A decision by Pakistan to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/day-after-imran-khan-returns-from-us-pakistan-removes-maleeha-lodhi-as-permanent-representative-to-un-252912">appoint a former diplomat as its ambassador to the United Nations</a> has sparked criticism over his alleged involvement in a domestic violence dispute in 2002.&nbsp;

Munir Akram "has been appointed as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York, in place of Dr. Maleeha Lodhi," the country's ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement late Monday.&nbsp;

Akram served a previous stint in the post from 2002 to 2008.

But in January 2003 the United States asked Pakistan to waive Akram's diplomatic immunity so that he could be prosecuted on assault charges.

According to press reports, New York police were called to Akram's home on December 10, 2002 by a woman who alleged the envoy had beaten her.

The woman told police dispatchers that the envoy had smashed her head into a wall, that her arm hurt and that he had hit her before, according to the newspaper accounts.

The case could have had potentially embarrassing diplomatic ramifications.&nbsp;

At the time, Pakistan was a key US ally in the war on terror, and had just taken up a seat on the UN Security Council, which was then considering whether to authorise military action against Iraq.

Akram, who enjoys full diplomatic immunity, was never charged.

Even so his return to the post ignited a swift backlash Tuesday, many from women angered over the decision.

"In the age of #MeToo, the appointment... sends absolutely the wrong message to Pakistan men AND women; being a domestic violence perpetrator will earn you not just protection from the government but also not harm your career," wrote feminist author Bina Shah in a statement posted on Twitter.&nbsp;

Others decried Akram's age -- he is in his 70s -- and his hawkishness over Pakistan's arch-rival India, with Pakistani media suggesting that his appointment hints at a new, more aggressive policy by Islamabad over the disputed region of Kashmir.

However many also praised him as a seasoned diplomat who would take up the role just as Pakistan is trying to rally the international community to challenge India over Kashmir.

The widely-respected Lodhi, who had served in the post for four years, said on Twitter that she had planned to move on after last week's UN General Assembly, and wished Akram luck in the role.

A decision by Pakistan to appoint a former diplomat as its ambassador to the United Nations has sparked criticism over his alleged involvement in a domestic violence dispute in 2002.

A decision by Pakistan to appoint a former diplomat as its ambassador to the United Nations has sparked criticism over his alleged involvement in a domestic violence dispute in 2002. Munir Akram "has been appointed as Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations in New York, in place of Dr. Maleeha Lodhi," the country's ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement late Monday. Akram served a previous stint in the post from 2002 to 2008. But in January 2003 the United States asked Pakistan to waive Akram's diplomatic immunity so that he could be prosecuted on assault charges. According to press reports, New York police were called to Akram's home on December 10, 2002 by a woman who alleged the envoy had beaten her. The woman told police dispatchers that the envoy had smashed her head into a wall, that her arm hurt and that he had hit her before, according to the newspaper accounts. The case could have had potentially embarrassing diplomatic ramifications. At the time, Pakistan was a key US ally in the war on terror, and had just taken up a seat on the UN Security Council, which was then considering whether to authorise military action against Iraq. Akram, who enjoys full diplomatic immunity, was never charged. Even so his return to the post ignited a swift backlash Tuesday, many from women angered over the decision. "In the age of #MeToo, the appointment... sends absolutely the wrong message to Pakistan men AND women; being a domestic violence perpetrator will earn you not just protection from the government but also not harm your career," wrote feminist author Bina Shah in a statement posted on Twitter. Others decried Akram's age -- he is in his 70s -- and his hawkishness over Pakistan's arch-rival India, with Pakistani media suggesting that his appointment hints at a new, more aggressive policy by Islamabad over the disputed region of Kashmir. However many also praised him as a seasoned diplomat who would take up the role just as Pakistan is trying to rally the international community to challenge India over Kashmir. The widely-respected Lodhi, who had served in the post for four years, said on Twitter that she had planned to move on after last week's UN General Assembly, and wished Akram luck in the role.

Outcry as Pakistan appoints new UN envoy Munir Akram

London police said Tuesday they detained a man who was dousing himself with what appeared to be a flammable liquid outside parliament.

"The man, who had a lighter, was sprayed with a fire extinguisher," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. "There was no ignition and the man was detained."

The man was assessed by ambulance workers and taken to the hospital. His age or condition was not immediately released.

One lawmaker who was at the scene tweeted the substance "smells like petrol".

The incident came against a background of heightened tension over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-prime-minister-johnson-to-submit-brexit-grand-bargain-but-ireland-sceptical-253001">Britain's</a> imminent departure from the European Union, which has divided the country.

MPs are currently debating ways to make sure Britain does not crash out of the EU without a negotiated agreement on its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-will-leave-eu-on-october-31-finance-minister-javid-says-252779">October 31</a> departure date.

London police said Tuesday they detained a man who was dousing himself with what appeared to be a flammable liquid outside parliament. "The man, who had a lighter, was sprayed with a fire extinguisher," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

London police said Tuesday they detained a man who was dousing himself with what appeared to be a flammable liquid outside parliament. "The man, who had a lighter, was sprayed with a fire extinguisher," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. "There was no ignition and the man was detained." The man was assessed by ambulance workers and taken to the hospital. His age or condition was not immediately released. One lawmaker who was at the scene tweeted the substance "smells like petrol". The incident came against a background of heightened tension over Britain's imminent departure from the European Union, which has divided the country. MPs are currently debating ways to make sure Britain does not crash out of the EU without a negotiated agreement on its October 31 departure date.

Man held outside UK parliament in 'petrol' incident: Police

The row of trendy restaurants surrounding an office of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington reflects the refined tastes of a gentrifying capital.

But down an alley, a mural depicts a very different drama playing out almost daily elsewhere in the same city.

There on the wall are the faces of five African-American teens shot dead, including Lauryn Renford's boyfriend, 16-year-old Zaire Kelly.

Renford, 17, was the driving force behind the mural, a recently inaugurated memorial to the slain youths.

"I think there's something very special about these five on the wall," says Renford, who sees their stories as representing other victims too.

In a country where <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-killed-seven-wounded-in-two-washington-dc-shootings-police-seek-suspects-reports-250882">mass shootings</a> dominate the headlines, the mural is a reminder of more common, everyday gun crime, the victims often African-Americans, their deaths too frequently overlooked except by grieving friends and family.

Kelly was attacked in an apparent robbery attempt on his way home from studies. Jamahri Sydnor, 17, was shot while driving, the victim of an "unintended killing" according to DC Witness, a website that tracks Washington homicide cases.

