Colombia has arrested 10 people accused of involvement in attacks on a helicopter carrying President Ivan Duque and a military base last month that officials said on Thursday were planned by former FARC rebel leaders based in Venezuela. 
 
The car bombing at the base in the northeastern city of Cucuta, home to the army's 30th Brigade, wounded 44 people, including two US&nbsp;military advisers. Later in June, a helicopter approaching the city with Duque and other officials aboard was strafed by bullets. 
 
The 10 people captured in Norte de Santander province are former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who reject a 2016 peace deal, Attorney General Francisco Barbosa said in a news conference broadcast via social media, and belong to the dissidents' 33rd front. 
 
Three of them took part in the planning and execution of both attacks and have been detained and charged, while another is a retired army captain, Barbosa said. 
 
Orders to carry out the attacks came from former FARC leaders who are operating from Venezuela, Defense Minister Diego Molano said during the news conference. 
 
Molano said the attacks demonstrated that the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sheltered FARC dissidents, referring to them as "terrorists." 
 
"It's clear that this attack against the president, against the 30th Brigade, was planned from Venezuela," Molano said. 
 
Colombia`s government has long accused Maduro of turning a blind eye to the presence of Colombian rebels on his country`s territory. Maduro, in turn, has said Venezuela is a victim of criminals from Colombia. 
 
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza responded on Twitter, accusing Molano of pointing at Venezuela in an effort to distract from Colombia`s internal problems. 
 
"Once again they use Venezuela to try to hide the tragedy of their country," he said, adding that Colombia was riddled with violence and armed groups, with an economy reliant on drug trafficking.

Colombia has arrested 10 people accused of involvement in attacks on a helicopter carrying President Ivan Duque and a military base last month that officials said on Thursday were planned by former FARC rebel leaders based in Venezuela.

Colombia has arrested 10 people accused of involvement in attacks on a helicopter carrying President Ivan Duque and a military base last month that officials said on Thursday were planned by former FARC rebel leaders based in Venezuela. The car bombing at the base in the northeastern city of Cucuta, home to the army's 30th Brigade, wounded 44 people, including two US military advisers. Later in June, a helicopter approaching the city with Duque and other officials aboard was strafed by bullets. The 10 people captured in Norte de Santander province are former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who reject a 2016 peace deal, Attorney General Francisco Barbosa said in a news conference broadcast via social media, and belong to the dissidents' 33rd front. Three of them took part in the planning and execution of both attacks and have been detained and charged, while another is a retired army captain, Barbosa said. Orders to carry out the attacks came from former FARC leaders who are operating from Venezuela, Defense Minister Diego Molano said during the news conference. Molano said the attacks demonstrated that the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sheltered FARC dissidents, referring to them as "terrorists." "It's clear that this attack against the president, against the 30th Brigade, was planned from Venezuela," Molano said. Colombia`s government has long accused Maduro of turning a blind eye to the presence of Colombian rebels on his country`s territory. Maduro, in turn, has said Venezuela is a victim of criminals from Colombia. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza responded on Twitter, accusing Molano of pointing at Venezuela in an effort to distract from Colombia`s internal problems. "Once again they use Venezuela to try to hide the tragedy of their country," he said, adding that Colombia was riddled with violence and armed groups, with an economy reliant on drug trafficking.

Colombia arrests 10 over attacks on Duque's helicopter, military base

Police in Denmark said they on Tuesday have arrested six men, who are suspected of joining and financing the Islamic State group in Syria.&nbsp;

Two of those arrested, ages 29 and 30, allegedly travelled to Syria in 2014 where they were recruited by IS. They are suspected of violating Danish terror laws and, if found guilty, they face up to six years in jail. The 29-year-old man tried to reenter Syria in 2015, police said in a statement.&nbsp;

Five of them are also suspected of sending money to financially support the group. One of them, the 29-year-old, allegedly transferred funds from 2013 to 2017.&nbsp;

Police said in a statement that they believed that the 29-year-old man used the four others as middlemen for the money transfers. If found guilty of financing a terror group, they face up to 10 years in prison.&nbsp;

None of the men were identified in line with Danish practice. &nbsp;

The arrests of the men, ranging in age from 27 to 35, were made in Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city. Police and the Danish Security Intelligence Agency took part in the arrests. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Police in Denmark said they on Tuesday have arrested six men, who are suspected of joining and financing the Islamic State group in Syria. Two of those arrested, ages 29 and 30, allegedly travelled to Syria in 2014 where they were recruited by IS.

Police in Denmark said they on Tuesday have arrested six men, who are suspected of joining and financing the Islamic State group in Syria. Two of those arrested, ages 29 and 30, allegedly travelled to Syria in 2014 where they were recruited by IS. They are suspected of violating Danish terror laws and, if found guilty, they face up to six years in jail. The 29-year-old man tried to reenter Syria in 2015, police said in a statement. Five of them are also suspected of sending money to financially support the group. One of them, the 29-year-old, allegedly transferred funds from 2013 to 2017. Police said in a statement that they believed that the 29-year-old man used the four others as middlemen for the money transfers. If found guilty of financing a terror group, they face up to 10 years in prison. None of the men were identified in line with Danish practice. The arrests of the men, ranging in age from 27 to 35, were made in Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city. Police and the Danish Security Intelligence Agency took part in the arrests. (With inputs from agencies)

Denmark arrests 6 men for allegedly joining, financing IS 

Thai police on Monday vowed to arrest more people participating in anti-government protests after detaining nearly 100 at a demonstration a day earlier, citing a law restricting gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus.&nbsp;

Another protest demanding the release of jailed activists is planned for late Monday afternoon, raising prospects for another confrontation, with activists calling for an end to military dominance of politics and reform of the powerful monarchy.&nbsp;

"We have prepared troops to maintain order," Piya Tavichai, deputy head of the Bangkok police, told reporters.&nbsp;

Piya said 99 people were arrested on Sunday in front of Government House, saying the arrests were necessary under a law forbidding large public gatherings to prevent coronavirus spread.&nbsp;

The mostly student-led movement has taken aim at the military for entrenching its role in civilian politics, especially since Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power in a 2014 coup when he was army chief.&nbsp;

The activists say elections held in 2019 were under rules designed to cement Prayuth's hold on power. Prayuth and his coalition government allies say the vote was free and fair.&nbsp;

Prayuth on Monday told reporters the weekend arrests were justified.&nbsp;

"You have to look at the law. If I don't take action, there will be disruption in traffic. We are just taking back space. There have been many warnings," said Prayuth.&nbsp;

Dozens of people have been detained at protests in recent months under disease control and public order laws, but Sunday's protest represented one of the largest number of arrests at a single rally.&nbsp;

Additionally, at least nine leaders of the movement are jailed pending trial under a law against insulting the Thai monarchy, which carries a maximum 15-year penalty.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Thai police on Monday vowed to arrest more people participating in anti-government protests after detaining nearly 100 at a demonstration a day earlier, citing a law restricting gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Thai police on Monday vowed to arrest more people participating in anti-government protests after detaining nearly 100 at a demonstration a day earlier, citing a law restricting gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Another protest demanding the release of jailed activists is planned for late Monday afternoon, raising prospects for another confrontation, with activists calling for an end to military dominance of politics and reform of the powerful monarchy. "We have prepared troops to maintain order," Piya Tavichai, deputy head of the Bangkok police, told reporters. Piya said 99 people were arrested on Sunday in front of Government House, saying the arrests were necessary under a law forbidding large public gatherings to prevent coronavirus spread. The mostly student-led movement has taken aim at the military for entrenching its role in civilian politics, especially since Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power in a 2014 coup when he was army chief. The activists say elections held in 2019 were under rules designed to cement Prayuth's hold on power. Prayuth and his coalition government allies say the vote was free and fair. Prayuth on Monday told reporters the weekend arrests were justified. "You have to look at the law. If I don't take action, there will be disruption in traffic. We are just taking back space. There have been many warnings," said Prayuth. Dozens of people have been detained at protests in recent months under disease control and public order laws, but Sunday's protest represented one of the largest number of arrests at a single rally. Additionally, at least nine leaders of the movement are jailed pending trial under a law against insulting the Thai monarchy, which carries a maximum 15-year penalty. (With inputs from agencies)

After detaining nearly 100, Thai police vow more protest arrests  

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The Philippines said on Tuesday it would ramp up testing for the novel coronavirus amid a sharp rise in infections and deaths since a lockdown was eased in June, while President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to arrest anyone not wearing a mask.

