Amid tensions over the national security bill, the Hong Kong government said today that it has suspended its extradition agreements with France and Germany.

Watch:

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"The two countries have politicised juridical co-operation, thereby damaging the basis of juridical co-operation between (Hong Kong) and Germany and France," the Hong Kong government said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kongs-apple-daily-taking-legal-action-against-unlawful-seizure-of-journalistic-materials-319911">Also Read:&nbsp;Hong Kong's Apple Daily taking legal action against unlawful seizure of 'journalistic materials'</a>

The development comes as authorities in Hong Kong detained pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, 71, under the new law but released him hours later after his lawyers applied for bail. He returned to work on Wednesday but urged his staff to "fight on".

"We have the support of the Hong Kong people. We can't let them down," Lai said. The national security law which was enacted on June 30 bypassed the Hong Kong legislature criminalising subversion, secession and colluding with foreign forces as Hong Kongers protested the move.

Lai who is the owner of Apple Daily was taken away by police along with two of his sons and senior Apple Daily executives. 23-year-old Agnes Chow was also detained by police.

The US had imposed sanctions against the financial hub and taken away its special trading status. After Lai was arrested, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said: "It is further proof that Chinese authorities had eviscerated Hong Kong's freedoms and eroded the rights of its people."

Pompeo had also called the national security law draconian as China said Lai was an "anti-China rabble-rouser" who had conspired with foreigners to "stir up chaos."

Amid tensions over the national security bill, the Hong Kong government said today that it has suspended its extradition agreements with France and Germany. Watch: "The two countries have politicised juridical co-operation, thereby damaging the basis of juridical co-operation between (Hong Kong) and Germany and France," the Hong Kong government said.

Amid tensions over the national security bill, the Hong Kong government said today that it has suspended its extradition agreements with France and Germany. Watch: "The two countries have politicised juridical co-operation, thereby damaging the basis of juridical co-operation between (Hong Kong) and Germany and France," the Hong Kong government said. Also Read: Hong Kong's Apple Daily taking legal action against unlawful seizure of 'journalistic materials' The development comes as authorities in Hong Kong detained pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai, 71, under the new law but released him hours later after his lawyers applied for bail. He returned to work on Wednesday but urged his staff to "fight on". "We have the support of the Hong Kong people. We can't let them down," Lai said. The national security law which was enacted on June 30 bypassed the Hong Kong legislature criminalising subversion, secession and colluding with foreign forces as Hong Kongers protested the move. Lai who is the owner of Apple Daily was taken away by police along with two of his sons and senior Apple Daily executives. 23-year-old Agnes Chow was also detained by police. The US had imposed sanctions against the financial hub and taken away its special trading status. After Lai was arrested, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said: "It is further proof that Chinese authorities had eviscerated Hong Kong's freedoms and eroded the rights of its people." Pompeo had also called the national security law draconian as China said Lai was an "anti-China rabble-rouser" who had conspired with foreigners to "stir up chaos."

Hong Kong suspends extradition agreements with France and Germany

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been released from police custody, over a day after being detained under a sweeping security law imposed by China.

When Lai left a police station he was swarmed by dozens of cheering supporters, some of whom waved copies of his Apple Daily in a show of support.

A clampdown has gathered pace in Hong Kong since China imposed a sweeping security law in June, with opposition politicians disqualified and activists arrested for social media posts.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pro-democracy-media-tycoon-jimmy-lais-company-skyrocketed-788-since-his-arrest-319687" hreflang="en">Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai's company skyrocketed 788% since his arrest</a>

The moves have provoked outrage in the West and fear for millions who last year took to the streets to protest communist China's tightening grip on the semi-autonomous city.

Mainland-born Lai, who was smuggled into Hong Kong on a fishing boat when he was a penniless 12-year-old, is one of the most prominent democracy activists in the city and an ardent critic of Communist Party rule in Beijing.

His arrest came&nbsp;amid a crackdown on the pro-democracy opposition in Hong Kong that has drawn international criticism and raised fears for freedoms promised by Beijing under a "one country, two systems" formula.

The sweeping security law imposed on June 30 punishes anything China considers secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison.

The city's Beijing-backed government and Chinese authorities say the law is necessary to restore order after months of at times violent anti-government protests last year, sparked by fears China was slowly eroding those freedoms.

Hong Kong has since become another source of contention between the United States and China, whose relations were already at their most strained in years over issues including trade, the coronavirus, China's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority and its claims in the South China Sea.

Britain said Lai's arrest was further evidence the security law was a "pretext to silence opposition", to which China's embassy replied by urging London to stop "using freedom of the press as an excuse to discredit" the law.

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been released from police custody, over a day after being detained under a sweeping security law imposed by China. When Lai left a police station he was swarmed by dozens of cheering supporters, some of whom waved copies of his Apple Daily in a show of support.

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been released from police custody, over a day after being detained under a sweeping security law imposed by China. When Lai left a police station he was swarmed by dozens of cheering supporters, some of whom waved copies of his Apple Daily in a show of support. A clampdown has gathered pace in Hong Kong since China imposed a sweeping security law in June, with opposition politicians disqualified and activists arrested for social media posts. Also read: Pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai's company skyrocketed 788% since his arrest The moves have provoked outrage in the West and fear for millions who last year took to the streets to protest communist China's tightening grip on the semi-autonomous city. Mainland-born Lai, who was smuggled into Hong Kong on a fishing boat when he was a penniless 12-year-old, is one of the most prominent democracy activists in the city and an ardent critic of Communist Party rule in Beijing. His arrest came amid a crackdown on the pro-democracy opposition in Hong Kong that has drawn international criticism and raised fears for freedoms promised by Beijing under a "one country, two systems" formula. The sweeping security law imposed on June 30 punishes anything China considers secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison. The city's Beijing-backed government and Chinese authorities say the law is necessary to restore order after months of at times violent anti-government protests last year, sparked by fears China was slowly eroding those freedoms. Hong Kong has since become another source of contention between the United States and China, whose relations were already at their most strained in years over issues including trade, the coronavirus, China's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority and its claims in the South China Sea. Britain said Lai's arrest was further evidence the security law was a "pretext to silence opposition", to which China's embassy replied by urging London to stop "using freedom of the press as an excuse to discredit" the law.

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai released on bail

The world's richest man Jeff Bezos&nbsp;is being compared to the ruler of an autocracy and&nbsp;the ones making the&nbsp;accusation are his employees at Amazon.

Reducing employee benefits while getting rich during the pandemic,&nbsp;Amazon is fiercely cracking down on workers who ask such questions and to make Jeff Bezos listen to the demands protesters are banging on his door in New York.

