Israel has passed a new law to strip the citizenship of Arabs convicted of terrorism and those who get financial aid from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Even as Arab representatives strongly opposed the legislation, the Israeli parliament cleared the law with an overwhelming majority (94 votes to 10) on Wednesday (February 15). Opposition politicians were among the lawmakers backing the legislation by the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.&nbsp;

The legislation has expectedly sparked off criticism, with many saying it violates international law and would end up rendering people stateless. The members of parliament who voted in the bill's favour, however, say that such Arabs have betrayed the state. "Our enemies are not worthy of our citizenship and those who come to hurt the state of Israel are not worthy of living here," far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was quoted as saying by the news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli residents - living in the West Bank - are expected to get affected by the law. The issue was also reportedly raised in the parliament on Wednesday. The development follows a long spell of tensions in the West Bank amid raids against militants and attacks on Israelis. Fears are prevailing that the law may lead to a fresh escalation in the region. &nbsp;

Palestinian Authority (PA), which is internationally recognised, has been funding families of slain Palestinians or those arrested for attacks on Israel. It is viewed as social welfare by those who see prisoners as heroes of the struggle in the West Bank.&nbsp;

Also read:<a href="wionews.com/world/explained-the-history-of-palestine-intifada-is-another-on-the-way-556522">&nbsp;EXPLAINED: The history of Palestine intifada, is another on the way?</a>

In East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel in 1967, a majority of Palestinians have a "permanent resident" status as opposed to full Israeli citizenship.

Responding to the new law, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry&nbsp;described it&nbsp;as "the ugliest form of racism".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Israel has passed a new law to strip the citizenship of Arabs convicted of terrorism and those who get financial aid from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Even as Arab representatives strongly opposed the legislation, the Israeli parliament cleared the law with an overwhelming majority (94 votes to 10) on Wednesday (February 15).

Israel has passed a new law to strip the citizenship of Arabs convicted of terrorism and those who get financial aid from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Even as Arab representatives strongly opposed the legislation, the Israeli parliament cleared the law with an overwhelming majority (94 votes to 10) on Wednesday (February 15). Opposition politicians were among the lawmakers backing the legislation by the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The legislation has expectedly sparked off criticism, with many saying it violates international law and would end up rendering people stateless. The members of parliament who voted in the bill's favour, however, say that such Arabs have betrayed the state. "Our enemies are not worthy of our citizenship and those who come to hurt the state of Israel are not worthy of living here," far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was quoted as saying by the news agency Reuters. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli residents - living in the West Bank - are expected to get affected by the law. The issue was also reportedly raised in the parliament on Wednesday. The development follows a long spell of tensions in the West Bank amid raids against militants and attacks on Israelis. Fears are prevailing that the law may lead to a fresh escalation in the region. Palestinian Authority (PA), which is internationally recognised, has been funding families of slain Palestinians or those arrested for attacks on Israel. It is viewed as social welfare by those who see prisoners as heroes of the struggle in the West Bank. Also read: EXPLAINED: The history of Palestine intifada, is another on the way? In East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel in 1967, a majority of Palestinians have a "permanent resident" status as opposed to full Israeli citizenship. Responding to the new law, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry described it as "the ugliest form of racism". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Ugliest form of racism': Israel's new law on citizenship for Arabs triggers criticism

Twenty-year-old Olesya Krivtsova has been placed under house arrest with an electronic tag on her leg. Krivtsova was charged with justifying terrorism and discrediting the Russian military, and faces up to 10 years in prison along with being added to the government's list of terrorists and extremists.

Twenty-year-old Olesya Krivtsova has been placed under house arrest with an electronic tag on her leg. Krivtsova was charged with justifying terrorism and discrediting the Russian military, and faces up to 10 years in prison along with being added to the government's list of terrorists and extremists. Her alleged crime?- criticising Russia's special military operation in Ukraine which will soon mark one year. Krivtsova, a student at the Northern Federal University, was apprehended for anti-war posts on social media including one related to the explosion on the bridge linking Russia to annexed Crimea in October last year. Under house arrest, she is banned from talking on the phone and going online. Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday (February 14), Krivtsova said, "I posted an Instagram story about the bridge, reflecting on how Ukrainians were happy with what had happened." She added she also shared a friend's post about the war. The drama unfolds Recalling her detention, Olesya Krivtsova told BBC that she was talking on the phone with her mother when she heard the front door opening and police officials storming in. "They (the police) took away my phone and shouted at me to lie on the floor," she said. "I never imagined anyone could get such a long prison sentence for posting something on the internet," the 20-year-old said and pointed out she had seen reports of crazy verdicts in Russia, but never paid much attention and continued to speak out (on the Ukraine war). ALSO READ | NATO chief urges member nations to ramp up ammunition production for Ukraine "When I realised I'd been put on the same list as school shooters and the Islamic State group I thought it was crazy," Kristova further said. On her right leg, she has a tattoo of President Vladimir Putin on a spider's body which says, "Big Brother is watching you." Students discuss whether to denounce her to authorities Krivtsova said that a friend "showed me a post about me in a chat," regarding how she was against the war in Ukraine. She added that most of the students in this chat were history students who were discussing whether to denounce her to authorities. As per the BBC report, which has seen extracts from the group chat, Krivtsova in one comment, was accused of "provocative posts of a defeatist and extremist character. This is out of place for war-time. It must be nipped in the bud". "First let's try to discredit her. If she doesn't get it, let the security services deal with it," it added. The Northern Federal University student recognised the names of students from the chat when the list of prosecution witnesses was read out in court. Moscow expects total support for its operation in Ukraine Olesya Krivtsova's case is not the first time that Russians condemning the war in Ukraine faced severe consequences. The BBC report on Tuesday said that public criticism of the special military operation- which also includes reposting other people's criticism - was dangerous. The report added that authorities expected total unflinching support for the offensive in Ukraine, and Russians who don't remain silent face laws for punishing dissent. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russian student under house arrest for cricitising Ukraine war. Here's what she says