Steve Slaughter, 14, and Taiyania Thompson, 16, are also pictured along with Paris Brown, 19. All were killed in 2017 and 2018.

Brown and Kelly, as well as Renford, were students at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Ward 8, one of two districts east of the Anacostia River where poverty is disproportionately clustered.

"I realized that families and even just general residents of DC should have a place to grieve the people that we've lost and always honour their legacies, and work to preserve those that are left," Renford says.

Dozens of evenly-spaced red roses symbolize others lost to gun violence but whose youthful faces aren't pictured on the wall.

That could include Maurice Scott, 15, shot dead in May, or Steffen Brathwaite, 16, gunned down the day before AFP interviewed Renford.

They are among at least 131 homicide victims this year in the city of about 700,000 residents, up from 118 at the same time last year.

Nearby <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/outrage-as-trump-brands-mostly-black-baltimore-infested-mess-238944">Baltimore</a>, with a slightly smaller population, has recorded around 255 homicides in 2019.

In contrast, 64 people have been gunned down nationwide since January in mass shootings where four or more people were killed, according to a Washington Post database.

Most of Washington's gun crime occurs in Ward 8 and adjacent Ward 7, police data show, but the mural is in a more peaceful neighbourhood.

There, it helps broaden awareness among better-off residents who "don't necessarily know much about the violence" elsewhere in the city, says Renford, a first-year undergraduate hoping to study public health.

Karen Lee, a Thurgood Marshall teacher who guided Renford in creating the mural, says she is "really proud" of her.

"People are having to deal every day with violence, with shootings," says Lee, who is white and lives in the academy's neighbourhood.

"I hear gunshots and I wonder if I'm going to wake up in the morning and find out that I've lost another student".

In a Washington with more and more condominiums and sleek restaurants, but a declining African-American population, Renford says making the city safer should be a task for everyone and not just a "black and brown conversation."

She joined two other Thurgood Marshall students to found an activist group, Pathways 2 Power because they want "a seat at the decision-making table" on issues surrounding <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-step-up-calls-for-gun-legislation-as-us-congress-returns-248538">gun violence</a>.

The group helped her raise the roughly $12,000 needed for the mural painted by local artist Martin Swift on donated wall space.

Renford sees many roots for the violence, including poverty, gentrification, localized "beef," and "not valuing the lives of people around you... not even your own life."

Lee highlights the need to address the inequities between Washington's wealthier neighbourhoods and those where people struggle.

Armed police officers wait at the front steps of Thurgood Marshall while students in tan pants and burgundy shirts file into Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast, where cars pass playing rap music.

Across the street is Bethlehem Baptist Church, the "Black Workers and Wellness Center," and a parking lot advertising the "Stop the Violence Jam" and other music shows.

Back in the alley, two elderly white women accompany a white man walking unsteadily with a cane. In front of the mural, one of the women stops and seems to call to the others. All of them look.

Paris, Jamahri, Steve, Taiyania and Zaire are looking back.

The row of trendy restaurants surrounding an office of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington reflects the refined tastes of a gentrifying capital. But down an alley, a mural depicts a very different drama playing out almost daily elsewhere in the same city.

The row of trendy restaurants surrounding an office of the Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington reflects the refined tastes of a gentrifying capital. But down an alley, a mural depicts a very different drama playing out almost daily elsewhere in the same city. There on the wall are the faces of five African-American teens shot dead, including Lauryn Renford's boyfriend, 16-year-old Zaire Kelly. Renford, 17, was the driving force behind the mural, a recently inaugurated memorial to the slain youths. "I think there's something very special about these five on the wall," says Renford, who sees their stories as representing other victims too. In a country where mass shootings dominate the headlines, the mural is a reminder of more common, everyday gun crime, the victims often African-Americans, their deaths too frequently overlooked except by grieving friends and family. Kelly was attacked in an apparent robbery attempt on his way home from studies. Jamahri Sydnor, 17, was shot while driving, the victim of an "unintended killing" according to DC Witness, a website that tracks Washington homicide cases. Steve Slaughter, 14, and Taiyania Thompson, 16, are also pictured along with Paris Brown, 19. All were killed in 2017 and 2018. Brown and Kelly, as well as Renford, were students at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Ward 8, one of two districts east of the Anacostia River where poverty is disproportionately clustered. "I realized that families and even just general residents of DC should have a place to grieve the people that we've lost and always honour their legacies, and work to preserve those that are left," Renford says. Dozens of evenly-spaced red roses symbolize others lost to gun violence but whose youthful faces aren't pictured on the wall. That could include Maurice Scott, 15, shot dead in May, or Steffen Brathwaite, 16, gunned down the day before AFP interviewed Renford. They are among at least 131 homicide victims this year in the city of about 700,000 residents, up from 118 at the same time last year. Nearby Baltimore, with a slightly smaller population, has recorded around 255 homicides in 2019. In contrast, 64 people have been gunned down nationwide since January in mass shootings where four or more people were killed, according to a Washington Post database. Most of Washington's gun crime occurs in Ward 8 and adjacent Ward 7, police data show, but the mural is in a more peaceful neighbourhood. There, it helps broaden awareness among better-off residents who "don't necessarily know much about the violence" elsewhere in the city, says Renford, a first-year undergraduate hoping to study public health. Karen Lee, a Thurgood Marshall teacher who guided Renford in creating the mural, says she is "really proud" of her. "People are having to deal every day with violence, with shootings," says Lee, who is white and lives in the academy's neighbourhood. "I hear gunshots and I wonder if I'm going to wake up in the morning and find out that I've lost another student". In a Washington with more and more condominiums and sleek restaurants, but a declining African-American population, Renford says making the city safer should be a task for everyone and not just a "black and brown conversation." She joined two other Thurgood Marshall students to found an activist group, Pathways 2 Power because they want "a seat at the decision-making table" on issues surrounding gun violence. The group helped her raise the roughly $12,000 needed for the mural painted by local artist Martin Swift on donated wall space. Renford sees many roots for the violence, including poverty, gentrification, localized "beef," and "not valuing the lives of people around you... not even your own life." Lee highlights the need to address the inequities between Washington's wealthier neighbourhoods and those where people struggle. Armed police officers wait at the front steps of Thurgood Marshall while students in tan pants and burgundy shirts file into Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast, where cars pass playing rap music. Across the street is Bethlehem Baptist Church, the "Black Workers and Wellness Center," and a parking lot advertising the "Stop the Violence Jam" and other music shows. Back in the alley, two elderly white women accompany a white man walking unsteadily with a cane. In front of the mural, one of the women stops and seems to call to the others. All of them look. Paris, Jamahri, Steve, Taiyania and Zaire are looking back.

