Sweden's unorthodox response to COVID-19: A mistake?

Health Minister Lena Hallengren discusses Sweden's coronavirus death toll, the worst by far in Scandinavia.

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Coronavirus: Mexico's death toll becomes world's third highest

Mexico reports at least 46,688 deaths with coronavirus, with only the US and Brazil recording higher numbers.

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Trump says he will ban TikTok in the US

US security officials fear the Chinese-owned app could be used to collect Americans' personal data.

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Trump Administration Pushes through Massive Immigration Fee Increase

The next wave of Trump administration policy designed to reduce immigration is here. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will impose major increases in the immigration fee structure effective October 2, 2020. The USCIS immigration fee increase would nearly double the cost of some applications. However, there are some minor reductions for other types of applications.

The Trump administration is simultaneously squeezing immigrants with a new public charge rule and changes to the fee waiver rules that make it more difficult for low-income immigrants and their families. To add insult to injury, some of the new fees will go to pay for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The new immigration fee schedule increases the costs for several family-based petitions and applications and would even add new types of fees. The proposal was initially published in the Federal Register on Thursday, November 14, 2019. That rule has now been finalized and will go into effect on October 2, 2020.

Fee Increase Affect on Adjustment Applicants

At a glance, the fee for Form I-485 will go down by $10, but this can be deceiving. Currently, USCIS waives certain fees for adjustment of status applicants. In most cases, the fee for Form I-765 (employment authorization document) and I-131 (advance parole travel document) are waived with a pending I-485 application. The agency’s immigration fee increase returns to a model of charging separate fees for Forms I-485, I-765, and I-131. Unfortunately, this is drastically increasing the cost for nonimmigrant visitors to adjust status to permanent resident. Instead of paying $1,760 in fees for the typical family-based adjustment case, the combined fees are hiked to $2,860 (if an EAD and advance parole document are needed). This will also affect many U.S. citizens. A large percentage of adjustment cases are for the foreign national spouses of U.S. citizens.

What’s more, USCIS has removed the reduced fee for children filing with parents. In the previous fee schedule, children receive a reduced fee if filing Form I-485 with a parent. USCIS is removing the $390 savings. Child applicants must now pay the same fees as adults.

RECOMMENDED: Green Card through Adjustment of Status

Naturalization Fee Hike

Applicants for U.S. citizenship are some of the hardest hit by the USCIS immigration fee increases. The new fee for Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, is $1,170. That’s 83% more than the current $640 fee. Additionally, fee waivers could be taken away in the future.

The $530 increase will make it increasingly difficult for permanent residents to become citizens through the naturalization process. The move could reverse the efforts made in previous years to make the process more accessible. In the 1990s, the naturalization filing fee was under $100.

DACA Fee Increase Averted

The administration’s initial rule had proposed a new $275 fee for requests to renew DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). However, the final rule did not include this fee. Thus, the fee the renewal DACA will continue to be a combined $495. The combined fee includes a $410 filing fee for Form I-765 plus $85 biometrics services fee.

If your DACA status expires within the next six months, you are already encouraged to renew as soon as possible.

New USCIS Filing Fees for Common Forms

The immigration fee increase affects most forms. In some cases, there is actually a small improvement in the fee. We’ve listed some of the most commonly used USCIS forms:

Form	Current Fee	New Fee	$ Change	% Change
I-90	$455	$415	($40)	(9%)
I-129F	$535	$510	($25)	(5%)
I-130	$535	$560	$25	5%
I-131	$575	$590	$15	3%
I-131A	$575	$1,010	$435	76%
I-4851	$1,140	$1,130	($10)	(1%)
I-751	$595	$760	$165	28%
I-7652	$410	$550	$140	34%
N-400	$640	$1,170	$530	83%
N-565	$555	$545	($10)	(2%)
N-600	$1,170	$1,000	($170)	(15%)
1 Final rule also removes reduced fee for children under 14. Additionally, there is a $1,080 fee for certain asylum applicants. 2 Increase in filing fee does not apply to EAD requests based on a grant of DACA.

This is not a comprehensive forms or fee changes. For the complete all forms, please refer to the final rule in the Federal Register.

USCIS Fees Will Not Pay for ICE

USCIS officials have said that the immigration fee increase would help pay for an “overextended system.” Generally, the purpose of fee increases is to fund the operations of USCIS operations. However, the proposed rule gave the agency room to use the fee hike for other activities.

The USCIS immigration fee proposal was written to allocate more than $207 million in filing fees to ICE operations, including ICE immigration benefit fraud investigations and enforcement. This is counter to how USCIS has previously operated. The immigration agency charges fees to pay for the services provided to petitioners and applicants. Fortunately, the final rule declined to use funds collected by USCIS for enforcement operations.

Other Obstacles for Immigrants

Over the last year, the Trump administration introduced other measures to limit legal immigration. All appear designed to make it more difficult for lower income immigrants to qualify for benefits.

In January, USCIS finalized changes to a new public charge rule. The modification requires intending immigrants to submit a new, onerous form that dives into the financial background of green card applicants. Combined with stricter guidelines, it would make it more difficult for low-income applicants to qualify. Multiple court injunctions temporarily halted this policy. However, the administration may be able to implement it in the future.

RECOMMENDED: Public Charge Rule, Explained

Additionally, the agency removed one of the principal methods to qualify for a USCIS fee waiver. Fee waivers enable certain immigrants obtain benefits for a reduced fee or no fee at all. Many applicants have used means-tested benefits as a qualifying factor. USCIS took away this criterion, meaning that applicants may generally qualify only after submitting substantial amounts of tax return information or other documents to prove income level. Consequently, this measure puts a larger burden of work hours on USCIS to screen applicants. The increased costs get passed on to everyone else.

Online Filing

USCIS is offering a small incentive to those who use the efile system for certain forms. Individuals who file online will receive $10 off the filing fee.

USCIS Immigration Fee Increase Goes Into Effect October 2, 2020

Applicants still have time to seek immigration benefits prior to the new immigration fee increase.

The final rule was published July 31, 2020. USCIS is providing a grace period of up to 60 days in which they will accept both the previous and the new versions of certain forms as long as payment of the new, correct fees accompanies the forms. Applicants and petitioners must use the new or revised form by October 2, 2020.