The government aimed to test 32,000 to 40,000 people a day compared with the current 20,000 to 23,000, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a televised meeeting with Duterte.&nbsp;

The Philippines has tested nearly 1.1 million people so far, but Duque said the aim was for 10 million people - or nearly a tenth of the population - to be tested by the second quarter of next year.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/coronavirus-lockdown-could-lead-to-highest-births-in-philippines-in-two-decades-309355" hreflang="en">Coronavirus lockdown could lead to highest births in Philippines in two decades</a>

"We cannot test every citizen as no country has done it even the richest, the United States," Duque said.&nbsp;

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranks second to Indonesia in terms of the number of infections and deaths, with cases jumping nearly four-fold to 68,898 and deaths nearly doubling to 1,835 since the government relaxed lockdown measures in June.

Lockdowns have been reimposed in some of the hardest-hit areas.

Of 30 countries most impacted by the pandemic, the Philippines ranked 24th in terms of testing rate, data from statistics aggregator Statista showed.&nbsp;

Duterte threatened to arrest anyone who spread the virus, refused to wear masks or keep a safe distance from others. The tough-talking president warned in April that violators of lockdown rules could be shot for causing trouble.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/duterte-critic-journalist-maria-ressa-found-guilty-in-philippines-cyber-libel-case-305887" hreflang="en">Duterte-critic journalist Maria Ressa found guilty in Philippines cyber libel case</a>

"We do not have any qualms in arresting people," Duterte said in a recorded address aired on Tuesday. It was a "serious crime" to spread the COVID-19 respiratory disease, he added.

"If you are brought to the police station and detained there, that would give you a lesson for all time," he said of anyone caught not wearing a mask.

Last week, officials said health workers and police would take patients with mild or no symptoms from their homes and place them in isolation centres, raising concerns about possible human rights violations.

The Philippines said on Tuesday it would ramp up testing for the novel coronavirus amid a sharp rise in infections and deaths since a lockdown was eased in June, while President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to arrest anyone not wearing a mask.

The Philippines said on Tuesday it would ramp up testing for the novel coronavirus amid a sharp rise in infections and deaths since a lockdown was eased in June, while President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to arrest anyone not wearing a mask. The government aimed to test 32,000 to 40,000 people a day compared with the current 20,000 to 23,000, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a televised meeeting with Duterte. The Philippines has tested nearly 1.1 million people so far, but Duque said the aim was for 10 million people - or nearly a tenth of the population - to be tested by the second quarter of next year. Also read: Coronavirus lockdown could lead to highest births in Philippines in two decades "We cannot test every citizen as no country has done it even the richest, the United States," Duque said. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines ranks second to Indonesia in terms of the number of infections and deaths, with cases jumping nearly four-fold to 68,898 and deaths nearly doubling to 1,835 since the government relaxed lockdown measures in June. Lockdowns have been reimposed in some of the hardest-hit areas. Of 30 countries most impacted by the pandemic, the Philippines ranked 24th in terms of testing rate, data from statistics aggregator Statista showed. Duterte threatened to arrest anyone who spread the virus, refused to wear masks or keep a safe distance from others. The tough-talking president warned in April that violators of lockdown rules could be shot for causing trouble. Also read: Duterte-critic journalist Maria Ressa found guilty in Philippines cyber libel case "We do not have any qualms in arresting people," Duterte said in a recorded address aired on Tuesday. It was a "serious crime" to spread the COVID-19 respiratory disease, he added. "If you are brought to the police station and detained there, that would give you a lesson for all time," he said of anyone caught not wearing a mask. Last week, officials said health workers and police would take patients with mild or no symptoms from their homes and place them in isolation centres, raising concerns about possible human rights violations.

Philippines to ramp up coronavirus testing as Duterte warns of arrests

A leading opposition party representing Ethiopia's Oromo ethnic group said Monday that five senior members had been detained following violence last week that claimed at least 166 lives. 
 
The political crackdown deepens fears of a large-scale roundup of government critics as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed seeks to maintain control and keep a lid on simmering ethnic tensions and resentments. 
 
The opposition politicians from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) were seized by security forces in the capital, Addis Ababa, party chairman Dawud Ibsa told AFP. They include Chaltu Takkele and Gemmechu Ayana, senior political officers, and Kennesa Ayana, a member of the party's central committee. 
 
"We don't know why they were taken," Dawud said. "They were just simply sitting in their rooms and doing their jobs."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/ethiopia-protests-81-killed-in-violence-after-death-of-singer-military-deployed-310080" hreflang="en">Ethiopia protests: 81 killed in violence after death of singer; military deployed</a> 
 
Protests broke out in Addis Ababa and the surrounding Oromia region following the fatal shooting on June 29 of Hachalu Hundessa, a pop star whose songs channelled marginalisation among his Oromo ethnic group, Ethiopia's largest. 
 
An Oromia police official said late Saturday that 156 people had been killed across the region in the ensuing violence, including 11 members of the security forces. Ten additional deaths have been reported in Addis Ababa. 
 
Officials have attributed the deaths to a combination of lethal force by security officers and inter-ethnic violence. 
 
The situation in the capital has been calm since Friday, though a nationwide internet blackout remained in effect Monday for a seventh consecutive day. 
 
Abiy, who won last year's Nobel Peace Prize in part for opening up Ethiopia's political space, lifted a ban on the OLF shortly after he assumed office in 2018.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/at-least-52-killed-in-ethiopia-protests-over-singers-death-309893" hreflang="en">At least 52 killed in Ethiopia protests over singer's death</a> 
 
But the OLF's Dawud said some senior members of his party had been arrested numerous times since then and held for extended periods -- several months in some cases -- without ever seeing a courtroom, a tactic common under previous Ethiopian leaders. 
 
"It's the continuation of the past and we don't know why it's happening," he said. 
 
The OLF is not the only party to be targeted in recent days. During last week's unrest officials also detained Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba from the Oromo Federalist Congress, as well as Eskinder Nega, a longtime government critic who has recently spoken out against government policies he argues favour Oromos. 
 
All three men appeared briefly in court last week. 
 
In addition, officials on Friday detained Yilkal Getnet, chairman of the opposition Ethiopian National Movement Party, for reasons that remain unclear, according to Girma Bekele, vice chairman of the Ethiopian Political Parties Joint Council, a consortium of more than 100 parties. 
 
"I for one do not think Yilkal has any involvement with recent unrest. He believes in a peaceful, legal struggle," Girma told AFP.

A leading opposition party representing Ethiopia's Oromo ethnic group said Monday that five senior members had been detained following violence last week that claimed at least 166 lives.

A leading opposition party representing Ethiopia's Oromo ethnic group said Monday that five senior members had been detained following violence last week that claimed at least 166 lives. The political crackdown deepens fears of a large-scale roundup of government critics as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed seeks to maintain control and keep a lid on simmering ethnic tensions and resentments. The opposition politicians from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) were seized by security forces in the capital, Addis Ababa, party chairman Dawud Ibsa told AFP. They include Chaltu Takkele and Gemmechu Ayana, senior political officers, and Kennesa Ayana, a member of the party's central committee. "We don't know why they were taken," Dawud said. "They were just simply sitting in their rooms and doing their jobs." Also read: Ethiopia protests: 81 killed in violence after death of singer; military deployed Protests broke out in Addis Ababa and the surrounding Oromia region following the fatal shooting on June 29 of Hachalu Hundessa, a pop star whose songs channelled marginalisation among his Oromo ethnic group, Ethiopia's largest. An Oromia police official said late Saturday that 156 people had been killed across the region in the ensuing violence, including 11 members of the security forces. Ten additional deaths have been reported in Addis Ababa. Officials have attributed the deaths to a combination of lethal force by security officers and inter-ethnic violence. The situation in the capital has been calm since Friday, though a nationwide internet blackout remained in effect Monday for a seventh consecutive day. Abiy, who won last year's Nobel Peace Prize in part for opening up Ethiopia's political space, lifted a ban on the OLF shortly after he assumed office in 2018. Also read: At least 52 killed in Ethiopia protests over singer's death But the OLF's Dawud said some senior members of his party had been arrested numerous times since then and held for extended periods -- several months in some cases -- without ever seeing a courtroom, a tactic common under previous Ethiopian leaders. "It's the continuation of the past and we don't know why it's happening," he said. The OLF is not the only party to be targeted in recent days. During last week's unrest officials also detained Jawar Mohammed and Bekele Gerba from the Oromo Federalist Congress, as well as Eskinder Nega, a longtime government critic who has recently spoken out against government policies he argues favour Oromos. All three men appeared briefly in court last week. In addition, officials on Friday detained Yilkal Getnet, chairman of the opposition Ethiopian National Movement Party, for reasons that remain unclear, according to Girma Bekele, vice chairman of the Ethiopian Political Parties Joint Council, a consortium of more than 100 parties. "I for one do not think Yilkal has any involvement with recent unrest. He believes in a peaceful, legal struggle," Girma told AFP.

Arrests follow protests that killed at least 166 in Ethiopia

France said on Monday it would ban the controversial chokehold used to detain suspects after the death in custody of George Floyd in the United States intensified anger over the conduct of French police. 
 
