United States President Donald Trump on Friday said that Washington had nothing to do in Iran`s failed attempt to launch a satellite into space and wished Tehran "good luck" in finding out what went wrong.

Trump tweeted what seems to be an image of the site of the failed satellite launch by Iran.

"The United States of America was not involved in the catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV Launch at Semnan Launch Site One in Iran. I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One," Trump wrote on Twitter.

Satellite imagery shared by NPR on Thursday showed that an Iranian rocket appeared to have exploded on the launch pad while attempting to launch a satellite into orbit.&nbsp;

The incident marked Iran`s third failed attempt this year to launch a rocket.

Plans to conduct three space launches were announced by the Iranian Defence Ministry earlier this year.

Since the rockets incorporate the same technology used for missiles, Washington has argued that the launches violate a United Nations Security Council resolution, which states that Tehran cannot undertake any activity related to Ballistic missiles, reported the Hill.

Iran on its part has denied that its space program is a cover for weapons development, maintaining that the program is peaceful.&nbsp;

United States President Donald Trump on Friday said that Washington had nothing to do in Iran`s failed attempt to launch a satellite into space and wished Tehran "good luck" in finding out what went wrong.

United States President Donald Trump on Friday said that Washington had nothing to do in Iran`s failed attempt to launch a satellite into space and wished Tehran "good luck" in finding out what went wrong. Trump tweeted what seems to be an image of the site of the failed satellite launch by Iran. "The United States of America was not involved in the catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV Launch at Semnan Launch Site One in Iran. I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One," Trump wrote on Twitter. Satellite imagery shared by NPR on Thursday showed that an Iranian rocket appeared to have exploded on the launch pad while attempting to launch a satellite into orbit. The incident marked Iran`s third failed attempt this year to launch a rocket. Plans to conduct three space launches were announced by the Iranian Defence Ministry earlier this year. Since the rockets incorporate the same technology used for missiles, Washington has argued that the launches violate a United Nations Security Council resolution, which states that Tehran cannot undertake any activity related to Ballistic missiles, reported the Hill. Iran on its part has denied that its space program is a cover for weapons development, maintaining that the program is peaceful.

Trump says US 'not involved' in failed Iranian satellite launch

Turkey said on Friday that an Iranian oil tanker at the centre of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran was headed to Lebanon's waters, but the United States later said the ship was sailing to Syria.

According to Refinitiv tracking data, the Adrian Darya, formerly called Grace 1, after changing course several times headed on Friday for Turkey's Iskenderun port, 200 km (124 miles) north of Syria's Baniyas refinery, the tanker's suspected original destination.

When the ship was released off Gibraltar in mid-August after a five-week standoff, Iran assured Britain that the cargo was not headed to Syria.

The latest twist sets it in the direction of Syria, and raises the possibility that a ship-to-ship transfer of cargo may be attempted once it nears Lebanon's coast.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet late on Friday: "We have reliable information that the tanker is underway and headed to Tartus, Syria."

Pompeo had earlier said that if the tanker went to Syria, Washington would take every action it could consistent with US&nbsp;sanctions.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier on Friday that despite the tracking data, the tanker was "for sure" not going to Turkish ports but rather towards Lebanese waters.

Earlier on Friday, the minister told Reuters the ship was headed to Lebanon's "main" port. "I didn't mean that this tanker is going to a Lebanese port, but (rather) according to the information coordinates it is heading to the territorial waters of the country," he later told reporters at an Oslo forum.

"It doesn't mean that it is going to reach a Lebanese port," he said of the tanker that was carrying 2 million barrels of oil when released at Gibraltar. "We are monitoring it very closely."

In response, Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said in a separate interview: "We have not been informed of the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya heading (here)."

Western threats

The apparent confusion underlines the risk of reprisal that countries face taking in the tanker, which at 1400 GMT was headed east toward the channel separating Turkey and Cyprus after a series of turns in the Mediterranean Sea, according to tracking data.

The ship had been detained off Gibraltar due to British suspicion that it was carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

The United States says the tanker is controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which it considers a terrorist group.

"What's important here is that it is carrying oil that enables the terrorism of (President Bashar al-Assad's) regime," a State Department spokesperson said. The Trump administration has conveyed "our strong position via diplomatic channels to all ports in the Mediterranean that should be forewarned about facilitating" the tanker, said the spokesperson, who declined to be named.

The US&nbsp;Treasury Department on Friday blacklisted the ship and sanctioned its captain.

Washington last year pulled out of a nuclear deal with Iran aimed at blocking its path to a nuclear bomb, and has ramped up sanctions to pressure and isolate Tehran. Iran denies ever having sought to build or acquire a nuclear weapon.

Cavusoglu told Reuters that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the ship's coordinates with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday. In a readout of the call, London said the leaders agreed it was vital to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon but did not mention the tanker.

Options ahead

Shipping sources said the tanker would need to conduct a ship-to-ship transfer before being able to enter a port such as Beirut's, which does not have deep water facilities necessary for fully laden supertankers.

It could potentially discharge its cargo offshore towards Lebanon's Tripoli port further north, which is closer to Syria's coastline between Lebanon and Turkey, they said. There is a ship-to-ship transfer anchorage outside of Tripoli port limits.

Beirut and Tripoli ports have both served as transhipment hubs for cargoes bound for Syria in recent years during Syria's conflict.

An Iranian government spokesman was quoted on Monday as saying Iran had sold the oil aboard the tanker and that the vessel's owner, whose identity he did not disclose, would decide its destination.

After its release at Gibraltar, the ship stated that its destination was the Greek port of Kalamata, then Turkey's Mersin. On Thursday, it abruptly changed course, heading first west then south, away from the Turkish coast.

While west of Cyprus on Friday morning, it did a similar manouevre, doubling back on itself.

Turkey said on Friday that an Iranian oil tanker at the centre of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran was headed to Lebanon's waters, but the United States later said the ship was sailing to Syria.