In US capital, teen honours victims of everyday gun violence

Outlawed and repressed, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mohamed-morsi-ousted-president-of-egypt-dies-in-court-during-trial-228135">Muslim Brotherhood </a>was not behind the recent protests in Egypt, but has sought to capitalise on a new wave of dissent, analysts say.

The protests first erupted on September 20 after an exiled Egyptian businessman in a series of online videos called for people to demonstrate against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, accusing him of wasting taxpayers' money on vanity building projects.

The videos by contractor and actor Mohammed Aly tapped into simmering anger against the country's economic woes and went viral, stirring rare political debate across the media and social networks.

Analysts in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/egypt-leader-shrugs-off-call-for-fresh-protests-252444">Egypt </a> rule out any link between the Muslim Brotherhood and Mohamed Aly, who has so far refused AFP requests to comment on the situation.

But "the Brotherhood certainly benefited from his videos and their channels exploited what he was saying to portray a negative image of Sisi's leadership," said Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyed, a political science professor at the American University in Cairo, told AFP.

In the mercurial Aly, the Brotherhood saw an opening for renewed resistance rallying its supporters online.

The Islamist group, which has been banned since 2013 with thousands of its members jailed in a crackdown, quickly threw its support behind the demonstrations calling for Sisi's removal.

Many pro-Brotherhood figures have bombarded social networks with hashtags proclaiming anti-Sisi messages and slickly produced videos, highlighting the shortcomings of his rule.

And television channels, such as the Qatar-based Al Jazeera, and their social media influencers have battled against pro-government loyalists and bombastic hosts broadcasting daily on Egyptian satellite channels.

Sayyed believes the Brotherhood still holds sway with a sizeable part of the overall religiously conservative population, amid the backdrop of the dire economic situation for millions of Egyptians.

"The Brotherhood is an idea before it is an organisation and with the deteriorating economic situation for Egyptian society, this idea based on Islam will continue to attract many," he explained.

Founded by Egyptian scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna in 1928 as an Islamic charity and political movement, the Brotherhood grew rapidly, spawning offshoots from Morocco to Turkey, many of which remain active today.

But in Egypt its political currency ran out after its leader Mohamed Morsi became the country's first elected president in mid-2012 but remained in office for just one tumultuous year after the 2011 revolution that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Morsi was toppled by the military in 2013 and Egyptian troops killed some 800 Muslim Brotherhood supporters in a single day in August that year in what became one of the worst atrocities in the country's modern history.

Morsi, who only briefly held the reins of power, died earlier this year collapsing in a Cairo courtroom while on trial.

"The Brotherhood is hiding behind Mohammed Aly's appeal because they do not have the capacity to call for a rally," said Amr El-Shobaki, a former parliamentarian and analyst at the state-supportive Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.

"Their capacity to recruit new members has been weakened," he added.

Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been jailed since Morsi's ouster, dozens executed and many have gone into exile finding safe havens in Turkey and Qatar.

Despite being chased from the political landscape, the Egyptian media often dwells on conspiracy theories that the Islamist group can easily organise and move supporters in from overseas.

But Shobaki argued, "the Brotherhood wasn't behind or even participated in the small-scale protests on 20 September".

"Rather, it was everyday youth, those economically marginalised, that went down" to the streets, he said.

Nearly one in three Egyptians live below the poverty line, according to official figures, as the government has imposed harsh austerity measures since 2016 causing prices to considerably soar.

Seizing the moment, however, Sisi himself appeared to blame the Muslim Brotherhood for the protests in a meeting with US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asked-australia-for-help-discrediting-russia-probe-252947">Donald Trump</a> in New York earlier this month.

Asked about the small-scale protests, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/anti-sisi-protests-break-out-in-egypt-several-arrested-250950">Sisi </a>replied: "The region will remain in a state of instability as long as there's political Islam vying for power".

Shobaki maintains if the Brotherhood has any hope of being reintegrated into the political scene in the future, they must shed their "cultish" legacy.

"They can reorganise themselves as a political party again like Ennahda in Tunisia or the PJD in Morocco. The idea of this 'divine' group is why they have consistently failed for 91 years".

Outlawed and repressed, the Muslim Brotherhood was not behind the recent protests in Egypt, but has sought to capitalise on a new wave of dissent, analysts say. The protests first erupted on September 20 after an exiled Egyptian businessman in a series of online videos called for people to demonstrate against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, accusing him of wasting taxpayers' money on vanity building projects.

Outlawed and repressed, the Muslim Brotherhood was not behind the recent protests in Egypt, but has sought to capitalise on a new wave of dissent, analysts say. The protests first erupted on September 20 after an exiled Egyptian businessman in a series of online videos called for people to demonstrate against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, accusing him of wasting taxpayers' money on vanity building projects. The videos by contractor and actor Mohammed Aly tapped into simmering anger against the country's economic woes and went viral, stirring rare political debate across the media and social networks. Analysts in Egypt rule out any link between the Muslim Brotherhood and Mohamed Aly, who has so far refused AFP requests to comment on the situation. But "the Brotherhood certainly benefited from his videos and their channels exploited what he was saying to portray a negative image of Sisi's leadership," said Mustafa Kamel al-Sayyed, a political science professor at the American University in Cairo, told AFP. In the mercurial Aly, the Brotherhood saw an opening for renewed resistance rallying its supporters online. The Islamist group, which has been banned since 2013 with thousands of its members jailed in a crackdown, quickly threw its support behind the demonstrations calling for Sisi's removal. Many pro-Brotherhood figures have bombarded social networks with hashtags proclaiming anti-Sisi messages and slickly produced videos, highlighting the shortcomings of his rule. And television channels, such as the Qatar-based Al Jazeera, and their social media influencers have battled against pro-government loyalists and bombastic hosts broadcasting daily on Egyptian satellite channels. Sayyed believes the Brotherhood still holds sway with a sizeable part of the overall religiously conservative population, amid the backdrop of the dire economic situation for millions of Egyptians. "The Brotherhood is an idea before it is an organisation and with the deteriorating economic situation for Egyptian society, this idea based on Islam will continue to attract many," he explained. Founded by Egyptian scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna in 1928 as an Islamic charity and political movement, the Brotherhood grew rapidly, spawning offshoots from Morocco to Turkey, many of which remain active today. But in Egypt its political currency ran out after its leader Mohamed Morsi became the country's first elected president in mid-2012 but remained in office for just one tumultuous year after the 2011 revolution that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Morsi was toppled by the military in 2013 and Egyptian troops killed some 800 Muslim Brotherhood supporters in a single day in August that year in what became one of the worst atrocities in the country's modern history. Morsi, who only briefly held the reins of power, died earlier this year collapsing in a Cairo courtroom while on trial. "The Brotherhood is hiding behind Mohammed Aly's appeal because they do not have the capacity to call for a rally," said Amr El-Shobaki, a former parliamentarian and analyst at the state-supportive Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies. "Their capacity to recruit new members has been weakened," he added. Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been jailed since Morsi's ouster, dozens executed and many have gone into exile finding safe havens in Turkey and Qatar. Despite being chased from the political landscape, the Egyptian media often dwells on conspiracy theories that the Islamist group can easily organise and move supporters in from overseas. But Shobaki argued, "the Brotherhood wasn't behind or even participated in the small-scale protests on 20 September". "Rather, it was everyday youth, those economically marginalised, that went down" to the streets, he said. Nearly one in three Egyptians live below the poverty line, according to official figures, as the government has imposed harsh austerity measures since 2016 causing prices to considerably soar. Seizing the moment, however, Sisi himself appeared to blame the Muslim Brotherhood for the protests in a meeting with US President Donald Trump in New York earlier this month. Asked about the small-scale protests, Sisi replied: "The region will remain in a state of instability as long as there's political Islam vying for power". Shobaki maintains if the Brotherhood has any hope of being reintegrated into the political scene in the future, they must shed their "cultish" legacy. "They can reorganise themselves as a political party again like Ennahda in Tunisia or the PJD in Morocco. The idea of this 'divine' group is why they have consistently failed for 91 years".

