Russian&nbsp;opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been abruptly transferred from the prison where he is serving an 11.5&nbsp;year sentence to an undisclosed location, nearly two years since he was poisoned with what the West said was a nerve agent.

Navalny, by far Russia's most prominent opposition leader, casts President Vladimir Putin's Russia as a dystopian state run by thieves and criminals where wrong is cast as right and judges are in fact representatives of a doomed elite.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-destroys-last-bridge-out-of-key-east-ukraine-city-487958">Russia destroys last bridge out of key east Ukraine city</a>

Navalny's top aide informed about the transfer on the Telegram app on Tuesday.

Just last month, Navalny lambasted Putin via video link in a&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;court, casting the Kremlin chief as a madman who started a "stupid war" that was butchering the innocent people of both Ukraine and Russia.

When his lawyer arrived at Correctional Colony No. 2, a prison camp in Pokrov, 119 kilometres (74 miles) east of Moscow, he was told: "There is no such convict here," according to Navalny's chief of staff Leonid Volkov.

"Where Alexei is now, and which colony he is being taken to, we don't know," Volkov said in a statement on Telegram.

Navalny's spokeswoman said there was speculation that he was being taken to the high-security penal colony IK-6 Melekhovo near Vladimir, about 250 km (155 miles) east of Moscow.

Russia's prison service could not be reached for immediate comment.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russia cuts off Severodonetsk as three connecting bridges were destroyed

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"The problem with his transfer to another colony is not only that the high-security colony is much scarier: it is more that we don't know where Alexei is," his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said.

"He is one-to-one with the system that has already tried to kill him."

He earned admiration from the disparate&nbsp;Russian&nbsp;opposition for voluntarily returning to Russia in 2021 from Germany where he underwent treatment for what Western laboratory tests showed was an attempt to poison him with a nerve agent in Siberia.

On his return he was jailed for parole violations. Russia denies Navalny's claims that Russia's secret police poisoned him with Novichok.

On March 24, Navalny was sentenced to a further nine years in prison for fraud and contempt of court. The opposition leader says the charges against him are fabricated and aimed at thwarting his political ambitions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wikipedia-fights-russian-order-to-remove-ukraine-war-information-488088">Wikipedia fights Russian order to remove Ukraine war information</a>

The judge ordered that Navalny be transferred to a maximum-security prison, where his rights to visits and correspondence will be reduced.

Navalny's political network has been largely dismantled since his jailing, having been banned as an "extremist" organisation. Senior aides and organisers have either been jailed or forced into exile.

Navalny said two weeks ago that he had been charged in a new criminal case with creating an extremist organisation and inciting hatred towards the authorities, offences that carry a maximum jail term of 15 more years.

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Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been abruptly transferred from the prison where he is serving an 11.5 year sentence to an undisclosed location, nearly two years since he was poisoned with what the West said was a nerve agent.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been abruptly transferred from the prison where he is serving an 11.5 year sentence to an undisclosed location, nearly two years since he was poisoned with what the West said was a nerve agent. Navalny, by far Russia's most prominent opposition leader, casts President Vladimir Putin's Russia as a dystopian state run by thieves and criminals where wrong is cast as right and judges are in fact representatives of a doomed elite. Also read | Russia destroys last bridge out of key east Ukraine city Navalny's top aide informed about the transfer on the Telegram app on Tuesday. Just last month, Navalny lambasted Putin via video link in a Russian court, casting the Kremlin chief as a madman who started a "stupid war" that was butchering the innocent people of both Ukraine and Russia. When his lawyer arrived at Correctional Colony No. 2, a prison camp in Pokrov, 119 kilometres (74 miles) east of Moscow, he was told: "There is no such convict here," according to Navalny's chief of staff Leonid Volkov. "Where Alexei is now, and which colony he is being taken to, we don't know," Volkov said in a statement on Telegram. Navalny's spokeswoman said there was speculation that he was being taken to the high-security penal colony IK-6 Melekhovo near Vladimir, about 250 km (155 miles) east of Moscow. Russia's prison service could not be reached for immediate comment. Watch | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Russia cuts off Severodonetsk as three connecting bridges were destroyed "The problem with his transfer to another colony is not only that the high-security colony is much scarier: it is more that we don't know where Alexei is," his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said. "He is one-to-one with the system that has already tried to kill him." He earned admiration from the disparate Russian opposition for voluntarily returning to Russia in 2021 from Germany where he underwent treatment for what Western laboratory tests showed was an attempt to poison him with a nerve agent in Siberia. On his return he was jailed for parole violations. Russia denies Navalny's claims that Russia's secret police poisoned him with Novichok. On March 24, Navalny was sentenced to a further nine years in prison for fraud and contempt of court. The opposition leader says the charges against him are fabricated and aimed at thwarting his political ambitions. Also read | Wikipedia fights Russian order to remove Ukraine war information The judge ordered that Navalny be transferred to a maximum-security prison, where his rights to visits and correspondence will be reduced. Navalny's political network has been largely dismantled since his jailing, having been banned as an "extremist" organisation. Senior aides and organisers have either been jailed or forced into exile. Navalny said two weeks ago that he had been charged in a new criminal case with creating an extremist organisation and inciting hatred towards the authorities, offences that carry a maximum jail term of 15 more years. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Jailed Russian opposition leader Navalny moved to undisclosed location

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is triggering shifts in the smuggling routes for illegal drugs to Europe, the EU drugs agency warned on Tuesday.

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) director Alexis Goosdeel said the war had already had a "direct impact" on one of the heroin trafficking routes out of Afghanistan that used to pass through Ukraine and other neighbouring nations.

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"Drug traffickers have no interest to continue to use this route", he told an online news conference, adding there were already signs of increased trafficking on the borders between Turkey and Bulgaria and Turkey and Greece.

Goosdeel said the conflict was also forcing smugglers using the Black Sea to opt for other routes as some ports were now out of reach. He said it was likely trafficking would increase through the Greek islands and the southern Mediterranean.