Turkey said on Friday that an Iranian oil tanker at the centre of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran was headed to Lebanon's waters, but the United States later said the ship was sailing to Syria. According to Refinitiv tracking data, the Adrian Darya, formerly called Grace 1, after changing course several times headed on Friday for Turkey's Iskenderun port, 200 km (124 miles) north of Syria's Baniyas refinery, the tanker's suspected original destination. When the ship was released off Gibraltar in mid-August after a five-week standoff, Iran assured Britain that the cargo was not headed to Syria. The latest twist sets it in the direction of Syria, and raises the possibility that a ship-to-ship transfer of cargo may be attempted once it nears Lebanon's coast. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet late on Friday: "We have reliable information that the tanker is underway and headed to Tartus, Syria." Pompeo had earlier said that if the tanker went to Syria, Washington would take every action it could consistent with US sanctions. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier on Friday that despite the tracking data, the tanker was "for sure" not going to Turkish ports but rather towards Lebanese waters. Earlier on Friday, the minister told Reuters the ship was headed to Lebanon's "main" port. "I didn't mean that this tanker is going to a Lebanese port, but (rather) according to the information coordinates it is heading to the territorial waters of the country," he later told reporters at an Oslo forum. "It doesn't mean that it is going to reach a Lebanese port," he said of the tanker that was carrying 2 million barrels of oil when released at Gibraltar. "We are monitoring it very closely." In response, Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said in a separate interview: "We have not been informed of the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya heading (here)." Western threats The apparent confusion underlines the risk of reprisal that countries face taking in the tanker, which at 1400 GMT was headed east toward the channel separating Turkey and Cyprus after a series of turns in the Mediterranean Sea, according to tracking data. The ship had been detained off Gibraltar due to British suspicion that it was carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. The United States says the tanker is controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which it considers a terrorist group. "What's important here is that it is carrying oil that enables the terrorism of (President Bashar al-Assad's) regime," a State Department spokesperson said. The Trump administration has conveyed "our strong position via diplomatic channels to all ports in the Mediterranean that should be forewarned about facilitating" the tanker, said the spokesperson, who declined to be named. The US Treasury Department on Friday blacklisted the ship and sanctioned its captain. Washington last year pulled out of a nuclear deal with Iran aimed at blocking its path to a nuclear bomb, and has ramped up sanctions to pressure and isolate Tehran. Iran denies ever having sought to build or acquire a nuclear weapon. Cavusoglu told Reuters that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the ship's coordinates with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday. In a readout of the call, London said the leaders agreed it was vital to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon but did not mention the tanker. Options ahead Shipping sources said the tanker would need to conduct a ship-to-ship transfer before being able to enter a port such as Beirut's, which does not have deep water facilities necessary for fully laden supertankers. It could potentially discharge its cargo offshore towards Lebanon's Tripoli port further north, which is closer to Syria's coastline between Lebanon and Turkey, they said. There is a ship-to-ship transfer anchorage outside of Tripoli port limits. Beirut and Tripoli ports have both served as transhipment hubs for cargoes bound for Syria in recent years during Syria's conflict. An Iranian government spokesman was quoted on Monday as saying Iran had sold the oil aboard the tanker and that the vessel's owner, whose identity he did not disclose, would decide its destination. After its release at Gibraltar, the ship stated that its destination was the Greek port of Kalamata, then Turkey's Mersin. On Thursday, it abruptly changed course, heading first west then south, away from the Turkish coast. While west of Cyprus on Friday morning, it did a similar manouevre, doubling back on itself.

US says Iranian oil tanker headed towards Syria

US President Donald Trump said on Friday the United States had good negotiations going on with the Taliban but had not yet reached a deal with the Islamist group on US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Trump made a remark to reporters at the White House before leaving for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland.

Trump said on Thursday US troop levels in Afghanistan were being reduced to 8,600 but that American forces would remain in the country even if Washington reaches an agreement with the Taliban to end the 18-year war.

The Taliban said on Wednesday it was close to an agreement with US officials on a deal that would see US forces withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban promise that the country would not become a haven for international militants.

Both US and Taliban negotiators have reported progress in their talks in recent weeks, raising the prospect of an end to the conflict. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative for peace in Afghanistan, was due to travel from Doha to Kabul this week for a meeting with Afghan leaders.

The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and ousted its Taliban leaders after they refused to hand over members of the al Qaeda militant group behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday the United States had good negotiations going on with the Taliban but had not yet reached a deal with the Islamist group on US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday the United States had good negotiations going on with the Taliban but had not yet reached a deal with the Islamist group on US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump made a remark to reporters at the White House before leaving for the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland. Trump said on Thursday US troop levels in Afghanistan were being reduced to 8,600 but that American forces would remain in the country even if Washington reaches an agreement with the Taliban to end the 18-year war. The Taliban said on Wednesday it was close to an agreement with US officials on a deal that would see US forces withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for a Taliban promise that the country would not become a haven for international militants. Both US and Taliban negotiators have reported progress in their talks in recent weeks, raising the prospect of an end to the conflict. Zalmay Khalilzad, the US special representative for peace in Afghanistan, was due to travel from Doha to Kabul this week for a meeting with Afghan leaders. The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and ousted its Taliban leaders after they refused to hand over members of the al Qaeda militant group behind the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

Trump says US has good negotiations with Taliban but no deal yet

Brazil`s foreign minister and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europe-has-nothing-to-teach-brazil-about-preserving-environment-says-bolsonaro-as-amazon-fires-soar-246740">President Jair Bolsonaro</a>`s son met with US President Donald Trump on Friday to discuss the fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest, although no concrete measures to deal with the blazes were announced.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Eduardo Bolsonaro said there could be an announcement later, potentially after his return to Brasilia on Saturday and consultations with his father.&nbsp;

Bolsonaro has said he will appoint Eduardo as Brazil`s ambassador to the United States, but the controversial nomination has yet to be sent to the Senate for voting and confirmation.

The far-right Brazilian president sees the vast Amazon area as ripe for economic development and crucial to Brazilian sovereignty. He has been critical of what he has called interference, mostly from European countries, preferring to enter into potential talks for help fighting the fires with those he sees as allies, such as Trump and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

The talks with Trump largely focused on topics beyond the fires` scope, including trade, according to Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo.

"(Trump) reiterated various things: a willingness to work with us to sustainably develop the Amazon, a huge interest in a broad trade agreement with us," Araujo said.

The United States, Chile, Israel and Ecuador have already offered support in fighting the worst rash of fires in the Amazon rainforest since 2010, the country`s joint military chief told reporters in Brazil earlier.

The number of fires receded after Brazil`s military joined the firefighting efforts last week, although the latest statistics from Brazilian space research agency INPE showed a new spike. On Thursday, 1,255 fires were registered in the Amazon, the highest number for a single day since Aug. 17, according to INPE data.

'Our dear Macron'

President Bolsonaro tweeted on Friday that he had also spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the fires, a conversation which he said reaffirmed Brazil`s sovereignty over the rainforest.

He said that according to the European External Action Service, the EU diplomatic wing, satellite images show that fires in Brazil were lower year-to-date compared to the same period in 2018. Reuters was not immediately able to verify that.

Such data would directly contradict figures from INPE that show fires from Jan. 1 to Aug. 29 were up 77% compared to the same period a year ago.

"I am ready to talk with some people, except our dear Macron, unless he apologizes about our sovereignty over the Amazon," Bolsonaro said earlier in the day, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron.

Earlier this week Bolsonaro said he would not accept an offer of at least $20 million from the Group of Seven rich nations to help fight the Amazon fires unless Macron withdrew what he called "insults" against him.

The two leaders have become embroiled in a public war of words over Brazil`s handling of the Amazon fires and the international response. 
Eduardo Bolsonaro told reporters outside the White House that Brazil could not accept an offer like Macron`s.

"This isn`t aid that comes with good intentions. It`s aid that comes with other interests," he said. "This would disrespect Brazilians. It would subjugate our Brazilian-ness."&nbsp;

Brazil is also facing economic pressure over its perceived slow response to the surge in fires and deforestation. On Friday, the asset management arm of Nordea , one of the Nordic region`s biggest banks, said it was suspending purchases of Brazilian government bonds.

Norwegian pension fund KLP, which has $80 billion in assets under management, said this week it had contacted US companies Bunge , Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland asking for "concrete action" to protect the rainforest.&nbsp;

In statements to Reuters on Friday, Bunge and ADM reaffirmed their commitments to keep deforestation out of their supply chains. Cargill did not immediately respond to request for comment.