A wave of global protests in the wake of Floyd's fatal arrest magnified attention on the 2016 death in French police custody of Adama Traore, a 24-year-old black man, and renewed controversy over claims of racism and brutality within the force. 
 
France's police watchdog said it had received almost 1,500 complaints against officers last year -- half of them for alleged violence. 
 
After a string of protests in recent days, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced the chokehold method "will be abandoned".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/meet-adama-traore-whose-death-identical-to-george-floyd-is-triggering-protests-in-france-304278" hreflang="en">Meet Adama Traore, whose death identical to George Floyd is triggering protests in France</a> 
 
"It will no longer be taught in police and gendarmerie schools. It is a method that has its dangers," he told a press conference. 
 
He added there would be "zero tolerance" for racism in law enforcement and officers strongly suspected of racism would be suspended. 
 
Castaner said too many officers "have failed in their Republican duty" in recent weeks, with several instances of racist and discriminatory remarks revealed. 
 
"It is not enough to condemn it," said Castaner. "We have to track it down and combat it."

'The police are not racist' 
But police unions questioned the changes. 
 
The impression given is that "everyone is nice except the police who are mean," said Philippe Capon of the Unsa-Police union. 
 
Frederic Lagache on the Alliance Union said he feared that police will be reduced to "street fighting or the use of tasers".Earlier Monday, President Emmanuel Macron urged his government to "accelerate" steps to improve police ethics. 
 
Former Prime Minister Manuel Valls said "the police are not racist", but racism, anti-Semitism and violence ran through society and the security forces "unfortunately do not escape these phenomena". 
 
Macron met Castaner and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Sunday a day after some 23,000 people protested in several French cities to demand "justice" for victims of crimes allegedly committed by police.

'Crisis of confidence' 
The French demonstrations started in response to an expert report clearing the three officers who arrested Traore. 
 
This was in spite of one of the officers having admitted the young man had been pinned to the ground with their combined body weight, and a report commissioned by Traore's family finding he had died due to the police intervention. 
 
Traore's family said they had been contacted by the office of Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet on Monday inviting them to "have an exchange" on the case, but they refused. 
 
"Adama Traore's family points out they expect legal advances are needed, not invitations to a discussion that would have no procedural purpose," a committee called "Truth for Adama" wrote on its Facebook page.&nbsp; 
 
Some 20,000 people rallied in Paris last Tuesday to demand justice for Traore and Floyd, defying a coronavirus ban on public gatherings. 
 
Floyd had similarly died after being pinned to the ground while under arrest.&nbsp; 
 
Media outlets last week published the contents of a private Facebook group on which French police members repeatedly used racist and sexist terms and mocked victims of police brutality. 
 
The IGPN police watchdog said on Monday that complaints against officers rose by nearly a quarter last year, when officers were deployed for months of weekly "yellow vest" anti-government protests.

The rallies often sparked tense confrontations that left several officers injured by rioting protesters, but also civilians beaten or struck by rubber bullets. 
 
Officially, 2,500 demonstrators and 1,800 law enforcement agents were injured in yellow vest protests. 
 
Activists say two dozen people lost an eye as police used rubber bullets to rein in the rallies, and five lost a hand to stun grenades. 
 
This year, video footage showed a riot officer punching a bloodied protester held down on his back, another tripping a woman, and yet another firing a rubber bullet at point-blank range. 
 
Macron has instructed Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet to look into Traore's death, and Castaner to step up measures to "improve the ethics" of the police force, the presidency said.&nbsp;

France said on Monday it would ban the controversial chokehold used to detain suspects after the death in custody of George Floyd in the United States intensified anger over the conduct of French police.

France said on Monday it would ban the controversial chokehold used to detain suspects after the death in custody of George Floyd in the United States intensified anger over the conduct of French police. A wave of global protests in the wake of Floyd's fatal arrest magnified attention on the 2016 death in French police custody of Adama Traore, a 24-year-old black man, and renewed controversy over claims of racism and brutality within the force. France's police watchdog said it had received almost 1,500 complaints against officers last year -- half of them for alleged violence. After a string of protests in recent days, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced the chokehold method "will be abandoned". Also read: Meet Adama Traore, whose death identical to George Floyd is triggering protests in France "It will no longer be taught in police and gendarmerie schools. It is a method that has its dangers," he told a press conference. He added there would be "zero tolerance" for racism in law enforcement and officers strongly suspected of racism would be suspended. Castaner said too many officers "have failed in their Republican duty" in recent weeks, with several instances of racist and discriminatory remarks revealed. "It is not enough to condemn it," said Castaner. "We have to track it down and combat it." 'The police are not racist' But police unions questioned the changes. The impression given is that "everyone is nice except the police who are mean," said Philippe Capon of the Unsa-Police union. Frederic Lagache on the Alliance Union said he feared that police will be reduced to "street fighting or the use of tasers".Earlier Monday, President Emmanuel Macron urged his government to "accelerate" steps to improve police ethics. Former Prime Minister Manuel Valls said "the police are not racist", but racism, anti-Semitism and violence ran through society and the security forces "unfortunately do not escape these phenomena". Macron met Castaner and Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Sunday a day after some 23,000 people protested in several French cities to demand "justice" for victims of crimes allegedly committed by police. 'Crisis of confidence' The French demonstrations started in response to an expert report clearing the three officers who arrested Traore. This was in spite of one of the officers having admitted the young man had been pinned to the ground with their combined body weight, and a report commissioned by Traore's family finding he had died due to the police intervention. Traore's family said they had been contacted by the office of Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet on Monday inviting them to "have an exchange" on the case, but they refused. "Adama Traore's family points out they expect legal advances are needed, not invitations to a discussion that would have no procedural purpose," a committee called "Truth for Adama" wrote on its Facebook page. Some 20,000 people rallied in Paris last Tuesday to demand justice for Traore and Floyd, defying a coronavirus ban on public gatherings. Floyd had similarly died after being pinned to the ground while under arrest. Media outlets last week published the contents of a private Facebook group on which French police members repeatedly used racist and sexist terms and mocked victims of police brutality. The IGPN police watchdog said on Monday that complaints against officers rose by nearly a quarter last year, when officers were deployed for months of weekly "yellow vest" anti-government protests. The rallies often sparked tense confrontations that left several officers injured by rioting protesters, but also civilians beaten or struck by rubber bullets. Officially, 2,500 demonstrators and 1,800 law enforcement agents were injured in yellow vest protests. Activists say two dozen people lost an eye as police used rubber bullets to rein in the rallies, and five lost a hand to stun grenades. This year, video footage showed a riot officer punching a bloodied protester held down on his back, another tripping a woman, and yet another firing a rubber bullet at point-blank range. Macron has instructed Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet to look into Traore's death, and Castaner to step up measures to "improve the ethics" of the police force, the presidency said.

France police to ban chokehold arrest as protest anger mounts

Over 120 Chinese nationals were arrested from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nepali-parliament-to-start-process-to-pick-new-speaker-next-week-269419">Kathmandu</a> for staying in the country without proper working permit and visa. 
 
Raids to apprehend Chinese nationals illegally staying in Nepal were launched by a joint team of Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) and Metropolitan Police Range apprehended 122 Chinese from various locations around the capital of Kathmandu. The raids were conducted over a period of three days from Saturday to Monday. 
 
"We have arrested them from Gongabu, Thamel and other locations. They are found to be involved in various professions including hospitality, agriculture and ICT to name some. They do not have a working permit and have overstayed in the nation as their tourist visa has already expired," Chief at MPCD Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sahakul Thapa confirmed. 
 
The arrested Chinese are currently held inside Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, for further investigation. Apart from their illegal stay in the nation, they also are being probed for various criminal activities in recent days. 
 
The crackdown over the illegal stay of Sino nationals started from Sunday afternoon at 1 pm as the police got into action over it working on the tip-off it received about it. 
 
In the first raid, around 72 Chinese nationals were arrested. 
 
Sino nationals were time and again <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/nepals-proposed-changes-to-climbing-permits-for-mount-everest-268824">detained in Nepal</a> for carrying out various illegal activities. On September 2, Nepal Police rounded up six Chinese nationals in capital Kathmandu for allegedly system hacking and withdrawing millions of rupees from various ATM booths.

Over 120 Chinese nationals were arrested from Kathmandu for staying in the country without proper working permit and visa. Raids to apprehend Chinese nationals illegally staying in Nepal were launched by a joint team of Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) and Metropolitan Police Range apprehended 122 Chinese from various locations around the capital of Kathmandu.