Muslim Brotherhood sidelined in Egypt protests: Analysts

For most ordinary citizens in the People's Republic of China, the only way to see the military parade marking <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xi-says-country-will-stay-on-path-of-peaceful-development-252973">70 years of Communist Party rule</a> was on television or their smartphones.

Authorities would not allow just anyone to get near the parade route, with large swathes of central Beijing on lockdown so troops, tanks and missiles could file past Tiananmen Square.

Security staff near the city's military museum turned away children carrying Chinese flags and elderly women who had hoped to catch a glimpse of the parade.

Authorities also edged back crowds gathering near Chang'an Avenue,&nbsp;the east-west artery used for the parade. Many had stuck small red flags that said "I love China" on their cheeks.

Even access to screenings of the festivities at select movie theatres was restricted.

Chu Zuoyuan, a 33-year-old from southwestern Sichuan province, told AFP he had planned to watch the parade from a movie theatre, one of 70 chosen to Livestream Tuesday's celebrations.

The experience would cap off a trip tracing "revolutionary" sites in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-celebrates-70th-national-day-president-xi-jinping-presenting-flowers-to-national-heroes-252918"> China</a>, from Tiananmen Square to Linyi, a city in east China where the Communist Party triumphed over the Nationalists during the civil war, said Chu.

"I hope today will leave me with beautiful and deep memories," he exclaimed while waiting for the show to start.

But in the end, the Chengdu native was barred from the screening, which admitted residents pre-selected by local officials and community leaders.

At the end of the parade, many were finally able to see tanks and other equipment rolls across city streets as they headed back to their bases, with security guards keeping people at a safe distance.

Though locals in Beijing strained to catch sight of the parade in person, the Chinese government made sure to widely disseminate broadcasts and ramp up publicity for the 70th anniversary.

Ahead of Tuesday's festivities, more than 620,000 households in poor areas in China received donated TV sets with access to shows, reported official news agency Xinhua.

Cities around the country had also thrown up red propaganda banners in honour of the 70th anniversary, some bearing slogans like "striving towards a new era" or "happiness comes from struggle".

Tuesday's celebrations featured some 15,000 troops along with tanks and a supersonic drone,&nbsp;a display of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-70th-anniversary-national-day-parade-china-unveils-dongfeng-41-nuke-missile-that-can-strike-us-in-30-minutes-252957">military prowess</a> meant to highlight China's extraordinary rise from the ravages of war to a modern, powerful nation.

Xi, who wore the distinctive "Mao suit", delivered a speech invoking the "Chinese dream" of national rejuvenation, his grand vision of restoring the country to perceived past glory.

But a new day of violent protests in semi-autonomous Hong Kong threatened to upstage Beijing's party.

Pro-democracy protesters in the financial hub organised defiant <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-national-day-hong-kong-defies-china-anniversary-with-day-of-grief-rallies-and-clashes-252997">"Day of Grief"</a> rallies as nearly four-months of unrest continue in Hong Kong.

Chinese people outside the country should watch the parade, commented Wang, a 60-year-old man who only gave his surname.

"It doesn't matter if we watch it," he told AFP. "But people outside China should definitely watch."

A lot of them "simply do not understand" people on the mainland, he added.

Other locals, like Fang Changping, told AFP they had no plans to watch the live broadcast.

"I've seen too many of them, and I can see right through them," said the 80-year-old tai-chi practitioner.

He was part of a National Day parade back in 1956, Fang explained, and in comparison, today's celebration feels "less authentic".

For most ordinary citizens in the People's Republic of China, the only way to see the military parade marking 70 years of Communist Party rule was on television or their smartphones.

For most ordinary citizens in the People's Republic of China, the only way to see the military parade marking 70 years of Communist Party rule was on television or their smartphones. Authorities would not allow just anyone to get near the parade route, with large swathes of central Beijing on lockdown so troops, tanks and missiles could file past Tiananmen Square. Security staff near the city's military museum turned away children carrying Chinese flags and elderly women who had hoped to catch a glimpse of the parade. Authorities also edged back crowds gathering near Chang'an Avenue, the east-west artery used for the parade. Many had stuck small red flags that said "I love China" on their cheeks. Even access to screenings of the festivities at select movie theatres was restricted. Chu Zuoyuan, a 33-year-old from southwestern Sichuan province, told AFP he had planned to watch the parade from a movie theatre, one of 70 chosen to Livestream Tuesday's celebrations. The experience would cap off a trip tracing "revolutionary" sites in China, from Tiananmen Square to Linyi, a city in east China where the Communist Party triumphed over the Nationalists during the civil war, said Chu. "I hope today will leave me with beautiful and deep memories," he exclaimed while waiting for the show to start. But in the end, the Chengdu native was barred from the screening, which admitted residents pre-selected by local officials and community leaders. At the end of the parade, many were finally able to see tanks and other equipment rolls across city streets as they headed back to their bases, with security guards keeping people at a safe distance. Though locals in Beijing strained to catch sight of the parade in person, the Chinese government made sure to widely disseminate broadcasts and ramp up publicity for the 70th anniversary. Ahead of Tuesday's festivities, more than 620,000 households in poor areas in China received donated TV sets with access to shows, reported official news agency Xinhua. Cities around the country had also thrown up red propaganda banners in honour of the 70th anniversary, some bearing slogans like "striving towards a new era" or "happiness comes from struggle". Tuesday's celebrations featured some 15,000 troops along with tanks and a supersonic drone, a display of military prowess meant to highlight China's extraordinary rise from the ravages of war to a modern, powerful nation. Xi, who wore the distinctive "Mao suit", delivered a speech invoking the "Chinese dream" of national rejuvenation, his grand vision of restoring the country to perceived past glory. But a new day of violent protests in semi-autonomous Hong Kong threatened to upstage Beijing's party. Pro-democracy protesters in the financial hub organised defiant "Day of Grief" rallies as nearly four-months of unrest continue in Hong Kong. Chinese people outside the country should watch the parade, commented Wang, a 60-year-old man who only gave his surname. "It doesn't matter if we watch it," he told AFP. "But people outside China should definitely watch." A lot of them "simply do not understand" people on the mainland, he added. Other locals, like Fang Changping, told AFP they had no plans to watch the live broadcast. "I've seen too many of them, and I can see right through them," said the 80-year-old tai-chi practitioner. He was part of a National Day parade back in 1956, Fang explained, and in comparison, today's celebration feels "less authentic".