Over the last two months, Bezos' New York apartment building has turned into a scene of protest with&nbsp;employees&nbsp;banging on the door. It&nbsp;is not an isolated incident&nbsp;since the Wuhan virus outbreak, Amazon workers have been protesting across the world.

According to them, the e-commerce giant has done little to keep its employees safe.&nbsp;The employees complain about lack of personal protective equipment, negligent safety guidelines, callous and unrealistic performance standards and inadequate compensation.

In June, Amazon ended wage increases and double overtime pay. For warehouse workers&nbsp;the hard pay of two dollars per hour has been discontinued. Health benefits have also been cut.&nbsp;

E-commerce is one of the few businesses that are flourishing during the pandemic with&nbsp;no dearth of money.&nbsp;Amazon has posted its biggest profit since its founding nearly 26-years ago helping Jeff Bezos retain the world's richest tag.

The protesters have made an additional demand this time not to Jeff Bezos, but legislators.&nbsp;It's being called the "Tax Bezos" movement.

A month ago, protesters even put a guillotine in front of Bezos' house to send a signal --- the death of all the wealthy men.

Amazon has not taken these protests lightly. At the Staten Island warehouse, employees walked out over safety concerns.

Chris Smalls who led the protest was fired. According to Amazon, Smalls was fired for not maintaining the social distancing norms but protesters say that is not the reason. Amazon is retaliating against vocal employees to stop them from forming unions.

In its defence&nbsp;the company says it acquired 100 million face masks for its workers in the last quarter and&nbsp;created jobs by hiring 175,000 people since the virus outbreak and spent nearly $700 million on employee benefits.

The world's richest man Jeff Bezos is being compared to the ruler of an autocracy and the ones making the accusation are his employees at Amazon. Reducing employee benefits while getting rich during the pandemic, Amazon is fiercely cracking down on workers who ask such questions and to make Jeff Bezos listen to the demands protesters are banging on his door in New York.

The world's richest man Jeff Bezos is being compared to the ruler of an autocracy and the ones making the accusation are his employees at Amazon. Reducing employee benefits while getting rich during the pandemic, Amazon is fiercely cracking down on workers who ask such questions and to make Jeff Bezos listen to the demands protesters are banging on his door in New York. Over the last two months, Bezos' New York apartment building has turned into a scene of protest with employees banging on the door. It is not an isolated incident since the Wuhan virus outbreak, Amazon workers have been protesting across the world. According to them, the e-commerce giant has done little to keep its employees safe. The employees complain about lack of personal protective equipment, negligent safety guidelines, callous and unrealistic performance standards and inadequate compensation. In June, Amazon ended wage increases and double overtime pay. For warehouse workers the hard pay of two dollars per hour has been discontinued. Health benefits have also been cut. E-commerce is one of the few businesses that are flourishing during the pandemic with no dearth of money. Amazon has posted its biggest profit since its founding nearly 26-years ago helping Jeff Bezos retain the world's richest tag. The protesters have made an additional demand this time not to Jeff Bezos, but legislators. It's being called the "Tax Bezos" movement. A month ago, protesters even put a guillotine in front of Bezos' house to send a signal --- the death of all the wealthy men. Amazon has not taken these protests lightly. At the Staten Island warehouse, employees walked out over safety concerns. Chris Smalls who led the protest was fired. According to Amazon, Smalls was fired for not maintaining the social distancing norms but protesters say that is not the reason. Amazon is retaliating against vocal employees to stop them from forming unions. In its defence the company says it acquired 100 million face masks for its workers in the last quarter and created jobs by hiring 175,000 people since the virus outbreak and spent nearly $700 million on employee benefits.

'Tax Bezos': Amazon employees protest against Jeff Bezos over reduced benefits

After President Putin announced that Russia had launched the world's first coronavirus vaccine, Germany's health ministry said that "there is no known data on the quality, efficacy and safety of the Russian vaccine."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-has-developed-worlds-first-coronavirus-vaccine-putin-319696">Also Read:&nbsp;Russia has developed world's 'first' coronavirus vaccine, says&nbsp;Putin</a>

After the announcement, Jarbas Barbosa, assistant director of WHO's regional branch, the Pan American Health Organization said that it had not received enough information on the Russian vaccine to evaluate it.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-details-of-russias-clinical-trials-not-known-yet-319801/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Any vaccine producer has to follow this procedure that guarantees it is safe and has the WHO's recommendation," Jarbas Barbosa said even as WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said that "close contact with Russian health authorities and discussions are ongoing".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/all-you-want-to-know-about-russias-coronavirus-vaccine-sputnik-319775">In Pics:&nbsp;All you want to know about Russia's coronavirus vaccine 'Sputnik'</a>

The WHO spokesman, however, added that prequalification of any vaccine includes the rigorous review and assessment of all required safety and efficacy data/

Putin had earlier said that "vaccine has a more specific effect, it forms stable anti-body and cell-mediated immune response" while adding that his own daughters were administered the vaccine.

"After the first injection of the vaccine, her temperature was 38 degrees, the following day it was a bit over 37 and that's it. After the second injection, the temperature also rose a little, but then it returned normal. She feels well, and the stats are great," Putin said about his daughter's health after being given the vaccine.

Russian authorities said they would begin mass production in September while informing that 20 foreign countries have already pre-ordered over a billion doses. Russia has named the vaccine &nbsp;"Sputnik" after the 1950s Soviet satellite.

After President Putin announced that Russia had launched the world's first coronavirus vaccine, Germany's health ministry said that "there is no known data on the quality, efficacy and safety of the Russian vaccine.

After President Putin announced that Russia had launched the world's first coronavirus vaccine, Germany's health ministry said that "there is no known data on the quality, efficacy and safety of the Russian vaccine." Also Read: Russia has developed world's 'first' coronavirus vaccine, says Putin After the announcement, Jarbas Barbosa, assistant director of WHO's regional branch, the Pan American Health Organization said that it had not received enough information on the Russian vaccine to evaluate it. Watch: "Any vaccine producer has to follow this procedure that guarantees it is safe and has the WHO's recommendation," Jarbas Barbosa said even as WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said that "close contact with Russian health authorities and discussions are ongoing". In Pics: All you want to know about Russia's coronavirus vaccine 'Sputnik' The WHO spokesman, however, added that prequalification of any vaccine includes the rigorous review and assessment of all required safety and efficacy data/ Putin had earlier said that "vaccine has a more specific effect, it forms stable anti-body and cell-mediated immune response" while adding that his own daughters were administered the vaccine. "After the first injection of the vaccine, her temperature was 38 degrees, the following day it was a bit over 37 and that's it. After the second injection, the temperature also rose a little, but then it returned normal. She feels well, and the stats are great," Putin said about his daughter's health after being given the vaccine. Russian authorities said they would begin mass production in September while informing that 20 foreign countries have already pre-ordered over a billion doses. Russia has named the vaccine "Sputnik" after the 1950s Soviet satellite.