Over 120 Chinese nationals were arrested from Kathmandu for staying in the country without proper working permit and visa. Raids to apprehend Chinese nationals illegally staying in Nepal were launched by a joint team of Metropolitan Police Crime Division (MPCD) and Metropolitan Police Range apprehended 122 Chinese from various locations around the capital of Kathmandu. The raids were conducted over a period of three days from Saturday to Monday. "We have arrested them from Gongabu, Thamel and other locations. They are found to be involved in various professions including hospitality, agriculture and ICT to name some. They do not have a working permit and have overstayed in the nation as their tourist visa has already expired," Chief at MPCD Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sahakul Thapa confirmed. The arrested Chinese are currently held inside Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, for further investigation. Apart from their illegal stay in the nation, they also are being probed for various criminal activities in recent days. The crackdown over the illegal stay of Sino nationals started from Sunday afternoon at 1 pm as the police got into action over it working on the tip-off it received about it. In the first raid, around 72 Chinese nationals were arrested. Sino nationals were time and again detained in Nepal for carrying out various illegal activities. On September 2, Nepal Police rounded up six Chinese nationals in capital Kathmandu for allegedly system hacking and withdrawing millions of rupees from various ATM booths.

Over 120 Chinese arrested for illegally staying in Nepal

Mexican authorities said Tuesday they have arrested&nbsp;10&nbsp;alleged gunmen from a drug cartel commando that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-14-killed-in-bloody-gunfight-in-northern-mexico-265538">attacked a town</a>&nbsp;near&nbsp;the US&nbsp;border, leaving six locals and 17 assailants dead.

At least 60 gunmen terrorised the small northern city of Villa Union&nbsp;over&nbsp;the weekend, riding into town in heavily armed four-by-fours and spraying dozens of buildings with bullets, including houses and the city hall.

The army, National Guard and police then engaged the gunmen in a series of firefights Saturday and Sunday that killed 23 people, according to an updated toll from authorities in Coahuila state.

Two kidnapped city employees, four state police and 17 gunmen died in the attack, the authorities said.

The episode marks the latest security embarrassment for leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office a year ago vowing to curb the gruesome violence of&nbsp;Mexico's "drug wars."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mexico-warns-will-not-allow-us-military-operations-against-cartels-265319">The authorities mounted a large manhunt after the attack</a>, announcing eight new&nbsp;arrests&nbsp;Tuesday, in addition to two suspects detained earlier.

Coahuila Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme said those arrested "participated directly in the attack on Villa Union City Hall and the houses they shot up along the way, as well as the confrontation" with the security forces.

Witnesses said the gunmen wore the insignia of the Northeast Cartel, a breakaway from the ultra-violent Zetas, a drug cartel founded by corrupt army commandos in the northern state of Tamaulipas in 2010.

"Their instructions were to come scare people and sow terror and seize that turf," Riquelme told Mexican radio network Formula.

"I believe they want to open up a new drug-trafficking route" to the United States, he added.

Lopez Obrador, who marked one year in office just as the incident was taking place, has suffered a series of security setbacks recently, including a botched attempt to arrest the son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and the massacre of nine women and children from a US-Mexican Mormon family last month.

Mexican authorities said Tuesday they have arrested 10 alleged gunmen from a drug cartel commando that attacked a town near the US border, leaving six locals and 17 assailants dead.

Mexican authorities said Tuesday they have arrested 10 alleged gunmen from a drug cartel commando that attacked a town near the US border, leaving six locals and 17 assailants dead. At least 60 gunmen terrorised the small northern city of Villa Union over the weekend, riding into town in heavily armed four-by-fours and spraying dozens of buildings with bullets, including houses and the city hall. The army, National Guard and police then engaged the gunmen in a series of firefights Saturday and Sunday that killed 23 people, according to an updated toll from authorities in Coahuila state. Two kidnapped city employees, four state police and 17 gunmen died in the attack, the authorities said. The episode marks the latest security embarrassment for leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office a year ago vowing to curb the gruesome violence of Mexico's "drug wars." The authorities mounted a large manhunt after the attack, announcing eight new arrests Tuesday, in addition to two suspects detained earlier. Coahuila Governor Miguel Angel Riquelme said those arrested "participated directly in the attack on Villa Union City Hall and the houses they shot up along the way, as well as the confrontation" with the security forces. Witnesses said the gunmen wore the insignia of the Northeast Cartel, a breakaway from the ultra-violent Zetas, a drug cartel founded by corrupt army commandos in the northern state of Tamaulipas in 2010. "Their instructions were to come scare people and sow terror and seize that turf," Riquelme told Mexican radio network Formula. "I believe they want to open up a new drug-trafficking route" to the United States, he added. Lopez Obrador, who marked one year in office just as the incident was taking place, has suffered a series of security setbacks recently, including a botched attempt to arrest the son of jailed kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and the massacre of nine women and children from a US-Mexican Mormon family last month.

Mexico: 10 arrested over deadly battle near US border

A Sikh pilgrim who went to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib three days ago with a 'jatha' (group of pilgrims) has been missing in Pakistan.&nbsp;

Until now, Pakistan police have arrested four men from Lahore and Faisalabad.

The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is a 4.7-kilometre-long passage that connects Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in India's Gurdaspur with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur was formally thrown open to pilgrims on November 9. This was three days before the 550th anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev.

An agreement on the modalities for operationalising the corridor signed between India and Pakistan on October 24 had paved way for the inauguration ahead of the Guru Nanak's Prakash Parv.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A Sikh pilgrim who went to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib three days ago with a 'jatha' (group of pilgrims) has been missing in Pakistan. Until now, Pakistan police have arrested four men from Lahore and Faisalabad.

A Sikh pilgrim who went to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib three days ago with a 'jatha' (group of pilgrims) has been missing in Pakistan. Until now, Pakistan police have arrested four men from Lahore and Faisalabad. The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is a 4.7-kilometre-long passage that connects Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in India's Gurdaspur with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur was formally thrown open to pilgrims on November 9. This was three days before the 550th anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev. An agreement on the modalities for operationalising the corridor signed between India and Pakistan on October 24 had paved way for the inauguration ahead of the Guru Nanak's Prakash Parv. (With inputs from agencies)

Girl who went to Kartarpur corridor goes missing in Pakistan, four arrested

Greek police said Saturday they had arrested three people and seized an arms cache in an ongoing anti-terrorist operation officials likened to high profile arrests of Revolutionary Struggle group members in 2010.

Greek police stated two men,&nbsp;a 41 and a 45-year-old,&nbsp;and a 39-year-old woman, allegedly implicated in terrorism, were arrested during a "wide operation" launched in Athens on Friday. They added a 46-year-old man remained at large.&nbsp;

During the raids on 13 houses, Greek anti-terrorist squad seized weapons including five AK-47 automatic rifles, detonators, dynamite and grenades.

The 41-year-old man arrested was also detained in 2010 accused of being a member of far-left group Revolutionary Struggle (EA), behind a series of "anti-capitalist" attacks. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The Citizen Protection Ministry said one of the assault rifles found during the raids was used in an October robbery in a betting shop in the northern suburb of Cholargos.&nbsp;

Another AK-47 was used in multiple attacks carried out by the 'Organisation of Revolutionary Self-Defense' group against PASOK socialist party headquarters in Athens, as well as against the Mexican embassy in Athens in 2016.&nbsp;

The group also claimed responsibility for a grenade attack on the French Embassy in Athens in 2016.&nbsp;

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the operation as "a very big success".

"Let me repeat, for one more time, our commitment to put a definitive and irreversible end to the problem of domestic terrorism", he added.&nbsp;

A top police official told AFP the operation could be compared to the arrests in 2010 of Revolutionary Struggle leaders Paula Roupa and Nikos Maziotis.&nbsp;

Their group, which first emerged in 2003, was once deemed by authorities to be the country's most dangerous far-left organisation.

The United States put a bounty on the group after it fired a rocket at the US embassy in Athens in 2007, though nobody was injured.

In 2014, the group also exploded a booby-trapped car outside a Bank of Greece office in central Athens as the country prepared to make a highly symbolic debt sale. Again, no-one was hurt.

Greek police said Saturday they had arrested three people and seized an arms cache in an ongoing anti-terrorist operation officials likened to high profile arrests of Revolutionary Struggle group members in 2010.

Greek police said Saturday they had arrested three people and seized an arms cache in an ongoing anti-terrorist operation officials likened to high profile arrests of Revolutionary Struggle group members in 2010. Greek police stated two men, a 41 and a 45-year-old, and a 39-year-old woman, allegedly implicated in terrorism, were arrested during a "wide operation" launched in Athens on Friday. They added a 46-year-old man remained at large. During the raids on 13 houses, Greek anti-terrorist squad seized weapons including five AK-47 automatic rifles, detonators, dynamite and grenades. The 41-year-old man arrested was also detained in 2010 accused of being a member of far-left group Revolutionary Struggle (EA), behind a series of "anti-capitalist" attacks. The Citizen Protection Ministry said one of the assault rifles found during the raids was used in an October robbery in a betting shop in the northern suburb of Cholargos. Another AK-47 was used in multiple attacks carried out by the 'Organisation of Revolutionary Self-Defense' group against PASOK socialist party headquarters in Athens, as well as against the Mexican embassy in Athens in 2016. The group also claimed responsibility for a grenade attack on the French Embassy in Athens in 2016. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the operation as "a very big success". "Let me repeat, for one more time, our commitment to put a definitive and irreversible end to the problem of domestic terrorism", he added. A top police official told AFP the operation could be compared to the arrests in 2010 of Revolutionary Struggle leaders Paula Roupa and Nikos Maziotis. Their group, which first emerged in 2003, was once deemed by authorities to be the country's most dangerous far-left organisation. The United States put a bounty on the group after it fired a rocket at the US embassy in Athens in 2007, though nobody was injured. In 2014, the group also exploded a booby-trapped car outside a Bank of Greece office in central Athens as the country prepared to make a highly symbolic debt sale. Again, no-one was hurt.