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In its annual report, the Lisbon-based EMCDDA also said many people who had suffered "severe psychological stress" during the conflict may become more vulnerable to substance misuse problems, and that health services in European countries, especially those bordering Ukraine, were likely to become more strained as drug users fleeing the conflict required support.

"Continuity of treatment, language services and the provision of accommodation and social welfare support are likely to be key requirements", it said, adding that even those who were not drug users were at risk.

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The agency also said the difficult financial situation in Afghanistan that has been under Taliban control since August could make drug revenues a more important source of income and lead to an increase in heroin trafficking to Europe.

It said that despite a ban on the production, sale and trafficking of illicit drugs, poppy cultivation appeared to continue in Afghanistan.

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Russia's invasion of Ukraine is triggering shifts in the smuggling routes for illegal drugs to Europe, the EU drugs agency warned on Tuesday. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) director Alexis Goosdeel said the war had already had a "direct impact" on one of the heroin trafficking routes out of Afghanistan that used to pass through Ukraine and other neighbouring nations.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is triggering shifts in the smuggling routes for illegal drugs to Europe, the EU drugs agency warned on Tuesday. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) director Alexis Goosdeel said the war had already had a "direct impact" on one of the heroin trafficking routes out of Afghanistan that used to pass through Ukraine and other neighbouring nations. Also read | US planning to bring new rules to cut nicotine level in cigarettes, announcement soon: Report "Drug traffickers have no interest to continue to use this route", he told an online news conference, adding there were already signs of increased trafficking on the borders between Turkey and Bulgaria and Turkey and Greece. Goosdeel said the conflict was also forcing smugglers using the Black Sea to opt for other routes as some ports were now out of reach. He said it was likely trafficking would increase through the Greek islands and the southern Mediterranean. Watch | Canada to decriminalize possession of certain drugs In its annual report, the Lisbon-based EMCDDA also said many people who had suffered "severe psychological stress" during the conflict may become more vulnerable to substance misuse problems, and that health services in European countries, especially those bordering Ukraine, were likely to become more strained as drug users fleeing the conflict required support. "Continuity of treatment, language services and the provision of accommodation and social welfare support are likely to be key requirements", it said, adding that even those who were not drug users were at risk. Also read | Thailand becomes first Asian country to legalise consumption of marijuana The agency also said the difficult financial situation in Afghanistan that has been under Taliban control since August could make drug revenues a more important source of income and lead to an increase in heroin trafficking to Europe. It said that despite a ban on the production, sale and trafficking of illicit drugs, poppy cultivation appeared to continue in Afghanistan. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine war forces switch in drug trafficking routes, EU body warns

Germany's top court ruled on Tuesday that an anti-Semitic, medieval&nbsp;sculpture&nbsp;can stay on the facade of a church in the eastern town of Wittenberg, rejecting an appeal by a Jewish plaintiff who has for years argued it is an insult to all Jews.

The 13th century "Judensau" or "Jew Sow" on the town church depicts a caricature of a rabbi lifting the tail of a sow and two Jewish children suckling on the teats. Pigs are considered unclean in Judaism.

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At a time when politicians are warning about rising anti-Semitism in Germany, the ruling is a reminder of widespread anti-Jewish sentiment in the Middle Ages.

The plaintiff has been waging a court battle for years to have the sandstone carving, about 4 metres from the ground, removed.

However, the Federal Court of Justice, the country's top appeals court, upheld rulings from lower courts which dismissed the case, saying there was no breach of the law.

The transformation over the years of the relief into a memorial that was testimony to the Christian Church's centuries-long anti-Jewish attitudes was one way to avoid a violation of the law, said the court in a statement.

Watch |&nbsp;German-Kurdish archaeological team discover 3,400-year-old city in Iraq

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In November 1988, fifty years after Kristallnacht when Jewish property was set alight and destroyed in Nazi Germany, the church installed a bronze plaque under the relief remembering the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust and an information board.

The Wittenberg stone carving is one of about two dozen similar&nbsp;sculptures from the Middle Ages that still feature on churches around Germany and elsewhere in Europe.

The Central Council of Jews said it understood the court's decision but that, in its view, the floor plate and explanatory display did not go far enough and the church must acknowledge its guilt and condemn its centuries-long anti-Judaism.

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"The defamation of Jews by the church must be a thing of the past once and for all," said Council President Josef Schuster.

Wittenberg was also the town where Martin Luther is said to have nailed his theses challenging Catholicism to a church door in 1517 which led to the Protestant Reformation in Germany.

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Germany's top court ruled on Tuesday that an anti-Semitic, medieval sculpture can stay on the facade of a church in the eastern town of Wittenberg, rejecting an appeal by a Jewish plaintiff who has for years argued it is an insult to all Jews.

Germany's top court ruled on Tuesday that an anti-Semitic, medieval sculpture can stay on the facade of a church in the eastern town of Wittenberg, rejecting an appeal by a Jewish plaintiff who has for years argued it is an insult to all Jews. The 13th century "Judensau" or "Jew Sow" on the town church depicts a caricature of a rabbi lifting the tail of a sow and two Jewish children suckling on the teats. Pigs are considered unclean in Judaism. Also read | 5,700 acts of sexual abuse committed by German Catholic priests: Report At a time when politicians are warning about rising anti-Semitism in Germany, the ruling is a reminder of widespread anti-Jewish sentiment in the Middle Ages. The plaintiff has been waging a court battle for years to have the sandstone carving, about 4 metres from the ground, removed. However, the Federal Court of Justice, the country's top appeals court, upheld rulings from lower courts which dismissed the case, saying there was no breach of the law. The transformation over the years of the relief into a memorial that was testimony to the Christian Church's centuries-long anti-Jewish attitudes was one way to avoid a violation of the law, said the court in a statement. Watch | German-Kurdish archaeological team discover 3,400-year-old city in Iraq In November 1988, fifty years after Kristallnacht when Jewish property was set alight and destroyed in Nazi Germany, the church installed a bronze plaque under the relief remembering the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust and an information board. The Wittenberg stone carving is one of about two dozen similar sculptures from the Middle Ages that still feature on churches around Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The Central Council of Jews said it understood the court's decision but that, in its view, the floor plate and explanatory display did not go far enough and the church must acknowledge its guilt and condemn its centuries-long anti-Judaism. Also read | 'Planning to hunt Jews during football match': Four neo-Nazis arrested in France "The defamation of Jews by the church must be a thing of the past once and for all," said Council President Josef Schuster. Wittenberg was also the town where Martin Luther is said to have nailed his theses challenging Catholicism to a church door in 1517 which led to the Protestant Reformation in Germany. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Anti-Jewish medieval sculpture can stay on church, top German court rules

