All Afghan stakeholders&nbsp;should&nbsp;agree on a comprehensive ceasefire and&nbsp;look to&nbsp;work together to achieve a broad-based, inclusive and negotiated political settlement&nbsp;in the country, said&nbsp;Pakistan and China leaders in a joint statement&nbsp;on Saturday.&nbsp;

Pakistan&nbsp;Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi made the call after&nbsp;holding the third session of the foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue&nbsp;in Chengdu, Sichuan province’s capital, China, a Dawn report said.&nbsp;

The two leaders also&nbsp;reaffirmed their commitment to facilitate and support an “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned” peace and reconciliation process for the early&nbsp;realisation&nbsp;of a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghan­istan, which would firmly combat terrorism and live in harmony with its&nbsp;neighbours,&nbsp;a joint statement issued later said.&nbsp;

Earlier, a spokesperson of US State Department said, the world will not accept the imposition by force of a government in Afghanistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

After the Taliban insisted it will not agree on ceasefire and peace unless there is an agreement on a new government in Afghanistan, the United States has called on the group “to engage in serious negotiations”.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

US State Department’s deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter said, “We call on the Taliban to engage in serious negotiations to determine a political roadmap for Afghanistan's future that leads to a just and durable settlement.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;&nbsp;

All Afghan stakeholders should agree on a comprehensive ceasefire and look to work together to achieve a broad-based, inclusive and negotiated political settlement in the country, said Pakistan and China leaders in a joint statement on Saturday.

All Afghan stakeholders should agree on a comprehensive ceasefire and look to work together to achieve a broad-based, inclusive and negotiated political settlement in the country, said Pakistan and China leaders in a joint statement on Saturday. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi made the call after holding the third session of the foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue in Chengdu, Sichuan province’s capital, China, a Dawn report said. The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to facilitate and support an “Afghan-led and Afghan-owned” peace and reconciliation process for the early realisation of a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan, which would firmly combat terrorism and live in harmony with its neighbours, a joint statement issued later said. Earlier, a spokesperson of US State Department said, the world will not accept the imposition by force of a government in Afghanistan. After the Taliban insisted it will not agree on ceasefire and peace unless there is an agreement on a new government in Afghanistan, the United States has called on the group “to engage in serious negotiations”. US State Department’s deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter said, “We call on the Taliban to engage in serious negotiations to determine a political roadmap for Afghanistan's future that leads to a just and durable settlement.” (With inputs from agencies)

All stakeholders in Afghanistan should agree on a comprehensive ceasefire, say Pak, China leaders  

China has banned the construction of skyscrapers taller than 500 metres (1,640 feet) to guarantee public safety following worries about the quality of some projects, according to Bloomberg.

According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, there are only ten towers in the world that are taller than that, five of which are on mainland China.&nbsp;

Authorities will also have to restrict the construction of structures taller than 250 metres.

Quality issues and safety risks, according to the chief economic planner, have arisen as a result of lax control in some developments.

In May, a 72-story tower in Shenzhen was closed for inspections after complaints of unexplained shaking, raising concerns about the stability of one of the city's highest structures.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

China has banned the construction of skyscrapers taller than 500 metres (1,640 feet) to guarantee public safety following worries about the quality of some projects, according to Bloomberg.

China has banned the construction of skyscrapers taller than 500 metres (1,640 feet) to guarantee public safety following worries about the quality of some projects, according to Bloomberg. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, there are only ten towers in the world that are taller than that, five of which are on mainland China. Authorities will also have to restrict the construction of structures taller than 250 metres. Quality issues and safety risks, according to the chief economic planner, have arisen as a result of lax control in some developments. In May, a 72-story tower in Shenzhen was closed for inspections after complaints of unexplained shaking, raising concerns about the stability of one of the city's highest structures. (With inputs from agencies)

China bans construction of buildings taller than 1,640 feet after concerns over quality

The US on Tuesday greeted Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on his 86th birthday as his supporters announced plans to establish a library in his honour in New York. 
 
"I am delighted to extend warm wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 86th birthday on July 6. His Holiness is an inspiration to many around the world who are drawn to his messages of compassion, equality, and inclusivity, " Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said. 
 
"I have deep respect and appreciation for His Holiness’ grace, wisdom, and humility, as well as his dedication to greater global equality and the equal rights of all people, including his fellow Tibetans. I wish His Holiness the very best, " he added. 
 
On the occasion of his 86th birthday, Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, New York announced the launch of a $5 million public fundraising campaign to build a Dalai Lama Library and Learning Centre. 
 
"Today we wish a happy birthday to his holiness the Dalai Lama, whose grace and compassion have served as an inspiration to all of us," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference. 
 