India has got its first ChatGPT called ''Lexi"- launched by financial technology company Velocity. According to a report by the news agency IANS on Monday (February 13), Velocity integrated this latest advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) with its existing analytics tool- Velocity Insights. E-commerce firms in India using Velocity Insights receive a daily business report on WhatsApp, which led Velocity to also integrate ChatGPT in the same Whatsapp interface.

The financial technology company said that the integration of ChatGPT with Velocity Insights has empowered e-Commerce founders by providing them with AI-powered business insights in a conversational manner freeing up time for critical business functions.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/is-chatgpt-biased-internet-calls-it-woke-and-points-to-an-alleged-prejudice-heres-all-you-need-to-know-562061">Is ChatGPT biased? Internet calls it 'woke' and points to an alleged prejudice. Here's all you need to know</a>

According to a statement, Velocity's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Abhiroop Medhekar said that ever since the launch of ChatGPT, the company's product teams had been brainstorming how it can be leveraged to benefit our founders. "Since Velocity customers already use Insights on a daily basis, we integrated ChatGPT with the same interface that they leverage for driving business decisions," Medhekar added.&nbsp;

Citing multiple media reports, the IANS report on Monday said that ChatGPT has reached 100 million users within two months and has clocked more than 590 million visits.&nbsp;

Mohit Mohapatra, CEO and Founder of Naturepro said that Velocity Insights has helped his brand monitor revenue and marketing spending. Mohapatra said that with ChatGPT integration, he has been able to leverage artificial intelligence as a personal assistant whenever he needs help with his business. "For example, I have been leveraging the integration for writing copy as well as collating answers to questions related to performance marketing on a daily basis," he added.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, a report by the Indian Express said that India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) was developing a WhatsApp-based chatbot which relies on information generated by ChatGPT to return an appropriate response to queries.

As farmers would not always want or would be able to type out their queries, questions can be put to the chatbot by using voice notes, the report said. It added that users can ask a question using voice notes and receive a voice-based response generated by ChatGPT.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

India has got its first ChatGPT called ''Lexi"- launched by financial technology company Velocity. According to a report by the news agency IANS on Monday (February 13), Velocity integrated this latest advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) with its existing analytics tool- Velocity Insights.

India has got its first ChatGPT called ''Lexi"- launched by financial technology company Velocity. According to a report by the news agency IANS on Monday (February 13), Velocity integrated this latest advancement in artificial intelligence (AI) with its existing analytics tool- Velocity Insights. E-commerce firms in India using Velocity Insights receive a daily business report on WhatsApp, which led Velocity to also integrate ChatGPT in the same Whatsapp interface. The financial technology company said that the integration of ChatGPT with Velocity Insights has empowered e-Commerce founders by providing them with AI-powered business insights in a conversational manner freeing up time for critical business functions. ALSO READ | Is ChatGPT biased? Internet calls it 'woke' and points to an alleged prejudice. Here's all you need to know According to a statement, Velocity's co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Abhiroop Medhekar said that ever since the launch of ChatGPT, the company's product teams had been brainstorming how it can be leveraged to benefit our founders. "Since Velocity customers already use Insights on a daily basis, we integrated ChatGPT with the same interface that they leverage for driving business decisions," Medhekar added. Citing multiple media reports, the IANS report on Monday said that ChatGPT has reached 100 million users within two months and has clocked more than 590 million visits. Mohit Mohapatra, CEO and Founder of Naturepro said that Velocity Insights has helped his brand monitor revenue and marketing spending. Mohapatra said that with ChatGPT integration, he has been able to leverage artificial intelligence as a personal assistant whenever he needs help with his business. "For example, I have been leveraging the integration for writing copy as well as collating answers to questions related to performance marketing on a daily basis," he added. On Tuesday, a report by the Indian Express said that India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) was developing a WhatsApp-based chatbot which relies on information generated by ChatGPT to return an appropriate response to queries. As farmers would not always want or would be able to type out their queries, questions can be put to the chatbot by using voice notes, the report said. It added that users can ask a question using voice notes and receive a voice-based response generated by ChatGPT. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Lexi, India's first ChatGPT-powered AI chatbot, launched. Details here

A study published on Tuesday (February 14) said that the noise produced by mining seabed for nickel, cobalt and other metals for green energy transition could disrupt the ability of whales to navigate ocean depths and communicate with each other. A report by the news agency Reuters said that rocks, as big as a potato, filled with battery metals blanket vast swathes of the ocean floor at depths of four to six kilometres. The report added that several companies proposed to vacuum nodules from the seabed and process their metals for use in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).&nbsp;

