‘Their Supposed Crime is Promoting Terrorist Activity’: Member of Jailed Uyghur Family

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‘Their Supposed Crime is Promoting Terrorist Activity’: Member of Jailed Uyghur Family

When Nursimangul Abdureshid and her older sister Nurimangul left their native Kasghar (in Chinese, Kashi) prefecture, in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), to study in Turkey in 2013 and 2014, they expected that their education abroad would pose financial difficulties for their family. What they did not expect, however, was that their studies would bring political problems and accusations of “terrorism” upon their family.

In 2018, Nursimangul was able to learn through family friends that all of their family members, including her parents and two brothers, had disappeared, presumably into the XUAR’s vast network of internment camps where authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other minority Muslims since April 2017. She also learned that the door to their family home had been padlocked. On June 15, she received a call from a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Istanbul, who confirmed in a recording provided to RFA’s Uyghur Service that all four of these family members are in prison, where they are serving sentences of between 13 and 19 years.

Nursimangul recently recounted to RFA the difficulties she faced in discerning the whereabouts of her family members, from learning of their disappearance in February 2018 through coded communications with friends in the XUAR to the official confirmation of their jailing earlier this week after sending out a plea for help on Twitter that received significant attention. Her sister, who began working as a reporter for RFA in February, joins a long list of Uyghur journalists at the Washington-based media outlet whose relatives have disappeared into prisons, camps, and forced labor schemes in the XUAR.

Nursimangul: [The embassy official] said that my mom was sentenced to 13 years on Dec. 13, 2017 and my dad to 16 years and 11 months on the same day. He told me my older brother was sentenced to 15 years and 11 months on Aug. 20, 2017. My younger brother is also in prison, but he was sentenced in 2016, in March.

RFA: In that case, four of the six members of your family are in prison … Did he say that your parents committed the same supposed crime?

Nursimangul: Yes. He said that their supposed crime is “promoting terrorist activity.” He also said that they were guilty of “disturbing social order” … [and] that they “committed” [terrorism].

RFA: Did he have anything to say about what they specifically did to commit terrorism?

Nursimangul: I asked them … how it was [my parents] promoted terrorism, how they committed it, what the proof of their crimes was. I pointed out that there must be proof, and I hoped they would share it with me, and when I said that he told me I could get the information from a lawyer because they weren’t able to provide me with it. He refused to give it to me.

In 2018 I heard the news that there was no one left from our household after searching for information in every way that I could … [I didn’t try the embassy at the time because] you would never imagine that you’d get news like this from them. This is the same government. Given that they’ve detained your family members, the idea that they could help you doesn’t ever even cross your mind … [Meanwhile], they go on TV in Turkey and spread their own propaganda, for example: how wonderful [the government] is and how “great” things are for Uyghurs.

[I wrote a letter to the embassy in April and] when nearly two months had passed with no response, I initially gave up … [but] then I decided to put something on Twitter. I asked people for help, asked them to write letters to the embassy, thinking maybe there would be a response.

RFA: Did you ask for help from Turks or Uyghurs?

Nursimangul: I tweeted in Turkish, because Turks don’t have to fear China, and I was thinking that [the embassy] might respond if Turks were to write letters. That’s what I was thinking when I tweeted in Turkish … After I tweeted, someone from the embassy responded with a phone number and said that I should call it, and that’s why I reached out to them. And then [two days later], on Monday, he ended up giving me the news about my family.

He later changed the tone of his voice and said he was so sorry for me, but I didn’t say anything in response … He said, “Our country is ruled by law, so you can look into this according to the law. If you come back [to China], we will help you.” When he told me, I could go back [to China], I realized that if I were to go back, there would be one less person to advocate for my family.

Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFA’s Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.



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Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for all South African provinces, 18 June 2020

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Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for all South African provinces, 18 June 2020

Weather data provided by the South African Weather Service. For a detailed forecast of your province, click here.

Weather Warnings

Nil.

Weather Watches

Nil.

Special Weather Advisories

Nil.