Three arrested, guns seized in Greek anti-terrorism raid

Dozens of protesters were arrested and several people injured Tuesday when police and demonstrators clashed outside an international mining conference in Melbourne.

Some 50 people were detained as mounted police forced back hundreds of protesters from the convention centre hosting the International Mining and Resources Conference.

Footage posted on social media showed police using pepper spray and batons to push back protesters, with one woman sent to hospital after allegedly being trampled or kicked by a horse.

Another protester was treated for head injuries at the scene while two police were also sent to the hospital for treatment, police said.

More than 300 police officers have been deployed.

"The actions (of police) have been more than justified," Victoria Police acting commander Tim Tully told reporters after the heated altercation.

"It is in line with the training. It is in line with trying to facilitate a peaceful process," he added.

Most of the arrests relate to obstruction, Tully said, but two people were detained for "slapping a police horse in the face".

The annual mining conference is promoted as Australia's largest industry event, with thousands of delegates from over 100 countries expected to attend.&nbsp;

Australia has been actively engaged in the recent wave of climate protests across the globe.

Hundreds of thousands of children, parents, and supporters rallied across the country in September for the global climate strike led by students.

The Extinction Rebellion protests also have drawn thousands into the streets this month, with regular smaller targeted demonstrations taking place over the last couple of weeks.

The climate change protesters accused police of heavy-handed tactics on Tuesday.

"There have been some incredibly aggressive and intimating tactics from the police," protest organiser Emma Black told Channel Nine TV.&nbsp;

"Some of my friends have been thrown to the ground,&nbsp;people that were just standing around doing nothing," she added.

Dozens of protesters were arrested and several people injured Tuesday when police and demonstrators clashed outside an international mining conference in Melbourne.

Dozens of protesters were arrested and several people injured Tuesday when police and demonstrators clashed outside an international mining conference in Melbourne. Some 50 people were detained as mounted police forced back hundreds of protesters from the convention centre hosting the International Mining and Resources Conference. Footage posted on social media showed police using pepper spray and batons to push back protesters, with one woman sent to hospital after allegedly being trampled or kicked by a horse. Another protester was treated for head injuries at the scene while two police were also sent to the hospital for treatment, police said. More than 300 police officers have been deployed. "The actions (of police) have been more than justified," Victoria Police acting commander Tim Tully told reporters after the heated altercation. "It is in line with the training. It is in line with trying to facilitate a peaceful process," he added. Most of the arrests relate to obstruction, Tully said, but two people were detained for "slapping a police horse in the face". The annual mining conference is promoted as Australia's largest industry event, with thousands of delegates from over 100 countries expected to attend. Australia has been actively engaged in the recent wave of climate protests across the globe. Hundreds of thousands of children, parents, and supporters rallied across the country in September for the global climate strike led by students. The Extinction Rebellion protests also have drawn thousands into the streets this month, with regular smaller targeted demonstrations taking place over the last couple of weeks. The climate change protesters accused police of heavy-handed tactics on Tuesday. "There have been some incredibly aggressive and intimating tactics from the police," protest organiser Emma Black told Channel Nine TV. "Some of my friends have been thrown to the ground, people that were just standing around doing nothing," she added.

Dozens arrested as Australia mining protest turns violent

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-uk-police-arrest-man-and-woman-for-human-trafficking-over-truck-deaths-258160">had arrested three more suspects</a> on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be&nbsp;Vietnamese.

As forensic experts began the process of identifying the victims, the&nbsp;Vietnamese embassy in London said families from the southeast Asian country had got in touch about missing relatives. There were growing concerns at least 10 of the victims could have been from&nbsp;Vietnam.

Hoa Nghiem from Human Rights Space, a civic network based in&nbsp;Vietnam, said that Pham Thi Tra My, 26, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain.

"I’m sorry, mum and dad. My path abroad was not a success. I love you both so much. I can’t breathe. I'm from Nghen Town, Can Loc District, Ha Tinh,&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;... I am sorry, Mom," the message said, according to Hoa who told Reuters it had come from Tra My's family.

She said Tra My had gone to China and was planning to reach England via France and that the organisation was getting more alerts about possible&nbsp;Vietnamese victims in the refrigerated trunk, which was found in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and&nbsp;Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies said.

"We owe it to those who have died to get this investigation right and speculation is not helpful," Essex Police's Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told reporters. "It may in fact hinder our investigation and its progress."

She said they would not give any more details about the identities or nationalities of the victims until the formal identification process was complete.

Her officers were still questioning the 25-year-old truck driver on suspicion of murder following the discovery of the bodies in the back of his truck.

He has not been formally identified but a source familiar with the investigation named him as Mo Robinson from the Portadown area of Northern Ireland.

On Friday, police also arrested a man and woman, both aged 38, in Warrington, northwest England, and a 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland at London's Stansted Airport. They are suspected of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter.

The victims - 31 men and eight women - are being moved to a hospital mortuary from a secure location at docks near the industrial estate in Grays about 20 miles (30 km) east of London where the bodies were found.

Post-mortem examinations were beginning to determine how exactly they died while the lengthy process of identifying the deceased was underway.

VietHome, an organisation for the&nbsp;Vietnamese community in Britain, said it had received news from 10 families that their relatives were missing.

For years, illegal immigrants have attempted to reach Britain stowed away in trucks, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover. 
 
Watch: Essex Lorry death case: 3 more suspects in UK police custody

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Britain 'has not fulfilled responsibility'

"We hope that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-uk-points-to-belgium-258064">British side</a> can as soon as possible confirm and verify the identities of the victims, ascertain what happened and severely punish criminals involved in the case," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.

China's Global Times, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said in a Friday editorial that Britain should bear some responsibility for the deaths.

"It is clear that Britain and relevant European countries have not fulfilled their responsibility to protect these people from such a death," the widely read tabloid said.

It added that Britain appeared not to have learned its lesson from the Dover incident two decades ago.

The police investigation is focussed on the movement of the trailer prior to its arrival at Purfleet docks near Grays little more than an hour before the bodies were found, and on who was behind the suspected human trafficking.

Irish company Global Trailer Rentals said it owned the trailer and had rented it out on October&nbsp;15. The firm said it was unaware of what it was to be used for.

The refrigeration unit had travelled to Britain from Zeebrugge in Belgium and the town's chairman, Dirk de Fauw, said he believed the victims died in the trailer before it arrived in the Belgian port.

The Times newspaper reported that GPS data showed the container had arrived at the Belgian port at 2.49 p.m. local time on Tuesday before later making the 10-hour sea crossing to Britain.

Police said the cab unit of the truck was driven over from Dublin on Sunday, crossing the Irish Sea by ship and entering Britain in North Wales. It picked up the trailer in Purfleet shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Figures last year from the UK's National Crime Agency, which targets serious and organised crime, showed&nbsp;Vietnamese nationals were the third most commonly reported victims of modern slavery or trafficking in Britain, although it did not have statistics about those entering the country illegally.

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they had arrested three more suspects on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be Vietnamese.