On Thursday, VF Corp , maker of Timberland, Vans and other apparel brands, said it would stop buying leather from Brazil over environmental concerns.

Brazil`s foreign minister and President Jair Bolsonaro`s son met with US President Donald Trump on Friday to discuss the fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest, although no concrete measures to deal with the blazes were announced.

Brazil`s foreign minister and President Jair Bolsonaro`s son met with US President Donald Trump on Friday to discuss the fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest, although no concrete measures to deal with the blazes were announced. Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Eduardo Bolsonaro said there could be an announcement later, potentially after his return to Brasilia on Saturday and consultations with his father. Bolsonaro has said he will appoint Eduardo as Brazil`s ambassador to the United States, but the controversial nomination has yet to be sent to the Senate for voting and confirmation. The far-right Brazilian president sees the vast Amazon area as ripe for economic development and crucial to Brazilian sovereignty. He has been critical of what he has called interference, mostly from European countries, preferring to enter into potential talks for help fighting the fires with those he sees as allies, such as Trump and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera. The talks with Trump largely focused on topics beyond the fires` scope, including trade, according to Brazilian Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo. "(Trump) reiterated various things: a willingness to work with us to sustainably develop the Amazon, a huge interest in a broad trade agreement with us," Araujo said. The United States, Chile, Israel and Ecuador have already offered support in fighting the worst rash of fires in the Amazon rainforest since 2010, the country`s joint military chief told reporters in Brazil earlier. The number of fires receded after Brazil`s military joined the firefighting efforts last week, although the latest statistics from Brazilian space research agency INPE showed a new spike. On Thursday, 1,255 fires were registered in the Amazon, the highest number for a single day since Aug. 17, according to INPE data. 'Our dear Macron' President Bolsonaro tweeted on Friday that he had also spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the fires, a conversation which he said reaffirmed Brazil`s sovereignty over the rainforest. He said that according to the European External Action Service, the EU diplomatic wing, satellite images show that fires in Brazil were lower year-to-date compared to the same period in 2018. Reuters was not immediately able to verify that. Such data would directly contradict figures from INPE that show fires from Jan. 1 to Aug. 29 were up 77% compared to the same period a year ago. "I am ready to talk with some people, except our dear Macron, unless he apologizes about our sovereignty over the Amazon," Bolsonaro said earlier in the day, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron. Earlier this week Bolsonaro said he would not accept an offer of at least $20 million from the Group of Seven rich nations to help fight the Amazon fires unless Macron withdrew what he called "insults" against him. The two leaders have become embroiled in a public war of words over Brazil`s handling of the Amazon fires and the international response. Eduardo Bolsonaro told reporters outside the White House that Brazil could not accept an offer like Macron`s. "This isn`t aid that comes with good intentions. It`s aid that comes with other interests," he said. "This would disrespect Brazilians. It would subjugate our Brazilian-ness." Brazil is also facing economic pressure over its perceived slow response to the surge in fires and deforestation. On Friday, the asset management arm of Nordea , one of the Nordic region`s biggest banks, said it was suspending purchases of Brazilian government bonds. Norwegian pension fund KLP, which has $80 billion in assets under management, said this week it had contacted US companies Bunge , Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland asking for "concrete action" to protect the rainforest. In statements to Reuters on Friday, Bunge and ADM reaffirmed their commitments to keep deforestation out of their supply chains. Cargill did not immediately respond to request for comment. On Thursday, VF Corp , maker of Timberland, Vans and other apparel brands, said it would stop buying leather from Brazil over environmental concerns.

Brazil officials, Bolsonaro's son meet with Trump to discuss Amazon fires

Baloch political activists on Friday gathered outside British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's house at 10 Downing Street to seek his immediate intervention for the release of thousands of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/history-of-the-war-in-balochistan-242939"> Baloch activists</a> languishing in detention centres in Pakistan.

The protests were organised by Baloch National Movement (BNM) (UK-zone) on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared.&nbsp;

Demonstrators raised slogans against Pakistani Army for abducting, torturing and killing Baloch political activists. Shouts of Pakistani Army a "terrorist army" were heard during the protests.

"Baloch activists are facing the worst kind of brutality by the Pakistan forces. They are abducted, tortured, and killed. We are here today to let the world know what is happening with the Baloch people," said BNM leader Hakeem Baloch.

The BNM submitted a memorandum to British PM, urging the UK government to halt any financial aid to Pakistan and pressurise the country for the safe release of Baloch people, who have been forcibly disappeared at the hands of the Pakistani Army.

The memorandum noted that more than 20,000 human rights campaigners, educationists, journalists, students, lawyers, and political activists have disappeared in Pakistan, while another 6,000 have been tortured/murdered in custody.

"UN working groups, various local and international human rights organisations and even Pakistani judiciary believe Pakistani military and their secret services are directly involved in these disappearances. However, to this date, neither a single culprit has been tried by the judicial courts nor any form of international pressure has been exerted to halt these crimes," the memorandum read.&nbsp;

Baloch political activists on Friday gathered outside British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's house at 10 Downing Street to seek his immediate intervention for the release of thousands of Baloch activists languishing in detention centres in Pakistan.

Baloch political activists on Friday gathered outside British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's house at 10 Downing Street to seek his immediate intervention for the release of thousands of Baloch activists languishing in detention centres in Pakistan. The protests were organised by Baloch National Movement (BNM) (UK-zone) on the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared. Demonstrators raised slogans against Pakistani Army for abducting, torturing and killing Baloch political activists. Shouts of Pakistani Army a "terrorist army" were heard during the protests. "Baloch activists are facing the worst kind of brutality by the Pakistan forces. They are abducted, tortured, and killed. We are here today to let the world know what is happening with the Baloch people," said BNM leader Hakeem Baloch. The BNM submitted a memorandum to British PM, urging the UK government to halt any financial aid to Pakistan and pressurise the country for the safe release of Baloch people, who have been forcibly disappeared at the hands of the Pakistani Army. The memorandum noted that more than 20,000 human rights campaigners, educationists, journalists, students, lawyers, and political activists have disappeared in Pakistan, while another 6,000 have been tortured/murdered in custody. "UN working groups, various local and international human rights organisations and even Pakistani judiciary believe Pakistani military and their secret services are directly involved in these disappearances. However, to this date, neither a single culprit has been tried by the judicial courts nor any form of international pressure has been exerted to halt these crimes," the memorandum read.

Baloch hold anti-Pakistan protest to demand release of disappeared activists

Security is beefed up in Assam as the state is all set to release the publication of the final list of the government`s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/nrc-row-assamese-cant-be-allowed-to-become-a-minority-in-their-own-land-246694">National Register of Citizens (NRC)</a> on Saturday.

The district police are taking all the precautions to avoid any untoward situation.

Several districts including Barpeta has been declared as 'sensitive districts'. Violence had&nbsp;broken out in Barpeta during the NRC pilot project in 2010 and four people were killed in the police firing.&nbsp;

Discussing the steps being taken, Superintendent of Police Barpeta, Dr Robin Kumar said, "This district consists of 178 NRC Sewa Kendra (NSK). To maintain law and order we have a four-tier security plan. If any situation arises, we will take action. We are confident that the final publication process will be carried out peacefully."