No known data on quality, safety of Russian vaccine: German health ministry

India's tax department today raided Chinese entities&nbsp;and said that Chinese individuals and their Indian associates were "involved in money laundering and hawala transactions through series of shell entities."

The Central Board of Direct taxes(CBDT) said that search action was mounted at various premises of the Chinese entities, their close confederates and bank employees.

CBDT said that after the search action it found that at the behest of Chinese individuals over 40 bank accounts were created in various dummy entities which entered into credits of more than Rs 1,000 crores.

The tax department asserted that the searches were launched based on credible inputs.

"Incriminating documents of hawala transactions and money laundering with active involvement of bank employees and Chartered Accountants have been found as a result of the search action," it said.

The department added that evidence of foreign hawala transactions involving Hong Kong and US dollars were also unearthed.

India's tax department today raided Chinese entities and said that Chinese individuals and their Indian associates were "involved in money laundering and hawala transactions through series of shell entities.

India's tax department today raided Chinese entities and said that Chinese individuals and their Indian associates were "involved in money laundering and hawala transactions through series of shell entities." The Central Board of Direct taxes(CBDT) said that search action was mounted at various premises of the Chinese entities, their close confederates and bank employees. CBDT said that after the search action it found that at the behest of Chinese individuals over 40 bank accounts were created in various dummy entities which entered into credits of more than Rs 1,000 crores. The tax department asserted that the searches were launched based on credible inputs. "Incriminating documents of hawala transactions and money laundering with active involvement of bank employees and Chartered Accountants have been found as a result of the search action," it said. The department added that evidence of foreign hawala transactions involving Hong Kong and US dollars were also unearthed.

India's tax department raids Chinese entities, uncovers money laundering and 'hawala' transactions

President Alexander Lukashenko is the king of&nbsp;Belarus. Europe's last dictator is not ready to give up his throne and by winning his sixth presidential election he is set to extend his 25-year rule but the Opposition says the election was rigged.

Western superpowers are backing popular opinion. Protesters stormed the streets demanding an end to Lukashenko's rule. In the midst of all this, the Opposition leader fled to Lithuania.&nbsp;A dictator stays in power by using threats and violence, Lukashenko is no different.

For seven hours, the Opposition leader in Belarus Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was in a meeting with government officials after that she went missing. Svetlana had gone to lodge a complaint against the election result. Alexander Lukashenko has grabbed the presidential seat for a sixth consecutive term. He has kept tight control over Belarus since 1994. The Opposition says Lukashenko rigged the election.

Svetlana who is a former English teacher had emerged from obscurity to threaten his rule. Her rallies drew some of the biggest crowds since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. No one knows what transpired at her meeting with election officials but after coming out she fled to neighbouring Lithuania.

The government confirmed the news, soon Svetlana posted a video on Youtube saying she faced a difficult choice.

"I know that many people will understand me, but many will blame and hate me but you know, god forbid that you may face such a choice that I faced," she said.

Svetlana's campaign team says she was forced to leave and she chose life over politics. Her children were in Lithuania and her husband is in government detention one among the hundreds of anti-government figures arrested in the run-up to the election.

The anger against Lukashenko's methods boiled over after the election results were announced. People stormed the streets demanding Lukashenko's resignation as police fired tear gas, rubber bullets, stun grenades and used batons to disperse thousands of people.

The protesters set up barricades and threw Molotov cocktails in defence. At least 3,000 protesters were arrested with half of them in the capital city of Minsk. President Lukashenko says they are sheep acting under the orders of foreign actors.

"There were calls from Poland, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic. They controlled our, excuse me, sheep. Protesters do not understand what they are doing. They are already coming under someone's control," Lukashenko said.

Lukashenko wants no foreign interference, but he is facing the heat. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the election in Belarus was not free or fair. The European Union too holds the same opinion.

Germany has asked the EU to reimpose sanctions. Belarus suffered economic sanctions until Lukashenko agreed to release political prisoners in 2015 but Lukashenko has powerful friends. Authoritarian leaders Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were the first to congratulate him after the election victory.&nbsp;

Now an internet blackout has left protesters in the dark with Svetlana in exile the road ahead is without light.

President Alexander Lukashenko is the king of Belarus. Europe's last dictator is not ready to give up his throne and by winning his sixth presidential election he is set to extend his 25-year rule but the Opposition says the election was rigged.

President Alexander Lukashenko is the king of Belarus. Europe's last dictator is not ready to give up his throne and by winning his sixth presidential election he is set to extend his 25-year rule but the Opposition says the election was rigged. Western superpowers are backing popular opinion. Protesters stormed the streets demanding an end to Lukashenko's rule. In the midst of all this, the Opposition leader fled to Lithuania. A dictator stays in power by using threats and violence, Lukashenko is no different. For seven hours, the Opposition leader in Belarus Svetlana Tikhanovskaya was in a meeting with government officials after that she went missing. Svetlana had gone to lodge a complaint against the election result. Alexander Lukashenko has grabbed the presidential seat for a sixth consecutive term. He has kept tight control over Belarus since 1994. The Opposition says Lukashenko rigged the election. Svetlana who is a former English teacher had emerged from obscurity to threaten his rule. Her rallies drew some of the biggest crowds since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. No one knows what transpired at her meeting with election officials but after coming out she fled to neighbouring Lithuania. The government confirmed the news, soon Svetlana posted a video on Youtube saying she faced a difficult choice. "I know that many people will understand me, but many will blame and hate me but you know, god forbid that you may face such a choice that I faced," she said. Svetlana's campaign team says she was forced to leave and she chose life over politics. Her children were in Lithuania and her husband is in government detention one among the hundreds of anti-government figures arrested in the run-up to the election. The anger against Lukashenko's methods boiled over after the election results were announced. People stormed the streets demanding Lukashenko's resignation as police fired tear gas, rubber bullets, stun grenades and used batons to disperse thousands of people. The protesters set up barricades and threw Molotov cocktails in defence. At least 3,000 protesters were arrested with half of them in the capital city of Minsk. President Lukashenko says they are sheep acting under the orders of foreign actors. "There were calls from Poland, Great Britain, and the Czech Republic. They controlled our, excuse me, sheep. Protesters do not understand what they are doing. They are already coming under someone's control," Lukashenko said. Lukashenko wants no foreign interference, but he is facing the heat. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the election in Belarus was not free or fair. The European Union too holds the same opinion. Germany has asked the EU to reimpose sanctions. Belarus suffered economic sanctions until Lukashenko agreed to release political prisoners in 2015 but Lukashenko has powerful friends. Authoritarian leaders Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were the first to congratulate him after the election victory. Now an internet blackout has left protesters in the dark with Svetlana in exile the road ahead is without light.