The Metals Company Inc and others were pushing ahead with plans to extract these nodules from the Clarion Clipperton Zone- an ocean region in the northern Pacific. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a Jamaica-based United Nations (UN) body, granted 17 seabed mining exploration licences in the zone. Tuesday's study, published in the Frontiers in Marine Science and funded by Umweltstiftung Greenpeace, said that 22-30 cetacean species, including endangered blue whales, live in the area.&nbsp;

&nbsp;"The sounds produced from mining operations, including from remotely operated vehicles on the sea floor, overlap with the frequencies at which cetaceans communicate," the study said.&nbsp;

It argued that more research was required to assess the risk deep-sea mining could pose to large marine mammals. Supporters of deep-sea mining, meanwhile, said it would lessen the need for large mining operations on land, which are often unpopular with host communities. &nbsp;

The Reuters report on Tuesday said that the ISA might approve deep-sea mining for international waters as soon as this summer with leaders from France, Fiji, Canada and Germany expressing concerns about the practice.&nbsp;

Previous research on ocean noise showed that whales could suffer negative effects from deep-sea mining. Citing another study, the news agency reported that man-made noise could increase the risk of humpback whale mothers being separated from their calves as their normal vocalisations are quiet.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Metals Company said it was studying acoustic data collected over three years with independent researchers to determine what the true impact could be on whales. According to a statement, the company's environmental manager Dr Michael Clark said the Greenpeace study was purely speculative, based upon zero in-field data and funded by the industry's most vocal opponent.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A study published on Tuesday (February 14) said that the noise produced by mining seabed for nickel, cobalt and other metals for green energy transition could disrupt the ability of whales to navigate ocean depths and communicate with each other.

A study published on Tuesday (February 14) said that the noise produced by mining seabed for nickel, cobalt and other metals for green energy transition could disrupt the ability of whales to navigate ocean depths and communicate with each other. A report by the news agency Reuters said that rocks, as big as a potato, filled with battery metals blanket vast swathes of the ocean floor at depths of four to six kilometres. The report added that several companies proposed to vacuum nodules from the seabed and process their metals for use in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The Metals Company Inc and others were pushing ahead with plans to extract these nodules from the Clarion Clipperton Zone- an ocean region in the northern Pacific. The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a Jamaica-based United Nations (UN) body, granted 17 seabed mining exploration licences in the zone. Tuesday's study, published in the Frontiers in Marine Science and funded by Umweltstiftung Greenpeace, said that 22-30 cetacean species, including endangered blue whales, live in the area. "The sounds produced from mining operations, including from remotely operated vehicles on the sea floor, overlap with the frequencies at which cetaceans communicate," the study said. It argued that more research was required to assess the risk deep-sea mining could pose to large marine mammals. Supporters of deep-sea mining, meanwhile, said it would lessen the need for large mining operations on land, which are often unpopular with host communities. The Reuters report on Tuesday said that the ISA might approve deep-sea mining for international waters as soon as this summer with leaders from France, Fiji, Canada and Germany expressing concerns about the practice. Previous research on ocean noise showed that whales could suffer negative effects from deep-sea mining. Citing another study, the news agency reported that man-made noise could increase the risk of humpback whale mothers being separated from their calves as their normal vocalisations are quiet. Meanwhile, the Metals Company said it was studying acoustic data collected over three years with independent researchers to determine what the true impact could be on whales. According to a statement, the company's environmental manager Dr Michael Clark said the Greenpeace study was purely speculative, based upon zero in-field data and funded by the industry's most vocal opponent. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Study shows deep-sea mining could disrupt a whale's ability to communicate

Australian officials said Tuesday dozens of Chinese-made security&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;would be ripped out of politicians' offices, days after the country's defence minister announced his department would remove the devices from its buildings due to security concerns.&nbsp;

At least 913 Chinese-made security&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;have been installed across more than 250 Australian government buildings, including the Department of Defence's facilities, according to figures released last week.&nbsp;

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told national broadcaster ABC last week that all these&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;within his department's buildings would be removed, saying it was to "make sure that our facilities are completely secure".

Officials from the Department of Finance on Tuesday confirmed a further 65 closed-circuit television systems had been installed within offices used by Australian politicians.&nbsp;

While the department had been gradually replacing the&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;as part of a broader security upgrade, at least 40 systems still needed to be stripped out, the department said, adding that they would be replaced by April.&nbsp;

The CCTV&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;were not connected to the internet, and were being removed as a precaution, the department said.&nbsp;

Similar moves have been made in the United States and Britain, which have taken measures to stop government departments installing Chinese-made&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;at sensitive sites.&nbsp;

Both countries have expressed fears that Chinese companies could be forced to share intelligence collected by the&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;with Beijing's security services.

The&nbsp;cameras&nbsp;were made by companies Hikvision and Dahua, which have been blacklisted in the United States for allegedly helping the Chinese government carry out a "campaign of repression".&nbsp;

According to the US Department of Commerce, Hikvision and Dahua have been implicated in the "high-technology surveillance" of the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region.&nbsp;

The US banned imports of surveillance equipment made by the two companies in November last year, saying it posed "an unacceptable risk to national security".&nbsp;

Hikvision has said it was "categorically false" to paint the company as "a threat to national security".&nbsp;

After Marles' statements last week about removing Chinese-made&nbsp;cameras, Beijing accused Australia of "misusing national might to discriminate against and suppress Chinese enterprises".