An 18-year-old from Australia has been charged after police seized a fully functioning firearm he allegedly made at home with a 3D printer. Police said the homemade weapon was discovered by Drug and Firearm Squad detectives inside a home in Bayswater, in Perth's northeast, on June 3.&nbsp;

"This firearm although it resembles a toy has the ability to cause serious harm within our community," Detective Senior Sgt. Blair Smith told reporters. "It's deeply concerning that this man was able to manufacture this firearm at home with a 3D printer and readily available materials."

The 3D-printed weapon is capable of firing 15 rounds with one pull of the trigger. The teen has been charged with a series of firearm offences including the unlicensed manufacture of firearms or ammunition and possession of a prohibited weapon.&nbsp;

In Australia, civilians are banned from possessing fully automatic weapons, and all other gun ownership is heavily regulated and restricted to people over 18 with a valid license.&nbsp;

The laws were introduced in 1996 after a gunman opened fire on tourists at Port Arthur, a former colonial prison in Tasmania, killing 35 people.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-says-uk-government-not-deterred-by-criticism-of-rwanda-deportation-policy-488127">Boris Johnson says UK government 'not deterred' by criticism of Rwanda deportation policy</a>

Sergeant Smith described the discovery of the assault rifle as 'deeply concerning' and said it held no place in the community. 'Although it resembles a toy it has the ability to cause serious harm within our community,' he told reporters during a press conference on Monday. &nbsp;

It is estimated that it can take just 48 hours to manufacture a gun with materials costing as little as $40, while a 3D printer can cost $6,000.

The teen is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on June 22. &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

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An 18-year-old from Australia has been charged after police seized a fully functioning firearm he allegedly made at home with a 3D printer. Police said the homemade weapon was discovered by Drug and Firearm Squad detectives inside a home in Bayswater, in Perth's northeast, on June 3.

An 18-year-old from Australia has been charged after police seized a fully functioning firearm he allegedly made at home with a 3D printer. Police said the homemade weapon was discovered by Drug and Firearm Squad detectives inside a home in Bayswater, in Perth's northeast, on June 3. "This firearm although it resembles a toy has the ability to cause serious harm within our community," Detective Senior Sgt. Blair Smith told reporters. "It's deeply concerning that this man was able to manufacture this firearm at home with a 3D printer and readily available materials." The 3D-printed weapon is capable of firing 15 rounds with one pull of the trigger. The teen has been charged with a series of firearm offences including the unlicensed manufacture of firearms or ammunition and possession of a prohibited weapon. In Australia, civilians are banned from possessing fully automatic weapons, and all other gun ownership is heavily regulated and restricted to people over 18 with a valid license. The laws were introduced in 1996 after a gunman opened fire on tourists at Port Arthur, a former colonial prison in Tasmania, killing 35 people. Also Read: Boris Johnson says UK government 'not deterred' by criticism of Rwanda deportation policy Sergeant Smith described the discovery of the assault rifle as 'deeply concerning' and said it held no place in the community. 'Although it resembles a toy it has the ability to cause serious harm within our community,' he told reporters during a press conference on Monday. It is estimated that it can take just 48 hours to manufacture a gun with materials costing as little as $40, while a 3D printer can cost $6,000. The teen is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on June 22. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australian teen charged for 3D printing firearm at home

Five Iranian crew of a cargo plane grounded in Argentina since last week have had their passports temporarily seized pending a probe into possible links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, officials said Monday.

A judge on Monday ordered their travel documents held for an additional 72 hours after Security Minister Anibal Fernandez said information had been received from "foreign organizations" that some among the crew may be linked to companies with ties to the Guards.

The Revolutionary Guards, Iran's ideological army, is on a US blacklist of foreign "terrorist organizations."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-iranian-aerospace-officials-martyred-while-on-mission-487829">Two Iranian aerospace officials ‘martyred while on mission’</a>

A routine check found "things that were not logical," Fernandez told Perfil radio on Monday.

"They had declared a crew that was smaller than the one that traveled," he said, adding the matter was "still under investigation."

He said the five Iranians were in a hotel.

Officials originally said their passports had been taken but would be returned if they left the country on a scheduled flight while investigations continued into the plane's origins.&nbsp;

The Venezuelan Boeing 747 cargo plane reportedly carrying car parts first landed in Cordoba, Argentina on Monday last week, then tried to travel to neighboring Uruguay, but was denied entry and returned to Ezeiza outside Buenos Aires.

The crew also included 14 Venezuelans, who were free to go.

Neighboring Paraguay had warned of the aircraft's presence in the area, Paraguayan interior minister Federico Gonzalez said.&nbsp;

"The other intelligence services in the region were alerted and, as a result, Argentina and other countries took action," he said.

'Propaganda'

Iran said Monday that Argentina's move was part of a "propaganda" campaign against Tehran amid tensions with Western countries over negotiations to revive a 2015 nuclear deal.

The grounding of the cargo plane came days before Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro visited Tehran on Saturday for the allies, both subject to US sanctions, to sign a 20-year cooperation pact.

Watch |&nbsp;Argentina protests against femicide: 'Justice is slow and patriarchal'

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Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters the grounding of the plane was part of efforts seeking to "cause a feeling of insecurity."

"These recent weeks are filled with propaganda, are full of psychological operations, these wars of words that want to infiltrate the minds and composure of the people," said Khatibzadeh.&nbsp;

"This news is one of those."