He also spoke about monitoring social media in the district to stop any kind of rumour-mongering. "We have social media monitoring centre in our district. I appeal to people that in case they receive any message, they should not react without verification," Kumar added.

Some residents of Barpeta said that even if they are excluded from the final list, they have 10 months time to challenge their exclusion and exuded hope of continued peace in the region.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had also urged upon the people of Assam to maintain peace and tranquillity in the state.

"The NRC, which has been updated by the State NRC Coordinator and his team under the monitoring of the Supreme Court of India and supervision of the Registrar General of India, is an outcome of the untiring efforts of the thousands of people," he said in a statement.

"Those people whose names have been excluded from proposed NRC, would get an opportunity to file their appeal and be heard in the Foreigners` Tribunal (FT) as per the direction of the Union Home Ministry," the Chief Minister said.

Sonowal said that the Assam government will take care of the cause of the excluded people and due care will be taken so that nobody is subjected to any "unnecessary harassment".

The Chief Minister asserted a person cannot be treated as "foreigner" as long as the appellant`s plea remains sub-judice with the Foreigner`s Tribunal. 
NRC is a register containing names of Indian citizens, which was prepared for the only time in 1951.&nbsp;

It is being updated for Assam as of now to weed out illegal immigrants. Last month, the Supreme Court had extended the deadline for the final publication of NRC from July 31 to August 31. It had rejected a plea to extend the NRC deadline for sample verification.&nbsp;

Under NRC the citizens will have to prove that they are the residents of India and their families have been living in India before 1971. If anyone`s name doesn`t show in the final list, he or she will not be sent immediately to the detention camp. People will get a window of 10 months to prove their citizenship.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)

Security is beefed up in Assam as the state is all set to release the publication of the final list of the government`s National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Saturday.

Security is beefed up in Assam as the state is all set to release the publication of the final list of the government`s National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Saturday. The district police are taking all the precautions to avoid any untoward situation. Several districts including Barpeta has been declared as 'sensitive districts'. Violence had broken out in Barpeta during the NRC pilot project in 2010 and four people were killed in the police firing. Discussing the steps being taken, Superintendent of Police Barpeta, Dr Robin Kumar said, "This district consists of 178 NRC Sewa Kendra (NSK). To maintain law and order we have a four-tier security plan. If any situation arises, we will take action. We are confident that the final publication process will be carried out peacefully." He also spoke about monitoring social media in the district to stop any kind of rumour-mongering. "We have social media monitoring centre in our district. I appeal to people that in case they receive any message, they should not react without verification," Kumar added. Some residents of Barpeta said that even if they are excluded from the final list, they have 10 months time to challenge their exclusion and exuded hope of continued peace in the region. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had also urged upon the people of Assam to maintain peace and tranquillity in the state. "The NRC, which has been updated by the State NRC Coordinator and his team under the monitoring of the Supreme Court of India and supervision of the Registrar General of India, is an outcome of the untiring efforts of the thousands of people," he said in a statement. "Those people whose names have been excluded from proposed NRC, would get an opportunity to file their appeal and be heard in the Foreigners` Tribunal (FT) as per the direction of the Union Home Ministry," the Chief Minister said. Sonowal said that the Assam government will take care of the cause of the excluded people and due care will be taken so that nobody is subjected to any "unnecessary harassment". The Chief Minister asserted a person cannot be treated as "foreigner" as long as the appellant`s plea remains sub-judice with the Foreigner`s Tribunal. NRC is a register containing names of Indian citizens, which was prepared for the only time in 1951. It is being updated for Assam as of now to weed out illegal immigrants. Last month, the Supreme Court had extended the deadline for the final publication of NRC from July 31 to August 31. It had rejected a plea to extend the NRC deadline for sample verification. Under NRC the citizens will have to prove that they are the residents of India and their families have been living in India before 1971. If anyone`s name doesn`t show in the final list, he or she will not be sent immediately to the detention camp. People will get a window of 10 months to prove their citizenship. (With inputs from ANI)

Final NRC list to be declared today in Assam; security beefed up

A Sikh girl who was allegedly<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sikh-priests-daughter-abducted-in-pakistan-forcibly-converted-into-islam-as-parents-file-fir-246414"> abducted and forcibly converted to Islam</a> in Pakistan has returned home to her parents, Nankana Sahib police said on Friday.

Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the incident.

The girl, identified as 19-year old Jagjit Kaur, was allegedly abducted and forced to marry a Muslim man in Pakistan.&nbsp;

The incident came to light on Thursday after a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA, Manjinder Singh Sirsa shared a video of the girl`s family alleging that the girl was abducted and forcefully converted.

The incident had drawn the attention of Sikhs worldwide and sparked anger in the community.

The girl`s father, identified as Bhagwan Singh, is a `granthi` (priest) at Gurudwara Tambu Sahib.

The matter had raised a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/shared-our-concern-over-abduction-and-forced-conversion-of-sikh-girl-with-pakistan-government-india-246714">furore in India</a>, with several political leaders across parties asking for action to be taken against the perpetrators.&nbsp;

A Sikh girl who was allegedly abducted and forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan has returned home to her parents, Nankana Sahib police said on Friday. Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the incident.

A Sikh girl who was allegedly abducted and forcibly converted to Islam in Pakistan has returned home to her parents, Nankana Sahib police said on Friday. Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the incident. The girl, identified as 19-year old Jagjit Kaur, was allegedly abducted and forced to marry a Muslim man in Pakistan. The incident came to light on Thursday after a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA, Manjinder Singh Sirsa shared a video of the girl`s family alleging that the girl was abducted and forcefully converted. The incident had drawn the attention of Sikhs worldwide and sparked anger in the community. The girl`s father, identified as Bhagwan Singh, is a `granthi` (priest) at Gurudwara Tambu Sahib. The matter had raised a furore in India, with several political leaders across parties asking for action to be taken against the perpetrators.

Pakistan: Abducted Sikh girl returns to her parents; 8 arrested

A former senior commander of the dissolved FARC rebel army in Colombia announced Thursday he is taking up arms again along with other guerrillas who have distanced themselves from a historic peace accord signed with the government.

"We are announcing to the world that the second Marquetalia has begun," Ivan Marquez, dressed in green military fatigues, said in a video posted on YouTube, referring to a rural enclave considered a birthplace of the FARC in the 1960s.

Colombia's conservative President Ivan Duque responded by saying he would send a special army unit to hunt down Marquez and other holdouts, who he said were backed by Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), a court tasked with judging crimes committed during Colombia's half-century of armed conflict, later announced that arrest warrants for Marquez and others -- which were suspended as part of the peace process -- were now back in effect.

Marquez accused the government of betraying the hard-fought accord under which most of the FARC's 7,000 fighters had laid down their weapons after half a century of armed conflict.

The whereabouts of Marquez, the Marxist FARC's number two leader and chief negotiator of the 2016 peace agreement, had been unknown for more than a year.&nbsp;

"It's a very worrying announcement," the Colombian government's peace commissioner Miguel Ceballos said.

"There is no surprise for the national government. Unfortunately, these people had already made clear, by their behavior, that they turned their backs on the peace accord," Ceballos told Colombia's Blu Radio.

In the 32-minute video, Marquez appears in the Colombian jungle flanked by 17 men and women holding rifles. Behind them is a yellow FARC banner.