The fee changes arrive as USCIS is facing a significant budget shortfall and possible furloughs for employees. Unlike most federal agencies, USCIS receives most of its funding from fee collection. The agency closed offices and paused most in-person services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About CitizenPath

CitizenPath provides simple, affordable, step-by-step guidance through USCIS immigration applications. Individuals, attorneys and non-profits use the service on desktop or mobile device to prepare immigration forms accurately, avoiding costly delays. CitizenPath allows users to try the service for free and provides a 100% money-back guarantee that USCIS will approve the application or petition. We provide support for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), the Citizenship Application (Form N-400), Green Card Renewal (Form I-90), and several other immigration services.

Source: Federal Register

 

The post Trump Administration Pushes through Massive Immigration Fee Increase appeared first on CitizenPath.

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Trump says he will ban TikTok through executive action as soon as Saturday

President Donald Trump on Friday told reporters he will act as soon as Saturday to ban Chinese-owned video app TikTok from the United States.

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Dr. Fauci says coronavirus is so contagious, it won't likely ever disappear

Fauci's testimony before a House subcommittee are at odds with President Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that the virus would "disappear."

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The heat is on as Australia prepares for looming fire season

As inquiry into last year's bushfires prepares to report, those who lost everything hope others do not suffer same fate.

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Dangerous heat wave forecast for south-western areas of US

Forecasters say temperatures could rise to 50C on Saturday in parts of Utah, Nevada and California.

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Hong Kong 'issues arrest warrants' for exiled democracy activists

Chinese state television says Hong Kong police ordered arrest of the six activists on charges of violating security law.

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Canada’s Key Role in Creating a Once Awaited Vaccine

An American researcher created the polio vaccine, but a Toronto lab and a pioneering female scientist made its mass production possible.

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Dr Fauci is asked if protests spread coronavirus

"You're putting words into my mouth," the US infectious disease chief says in a grilling by Congress.

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Mexico posts world's third-highest coronavirus death toll: Live

Mexico reports 46,688 fatalities, overtaking the UK to log the world's third-highest COVID-19 death toll.

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Week in pictures: 25 July-31 July 2020

A selection of powerful news photographs taken around the world this week.

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Phyllis Omido: The woman who won $12m fighting lead battery poisoners

Kenyan activist Phyllis Omido has been ignored, harassed and arrested, but she never gave up.

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Why a new generation of Thais are protesting against the government

A new political divide in Thailand has emerged between the country's youth and its older generation.

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US election 2020: The war hero who could be Biden's running mate

Senator Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq war veteran and the first Thai-American woman elected to Congress.

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India coronavirus: Gold rush as pandemic roils country's economy

As Covid-19 worsens the economic slump, Indians are returning to a trusted asset: gold.

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Belarus: The mother challenging an authoritarian president

Political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya rallies protesters in a battle with Alexander Lukashenko.

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Australia hotel bans rowdy emus for bad behavior

Two brazen emu siblings named Kevin and Carol have been banned from a hotel in Australia's Outback for bad behavior.

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'Endure some more': Philippines extends coronavirus lockdown

President Rodrigo Duterte says cases of the virus remain too high for restrictions to be eased.

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Australia state flags new curbs in struggle to tame coronavirus

One in four people diagnosed with virus found not to be at home when officials called, raising concerns about spread.

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Lee Teng-hui: Taiwan's 'father of democracy' dies

Lee successfully pushed for more democracy, but took a controversially hard line against China.

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Michael Brown: Officer won't be charged for 2014 killing of teenager

The killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson triggered protests across the US in 2014.

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Major banks are giving new graduates virtual introductions to careers in finance

As students graduate into an uncertain jobs market, many major banks are offering virtual insights into a career in finance.

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Women in Xinjiang shine a light on a campaign of abuse and control by Beijing

Zumrat Dawut said she was forcibly sterilized by the Chinese government for having one too many children.

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A new bestselling novel scrutinizes colorism and standards of beauty in America

While the world continues to reckon with systemic racism and anti-Blackness during a summer of protest and awakening after the killing of George Floyd, a new novel explores another layer of discrimination experienced by people within Black communities.

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'Black rain' victims recognized as Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors

A Japanese court recognized dozens of victims of radioactive "black rain" as survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing on Wednesday, clearing the way for them to receive medical benefits just days before the 75th anniversary of the attack.

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Russia jails ex-US Marine for 9 years

A Moscow court sentenced former U.S. Marine Trevor Reed to nine years in prison Thursday for endangering "life and health" of Russian police officers in an altercation, state-run news agency TASS reported -- a sentence that drew swift condemnation from the top US diplomat in Russia.

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'A fair go': Australia to force tech giants to pay media for news

The initiative is being closely watched, with news media suffering as tech giants have hoovered up advertising revenue.

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Afghanistan: At least 17 killed in Eid car blast

The explosion came on the eve of a ceasefire declared by the Taliban during the festival of Eid.

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China's factory activity beats expectations in July and expands for the fifth month, official PMI shows

China's factory activity expanded in July for the fifth month in a row and at a faster pace, beating analysts' expectations.

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Vietnam posts record jump in coronavirus cases: Live updates

Vietnam reports 45 new infections in city of Danang, marking highest daily jump since pandemic began.

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Billions of tech revenue in Asia are at risk due to U.S. restrictions on Huawei, S&P says

Huawei is in the middle of a confrontation between the United States and China for global technological dominance.

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New virus outbreak in Hong Kong dims city's economic outlook, prompting analysts to cut forecasts

Stricter social-distancing measures imposed after a flare up in coronavirus cases will dampen prospects of an economic recovery in Hong Kong, some economists said.

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Asia stocks dip after historic U.S. GDP contraction; China's manufacturing data awaited

Stocks in Asia Pacific were mostly lower in Friday morning trade following a record contraction in U.S. gross domestic in the second quarter.

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Obama aims criticism at Trump in eulogy for civil rights leader

Without mentioning him by name, ex-president lambasts Trump's handling of ongoing civil unrest and voting procedures.

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Covid-19: Why Hong Kong's 'third wave' is a warning

Until recently, the city was seen as a poster child in its handling of the pandemic. What went wrong?

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What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from?

To many the Karen meme - and its male equivalent Ken - sums up a specific type of white privilege.