The plane was sold by Iran's Mahan Air to a Venezuelan company last year, he said.

Mahan Air is accused by the United States of links with Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Monday's court ruling to hold the crew's passports came after&nbsp;a successful bid by the DAIA organization that represents Argentina's Jewish community to be listed as a plaintiff in the investigation.

Interpol has arrest warrants out for former Iranian leaders suspected of involvement in an attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994 that killed 85 people and injured hundreds.&nbsp;

It remains the deadliest terror attack in the country with South America's largest Jewish population.

The grounding of the plane came as a resolution was adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors to censure Iran.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-enriching-uranium-at-an-unprecedented-rate-dangerously-close-to-nukes-israeli-pm-bennett-487478">&nbsp;Iran enriching uranium at unprecedented rate, dangerously close to nukes: Israeli PM Bennett</a>

Talks in Vienna, under way since April last year, aim to return the US to a nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that it left in 2018.

The deal had given Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program to guarantee that it could not develop a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has always denied wanting to do.

Iran said Monday that all measures it has taken to roll back on its commitments under the deal are "reversible".

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Five Iranian crew of a cargo plane grounded in Argentina since last week have had their passports temporarily seized pending a probe into possible links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, officials said Monday.

Five Iranian crew of a cargo plane grounded in Argentina since last week have had their passports temporarily seized pending a probe into possible links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, officials said Monday. A judge on Monday ordered their travel documents held for an additional 72 hours after Security Minister Anibal Fernandez said information had been received from "foreign organizations" that some among the crew may be linked to companies with ties to the Guards. The Revolutionary Guards, Iran's ideological army, is on a US blacklist of foreign "terrorist organizations." Also read | Two Iranian aerospace officials ‘martyred while on mission’ A routine check found "things that were not logical," Fernandez told Perfil radio on Monday. "They had declared a crew that was smaller than the one that traveled," he said, adding the matter was "still under investigation." He said the five Iranians were in a hotel. Officials originally said their passports had been taken but would be returned if they left the country on a scheduled flight while investigations continued into the plane's origins. The Venezuelan Boeing 747 cargo plane reportedly carrying car parts first landed in Cordoba, Argentina on Monday last week, then tried to travel to neighboring Uruguay, but was denied entry and returned to Ezeiza outside Buenos Aires. The crew also included 14 Venezuelans, who were free to go. Neighboring Paraguay had warned of the aircraft's presence in the area, Paraguayan interior minister Federico Gonzalez said. "The other intelligence services in the region were alerted and, as a result, Argentina and other countries took action," he said. 'Propaganda' Iran said Monday that Argentina's move was part of a "propaganda" campaign against Tehran amid tensions with Western countries over negotiations to revive a 2015 nuclear deal. The grounding of the cargo plane came days before Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro visited Tehran on Saturday for the allies, both subject to US sanctions, to sign a 20-year cooperation pact. Watch | Argentina protests against femicide: 'Justice is slow and patriarchal' Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters the grounding of the plane was part of efforts seeking to "cause a feeling of insecurity." "These recent weeks are filled with propaganda, are full of psychological operations, these wars of words that want to infiltrate the minds and composure of the people," said Khatibzadeh. "This news is one of those." The plane was sold by Iran's Mahan Air to a Venezuelan company last year, he said. Mahan Air is accused by the United States of links with Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Monday's court ruling to hold the crew's passports came after a successful bid by the DAIA organization that represents Argentina's Jewish community to be listed as a plaintiff in the investigation. Interpol has arrest warrants out for former Iranian leaders suspected of involvement in an attack on a Jewish center in Buenos Aires in 1994 that killed 85 people and injured hundreds. It remains the deadliest terror attack in the country with South America's largest Jewish population. The grounding of the plane came as a resolution was adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors to censure Iran. Also read | Iran enriching uranium at unprecedented rate, dangerously close to nukes: Israeli PM Bennett Talks in Vienna, under way since April last year, aim to return the US to a nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that it left in 2018. The deal had given Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program to guarantee that it could not develop a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has always denied wanting to do. Iran said Monday that all measures it has taken to roll back on its commitments under the deal are "reversible". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Argentina seizes passports of grounded plane's Iranian crew

South Korean truck drivers staged an eighth day of protests Tuesday over rising fuel costs&nbsp;that have further snarled&nbsp;global supply chains, with&nbsp;the government warning their actions&nbsp;had caused&nbsp;more than $1 billion in losses.

The strike has disrupted shipment and production for the crucial steel, petrochemical and automobiles industries, causing about 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in losses, according to data from Seoul's trade ministry.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-says-north-korea-fires-multiple-artillery-shots-from-rocket-launchers-487600">South Korea says North Korea fires multiple artillery shots from rocket launchers</a>

The industrial action is the latest headache for global supply chains, already strained by prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns in China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

South Korea is the world's largest memory chip exporter and home to global chip powerhouse Samsung Electronics, as well as large car companies including Kia and Hyundai Motors.

It also represents the first major industrial action under newly-elected President Yoon Suk-yeol, a pro-business conservative who previously vowed to deal "strictly" with labour disputes.

The drivers stopped work last week and have disrupted ports and factories in Asia's fourth-largest economy as they protest against the ending of a minimum wage guarantee and rising costs.

"All we are asking for is to remove the uncertainty in our lives," Cho Jeong-jae, a member of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union, told AFP Tuesday.

Watch |&nbsp;South Korea truck strike: Steel maker Posco to halt some plants

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The truckers say they are "desperate" due to sharp rises in fuel costs -- with inflation in South Korea at its highest level in over a decade according to official data last month.

"When fuel prices drop, it's reflected very quickly by lowering freight fees," Cho said. "But that's not the case when fuel prices rise. Our livelihood is at stake."

Loud music blared out from a van parked near a port in Incheon on Tuesday, AFP reporters saw, as dozens of trucks lined up the road, flying flags hoisted on bamboo canes.

Similar protests were happening across the country as of Monday, more than 7,000 people took part in the protests at 14 locations,&nbsp;according to the land ministry.