"We commend his dedication to the global Tibetan community and to all those around the world who share in his important message of peace and kindness and his commitment to equality and, importantly, to human dignity. We join all of those in wishing His Holiness many more years to come, " Price said. 
 
Tenzin Choesang, the president of Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, said he is seeking support from donors for a project of great benefit to all of humanity - building the Dalai Lama Library and Learning Centre. 
 
"Our vision – one that is supported and shared by the Dalai Lama – is to encourage genuine human interconnection and unity in an increasingly divided world. The Dalai Lama Library and Learning Centre will do this by creating a transformational hub of compassionate and humane education that is open to everyone, both in-person and online, " he said in a statement. 
 
According to the monastery, the Dalai Lama Library and Learning Centre will span 9,240 square feet and will serve as a repository for all the work of the current and previous Dalai Lamas, and a place for study and exploration for the public, including students, scholars, spiritual, civic and business leaders, and practitioners of all faiths. 
 
The Learning Centre will be a physical space as well as a virtual destination (via its robust website) for people across North America and the world, offering free and low-cost programmes.

The US on Tuesday greeted Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on his 86th birthday as his supporters announced plans to establish a library in his honour in New York.

The US on Tuesday greeted Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on his 86th birthday as his supporters announced plans to establish a library in his honour in New York. "I am delighted to extend warm wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the occasion of his 86th birthday on July 6. His Holiness is an inspiration to many around the world who are drawn to his messages of compassion, equality, and inclusivity, " Secretary of State Antony J Blinken said. "I have deep respect and appreciation for His Holiness’ grace, wisdom, and humility, as well as his dedication to greater global equality and the equal rights of all people, including his fellow Tibetans. I wish His Holiness the very best, " he added. On the occasion of his 86th birthday, Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, New York announced the launch of a $5 million public fundraising campaign to build a Dalai Lama Library and Learning Centre. "Today we wish a happy birthday to his holiness the Dalai Lama, whose grace and compassion have served as an inspiration to all of us," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at his daily news conference. "We commend his dedication to the global Tibetan community and to all those around the world who share in his important message of peace and kindness and his commitment to equality and, importantly, to human dignity. We join all of those in wishing His Holiness many more years to come, " Price said. Tenzin Choesang, the president of Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca, said he is seeking support from donors for a project of great benefit to all of humanity - building the Dalai Lama Library and Learning Centre. "Our vision – one that is supported and shared by the Dalai Lama – is to encourage genuine human interconnection and unity in an increasingly divided world. The Dalai Lama Library and Learning Centre will do this by creating a transformational hub of compassionate and humane education that is open to everyone, both in-person and online, " he said in a statement. According to the monastery, the Dalai Lama Library and Learning Centre will span 9,240 square feet and will serve as a repository for all the work of the current and previous Dalai Lamas, and a place for study and exploration for the public, including students, scholars, spiritual, civic and business leaders, and practitioners of all faiths. The Learning Centre will be a physical space as well as a virtual destination (via its robust website) for people across North America and the world, offering free and low-cost programmes.

US greets Dalai Lama on his 86th birthday

The US&nbsp;House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee will resume work later this month on Democratic-led legislation intended to boost competitiveness with China and push Beijing on human rights, after two days of debate on the measure. 
 
A spokesman said on Friday, the panel would consider its consideration of the Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement Act, or Eagle Act, on July 12 after marathon discussion of the measure on Wednesday and Thursday, but no vote. 
 
The desire for a hard line in dealings with China is one of the few truly bipartisan sentiments in the deeply divided US&nbsp;Congress, which is narrowly controlled by President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats. 
 
However, the two parties disagree on how best to deal with Beijing. While the Senate passed sweeping legislation with bipartisan support in early June, the full House has yet to finalise or vote on a comprehensive bill. 
 
During the marathon discussion of the Eagle Act, which ended well after midnight on Wednesday and then stretched into Thursday evening, members of the Foreign Affairs panel offered about 100 amendments to the legislation, which was written by the committee's Democratic chairman, Representative Gregory Meeks. 
 
Among other things, committee Republicans, who said before the meeting they would not support the bill, objected to provisions authorising funding for climate initiatives. They also said it was too much of a 'messaging bill',&nbsp;focused more on ordering reports than changing policy, a criticism Democrats dispute. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee will resume work later this month on Democratic-led legislation intended to boost competitiveness with China and push Beijing on human rights, after two days of debate on the measure.