"We hope Australia will provide a fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment for the normal operations of Chinese enterprises," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

Australian officials said Tuesday dozens of Chinese-made security cameras would be ripped out of politicians' offices, days after the country's defence minister announced his department would remove the devices from its buildings due to security concerns.

Australian officials said Tuesday dozens of Chinese-made security cameras would be ripped out of politicians' offices, days after the country's defence minister announced his department would remove the devices from its buildings due to security concerns. At least 913 Chinese-made security cameras have been installed across more than 250 Australian government buildings, including the Department of Defence's facilities, according to figures released last week. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told national broadcaster ABC last week that all these cameras within his department's buildings would be removed, saying it was to "make sure that our facilities are completely secure". Officials from the Department of Finance on Tuesday confirmed a further 65 closed-circuit television systems had been installed within offices used by Australian politicians. While the department had been gradually replacing the cameras as part of a broader security upgrade, at least 40 systems still needed to be stripped out, the department said, adding that they would be replaced by April. The CCTV cameras were not connected to the internet, and were being removed as a precaution, the department said. Similar moves have been made in the United States and Britain, which have taken measures to stop government departments installing Chinese-made cameras at sensitive sites. Both countries have expressed fears that Chinese companies could be forced to share intelligence collected by the cameras with Beijing's security services. The cameras were made by companies Hikvision and Dahua, which have been blacklisted in the United States for allegedly helping the Chinese government carry out a "campaign of repression". According to the US Department of Commerce, Hikvision and Dahua have been implicated in the "high-technology surveillance" of the Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang region. The US banned imports of surveillance equipment made by the two companies in November last year, saying it posed "an unacceptable risk to national security". Hikvision has said it was "categorically false" to paint the company as "a threat to national security". After Marles' statements last week about removing Chinese-made cameras, Beijing accused Australia of "misusing national might to discriminate against and suppress Chinese enterprises". "We hope Australia will provide a fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment for the normal operations of Chinese enterprises," China's foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

Australia removes Chinese-made cameras from politicians' offices

Days after a New Zealand pilot was abducted by rebels from Indonesia, photos and videos have been released by the separatist group from the restive Papua province that show him alive. The fighters from the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement — the West Papua Liberation Army — reportedly abducted Phillip Mark Mehrtens, the pilot from Christchurch, last week. &nbsp;Mehrtens,&nbsp;who works for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air,&nbsp;was set to pick up 15 construction workers facing death threats apparently over building a health centre in the remote Nduga district.&nbsp;

The pilot was held hostage with five passengers, who were later released because they were locals. The abduction was reported last Tuesday (February 7). In a statement cited by the news agency Reuters, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) said the pilot would not be released until the government acknowledged the independence of West Papua. "Our plan to evacuate the workers angered the rebels, who responded by setting fire to the plane and seizing the pilot," district chief Namia Gwijangge, one of five people on board when the plane landed, was quoted as saying in a report.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Rebels demand independence for West Papua

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rebels-demand-independence-for-west-papua-559912/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

While this is said to be the first such incident of abduction by the separatists since 1998, tensions between the rebels and the government have been on a rise since 2018. &nbsp;Last week, Susi Pudjiastuti, founder of Susi Air, urged for the safety of passengers and the pilot on Twitter.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-rejects-chinas-claims-in-the-south-china-sea-says-not-bound-by-claims-contravening-international-law-301513">Indonesia rejects China's claims in the South China Sea; says not bound by claims contravening international law</a>

In the clip, rebel leader Egianus Kogoya said that the pilot "will be safe as long as the administration does not use weapons from air or ground". The pilot can be seen surrounded by the separatists in a forested area in the visuals.&nbsp;

The local police are said to be making attempts to build a channel of communication with the rebels.&nbsp;

(With agency inputs)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Days after a New Zealand pilot was abducted by rebels from Indonesia, photos and videos have been released by the separatist group from the restive Papua province that show him alive.

Days after a New Zealand pilot was abducted by rebels from Indonesia, photos and videos have been released by the separatist group from the restive Papua province that show him alive. The fighters from the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement — the West Papua Liberation Army — reportedly abducted Phillip Mark Mehrtens, the pilot from Christchurch, last week. Mehrtens, who works for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air, was set to pick up 15 construction workers facing death threats apparently over building a health centre in the remote Nduga district. The pilot was held hostage with five passengers, who were later released because they were locals. The abduction was reported last Tuesday (February 7). In a statement cited by the news agency Reuters, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) said the pilot would not be released until the government acknowledged the independence of West Papua. "Our plan to evacuate the workers angered the rebels, who responded by setting fire to the plane and seizing the pilot," district chief Namia Gwijangge, one of five people on board when the plane landed, was quoted as saying in a report. Watch: Rebels demand independence for West Papua × While this is said to be the first such incident of abduction by the separatists since 1998, tensions between the rebels and the government have been on a rise since 2018. Last week, Susi Pudjiastuti, founder of Susi Air, urged for the safety of passengers and the pilot on Twitter. Also read: Indonesia rejects China's claims in the South China Sea; says not bound by claims contravening international law In the clip, rebel leader Egianus Kogoya said that the pilot "will be safe as long as the administration does not use weapons from air or ground". The pilot can be seen surrounded by the separatists in a forested area in the visuals. The local police are said to be making attempts to build a channel of communication with the rebels. (With agency inputs) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Week after New Zealand pilot’s abduction in Indonesia, photos, videos released by rebels