Negotiations are ongoing, but the government has come under fire for its "hostile" policy towards workers, which critics say is fuelling the tensions.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-a-suspected-arson-at-least-seven-people-killed-in-south-korean-building-fire-486682">&nbsp;In a suspected arson, at least seven people killed in South Korean building fire</a>

On the campaign trail, Yoon a political novice&nbsp;had vowed to deal "strictly" with labour disputes and indicated he was more pro-business on issues such as minimum working hours.

As of Monday, 23 members of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union had arrested for committing "illegal activities" such as "interfering" with normal vehicle operation, according to the country's transport ministry.

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South Korean truck drivers staged an eighth day of protests Tuesday over rising fuel costs that have further snarled global supply chains, with the government warning their actions had caused more than $1 billion in losses.

South Korean truck drivers staged an eighth day of protests Tuesday over rising fuel costs that have further snarled global supply chains, with the government warning their actions had caused more than $1 billion in losses. The strike has disrupted shipment and production for the crucial steel, petrochemical and automobiles industries, causing about 1.6 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in losses, according to data from Seoul's trade ministry. Also read | South Korea says North Korea fires multiple artillery shots from rocket launchers The industrial action is the latest headache for global supply chains, already strained by prolonged COVID-19 lockdowns in China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. South Korea is the world's largest memory chip exporter and home to global chip powerhouse Samsung Electronics, as well as large car companies including Kia and Hyundai Motors. It also represents the first major industrial action under newly-elected President Yoon Suk-yeol, a pro-business conservative who previously vowed to deal "strictly" with labour disputes. The drivers stopped work last week and have disrupted ports and factories in Asia's fourth-largest economy as they protest against the ending of a minimum wage guarantee and rising costs. "All we are asking for is to remove the uncertainty in our lives," Cho Jeong-jae, a member of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union, told AFP Tuesday. Watch | South Korea truck strike: Steel maker Posco to halt some plants The truckers say they are "desperate" due to sharp rises in fuel costs -- with inflation in South Korea at its highest level in over a decade according to official data last month. "When fuel prices drop, it's reflected very quickly by lowering freight fees," Cho said. "But that's not the case when fuel prices rise. Our livelihood is at stake." Loud music blared out from a van parked near a port in Incheon on Tuesday, AFP reporters saw, as dozens of trucks lined up the road, flying flags hoisted on bamboo canes. Similar protests were happening across the country as of Monday, more than 7,000 people took part in the protests at 14 locations, according to the land ministry. Negotiations are ongoing, but the government has come under fire for its "hostile" policy towards workers, which critics say is fuelling the tensions. Also read | In a suspected arson, at least seven people killed in South Korean building fire On the campaign trail, Yoon a political novice had vowed to deal "strictly" with labour disputes and indicated he was more pro-business on issues such as minimum working hours. As of Monday, 23 members of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union had arrested for committing "illegal activities" such as "interfering" with normal vehicle operation, according to the country's transport ministry. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

South Korean trucker strike snarls supply chains

Sri Lanka's cash-strapped government has approved several measures, including imposing a 2.5 per cent social contribution tax on companies based on their turnover and declaring Fridays as holidays for most public sector employees, to facilitate the economic recovery and mitigate energy and food crisis.

Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nearly-10-per-cent-of-sri-lankas-population-faced-food-shortages-before-covid-19-pandemic-report-487811">Nearly 10 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population faced food shortages before COVID-19 pandemic: Report</a>

The economic crisis has prompted an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and other fuel, toilet paper, and even matches, with Sri Lankans being forced to wait in lines lasting hours outside stores to buy fuel and cooking gas.

The Cabinet at a meeting held on Monday approved a bill to impose a 2.5 per cent tax on companies with an annual turnover of Rs&nbsp;120 million.

The new tax named the social contribution levy will be applicable to businesses in imports, manufacturing, service providers, wholesalers and retailers, according to an official statement.

Watch |&nbsp;Fuel crisis worsens in Sri Lanka as Lankan government plans fuel-rationing scheme

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In another measure aimed at mitigating the ongoing energy crisis, the Cabinet has approved to declare Fridays as holidays for the public sector employees.

This, however, would not be applicable to the employees in the health, power and energy, education and defence sectors.

The Cabinet also approved a move to grant government officials one leave per week for the next three months to engage in agriculture to mitigate the approaching food crisis.

Minister of Home affairs and Public Administration Dinesh Gunawardena said that fuel consumption will be reduced because of this move.

We have decided to make Fridays a holiday for all public servants because of the transportation issues that have popped up as a result of the fuel scarcity.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-risks-full-blown-humanitarian-emergency-un-agency-says-487716">Sri Lanka risks full-blown humanitarian emergency, UN agency says</a>

"Public servants can stay at home and focus on growing food crops on Fridays",&nbsp;he said.

Gunawardena said that Monday&nbsp;was made a holiday for all public servants so that they will not have to spend their resources and come to Colombo and go back again to their villages for the Poson Holiday on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka is experiencing long queues for refueling at pumping stations as the government finds it difficult to finance fuel imports to retain a reserve adequate for a minimum of three months.

A move to ration fuel is to be implemented from next month as the forex crisis gets worsened.

The nearly bankrupt country, with an acute foreign currency crisis that resulted in foreign debt default, announced in April that it is suspending nearly USD 7 billion foreign debt repayment due for this year out of about USD 25 billion due through 2026.

Sri Lanka's total foreign debt stands at USD 51 billion.

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Sri Lanka's cash-strapped government has approved several measures, including imposing a 2.5 per cent social contribution tax on companies based on their turnover and declaring Fridays as holidays for most public sector employees, to facilitate the economic recovery and mitigate energy and food crisis.

