne Manalo from Meycauayan, Bulacan is a Filipino-American who is not new in the pageant scene. (Photo from chelseamanalo_ofc via Instagram) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA — Chelsea Anne Manalo became the talk of the town after a Facebook page posted a rumored list of Miss Universe Philippines 2021 aspirants, PhilStar reported. The 22-year-old stunner from Meycauayan, Bulacan is a Filipino-American who is not new in the pageant scene. In 2017, she joined Miss World Philippines and landed in the Top 15 finalists. Now that she is reportedly joining Miss Universe Philippines, Filipino pageants fans could not stop raving about her. The photo of Manalo uploaded on the Facebook page of Philippine Pageants has now garnered 242,000 likes, 5,500 comments, and 11,000 shares as of writing. LorraineAnn Facundo commented: “Living black barbie.” Meanwhile, Luzvi Morales said: “Pinoy surname, Pinoy beauty, Pinoy features #filipino #filipinopride #filipina.” Some of the comments were also projections about her. Loverly Buladaco, one of the top comments, said: “I can feel the Ms. Universe vibe on her.” Kimberly Daño commented: “She’s the one... she’ll get the crown! Mark it!” Michelle Mielkhaeylla also said: “This One! She will slay the stage for Sure.” If the Bulakenya beauty wins Miss Universe Philippines 2021, she is believed to be the first-ever Filipino-African American who will represent the country in Miss Universe. Miss Universe Philippines has yet to release the official list of candidates. The deadline for submission of applications is on June 24.

Covid: Palestinians cancel vaccine swap deal with Israel

Elderly Palestinians are among those being vaccinated in the occupied West Bank. (Photo by=Getty Images) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] The Palestinian Authority has cancelled a deal under which Israel was to give it at least one million Covid vaccines. The authority said the Pfizer jabs were too close to their expiry date, BBC reported. Earlier, Israel said it didn't need an ageing stock of vaccines and they were to be used to speed up the Palestinian vaccination programme. In return, the Palestinians were to give Israel a similar number of vaccines they are expecting from the Pfizer organisation later in the year. Palestinian Authority Health Minister Mai Alkaila said they had been told the jabs would expire in July or August, but, when they arrived, the marked date was June. "That's not enough time to use them, so we rejected them," she said. Israel has not commented on the alleged date. Palestinian Authority spokesman Ibrahim Melhem said the initial delivery of about 90,000 doses failed to conform "to the specifications contained in the agreement, and accordingly Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh instructed the minister of health to cancel the agreement". "The government refuses to receive vaccines that are about to expire," he said in the statement carried by the official Wafa news agency. Mr Melhem added that they would instead wait for the consignment of vaccines the authority had ordered directly from Pfizer.

Wildlife deaths blamed on ship disaster mount in Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan fishing boat operates against the backdrop of the MV X-Press Pearl, which lies partially submerged in shallow seas off Colombo. (Photo by= AFP/Ishara S Kodikara) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] COLOMBO: More dead turtles washed up on Sri Lankan beaches on Friday (Jun 18), underscoring the environmental blight caused by a container ship fire off the country's coast, AFP reported. The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl was carrying hundreds of tonnes of chemicals and plastics when it caught fire last month, before burning for two weeks. Since Jun 2 its wreckage has been partially submerged off the capital Colombo. Wildlife officials said the carcass of an olive ridley turtle - a species listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature - was found at the tourist resort area of Bentara, 80km south of Colombo. Another was seen on a beach in Induruwa, just south of Bentara, raising to 15 the number found in the southern tourist resort belt, an official said. "We see a clear link with the ship and the turtle deaths," the senior wildlife official on the island's south told AFP, declining to be named. He said the disaster struck during the height of the turtles' mating season. It is not unusual for some turtles to suffocate and die during the mating season, but deaths this year were "10 to 20 times more compared to last year", he said.

SWS: Over 12M Filipinos still jobless as of May 2021

People in face masks and face shields wait for a ride at the Nepa Q-Mart bus station in Quezon City. (Photo by Nino Jose Orbeta) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] MANILA— The number of adult Filipinos who remain jobless as of May 2021 slightly went down to 12.2 million compared to November 2020 figures, but Social Weather Stations (SWS) said that this is still higher than data from before the COVID-19 pandemic, PH Inquirer reported. According to SWS, the adult joblessness rate according to their April 28 to May 2 surveys was at 25.8 percent of the labor force. This is lower compared to the November figures of 27.3 percent or 12.7 million in November 2020. However, this is also 8.3 percentage points higher than the joblessness rate before the health crisis took place, as it was only at 17.5 percent last December 2019. “The national Social Weather Survey of April 28–May 2, 2021, found adult joblessness at 25.8% of the adult labor force. This is 1.5 points down from the 27.3% in November 2020 but still 8.3 points higher than the pre-pandemic level of 17.5% in December 2019,” SWS said. “The jobless consist of those who (a) voluntarily left their old jobs, (b) are seeking jobs for the first time, or (c) lost their jobs due to economic circumstances beyond their control,” it added. Still, it has relatively eased from the record-high 45.5 percent recorded last July 2020.