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan was on Wednesday (February 15) denied relief in the case linked to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last year as an Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) rejected his interim bail. The matter can't be stretched for an "indefinite period", Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan said during the hearing, Pakistan daily <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1737281">Dawn reported</a>, in reference to the former premier's absence. &nbsp;Stressing that Imran Khan "tried to come, but he could not", his lawyer had sought an extension of the pre-arrest bail.&nbsp;

Multiple opportunities were given to Khan to appear in the case, the court stressed, "but to no avail". The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician did not appear for the hearings at least eight times since October, as per the report, apart from twice on Wednesday. &nbsp;His lawyer also reportedly told the court that "injuries take time in healing at this age" in a reference to the attempt on his life on November 3 during a rally. &nbsp;He has been recovering in Lahore since the assassination attempt and could not fly to Islamabad for the hearing, his attorney said.&nbsp;

Khan can now challenge the decision in the Islamabad High Court.&nbsp;

The case was filed against Imran Khan in October after workers of his party - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - took to the streets and held demonstrations outside ECP offices across the country. The protests were held against the disqualification of the former prime minister over accusations related to Toshakhana, a government department that stores gifts given by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-assassination-attempt-meet-the-hero-who-saved-paks-former-pm-531188">Imran Khan assassination attempt: Meet Ibtisam Hassan, the ‘hero’ who saved Pak former PM’s life</a> 
&nbsp; 
The Election Commission took action against the ex-prime minister after he allegedly "concealed his assets relating to Toshakhana gifts retained by him particularly in year 2018 and 2019 […] in the statements of assets and liabilities filed for the year 2017-2018 and 2018-19”.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan was on Wednesday (February 15) denied relief in the case linked to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last year as an Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) rejected his interim bail.

Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan was on Wednesday (February 15) denied relief in the case linked to a protest outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last year as an Islamabad Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) rejected his interim bail. The matter can't be stretched for an "indefinite period", Judge Raja Jawad Abbas Hassan said during the hearing, Pakistan daily Dawn reported, in reference to the former premier's absence. Stressing that Imran Khan "tried to come, but he could not", his lawyer had sought an extension of the pre-arrest bail. Multiple opportunities were given to Khan to appear in the case, the court stressed, "but to no avail". The 70-year-old cricketer-turned-politician did not appear for the hearings at least eight times since October, as per the report, apart from twice on Wednesday. His lawyer also reportedly told the court that "injuries take time in healing at this age" in a reference to the attempt on his life on November 3 during a rally. He has been recovering in Lahore since the assassination attempt and could not fly to Islamabad for the hearing, his attorney said. Khan can now challenge the decision in the Islamabad High Court. The case was filed against Imran Khan in October after workers of his party - Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) - took to the streets and held demonstrations outside ECP offices across the country. The protests were held against the disqualification of the former prime minister over accusations related to Toshakhana, a government department that stores gifts given by heads of other governments and foreign dignitaries. Also read: Imran Khan assassination attempt: Meet Ibtisam Hassan, the ‘hero’ who saved Pak former PM’s life The Election Commission took action against the ex-prime minister after he allegedly "concealed his assets relating to Toshakhana gifts retained by him particularly in year 2018 and 2019 […] in the statements of assets and liabilities filed for the year 2017-2018 and 2018-19”. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Imran Khan denied bail in protest case: 'Can't stretch for indefinite period' 

A large network of camps being operated by the federal government in Russia has held at least 6,000 children from the war-ravaged Ukraine, a study by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has revealed. At least 43 such facilities and their locations have been identified, as per the findings. ‘Re-education,’ an effort to ostensibly make children more pro-Russia in their personal and political views, has been counted among the purposes of the network. &nbsp;The facilities have been located in Crimea, and mainland Russia apart from installations found in Siberia and along Russia’s far eastern Pacific coast.

The transport of the kids started before Moscow launched a full-scale invasion in February last year. "These first transports of children in early February 2022 included a group of 500 purported orphans ‘evacuated’ from Donetsk oblast by Russia," the report states. These efforts were linked to the apparent threat of an offensive by the Ukrainian armed forces in the rebel-dominated regions of Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR).&nbsp;

The children are believed to be staying in the state-operated facilities over the past year. Segmented into four categories, children deemed orphans, those who were under the care of the Ukrainian state institutions before the war began, whose custody is unclear amid the conflict, and those who have clear familial guardianship are found to be staying in these facilities.&nbsp;

While those who have clear guardianship have been targeted for "re-education", children - deemed orphans - have been targeted for&nbsp; 
"deportation to the Russian territory or for adoption or foster care", the study claims. "At least 32 (78 per cent) of the camps identified by Yale HRL appear engaged in systematic re-education efforts that expose children from Ukraine to Russia-centric academic, cultural, patriotic, and/or military education," the HRL study underlines. &nbsp;"Multiple camps endorsed by the Russian Federation are advertised as 'integration programs', &nbsp;with the apparent goal of integrating children from Ukraine into the Russian government’s vision of national culture, history, and society," it further stresses.&nbsp;

In 10 per cent of these camps, the return of children to Ukraine was allegedly delayed. Some parents have been reported as saying that they were unable to get information about their children.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-to-provide-military-supplies-to-ukraine-via-german-port-report-561123">Pakistan to provide military supplies to Ukraine via German port, says report</a>

The program involves every level of the Russian government, according to the Yale investigation, which stresses that &nbsp;"dozens of federal, regional, and local figures (are) directly engaged in operating and politically justifying the program". &nbsp;Medical care of the children in the war-torn country has also been cited as one of the reasons for the transport.&nbsp;

“Giving (Ukraine’s children Russian) nationality or having them adopted goes against the fundamental principles of child protection in situations of war. This is something that is happening in Russia and must not happen," Filippo Grande, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, &nbsp;

The issue was raised last year by officials at the United Nations. In June, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, told the Security Council that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was investigating alleged plans for the forcible deportation of Ukraine’s children to Russia, “which do not appear to include steps for 
family reunification".&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A large network of camps being operated by the federal government in Russia has held at least 6,000 children from the war-ravaged Ukraine, a study by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has revealed.