Belarus President Lukashenko refuses to relent amid protests

PM Imran Khan promised "Naya Pakisan". The country observed National Minorities Day today. It's a country where the minority population has steadily shrunk and where all minorities face discrimination.

A report in 2014 called Pakistan one of the world's most dangerous countries for minorities. Six years later the story has not changed, if anything, it has become worse. It's not just religious minorities now, political minorities also face attacks.

A case in point being Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz was attacked today by the police. The police in Pakistan threw stones at the car of an opposition leader in Lahore.

There were clashes between the supporters of Maryam Nawaz and the police. The incident took place outside the office of Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau(NAB).

Maryam Nawaz had gone there for a hearing in a corruption case after the clashes the hearing had to be postponed. The drama that played out in Lahore today is political in nature. Maryam Nawaz is the presumptive heir of her father’s party the Pakistan Muslim League(N) which is a party that was in power before Imran Khan became prime minister.&nbsp;

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter were convicted in a graft case. Sharif was released on bail last year and sent to London. However, his daughter is still in Pakistan fighting a legal and political battle. Now, Maryam Nawaz is being accused of grabbing 200 acres of government land. Another leader from her party Rana Sanaullah was arrested too. He was accused of carrying 15 kilograms of heroin.

Shehbaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz Sharif said the charges were fake, almost a year later the case has gone nowhere. Rana Sanaullah was released on bail a few months after his arrest. The opposition in Pakistan is a divided lot but there is one thread that binds them together - Imran Khan.

Last year, Maryam Nawaz faced a media ban. First, one of her press conferences was taken off air. Later, an interview met a similar fate. Former president Asif Ali Zardari was censored and jailed too. He was given bail in December last year. In April, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan released a damning report. It said that under Imran Khan all critical voices were being muzzled. There is systematic suppression of political dissent.&nbsp;

The report said that the Pakistani government decided to "put a squeeze on independent and critical voices" with premier newspapers and TV channels like the Dawn newspaper and Geo news targeted in an effort to deny voices of opposition space in mainstream media.

Government advertising which is critical for the survival of these organisations was denied to those outlets that didn't toe the official line. Ultimately they had to shut down. It triggered massive layoffs as thousands of journalists found themselves out of a job.

Imran Khan accuses India of gross human rights violations but in his "Naya Pakistan", the Pakistani prime minister is waging a war on free speech denying minorities the right to life.

PM Imran Khan promised "Naya Pakisan". The country observed National Minorities Day today. It's a country where the minority population has steadily shrunk and where all minorities face discrimination.

PM Imran Khan promised "Naya Pakisan". The country observed National Minorities Day today. It's a country where the minority population has steadily shrunk and where all minorities face discrimination. A report in 2014 called Pakistan one of the world's most dangerous countries for minorities. Six years later the story has not changed, if anything, it has become worse. It's not just religious minorities now, political minorities also face attacks. A case in point being Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz was attacked today by the police. The police in Pakistan threw stones at the car of an opposition leader in Lahore. There were clashes between the supporters of Maryam Nawaz and the police. The incident took place outside the office of Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau(NAB). Maryam Nawaz had gone there for a hearing in a corruption case after the clashes the hearing had to be postponed. The drama that played out in Lahore today is political in nature. Maryam Nawaz is the presumptive heir of her father’s party the Pakistan Muslim League(N) which is a party that was in power before Imran Khan became prime minister. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter were convicted in a graft case. Sharif was released on bail last year and sent to London. However, his daughter is still in Pakistan fighting a legal and political battle. Now, Maryam Nawaz is being accused of grabbing 200 acres of government land. Another leader from her party Rana Sanaullah was arrested too. He was accused of carrying 15 kilograms of heroin. Shehbaz Sharif, brother of Nawaz Sharif said the charges were fake, almost a year later the case has gone nowhere. Rana Sanaullah was released on bail a few months after his arrest. The opposition in Pakistan is a divided lot but there is one thread that binds them together - Imran Khan. Last year, Maryam Nawaz faced a media ban. First, one of her press conferences was taken off air. Later, an interview met a similar fate. Former president Asif Ali Zardari was censored and jailed too. He was given bail in December last year. In April, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan released a damning report. It said that under Imran Khan all critical voices were being muzzled. There is systematic suppression of political dissent. The report said that the Pakistani government decided to "put a squeeze on independent and critical voices" with premier newspapers and TV channels like the Dawn newspaper and Geo news targeted in an effort to deny voices of opposition space in mainstream media. Government advertising which is critical for the survival of these organisations was denied to those outlets that didn't toe the official line. Ultimately they had to shut down. It triggered massive layoffs as thousands of journalists found themselves out of a job. Imran Khan accuses India of gross human rights violations but in his "Naya Pakistan", the Pakistani prime minister is waging a war on free speech denying minorities the right to life.

Maryam Nawaz attacked by police in Imran's 'Naya Pakistan'

It is the world's largest recession in history. HSBC's profits has plummeted 96 per cent to $192 million in April to June period.

HSBC expects total losses of upto $13 billion by the end of the year. The bank has said it will shed 35,000 jobs to focus more on Asia&nbsp;where it gets most of its business but&nbsp;Hong Kong and China remain a geopolitical sore point. 
&nbsp; 
Europe's second-largest insurer AXA has had no insurance against the pandemic. In the first six months of the year, the French insurance giant posted profits of $1.7 billion, down from $2.33 billion posted over the same period last year. Coronavirus-related property and casualty claims have deeply hurt the insurance industry.

Energy giant BP is fighting an existential crisis as the pandemic batters oil prices. The UK-based oil firm has reported a loss of $17 billion for the April to June period. Almost every part of the business was hit very hard due to lower demand during the pandemic.

German auto major BMW has gone into a tailspin. The luxury carmaker has posted a loss of nearly $800 million in the second quarter which is the worst in a decade as sales slumped 25 per cent during the lockdown period. More cars are being sold in China, but not enough to make up for sales lost due to the pandemic.

As air travel remains a health hazard most of Lufthansa's fleet is still grounded. The airline has suffered a $2 billion loss in the previous quarter. In June unable to keep up its operations anymore Lufthansa received a government bailout of $10 billion. Now, the airline like its competitors is planning to carry out massive lay-offs.