Gauteng:

Temperature: Morning fog patches on the highveld, otherwise fine and cold but cool in the north.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Low.

Mpumalanga:

Temperature: Cloudy at first with morning fog patches on the highveld, becoming partly cloudy and cold but cool in the Lowveld in the afternoon.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: –

Limpopo:

Temperature: Cloudy at first with morning fog in the east, becoming partly cloudy and cool in the afternoon.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: –

North-West Province:

Temperature: Fine and cool to cold.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: –

Free State:

Temperature: Fog patches in the east at first where it will be cloudy, otherwise fine and cold to cool.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: –

Northern Cape:

Temperature: Fine and cool to warm, but cold in the south-east.

Wind: The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh easterly to north-easterly.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: –

Western Cape:

Temperature: Cloudy over the Cape Metropole in the evening, otherwise fine and cool to warm.

Wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate northerly tonorth-easterly but fresh to strong along the west coast.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: High.

Eastern Cape:

The Western half – Temperature: Fine and cool, but warm in places along the coast.

The Western Half – Wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate northerly.

The Eastern half – Temperature: Fine and cool, but warm in places along the coast.

The Eastern half – Wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-easterly.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: –

Kwazulu-Natal:

Temperature: Morning fog over the interior, otherwise partly cloudy and cool but cold over the western high ground. It will be cloudy in the north with isolated morning showers.

Wind: The wind along the coast will be moderate southerly to south-easterly north of Richards Bay, otherwise moderate easterly to north-easterly.

The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Moderate.



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Free Daily Horoscope and Lucky Numbers for 19 June 2020

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Free Daily Horoscope and Lucky Numbers for 19 June 2020

TODAY’S MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:

Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be . . . — Robert Browning

TODAY’S WISDOM FROM AROUND THE WORLD:

At the narrow passage there is no brother and no friend. — Arab Proverb

TODAY’S CHINESE PROVERB:

Better to bend with the wind, than to break.

FOR THOSE OF US BORN ON THIS DAY:

Happy birthday! The months ahead will be dominated by a series of challenges. Each one, when met with a willingness to learn and grow, will see you developing both in your relationships with others as well as in your understanding of your own desires and goals. The key theme of the year will be the need to strike a balance between your work life and your emotional life. There will be some definite crossover between the two during the summer months and this may indicate an office romance of some sort or possibly a serious crush on a class mate. The latter half of the year will also see a very strong desire to travel that is likely to be tied to some new discoveries about yourself that the earlier months have revealed!

Want to know what the future holds? Get a FREE tarot card reading.

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY:

Famous people born on your birthday include: Zoe Saldana, Brent Gore, Brian “Head” Welch, Kathleen Turner, Paula Abdul, Guy Lombardo, Gena Rowlands

CELEBRITY GOSSIP:

Christina Aguilera has recently been performing at a Moroccan music festival, which may not sound especially ‘A’ list. However, the planets tell us that Christina is building up to a triumphant return to form!

ARIES DAILY HOROSCOPE | Mar 21 – Apr 19

A distinctly lively vibe is likely to move in for the day. There may be a slightly disruptive undercurrent to this, and while you may welcome the break, be aware that a tendency to over-indulge may well lead to one or two twinges of minor embarrassment and/or regret next week!

Today’s Numbers:  3, 4, 15, 21, 30, 48

TAURUS DAILY HOROSCOPE | Apr 20 – May 20

While the predominant vibe will be a fun one, there’s a subtle strain of rivalry too. If you can direct this competitiveness without being pushy or overtly goal-centered, then others will be more inclined to take on board your suggestions. A cooperative stance will get you further!

Today’s Numbers:  7, 12, 17, 28, 33, 45

GEMINI DAILY HOROSCOPE | May 21 – Jun 20

A buoyant vibe could have you missing a minor event or occurrence linked to a piece of news. This could be connected, one way or another, to a matter that should have been given a little more time in the first place. Although you may be tempted to ignore it again, it may be worth a closer look!