Sri Lanka's cash-strapped government has approved several measures, including imposing a 2.5 per cent social contribution tax on companies based on their turnover and declaring Fridays as holidays for most public sector employees, to facilitate the economic recovery and mitigate energy and food crisis. Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948. Also read | Nearly 10 per cent of Sri Lanka’s population faced food shortages before COVID-19 pandemic: Report The economic crisis has prompted an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and other fuel, toilet paper, and even matches, with Sri Lankans being forced to wait in lines lasting hours outside stores to buy fuel and cooking gas. The Cabinet at a meeting held on Monday approved a bill to impose a 2.5 per cent tax on companies with an annual turnover of Rs 120 million. The new tax named the social contribution levy will be applicable to businesses in imports, manufacturing, service providers, wholesalers and retailers, according to an official statement. Watch | Fuel crisis worsens in Sri Lanka as Lankan government plans fuel-rationing scheme In another measure aimed at mitigating the ongoing energy crisis, the Cabinet has approved to declare Fridays as holidays for the public sector employees. This, however, would not be applicable to the employees in the health, power and energy, education and defence sectors. The Cabinet also approved a move to grant government officials one leave per week for the next three months to engage in agriculture to mitigate the approaching food crisis. Minister of Home affairs and Public Administration Dinesh Gunawardena said that fuel consumption will be reduced because of this move. We have decided to make Fridays a holiday for all public servants because of the transportation issues that have popped up as a result of the fuel scarcity. Also read | Sri Lanka risks full-blown humanitarian emergency, UN agency says "Public servants can stay at home and focus on growing food crops on Fridays", he said. Gunawardena said that Monday was made a holiday for all public servants so that they will not have to spend their resources and come to Colombo and go back again to their villages for the Poson Holiday on Tuesday. Sri Lanka is experiencing long queues for refueling at pumping stations as the government finds it difficult to finance fuel imports to retain a reserve adequate for a minimum of three months. A move to ration fuel is to be implemented from next month as the forex crisis gets worsened. The nearly bankrupt country, with an acute foreign currency crisis that resulted in foreign debt default, announced in April that it is suspending nearly USD 7 billion foreign debt repayment due for this year out of about USD 25 billion due through 2026. Sri Lanka's total foreign debt stands at USD 51 billion. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sri Lankan cabinet approves several measures to facilitate economic recovery

A Phnom Penh court convicted around 60 opposition figures including Theary Seng, an outspoken US-Cambodian activist, who came dressed as the Statue of Liberty at the hearing, in a mass trial Tuesday as long-serving leader Hun Sen cracks down on dissent ahead of national elections next year.

Theary Seng is among scores caught up in a push to detain and arrest former members of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), human rights defenders, and any dissenting voices.

"I am ready for a guilty verdict because this regime will not let me go free," Seng said before her conviction.

"It will be an unfair and unjust verdict because I am innocent, the others charged with me are innocent," the 51-year-old added.

The defendants faced charges ranging from treason to incitement and conspiracy over opposition leader Sam Rainsy's failed bid to return to Cambodia in 2019, a move characterised by the government as an aborted bid to overthrow Hun Sen.

While some were senior figures in the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) directly involved in organising the return, many were prosecuted simply for posting support on social media.

Following Seng’s detention, there was a brief scuffle outside the court between police and relatives of those convicted, as well as her supporters.

"We are deeply troubled by today's unjust verdicts," a spokesman for the US embassy in Phnom Penh said, calling for her and others convicted to be released.

The embassy urged Cambodian authorities to "stop politically motivated trials" against political activists, journalists, and human rights campaigners.

"Freedom of expression and association, and tolerance of dissenting views, are vital components of democracy," US ambassador Patrick Murphy added in a tweet.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/millions-tested-in-beijing-amid-24-hour-bar-emerging-as-covid-epicentre-488114">Millions tested in Beijing amid 24-hour bar emerging as Covid epicentre</a>

Sam Rainsy, who has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail for convictions he says are politically motivated, had another eight years added to his existing sentence.

He said, "The political repression against the opposition gets more and more violent, and I would say also more and more blind. It targets all spheres of society, and actually targets freedom of expression, which is not tolerated under part of the authorities."

[with inputs from agencies]

 
&nbsp;

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A Phnom Penh court convicted around 60 opposition figures including Theary Seng, an outspoken US-Cambodian activist, who came dressed as the Statue of Liberty at the hearing, in a mass trial Tuesday as long-serving leader Hun Sen cracks down on dissent ahead of national elections next year.

A Phnom Penh court convicted around 60 opposition figures including Theary Seng, an outspoken US-Cambodian activist, who came dressed as the Statue of Liberty at the hearing, in a mass trial Tuesday as long-serving leader Hun Sen cracks down on dissent ahead of national elections next year. Theary Seng is among scores caught up in a push to detain and arrest former members of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), human rights defenders, and any dissenting voices. "I am ready for a guilty verdict because this regime will not let me go free," Seng said before her conviction. "It will be an unfair and unjust verdict because I am innocent, the others charged with me are innocent," the 51-year-old added. The defendants faced charges ranging from treason to incitement and conspiracy over opposition leader Sam Rainsy's failed bid to return to Cambodia in 2019, a move characterised by the government as an aborted bid to overthrow Hun Sen. While some were senior figures in the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) directly involved in organising the return, many were prosecuted simply for posting support on social media. Following Seng’s detention, there was a brief scuffle outside the court between police and relatives of those convicted, as well as her supporters. "We are deeply troubled by today's unjust verdicts," a spokesman for the US embassy in Phnom Penh said, calling for her and others convicted to be released. The embassy urged Cambodian authorities to "stop politically motivated trials" against political activists, journalists, and human rights campaigners. "Freedom of expression and association, and tolerance of dissenting views, are vital components of democracy," US ambassador Patrick Murphy added in a tweet. Also Read: Millions tested in Beijing amid 24-hour bar emerging as Covid epicentre Sam Rainsy, who has lived in France since 2015 to avoid jail for convictions he says are politically motivated, had another eight years added to his existing sentence. He said, "The political repression against the opposition gets more and more violent, and I would say also more and more blind. It targets all spheres of society, and actually targets freedom of expression, which is not tolerated under part of the authorities." [with inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Cambodian-American activist dressed as Lady Liberty at her trial in Phnom Penh convicted of treason

In pics: Tech platforms that are no longer in existence

A key executive who was leading Tesla's lobbying effort in India resigned, weeks after the US&nbsp;carmaker put on hold plans to sell electric cars in the South Asian nation.&nbsp;Manuj Khurana, policy and business development executive at Tesla in India, was hired in March 2021 and played a key role in forming a domestic market-entry plan for the US&nbsp;carmaker in the country.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tesla-files-for-another-stock-split-billionaire-larry-ellison-to-leave-board-487138">Tesla to seek investor approval for 3-for-1 stock split</a>

He lobbied the Indian government for more than a year to slash the import tax on electric cars to 40 per cent&nbsp;from as high as 100 per cent, a move Tesla said would allow it to test the market with imports from its production hubs like China before investing in a factory.