The state of airlines is indicative of what's happening in the tourism and hospitality industry. Hilton says it will be a long time before its rooms are full again. The world's second-largest hotel operator has posted a loss of $430 million in the June quarter. Hilton is planning to fire 2,000 employees.&nbsp;

Disneyland is without its rambunctious crowd which is reflective in its parent firm &nbsp;Walt Disney company's earnings. Over the last three months, the entertainment company has lost $5 billion which is a rare loss for a company that thrived on its movies, theme parks, resorts and cruise operations until the pandemic struck.

McDonald's global sales have slipped by 24 per cent in the previous quarter with operations limited to drive-thru and delivery services with 96 per cent of the company's stores operating on this model.&nbsp;

Luxury fashion house Prada has closed 70 per cent of its stores due to the pandemic since the virus outbreak the company has lost $1 billion. However, a rising e-commerce trade and reopening of some of its stores in the Asia-pacific region may cushion the fall but the rich jet-setting patrons will not step into Prada's stores anytime soon. 
&nbsp; 
The pandemic has shown De Beers that diamonds are not forever. Diamond production dropped by more than 50 per cent in the last quarter mainly due to lockdowns in South Africa as a result sales collapsed by over $1 billion.

It is the world's largest recession in history. HSBC's profits has plummeted 96 per cent to $192 million in April to June period. HSBC expects total losses of upto $13 billion by the end of the year.

It is the world's largest recession in history. HSBC's profits has plummeted 96 per cent to $192 million in April to June period. HSBC expects total losses of upto $13 billion by the end of the year. The bank has said it will shed 35,000 jobs to focus more on Asia where it gets most of its business but Hong Kong and China remain a geopolitical sore point. Europe's second-largest insurer AXA has had no insurance against the pandemic. In the first six months of the year, the French insurance giant posted profits of $1.7 billion, down from $2.33 billion posted over the same period last year. Coronavirus-related property and casualty claims have deeply hurt the insurance industry. Energy giant BP is fighting an existential crisis as the pandemic batters oil prices. The UK-based oil firm has reported a loss of $17 billion for the April to June period. Almost every part of the business was hit very hard due to lower demand during the pandemic. German auto major BMW has gone into a tailspin. The luxury carmaker has posted a loss of nearly $800 million in the second quarter which is the worst in a decade as sales slumped 25 per cent during the lockdown period. More cars are being sold in China, but not enough to make up for sales lost due to the pandemic. As air travel remains a health hazard most of Lufthansa's fleet is still grounded. The airline has suffered a $2 billion loss in the previous quarter. In June unable to keep up its operations anymore Lufthansa received a government bailout of $10 billion. Now, the airline like its competitors is planning to carry out massive lay-offs. The state of airlines is indicative of what's happening in the tourism and hospitality industry. Hilton says it will be a long time before its rooms are full again. The world's second-largest hotel operator has posted a loss of $430 million in the June quarter. Hilton is planning to fire 2,000 employees. Disneyland is without its rambunctious crowd which is reflective in its parent firm Walt Disney company's earnings. Over the last three months, the entertainment company has lost $5 billion which is a rare loss for a company that thrived on its movies, theme parks, resorts and cruise operations until the pandemic struck. McDonald's global sales have slipped by 24 per cent in the previous quarter with operations limited to drive-thru and delivery services with 96 per cent of the company's stores operating on this model. Luxury fashion house Prada has closed 70 per cent of its stores due to the pandemic since the virus outbreak the company has lost $1 billion. However, a rising e-commerce trade and reopening of some of its stores in the Asia-pacific region may cushion the fall but the rich jet-setting patrons will not step into Prada's stores anytime soon. The pandemic has shown De Beers that diamonds are not forever. Diamond production dropped by more than 50 per cent in the last quarter mainly due to lockdowns in South Africa as a result sales collapsed by over $1 billion.

Banks, insurance, airlines, tourism battered amid coronavirus pandemic

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Declaring that he wants a government as diverse as the country itself, Biden committed early in his campaign, in March, that he would name a woman on the ticket.

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Russia on Tuesday became the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for mass domestic inoculation even as the final stage of clinical trials continue.

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Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russian direct investment fund which financed&nbsp;the coronavirus vaccine project, said that Phase 3 trials would start on Wednesday with industrial production due to start next month.

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The video, which the company had said it considered "highly offensive and inappropriate", had captions showing&nbsp;Hitler&nbsp;as an unnamed&nbsp;BP&nbsp;manager enraged about&nbsp;workers rejecting a pay deal.

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The virus was found on the outer packaging of frozen seafood bought by three companies in Yantai, a port city in eastern Shandong province, the report added.

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The New Zealand government has put Auckland on level 3 alert for the next 3 days along with the rest of the country which has been put on alert level 2.

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The row flared Monday when Ankara sent the research ship Oruc Reis off the Greek island of Kastellorizo, where Turkey disputes Greek maritime rights.

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Men may be 'insulted' by Biden's female vice president pledge, says Trump Declaring that he wants a government as diverse as the country itself, Biden committed early in his campaign, in March, that he would name a woman on the ticket.

Men may be 'insulted' by Biden's female vice president pledge, says Trump Declaring that he wants a government as diverse as the country itself, Biden committed early in his campaign, in March, that he would name a woman on the ticket. Philippines' Duterte has 'huge trust' in Russia vaccine, volunteers for trial Russia on Tuesday became the first country in the world to grant regulatory approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for mass domestic inoculation even as the final stage of clinical trials continue. In contact with Russia over vaccine, rigorous review and assessment required: WHO Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russian direct investment fund which financed the coronavirus vaccine project, said that Phase 3 trials would start on Wednesday with industrial production due to start next month. Downfall: BP worker sacked for Hitler meme wins $200,000 in compensation The video, which the company had said it considered "highly offensive and inappropriate", had captions showing Hitler as an unnamed BP manager enraged about workers rejecting a pay deal. Novel coronavirus found on frozen seafood in China The virus was found on the outer packaging of frozen seafood bought by three companies in Yantai, a port city in eastern Shandong province, the report added. New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern puts Auckland on lockdown after four coronavirus cases detected The New Zealand government has put Auckland on level 3 alert for the next 3 days along with the rest of the country which has been put on alert level 2. Greece wants emergency EU meeting on Turkey amid high tensions in eastern Mediterranean The row flared Monday when Ankara sent the research ship Oruc Reis off the Greek island of Kastellorizo, where Turkey disputes Greek maritime rights. After Russia, these COVID-19 vaccines set to unveil soon! President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia has successfully developed the world’s “first” coronavirus vaccine. Many vaccines around the world have reached the final stage of testing. All you want to know about Russia's coronavirus vaccine 'Sputnik' Russian President Vladimir Putin said that one of his own daughters had received the inoculation, dubbed 'Sputnik' after the pioneering 1950s Soviet satellite. Beirut blast: Places where ammonium nitrate is being stored around the world Ammonium nitrate, which Lebanese authorities have said caused the devastating Beirut blast, is an odorless crystalline substance commonly used as a fertilizer that has been the cause of numerous industrial explosions over the decades. It is being stored in several other countries across the globe.