Today’s Numbers:  1, 14, 28, 32, 37, 49

CANCER DAILY HOROSCOPE | Jun 21 – Jul 22

There’s a certain amount of recklessness when it comes to your cash flow, and although next week will usher in a more realistic angle, you may have to undo a couple of minor decisions. By the same token; you may need to adjust your responses to a small disclosure of some sort!

Today’s Numbers:  7, 15, 21, 30, 33, 46

LEO DAILY HOROSCOPE | Jul 23 – Aug 22

A fairly spirited vibe will settle in for much of the day and while it’s a good day for most activities, there will be a need for a certain amount of self-restraint, since there is a tendency to be careless and/or extravagant on several fronts. Watch what you say, claim or promise!

Today’s Numbers: 5, 8, 14, 27, 38, 42

VIRGO DAILY HOROSCOPE | Aug 23 – Sep 22

Today’s exuberant vibe has the capacity to reverse a recent error of judgment and will help you to find the right words to soothe any ruffled feathers. A direct approach is most likely to work best, but avoid being unnecessarily blunt. Whatever the problem is, it’s certainly a day to be a little tactful!

Today’s Numbers: 6, 13, 28, 30, 34, 47

LIBRA DAILY HOROSCOPE | Sep 23 – Oct 22

The fiery moon may guide you to behave in a more unpredictable way, more or less from start to finish, thanks to a fairly fluid dynamic. You’ll certainly have the ability to make choices, but you may not stick to them. In addition; one specific problem may need to be put on ice for now!

Today’s Numbers:  9, 14, 27, 35, 42, 49

SCORPIO DAILY HOROSCOPE | Oct 23 – Nov 21

It’s not a bad day, although the energetic moon could lead to one or two stubborn moments. There is a tendency to over-invest in one specific area or activity that is perhaps not worth all your attention. Emotional reactions to practical issues may be the root cause of a low- level error!

Today’s Numbers: 3, 7, 12, 28, 34, 41

SAGITTARIUS DAILY HOROSCOPE | Nov 22 – Dec 21

Thanks to the moon in your sign, a tendency to take control might lead to certain misunderstandings. It’s perhaps not a day to dig your heels in over what could be a very minor principle. In addition; do watch out for being a little too offhand when it comes to a perceptive observation!

Today’s Numbers: 5, 13, 17, 20, 38, 43

CAPRICORN DAILY HOROSCOPE | Dec 22 – Jan 19

A bubbly vibe is likely to perhaps cloud your vision a little. Next week’s no-nonsense feel will almost certainly re-introduce the common- sense factor in your general approach. However, today may well be the type of day where quietly noting small developments might just pay off!

Today’s Numbers: 7, 14, 21, 30, 37, 48

AQUARIUS DAILY HOROSCOPE | Jan 20 – Feb 18

A tricky situation may well need a little careful handling. If you can postpone it, do so, since the rather fiery vibe is likely to complicate matters rather than simplify them. It’s the kind of day where everyone is likely to have plenty to say. Do listen to the common-sense solutions and suggestions!

Today’s Numbers: 5, 9, 15, 23, 38, 42

PISCES DAILY HOROSCOPE | Feb 19 – Mar 20

There’s a certain amount of energy in the rather genial, good-natured vibe. However, you may find it difficult to be focused enough to direct that energy into definite goals. It’s certainly a day to pause and take note of what’s going on around you. Broadly; moderation is the key, especially given next week’s chart!

Today’s Numbers:  7, 12, 21, 35, 41, 48

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Carnegie Hall And Lincoln Center Cancel Performances For Rest Of 2020

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Carnegie Hall And Lincoln Center Cancel Performances For Rest Of 2020

An empty Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center, lit up in June for Pride 2020 — but with no concert attendees or theatergoers, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Courtesy of Lincoln Center


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Courtesy of Lincoln Center

An empty Josie Robertson Plaza at Lincoln Center, lit up in June for Pride 2020 — but with no concert attendees or theatergoers, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Courtesy of Lincoln Center

New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center both said on Thursday that they have canceled their performances for the rest of 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The twin announcements from the two New York City landmarks signal that the city’s cultural life will be slow to return.