A large network of camps being operated by the federal government in Russia has held at least 6,000 children from the war-ravaged Ukraine, a study by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has revealed. At least 43 such facilities and their locations have been identified, as per the findings. ‘Re-education,’ an effort to ostensibly make children more pro-Russia in their personal and political views, has been counted among the purposes of the network. The facilities have been located in Crimea, and mainland Russia apart from installations found in Siberia and along Russia’s far eastern Pacific coast. The transport of the kids started before Moscow launched a full-scale invasion in February last year. "These first transports of children in early February 2022 included a group of 500 purported orphans ‘evacuated’ from Donetsk oblast by Russia," the report states. These efforts were linked to the apparent threat of an offensive by the Ukrainian armed forces in the rebel-dominated regions of Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR). The children are believed to be staying in the state-operated facilities over the past year. Segmented into four categories, children deemed orphans, those who were under the care of the Ukrainian state institutions before the war began, whose custody is unclear amid the conflict, and those who have clear familial guardianship are found to be staying in these facilities. While those who have clear guardianship have been targeted for "re-education", children - deemed orphans - have been targeted for "deportation to the Russian territory or for adoption or foster care", the study claims. "At least 32 (78 per cent) of the camps identified by Yale HRL appear engaged in systematic re-education efforts that expose children from Ukraine to Russia-centric academic, cultural, patriotic, and/or military education," the HRL study underlines. "Multiple camps endorsed by the Russian Federation are advertised as 'integration programs', with the apparent goal of integrating children from Ukraine into the Russian government’s vision of national culture, history, and society," it further stresses. In 10 per cent of these camps, the return of children to Ukraine was allegedly delayed. Some parents have been reported as saying that they were unable to get information about their children. Also read: Pakistan to provide military supplies to Ukraine via German port, says report The program involves every level of the Russian government, according to the Yale investigation, which stresses that "dozens of federal, regional, and local figures (are) directly engaged in operating and politically justifying the program". Medical care of the children in the war-torn country has also been cited as one of the reasons for the transport. “Giving (Ukraine’s children Russian) nationality or having them adopted goes against the fundamental principles of child protection in situations of war. This is something that is happening in Russia and must not happen," Filippo Grande, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, The issue was raised last year by officials at the United Nations. In June, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, told the Security Council that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was investigating alleged plans for the forcible deportation of Ukraine’s children to Russia, “which do not appear to include steps for family reunification". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Thousands of Ukrainian children held in Russia targeted for 're-education': Yale study

A sedition case was registered on Monday (February 13) against Pakistan's former finance minister Shaukat Tarin in the Federal Investigation Agency`s (FIA) cybercrime wing&nbsp;for his alleged attempt to derail a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The sedition case was filed by Arshad Mehmood against Tarin under Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 for his alleged audio leak that had surfaced on the internet. Sections 124-A and 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code have also been included in the FIR, a report by GeoNews said.&nbsp;

The audio leaks surfaced in August last year in which a man, purportedly Shaukat Tarin, was heard guiding the finance ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, to tell the coalition government at the Centre and the IMF that they would not be able to commit to a provincial budget surplus in light of the devastating floods, according to a report by The Dawn.&nbsp;

In a notice issued to Tarin next month, the FIA&nbsp;said that an inquiry was initiated against his alleged role on basis of the audio leak. Citing sources, the Dawn report on Monday said the FIA saw Tarin's leaked conversations as an attempt to disrupt the IMF loan programme and funds.&nbsp;

As per a First Information Report (FIR) filed on Monday, Tarin with “malafide intentions and ulterior motives” induced sitting provincial finance ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa- Mohsin Leghari and Taimur Khan Jhagra. The FIR recalled the two phone call audio clips of Tarin with Leghari and Jhagra were thoroughly heard and analysed.&nbsp;

The FIR said, "Such mischievous acts may disrupt public tranquillity and create ill-will among pillars of the state. It is likely to cause a sense of fear, alarm and intimidation to every citizen of the state due to the economic situation of Pakistan. Thus, the alleged conversation is considered an act of sedition against the state."

The FIR also said that during the inquiry, Tarin was summoned and questioned regarding the alleged audio clips. However, he failed to provide any satisfactory answer.