But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government insisted Tesla must first commit to manufacturing cars locally before it can offer any concessions. With talks deadlocked, Tesla put its plans to sell cars in India on hold, reassigned some of the domestic team and abandoned its search for showroom space.

Watch |&nbsp;Musk wants to cut Tesla staff by 10%

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Neither Khurana, the company's first employee in India nor Tesla responded to requests for comment.

An email sent to Khurana generated an automated reply saying the address was no longer valid and future emails would not be received.

"Tesla's plans to launch in India right now are as good as dead", said one of the sources.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tesla-goes-ahead-with-china-hiring-event-after-musk-job-warning-486473">Tesla goes ahead with China hiring event after Musk job warning</a>

The sources wished to remain anonymous because the resignation had not yet been made public.

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Twitter last month that the company would not set up manufacturing in any location where it was not allowed first to sell and service cars.

The carmaker has also shifted its focus to other markets in Southeast Asia, like nickel-rich Indonesia, where it is looking at a potential battery-related investment, as well as Thailand, where it recently registered a local unit to sell cars.

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A key executive who was leading Tesla's lobbying effort in India resigned, weeks after the US carmaker put on hold plans to sell electric cars in the South Asian nation.

A key executive who was leading Tesla's lobbying effort in India resigned, weeks after the US carmaker put on hold plans to sell electric cars in the South Asian nation. Manuj Khurana, policy and business development executive at Tesla in India, was hired in March 2021 and played a key role in forming a domestic market-entry plan for the US carmaker in the country. Also read | Tesla to seek investor approval for 3-for-1 stock split He lobbied the Indian government for more than a year to slash the import tax on electric cars to 40 per cent from as high as 100 per cent, a move Tesla said would allow it to test the market with imports from its production hubs like China before investing in a factory. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government insisted Tesla must first commit to manufacturing cars locally before it can offer any concessions. With talks deadlocked, Tesla put its plans to sell cars in India on hold, reassigned some of the domestic team and abandoned its search for showroom space. Watch | Musk wants to cut Tesla staff by 10% Neither Khurana, the company's first employee in India nor Tesla responded to requests for comment. An email sent to Khurana generated an automated reply saying the address was no longer valid and future emails would not be received. "Tesla's plans to launch in India right now are as good as dead", said one of the sources. Also read | Tesla goes ahead with China hiring event after Musk job warning The sources wished to remain anonymous because the resignation had not yet been made public. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Twitter last month that the company would not set up manufacturing in any location where it was not allowed first to sell and service cars. The carmaker has also shifted its focus to other markets in Southeast Asia, like nickel-rich Indonesia, where it is looking at a potential battery-related investment, as well as Thailand, where it recently registered a local unit to sell cars. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Tesla India policy executive quits after company puts entry plan on hold

The UK government would not be "deterred or abashed" by criticism and legal challenges against its Rwanda immigration plan ahead of the first scheduled flight on Tuesday said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The flight to take asylum seekers to Rwanda was due to depart on Tuesday, with the government warning that anyone who avoided it through last-minute legal challenges would be put on a later flight anyway.

Johnson said, “ The objective is to ensure that we make that clear distinction that I think everybody can see is fair and reasonable, between legal immigration to this country by safe and legal routes, that we support and uphold and protect because we all understand the benefits that it brings. And distinguishing that from dangerous and illegal cross Channel migration which we intend to stop."

Britain has struck a 120-million-pound ($148 million) deal with Rwanda to send some migrants, who had arrived illegally by crossing the Channel in small boats from Europe, to live in the landlocked African country.

The government says the deportation strategy is needed to stem the flow of migrants risking their lives in channel crossings and smash the people-smuggling networks.

"What we see now is our policy, the Economic and Migration Partnership with Rwanda, that we have engaged upon, now under a huge amount of attack," Johnson told a meeting of his cabinet ministers on Tuesday.

The plan has horrified political opponents, charities and church leaders who say it is inhumane. The United Nations refugee chief called it "catastrophic," and the entire leadership of the Church of England denounced it as an "immoral policy that shames Britain."

"My message today is that we are not going to in any way deterred or abashed by some of the criticism that has been directed upon this policy - some of it from slightly unexpected quarters - we're going to get on and deliver," Johnson told ministers.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-pm-narendra-modi-directs-1-million-recruitments-in-next-15-years-488007">Indian PM Narendra Modi directs government departments for 1 million recruitments in next 1.5 years</a>

&nbsp;UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, "It's important that we follow through on this policy."&nbsp;

She also spoke about a potential legal fight with the EU over London's plan to override some post-Brexit trade rules.