In typical years, late September marks the beginning of the new concert season for two of New York’s most famous music venues, followed shortly by the moneymaking holiday season. But 2020 is turning out to be anything but a normal year.

Both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center — which, along with its own programming, is home to organizations like the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet — say that they need to put safety first.

In a statement Thursday afternoon, Carnegie Hall’s executive and artistic director, Clive Gillinson, said, “After consulting with medical professionals and other experts on a continuing basis, we have concluded, in the face of current government restrictions and social distancing protocols, that there is no other option but to extend the Hall’s closure through the end of the calendar year, allowing health conditions to continue to improve.”

The canceled Lincoln Center programming includes the Great Performers series, free public programs held in the David Rubinstein Atrium and the annual multi-disciplinary White Light Festival. Some of its resident institutions, including the Met and the New York Philharmonic, announced earlier this month that they would be dark until January.

Both Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall have been shut since mid-March. Although coronavirus cases have dropped significantly in New York and the city is heading towards its Phase 2 reopening, there are still many questions about how to protect performers, staff and the audience — both locals and visitors. The arts and entertainment fields are already planned to be among the very last industries to reopen.

As of now, both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center say they plan to reopen in early 2021.

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Australia Begins Probe Into Rio’s Destruction Of 46,000-Year-old Indigenous Site

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Australia Begins Probe Into Rio’s Destruction Of 46,000-Year-old Indigenous Site

Rio Tinto said on Friday it will look at ways to improve its internal processes and governance after drawing the ire of Indigenous groups and the Australian government for blasting two ancient sacred Aboriginal caves.

The world’s biggest iron ore miner last month destroyed two caves at Juukan Gorge that had previously contained evidence of continual human habitation stretching back 46,000 years as part of a mine expansion.

“On behalf of the Rio Tinto board, I would like to apologise to the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people,” said Simon Thompson, chairman of Rio Tinto, in a statement containing his first public comments since the blast nearly a month ago.

“The decision to conduct a board-led review of events at Juukan Gorge reflects our determination to learn lessons from what happened and to make any necessary improvements to our heritage processes and governance,” he added.

The review, to be conducted by independent non-executive director Michael L’Estrange AO, will begin immediately and seek input from Rio employees as well as the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) people. The findings will be made public, Rio said.

A final report, expected by October, will focus on events at Juukan Gorge to assess Rio Tinto’s internal heritage standards, procedures, reporting and governance, as well as examining the company’s relationship and communications with the PKKP.

It will also consult Indigenous leaders, traditional owners and experts on the subject.

The review will complement and feed into a national inquiry into the destruction of the caves. Under terms of the inquiry, the joint standing committee on Northern Australia must report back by September 30.  

Rio Chief Executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques apologised last week for distress caused by the destruction of the caves and pledged full cooperation with the inquiry.

The Australian Financial Review reported a leaked secret recording of Rio’s iron ore boss Chris Salisbury saying the company was “not sorry” for destroying the site, only for the destress caused by the move.   

Reporting by Melanie Burton.

This story has been updated with Simon Thompson’s apology. 



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Intel: Russian-built aircraft actively using Libya’s Jufra air base

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Intel: Russian-built aircraft actively using Libya’s Jufra air base

Jun 18, 2020

Russian fighter aircraft recently delivered to Libya in support of Khalifa Hifter’s campaign against the Tripoli-based government are now being put to use.

Imagery released by US Africa Command on Thursday shows an Su-24 attack aircraft using the runway at al-Jufrah air base in central Libya. AFRICOM also lent credibility to recent photographs purportedly showing a MiG-29 flying near the northern coastal city of Sirte, where the Tripoli-based government has focused its counteroffensive.