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they had arrested three more suspects on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be Vietnamese. As forensic experts began the process of identifying the victims, the Vietnamese embassy in London said families from the southeast Asian country had got in touch about missing relatives. There were growing concerns at least 10 of the victims could have been from Vietnam. Hoa Nghiem from Human Rights Space, a civic network based in Vietnam, said that Pham Thi Tra My, 26, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain. "I’m sorry, mum and dad. My path abroad was not a success. I love you both so much. I can’t breathe. I'm from Nghen Town, Can Loc District, Ha Tinh, Vietnam ... I am sorry, Mom," the message said, according to Hoa who told Reuters it had come from Tra My's family. She said Tra My had gone to China and was planning to reach England via France and that the organisation was getting more alerts about possible Vietnamese victims in the refrigerated trunk, which was found in the early hours of Wednesday. Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies said. "We owe it to those who have died to get this investigation right and speculation is not helpful," Essex Police's Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told reporters. "It may in fact hinder our investigation and its progress." She said they would not give any more details about the identities or nationalities of the victims until the formal identification process was complete. Her officers were still questioning the 25-year-old truck driver on suspicion of murder following the discovery of the bodies in the back of his truck. He has not been formally identified but a source familiar with the investigation named him as Mo Robinson from the Portadown area of Northern Ireland. On Friday, police also arrested a man and woman, both aged 38, in Warrington, northwest England, and a 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland at London's Stansted Airport. They are suspected of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter. The victims - 31 men and eight women - are being moved to a hospital mortuary from a secure location at docks near the industrial estate in Grays about 20 miles (30 km) east of London where the bodies were found. Post-mortem examinations were beginning to determine how exactly they died while the lengthy process of identifying the deceased was underway. VietHome, an organisation for the Vietnamese community in Britain, said it had received news from 10 families that their relatives were missing. For years, illegal immigrants have attempted to reach Britain stowed away in trucks, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover. Watch: Essex Lorry death case: 3 more suspects in UK police custody Britain 'has not fulfilled responsibility' "We hope that the British side can as soon as possible confirm and verify the identities of the victims, ascertain what happened and severely punish criminals involved in the case," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing. China's Global Times, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said in a Friday editorial that Britain should bear some responsibility for the deaths. "It is clear that Britain and relevant European countries have not fulfilled their responsibility to protect these people from such a death," the widely read tabloid said. It added that Britain appeared not to have learned its lesson from the Dover incident two decades ago. The police investigation is focussed on the movement of the trailer prior to its arrival at Purfleet docks near Grays little more than an hour before the bodies were found, and on who was behind the suspected human trafficking. Irish company Global Trailer Rentals said it owned the trailer and had rented it out on October 15. The firm said it was unaware of what it was to be used for. The refrigeration unit had travelled to Britain from Zeebrugge in Belgium and the town's chairman, Dirk de Fauw, said he believed the victims died in the trailer before it arrived in the Belgian port. The Times newspaper reported that GPS data showed the container had arrived at the Belgian port at 2.49 p.m. local time on Tuesday before later making the 10-hour sea crossing to Britain. Police said the cab unit of the truck was driven over from Dublin on Sunday, crossing the Irish Sea by ship and entering Britain in North Wales. It picked up the trailer in Purfleet shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Figures last year from the UK's National Crime Agency, which targets serious and organised crime, showed Vietnamese nationals were the third most commonly reported victims of modern slavery or trafficking in Britain, although it did not have statistics about those entering the country illegally.

Vietnamese may be among who were found dead in lorry, UK police make three more arrests

British police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a refrigerated truck said Saturday they had charged a driver arrested at the scene with manslaughter and people trafficking.

British police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a refrigerated truck said Saturday they had charged a driver arrested at the scene with manslaughter and people trafficking. Maurice Robinson, 25, from Northern Ireland, faces "39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering", police said. Robinson was arrested shortly after the bodies were discovered in the truck at Purfleet on the River Thames estuary, after arriving on a ferry from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge early on Wednesday. He will appear in court on Monday, Essex police said. Three other people have been arrested in Britain in connection with the investigation, on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter. They remain in custody. They include a 38-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman from Warrington in northwest England, reportedly a couple. She is said to be the legal owner of the truck. A 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland is also being held. On Saturday, Irish police announced another arrest at Dublin port, of a man in his early 20s from Northern Ireland.

Driver charged over deaths of 39 people in UK lorry, say police

The majority of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London were likely from Vietnam, a community leader from the rural, rice-growing community where many of the victims are believed to have come from told on Saturday.

The majority of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London were likely from Vietnam, a community leader from the rural, rice-growing community where many of the victims are believed to have come from told on Saturday. The discovery of the bodies - 38 adults and one teenager - was made on Wednesday after emergency services were alerted to people in a truck container on an industrial site in Grays, about 32km (20 miles) east of central London. Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies have said. Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam, a catholic priest in the remote town of Yen Thanh in northern-central Vietnam's Nghe An province, 300km (180 miles) south of Hanoi, said he was liaising with family members of the victims. "The whole district is covered in sorrow," Nam said, as prayers for the dead rang out over loudspeakers throughout the misty, rain-soaked town on Saturday. "I'm still collecting contact details for all the victim's families, and will hold a ceremony to pray for them tonight." "This is a catastrophe for our community." Nam said families told him they knew relatives were travelling to the UK at the time and had been unable to contact their loved ones. Vietnam's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it had instructed its London embassy to assist British police with the identification of victims. The ministry did not respond to a request for further comment regarding the nationalities of the dead. Essex Police declined to elaborate as to how they first identified the dead as Chinese. 'Beautiful day' In Yen Thanh, Nghe An province, dozens of worried relatives of 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung gathered in the family's small courtyard home where her worried mother has been unable to rise from her bed. "She said she was in France and on the way to the UK, where she has friends and relatives," said Nhung's cousin, Hoang Thi Linh. "We are waiting and hoping it's not her among the victims, but it's very likely. We pray for her every day. There were two people from my village travelling in that group". In comments under a photo uploaded to Nhung's Facebook account on Monday, two days before the doomed truck was discovered, one friend asked how her journey was going. "Not good," Nhung replied. "Almost spring," she said, using a term in Vietnamese meaning she had almost reached her destination. Other photos on her account show her sightseeing in Brussels on Oct. 18. "Such a beautiful day," Nhung posted. Nghe An is one of Vietnam's poorest provinces, and home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a U.S.-based anti-trafficking organisation. Other victims are believed to come from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh, Nam said, where in the first eight months of this year, 41,790 people left looking for work elsewhere, including overseas, according to state media. The province was ravaged by one of Vietnam's worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan's Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating local fishing and tourism industries and sparking widespread protests. Another suspected victim from Ha Tinh, 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain. "That girl who said in her message that she couldn't breathe in the truck? Her parents can't breathe here at home," Nam said.

Majority of 39 UK truck victims likely from Vietnam: Priest

The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday said that it had received reports alleging that a number of Chinese citizens had been detained or threatened ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, news agency Reuters reported.

Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said that it also had received reports of "increased censorship" of the mention of the Tiananmen anniversary and was calling on Chinese authorities to enhance freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.

"We have made our concerns known to the Chinese government and we are working to also verify these reports that we have received," Shamdasani told Reuters Television.

Earlier today, China accused the United States of attacking its system and smearing its policies after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pompeos-statement-on-tiananmen-out-of-prejudice-and-arrogance-china-224053">Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made comments</a> "out of prejudice and arrogance" about the Tiananmen crackdown.

The furious reaction came after Pompeo, the day before the 30th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 bloodshed, said on Monday that Washington had lost hope for human rights progress in China.

The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday said that it had received reports alleging that a number of Chinese citizens had been detained or threatened ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, news agency Reuters reported.

The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday said that it had received reports alleging that a number of Chinese citizens had been detained or threatened ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, news agency Reuters reported. Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said that it also had received reports of "increased censorship" of the mention of the Tiananmen anniversary and was calling on Chinese authorities to enhance freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. "We have made our concerns known to the Chinese government and we are working to also verify these reports that we have received," Shamdasani told Reuters Television. Earlier today, China accused the United States of attacking its system and smearing its policies after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made comments "out of prejudice and arrogance" about the Tiananmen crackdown. The furious reaction came after Pompeo, the day before the 30th anniversary of the June 4, 1989 bloodshed, said on Monday that Washington had lost hope for human rights progress in China.

Arrests, threats reported ahead of China's Tiananmen anniversary: UN

A jilted man who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend before smashing her head with bricks and running her over with a car has been arrested, Indian police said Sunday.

Police in the northern state of Haryana said the 23-year-old victim was abducted by the man and his friend who then allegedly raped and mutilated her, in the latest case of sexual violence in the country.

They then dumped her in an isolated industrial area where a local resident discovered her four days later, on Friday, when they noticed stray dogs nibbling at her mangled body.

&quot;We have arrested two men under various sections -- murder and rape also,&quot; Jagjeet Singh, spokesman for Sonipat city police in Haryana, told AFP.

&quot;The main accused, Sumit, and she (the victim) were in a relationship but she didn&#39;t want to marry him and he lost it. He wanted revenge,&quot; he said, adding that an investigation was under way.

Singh said the victim&#39;s post-mortem report showed she had been drugged or sedated during the horrific attack.

Women&#39;s rights activists and politicians have demanded justice for the victim, whose case echoed the murderous 2012 sexual assault on a student in the Indian capital that sparked mass street demonstrations.&nbsp;

&quot;This savage and bone-chilling incident has shocked the conscience of the nation, reminding each one of us about the crying need for revisiting the important issue of women&#39;s safety and security,&quot; opposition leader Sonia Gandhi said in a statement late Saturday.

India has a gruesome record on rape, with New Delhi alone registering 2,199 rape cases in 2015 -- an average of six a day.