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Indian soldiers were seen hitting the windows, smashing a Chinese Dongfeng - a military vehicle which is the mainstay of the Chinese forces.

The video had gone viral when tensions between India and China were high at the border.&nbsp;In fact, the Indian army had confirmed in May that the&nbsp;video has no link with the India-China border standoff.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gravitas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gravitas</a> | A Chinese netizen had to apologize after claiming that sub-standard vehicles led to the death of soldiers during clash with Indian troops. PLA says the netizen was spreading rumours. But the story triggered a wave of fresh claims on Chinese internet. <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a> has more <a href="https://t.co/kUHeHF9z6J">pic.twitter.com/kUHeHF9z6J</a>
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Netizens in China have been claiming that the Humvees used by the Chinese military are "hollow". There is speculation that the Chinese Dongfeng failed to protect the lives of Chinese soldiers in Galwan. Beijing still hasn't disclosed the number of its soldiers killed in Ladakh during the clash on June 15.

Reports in China say that the country's top manufacturer of military vehicles may have cheated the government. It is a very serious allegation for any country, especially for China.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="http://wionews.com/videos/gravitas-did-sub-standard-vehicles-take-the-lives-of-chinese-soldiers-at-galwan-319574/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The report was published on the website of the Chinese military. It says that a Netizen in China, a man named Zhou had to apologise. Apologise for what? Spreading rumours, said the website.

Zhou had uploaded a post on WeChat. He said the Dongfeng Humvee had failed to protect China's soldiers. Zhou asserted that&nbsp;the poor quality of these vehicles led to the death of PLA troops on the India-China border. The post was published on August 4 and within days, the Dongfeng company reported Zhou to the police. He was arrested and made to apologise.

The Chinese military has now published an apology from Zhou. A letter allegedly signed by Zhou claims that his post was a lie. He now says his claims on the Chinese Dongfeng was just a rumour and that he is sorry. The post should have settled the issue but it did not as the story spread to other Chinese websites who began featuring stories about the Dongfeng.

In another post, a report claimed that one official of the Dongfeng Motor group is facing disciplinary action for allegedly violating “party discipline”. However, there is no mention of the India-China border standoff.&nbsp;

Another Chinese website made a similar claim. Sohu.com, a Chinese internet services company claimed not one, but two officials of the Dongfeng company have been&nbsp;facing anti-corruption investigations. Again, there was no mention of the India-China border standoff but both stories were published in June when the border tensions were at their peak.

There is only one piece that makes a clear connection between the standoff and the Humvees. It is from the Apple daily, a tabloid that is published from Hong Kong. It said poor quality steel could have been used to build these Humvees. There is also a quote from a commentator who says the claims around the faulty vehicles is believable. The owner of Apple daily was arrested under the sedition law.

The question being asked is whether he being punished for exposing China's military corruption

&nbsp;

These pieces are part of the chatter online. So far, there is no clinching proof that can conclusively link the substandard military vehicles to casualties in Galwan Valley but such claims are not new, neither is the corruption in Chinese military contracts.

The Dongfeng Humvee represents everything that is wrong with China. First, the military vehicle is a copy of the Hummer but a legal one. The car is built by the Dongfeng Motor group - a car-making company that is owned by the Chinese state. Hummer is a famous truck and SUV brand of the West. China's Dongfeng reportedly has the licence to remake the Hummer and supply it to the Chinese military.

Dongfeng has faced corruption charges earlier, however once again the details are sketchy but in 2015, a general manager of Dongfeng was under investigation for “severe violation of discipline". Now, the company is facing similar charges again. It could be about the clashes at the border or something else.

In China, the truth is always obscure. Military contracts, like most things, are hidden behind smoke and mirrors. China does not admit to military casualties and it won't admit to military corruption even as multiple reports have emerged below the radar. The state has felt the need to clamp down on them, make high profile arrests and make people issue apologies but it points to only one thing - another cover-up in progress.

Indian soldiers were seen hitting the windows, smashing a Chinese Dongfeng - a military vehicle which is the mainstay of the Chinese forces. The video had gone viral when tensions between India and China were high at the border.

Indian soldiers were seen hitting the windows, smashing a Chinese Dongfeng - a military vehicle which is the mainstay of the Chinese forces. The video had gone viral when tensions between India and China were high at the border. In fact, the Indian army had confirmed in May that the video has no link with the India-China border standoff. #Gravitas | A Chinese netizen had to apologize after claiming that sub-standard vehicles led to the death of soldiers during clash with Indian troops. PLA says the netizen was spreading rumours. But the story triggered a wave of fresh claims on Chinese internet. @palkisu has more pic.twitter.com/kUHeHF9z6J — WION (@WIONews) August 10, 2020 × Netizens in China have been claiming that the Humvees used by the Chinese military are "hollow". There is speculation that the Chinese Dongfeng failed to protect the lives of Chinese soldiers in Galwan. Beijing still hasn't disclosed the number of its soldiers killed in Ladakh during the clash on June 15. Reports in China say that the country's top manufacturer of military vehicles may have cheated the government. It is a very serious allegation for any country, especially for China. The report was published on the website of the Chinese military. It says that a Netizen in China, a man named Zhou had to apologise. Apologise for what? Spreading rumours, said the website. Zhou had uploaded a post on WeChat. He said the Dongfeng Humvee had failed to protect China's soldiers. Zhou asserted that the poor quality of these vehicles led to the death of PLA troops on the India-China border. The post was published on August 4 and within days, the Dongfeng company reported Zhou to the police. He was arrested and made to apologise. The Chinese military has now published an apology from Zhou. A letter allegedly signed by Zhou claims that his post was a lie. He now says his claims on the Chinese Dongfeng was just a rumour and that he is sorry. The post should have settled the issue but it did not as the story spread to other Chinese websites who began featuring stories about the Dongfeng. In another post, a report claimed that one official of the Dongfeng Motor group is facing disciplinary action for allegedly violating “party discipline”. However, there is no mention of the India-China border standoff. Another Chinese website made a similar claim. Sohu.com, a Chinese internet services company claimed not one, but two officials of the Dongfeng company have been facing anti-corruption investigations. Again, there was no mention of the India-China border standoff but both stories were published in June when the border tensions were at their peak. There is only one piece that makes a clear connection between the standoff and the Humvees. It is from the Apple daily, a tabloid that is published from Hong Kong. It said poor quality steel could have been used to build these Humvees. There is also a quote from a commentator who says the claims around the faulty vehicles is believable. The owner of Apple daily was arrested under the sedition law. The question being asked is whether he being punished for exposing China's military corruption These pieces are part of the chatter online. So far, there is no clinching proof that can conclusively link the substandard military vehicles to casualties in Galwan Valley but such claims are not new, neither is the corruption in Chinese military contracts. The Dongfeng Humvee represents everything that is wrong with China. First, the military vehicle is a copy of the Hummer but a legal one. The car is built by the Dongfeng Motor group - a car-making company that is owned by the Chinese state. Hummer is a famous truck and SUV brand of the West. China's Dongfeng reportedly has the licence to remake the Hummer and supply it to the Chinese military. Dongfeng has faced corruption charges earlier, however once again the details are sketchy but in 2015, a general manager of Dongfeng was under investigation for “severe violation of discipline". Now, the company is facing similar charges again. It could be about the clashes at the border or something else. In China, the truth is always obscure. Military contracts, like most things, are hidden behind smoke and mirrors. China does not admit to military casualties and it won't admit to military corruption even as multiple reports have emerged below the radar. The state has felt the need to clamp down on them, make high profile arrests and make people issue apologies but it points to only one thing - another cover-up in progress.