Marquez said the government had cheated in the implementation of the accord, unilaterally changed its wording and failed to provide legal guarantees for former fighters, among other offenses.

All this, he said, "forced us to return to the field," Marquez said.

"We were never defeated ideologically. Therefore, the fight continues," said Marquez.

The FARC will coordinate with Colombia's last active rebel group, the National Liberation Army, "and those comrades who have not folded up their flags," he said.

- 'Special unit' -

Duque said he had ordered a special military unit "with reinforced intelligence, investigation and mobility capabilities" be set up to track down the group.

"Colombians must be clear that we are not facing a new guerrilla, but facing the criminal threats of a gang of narco-terrorists who have the shelter and support of the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro," the Colombian president said.

Duque's comments were backed by Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who accused Marquez of using Venezuelan territory and Maduro's protection "to threaten our sovereignty", following a phone conversation with the Colombian leader.

Caracas pushed back against the allegations, with Maduro's right-hand man Diosdado Cabello saying: "What does Venezuela have to do with it?"

Marquez and a fugitive rebel colleague, Jesus Santrich, have distanced themselves from the 2016 peace agreement.

Santrich, who went underground earlier this year after the United States sought to have him extradited on drug charges, also appeared in the video.&nbsp;

Although most of the FARC fighters laid down weapons to return to civilian life, around 2,300 have refused to do so.&nbsp;

These rebels get by mainly through drug trafficking and illegal mining, according to Colombian military intelligence.

Duque said Thursday the group was cloaking its criminal activity with "false ideological clothing."

With United Nations support, the peace accord ended the insurrection by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and turned it into a political party called the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force, which uses the same FARC acronym.

- 'Low blow' -

While it hasn't ended violence in the country -- other left-wing rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and drug traffickers are still waging their battles -- it has helped to reduce it.

Duque was elected last year with a promise to modify the accord, which he considers too lenient on ex-fighters guilty of serious crimes.

The FARC political party, meanwhile, has denounced delays in the application of the accord as well as a lack of legal guarantees and security for its members.

It has pointed to what it says are the murders of 140 former guerrillas, and 31 of their family members, since the agreement was signed.

The new FARC political party that arose from the rebel army under the peace accord said it regretted the announcement from Marquez.

Party president Rodrigo Londono, who used to go by the nom de guerre Timochenko during the war, called it a "low blow."

He said most former FARC soldiers still believe in the peace accord. But others are wavering and might buy into what Marquez is doing, Londono said.

"It could hurt us," he said on Colombian radio.

Former president Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel peace prize for bringing about the accord, defended it and insisted most former FARC members still believe in it.

"We must come down hard on deserters. The battle for peace does not stop," Santos tweeted.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A former senior commander of the dissolved FARC rebel army in Colombia announced Thursday he is taking up arms again along with other guerrillas who have distanced themselves from a historic peace accord signed with the government.

A former senior commander of the dissolved FARC rebel army in Colombia announced Thursday he is taking up arms again along with other guerrillas who have distanced themselves from a historic peace accord signed with the government. "We are announcing to the world that the second Marquetalia has begun," Ivan Marquez, dressed in green military fatigues, said in a video posted on YouTube, referring to a rural enclave considered a birthplace of the FARC in the 1960s. Colombia's conservative President Ivan Duque responded by saying he would send a special army unit to hunt down Marquez and other holdouts, who he said were backed by Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), a court tasked with judging crimes committed during Colombia's half-century of armed conflict, later announced that arrest warrants for Marquez and others -- which were suspended as part of the peace process -- were now back in effect. Marquez accused the government of betraying the hard-fought accord under which most of the FARC's 7,000 fighters had laid down their weapons after half a century of armed conflict. The whereabouts of Marquez, the Marxist FARC's number two leader and chief negotiator of the 2016 peace agreement, had been unknown for more than a year. "It's a very worrying announcement," the Colombian government's peace commissioner Miguel Ceballos said. "There is no surprise for the national government. Unfortunately, these people had already made clear, by their behavior, that they turned their backs on the peace accord," Ceballos told Colombia's Blu Radio. In the 32-minute video, Marquez appears in the Colombian jungle flanked by 17 men and women holding rifles. Behind them is a yellow FARC banner. Marquez said the government had cheated in the implementation of the accord, unilaterally changed its wording and failed to provide legal guarantees for former fighters, among other offenses. All this, he said, "forced us to return to the field," Marquez said. "We were never defeated ideologically. Therefore, the fight continues," said Marquez. The FARC will coordinate with Colombia's last active rebel group, the National Liberation Army, "and those comrades who have not folded up their flags," he said. - 'Special unit' - Duque said he had ordered a special military unit "with reinforced intelligence, investigation and mobility capabilities" be set up to track down the group. "Colombians must be clear that we are not facing a new guerrilla, but facing the criminal threats of a gang of narco-terrorists who have the shelter and support of the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro," the Colombian president said. Duque's comments were backed by Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who accused Marquez of using Venezuelan territory and Maduro's protection "to threaten our sovereignty", following a phone conversation with the Colombian leader. Caracas pushed back against the allegations, with Maduro's right-hand man Diosdado Cabello saying: "What does Venezuela have to do with it?" Marquez and a fugitive rebel colleague, Jesus Santrich, have distanced themselves from the 2016 peace agreement. Santrich, who went underground earlier this year after the United States sought to have him extradited on drug charges, also appeared in the video. Although most of the FARC fighters laid down weapons to return to civilian life, around 2,300 have refused to do so. These rebels get by mainly through drug trafficking and illegal mining, according to Colombian military intelligence. Duque said Thursday the group was cloaking its criminal activity with "false ideological clothing." With United Nations support, the peace accord ended the insurrection by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and turned it into a political party called the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force, which uses the same FARC acronym. - 'Low blow' - While it hasn't ended violence in the country -- other left-wing rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and drug traffickers are still waging their battles -- it has helped to reduce it. Duque was elected last year with a promise to modify the accord, which he considers too lenient on ex-fighters guilty of serious crimes. The FARC political party, meanwhile, has denounced delays in the application of the accord as well as a lack of legal guarantees and security for its members. It has pointed to what it says are the murders of 140 former guerrillas, and 31 of their family members, since the agreement was signed. The new FARC political party that arose from the rebel army under the peace accord said it regretted the announcement from Marquez. Party president Rodrigo Londono, who used to go by the nom de guerre Timochenko during the war, called it a "low blow." He said most former FARC soldiers still believe in the peace accord. But others are wavering and might buy into what Marquez is doing, Londono said. "It could hurt us," he said on Colombian radio. Former president Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel peace prize for bringing about the accord, defended it and insisted most former FARC members still believe in it. "We must come down hard on deserters. The battle for peace does not stop," Santos tweeted.

Former Colombian rebel leader announces return to arms

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday briefed his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha about the situation in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/removal-of-article-370-heralds-an-era-of-progress-for-jammu-and-kashmir-242889"> Jammu and Kashmir</a>, as part of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/pakistan-trying-hard-to-spread-false-narratives-on-jammu-and-kashmir-246411">Islamabad`s nefarious designs</a> to internationalise the issue after New Delhi changed the constitutional status of the region.

During a telephonic conversation, the South Korean Foreign Minister said that her country is keeping a close eye on developments in the region, Radio <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-karachi-airspace-shut-three-routes-till-august-31-246139">Pakistan</a> reported.