The US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee will resume work later this month on Democratic-led legislation intended to boost competitiveness with China and push Beijing on human rights, after two days of debate on the measure. A spokesman said on Friday, the panel would consider its consideration of the Ensuring American Global Leadership and Engagement Act, or Eagle Act, on July 12 after marathon discussion of the measure on Wednesday and Thursday, but no vote. The desire for a hard line in dealings with China is one of the few truly bipartisan sentiments in the deeply divided US Congress, which is narrowly controlled by President Joe Biden's fellow Democrats. However, the two parties disagree on how best to deal with Beijing. While the Senate passed sweeping legislation with bipartisan support in early June, the full House has yet to finalise or vote on a comprehensive bill. During the marathon discussion of the Eagle Act, which ended well after midnight on Wednesday and then stretched into Thursday evening, members of the Foreign Affairs panel offered about 100 amendments to the legislation, which was written by the committee's Democratic chairman, Representative Gregory Meeks. Among other things, committee Republicans, who said before the meeting they would not support the bill, objected to provisions authorising funding for climate initiatives. They also said it was too much of a 'messaging bill', focused more on ordering reports than changing policy, a criticism Democrats dispute. (With inputs from agencies)

China bill delayed in US House amid partisan wrangling

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Chinese Communist Party members to remain loyal and continue to serve the people, after awarding a new medal of the highest honour to 29 party members on Tuesday. 
 
The party is marking the 100th year of its founding on Thursday, when Xi is expected to make a longer speech about its future. 
 
The medal award ceremony took place in Beijing's Great Hall of the People with much fanfare and was broadcast live on national television. 
 
The 'July 1 medal', announced in 2017 and given out for the first time on Tuesday, is part of Xi's efforts to shore up the image of the party. 
 
Xi commended recipients and urged all party members to "firmly keep the loyalty and love for the party and the people close to one's heart, turn that into action, dedicate everything, even your precious life, to the party and the people". 
 
The recipients included soldiers, community workers and professionals in the arts and science. 
 
The party had 91.9 million members in 2019, or 6.6% of China's population. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Chinese Communist Party members to remain loyal and continue to serve the people, after awarding a new medal of the highest honour to 29 party members on Tuesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Chinese Communist Party members to remain loyal and continue to serve the people, after awarding a new medal of the highest honour to 29 party members on Tuesday. The party is marking the 100th year of its founding on Thursday, when Xi is expected to make a longer speech about its future. The medal award ceremony took place in Beijing's Great Hall of the People with much fanfare and was broadcast live on national television. The 'July 1 medal', announced in 2017 and given out for the first time on Tuesday, is part of Xi's efforts to shore up the image of the party. Xi commended recipients and urged all party members to "firmly keep the loyalty and love for the party and the people close to one's heart, turn that into action, dedicate everything, even your precious life, to the party and the people". The recipients included soldiers, community workers and professionals in the arts and science. The party had 91.9 million members in 2019, or 6.6% of China's population. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese Communist Party awards medals in run-up to anniversary

Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China.

In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

When asked about human rights violations in Xinjiang, Khan responded that "this is not the situation".&nbsp;

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/jonathanvswan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonathanvswan</a> presses Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on why he’s outspoken against Islamophobia in the West but silent about the genocide of Muslim Uyghurs in western China. 
 
Khan: I concentrate on what is happening on my border. 
 
Swan: This is on your border. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AxiosOnHBO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AxiosOnHBO</a> <a href="https://t.co/QdLfY1qXGL">pic.twitter.com/QdLfY1qXGL</a>
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Khan went on to say that he doesn't comment on what's going on in other countries because he's more concerned with what's going on in his own nation and along his border, before adding that the situation in Kashmir is "far more relevant" than what's going on with the Uyghurs.&nbsp; 
 
Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: China's Treatment Of Uighurs: Imran Khan Still Plays Ignorant

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-imran-khan-still-plays-ignorant-254837/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Imran Khan has long aspired to be one of the Muslim world's most recognised leaders. He has been leading a public fight in the West, particularly in Europe, against Islamophobia. Khan gave a stunning statement at the United Nations against Islamophobia and published an open letter inviting other Muslim leaders to join him in his battle.&nbsp;

Despite his efforts on behalf of the Muslim world, he has been completely silent on China's imprisonment of over a million Uyghur Muslim minorities.

This confinement is part of China's policy of forced assimilation, forced labour, and sterilisation, which the United States and numerous Western countries have labelled genocide.&nbsp;

In an interview with a TV channel in 2019, calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uyghurs Muslims in China.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dont-know-much-about-imran-khan-on-situation-of-uighurs-muslims-in-china-249715">Also read | 'Don't know much about': Imran Khan on the situation of Uighurs Muslims in China</a>

China has often been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have been placed in mass detention centres in the region, according to the US State Department. These people have allegedly been subject to indoctrination and abuse.

Beijing, however, claims that these centres are voluntary and provide vocational training as part of a de-radicalisation programme in Xinjiang.

Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China. In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China. In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. When asked about human rights violations in Xinjiang, Khan responded that "this is not the situation". .@jonathanvswan presses Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on why he’s outspoken against Islamophobia in the West but silent about the genocide of Muslim Uyghurs in western China. Khan: I concentrate on what is happening on my border. Swan: This is on your border. #AxiosOnHBO pic.twitter.com/QdLfY1qXGL — Axios (@axios) June 20, 2021 × Khan went on to say that he doesn't comment on what's going on in other countries because he's more concerned with what's going on in his own nation and along his border, before adding that the situation in Kashmir is "far more relevant" than what's going on with the Uyghurs. Watch | Gravitas: China's Treatment Of Uighurs: Imran Khan Still Plays Ignorant Imran Khan has long aspired to be one of the Muslim world's most recognised leaders. He has been leading a public fight in the West, particularly in Europe, against Islamophobia. Khan gave a stunning statement at the United Nations against Islamophobia and published an open letter inviting other Muslim leaders to join him in his battle. Despite his efforts on behalf of the Muslim world, he has been completely silent on China's imprisonment of over a million Uyghur Muslim minorities. This confinement is part of China's policy of forced assimilation, forced labour, and sterilisation, which the United States and numerous Western countries have labelled genocide. In an interview with a TV channel in 2019, calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uyghurs Muslims in China. Also read | 'Don't know much about': Imran Khan on the situation of Uighurs Muslims in China China has often been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have been placed in mass detention centres in the region, according to the US State Department. These people have allegedly been subject to indoctrination and abuse. Beijing, however, claims that these centres are voluntary and provide vocational training as part of a de-radicalisation programme in Xinjiang.

Watch: Pakistan PM refuses to criticise China’s Uyghur abuse after decrying Islamophobia elsewhere

US President Joe Biden said Monday he would lay down "red lines" to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at their upcoming meeting, after rallying NATO allies to face up to challenges from Moscow and Beijing.

Speaking after his first NATO summit since being elected, Biden insisted: "I'm not looking for conflict with Russia, but that we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities." 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-business-as-usual-nato-takes-on-russia-and-china-391475">Also read | No 'business as usual': NATO takes on Russia and China</a>

Biden also called Putin "tough" and "a worthy adversary" ahead of their hotly anticipated meeting in Geneva on Wednesday.

The warning to the Kremlin leader came as Biden pressed to renew Washington's transatlantic ties with allies after years of tensions under his predecessor Donald Trump.

At Biden's urging, NATO leaders agreed to work together against the "systemic challenges" posed by China's aggressive policies as the alliance fleshed out its nascent approach to Beijing.

China's increasingly assertive actions in building a nuclear arsenal as well as space and cyber warfare capabilities threaten the international order, they said in a statement.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies would seek to cooperate with China on global issues like climate change, as European capitals wanted.

But, in a nod to Washington's growing concern, he warned: "China's growing influence and international policies present challenges to Alliance security."

"Leaders agreed that we need to address such challenges together as an alliance and that we need to engage with China to defend our security interests," he said.

In the summit communique, the leaders told Russia that there would be no quick return to "business as usual".

Russia's military build-up and provocative behaviour on NATO's eastern frontier "increasingly threaten the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and contribute to instability along NATO borders and beyond".

"Right balance"

On China, Biden is picking up from where Trump left off by getting NATO to start paying attention to Beijing.

But European allies have been wary that an increase of focus on China could distract NATO from its major priority -- Russia.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted that alliance members should not "overestimate" the dangers posed from Beijing.

"We have to find the right balance," she said. "China is a rival on many issues, but at the same time it is also a partner on many issues."

French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that NATO should not spread itself too thin and "skew" the relationship with China.

"NATO is a military organisation, the subject of our relationship with China is not only military," he said, stressing NATO's North Atlantic focus.

Afghanistan&nbsp;

Looming large in the background for the summit was also the scramble to complete NATO's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan after Biden surprised partners by ordering US troops home by September 11.

Biden discussed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an offer from Ankara to keep troops in the country to secure Kabul airport -- provided the US gave support.

Erdogan announced no firm deal on the issue -- or any progress on the thorny dispute over Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system.

But Erdogan insisted that he had held "fruitful and sincere" talks with his US counterpart.

The final NATO summit statement did not mention Turkey's role at the airport but did stress that the alliance would continue to pay to keep the facility open.

Much of the summit Monday was dedicated to trying to forge a way forward by greenlighting a 2030 reform plan to revitalise an alliance that Macron warned in 2019 was undergoing "brain death".

Allies endorsed a new cyber defence policy to tackle rising threats and agreed for the first time that an attack in space could trigger the Article 5 collective defence clause.