A spokesperson said AFRICOM does not yet know who the pilots are, raising concern that Wagner mercenaries or Libyan pilots without proper training may be preparing to use the aircraft in combat against the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord.

“The belief is the Russian pilots are conducting basic flying, working on proficiency and gathering situational awareness,” US Air Force Col. Christopher Karns, head of AFRICOM’s public affairs office, told Al-Monitor. “If it is Russian pilots, this would represent an escalation,” Karns said, adding that AFRICOM has no evidence the aircraft have yet carried out strikes.

Why it matters: Less than a year after then-national security adviser John Bolton reportedly assented to Hifter’s offensive, AFRICOM raised the alarm that Russia’s foothold in Libya could develop into a strategic problem for NATO.

The al-Jufrah base has become increasingly important to Russia’s military support for the rogue general since the Government of National Accord routed Hifter’s forces and their Wagner backers from areas around Tripoli in a sweeping counterattack over the past several weeks.

At least 14 Russian MiG-29 fighter and Su-24 attack aircraft arrived last month at the air base, which has served as a staging area for Wagner mercenaries retreating from Tripoli. A Russian-made mobile radar system has also appeared near the landing strip, according to AFRICOM.

The deliveries prompted the US military to accuse the Kremlin of trying to “tip the scales” in Libya’s civil war last month. The Trump administration so far refrained from providing decisive tangible support to either side.

What’s next: Turkey’s military support for the Government of National Accord has been credited with helping turn the tide against Hifter. A Government of National Accord capture of Sirte or al-Jufrah would be a serious blow and could influence the calculus of Hifter’s regional backers, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

But the United States is not counting on Russia to quit just yet. “They may … find working with Gen. Hifter difficult,” senior State Department official Christopher Robinson said last month. But “they do tend to not back down, even when they’ve made a bad bet.”



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Confirmed cases of COVID-19 surge to 154,760 in Pakistan

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Confirmed cases of COVID-19 surge to 154,760 in Pakistan

Pakistan on Wednesday has confirmed 136 deaths – highest till date – by novel coronavirus in one day as the number of positive cases has surged to 154,760. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 2,975.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 5,839 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours.

Punjab remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic followed by Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Till now 58,239 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Punjab, 57,868 in Sindh, 19,107 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 8,437 in Balochistan, 9,242 in Islamabad, 1,164 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 703 in Azad Kashmir.

Furthermore, 1,149 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 886 in Sindh, 731 in KP, 89 in Balochistan, 90 in Islamabad, 17 in GB and 13 in Azad Kashmir.

Pakistan has so far conducted 950,782 coronavirus tests and 28,117 in last 24 hours. 58,437 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas many are in critical condition. 



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Asia’s richest man gets $1.5 billion from Saudi Arabia for his tech war chest

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Asia’s richest man gets $1.5 billion from Saudi Arabia for his tech war chest

Now he has attracted a powerful new investor with deep pockets: Saudi Arabia.

The kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), will pay $1.5 billion for a 2.3% stake in Jio Platforms, the digital technology arm of Ambani’s sprawling conglomerate Reliance Industries. The deal, announced on Thursday, values Jio Platforms at close to $68 billion.

It’s the tenth major investment in Jio Platforms since April, when Facebook bet $5.7 billion in one of its biggest ever deals. That deal offered Facebook a crucial foothold in India’s fast-growing internet market and further cemented Ambani’s position as a kingmaker in the region. The social media company has hundreds of millions of users in India and has already invested heavily into growing its own business, but has run into a series of regulatory hurdles in recent years.

Ambani, Asia’s wealthiest man, launched Jio as a telecom network in late 2016 and has since signed up 388 million subscribers. Jio also has an ecosystem of apps, offering those millions of mobile users everything from online grocery shopping and digital payments to video streaming.

Analysts say Ambani’s ultimate ambition is to build the next global technology company, one that can hold its own against the likes of Google (GOOGL), Tencent (TCEHY), Amazon (AMZN) and Alibaba (BABA).
The backing of the Saudi wealth fund, which has investments in several Silicon Valley firms including Uber (UBER) and Tesla (TSLA), will help Ambani further that ambition.