On Sunday (February 12), the central government allowed the FIA to arrest the former minister after the agency sought the Interior Ministry`s nod to detain him. This announcement was made by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, who alleged that former Prime Minister Imran Khan became a `political terrorist` after bringing disasters to the country during his 3.5-year tenure.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

A sedition case was registered on Monday (February 13) against Pakistan's former finance minister Shaukat Tarin in the Federal Investigation Agency`s (FIA) cybercrime wing for his alleged attempt to derail a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

A sedition case was registered on Monday (February 13) against Pakistan's former finance minister Shaukat Tarin in the Federal Investigation Agency`s (FIA) cybercrime wing for his alleged attempt to derail a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The sedition case was filed by Arshad Mehmood against Tarin under Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 for his alleged audio leak that had surfaced on the internet. Sections 124-A and 505 of the Pakistan Penal Code have also been included in the FIR, a report by GeoNews said. The audio leaks surfaced in August last year in which a man, purportedly Shaukat Tarin, was heard guiding the finance ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, to tell the coalition government at the Centre and the IMF that they would not be able to commit to a provincial budget surplus in light of the devastating floods, according to a report by The Dawn. In a notice issued to Tarin next month, the FIA said that an inquiry was initiated against his alleged role on basis of the audio leak. Citing sources, the Dawn report on Monday said the FIA saw Tarin's leaked conversations as an attempt to disrupt the IMF loan programme and funds. As per a First Information Report (FIR) filed on Monday, Tarin with “malafide intentions and ulterior motives” induced sitting provincial finance ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa- Mohsin Leghari and Taimur Khan Jhagra. The FIR recalled the two phone call audio clips of Tarin with Leghari and Jhagra were thoroughly heard and analysed. The FIR said, "Such mischievous acts may disrupt public tranquillity and create ill-will among pillars of the state. It is likely to cause a sense of fear, alarm and intimidation to every citizen of the state due to the economic situation of Pakistan. Thus, the alleged conversation is considered an act of sedition against the state." The FIR also said that during the inquiry, Tarin was summoned and questioned regarding the alleged audio clips. However, he failed to provide any satisfactory answer. On Sunday (February 12), the central government allowed the FIA to arrest the former minister after the agency sought the Interior Ministry`s nod to detain him. This announcement was made by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, who alleged that former Prime Minister Imran Khan became a `political terrorist` after bringing disasters to the country during his 3.5-year tenure. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former Pakistan finance minister booked in sedition case for derailing IMF deal: Reports

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (February 14) called for faster military aid as Russian troops said they broke through two fortified lines of Ukrainian defences on the eastern front. In his evening address on Tuesday, Zelensky said that Russia was in a hurry to achieve as much as it can with its latest push before Kyiv and its allies gathered strength. "That is why speed is of the essence. Speed in everything - adopting decisions, carrying out decisions, shipping supplies, training. Speed saves people's lives," Zelensky added, news agency Reuters reported on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian president pointed out that the situation in the frontline, especially in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, remained very difficult. "The battles are literally for every foot of Ukrainian land," Zelensky told citizens on Tuesday.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-student-under-house-arrest-for-cricitising-ukraine-war-heres-what-she-says-562149">Russian student under house arrest for cricitising Ukraine war. Here's what she says</a>

Russia's defence ministry said that Ukrainian troops retreated in the face of Russian attacks in Luhansk. Taking to Telegram, the ministry said, "During the offensive ... the Ukrainian troops randomly retreated to a distance of up to 3 km (1.9 miles) from the previously occupied lines. Even the more fortified second line of defence of the enemy could not hold the breakthrough of the Russian military."

In recent weeks, the Kremlin intensified attacks across a swathe of southern and eastern Ukraine, and a major new offensive has been widely anticipated. The Reuters report on Wednesday said that Moscow's main effort has been&nbsp;focused on Bakhmut in Donetsk province adjacent to Luhansk.

Capturing Bakhmut would act as a stepping stone for Russia to advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk cities in Donetsk. Oleh Zhdanov, a Ukrainian military analyst, said there was fighting "around every single house" in Bakhmut, adding the situation remained extremely difficult.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian government said that it was using shells faster than the West could make them, adding, it needed fighter jets and long-range missiles to counter the Russian offensive and recapture lost territory. Earlier, the United States and NATO pledged that Western support would not falter in the face of a looming Moscow offensive.&nbsp;

"Ukraine has urgent requirements to help it meet this crucial moment in the course of the war. We believe there'll be a window of opportunity for them to exercise initiative," US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Meanwhile, German Defence Minister &nbsp;Boris Pistorius said that supplying Kyiv with fighter jets would certainly be discussed but that it was not a focus at the moment. 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (February 14) called for faster military aid as Russian troops said they broke through two fortified lines of Ukrainian defences on the eastern front.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (February 14) called for faster military aid as Russian troops said they broke through two fortified lines of Ukrainian defences on the eastern front. In his evening address on Tuesday, Zelensky said that Russia was in a hurry to achieve as much as it can with its latest push before Kyiv and its allies gathered strength. "That is why speed is of the essence. Speed in everything - adopting decisions, carrying out decisions, shipping supplies, training. Speed saves people's lives," Zelensky added, news agency Reuters reported on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president pointed out that the situation in the frontline, especially in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, remained very difficult. "The battles are literally for every foot of Ukrainian land," Zelensky told citizens on Tuesday. ALSO READ | Russian student under house arrest for cricitising Ukraine war. Here's what she says Russia's defence ministry said that Ukrainian troops retreated in the face of Russian attacks in Luhansk. Taking to Telegram, the ministry said, "During the offensive ... the Ukrainian troops randomly retreated to a distance of up to 3 km (1.9 miles) from the previously occupied lines. Even the more fortified second line of defence of the enemy could not hold the breakthrough of the Russian military." In recent weeks, the Kremlin intensified attacks across a swathe of southern and eastern Ukraine, and a major new offensive has been widely anticipated. The Reuters report on Wednesday said that Moscow's main effort has been focused on Bakhmut in Donetsk province adjacent to Luhansk. Capturing Bakhmut would act as a stepping stone for Russia to advance on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk cities in Donetsk. Oleh Zhdanov, a Ukrainian military analyst, said there was fighting "around every single house" in Bakhmut, adding the situation remained extremely difficult. The Ukrainian government said that it was using shells faster than the West could make them, adding, it needed fighter jets and long-range missiles to counter the Russian offensive and recapture lost territory. Earlier, the United States and NATO pledged that Western support would not falter in the face of a looming Moscow offensive. "Ukraine has urgent requirements to help it meet this crucial moment in the course of the war. We believe there'll be a window of opportunity for them to exercise initiative," US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Meanwhile, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that supplying Kyiv with fighter jets would certainly be discussed but that it was not a focus at the moment. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war: President Zelensky calls for faster military aid, says situation in east very difficult