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The 'real' threat to Russia’s former doping mastermind

The ex-mastermind of Russian sports doping, Grigory Rodchenkov, now only appears in disguise. Matt Majendie explains why.

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Bollywood's 'warts and all' biopic on 'human computer'

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan plays Shakuntala Devi who dazzled the world with her skill with numbers.

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The middle-css Pakistani students fighting for a homeland dream

Shahdad Mumtaz died for his beliefs. Could a missing student end up waging war on the Pakistani state?

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Coronavirus: Australia's Victoria records huge case jump

The state reports its highest case and death toll - prompting fears that lockdown is not working.

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Domino's Pizza New Zealand drops 'free pizza for Karen' offer after backlash

"We wanted to bring a smile to customers," the firm's New Zealand arm said. "We are sorry."

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Huawei overtakes Samsung to be No. 1 smartphone player in the world thanks to China as overseas sales drop

Huawei became the biggest smartphone player in the world in the second quarter for the first time with the majority of sales coming from China as its international business suffers due to U.S. sanctions, a new report shows.

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Japan finally announced a fee for plastic bags. Will that stop its obsession with plastic?

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Four Hong Kong student activists arrested for 'secession' over social media posts

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China is accused of hacking the Vatican. Here's why they would be prime suspects

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Hiroshima Court Recognizes Victims of Radioactive ‘Black Rain’ as Atomic Bomb Survivors

(TOKYO) — A Japanese court on Wednesday for the first time recognized people exposed to radioactive “black rain” that fell after the 1945 U.S. atomic attack on Hiroshima as atomic bomb survivors, ordering the city and the prefecture to provide the same government medical benefits as given to other survivors.

The Hiroshima District Court said all 84 plaintiffs who were outside of a zone previously set by the government as where radioactive rain fell also developed radiation-induced illnesses and should be certified as atomic bomb victims. All of the plaintiffs are older than their late 70s, with some in their 90s.

The landmark ruling comes a week before the city marks the 75th anniversary of the U.S. bombing.

The U.S. dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, killing 140,000 people and almost destroying the entire city. The plaintiffs were in areas northwest of the ground zero where radioactive black rain fell hours after the bomb was dropped.

The plaintiffs have developed illnesses such as cancer and cataracts linked to radiation after they were exposed to black rain, not only that which fell but also by taking water and food in the area contaminated with radiation.

They filed the lawsuit after Hiroshima city and prefectural officials rejected their request to expand the zone to cover their areas where black rain also fell.

In Wednesday’s ruling, the court said the plaintiffs’ argument about their black rain exposure was reasonable and that their medical records showed they have health problems linked to radiation exposure.

One of the plaintiffs, Minoru Honke, who was exposed to black rain at age 4, said more than a dozen people died during the trial. “I want to tell them that we won,” he said.

Osamu Saito, a doctor who has examined atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima, welcomed the ruling for considering the survivors’ welfare based on an assumption that anyone who was in these areas and hit by the rain could have been affected by radiation.

Earlier in the day, dozens of plaintiffs walked into the Hiroshima court in the rain, showing a banner saying “Certificates to all ‘black rain’ victims.” As soon as the ruling was issued, lawyers for the plaintiffs ran out of the court, showing a banner saying “Full victory,” and their supporters applauded and cheered.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the government will closely examine the ruling and respond after consulting with related government agencies and Hiroshima officials.

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Hong Kong Police Arrest Four Students on Suspicion of Succession Through Online Posts

(HONG KONG) — Hong Kong police have signaled their intent to enforce a new Chinese national security law strictly, arresting four youths Wednesday on suspicion of inciting secession through social media posts.

Three males and one female, aged 16 to 21, were detained, a police official said at an 11 p.m. news conference. All are believed to be students.

“Our investigation showed that a group has recently announced on social media that they have set up an organization for Hong Kong independence,” said Li Kwai-wah, senior superintendent of a newly formed unit to enforce the security law.

The 1-month-old law has chilled pro-democracy protesting as activists along with academics and others wonder if their activities could be targeted.

The central government in Beijing imposed the national security law on the semi-autonomous Chinese territory after city leaders were unable to get one passed locally. The move has raised fears that Hong Kong’s freedoms and local autonomy are being taken away.

Police did not identify the suspects or their group. An organization called Studentlocalism — which announced it was disbanding just before the law took effect — said on Facebook that four former members had been arrested on secession charges, including ex-leader Tony Chung.

The police action appeared to target the Initiative Independence Party, which says on its Facebook page that it consists of former Studentlocalism members who have completed their studies and are overseas.

The party, which also posted the news of Wednesday’s arrests, advocates for independence because it believes full democracy for Hong Kong is impossible under Chinese rule, its Facebook page says.

Li said only that the group in question had set up recently and that the posts were made after the law took effect late on June 30.

“They said they want to establish a Hong Kong republic, and that they will unreservedly fight for it,” he said. “They also said they want to unite all pro-independence groups in Hong Kong for this purpose.”

He warned anyone who thinks they can carry out such crimes online to think twice.

Police have made a handful of other arrests under the new law, all of people taking part in protests and chanting slogans or waving flags deemed to violate the law.

China promised Hong Kong would have its own governing and legal systems under a “one country, two systems” principle until 2047, or 50 years after Britain handed back its former colony in 1997.

China, in justifying the new law, says issues such as separatism are a national security concern and, as such, fall under its purview.

The latest arrests came one day after a leading figure in Hong Kong’s political opposition was fired from his university post.

Hong Kong University’s council voted 18-2 to oust Benny Tai from his position as an associate law professor, local media reported.

Tai has been out on bail since being sentenced to 16 months in prison in April 2019 as one of nine leaders put on trial for their part in 2014 protests for greater democracy known as the Umbrella Movement.

In a posting Wednesday on his Facebook account, Tai said he intended to continue writing and lecturing on legal issues and asked for public support.

“If we continue in our persistence, we will definitely see the revival of the rule of law in Hong Kong one day,” Tai wrote.

While the 2014 movement failed in its bid to expand democracy, protests returned last year over a legislative proposal that would have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to face trial in mainland China.

Although the legislation was eventually shelved, protester demands expanded to include calls for democratic change and an investigation into alleged police abuses. They grew increasingly violent in the second half of the year.

In a statement issued after the vote to remove Tai, the Chinese government’s liaison office in Hong Kong said it was “a punishment for evil doing.”