Did China's Dongfeng military vehicle compromise PLA at Galwan Valley?

The vaguely worded and widely applied Hong Kong security law was designed to end Hong Kong's liberties and autonomy. Hong Kong's dark phase has begun as the city saw the first high profile arrest under the security law.

Business tycoon Jimmy Lai was handcuffed, escorted out of his office, put into a police van and taken away. Lai has been accused of violating the new security law and colluding with a foreign country.

China's Global Times&nbsp;had a lot to say. It described Lai as a riot supporter.

His tabloid, Apple Daily was accused of "instigating hatred, spreading rumours and smearing Hong Kong authorities and mainland for years".

The security law was implemented on June 10. &nbsp;It was not supposed to be applied retroactively.&nbsp;

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Lai's arrest spells abuse of the security law. Beijing has repeatedly called him a traitor. He is one of the most prominent pro-democracy voices from Hong Kong. China refers to him as the black hand behind last year's pro-democracy protests. The 71-year-old owns the retail company- Giordano, the tabloid&nbsp;Apple Daily and the Next magazine. Lai is worth more than $1 billion and holds a UK citizenship.

He has never been shy of taking on the Chinese leadership. He once said: "China being the number 2 strongest country in the world and has a dictator like Xi Jinping on top of it.. Domestically a lot of people think that Xi Jinping is becoming Mao Zedong."

Lai's media platforms are critical of Beijing. Apple Daily was the most-read newspaper in 2019. It has been a target of Xi's men. Jimmy Lai once received rotten animal entrails on mail.

In 2015, he spoke to AFP about freeing press from China's clutches. He said: "People is taking control of the media in the mobile world, so we don't have to worry about whether the media will be controlled by china or the media will be controlled by the tycoon who fight for China who is leaning on China; no the world is changing. Technology has given the control of the media to each individual."

Earlier today, the Apple Daily newsroom was raided by 200 policemen. At least 9 people were arrested.&nbsp;The&nbsp;assault on the free press was broadcast live on Facebook.

Is this the future of Hong Kong media? Will reporting lead to arrests?

The Apple Daily episode comes days after Washington slapped sanctions on high profile Hong Kong officials.

Carry lam and her masters in Beijing are undeterred. The world must make China pay for its massacre of Hong Kong.

The vaguely worded and widely applied Hong Kong security law was designed to end Hong Kong's liberties and autonomy. Hong Kong's dark phase has begun as the city saw the first high profile arrest under the security law.

The vaguely worded and widely applied Hong Kong security law was designed to end Hong Kong's liberties and autonomy. Hong Kong's dark phase has begun as the city saw the first high profile arrest under the security law. Business tycoon Jimmy Lai was handcuffed, escorted out of his office, put into a police van and taken away. Lai has been accused of violating the new security law and colluding with a foreign country. China's Global Times had a lot to say. It described Lai as a riot supporter. His tabloid, Apple Daily was accused of "instigating hatred, spreading rumours and smearing Hong Kong authorities and mainland for years". The security law was implemented on June 10. It was not supposed to be applied retroactively. Lai's arrest spells abuse of the security law. Beijing has repeatedly called him a traitor. He is one of the most prominent pro-democracy voices from Hong Kong. China refers to him as the black hand behind last year's pro-democracy protests. The 71-year-old owns the retail company- Giordano, the tabloid Apple Daily and the Next magazine. Lai is worth more than $1 billion and holds a UK citizenship. He has never been shy of taking on the Chinese leadership. He once said: "China being the number 2 strongest country in the world and has a dictator like Xi Jinping on top of it.. Domestically a lot of people think that Xi Jinping is becoming Mao Zedong." Lai's media platforms are critical of Beijing. Apple Daily was the most-read newspaper in 2019. It has been a target of Xi's men. Jimmy Lai once received rotten animal entrails on mail. In 2015, he spoke to AFP about freeing press from China's clutches. He said: "People is taking control of the media in the mobile world, so we don't have to worry about whether the media will be controlled by china or the media will be controlled by the tycoon who fight for China who is leaning on China; no the world is changing. Technology has given the control of the media to each individual." Earlier today, the Apple Daily newsroom was raided by 200 policemen. At least 9 people were arrested. The assault on the free press was broadcast live on Facebook. Is this the future of Hong Kong media? Will reporting lead to arrests? The Apple Daily episode comes days after Washington slapped sanctions on high profile Hong Kong officials. Carry lam and her masters in Beijing are undeterred. The world must make China pay for its massacre of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai arrested under the new security law

The China-Pakistan economic corridor(CPEC) for China is a geopolitical game-changer - the biggest success of Chinese expansionism, For Pakistan&nbsp;it is a life-time opportunity and its last chance for economic modernisation.

For the last six months, the multi-billion dollar project has been both a source of interest and concern even as there has been a global debate over its potential and problems.

Lieutenant colonel Imran Qasim, a Pakistani army officer in charge of the 27th wing of Pakistan army's special security division operates from Bahawalpur - a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. Recently, the colonel wrote a letter to his seniors which has now been leaked. The letter talked about a scuffle between Chinese labourers and Pakistani soldiers.

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As per the letter, the incident occurred on July 21. A protection party of six Pakistan army soldiers was tasked to look after the security of four Chinese labourers. The group also comprised two Chinese civilians. The team was working on CPEC's mainline that links Karachi and Peshawar. The leader of the team insisted on moving to the next project site and leaving one &nbsp;Chinese labourer behind but he couldn't quite convince Pakistan soldiers who weren't too keen on leaving the Chinese worker alone.