"I want that negotiated solution, but we do need the EU to be prepared to change the text," Truss said on Tuesday morning. 
&nbsp;

[with inputs from agencies]

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The UK government would not be "deterred or abashed" by criticism and legal challenges against its Rwanda immigration plan ahead of the first scheduled flight on Tuesday said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The UK government would not be "deterred or abashed" by criticism and legal challenges against its Rwanda immigration plan ahead of the first scheduled flight on Tuesday said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The flight to take asylum seekers to Rwanda was due to depart on Tuesday, with the government warning that anyone who avoided it through last-minute legal challenges would be put on a later flight anyway. Johnson said, “ The objective is to ensure that we make that clear distinction that I think everybody can see is fair and reasonable, between legal immigration to this country by safe and legal routes, that we support and uphold and protect because we all understand the benefits that it brings. And distinguishing that from dangerous and illegal cross Channel migration which we intend to stop." Britain has struck a 120-million-pound ($148 million) deal with Rwanda to send some migrants, who had arrived illegally by crossing the Channel in small boats from Europe, to live in the landlocked African country. The government says the deportation strategy is needed to stem the flow of migrants risking their lives in channel crossings and smash the people-smuggling networks. "What we see now is our policy, the Economic and Migration Partnership with Rwanda, that we have engaged upon, now under a huge amount of attack," Johnson told a meeting of his cabinet ministers on Tuesday. The plan has horrified political opponents, charities and church leaders who say it is inhumane. The United Nations refugee chief called it "catastrophic," and the entire leadership of the Church of England denounced it as an "immoral policy that shames Britain." "My message today is that we are not going to in any way deterred or abashed by some of the criticism that has been directed upon this policy - some of it from slightly unexpected quarters - we're going to get on and deliver," Johnson told ministers. Also Read: Indian PM Narendra Modi directs government departments for 1 million recruitments in next 1.5 years UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, "It's important that we follow through on this policy." She also spoke about a potential legal fight with the EU over London's plan to override some post-Brexit trade rules. "I want that negotiated solution, but we do need the EU to be prepared to change the text," Truss said on Tuesday morning. [with inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Boris Johnson says UK government 'not deterred' by criticism of Rwanda deportation policy

A 24-hour bar known for cheap liquor and big crowds has been identified as a Covid outbreak epicentre in China, authorities in Beijing raced on Monday to contain the&nbsp;outbreak&nbsp;with millions facing mandatory testing and thousands under targeted lockdowns.

The outbreak of 228 cases linked to the Heaven Supermarket Bar, which had just reopened as restrictions in Beijing eased last week, highlights how hard it will be for China to make a success of its "zero Covid" policy as much of the rest of the world opts to learn how to live with the virus.

The re-emergence of infections is also raising new concerns about the outlook for the world's second-largest economy. China is only just shaking off a heavy blow from a long lockdown in Shanghai - its most populous city and commercial nerve centre - that also disrupted global supply chains.&nbsp;

"Epidemic prevention and control are at a critical juncture," a Beijing health official, Liu Xiaofeng, told a news conference on Monday, adding that the outbreak linked to the bar in the city's biggest district, Chaoyang, was "still developing".

In a show of how seriously authorities are taking the situation, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan visited the bar and said it was necessary to strengthen Covid&nbsp;prevention and control of key places, state media reported on Monday.

People infected in the outbreak live or work in 14 of the capital's 16 districts, authorities have said.

Drinking and dining in most of Beijing's establishments only resumed on June 6 after more than a month in which the city of 22 million enforced curbs including urging people to work from home and shutting malls and parts of the transport system.

Chaoyang kicked off a three-day mass testing campaign among its roughly 3.5 million residents on Monday. About 10,000 close contacts of the bar's patrons have been identified, and their residential buildings put under lockdown.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-research-hints-at-4-factors-that-may-increase-chances-of-long-covid-447776">New research hints at 4 factors that may increase chances of long COVID</a>

Some planned school reopenings in the district have been postponed.

Queues snaked around testing sites on Monday for more than 100 metres, according to Reuters witnesses. Large metal barriers have been installed around several residential compounds, with people in hazmat suits spraying disinfectant.

Other nearby businesses under lockdown included the Paradise Massage &amp; Spa parlour. Police tape and security staff blocked the entrance to the parlour on Sunday and authorities said a handful of people would be locked in temporarily for checks.

[with inputs from agencies]

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A 24-hour bar known for cheap liquor and big crowds has been identified as a Covid outbreak epicentre in China, authorities in Beijing raced on Monday to contain the outbreak with millions facing mandatory testing and thousands under targeted lockdowns.

A 24-hour bar known for cheap liquor and big crowds has been identified as a Covid outbreak epicentre in China, authorities in Beijing raced on Monday to contain the outbreak with millions facing mandatory testing and thousands under targeted lockdowns. The outbreak of 228 cases linked to the Heaven Supermarket Bar, which had just reopened as restrictions in Beijing eased last week, highlights how hard it will be for China to make a success of its "zero Covid" policy as much of the rest of the world opts to learn how to live with the virus. The re-emergence of infections is also raising new concerns about the outlook for the world's second-largest economy. China is only just shaking off a heavy blow from a long lockdown in Shanghai - its most populous city and commercial nerve centre - that also disrupted global supply chains. "Epidemic prevention and control are at a critical juncture," a Beijing health official, Liu Xiaofeng, told a news conference on Monday, adding that the outbreak linked to the bar in the city's biggest district, Chaoyang, was "still developing". In a show of how seriously authorities are taking the situation, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan visited the bar and said it was necessary to strengthen Covid prevention and control of key places, state media reported on Monday. People infected in the outbreak live or work in 14 of the capital's 16 districts, authorities have said. Drinking and dining in most of Beijing's establishments only resumed on June 6 after more than a month in which the city of 22 million enforced curbs including urging people to work from home and shutting malls and parts of the transport system. Chaoyang kicked off a three-day mass testing campaign among its roughly 3.5 million residents on Monday. About 10,000 close contacts of the bar's patrons have been identified, and their residential buildings put under lockdown. Also Read: New research hints at 4 factors that may increase chances of long COVID Some planned school reopenings in the district have been postponed. Queues snaked around testing sites on Monday for more than 100 metres, according to Reuters witnesses. Large metal barriers have been installed around several residential compounds, with people in hazmat suits spraying disinfectant. Other nearby businesses under lockdown included the Paradise Massage & Spa parlour. Police tape and security staff blocked the entrance to the parlour on Sunday and authorities said a handful of people would be locked in temporarily for checks. [with inputs from agencies] WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Millions tested in Beijing amid 24-hour bar emerging as Covid epicentre

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