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Vietnam braces for a fresh wave of coronavirus despite earlier success in containing the outbreak

Vietnam, once praised for its success in containing the coronavirus outbreak, is now battling a resurgence in cases and has warned that the disease could spread wider across the country.

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Hong Kong students held in first arrests under new security law

The detention of the four, one just 16, is the first under legislation that was imposed by Beijing earlier this month.

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Yazidi children still haunted by Islamic State, Amnesty International says

Large numbers of Yazidi were killed by the Islamic State when it overran their homeland in 2014.

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What's next after flood of US racial equity donations?

The global outpouring of giving following George Floyd's death inundated charities large and small.

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Coronavirus outbreak accelerating in Brazil, US: Live updates

Brazil reports record daily cases, deaths; US deaths pass 150,000; Victoria set to announce record cases.

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One in Three Children Have Unacceptably High Lead Levels, Study Says

“Children around the world are being poisoned by lead on a massive and previously unrecognized scale,” according to the study, a collaboration of UNICEF and Pure Earth, an advocacy group.

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'Silent Epidemic': Nearly 1 In 3 Kids Exposed To Damaging Levels Of Lead

It's the first time global data has been gathered on the extent of the problem. Experts are calling it a "groundbreaking" report. And the ill effects can last for a lifetime.

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Congress grills tech CEOs amid backdrop of coronavirus and economic struggles

For more than six hours, members of the House Antitrust Subcommittee grilled the CEOs of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple and Facebook on a wide range of matters. Here's a recap.

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Samsung posts 23% jump in operating profit due to strong chip sales

Operating profit rose to 8.1 trillion won ($6.81 billion) for the April-June quarter, in line with an earlier guidance.

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Political talks stall in US on next round of coronavirus spending

President Trump, Senate Republicans and House Democrats are 'very far apart' on key goals for any spending package.

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Coronavirus in Pakistan: Doctor's video diary of fight against pandemic

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'Bay of Piglets': A 'bizarre' plot to capture a president

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India and China race to build along a disputed frontier

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Nile dam row: Egypt fumes as Ethiopia celebrates

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The sweet smell of success: How Bulgaria took the lead in lavender

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Rare tiger sighting raises Southeast Asia conservation hopes

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McDonald's sales tumbled 30% last quarter

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'More than half of Mumbai slum-dwellers had Covid-19'

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Coronavirus: Malta says 65 rescued migrants test positive

More than two thirds of 94 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean test positive.

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'More dangerous every day': Land rights defenders killings surge

Colombia and Philippines account for more than half those killed in 2019, with Indigenous people at greatest risk.

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Singapore's jobless rate jumps in the second quarter, as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll

Singapore's jobless rate reached a decade high of 2.9%, provisional data showed on Wednesday, as the Covid-19 pandemic saw employment shrink in the services and construction sector.

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Hong Kong University fires prominent democracy activist Benny Tai

'Umbrella Movement' leader, who was jailed for his activism, said decision marks an end to academic freedom in the city.

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Climate change: Coastal erosion 'to threaten more Australian homes'

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US election: Biden pledges billions to improve racial equality

The Democratic candidate vows to boost opportunities for Black, Latino and Native American businesses.

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Dreamworld deaths: Theme park owner pleads guilty to safety breaches

Dreamworld's owner pleads guilty to safety breaches, after a malfunctioning water ride killed four people.

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China Battles Coronavirus Outbreak in Xinjiang Region

(BEIJING) — China reported more than 100 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus on Wednesday as the country continues to battle an outbreak in Xinjiang.

The northwestern region accounted for 89 of the new cases, with another eight in the northeastern province of Liaoning and one in Beijing. Another three cases were brought from outside the country by returning Chinese citizens, bringing the daily total over the past 24 hours to 101, the highest number in weeks.

Outside of Xinjiang the virus has been largely contained with the death toll from COVID-19 remaining at 4,634 among 84,060 cases registered since the global pandemic first emerged from the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

Xinjiang’s outbreak has centered on the region’s capital and largest city of Urumqi, where authorities have isolated some communities, restricted public transport and ordered widespread testing.

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U.S. warns against planting 'unsolicited' seeds from China

U.S. residents have been told not to put the seeds in the ground after receiving them as unsolicited mail. Officials said the seeds may grow invasive species that threaten crops or livestock.

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China reports most coronavirus cases since April: Live updates

Mainland announces 101 cases, 89 in Xinjiang; US Congress divided on relief plan; Australia deploys emergency teams.

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Ecuador on alert over huge Chinese fishing fleet off Galapagos Islands

Ecuador is on alert due to the appearance of a fleet of fishing vessels off the Galapagos Islands.

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Saudi Hajj coronavirus curbs mean 'no work, no salary, nothing'

Covid-19 has hit the annual Hajj and with no international pilgrims, many firms both in Saudi and abroad are suffering.

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Should police be first to respond in a mental-health crisis?

Why cities in the US and Canada are eyeing removing police from front-line mental-health response.

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'My Tanzanian family is split over coronavirus'

Sammy Awami writes that his relatives are divided over the Tanzanian leader's policy on Covid-19.

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Chinese companies look to ride a new cross-border e-commerce wave driven by the coronavirus

Amid trade tensions and the coronavirus, some Chinese companies are tapping a new growth opportunity in online shopping.

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Police agencies withdraw from convention duty over tear gas rules

Departments that pledged to send officers to help with security during Democratic convention withdraw those offers.

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Harvard professor accused of China ties faces US tax charges

Charles Lieber was charged with failing to report income he received from Wuhan University of Technology in China.

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Coronavirus: Scaled back Hajj pilgrimage due to start in Saudi Arabia

Only a very limited number of Muslims living in the kingdom will be able to make the Hajj this year.

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Coronavirus: Hong Kong implements strict measures amid new cases

Dining in restaurants will be banned and only two people from different households can meet.

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Spain quarantine rules: The businesses fearing for their futures

Spain's struggling tourist businesses say the UK's new quarantine rules may drive them off the edge.

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Queen reacts to new royal portrait via video call

Queen Elizabeth II has become the first member of the British royal family to witness a portrait of themselves being unveiled virtually.