Nearly 40,000 rape cases are reported every year but the real number is thought to be much higher, with victims wary of how their complaints will be dealt with or the social stigma attached to sex crimes.

There is also disillusion with a sluggish legal system.

(AFP)

The victim's body was discovered by a local resident -- who noticed stray dogs nibbling at her mangled body -- four days after it was dumped

A jilted man who kidnapped and raped his ex-girlfriend before smashing her head with bricks and running her over with a car has been arrested, Indian police said Sunday. Police in the northern state of Haryana said the 23-year-old victim was abducted by the man and his friend who then allegedly raped and mutilated her, in the latest case of sexual violence in the country. They then dumped her in an isolated industrial area where a local resident discovered her four days later, on Friday, when they noticed stray dogs nibbling at her mangled body. "We have arrested two men under various sections -- murder and rape also," Jagjeet Singh, spokesman for Sonipat city police in Haryana, told AFP. "The main accused, Sumit, and she (the victim) were in a relationship but she didn't want to marry him and he lost it. He wanted revenge," he said, adding that an investigation was under way. Singh said the victim's post-mortem report showed she had been drugged or sedated during the horrific attack. Women's rights activists and politicians have demanded justice for the victim, whose case echoed the murderous 2012 sexual assault on a student in the Indian capital that sparked mass street demonstrations. "This savage and bone-chilling incident has shocked the conscience of the nation, reminding each one of us about the crying need for revisiting the important issue of women's safety and security," opposition leader Sonia Gandhi said in a statement late Saturday. India has a gruesome record on rape, with New Delhi alone registering 2,199 rape cases in 2015 -- an average of six a day. Nearly 40,000 rape cases are reported every year but the real number is thought to be much higher, with victims wary of how their complaints will be dealt with or the social stigma attached to sex crimes. There is also disillusion with a sluggish legal system. (AFP)

Two accused in Rohtak gang rape arrested

Authorities have arrested more than 11,000 people since Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in early October amid violent protests,the&nbsp;state TV said on Saturday.

Ethiopia has been in political crisis for around a year with frequent outbreaks of violence as authorities have brutally cracked down on anti-government demonstrators.

&quot;Some 11,607 individuals have so far been detained in six prisons, of which 347 are female, in connection with the state of emergency declared in the country,&quot; State of Emergency Inquiry Board chairperson Taddesse Hordofa said in a statement broadcast by EBC.

Hordofa reeled off a long list of offences ranging from serious crimes such as &quot;attacking security forces using firearms&quot; or &quot;killing civilians and members of security forces&quot; to the much more mundane &quot;denying provision of public services&quot; and &quot;disrupting movement of vehicles&quot;.

This figure is a huge increase on the 2,500 arrests that Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn&#39;s government had announced at the end of October.

The six-month state of emergency was declared on October 9, an unprecedented move by the current government, which has been in power for 25 years.

Unrest in the country had begun in the central Oromo region and then spread to Amhara in the north, causing hundreds of deaths, according to human rights organisations.

Those regions are where the majority of arrests have been made and make up 60 per cent of the country&#39;s population.

On October 31, Ethiopian defence minister Siraj Fegessa announced that 2,000 people who had participated in protests had been released, although today&#39;s announcement included no details on how many of the 11,000 remain in prison.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The six-month state of emergency was declared on October 9 following political instability and frequent violent outbreaks

Authorities have arrested more than 11,000 people since Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in early October amid violent protests,the state TV said on Saturday. Ethiopia has been in political crisis for around a year with frequent outbreaks of violence as authorities have brutally cracked down on anti-government demonstrators. "Some 11,607 individuals have so far been detained in six prisons, of which 347 are female, in connection with the state of emergency declared in the country," State of Emergency Inquiry Board chairperson Taddesse Hordofa said in a statement broadcast by EBC. Hordofa reeled off a long list of offences ranging from serious crimes such as "attacking security forces using firearms" or "killing civilians and members of security forces" to the much more mundane "denying provision of public services" and "disrupting movement of vehicles". This figure is a huge increase on the 2,500 arrests that Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn's government had announced at the end of October. The six-month state of emergency was declared on October 9, an unprecedented move by the current government, which has been in power for 25 years. Unrest in the country had begun in the central Oromo region and then spread to Amhara in the north, causing hundreds of deaths, according to human rights organisations. Those regions are where the majority of arrests have been made and make up 60 per cent of the country's population. On October 31, Ethiopian defence minister Siraj Fegessa announced that 2,000 people who had participated in protests had been released, although today's announcement included no details on how many of the 11,000 remain in prison. (AFP)

Ethiopia: 11,000 arrests under state of emergency, says state TV

Two persons suspected of being sympathisers of Islamic State (IS) &ndash; the banned terror organisation, turned approvers in the supplementary chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a Delhi court on Wednesday. 
 
The NIA claimed that ISIS operatives, in connivance with a few resident and non-resident Indians, have been indulging in identification, radicalisation, recruitment and training of Indians. The counter-terror agency listed 18 accused in the chargesheet, of which 16 were charged and two turned approvers. 
 
The NIA has charged Mumbai resident, Muddabir Shaik, for leading the Indian module and also charged Mohammad Aleem, Mohammad Obaidullah Khan, Nafees Khan, Mohammad Shareef Moinuddin Khan, Asif Ali, Najmul Huda, Mohammad Abdul Ahad, Suhail Ahmed, Syed Mujahid, Mohammad Hussain Khan, Mohammad Afzal, Imran, Abu Anas, Mohammad Azhar Khan and Mufti Abdus Sami Qasmi. 
 
The accused were apprehended from various places across the country, including Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. 
 
Twice apprehended by the authorities, Mohammed Abdul Ahad, turned approver in the case, along with teenager Ashik Ahmed from West Bengal. Both were granted conditional pardon by the special NIA court at Patiala House on Wednesday. 
 
Ahad, 48, is a green card holder and along with his wife and his children is a citizen of the United States of America. A resident of Bangalore, Ahad had a Master&#39;s degree in Computer Science from a Californian University through a correspondence course. Having worked in the US for more than 10 years, Ahad had finally secured a coveted green card. 
 
According to the NIA, Ahad&#39;s first brush with radical Islam was in 2014 and in December that year, he along with his family had gone to Turkey on a tourist visa in order to attempt entering Syria. The Turkish authorities detained him while he was trying to enter Syria through a border post. After 23 days in custody, he was deported from Turkey in January 2015 at the behest of the Indian government. Barely months after his return, Ahad initiated contact with ISIS sympathisers and was inducted in the &quot;Junood-ul-Khilafa-Fil-Hind,&quot; (JKFH) &ndash; an organisation that was created to establish Khilafat (Caliphate) in India. He was arrested by the NIA in January earlier this year. 
 
Approver number 2, Ashik Ahmed,19, based out of Hooghly district, West Bengal, was influenced by Islamic theology and developments in the contemporary world with regard to the Islamic religious movement. Ahmed was instrumental in helping the Indian wing of IS to establish a base in West Bengal and in helping them get in touch with a Bangladeshi arms supplier. 
 
In its chargesheet, the NIA has alleged that Shafi Armar, aka Yusuf al-Hindi, the media chief of IS helped in the establishment of JKFH that was to become a base for the IS in the India. 
 
The charges against the 15 other accused state their complicity in routing money through hawala to further violence and commit acts of terror. The counter-terror agency has backed its charges with scientific evidence; call data records (CDR), literature, explosive devices and other incriminating materials. 
 
The NIA have further alleged that the IS operatives in India had approached Naxals to understand their modus operandi in committing terror acts. The operatives were also planning to buy weapons from the Naxalites. 
 
The NIA had registered a case against IS in December 2015. 
 
In this case, the NIA had earlier filed a chargesheet against 23-year-old Naser Packeer, outlining his modus operandi in identifying, radicalising, recruiting and sending Indians to join the terrorists in Syria and Iraq. 
 
The NIA has charged the 16 accused, including Armar, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act, and the Explosive Substances Act. 
 