As per the letter, there was no translator present so the Pakistan army representative, havaldar Asad Ullah decided to call the military camp to obtain an approval but before he could make the call the havaldar was assaulted. He was hit on the head twice and within a matter of time the other Chinese labourers joined in and an-all out scuffle broke out.

The entire episode was detailed in the letter by colonel Imran Qasim but the letter and the entire incident was brushed below the carpet. The army high command ordered the soldiers to disengage and to avoid any such physical altercations in the future because the Pakistan army have been instructed not to confront the Chinese in any manner no matter how serious the level of escalation and no matter the reckless behaviour of Chinese workers.

In fact, a video from 2018 shows Chinese engineers thrashing Pakistani policemen. The cause of the scuffle is somewhat similar. The engineers were barred from leaving their camps without a security squad and they decided to ask why not through a fist-fight.

The Chinese engineer decided to stand on the bonnet of a police vehicle printed with the flag of Pakistan. The image depicts the reality of CPEC more than words ever could.

Most of the CPEC workers based in Pakistan belong to the Chinese military in one way or the other. They are trained in martial arts and weapon handling. It probably explains why they can't restrain themselves from a clash.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has turned off the oil tap for Pakistan. Riyadh has halted the provision of "oil on loan" for Islamabad. In 2018, Pakistan had borrowed $6.2 billion in loan from Saudi Arabia out of this $3 billion was debt relief in the form of cash and the remaining $3.2 billion was the worth of oil Riyadh had decided to provide Islamabad annually.

The provision expired two months ago and Saudi Arabia hasn't renewed it, instead, it has forced Pakistan to pay $1 billion from the cash loan it had secured.

Clearly, the sheikhdom is quite miffed with the Pakistan PM and his endless obsession with Kashmir but Imran Khan is the very substitute of the word adamant and he has realised that the Arabs won't do his bidding at global platforms, so, he is turning to the wannabe torch-bearer of the Islamic world.

Turkey, Islamabad and Ankara are strengthening their strategic cooperation and coordinating diplomatically on global platforms. Pakistan has managed to secure a visit by the president-elect of the UN general assembly ambassador Volkan Bozkir. He landed in Islamabad earlier and was received by the Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Ambassador Bozkir later sat down for extensive talks with Pak foreign ministry officials and then he even called upon the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to the Pak foreign ministry, Imran Khan apprised the to-be UNGA chief about the "serious situation of Kashmir", an issue that was on agenda of the UN security council for over seven decades.

The president-elect of the UN General Assembly happens to be from Turkey. He was born in Turkey, raised in Turkey and has served the Turkish government as a diplomat and negotiator. He is now going to be the president of the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations and he is currently in Pakistan.

The China-Pakistan economic corridor(CPEC) for China is a geopolitical game-changer - the biggest success of Chinese expansionism, For Pakistan it is a life-time opportunity and its last chance for economic modernisation.

The China-Pakistan economic corridor(CPEC) for China is a geopolitical game-changer - the biggest success of Chinese expansionism, For Pakistan it is a life-time opportunity and its last chance for economic modernisation. For the last six months, the multi-billion dollar project has been both a source of interest and concern even as there has been a global debate over its potential and problems. Lieutenant colonel Imran Qasim, a Pakistani army officer in charge of the 27th wing of Pakistan army's special security division operates from Bahawalpur - a city in Pakistan's Punjab province. Recently, the colonel wrote a letter to his seniors which has now been leaked. The letter talked about a scuffle between Chinese labourers and Pakistani soldiers. As per the letter, the incident occurred on July 21. A protection party of six Pakistan army soldiers was tasked to look after the security of four Chinese labourers. The group also comprised two Chinese civilians. The team was working on CPEC's mainline that links Karachi and Peshawar. The leader of the team insisted on moving to the next project site and leaving one Chinese labourer behind but he couldn't quite convince Pakistan soldiers who weren't too keen on leaving the Chinese worker alone. As per the letter, there was no translator present so the Pakistan army representative, havaldar Asad Ullah decided to call the military camp to obtain an approval but before he could make the call the havaldar was assaulted. He was hit on the head twice and within a matter of time the other Chinese labourers joined in and an-all out scuffle broke out. The entire episode was detailed in the letter by colonel Imran Qasim but the letter and the entire incident was brushed below the carpet. The army high command ordered the soldiers to disengage and to avoid any such physical altercations in the future because the Pakistan army have been instructed not to confront the Chinese in any manner no matter how serious the level of escalation and no matter the reckless behaviour of Chinese workers. In fact, a video from 2018 shows Chinese engineers thrashing Pakistani policemen. The cause of the scuffle is somewhat similar. The engineers were barred from leaving their camps without a security squad and they decided to ask why not through a fist-fight. The Chinese engineer decided to stand on the bonnet of a police vehicle printed with the flag of Pakistan. The image depicts the reality of CPEC more than words ever could. Most of the CPEC workers based in Pakistan belong to the Chinese military in one way or the other. They are trained in martial arts and weapon handling. It probably explains why they can't restrain themselves from a clash. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has turned off the oil tap for Pakistan. Riyadh has halted the provision of "oil on loan" for Islamabad. In 2018, Pakistan had borrowed $6.2 billion in loan from Saudi Arabia out of this $3 billion was debt relief in the form of cash and the remaining $3.2 billion was the worth of oil Riyadh had decided to provide Islamabad annually. The provision expired two months ago and Saudi Arabia hasn't renewed it, instead, it has forced Pakistan to pay $1 billion from the cash loan it had secured. Clearly, the sheikhdom is quite miffed with the Pakistan PM and his endless obsession with Kashmir but Imran Khan is the very substitute of the word adamant and he has realised that the Arabs won't do his bidding at global platforms, so, he is turning to the wannabe torch-bearer of the Islamic world. Turkey, Islamabad and Ankara are strengthening their strategic cooperation and coordinating diplomatically on global platforms. Pakistan has managed to secure a visit by the president-elect of the UN general assembly ambassador Volkan Bozkir. He landed in Islamabad earlier and was received by the Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Ambassador Bozkir later sat down for extensive talks with Pak foreign ministry officials and then he even called upon the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. According to the Pak foreign ministry, Imran Khan apprised the to-be UNGA chief about the "serious situation of Kashmir", an issue that was on agenda of the UN security council for over seven decades. The president-elect of the UN General Assembly happens to be from Turkey. He was born in Turkey, raised in Turkey and has served the Turkish government as a diplomat and negotiator. He is now going to be the president of the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations and he is currently in Pakistan.

Chinese labourers beat up Pakistan soldiers as Saudi Arabia shuts oil tap

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Zee News Rajasthan

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