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The world's most powerful tech CEOs are about to be grilled by Congress. Here's what to expect

When Bill Gates went before Congress 22 years ago to respond to claims that Microsoft was unfairly muscling out its competition, he offered what's since become a familiar Silicon Valley refrain.

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Trump is moving forward with his plan to regulate social media

The Trump administration took a key step on Monday toward fulfilling the president's executive order on social media, formally asking the FCC to develop regulations that could apply to Facebook, Twitter and other tech platforms.

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Bugatti made a car for kids that costs more than yours

The Baby II is a scaled down Bugatti that can still go 42 mph and cost up to $68,000. The little car is an homage to the one Ettore Bugatti built for his four-year-old son in 1926.

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Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Found Guilty on Charge in 1MDB Trial

A Malaysia court has ruled former prime minister Najib Razak guilty in the first verdict to come in the series of trials linked to 1MDB.

Najib was guilty of one charge in the case involving 42 million ringgit ($10 million) of funds deposited in his personal accounts from a former unit of 1MDB. He has earlier said he plans to appeal the judgment.

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New luxury cruises are scheduled to sail to Antarctica this year

While large cruise ships have mostly stopped sailing due to the pandemic, several smaller cruise ships are planning to sail to Antarctica this winter.

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Coronavirus: Spanish PM says UK's travel restrictions 'unjust'

Pedro Sanchez says he hopes there will be a rethink, and most parts of Spain are safer than the UK.

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Portland protests: US attorney general to condemn attacks on buildings

In congressional testimony, William Barr will defend sending federal security forces to the city.

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Kim Jong Un Says Nuclear Weapons Ensure North Korea’s Security: ‘There Won’t Be Any War on This Land Again’

(SEOUL, South Korea) — North Korea leader Kim Jong Un said his country’s hard-won nuclear weapons were a solid security guarantee and a “reliable, effective” deterrent that could prevent a second Korean War, state media reported Tuesday.

Kim’s comments before war veterans marking the 67th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War again show he has no intention of abandoning his weapons as prospects dim for resuming diplomacy with the United States.

North Korea has previously ratcheted up fiery rhetoric or conducted weapons tests to wrest outside concessions. But some experts say Pyongyang will likely avoid serious talks with Washington before the U.S. presidential elections in November as there is a chance for a U.S. leadership change.

Kim said in his speech Monday his country has tried to become “a nuclear state” with “an absolute might” to prevent another war and that it has now built such a deterrent, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

“Now, we’ve changed to a country which can defend itself reliably and unwaveringly against high-intensity pressures and military threats and blackmailing by imperialistic reactionaries and hostile forces,” Kim said.

“There won’t be any war on this land again and our national security and future will be guaranteed firmly and permanently because of our reliable, effective self-defensive nuclear deterrent,” Kim said.

Kim’s speech followed recent remarks by both North Korean and U.S. officials suggesting they were reluctant to engage in a new round of diplomacy on the North’s nuclear program anytime soon.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had said President Donald Trump would only want to engage with Kim if there were real prospects of progress. Kim’s sister and senior ruling party official, Kim Yo Jong, said a new summit would be “unpractical” for North Korea and that Pyongyang won’t gift Trump a high-level meeting that he can boast as a foreign policy achievement.

Kim Jong Un and Trump met three times since Kim in 2018 abruptly reached out to Washington and Seoul for talks after expressing his intent to deal away his advancing nuclear arsenals. Many experts were skeptical of Kim’s disarmament commitment and said he only aimed to weaken U.S.-led sanctions and perfect his nuclear program.

The nuclear diplomacy remains largely stalled since a second Kim-Trump meeting in February 2019 in Vietnam collapsed without reaching any agreement because Trump Kim rejected Kim’s proposal to get extensive sanctions relief in return for a limited denuclearization step.

Kim entered this year with a vow to bolster his nuclear program and threatened to unveil a new “strategic” weapon. He also said he would no longer be bound by a self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests. Kim hasn’t performed such high-profile weapons tests, which some analysts say could completely derail diplomacy with the United States.

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Coronavirus food disruption raises risk to children: Live updates

UN warns of stunting risk, WHO cautions on travel bans, world's biggest coronavirus vaccine trial gets under way.

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Lewis Hamilton clarifies anti-vaccine post

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has clarified his views on a potential coronavirus vaccine after sharing an anti-vaccination post on social media.

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80,000 tourists evacuated after local residents test positive

Vietnam is evacuating 80,000 people -- mostly local tourists -- from the popular resort city of Da Nang after three residents tested positive for coronavirus, the government said.

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For Myanmar’s Elections to Be Free and Fair Rohingya Must Get the Right to Vote

Americans won’t be the only voters going to the polls in November. Myanmar’s third national election since transitioning from half a century of military rule is slated for Nov. 8.

Already, several questions loom over this test of the country’s democratic trajectory. How will the government ensure ethnic civilians displaced by armed conflict can vote? How will Facebook protect voters from disinformation? How will the government manage campaigns and polling in the age of COVID-19?

These are tough challenges. But there is another critical question, easy to resolve, that will also determine whether the exercise is free and fair: Will the government ensure the right to vote for Rohingya?

The Rohingya are an ethnic and religious minority, mostly Muslim, indigenous to western Myanmar; and today, far more live outside the country than inside. The reason for this is summed up in a word: genocide.

In October 2016 and August 2017, the Myanmar military responded to nascent Rohingya militancy with full-scale attacks on civilians, forcing more than 800,000 to flee into neighboring Bangladesh. They have no hope of safely returning to Myanmar anytime soon, and this creates new but surmountable logistical challenges for the 2020 elections.

Rohingya-led refugee groups have already said they want the government to facilitate voting from the camps in Bangladesh. One of these organizations, called the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), has urged Myanmar to set up voter registration and polling in collaboration with the Bangladesh authorities. Many other Rohingya have since reiterated the request.

Some in Myanmar dismiss this option out-of-hand, calling it unfeasible. But this is a cop-out.

In 2004, some 850,000 Afghan refugees voted in their country’s first presidential election from camps in Pakistan and Iran and through absentee ballots. In that case, concerned governments and international humanitarian organizations did their part to ensure refugees could exercise their right to vote. Myanmar and its bilateral partners could do the same.