Ordinary people barred from parade for the People's Republic

With two fingers missing from his right hand, Afghan writer Reza Khorami struggles to tap out stories on his keyboard.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-11-afghan-police-killed-in-taliban-attack-253019">Taliban</a> lopped off his forefinger in 2014 because it was covered in indelible ink showing Khorami had voted. The tip of the middle finger was also splashed with the purple dye, so was also amputated.

The crude punishment, part of the Taliban's war on Afghan democracy, did not deter a defiant Khorami from voting in Saturday's first round of the presidential election, which pitted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani against his top rival, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

"I voted again in 2019 just to show that I have not surrendered to terrorism," Khorami told AFP this week in Kabul, where he writes fiction.

"They can cut our fingers, but they cannot kill our morale."

Khorami said he wanted the world to know what the radical Islamists did to him and possibly thousands of others like him.

Since Saturday's vote, several images have circulated online of voters proudly holding up a purple-stained finger on one hand alongside a scarred digit on the other, showing they braved the polls despite previous Taliban punishment.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/join-us-in-peace-or-we-will-continue-to-fight-afghanistan-government-to-taliban-at-un-252920">Afghan</a> voters must dip a finger in ink -- which can take a week to wash off -- as a measure to stop people voting more than once.

But the obvious mark makes people vulnerable to reprisals from the Taliban, who repeatedly warned voters to stay away from the polls, and turnout appears headed to record lows this year as millions of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/attacks-fraud-fears-dampen-turnout-in-afghan-election-252680">Afghans abstained</a>.

Khorami, 25, said he had voted for Ghani in 2014 in Ghazni province and was headed to take a university exam in Kabul when the Taliban stopped him.

"They took me to an undisclosed location, I spent the night there with two other people I did not know," he recalled.

"The next day, they took us to a mosque. An old man was sat there and he had a knife and some basic medications. They said: 'We won't kill you, but will cut off your finger as a lesson for other people who participated in the election'."

An emotional Khorami, recounting the horrors of what came next, said his fingers were then amputated without any anaesthesia.

"I fainted. When I woke up, I found myself in a desert," he said, describing how the trauma of the assault still haunts him daily.

Five years on, Taliban operatives called Khorami ahead of the polls, threatening to kill him if he voted again.

"I shared this issue with the media so the world should understand our challenges and know how people are fighting for freedom and becoming victims in such a difficult situation," he said.

While Saturday's election was marred by hundreds of small-scale <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-rocked-by-blasts-during-presidential-election-252567">Taliban attacks </a>at polling stations, the insurgents were unable to steal the headlines with any significant bloody assault.

Preliminary results are due October 19. If no candidate wins a majority, voting will go to a second round.

With two fingers missing from his right hand, Afghan writer Reza Khorami struggles to tap out stories on his keyboard. The Taliban lopped off his forefinger in 2014 because it was covered in indelible ink showing Khorami had voted.

With two fingers missing from his right hand, Afghan writer Reza Khorami struggles to tap out stories on his keyboard. The Taliban lopped off his forefinger in 2014 because it was covered in indelible ink showing Khorami had voted. The tip of the middle finger was also splashed with the purple dye, so was also amputated. The crude punishment, part of the Taliban's war on Afghan democracy, did not deter a defiant Khorami from voting in Saturday's first round of the presidential election, which pitted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani against his top rival, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. "I voted again in 2019 just to show that I have not surrendered to terrorism," Khorami told AFP this week in Kabul, where he writes fiction. "They can cut our fingers, but they cannot kill our morale." Khorami said he wanted the world to know what the radical Islamists did to him and possibly thousands of others like him. Since Saturday's vote, several images have circulated online of voters proudly holding up a purple-stained finger on one hand alongside a scarred digit on the other, showing they braved the polls despite previous Taliban punishment. Afghan voters must dip a finger in ink -- which can take a week to wash off -- as a measure to stop people voting more than once. But the obvious mark makes people vulnerable to reprisals from the Taliban, who repeatedly warned voters to stay away from the polls, and turnout appears headed to record lows this year as millions of Afghans abstained. Khorami, 25, said he had voted for Ghani in 2014 in Ghazni province and was headed to take a university exam in Kabul when the Taliban stopped him. "They took me to an undisclosed location, I spent the night there with two other people I did not know," he recalled. "The next day, they took us to a mosque. An old man was sat there and he had a knife and some basic medications. They said: 'We won't kill you, but will cut off your finger as a lesson for other people who participated in the election'." An emotional Khorami, recounting the horrors of what came next, said his fingers were then amputated without any anaesthesia. "I fainted. When I woke up, I found myself in a desert," he said, describing how the trauma of the assault still haunts him daily. Five years on, Taliban operatives called Khorami ahead of the polls, threatening to kill him if he voted again. "I shared this issue with the media so the world should understand our challenges and know how people are fighting for freedom and becoming victims in such a difficult situation," he said. While Saturday's election was marred by hundreds of small-scale Taliban attacks at polling stations, the insurgents were unable to steal the headlines with any significant bloody assault. Preliminary results are due October 19. If no candidate wins a majority, voting will go to a second round.