(WION)

Mumbai-based Muddabir Shaik was head of the Indian module, while others were given various positions for smooth functioning, claimed NIA

Two persons suspected of being sympathisers of Islamic State (IS) – the banned terror organisation, turned approvers in the supplementary chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a Delhi court on Wednesday. The NIA claimed that ISIS operatives, in connivance with a few resident and non-resident Indians, have been indulging in identification, radicalisation, recruitment and training of Indians. The counter-terror agency listed 18 accused in the chargesheet, of which 16 were charged and two turned approvers. The NIA has charged Mumbai resident, Muddabir Shaik, for leading the Indian module and also charged Mohammad Aleem, Mohammad Obaidullah Khan, Nafees Khan, Mohammad Shareef Moinuddin Khan, Asif Ali, Najmul Huda, Mohammad Abdul Ahad, Suhail Ahmed, Syed Mujahid, Mohammad Hussain Khan, Mohammad Afzal, Imran, Abu Anas, Mohammad Azhar Khan and Mufti Abdus Sami Qasmi. The accused were apprehended from various places across the country, including Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore. Twice apprehended by the authorities, Mohammed Abdul Ahad, turned approver in the case, along with teenager Ashik Ahmed from West Bengal. Both were granted conditional pardon by the special NIA court at Patiala House on Wednesday. Ahad, 48, is a green card holder and along with his wife and his children is a citizen of the United States of America. A resident of Bangalore, Ahad had a Master's degree in Computer Science from a Californian University through a correspondence course. Having worked in the US for more than 10 years, Ahad had finally secured a coveted green card. According to the NIA, Ahad's first brush with radical Islam was in 2014 and in December that year, he along with his family had gone to Turkey on a tourist visa in order to attempt entering Syria. The Turkish authorities detained him while he was trying to enter Syria through a border post. After 23 days in custody, he was deported from Turkey in January 2015 at the behest of the Indian government. Barely months after his return, Ahad initiated contact with ISIS sympathisers and was inducted in the "Junood-ul-Khilafa-Fil-Hind," (JKFH) – an organisation that was created to establish Khilafat (Caliphate) in India. He was arrested by the NIA in January earlier this year. Approver number 2, Ashik Ahmed,19, based out of Hooghly district, West Bengal, was influenced by Islamic theology and developments in the contemporary world with regard to the Islamic religious movement. Ahmed was instrumental in helping the Indian wing of IS to establish a base in West Bengal and in helping them get in touch with a Bangladeshi arms supplier. In its chargesheet, the NIA has alleged that Shafi Armar, aka Yusuf al-Hindi, the media chief of IS helped in the establishment of JKFH that was to become a base for the IS in the India. The charges against the 15 other accused state their complicity in routing money through hawala to further violence and commit acts of terror. The counter-terror agency has backed its charges with scientific evidence; call data records (CDR), literature, explosive devices and other incriminating materials. The NIA have further alleged that the IS operatives in India had approached Naxals to understand their modus operandi in committing terror acts. The operatives were also planning to buy weapons from the Naxalites. The NIA had registered a case against IS in December 2015. In this case, the NIA had earlier filed a chargesheet against 23-year-old Naser Packeer, outlining his modus operandi in identifying, radicalising, recruiting and sending Indians to join the terrorists in Syria and Iraq. The NIA has charged the 16 accused, including Armar, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act, and the Explosive Substances Act. (WION)

India's premier terror investigation body charges 16 for being IS operatives, two turn approvers

Spanish police arrested three brothers of Pakistani nationality suspected of spreading Islamic extremist propaganda via social media networks. 
 
Officers detained the men, aged between 25 and 31, in an early morning raid on their home in the northeastern city of Lleida, a police spokesman said. 
 
The brothers operated several social media accounts to upload videos praising group executions carried out by Islamic State, the Taliban and other Pakistan-based extremist groups, police said in a statement. 
 
Police said the brothers had attracted a large number of followers in their attempts to spread jihadist ideology. 
 
The raid comes three days after a gun attack by a suicide bomber at Istanbul&#39;s Ataturk airport killed 44 people and which Turkish officials said appeared to have been carried out by the Islamic State group. 
 
(AFP)

The brothers used social media profiles to upload videos in support of executions by Islamic State, Taliban and other extremist groups

Spanish police arrested three brothers of Pakistani nationality suspected of spreading Islamic extremist propaganda via social media networks. Officers detained the men, aged between 25 and 31, in an early morning raid on their home in the northeastern city of Lleida, a police spokesman said. The brothers operated several social media accounts to upload videos praising group executions carried out by Islamic State, the Taliban and other Pakistan-based extremist groups, police said in a statement. Police said the brothers had attracted a large number of followers in their attempts to spread jihadist ideology. The raid comes three days after a gun attack by a suicide bomber at Istanbul's Ataturk airport killed 44 people and which Turkish officials said appeared to have been carried out by the Islamic State group. (AFP)

Spain arrests 3 Pakistani brothers for propagating Islamic extremism

Dozens of Turkish demonstrators gathered in Istanbul to protest the arrests of two journalists and an academic on charges of disseminating &quot;terrorist propaganda&quot;. A fourth journalist was released after a brief detention. 
 
Yesterday, protesters chanted &quot;a free press cannot be silenced&quot; and &quot;arrests, oppression cannot intimidate us&quot;. Others held up a banner that read: &quot;Thinking cannot be jailed&quot;. 
 
The demonstration comes a day after a Turkish court ordered the pre-trial arrest of Reporters Without Borders&#39; Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu, journalist Ahmet Nesin and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci. 
 
The three had participated in a solidarity campaign in support of Ozgur Gundem, a pro-Kurdish publication subject to multiple investigations and lawsuits. 
 
Press freedom advocates warn that freedom of expression has dramatically declined in Turkey. More than a dozen journalists are in prison, although the government insists they have been jailed for criminal activity, not journalistic work. 
 
The state-run Anadolu Agency said Onderoglu, Nesin and Fincanci had acted as chief editors for a day for the pro-Kurdish publication and issues they edited in May and June included alleged terrorist propaganda. The news agency also said the court ordered the suspects&#39; arrest on &quot;strong criminal suspicion&quot;. 
 
Reporters Without Borders condemned their arrests as &quot;an unbelievable low for press freedom in Turkey&quot;. Human Rights Watch slammed the &quot;spurious allegations&quot; that led to the detention of three out of 44 participants in the solidarity campaign and urged their immediate release. 
 
HRW Europe and Central Asia Director, Hugh Williamson, said the arrests showed that &quot;Turkish authorities have no hesitation about targeting well-known rights defenders and journalists who have played a key role in documenting the sharp deterioration in human rights in the country&quot;. 
 
In a separate development, a New York-based journalist who covers the United Nations for the Turkish Hurriyet daily was released Tuesday morning. Razi Canikligil was detained for almost a full day after flying into Istanbul airport with his family. 
 
&quot;They arrested me in front of my three boys,&quot; Canikligil told the AP. &quot;They were very afraid.&quot; 
 
The journalist said an arrest warrant had been issued against him over a 2014 Twitter post on a troll account, which was mistakenly attributed to him and deemed to be offensive to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 
 
No charges were pressed against Canikligil, and his passport was returned to him after a night in detention at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. 
 
&quot;Everyone was suggesting that this was government pressure to shut me down,&quot; added the journalist. &quot;We didn&#39;t know what the issue 
was.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

Reporters Without Borders calls the arrests 'an unbelievable low for press freedom in Turkey', which has imprisoned over a dozen journalists

Dozens of Turkish demonstrators gathered in Istanbul to protest the arrests of two journalists and an academic on charges of disseminating "terrorist propaganda". A fourth journalist was released after a brief detention. Yesterday, protesters chanted "a free press cannot be silenced" and "arrests, oppression cannot intimidate us". Others held up a banner that read: "Thinking cannot be jailed". The demonstration comes a day after a Turkish court ordered the pre-trial arrest of Reporters Without Borders' Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu, journalist Ahmet Nesin and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci. The three had participated in a solidarity campaign in support of Ozgur Gundem, a pro-Kurdish publication subject to multiple investigations and lawsuits. Press freedom advocates warn that freedom of expression has dramatically declined in Turkey. More than a dozen journalists are in prison, although the government insists they have been jailed for criminal activity, not journalistic work. The state-run Anadolu Agency said Onderoglu, Nesin and Fincanci had acted as chief editors for a day for the pro-Kurdish publication and issues they edited in May and June included alleged terrorist propaganda. The news agency also said the court ordered the suspects' arrest on "strong criminal suspicion". Reporters Without Borders condemned their arrests as "an unbelievable low for press freedom in Turkey". Human Rights Watch slammed the "spurious allegations" that led to the detention of three out of 44 participants in the solidarity campaign and urged their immediate release. HRW Europe and Central Asia Director, Hugh Williamson, said the arrests showed that "Turkish authorities have no hesitation about targeting well-known rights defenders and journalists who have played a key role in documenting the sharp deterioration in human rights in the country". In a separate development, a New York-based journalist who covers the United Nations for the Turkish Hurriyet daily was released Tuesday morning. Razi Canikligil was detained for almost a full day after flying into Istanbul airport with his family. "They arrested me in front of my three boys," Canikligil told the AP. "They were very afraid." The journalist said an arrest warrant had been issued against him over a 2014 Twitter post on a troll account, which was mistakenly attributed to him and deemed to be offensive to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. No charges were pressed against Canikligil, and his passport was returned to him after a night in detention at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. "Everyone was suggesting that this was government pressure to shut me down," added the journalist. "We didn't know what the issue was." (AFP)

Turkish demonstrators protest arrest of 2 journalists and 1 academic for 'terrorist propaganda'

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