There are also an estimated 600,000 Rohingya still in Myanmar, and many there are also anxiously awaiting news about the election. The three Rohingya-led political parties in the country—the Democracy and Human Rights Party (DHRP), the National Democratic Party for Development (NDPD), and the National Democracy and Peace Party (NDPP)—are all registered and intending to field candidates.

But Myanmar has denied Rohingya the right to vote since the 2015 elections that brought Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), to power. Despite Myanmar’s wholesale exclusion of Rohingya, the international community made the profound mistake of lauding those elections. President Barack Obama, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon all congratulated Aung San Suu Kyi on the outcome. Hillary Clinton even claimed partial credit for nudging Myanmar onto the reform path during her tenure as Secretary of State, recognizing the election was “imperfect” but calling it “an affirmation of the indispensable role the United States can and should play in the world as a champion of peace and progress.”

Few stopped to consider the repercussions the disenfranchisement of the Rohingya could have. Some analysts suggested that Aung San Suu Kyi would have to build a constructive working relationship with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in order for her government to be effective. None imagined she’d do so in the commission of genocide against Rohingya, but that’s precisely what happened.

In December last year, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi went so far as to represent Myanmar at the International Court of Justice, defending the military from allegations of genocide in a historic, ongoing lawsuit brought by The Gambia.

By wholly denying any intent to destroy Rohingya, Aung San Suu Kyi won military favor, and by taking aim at Rohingya on the global stage she strategically scored perverse ethno-nationalist points ahead of the elections.

Now, the cycle is poised to continue. Government insiders, diplomats and even representatives of international non-governmental organizations are saying that if all Rohingya were in Myanmar, they would still not meet the requirements of the election law because they lack citizenship. This is a politically convenient excuse.

Not only did Rohingya vote in past elections—during which they were still unjustly denied full citizenship rights—but since the 1990s, Myanmar authorities have kept detailed records of Rohingya through “household lists.” The government has other sources of data on Rohingya as well, including former identity cards and other evidence it could use to determine Rohingya voter eligibility.

Officials may suggest that Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and those in Myanmar will have the right to vote only if they accept National Verification Cards (NVCs). However, these cards are discriminatory, effectively requiring Rohingya to identify as outsiders, thereby foregoing any chance to restore full citizenship under the current law. Any demand that Rohingya accept NVCs in exchange for the right to vote would be unacceptably coercive.

As November approaches, Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh are hoping that access to the polls might help them secure a better future.

“Rohingya need a voice in parliament,” Abdul Rasheed, an expected candidate with DHRP in Sittwe Township, tells me from Yangon. This will be his second attempt to seek office.

“This is not only about voting and democracy, it’s also about dignity and protection,” he says.

The international community, including the U.N. and other organizations, must now do everything in their power to ensure the Rohingya have the right to vote.

Governments around the world overlooked Rohingya disenfranchisement in 2015, and that was at least one paver on the road to genocide. They must not make the same mistake twice.

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Google extends its coronavirus work-from-home order to summer 2021

Google said Monday that it will extend its coronavirus work-from-home order to through June 2021.

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New Zealand suspends Hong Kong extradition treaty

The country follows Australia and the UK in its response to China's new national security law.

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Coronavirus: How it turned the tables on Ghana's diaspora

Coronavirus has given Ghanaians a new perspective on the pull of living abroad.

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US will not expel migrant children detained in Texas hotel

US immigration officials removed the children from the hotel but would not say where they had taken them.

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Timeline: How Malaysia's 1MDB financial scandal unfolded

1MDB was set up as a state fund to drive new investment in Malaysia, but investigators say the money went elsewhere.

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Republicans introduce $1tn pandemic recovery plan

The proposal would cut a $600 boost to unemployment benefits that has been paid during the pandemic.

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Kylie Moore-Gilbert: Lecturer jailed in Iran 'moved to remote prison'

British-Australian woman Kylie Moore-Gilbert is reportedly moved to a notorious prison in the desert.

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‘Don’t come back, they’ll kill you for being gay’

When Mohamed was caught with his boyfriend he had to flee Somaliland, where homosexuality is illegal.

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Indian Matchmaking: The 'cringe-worthy' Netflix show that is a huge hit

Indian Matchmaking, a new Netflix show, has become a huge hit, spawning hundreds of memes and jokes.

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Trump Deployed a Federal Agency With a History of Excessive Force to Police Racial Justice Protests

The May 25 killing of George Floyd by Minnesota police officers rightly sparked public outrage and protests throughout the United States. In response, the Trump administration deployed federal forces from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—which houses federal immigration enforcement agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—to different cities and engaged in aerial surveillance […]

The post Trump Deployed a Federal Agency With a History of Excessive Force to Police Racial Justice Protests appeared first on Immigration Impact.

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Huawei holds summit as global pressure grows

The event comes after China's state media said HSBC played a role in the arrest of Huawei's finance chief.

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U.S. Closes Consulate in Chengdu After Diplomatic Tit-for-Tat

(CHENGDU, China) — The U.S. closed its consulate in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu on Monday, a victim of the rising tensions between the global powers.

China ordered the mission closed late last week in retaliation for a U.S. order to shut down the Chinese Consulate in Houston earlier the same week.

The tit-for-tat closings marked a significant escalation in the multiple disputes between the two countries over a range of issues, including trade, technology, security and human rights.

A statement from the State Department said that the Chengdu consulate suspended operations at 10 a.m.

“The consulate has stood at the center of our relations with the people in Western China, including Tibet, for 35 years,” the statement said. “We are disappointed by the Chinese Communist Party’s decision and will strive to continue our outreach to the people in this important region through our other posts in China.”

The U.S. has four other consulates in China and an embassy in Beijing.

The American flag was taken down at the Chengdu mission at 6:18 a.m., China’s state broadcaster CCTV said on its social media account.

Police closed off a two- to three-block area around the consulate, cutting off virtually any view of the property including the flag. A few vehicles were allowed through after police checks, and others could be seen moving in the distance.

Moving trucks arrived at the U.S. consulate the previous day and left a few hours later. Late Sunday night, flatbed trailers entered the complex. One later emerged carrying a large shipping container and a crane.

Before the area was closed, the impending closure of the consulate drew a steady stream of onlookers over the weekend as Chengdu, like Houston, found itself in the limelight of international politics.

People stopped to take selfies and photos, jamming a sidewalk busy with shoppers and families with strollers on a sunny day in the city of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. A little boy posed with a small Chinese flag before plainclothes police shooed him away as foreign media cameras zoomed in.