Ukraine war: President Zelensky calls for faster military aid, says situation in east difficult

Erkin Tuniyaz, the governor of China's Xinjiang region, is believed to have cancelled his controversial trip to the United Kingdom (UK), the Foreign Office said on Tuesday (February 15). Tuniyaz was supposed to visit the UK this week and meet with Foreign Office officials- a move that sparked anger among British lawmakers. Speaking to the news agency AFP, a spokesperson from the Foreign Office said "we understand the Governor of Xinjiang has cancelled his visit to the UK." The spokesperson added that the government would continue to use all opportunities to act against China's human rights abuses in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

Last week, the MPs tabled an urgent question to quiz the Rishi Sunak government about why Tuniyaz was allowed to travel (to the UK) and why he was meeting with the above officials. In response, Foreign Office Minister Leo Docherty said the government did not invite Xinjiang's governor to the UK, and that the meeting would have been the opportunity to send a very strong message to someone who was involved in the governance of this Chinese region. &nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/50-countries-at-un-condemn-china-for-xinjiang-human-rights-violations-530081">50 countries at UN condemn China for Xinjiang human rights violations</a>

"Under no circumstances would he be dignified with a ministerial meeting," Docherty added and pointed out that China's actions in Xinjiang were of course abhorrent and the government would not legitimise them in any way. In 2022, the British Parliament passed a non-binding declaration that crimes against humanity and genocide were being committed in Xinjiang.&nbsp;

For years, China has been accused by rights groups and many governments around the world of abuses against Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that has a population of around 10 million in Xinjiang. A recent report by the United Nations (UN)&nbsp;found credible allegations of torture and forced labour in the region. However, Beijing for long has denied all allegations and claimed that the United States (US) and Western allies have been using the issue as a "political tool", AFP reported on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Xinjian Governor Erkin Tuniyaz has defended the Chinese government's "de-radicalisation" policies in the country's northwest, including the use of detention facilities. In 2021, Tuniyaz was sanctioned by the US with the Treasury Department saying that during his tenure, over one million Uyghurs and members of other predominantly Muslim ethnic minority groups had been detained in the region.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Erkin Tuniyaz, the governor of China's Xinjiang region, is believed to have cancelled his controversial trip to the United Kingdom (UK), the Foreign Office said on Tuesday (February 15).

Erkin Tuniyaz, the governor of China's Xinjiang region, is believed to have cancelled his controversial trip to the United Kingdom (UK), the Foreign Office said on Tuesday (February 15). Tuniyaz was supposed to visit the UK this week and meet with Foreign Office officials- a move that sparked anger among British lawmakers. Speaking to the news agency AFP, a spokesperson from the Foreign Office said "we understand the Governor of Xinjiang has cancelled his visit to the UK." The spokesperson added that the government would continue to use all opportunities to act against China's human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Last week, the MPs tabled an urgent question to quiz the Rishi Sunak government about why Tuniyaz was allowed to travel (to the UK) and why he was meeting with the above officials. In response, Foreign Office Minister Leo Docherty said the government did not invite Xinjiang's governor to the UK, and that the meeting would have been the opportunity to send a very strong message to someone who was involved in the governance of this Chinese region. ALSO READ | 50 countries at UN condemn China for Xinjiang human rights violations "Under no circumstances would he be dignified with a ministerial meeting," Docherty added and pointed out that China's actions in Xinjiang were of course abhorrent and the government would not legitimise them in any way. In 2022, the British Parliament passed a non-binding declaration that crimes against humanity and genocide were being committed in Xinjiang. For years, China has been accused by rights groups and many governments around the world of abuses against Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that has a population of around 10 million in Xinjiang. A recent report by the United Nations (UN) found credible allegations of torture and forced labour in the region. However, Beijing for long has denied all allegations and claimed that the United States (US) and Western allies have been using the issue as a "political tool", AFP reported on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Xinjian Governor Erkin Tuniyaz has defended the Chinese government's "de-radicalisation" policies in the country's northwest, including the use of detention facilities. In 2021, Tuniyaz was sanctioned by the US with the Treasury Department saying that during his tenure, over one million Uyghurs and members of other predominantly Muslim ethnic minority groups had been detained in the region. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

After row over Uyghur abuse, Xinjiang's Governor Tuniyaz cancels controversial UK trip

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Harshit Sabarwal

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.