Meet Afghan writer who voted even after Taliban cut off his fingers

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/four-sri-lankan-elephants-found-dead-of-suspected-poisoning-252438">Sri Lanka </a>announced harsher penalties in a bid to protect wild elephants on Tuesday, as investigators probed whether seven jumbos found poisoned over the weekend were killed by villagers.

Wildlife and Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said he will impose tougher sanctions on offenders to boost laws enacted three years ago but not yet implemented due to administrative delays.

Elephants are a protected animal in the South Asian island nation and the new rules will increase the length of jail time and amount of fines for those found to have been cruel to the beasts.

Authorities will also be given wider powers to investigate offenders, Amaratunga said, though no further details were released.

Investigations into the deaths of seven elephants at a forest reserve in central Sri Lanka showed the animals had ingested poison, but it was not yet clear if they were murdered.

"The deaths were caused by poison, but we are still trying to establish if it was a deliberate act (of villagers)," Amaratunga said.

"We have found that many elephant corridors in wildlife reserves have been encroached by farmers. This has led to an increase in the human-elephant conflict."

Autopsies have been conducted on the elephants, which included six cows, but a final report had not yet been released, he said.

Amaratunga added that 293 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-probes-elephant-cruelty-at-buddhist-parade-243423">elephants</a> were murdered in the first nine months of this year, while 93 people were killed by wild elephants straying into villages near wildlife sanctuaries.

Last year, 319 elephants were murdered while 96 people were killed by elephants, official data showed.

Amaratunga said the government will also set up a 500-acre (202 hectares) sanctuary to home 47 tamed elephants seized from owners who did not have licences to own them.

The owners are being prosecuted for stealing the elephants from national wildlife parks over the last decade and keeping them as pets. Capturing wild elephants is illegal.

Many rich Sri Lankans keep elephants as pets to show off their wealth, but there have been numerous complaints of ill treatment and cruelty.

Sri Lanka announced harsher penalties in a bid to protect wild elephants on Tuesday, as investigators probed whether seven jumbos found poisoned over the weekend were killed by villagers.

Sri Lanka announced harsher penalties in a bid to protect wild elephants on Tuesday, as investigators probed whether seven jumbos found poisoned over the weekend were killed by villagers. Wildlife and Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said he will impose tougher sanctions on offenders to boost laws enacted three years ago but not yet implemented due to administrative delays. Elephants are a protected animal in the South Asian island nation and the new rules will increase the length of jail time and amount of fines for those found to have been cruel to the beasts. Authorities will also be given wider powers to investigate offenders, Amaratunga said, though no further details were released. Investigations into the deaths of seven elephants at a forest reserve in central Sri Lanka showed the animals had ingested poison, but it was not yet clear if they were murdered. "The deaths were caused by poison, but we are still trying to establish if it was a deliberate act (of villagers)," Amaratunga said. "We have found that many elephant corridors in wildlife reserves have been encroached by farmers. This has led to an increase in the human-elephant conflict." Autopsies have been conducted on the elephants, which included six cows, but a final report had not yet been released, he said. Amaratunga added that 293 elephants were murdered in the first nine months of this year, while 93 people were killed by wild elephants straying into villages near wildlife sanctuaries. Last year, 319 elephants were murdered while 96 people were killed by elephants, official data showed. Amaratunga said the government will also set up a 500-acre (202 hectares) sanctuary to home 47 tamed elephants seized from owners who did not have licences to own them. The owners are being prosecuted for stealing the elephants from national wildlife parks over the last decade and keeping them as pets. Capturing wild elephants is illegal. Many rich Sri Lankans keep elephants as pets to show off their wealth, but there have been numerous complaints of ill treatment and cruelty.

Tougher penalties to protect Sri Lanka elephants after mass deaths

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-kingdom-prime-minister-johnson-to-submit-brexit-grand-bargain-but-ireland-sceptical-253001">European Union</a> called Tuesday for "de-escalation and restraint" in Hong Kong after a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/east-asia/police-shoot-hong-kong-protester-in-chest-during-clashes-253085">police officer shot a demonstrator </a>during a flare-up in the political protests roiling the territory.

"In light of the continuing unrest and violence in Hong Kong, the European Union continues to stress that dialogue, de-escalation and restraint are the only way forward," EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters.

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hand-in-hand-hong-kong-protesters-form-human-chain-252941">Hong Kong</a> police source said the officer had shot the pro-democracy protester in the chest when his unit was attacked by demonstrators during sustained clashes -- the first such injury from a live round in nearly four months of protests in the financial hub.

Footage of the incident shows demonstrators, some using umbrellas and metal poles as weapons, clashing with police.

"While initial positive steps to engage members of the public and various sectors of society in dialogue have been taken, further efforts are needed to restore trust," Kocijancic said.

"More than three months since the protests began, the right to assembly and the right to protest peacefully must continue to be upheld in line with the (Hong Kong) basic law and international commitments."

The violence in Hong Kong cast a shadow over celebrations in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xi-says-country-will-stay-on-path-of-peaceful-development-252973">China marking 70 years of Communist Party rule</a>, including a massive military parade in Beijing.

The European Union called Tuesday for "de-escalation and restraint" in Hong Kong after a police officer shot a demonstrator during a flare-up in the political protests roiling the territory.

The European Union called Tuesday for "de-escalation and restraint" in Hong Kong after a police officer shot a demonstrator during a flare-up in the political protests roiling the territory. "In light of the continuing unrest and violence in Hong Kong, the European Union continues to stress that dialogue, de-escalation and restraint are the only way forward," EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told reporters. A Hong Kong police source said the officer had shot the pro-democracy protester in the chest when his unit was attacked by demonstrators during sustained clashes -- the first such injury from a live round in nearly four months of protests in the financial hub. Footage of the incident shows demonstrators, some using umbrellas and metal poles as weapons, clashing with police. "While initial positive steps to engage members of the public and various sectors of society in dialogue have been taken, further efforts are needed to restore trust," Kocijancic said. "More than three months since the protests began, the right to assembly and the right to protest peacefully must continue to be upheld in line with the (Hong Kong) basic law and international commitments." The violence in Hong Kong cast a shadow over celebrations in China marking 70 years of Communist Party rule, including a massive military parade in Beijing.

EU urges 'de-escalation' after Hong Kong protester shot

The speaker of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nepal-seeks-indias-help-to-strengthen-its-hydropower-sector-250266">Nepal's parliament </a>stepped down on Tuesday after a female employee of the parliament secretariat accused him of rape.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a senior member of the ruling Nepal Communist Party said he was stepping down to allow an "impartial and independent investigation into the allegations that have come forward in media reports... until the probe is complete."