They also committed to increasing the alliance's budget and spending more on "common funding" -- but details remained sparse after opposition to increased spending led by France.

US President Joe Biden said Monday he would lay down "red lines" to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at their upcoming meeting, after rallying NATO allies to face up to challenges from Moscow and Beijing.

US President Joe Biden said Monday he would lay down "red lines" to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at their upcoming meeting, after rallying NATO allies to face up to challenges from Moscow and Beijing. Speaking after his first NATO summit since being elected, Biden insisted: "I'm not looking for conflict with Russia, but that we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities." Also read | No 'business as usual': NATO takes on Russia and China Biden also called Putin "tough" and "a worthy adversary" ahead of their hotly anticipated meeting in Geneva on Wednesday. The warning to the Kremlin leader came as Biden pressed to renew Washington's transatlantic ties with allies after years of tensions under his predecessor Donald Trump. At Biden's urging, NATO leaders agreed to work together against the "systemic challenges" posed by China's aggressive policies as the alliance fleshed out its nascent approach to Beijing. China's increasingly assertive actions in building a nuclear arsenal as well as space and cyber warfare capabilities threaten the international order, they said in a statement. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the allies would seek to cooperate with China on global issues like climate change, as European capitals wanted. But, in a nod to Washington's growing concern, he warned: "China's growing influence and international policies present challenges to Alliance security." "Leaders agreed that we need to address such challenges together as an alliance and that we need to engage with China to defend our security interests," he said. In the summit communique, the leaders told Russia that there would be no quick return to "business as usual". Russia's military build-up and provocative behaviour on NATO's eastern frontier "increasingly threaten the security of the Euro-Atlantic area and contribute to instability along NATO borders and beyond". "Right balance" On China, Biden is picking up from where Trump left off by getting NATO to start paying attention to Beijing. But European allies have been wary that an increase of focus on China could distract NATO from its major priority -- Russia. German Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted that alliance members should not "overestimate" the dangers posed from Beijing. "We have to find the right balance," she said. "China is a rival on many issues, but at the same time it is also a partner on many issues." French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that NATO should not spread itself too thin and "skew" the relationship with China. "NATO is a military organisation, the subject of our relationship with China is not only military," he said, stressing NATO's North Atlantic focus. Afghanistan Looming large in the background for the summit was also the scramble to complete NATO's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan after Biden surprised partners by ordering US troops home by September 11. Biden discussed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an offer from Ankara to keep troops in the country to secure Kabul airport -- provided the US gave support. Erdogan announced no firm deal on the issue -- or any progress on the thorny dispute over Turkey's purchase of Russia's S-400 missile system. But Erdogan insisted that he had held "fruitful and sincere" talks with his US counterpart. The final NATO summit statement did not mention Turkey's role at the airport but did stress that the alliance would continue to pay to keep the facility open. Much of the summit Monday was dedicated to trying to forge a way forward by greenlighting a 2030 reform plan to revitalise an alliance that Macron warned in 2019 was undergoing "brain death". Allies endorsed a new cyber defence policy to tackle rising threats and agreed for the first time that an attack in space could trigger the Article 5 collective defence clause. They also committed to increasing the alliance's budget and spending more on "common funding" -- but details remained sparse after opposition to increased spending led by France.

Joe Biden vows to lay down 'red lines' to Vladimir Putin

Under clear blue skies, rugged peaks and the spectacular Potala Palace, one image is ubiquitous in Tibet's capital city Lhasa: portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping and fellow leaders. 
 
In a rare and tightly chaperoned government tour of the region last week, a Reuters journalist saw the portraits in classrooms, streets, religious institutions, houses, and the bedroom of a Buddhist monk. 
 
More than a dozen other reporters were also on the trip. 
 
China is broadening a political education campaign as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of its control over Tibet. 
 
Chinese officials say the campaign is key to the future of Tibet, a region which makes up over 12% of China's land mass but is home to just 3.5 million people, mostly ethnic Tibetans. 
 
Civilians and religious figures who the government arranged to be interviewed on the five-day trip pledged loyalty to the Communist Party and Xi. 
 
Asked who his spiritual leader was, a monk at Lhasa's historic Jokhang temple named Xi. 
 
"I'm not drunk ... I speak freely to you," said the monk named Lhakpa, speaking from a courtyard overlooked by security cameras and government observers. 
 
The portraits of Xi were visible at almost all sites visited by Reuters during the trip to Tibet, where journalists are banned from entering outside of such tours. It was not clear when the posters and flags were put up. 
 
"The posters coincide with a massive political education programme which is called 'feeling gratitude to the party' education," said Robert Barnett, a Tibetan studies veteran scholar at the University of London`s School of Oriental and African Studies. 
 