Police had shut the street and sidewalk in front of the consulate and set up metal barriers along the sidewalk on the other side of the tree-lined road.

Uniformed and plainclothes officers kept watch on both sides of the barriers after scattered incidents following the Chengdu announcement on Friday, including a man who set off firecrackers and hecklers who cursed at foreign media shooting video and photos of the scene.

A man who tried to unfurl a large placard late Sunday that he called an open letter to the Chinese government was quickly taken away.

Earlier, a bus left the consulate grounds and what appeared to be embassy staff spoke with plainclothes police before retreating back behind the property’s solid black gates. It wasn’t clear who or what was on the bus.

Three medium-size trucks arrived and left a few hours later, and cars with diplomatic plates departed in between.

The U.S. alleged that the Houston consulate was a nest of Chinese spies who tried to steal data from facilities in Texas, including the Texas A&M medical system and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. China said the allegations were “malicious slander.”

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Gold prices surge to record high amid coronavirus worries, U.S.-China tensions

Gold prices touched record prices on Monday morning in Asia as worries over issues such as the coronavirus pandemic as well as U.S.-China trade tensions weighed on investor sentiment.

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Ardern poll boost ahead of New Zealand's September election

Latest poll suggests soaring popularity of ruling Labour party would enable it to win enough seats to govern alone.

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Australia's Victoria risks longer lockdown as coronavirus surges

State premier warns lockdown might have to be extended, as Victoria posts highest number of cases since outbreak began.

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How Fox News has changed in the four years since Roger Ailes was ousted

Roger Ailes was forced to walk the Fox News plank four years ago this week.

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Demand for the Kia Telluride SUV is so high dealers can't keep them on their lots

Kia, Hyundai's South Korean sister brand, has been trying for years to be seen as more than just a maker of inexpensive cars for buyers on a budget.

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Sudan to send more troops to Darfur after deadly attacks

More than 80 people were killed in two attacks in Sudan's restive western region, the UN says.

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Hong Kong launches share index of technology giants

Investors will now have greater access to Chinese tech firms including Alibaba, China's answer to Amazon.

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Handicapped by coronavirus pandemic, Duterte presses agenda

Philippine president seen as having firm grip on power but faces unprecedented criticism over COVID-19 response.

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Flag lowered as U.S. departs Chengdu consulate in China

China ordered the closing of the consulate on Friday in retaliation for a U.S. order to close the Chinese Consulate in Houston. The tit-for-tat closings marked a significant escalation in the tensions between the two countries over a range of issues, including trade, technology, security and human rights.

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Gold eyes record high as safe-haven demand thrives

Gold prices extended gains on Monday, just $3 shy of an all-time high, driven by U.S.-China tensions and a weaker dollar, while expectations of more stimulus to revive pandemic-hit economies lifted the metal's appeal as an inflation hedge.

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We asked 20 medical experts whether they're sending their own kids back to school. Here's what they had to say

Six of the medical experts felt confident about sending their kids back. Eight were in "wait and see" mode. And a final six were leaning strongly towards remote learning and were not comfortable with the prospect of having kids in school -- at least for the beginning of the year.

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US flag lowered at Chinese consulate in Chengdu: State media

The consulate closures are a sharp escalation of deteriorating ties between China and the United States.

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Gig workers are finding it harder to make money as surging unemployment drives up competition

The $600 unemployment boost is set to end next week, which could add a new influx of jobless Americans to the already crowded gig economy.

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Back on campus or distance learning: Many students are conflicted

Of the colleges that are opening for the fall semester, many are giving the students the option to continue their studies remotely. The choice isn't always easy.

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Tech employees are delaying vacations because of coronavirus, so employers are forcing them to take time off to avoid burnout

Some companies are going further after introducing work-from-home stipends and programs to help people with wellness and mental health.

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Morocco returns to partial coronavirus lockdown: Live updates

Casablanca and Marrakech among cities to be locked down starting on Monday to help contain surge in COVID-19 cases.

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US diplomats to leave consulate in Chengdu in tit-for-tat closures

China's decision to close the US mission came after the US shut China's consulate in Houston.

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The children of Korean War prisoners who never came home

South Korea largely forgot its prisoners of war. Now their children are fighting for recognition.

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India coronavirus: Bihar braces for 'corona storm'

Cases are rising fast in one of India's poorest and most populous states. Can it cope?

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Coronavirus in South Africa: Why the low fatality rate is misleading

As coronavirus infections surge, Andrew Harding notes meaningless statistics and a fear of hospitals.

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Iraq War: 'I am here today because another man died'

A photographer's decision to capture an image during the Iraq War changed not only his life - but the lives of the marines with him.

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US envoy in Qatar: Gulf dispute 'gone on too long'

On a visit to Doha, American special envoy Brian Hook says Qatar blockade continues to 'harm shared regional interests'.

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Spain asks UK to exempt returning British tourists from isolation

Spain is asking the UK to exempt British tourists visiting the Balearic and Canary Islands from a requirement to self-quarantine on their return home.

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Indians call for compensation over oil well blaze

Firefighters have so far failed to put out a huge oil well blaze which has been burning for two months after thousands of farming families in Assam state were forced from their homes.

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Russian navy to get hypersonic nuclear weapons: Putin

The combination of speed and altitude of hypersonic missiles makes them difficult to track and intercept.

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Tanzania's Mkapa suffered from malaria, not virus, says family

Family of former leader say he contracted malaria and died of heart attack, seek to dispel coronavirus rumours.

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Olivia de Havilland, Golden Age of Hollywood star, dies at 104

Her career spanned more than 50 years and she was the last surviving star of Gone with the Wind.

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Obituary: Olivia de Havilland, star of Hollywood's Golden Age

Star of Gone With the Wind was one of the last big names from Hollywood's golden era.

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Mnuchin says $1 trillion GOP coronavirus relief plan ready, will 'move very quickly' with Democrats

"We've moved quickly before and I see no reason why we can't move quickly again," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

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Chocolate's Heart of Darkness: Child Labour in Ivory Coast

The dark side of a $100bn industry where enslaved children work in cocoa fields for the chocolate we all love to eat.

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North Korea declares emergency over suspected virus case

If confirmed, it would be the first officially recognised case of COVID-19 in North Korea.