Myanmar protesters wear flowers to mark Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday

Flowers tucked into a bun have long been a signature look of Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (Photo by= AFP/JOHN Macdougall) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] YANGON: Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar donned flowers in their hair on Saturday (Jun 19) to mark the birthday of ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains under house arrest and is due to face court again next week, AFP reported. Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government was overthrown in a Feb 1 coup that sparked mass protests and renewed clashes between the military and ethnic rebel armies in border regions. Flowers tucked into a bun have long been a signature look of Aung San Suu Kyi, who turns 76 on Saturday. Many replicated the floral hairstyle and uploaded pictures onto social media across Myanmar on Saturday. Among them was Myanmar Miss Universe beauty queen Thuzar Wint Lwin, who wore red flowers in her hair and wrote: "May our leader be healthy." In Yangon's north, protesters put up posters on power lines wishing Aung San Suu Kyi a happy birthday and expressing solidarity. "Happy Birthday Mother Suu. We are right behind you," the signs read. In the border region of Karen state, some rebel soldiers were photographed holding their guns and yellow, white and purple posies and single flowers tucked behind their ears.

Merkel and Macron urge EU coordination on reopening borders

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks as he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel give a news statement in Berlin, Germany, June 18, 2021. (Photo by= REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/Pool) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] BERLIN: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron called on Friday (Jun 18) for European Union countries to coordinate their COVID-19 border reopening policies and guard against new variants of the virus, Reuters reported. Macron said EU countries must be careful not to allow new variants to spread, adding that the EU was watching developments in Britain, which has seen a steep rise in the weekly reported cases of the Delta variant. "Some countries have reopened their borders earlier for tourist industry reasons, but we must be careful not to re-import new variants," he told a joint news conference with Merkel before a working dinner at the chancellery in Berlin. Merkel added: "We can't act as if the coronavirus is over." Turning to EU relations with Russia, Merkel said the bloc should maintain dialogue with Moscow despite major differences on issues of security and the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. "Russia is a big challenge for us but Russia is also a continental neighbour of the European Union and we need to ensure that all hybrid (cyber) attacks are stopped," Merkel said. On the EU economy, Macron said recovery was the priority now, not discussion about budget rules, enshrined in the Stability and Growth Pact.

Researchers find biological links between red meat and colorectal cancer

A new paper in the journal Cancer Discovery has now identified specific patterns of DNA damage triggered by diets rich in red meat - further implicating the food as a carcinogen while heralding the possibility of detecting the cancer early and designing new treatments. (Photo by= AFP/Justin Sullivan) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] WASHINGTON: Eating less red meat is standard medical advice for preventing colorectal cancer, but the way it causes cells to mutate has remained unclear, and not all experts were convinced there was a strong link, AFP reported. A new paper in the journal Cancer Discovery has now identified specific patterns of DNA damage triggered by diets rich in red meat - further implicating the food as a carcinogen while heralding the possibility of detecting the cancer early and designing new treatments. Prior research establishing the connection was mainly epidemiologic, meaning that people who developed the condition were surveyed on their eating habits, and researchers spotted associations with colorectal cancer incidence. But a lack of clarity around the biology meant that the case wasn't quite slam dunk, and in 2019, one team of researchers made waves when they declared they only had a "low" degree of certainty that reducing consumption would prevent cancer deaths. "When we say red meat is carcinogenic, and that it impacts incidence of cancer, there has to be some plausible way by which it does it," Dana-Farber Cancer Institute oncologist Marios Giannakis, who led the new study, told AFP. Giannakis stressed the takeaway message is not that people should totally abstain from red meat: "My recommendation would be that moderation and a balanced diet is key."

Biden warns of Delta variant threat, urges public to get vaccinations

Around 65.1 percent of people in the United States had gotten at least one shot as of Jun 18, 2021. (Photo by= AP) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday (Jun 19) urged Americans to get COVID-19 shots, as the country looks likely to miss the White House's goals for vaccination next month as a new coronavirus variant triggered serious concerns, Reuters said. "Act now, act now," Biden said in remarks at the White House, urging the unvaccinated to talk to their family and friends who have had shots and to their doctors. Deaths and hospitalizations are going "drastically down in places where people are getting vaccinated", but not other areas, Biden said. "They're actually going up in some places." At the current pace, the United States seems unlikely to hit Biden's goal of having 70 percent of adults receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by Jul 4, the Independence Day holiday. As of Friday, around 65.1 percent of people in the United States had gotten at least one shot, and that mark has increased by less than one percentage point over the past two weeks. The White House had no immediate comment on the possibility of missing the Jul 4, 70 percent goal. Currently, only 15 states and Washington, DC have achieved that level.