Pakistan is upset with the Indian government`s move to strip the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and has found itself completely isolated despite desperate attempts aimed at internationalising the issue.

However, Islamabad has been snubbed on all fronts as the international community has made it clear that the Kashmir issue is strictly New Delhi`s internal matter.

On Thursday, Qureshi also held a telephonic conversation with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Janak Marapana to discuss the same.

The foreign minister briefed his Sri Lankan counterpart on what he called "the illegal and unilateral actions of India to alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was in contravention of the international law and UNSC resolutions."

He further underlined that the steps taken by India in Jammu and Kashmir entailed a "grave risk for peace and security in the region."

Qureshi had written letters on 1, 6 and 13th of this month to the United Nations to apprise the world body of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, referring to the diplomatic efforts to internationalise the Kashmir situation.

He also said that the recently held discussion on Kashmir at the UN Security Council was a great achievement of Pakistan, which was held despite India`s hectic efforts to stop it.

The foreign minister stressed that the services of the world`s best lawyers are being sought to devise a course of action that could strengthen Pakistan`s case on Kashmir in the Hague-based International Court of Justice.

The cash-strapped nation, which is finding it hard to uphold its struggling economy, is now looking forward to raising the issue during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next month.&nbsp;

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday briefed his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, as part of Islamabad`s nefarious designs to internationalise the issue after New Delhi changed the constitutional status of the region.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday briefed his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, as part of Islamabad`s nefarious designs to internationalise the issue after New Delhi changed the constitutional status of the region. During a telephonic conversation, the South Korean Foreign Minister said that her country is keeping a close eye on developments in the region, Radio Pakistan reported. Pakistan is upset with the Indian government`s move to strip the special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and has found itself completely isolated despite desperate attempts aimed at internationalising the issue. However, Islamabad has been snubbed on all fronts as the international community has made it clear that the Kashmir issue is strictly New Delhi`s internal matter. On Thursday, Qureshi also held a telephonic conversation with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Janak Marapana to discuss the same. The foreign minister briefed his Sri Lankan counterpart on what he called "the illegal and unilateral actions of India to alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was in contravention of the international law and UNSC resolutions." He further underlined that the steps taken by India in Jammu and Kashmir entailed a "grave risk for peace and security in the region." Qureshi had written letters on 1, 6 and 13th of this month to the United Nations to apprise the world body of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, referring to the diplomatic efforts to internationalise the Kashmir situation. He also said that the recently held discussion on Kashmir at the UN Security Council was a great achievement of Pakistan, which was held despite India`s hectic efforts to stop it. The foreign minister stressed that the services of the world`s best lawyers are being sought to devise a course of action that could strengthen Pakistan`s case on Kashmir in the Hague-based International Court of Justice. The cash-strapped nation, which is finding it hard to uphold its struggling economy, is now looking forward to raising the issue during the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next month.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi now dials up South Korean counterpart, briefs on Kashmir

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-troops-will-defend-hong-kongs-prosperity-ahead-of-planned-pro-democracy-march-246480">Chinese soldiers stationed in Hong Kong</a> are not there merely for symbolic purposes and they will have "no reason to sit on their hands" if the situation in the city worsens, an editorial in the China Daily newspaper said on Friday.

China on Thursday completed what it called a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-military-rotates-new-batch-of-troops-into-hong-kong-amid-protests-246299">routine rotation of the air</a>, land and maritime forces stationed in the former British colony, which has been rocked since June by a wave of sometimes violent demonstrations.

A detachment of People`s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers have been stationed in Hong Kong since the 1997 handover which ended British rule. They stage frequent drills but have seldom been seen outside their bases.

The possibility of their deployment to quell the protests has hung over Hong Kong, but the city`s government, which ultimately answers to Beijing, has repeatedly said it can handle the situation.

Analysts estimate the garrison numbers between 8,000 and 10,000 troops split between bases in southern China and a network of barracks in Hong Kong, which Beijing now administers as a Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Watch: China sends fresh troops to Hong Kong

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"While the SAR government has so far not felt the need to call on the garrison, that does not mean it will not do so should the situation demand it," the China Daily editorial said.

"If the already ugly situation worsens, with the violence and unrest threatening to spiral out of control under the orchestration of secessionist-minded troublemakers, the armed forces stationed in the SAR will have no reason to sit on their hands," said the government-run English-language newspaper.

"The PLA garrison in Hong Kong is not merely a symbol of Chinese sovereignty over the city."

Hong Kong`s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, states that Hong Kong can request the garrison`s assistance to maintain public order but "they shall not interfere in local affairs".

Unrest in Hong Kong escalated in mid-June over a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial in Communist Party-controlled courts.

It has since evolved into calls for greater democracy under the "one country, two systems" formula, which guarantees freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent judiciary.&nbsp;

Chinese soldiers stationed in Hong Kong are not there merely for symbolic purposes and they will have "no reason to sit on their hands" if the situation in the city worsens, an editorial in the China Daily newspaper said on Friday.

Chinese soldiers stationed in Hong Kong are not there merely for symbolic purposes and they will have "no reason to sit on their hands" if the situation in the city worsens, an editorial in the China Daily newspaper said on Friday. China on Thursday completed what it called a routine rotation of the air, land and maritime forces stationed in the former British colony, which has been rocked since June by a wave of sometimes violent demonstrations. A detachment of People`s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers have been stationed in Hong Kong since the 1997 handover which ended British rule. They stage frequent drills but have seldom been seen outside their bases. The possibility of their deployment to quell the protests has hung over Hong Kong, but the city`s government, which ultimately answers to Beijing, has repeatedly said it can handle the situation. Analysts estimate the garrison numbers between 8,000 and 10,000 troops split between bases in southern China and a network of barracks in Hong Kong, which Beijing now administers as a Special Administrative Region (SAR). Watch: China sends fresh troops to Hong Kong × "While the SAR government has so far not felt the need to call on the garrison, that does not mean it will not do so should the situation demand it," the China Daily editorial said. "If the already ugly situation worsens, with the violence and unrest threatening to spiral out of control under the orchestration of secessionist-minded troublemakers, the armed forces stationed in the SAR will have no reason to sit on their hands," said the government-run English-language newspaper. "The PLA garrison in Hong Kong is not merely a symbol of Chinese sovereignty over the city." Hong Kong`s mini-constitution, the Basic Law, states that Hong Kong can request the garrison`s assistance to maintain public order but "they shall not interfere in local affairs". Unrest in Hong Kong escalated in mid-June over a now-suspended extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent to mainland China for trial in Communist Party-controlled courts. It has since evolved into calls for greater democracy under the "one country, two systems" formula, which guarantees freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent judiciary.

Chinese troops in Hong Kong won't 'sit on their hands' if situation worsens: Report

Earlier this summer, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protesters-in-hong-kong-reject-carrie-lams-assertion-extradition-bill-dead-threaten-mass-rallies-234227">Carrie Lam</a>, the chief executive of Hong Kong, submitted a report to Beijing that assessed protesters` five key demands and found that withdrawing a contentious <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-march-in-hong-kong-demanding-scrapping-of-extradition-bill-227510">extradition bill </a>could help defuse the mounting political crisis in the territory.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-troops-in-hong-kong-wont-sit-on-hands-if-situation-worsens-report-246499">Chinese central government</a> rejected Lam`s proposal to withdraw the extradition bill and ordered her not to yield to any of the protesters` other demands at that time, three individuals with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

China`s role in directing how Hong Kong handles the protests has been widely assumed, supported by stern statements in state media about the country`s sovereignty and protesters` "radical" goals.