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South Korea Allows Baseball Fans to Return to Stadiums

(SEOUL, South Korea) — Masked fans hopped, sang and shouted cheers in baseball stadiums in South Korea on Sunday as authorities began allowing spectators to return to professional sports amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After a weeks-long delay, South Korea’s 2020 baseball season began in early May without fans in the stands amid a then-slowing virus outbreak in the country. Seats in baseball stadiums had since been filled with cheering banners, dolls or pictures of fans.

On Sunday, the Korean Baseball Organization allowed a limited number of fans – 10% of the stadium capacity – to watch games live. They entered stadiums after their temperatures and smartphone QR codes were checked. During the games, they were required to wear masks and sit at least a seat apart while being banned from eating food and drinking any alcoholic beverages in line with the KBO guidelines.

During a game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins at Seoul’s Jamsil baseball stadium, fans wearing the teams’ jerseys still shouted their favorite players’ names, raised banners and sang fight songs. Some Bears fans jumped from their seats when Choi Joo-hwan hit a two-run home run at the bottom the second inning.

“Players will likely be cheered up when they hear fans rooting for them. I hope the coronavirus outbreak will be eased so that more fans can come in and we can play games in front of as many fans as we used to do,” Bears outfielder Jung Soo-bin said before the game.

Kang dong-yeop, a 35-year-old fan, said that he was “so excited about watching the game live that I screamed with joy in the car on the way” to the stadium.

Two of the five baseball games Sunday still continued without fans because they were held in area where stricter social distancing guidelines are in place.

Health authorities said Friday that the professional soccer league will also be allowed to have fans back in the stands from Aug. 1, and also starting with 10% of the stadium capacity. Senior Health Ministry official Yoon Taeho told reporters that professional golf tournaments will still continue without galleries until at least late August.

South Korean officials plan to allow more fans into baseball and soccer stadiums if they report progress in anti-virus campaigning.

South Korea has seen an uptick in new virus cases since it eased its rigid social distancing rules in early May. But the country’s caseload hasn’t exploded like its earlier outbreak in late February and early March, when it recorded hundreds of new cases every day.

Earlier Sunday, South Korea reported 58 additional cases of the coronavirus over the past 24-hour period, a day after it reported 100-plus for the first time in nearly four months.

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Associated Press video journalist Kim Yong Ho contributed to this report.

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North Korea Locks Down Border City of Kaesong Over Suspected Coronavirus Case

(SEOUL, South Korea) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un placed the city of Kaesong near the border with South Korea under total lockdown after a person was found there with suspected COVID-19 symptoms, saying “the vicious virus” may have entered the country, state media reported Sunday.

If the person is officially declared a coronavirus patient, he or she would be North Korea’s first confirmed case. The North has steadfastly said it has had no cases of the virus, a claim questioned by outside experts.

The lockdown was declared Friday afternoon. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said the suspected virus patient is a runaway who fled to South Korea three years ago before illegally crossing the border into the North early last week.

KCNA said respiratory secretion and blood tests showed the person “is suspected to have been infected” with the coronavirus. It said the person was placed under quarantine. People who had been in contact with the suspected patient and those who had been to Kaesong in the last five days were also quarantined.

Describing its anti-virus efforts as a “matter of national existence,” North Korea earlier this year shut down nearly all cross-border traffic, banned foreign tourists and mobilized health workers to quarantine anyone with symptoms. But the Kaesong lockdown is the first such known measure taken in a North Korean city to stem the pandemic.

Foreign experts say a coronavirus outbreak in North Korea could cause dire consequences because of its fragile public health care infrastructure and chronic lack of medical supplies. They are also skeptical about North Korea’s claim of having had no infections because the country shares a long, porous border with China, its biggest trading partner, where the world’s first known virus cases were reported in December.

Kaesong, a city with an estimated population of 200,000, is located just north of the heavily fortified land border with South Korea. It once hosted the Koreas’ jointly run industrial complex, which has been shut since 2016 amid nuclear tensions. Last month, North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong to protest a campaign by South Korean activists who have been sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

During an emergency Politburo meeting Saturday, Kim also declared a state of emergency in the Kaesong area and “clarified the determination of the Party Central Committee to shift from the state emergency anti-epidemic system to the maximum emergency system and issue a top-class alert,” KCNA said.

It quoted Kim as saying there was “a critical situation in which the vicious virus could be said to have entered the country.” Kim said he took “the preemptive measure of totally blocking Kaesong City and isolating each district and region from the other” on Friday afternoon after receiving the report on it, according to KCNA.

Analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea said a thorough lockdown in Kaesong would make it difficult for a potential virus outbreak to spread beyond the city. But he said virus fears would engulf North Korean leaders.

“The anxiety and fears about COVID-19 spreading in the North Korean leadership would be much bigger than outsiders can roughly speculate because the country lacks test kits and has virtually no facilities to treat virus patients,” Cheong said.

The Politburo meeting also discussed the “loose guard performance” at the border area where the suspected patient crossed over to North Korea, KCNA said.

It said that Kim and other leaders were briefed on the results of an intensive investigation of a military unit responsible for the border crossing and discussed administering “a severe punishment.”

More than 33,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea over the past 20 years to avoid poverty and political suppression, mostly via China. But it is highly unusual for North Korean refugees to return to their impoverished, authoritarian homeland by crossing the mine-strewn inter-Korean border.

South Korea’s military said later Sunday that its investigation into who crossed the border into North Korea was being narrowed down to a single, unidentified person. A military statement said authorities were examining footage recorded by front-line surveillance equipment, but it gave no further details. Some observers said authorities likely tried to determine who has been missing since last week among North Korean refugees in South Korea, especially among those originally from Kaesong.

“Blaming an alleged return defector for bringing COVID-19 into the country is likely intended to shift blame for spread of the virus away from China and Pyongyang and on to Seoul,” said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

“This may also be a tactic for ratcheting up diplomatic pressure on (South Korea) and trying to further dissuade North Koreans from defecting to the South,” he said.

Cheong, however, said it was unlikely that the North’s claim of the person crossing the border was false because it couldn’t punish its own military unit with a fabricated announcement. He said North Korea was unlikely to resume dialogue and exchanges with South Korea until it is confident about containing a possible virus outbreak.

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