Portland riots: Police crowd-control team resigns after officer indicted

Portland was shaken by weeks of demonstrations following the death of George Floyd last year. (Photo by: Getty Images) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Every member of a police crowd-control unit in the US city of Portland has resigned after one of its officers was indicted on an assault charge. The charge stemmed from violent anti-racism protests that rocked the city, in the state of Oregon, last year, BBC reported. Prosecutors allege the officer used "excessive and unlawful use of force" against a protester in August 2020. But Portland's police union described the decision to prosecute the officer as "politically driven". The crowd-control unit, known as the Rapid Response Team (RRT), comprised about 50 police officers. They serve in the team voluntarily and are deployed during events such as riots, large-scale searches or disaster situations. In a statement, Portland police said members had "left their voluntary positions and no longer comprise a team". It said the officers would continue in their regular assignments. Portland experienced weeks of protests against racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May. Amid widespread rioting, vandalism and arson that often took place at night, the RTT was sent in to disperse crowds. The Portland Police Association said the officer had been "caught in the crossfire of agenda-driven city leaders and a politicised criminal justice system".

Troubled US teens left traumatised by tough love camps

Paris Hilton released a YouTube documentary about her life last year showing her decades-long struggle with trauma. (Photo by= BBC News) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] As one of the most famous faces of the 2000s, people think they know the story of Paris Hilton. So, when the 40-year-old released a YouTube documentary about her life last year, many were shocked to learn about her decades-long struggle with trauma, BBC reported. Hilton tearfully recounted how she was woken up by strangers in her bedroom in the middle of the night as a teenager and forcibly taken across the country. She said her unanswered cries for help repeatedly play out in nightmares which make it difficult to sleep. Her story, though shocking, is not unique. Hilton is one of thousands of American children sent every year by their parents into a private network of "tough love" residential programmes and schools marketed at reforming their behaviour. The Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) has become an umbrella term for a wide scope of private residential programmes like these aimed at modifying adolescent behaviour. From boot camps to boarding schools, these facilities are marketed as treatment for a broad range of behavioural and mental health issues including eating disorders, drug use and defiance. The size of the industry and its yearly turnover of teenagers across the US remains elusive because there is no federal regulator monitoring it.

North Korea leader vows to overcome difficulties as he concludes key party meeting: state media

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends an emergency Politburo meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Sunday. (File photo by=KCNA/KNS via AP) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to break through difficulties facing the country as he concluded a key Workers' Party meeting after discussing ways to deal with food shortages and relations with the United States, state media said Saturday. Throughout the four-day plenary meeting of the party's Central Committee, the third of its kind this year, Kim discussed how to cope with economic challenges, including food shortages and anti-pandemic efforts. He also discussed ways to deal with the U.S. administration of President Joe Biden, saying the North should be ready for both dialogue and confrontation, and more importantly, confrontation amid the "fast-changing" situation on the Korean Peninsula. As he wrapped up the meeting on Friday, Kim "solemnly swore on behalf of the WPK Central Committee that the Party will surely breakthrough head-on the difficulties lying in the way of the revolution" and remain loyal to the revolutionary idea to the end regardless of the "severer difficulties it may be confronted with in the future," the Korean Central News Agency said. The meeting also dealt with organizational issues, including the election of members to the political bureau. Thae Hyong-chol, vice president of the Presidium, was elected as a member of the political bureau.

Alex Harvill: US daredevil dies during world record attempt

Alex Harvill leaves behind a wife and two young sons, including a newborn. (Photo by: Facebook) [Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] A 28-year-old daredevil has died in the US state of Washington after crashing while trying to break the world record for the longest motorcycle ramp jump. Officials said Alex Harvill died after an accident during a practice run on Thursday morning, BBC reported. He was planning to attempt the 351ft (107m) jump in front of spectators at the Moses Lake Airshow. A video of the incident shows his motorcycle landing shy of the intended target and crashing into a dirt mound. Local newspaper, the Columbia Basin Herald, said Mr Harvill appeared to have been thrown over the handlebars and lost his helmet during the crash. Organisers of the Moses Lake Airshow originally said Harvill had been taken to hospital with injuries, but a spokesman from the local police later confirmed he had died. "Our deepest sympathies go out to Alex's family, friends and loved ones," the Grant County Sheriff's Office said. Harvill was a professional motocross racer who also held two previous motorcycle jump records. His wife, Jessica, who was at the air show with their sons, said before the crash that he had spent the past two weeks preparing for the stunt, but had not yet jumped the ramp prior to Thursday's first attempt, the Columbia Basin Herald reports.