“I welcome PIF as a valued partner in Jio Platforms and look forward to their sustained support and guidance as we take ambitious steps to accelerate India’s digital transformation,” Ambani said in a statement.

Jio has emerged as the prime conduit to cash in on India’s internet boom, with more than 600 million internet users and nearly an equal number yet to come online for the first time.

“We believe that the potential of the Indian digital economy is very exciting and that Jio Platforms provides us with an excellent opportunity to gain access to that growth,” PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan said in a statement.

CNN’s Sherisse Pham and Michelle Toh contributed to this report

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Brian Austin Green is ‘casually dating’ as he’s pictured out with Courtney Stodden

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Brian Austin Green is ‘casually dating’ as he’s pictured out with Courtney Stodden

Brian Austin Green is getting back in the dating game. Days after Megan Fox’s estranged husband was photographed with Courtney Stodden, sources say he’s opening himself up to the possibility of a new relationship.

On Saturday, Green, 46, and Stodden, 25, were photographed grabbing lunch together, leading to speculation over whether the outing was romantic or friendly. An insider close to the actor tells Yahoo Entertainment the two “are friends” — for now — but admitted, “who knows what could happen.”

Megan Fox, Brian Austin Green and Courtney Stodden (Photo: Getty Images)

“He’s casually dating,” the source explained.

Yahoo Entertainment reached out to reps for Green and Stodden for comment, but did not receive responses.

According to TMZ, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star and Stodden met online about a month ago and are just friends. The outlet claims Green and the reality star are interested in making music together. Stodden, who has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, officially divorced actor Doug Hutchinson earlier this year. She notoriously wed the Green Mile actor when she was just 16 and he was 50. 

People reports Green is “slowly dating” again, months after separating from Fox. The actors wed in 2010 and have been together for about 15 years. They share three sons: Noah Shannon, 7, Bodhi Ransom, 6, and Journey River, 3. 

“Brian is doing well. He and Megan are getting along,” an insider told the magazine. 

“When he doesn’t see the kids, he is slowly dating,” the source continued. “He recently started hanging out with Courtney. They seem more like friends though.”

No one has to speculate about Fox’s new relationship. The 34-year-old actress made it clear she’s together with Machine Gun Kelly (real name: Colson Baker) as the two were photographed making out and holding hands on Monday. The rapper even referred to Fox as his girlfriend and wrote he’s “in love” as the two shared a romantic sunset dinner earlier this week.

Green emotionally confirmed he and Fox split on his podcast last month, shortly after the Transformers star was pictured with Kelly. Fox and the 30-year-old rapper met working on the upcoming film Midnight in the Switchgrass.

“She met this guy, Colson, on set on this film she’s working on… I’ve never met him, but Megan and I have talked about him,” Green shared. “From what she’s expressed he’s a really just nice, genuine guy. I trust her judgment. She’s always had really good judgment. I don’t want people to think that her or he are villains or that I was a victim in any way with any of this. Because I wasn’t. This isn’t something new for us, this is something new for people to experience and hear about in the press.”

Green also said Fox and Kelly were “just friends,” so, clearly a lot can change in a month.

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

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General Tapped To Lead ‘Operation Warp Speed’ Vaccine Drive Faces Skeptical Senators

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General Tapped To Lead ‘Operation Warp Speed’ Vaccine Drive Faces Skeptical Senators

Army Gen. Gustave Perna testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday on his nomination to oversee the COVID-19 vaccine project.

Chip Somodevilla/POOL/AFP via Getty Images


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Army Gen. Gustave Perna testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday on his nomination to oversee the COVID-19 vaccine project.

Chip Somodevilla/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

A headlong race to come up with a viable vaccine for COVID-19 that is being championed by a science-averse American president seeking reelection prompted some skeptical questions Thursday on Capitol Hill.