China's foreign ministry said: "Tibet`s economy and society has made great achievements under the care of China's central government and the strong support of every Chinese person. 
 
"The right to religious freedom of all ethnic groups in Tibet are protected by the Constitution and the law." 
 
During the visit, government officials suggested that such images, along with small Chinese flags that lined many city streets, were a sign of the "patriotic feeling" in Tibet. 
 
Beijing says it "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1951, after Chinese troops entered the then-country and took over its administration. 
 
The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, and has since established a government in exile based in Dharamsala, India. 
 
Beijing has labeled him a dangerous separatist and has said when he passes away the government will select its own successor. 
 
Reuters did not see any images of the Dalai Lama, previously common in homes throughout Tibet, on the trip from May 31 to June 5. 
 
Photos of the spiritual leader are now strictly banned, according to rights groups and Tibetans who have since left the region. 
 
The foreign ministry repeated China`s position that the Dalai Lama was "attempting to separate Tibet from China." 
 
"Since Dalai defected, he has not done anything good for the Tibetan people," said Fan Chunwen, the secretary for Tibet’s Department of Education. 
 
In Tibet's College of Buddhism, a major religious training school on the outskirts of Lhasa, Chinese flags flew atop temples and images of Xi featured prominently in every dorm and classroom visited by Reuters. 
 
"We are under the leadership of the Communist Party now, of course, we must learn about politics," said Kelsang Wandui, vice director of the college. 
 
Around 40% of the school's study programme was dedicated to political and cultural education, Wandui said, adding the monks will celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Communist Party on July 1. 
 
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the name of the exiled Tibetan government which oversees up to 150,000 Tibetans in exile, said the "political re-education campaign has been reinvigorated to Sinicize Tibet." 
 
Beijing has consistently strongly denied any accusations of rights abuses in Tibet, and says people in China are free to practice approved religions, including Buddhism. 
 
In a Lhasa high school political ideology class visited by Reuters, a teacher preached the benefits of China`s policy in Tibet and led them in chants of agreement. 
 
"Our young people must cherish the party, listen to the party and be guided by the party and be loyal to our beautiful new Tibet," said Wang Zhen, Director of the Department of Education in Tibet.

Under clear blue skies, rugged peaks and the spectacular Potala Palace, one image is ubiquitous in Tibet's capital city Lhasa: portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping and fellow leaders.

Under clear blue skies, rugged peaks and the spectacular Potala Palace, one image is ubiquitous in Tibet's capital city Lhasa: portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping and fellow leaders. In a rare and tightly chaperoned government tour of the region last week, a Reuters journalist saw the portraits in classrooms, streets, religious institutions, houses, and the bedroom of a Buddhist monk. More than a dozen other reporters were also on the trip. China is broadening a political education campaign as it celebrates the 70th anniversary of its control over Tibet. Chinese officials say the campaign is key to the future of Tibet, a region which makes up over 12% of China's land mass but is home to just 3.5 million people, mostly ethnic Tibetans. Civilians and religious figures who the government arranged to be interviewed on the five-day trip pledged loyalty to the Communist Party and Xi. Asked who his spiritual leader was, a monk at Lhasa's historic Jokhang temple named Xi. "I'm not drunk ... I speak freely to you," said the monk named Lhakpa, speaking from a courtyard overlooked by security cameras and government observers. The portraits of Xi were visible at almost all sites visited by Reuters during the trip to Tibet, where journalists are banned from entering outside of such tours. It was not clear when the posters and flags were put up. "The posters coincide with a massive political education programme which is called 'feeling gratitude to the party' education," said Robert Barnett, a Tibetan studies veteran scholar at the University of London`s School of Oriental and African Studies. China's foreign ministry said: "Tibet`s economy and society has made great achievements under the care of China's central government and the strong support of every Chinese person. "The right to religious freedom of all ethnic groups in Tibet are protected by the Constitution and the law." During the visit, government officials suggested that such images, along with small Chinese flags that lined many city streets, were a sign of the "patriotic feeling" in Tibet. Beijing says it "peacefully liberated" Tibet in 1951, after Chinese troops entered the then-country and took over its administration. The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, and has since established a government in exile based in Dharamsala, India. Beijing has labeled him a dangerous separatist and has said when he passes away the government will select its own successor. Reuters did not see any images of the Dalai Lama, previously common in homes throughout Tibet, on the trip from May 31 to June 5. Photos of the spiritual leader are now strictly banned, according to rights groups and Tibetans who have since left the region. The foreign ministry repeated China`s position that the Dalai Lama was "attempting to separate Tibet from China." "Since Dalai defected, he has not done anything good for the Tibetan people," said Fan Chunwen, the secretary for Tibet’s Department of Education. In Tibet's College of Buddhism, a major religious training school on the outskirts of Lhasa, Chinese flags flew atop temples and images of Xi featured prominently in every dorm and classroom visited by Reuters. "We are under the leadership of the Communist Party now, of course, we must learn about politics," said Kelsang Wandui, vice director of the college. Around 40% of the school's study programme was dedicated to political and cultural education, Wandui said, adding the monks will celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Communist Party on July 1. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the name of the exiled Tibetan government which oversees up to 150,000 Tibetans in exile, said the "political re-education campaign has been reinvigorated to Sinicize Tibet." Beijing has consistently strongly denied any accusations of rights abuses in Tibet, and says people in China are free to practice approved religions, including Buddhism. In a Lhasa high school political ideology class visited by Reuters, a teacher preached the benefits of China`s policy in Tibet and led them in chants of agreement. "Our young people must cherish the party, listen to the party and be guided by the party and be loyal to our beautiful new Tibet," said Wang Zhen, Director of the Department of Education in Tibet.