Beijing`s rebuff of Lam`s proposal for how to resolve the crisis, detailed for the first time by Reuters, represents concrete evidence of the extent to which China is controlling the Hong Kong government`s response to the unrest.

The Chinese central government has condemned the protests and accused foreign powers of fuelling unrest. The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly warned other nations against interfering in Hong Kong, reiterating that the situation there is an "internal affair."

Watch- Hong Kong: Tensions Intensify

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Lam`s report on the tumult, made before an Aug. 7 meeting in Shenzhen about Hong Kong led by senior Chinese officials that examined the feasibility of the five demands of the protesters, analysing how conceding to some of these might quiet things down, the individuals with direct knowledge said.

In addition to the withdrawal of the extradition bill, the other demands analysed in the report were: an independent inquiry into the protests; fully democratic elections; dropping of the term "riot" in describing protests; and dropping charges against those arrested so far.

The withdrawal of the bill and an independent inquiry were seen to be the most feasible politically, according to a senior government official in the Hong Kong administration, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the move was envisioned as helping pacify some of the more moderate protesters who have been angered by Lam`s silence.

The extradition bill is one of the key issues that has helped drive the protests, which have drawn millions of people into the streets of Hong Kong. Lam has said the bill is "dead," but has refused to say explicitly that it has been "withdrawn."

Beijing told Lam not to withdraw the bill, or to launch an inquiry into the tumult, including allegations of excessive police force, according to the senior government official.

Another of the three individuals, who has close ties with senior officials in Hong Kong and also declined to be identified, confirmed the Hong Kong government had submitted the report.

"They said no" to all five demands, said the source. "The situation is far more complicated than most people realise."

The third individual, a senior Chinese official, said that the Hong Kong government had submitted the report to the Central Co-ordination Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, a high-level group led by Politburo Standing Committee member Han Zheng, and that President Xi Jinping was aware of it.

The official confirmed that Beijing had rejected giving in to any of the protesters` demands and wanted Lam`s administration to take more initiative.

In a statement responding to Reuters, Lam`s office said her government had made efforts to address protesters` concerns, but did not comment directly on whether it had made such a proposal to Beijing, or received instructions.

Written questions to China`s Foreign Ministry were referred to the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), a high-level bureau under China`s State Council. HKMAO did not respond to a faxed request for comment.

Reuters has not seen the report. The news agency also was unable to establish the precise timing of the rejection.

The two Hong Kong sources said the report was submitted between June 16 - the day after Lam announced the suspension of the extradition bill - and Aug. 7, when the HKMAO and China`s representative Liaison Office in Hong Kong held a forum in nearby Shenzhen attended by nearly 500 pro-establishment figures and businesspeople from Hong Kong.

The question of Beijing`s influence strikes at the heart of Hong Kong`s "one country, two systems" governance, which promised the city a high degree of autonomy and wide-ranging freedoms that don`t exist in mainland China.

More than two months of protests have embroiled Hong Kong in its most severe crisis since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. 
What began as a movement to oppose the extradition bill, which would have allowed people to be sent to China for trial in Communist Party controlled courts, has morphed into a broader campaign for greater rights and democracy in a direct challenge to Beijing.

'Her hands are tied'

Ip Kwok-him, a senior pro-Beijing politician who sits on Hong Kong`s elite Executive Council, which advises senior officials, including Lam, told Reuters that "if the central government won`t allow something, you can`t do it." Ip did not know about the proposal to withdraw the bill.

A senior businessman who attended the Shenzhen meeting and has met with Lam recently said "her hands are tied" and Beijing wouldn`t let her withdraw the bill. The businessman spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

At the Shenzhen meeting, Zhang Xiaoming, the head of the HKMAO, said in televised public remarks that if the turmoil persisted, "the central government must intervene."

Since then, there have been signs of Beijing taking a harder line.

For instance, officials have likened some protests to "terrorism," Chinese paramilitary police have conducted drills near the border, several Hong Kong companies have been pressured to suspend staff supporting the protests, and security personnel have searched the digital devices of some travellers entering China.

On Friday, Joshua Wong, a prominent democracy activist, was arrested, according to his political party, Demosisto.

Earlier this summer, Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, submitted a report to Beijing that assessed protesters` five key demands and found that withdrawing a contentious extradition bill could help defuse the mounting political crisis in the territory.

Earlier this summer, Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, submitted a report to Beijing that assessed protesters` five key demands and found that withdrawing a contentious extradition bill could help defuse the mounting political crisis in the territory. The Chinese central government rejected Lam`s proposal to withdraw the extradition bill and ordered her not to yield to any of the protesters` other demands at that time, three individuals with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. China`s role in directing how Hong Kong handles the protests has been widely assumed, supported by stern statements in state media about the country`s sovereignty and protesters` "radical" goals. Beijing`s rebuff of Lam`s proposal for how to resolve the crisis, detailed for the first time by Reuters, represents concrete evidence of the extent to which China is controlling the Hong Kong government`s response to the unrest. The Chinese central government has condemned the protests and accused foreign powers of fuelling unrest. The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly warned other nations against interfering in Hong Kong, reiterating that the situation there is an "internal affair." Watch- Hong Kong: Tensions Intensify × Lam`s report on the tumult, made before an Aug. 7 meeting in Shenzhen about Hong Kong led by senior Chinese officials that examined the feasibility of the five demands of the protesters, analysing how conceding to some of these might quiet things down, the individuals with direct knowledge said. In addition to the withdrawal of the extradition bill, the other demands analysed in the report were: an independent inquiry into the protests; fully democratic elections; dropping of the term "riot" in describing protests; and dropping charges against those arrested so far. The withdrawal of the bill and an independent inquiry were seen to be the most feasible politically, according to a senior government official in the Hong Kong administration, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the move was envisioned as helping pacify some of the more moderate protesters who have been angered by Lam`s silence. The extradition bill is one of the key issues that has helped drive the protests, which have drawn millions of people into the streets of Hong Kong. Lam has said the bill is "dead," but has refused to say explicitly that it has been "withdrawn." Beijing told Lam not to withdraw the bill, or to launch an inquiry into the tumult, including allegations of excessive police force, according to the senior government official. Another of the three individuals, who has close ties with senior officials in Hong Kong and also declined to be identified, confirmed the Hong Kong government had submitted the report. "They said no" to all five demands, said the source. "The situation is far more complicated than most people realise." The third individual, a senior Chinese official, said that the Hong Kong government had submitted the report to the Central Co-ordination Group for Hong Kong and Macau Affairs, a high-level group led by Politburo Standing Committee member Han Zheng, and that President Xi Jinping was aware of it. The official confirmed that Beijing had rejected giving in to any of the protesters` demands and wanted Lam`s administration to take more initiative. In a statement responding to Reuters, Lam`s office said her government had made efforts to address protesters` concerns, but did not comment directly on whether it had made such a proposal to Beijing, or received instructions. Written questions to China`s Foreign Ministry were referred to the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), a high-level bureau under China`s State Council. HKMAO did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Reuters has not seen the report. The news agency also was unable to establish the precise timing of the rejection. The two Hong Kong sources said the report was submitted between June 16 - the day after Lam announced the suspension of the extradition bill - and Aug. 7, when the HKMAO and China`s representative Liaison Office in Hong Kong held a forum in nearby Shenzhen attended by nearly 500 pro-establishment figures and businesspeople from Hong Kong. The question of Beijing`s influence strikes at the heart of Hong Kong`s "one country, two systems" governance, which promised the city a high degree of autonomy and wide-ranging freedoms that don`t exist in mainland China. More than two months of protests have embroiled Hong Kong in its most severe crisis since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. What began as a movement to oppose the extradition bill, which would have allowed people to be sent to China for trial in Communist Party controlled courts, has morphed into a broader campaign for greater rights and democracy in a direct challenge to Beijing. 'Her hands are tied' Ip Kwok-him, a senior pro-Beijing politician who sits on Hong Kong`s elite Executive Council, which advises senior officials, including Lam, told Reuters that "if the central government won`t allow something, you can`t do it." Ip did not know about the proposal to withdraw the bill. A senior businessman who attended the Shenzhen meeting and has met with Lam recently said "her hands are tied" and Beijing wouldn`t let her withdraw the bill. The businessman spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. At the Shenzhen meeting, Zhang Xiaoming, the head of the HKMAO, said in televised public remarks that if the turmoil persisted, "the central government must intervene." Since then, there have been signs of Beijing taking a harder line. For instance, officials have likened some protests to "terrorism," Chinese paramilitary police have conducted drills near the border, several Hong Kong companies have been pressured to suspend staff supporting the protests, and security personnel have searched the digital devices of some travellers entering China. On Friday, Joshua Wong, a prominent democracy activist, was arrested, according to his political party, Demosisto.