The occasion was a confirmation hearing for Gen. Gustave Perna to lead Operation Warp Speed, the official moniker for the Trump administration’s frenetic drive to roll out such a vaccine this year.

Perna is a four-star general who, as head of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, is the Army’s most senior logistics officer. He was nominated last month by Trump to be the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed as well.

“The virus is our enemy and is impacting our way of life,” Perna told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee who were there either physically or virtually to grill him. “If confirmed, I will dedicate myself to defeating this enemy.”

Perna said when he was tapped for the job in mid-May, he initially thought the administration’s goal of having a viable vaccine by the end of the year was merely aspirational.

“I have recently come to the conclusion that it is more and more likely to occur,” Perna assured the panel. “The key to our success is to ensure we rely on science to assess our options, effectiveness and risk.”

But New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand suggested election season politics may trump science for determining such a timetable.

“I’m concerned that Operation Warp Speed will be under pressure to release a vaccine before the election, but before adequate testing and research trials have been completed,” Gillibrand told the general. “Could any sort of emergency use authorization be invoked to release the vaccine, even if in limited capacity, before those requirements have been met?”

Perna told the senator that determining the efficacy of a vaccine was the Food and Drug Administration’s call.

“The decision to provide an emergency relief capability and/or deliver early is not my decision,” he added. “That will be a policy decision.”

Rhode Island’s Jack Reed, the panel’s ranking Democrat, also questioned the credibility of the administration’s election-year dash for a vaccine. The FDA, he noted, could simply declare that a vaccine is ready, even if it had “a relatively low efficacy.”

“We should understand, all of us, that the FDA has to demand rather significant efficacy for this drug before they say it’s OK,” Reed warned. “We want a vaccine, not a headline.”

Still, Perna told the panel he thought the Trump administration’s goal of having 100 million doses of a vaccine ready by November and another 200 million on hand by January was plausible.

“Right now, as I see the numbers,” Perna told Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal, “I do think it is potentially possible.”

Citing Trump’s unilateral break last month with the World Health Organization, Blumenthal pressed Perna on whether he would commit to working with any nation that offers information or cooperation for developing a COVID-19 vaccine.

“I commit to working with all nations that we deem are friendly to our national security,” Perna replied.

Hawaii Democrat Mazie Hirono wanted to know if that included China.

“Right now, for me,” the general responded, “it does not.”

Noting that billions of dollars in contracts had already been awarded to at least five private pharmaceutical firms with little oversight, Hirono asked Perna if he would commit to briefing Congress every two weeks on Operation Warp Speed.

“Senator, I will report as directed,” Perna told her, a reply that Hirono dismissed as “not making a commitment.”

Maine Independent Angus King wanted to know what the price of a vaccine developed with public funds but produced by private industry should be.

“We’re in negotiations with each company to make sure that we are going to obtain the right price for the vaccine,” Perna assured King. “I commit to you that I will personally be involved in those conversations, and that we will not be gouged.”

The logistics expert also acknowledged that several pharmaceutical firms that have received funding through Operation Warp Speed have not yet begun clinical trials in the U.S.

“Trials will begin for us 9 July with Moderna,” he said, “followed by AstraZeneca and then Johnson & Johnson throughout the months of July, August, September.”

Perna said another part of the effort he’s to lead is identifying therapeutics capable of treating COVID-19. “We have some very promising candidates,” he added, “that could be available as early as October, November.”

Perna told the committee he did not have the authority to invoke the Defense Production Act, which some senators suggested could be used to require production by U.S. firms of needed supplies. But he said he felt “100% certain” either Defense Secretary Mark Esper or Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar could take such an action if he asked for it.

Mississippi Republican Roger Wicker told Perna there might be a simpler way to get fast results in the hunt for a vaccine.

“I would just ask you not to rule out among your bag of tools some sort of prize competition,” Wicker said, “to financially incentivize these competitors to get there when we need them to get there.”

Perna, whose confirmation appears likely, did not push back.

“I fully agree with you, senator,” he said, without elaborating on what such a prize should be.

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