A former rebel leader during Nepal's decade-long Maoist insurgency, Mahara has previously served as deputy prime minister and has held several ministerial positions.

In a video interview published by local online news portal&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://hamrakura.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1570016429781000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE36Bx4Sw7PvaM3yxlS2Brzpzx5BA" href="http://hamrakura.com/" target="_blank">hamrakura.com</a>, the woman said that an intoxicated Mahara arrived at her rented home on Sunday night and persuaded her to drink alcohol before assaulting her.

"I had not thought it would come to this. He forced himself (on me)... he left after I said I will call the police," she said in the interview. &nbsp;

The woman also showed apparent bruises on her arms, hands and feet.

Police confirmed receiving a call from the alleged victim on Sunday night.

"We are taking forward our investigation and have collected evidence from her house. But she has not filed a case yet," said Shyam Lal Gyawali, spokesman for the Metropolitan police unit.

The evidence includes a bottle of whiskey and a pair of broken spectacles, allegedly belonging to Mahara. &nbsp; &nbsp;

The speaker's name started trending on social media in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepal-central-bank-issues-three-coins-to-commemorate-guru-nanak-devs-birth-anniversary-252579">Nepal</a> on Tuesday, with many demanding an investigation.

"We will stay watchful. The impartial investigation is must. Position, reach, victim shaming will not be valued," tweeted woman's rights activist Hima Bista.

Activists say more women are speaking up about cases of sexual violence, but also that many still go unreported in deeply patriarchal Nepal.

The speaker of Nepal's parliament stepped down on Tuesday after a female employee of the parliament secretariat accused him of rape. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a senior member of the ruling Nepal Communist Party said he was stepping down to allow an "impartial and independent investigation into the allegations that have come forward in media reports.

The speaker of Nepal's parliament stepped down on Tuesday after a female employee of the parliament secretariat accused him of rape. Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a senior member of the ruling Nepal Communist Party said he was stepping down to allow an "impartial and independent investigation into the allegations that have come forward in media reports... until the probe is complete." A former rebel leader during Nepal's decade-long Maoist insurgency, Mahara has previously served as deputy prime minister and has held several ministerial positions. In a video interview published by local online news portal hamrakura.com, the woman said that an intoxicated Mahara arrived at her rented home on Sunday night and persuaded her to drink alcohol before assaulting her. "I had not thought it would come to this. He forced himself (on me)... he left after I said I will call the police," she said in the interview. The woman also showed apparent bruises on her arms, hands and feet. Police confirmed receiving a call from the alleged victim on Sunday night. "We are taking forward our investigation and have collected evidence from her house. But she has not filed a case yet," said Shyam Lal Gyawali, spokesman for the Metropolitan police unit. The evidence includes a bottle of whiskey and a pair of broken spectacles, allegedly belonging to Mahara. The speaker's name started trending on social media in Nepal on Tuesday, with many demanding an investigation. "We will stay watchful. The impartial investigation is must. Position, reach, victim shaming will not be valued," tweeted woman's rights activist Hima Bista. Activists say more women are speaking up about cases of sexual violence, but also that many still go unreported in deeply patriarchal Nepal.

Nepal's parliament speaker steps down after rape claim

More than&nbsp;1,000&nbsp;migrants have died in the&nbsp;Mediterranean&nbsp;Sea this&nbsp;year, the sixth&nbsp;year&nbsp;in a row that that "bleak milestone" has been reached, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rwanda-welcomes-first-group-of-african-refugees-from-libya-252319">the United Nations refugee agency</a> said on Tuesday.

"UNHCR&nbsp;is urgently calling for an increase in search and rescue capacity, including a return of EU state vessels to search and rescue operations, and an acknowledgement of the crucial role of NGO boats in saving lives at sea,"&nbsp;UNHCR&nbsp;spokesman Charlie Yaxley said in a statement.

At least 15,000 people have lost their lives in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ocean-viking-rescue-ship-awaits-port-access-in-latest-migrant-standoff-244800">Mediterranean</a>&nbsp;crossings since 2014, the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

More than 1,000 migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea this year, the sixth year in a row that that "bleak milestone" has been reached, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday.

More than 1,000 migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea this year, the sixth year in a row that that "bleak milestone" has been reached, the United Nations refugee agency said on Tuesday. "UNHCR is urgently calling for an increase in search and rescue capacity, including a return of EU state vessels to search and rescue operations, and an acknowledgement of the crucial role of NGO boats in saving lives at sea," UNHCR spokesman Charlie Yaxley said in a statement. At least 15,000 people have lost their lives in Mediterranean crossings since 2014, the U.N.'s International Organization for Migration (IOM) said.

Migrant death toll in Mediterranean tops 1,000 for 6th year: UNHCR

North Korea and the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-asks-what-a-third-north-korean-summit-would-yield-251755"> United States </a>will hold working-level nuclear talks on Saturday, Pyongyang said, signalling the resumption of a dialogue process that has been <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-doubts-prospects-for-future-summit-with-united-states-252322">effectively stalled</a> since the collapse of a summit in February.

The two sides agreed to have "preliminary contact" on October 4 and hold working-level negotiations the following day, the North's vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

"It is my expectation that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/talks-between-us-north-korea-may-resume-in-2-3-weeks-251650">working-level negotiations</a> would accelerate the positive development of the DPRK-US relations," she added without disclosing the talks' venue.&nbsp;

North Korean officials were "ready" to enter the discussions, she said. There was no immediate confirmation from the American side.

Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been gridlocked since a second summit between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump in February ended without a deal.

The two agreed to restart working-level dialogue during an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas in June, but the North's anger at a US refusal to cancel joint military deals with South Korea placed the process on hold.

Relations thawed last month after Trump fired his hawkish national security advisor John Bolton, who Pyongyang had repeatedly denounced as a warmonger.

North Korea's chief negotiator also responded positively to Trump's suggestion that the two sides try a "new method" of approaching their discussions.

Trump had criticised Bolton's suggestion of the "Libyan model" for North Korea, a reference to a denuclearisation deal with the African nation's former dictator Moamer Kadhafi -- who was killed after being deposed in 2011.

Pyongyang had bristled at that comment, which Trump said had "set us back very badly".

Despite the gridlock, Pyongyang has continued to praise Trump, calling him "bold" and "wise".&nbsp;

Consensus reached?

Analysts say Bolton's dismissal from the White House could have helped Pyongyang's decision to come to the table. &nbsp;

South Korea's presidential Blue House welcomed the resumption of dialogue between the North and the US.