Amid crisis, China rejected Hong Kong plan to appease protesters: Report

Stocks floated higher on Thursday, lifted by positive sentiment surrounding the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-hopes-us-will-create-conditions-necessary-for-september-trade-talks-246427">US-China trade war</a>, while the pound steadied after a Brexit-fueled slump.

China's Commerce Ministry hinted Beijing could break the cycle of tit-for-tat retaliation in the trade war with the United States, while in Washington US President Donald Trump said the two sides continued to talk.

Hope the countries could avoid catastrophe sent Wall Street higher for a second day while European stocks rebounded and London consolidated gains. Asian bourses were mainly flat.

"People are holding out hope," Maris Ogg of Tower Bridge Advisors told AFP, although that optimism may prove short lived.

"If the trade wars go away or dissipates, clearly you have a healthier economic environment," she said. "But you need some concrete actions for this to have long term impact."

In Milan, the FTSE MIB index gained almost 2.0 percent after Italian President Sergio Mattarella gave Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte a mandate to form a new government &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Investors were mulling the significance of a fall in yields on 10-year US Treasurys, which recently dropped below that for two-year Treasury notes -- widely viewed as a reliable recession indicator.

It comes against a backdrop of slowing global growth.

In foreign exchange, the pound was stable a day after it fell on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's shock decision to bring an end to the parliamentary year and not restart it until mid-October.

While he said the extended recess was to draw up a full legislative program, anti-Brexiters were fuming that it would cut short any time they could have to debate a plan to avert a no-deal exit from the EU on October 31, with some calling it a "coup."

Johnson could face a vote of no confidence, which could lead to a British general election and continued uncertainty for the already struggling economy.

The euro fell back as incoming European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde signaled that she would stick with Mario Draghi's controversial expansionary monetary policy that has propped up the eurozone economy amid growing risks to growth.

- Key figures around 2100 GMT -

New York - Dow: UP 1.3 percent at 26,362.25 (close)

New York - S&amp;P 500: UP 1.3 percent at 2,924.58 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.5 percent at 7,973.39 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 1.0 percent at 7,184.32 points (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.2 percent at 11,838.88 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.5 percent at 5,449.97 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.4 percent at 3,411.33 (close)

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,460.93 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.3 percent at 25,703.50 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 2,890.92 (close)

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2182 from $1.2213 at 2100 GMT

Euro/pound: UP at 90.76 pence from 90.68 pence

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1057 from $1.1076

Dollar/yen: UP at 106.51 yen from 106.14 yen

Brent North Sea crude: UP 59 cents at $61.08 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: UP 93 cents at $56.71 per barrel 
&nbsp;

Stocks floated higher on Thursday, lifted by positive sentiment surrounding the US-China trade war, while the pound steadied after a Brexit-fueled slump. China's Commerce Ministry hinted Beijing could break the cycle of tit-for-tat retaliation in the trade war with the United States, while in Washington US President Donald Trump said the two sides continued to talk.

Stocks floated higher on Thursday, lifted by positive sentiment surrounding the US-China trade war, while the pound steadied after a Brexit-fueled slump. China's Commerce Ministry hinted Beijing could break the cycle of tit-for-tat retaliation in the trade war with the United States, while in Washington US President Donald Trump said the two sides continued to talk. Hope the countries could avoid catastrophe sent Wall Street higher for a second day while European stocks rebounded and London consolidated gains. Asian bourses were mainly flat. "People are holding out hope," Maris Ogg of Tower Bridge Advisors told AFP, although that optimism may prove short lived. "If the trade wars go away or dissipates, clearly you have a healthier economic environment," she said. "But you need some concrete actions for this to have long term impact." In Milan, the FTSE MIB index gained almost 2.0 percent after Italian President Sergio Mattarella gave Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte a mandate to form a new government Investors were mulling the significance of a fall in yields on 10-year US Treasurys, which recently dropped below that for two-year Treasury notes -- widely viewed as a reliable recession indicator. It comes against a backdrop of slowing global growth. In foreign exchange, the pound was stable a day after it fell on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's shock decision to bring an end to the parliamentary year and not restart it until mid-October. While he said the extended recess was to draw up a full legislative program, anti-Brexiters were fuming that it would cut short any time they could have to debate a plan to avert a no-deal exit from the EU on October 31, with some calling it a "coup." Johnson could face a vote of no confidence, which could lead to a British general election and continued uncertainty for the already struggling economy. The euro fell back as incoming European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde signaled that she would stick with Mario Draghi's controversial expansionary monetary policy that has propped up the eurozone economy amid growing risks to growth. - Key figures around 2100 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 1.3 percent at 26,362.25 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 1.3 percent at 2,924.58 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 1.5 percent at 7,973.39 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 1.0 percent at 7,184.32 points (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 1.2 percent at 11,838.88 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 1.5 percent at 5,449.97 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 1.4 percent at 3,411.33 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,460.93 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.3 percent at 25,703.50 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 2,890.92 (close) Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2182 from $1.2213 at 2100 GMT Euro/pound: UP at 90.76 pence from 90.68 pence Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1057 from $1.1076 Dollar/yen: UP at 106.51 yen from 106.14 yen Brent North Sea crude: UP 59 cents at $61.08 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 93 cents at $56.71 per barrel

Global stocks boosted by China-US talk hopes

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Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Punitipandey

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