'Xi Jinping is my spiritual leader': China's education drive in Tibet

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai&nbsp;was on Friday&nbsp;handed a new prison sentence, along with seven other activists.

Lai has been in jail for the past few weeks for attending pro-democracy protests in which anti-China messages were chanted. He has been given a revised jail sentence of 14 months after he plead guilty to organising and attending protests, which have been classified as'‘unlawful assembly'.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-legislature-approves-controversial-pro-china-electoral-law-387918">WATCH |</a>

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Combining the two sentences, Lai will now serve 20 months behind bars. This has attracted criticism from international organisations who believe this is a way to silence free speech and democratic voices.

Along with Jimmy Lai, seven other activists were handed new jail sentences. They included 25-year-old youth campaigner Figo Chan and former lawmakers Lee Cheuk-yan and Leung Kwok-hung.

While the rallies and demonstrations had largely remained non-violent, authorities believe the mere notion of planning an unlawful gathering was enough to put the attendees behind bars.

“It was naive to believe a rallying call for peaceful and rational behaviour would be enough to ensure no violence,” district judge Amanda Woodcock said.

All the activists have been charged for ‘unlawful gathering’ at a time when Xi Jinping was celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China.

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was on Friday handed a new prison sentence, along with seven other activists. Lai has been in jail for the past few weeks for attending pro-democracy protests in which anti-China messages were chanted.

Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was on Friday handed a new prison sentence, along with seven other activists. Lai has been in jail for the past few weeks for attending pro-democracy protests in which anti-China messages were chanted. He has been given a revised jail sentence of 14 months after he plead guilty to organising and attending protests, which have been classified as'‘unlawful assembly'. WATCH | Combining the two sentences, Lai will now serve 20 months behind bars. This has attracted criticism from international organisations who believe this is a way to silence free speech and democratic voices. Along with Jimmy Lai, seven other activists were handed new jail sentences. They included 25-year-old youth campaigner Figo Chan and former lawmakers Lee Cheuk-yan and Leung Kwok-hung. While the rallies and demonstrations had largely remained non-violent, authorities believe the mere notion of planning an unlawful gathering was enough to put the attendees behind bars. “It was naive to believe a rallying call for peaceful and rational behaviour would be enough to ensure no violence,” district judge Amanda Woodcock said. All the activists have been charged for ‘unlawful gathering’ at a time when Xi Jinping was celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China.

Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai and seven other activists handed new prison sentences

A leading scientist on the&nbsp;WHO's COVID-19 mission to&nbsp;China&nbsp;said on Tuesday that a follow-up trip could be helpful to gather additional research on the origins of the disease, but should be separate from any audit of information provided by Beijing.

The comments from Dutch virologist Marion Koopmans came after the United States called on Tuesday for international experts to be allowed to evaluate the source of the coronavirus and the early days of the outbreak in a second phase of the&nbsp;WHO's investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.

Koopmans was part of the&nbsp;WHO-led team which spent four weeks in&nbsp;China&nbsp;earlier this year and in March published a report jointly with Chinese scientists that said the virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-lab-origin-theory-gains-traction-in-united-states-387436">Covid lab origin theory gains traction in United States</a>

"Introduction through a laboratory incident was considered to be an extremely unlikely pathway," its report said.

Discussions about the outbreak gained renewed attention this week as US&nbsp;intelligence agencies examine reports that researchers at a Chinese virology laboratory in Wuhan were seriously ill in 2019 a month before the first cases of COVID-19 were reported.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fauci-admits-wuhan-lab-received-modest-funds-from-us-amid-calls-for-probe-into-covid-origins-387497">Fauci admits Wuhan lab received 'modest' funds from US amid calls for probe into Covid origins</a>

US&nbsp;government sources have said there is still no proof the disease originated at the lab.