"We hope to see the realisation of practical steps towards permanent peace regime and complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula through the upcoming talks," said spokeswoman Ko Min-jung. &nbsp;

The announcement on the new talks could be an "indication" that the two sides have narrowed their differences behind the scenes, said Koh Yu-hwan, professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul.&nbsp;

"The North has demanded security guarantee in return for denuclearisation measures and called on the US to come up with 'new calculation', he said.&nbsp;

"Consensus between the two might have been reached regarding the matter in the lead-up to the Tuesday announcement," he added.&nbsp;

North Korea and the United States will hold working-level nuclear talks on Saturday, Pyongyang said, signalling the resumption of a dialogue process that has been effectively stalled since the collapse of a summit in February.

North Korea and the United States will hold working-level nuclear talks on Saturday, Pyongyang said, signalling the resumption of a dialogue process that has been effectively stalled since the collapse of a summit in February. The two sides agreed to have "preliminary contact" on October 4 and hold working-level negotiations the following day, the North's vice foreign minister Choe Son Hui said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. "It is my expectation that the working-level negotiations would accelerate the positive development of the DPRK-US relations," she added without disclosing the talks' venue. North Korean officials were "ready" to enter the discussions, she said. There was no immediate confirmation from the American side. Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have been gridlocked since a second summit between North Korea's Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump in February ended without a deal. The two agreed to restart working-level dialogue during an impromptu meeting at the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas in June, but the North's anger at a US refusal to cancel joint military deals with South Korea placed the process on hold. Relations thawed last month after Trump fired his hawkish national security advisor John Bolton, who Pyongyang had repeatedly denounced as a warmonger. North Korea's chief negotiator also responded positively to Trump's suggestion that the two sides try a "new method" of approaching their discussions. Trump had criticised Bolton's suggestion of the "Libyan model" for North Korea, a reference to a denuclearisation deal with the African nation's former dictator Moamer Kadhafi -- who was killed after being deposed in 2011. Pyongyang had bristled at that comment, which Trump said had "set us back very badly". Despite the gridlock, Pyongyang has continued to praise Trump, calling him "bold" and "wise". Consensus reached? Analysts say Bolton's dismissal from the White House could have helped Pyongyang's decision to come to the table. South Korea's presidential Blue House welcomed the resumption of dialogue between the North and the US. "We hope to see the realisation of practical steps towards permanent peace regime and complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula through the upcoming talks," said spokeswoman Ko Min-jung. The announcement on the new talks could be an "indication" that the two sides have narrowed their differences behind the scenes, said Koh Yu-hwan, professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul. "The North has demanded security guarantee in return for denuclearisation measures and called on the US to come up with 'new calculation', he said. "Consensus between the two might have been reached regarding the matter in the lead-up to the Tuesday announcement," he added.

Will hold nuclear talks with US on October 5: North Korea

Activists of Baloch National Movement (BNM) on Monday held protests outside 10 Downing Street, the residence of British Prime Minister, to raise the issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan`s southwestern province of Balochistan.

The activists said that hundreds of Baloch women and children have been abducted by the Pakistan military in Balochistan.

On May 14, Hani Gul Baloch, a student of medicine in Karachi, was abducted along with her fiance, Naseem Baloch. She was kept in military torture cells where she was tormented for three months.

Upon her release, she was expelled by the Hamdard Medical University.

"Pakistan`s intelligence agencies recently adopted a new policy of abducting Baloch women and children to pressurise the Baloch political activists, who are fighting against the injustices committed by the Pakistani military establishment in Balochistan," Hammal Haider Baloch, Foreign spokesperson of BNM said during the protest.

He added, "The situation is becoming worse. Now, we have information that there are more than 100 Baloch women who have been abducted by the Pakistani security forces. They are missing. We have reports that Pakistani intelligence agencies are abducting Baloch women and keeping them in secret torture cells that too in a very grim situation."

The protesters said that they wanted to inform the British Prime Minister`s office regarding the worst human rights situation in Balochistan.

Hakeem Baloch, President of BNM (UK), said in his address, "We wish to make the world aware of the fact that the Pakistani Army is abducting Baloch women. Recently, they abducted women from Awaran, Dera Bugti and Bolan and various other parts of Makran. They are also abducting Baloch women from Karachi. We want to let the world know that they must take action against such inhuman acts of Pakistan."

He added, "Pakistan is losing its power in Balochistan because the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is not working in Balochistan. And, now to put pressure on the Baloch political activists and their leaders, they are abducting our women. We want the world to understand the problem of Baloch people and support them."

The Baloch activists have further initiated a social media campaign with hashtag #SaveBalochWomen to raise the issue on the global platform. 
&nbsp;

Activists of Baloch National Movement (BNM) on Monday held protests outside 10 Downing Street, the residence of British Prime Minister, to raise the issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan`s southwestern province of Balochistan.

Activists of Baloch National Movement (BNM) on Monday held protests outside 10 Downing Street, the residence of British Prime Minister, to raise the issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan`s southwestern province of Balochistan. The activists said that hundreds of Baloch women and children have been abducted by the Pakistan military in Balochistan. On May 14, Hani Gul Baloch, a student of medicine in Karachi, was abducted along with her fiance, Naseem Baloch. She was kept in military torture cells where she was tormented for three months. Upon her release, she was expelled by the Hamdard Medical University. "Pakistan`s intelligence agencies recently adopted a new policy of abducting Baloch women and children to pressurise the Baloch political activists, who are fighting against the injustices committed by the Pakistani military establishment in Balochistan," Hammal Haider Baloch, Foreign spokesperson of BNM said during the protest. He added, "The situation is becoming worse. Now, we have information that there are more than 100 Baloch women who have been abducted by the Pakistani security forces. They are missing. We have reports that Pakistani intelligence agencies are abducting Baloch women and keeping them in secret torture cells that too in a very grim situation." The protesters said that they wanted to inform the British Prime Minister`s office regarding the worst human rights situation in Balochistan. Hakeem Baloch, President of BNM (UK), said in his address, "We wish to make the world aware of the fact that the Pakistani Army is abducting Baloch women. Recently, they abducted women from Awaran, Dera Bugti and Bolan and various other parts of Makran. They are also abducting Baloch women from Karachi. We want to let the world know that they must take action against such inhuman acts of Pakistan." He added, "Pakistan is losing its power in Balochistan because the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is not working in Balochistan. And, now to put pressure on the Baloch political activists and their leaders, they are abducting our women. We want the world to understand the problem of Baloch people and support them." The Baloch activists have further initiated a social media campaign with hashtag #SaveBalochWomen to raise the issue on the global platform.

Baloch activists hold protest in London against enforced disappearance of women in Balochistan

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