Koopmans said the team would be eager to carry out additional research in&nbsp;China&nbsp;in a number of areas and was awaiting the outcome of&nbsp;WHO&nbsp;discussions. She stressed the need for a clear mandate to conduct research, not to carry out an audit.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wuhan-virus-lab-leak-theory-why-china-has-blocked-access-to-yunnan-mine-387360">Wuhan virus lab leak theory: Why China has blocked access to Yunnan mine</a>

"I think these cannot be combined. So we believe that is a combination that will not work. In that case you say we are going to carry out an inspection, or we are going to do the follow-up research, or both, but through different mechanisms, otherwise you simply will not make any progress," she said.

A leading scientist on the WHO's COVID-19 mission to China said on Tuesday that a follow-up trip could be helpful to gather additional research on the origins of the disease, but should be separate from any audit of information provided by Beijing.

A leading scientist on the WHO's COVID-19 mission to China said on Tuesday that a follow-up trip could be helpful to gather additional research on the origins of the disease, but should be separate from any audit of information provided by Beijing. The comments from Dutch virologist Marion Koopmans came after the United States called on Tuesday for international experts to be allowed to evaluate the source of the coronavirus and the early days of the outbreak in a second phase of the WHO's investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. Koopmans was part of the WHO-led team which spent four weeks in China earlier this year and in March published a report jointly with Chinese scientists that said the virus had probably been transmitted from bats to humans through another animal. Also Read | Covid lab origin theory gains traction in United States "Introduction through a laboratory incident was considered to be an extremely unlikely pathway," its report said. Discussions about the outbreak gained renewed attention this week as US intelligence agencies examine reports that researchers at a Chinese virology laboratory in Wuhan were seriously ill in 2019 a month before the first cases of COVID-19 were reported. Also Read | Fauci admits Wuhan lab received 'modest' funds from US amid calls for probe into Covid origins US government sources have said there is still no proof the disease originated at the lab. Koopmans said the team would be eager to carry out additional research in China in a number of areas and was awaiting the outcome of WHO discussions. She stressed the need for a clear mandate to conduct research, not to carry out an audit. Also Read | Wuhan virus lab leak theory: Why China has blocked access to Yunnan mine "I think these cannot be combined. So we believe that is a combination that will not work. In that case you say we are going to carry out an inspection, or we are going to do the follow-up research, or both, but through different mechanisms, otherwise you simply will not make any progress," she said.

WHO expert say new research mission to China would be helpful

China's internet watchdog said on Friday that companies including ByteDance, Baidu and Kuaishou had improperly collected user data. 
 
China Cyberspace Administration also named American tech giant Microsoft and its two products Bing and LinkedIn in a statement.

China's internet watchdog said on Friday that companies including ByteDance, Baidu and Kuaishou had improperly collected user data. China Cyberspace Administration also named American tech giant Microsoft and its two products Bing and LinkedIn in a statement.

China says ByteDance, Baidu, Microsoft improperly collected user data

Universal Pictures has cancelled a promotional event of their upcoming blockbuster 'Fast and Furious 9' in Shanghai China over security concerns. The event was scheduled to take place on Tuesday ahead of the film's release but the company received threats and now the event has been cancelled.&nbsp; 
 
"Currently, Universal Pictures received threats that would make it impossible for us to hold the press conference and could cause considerable security risks. Although Universal Pictures poured a lot of efforts for the press conference, security will always be our top priority. As a result, after careful evaluation, Universal Pictures was forced to cancel the press conference for Fast and Furious 9," the US film production company said in a statement on its official Weibo account. 
 
The company said it had reported the details of the threats to law enforcement agencies in China. 
 
The planned promotional event would allow Chinese fans to experience the breath-taking car chase scenes in the movie, the company said in earlier posts. 
 
The new movie will be released in theaters in China as scheduled on Friday, the company added. 
 
The Fast and Furious franchise is one of the most successful Hollywood movie franchises in the Chinese market.&nbsp; 
 
The previous installment known as 'The Fate of the Furious 8' generated 2.6 billion yuan (about $404 million) in China, which made it the 15th highest-grossing movie in country`s the box office history. 
 
When the movie was first released in China in April 2017, it shattered the daily box office record in the Chinese market by generating 417 million yuan on the first day. 
 
After successfully containing local COVID-19 transmissions, theaters in China were allowed to open its doors to moviegoers beginning in last July.&nbsp;

Universal Pictures has cancelled a promotional event of their upcoming blockbuster 'Fast and Furious 9' in Shanghai China over security concerns. The event was scheduled to take place on Tuesday ahead of the film's release but the company received threats and now the event has been cancelled.

Universal Pictures has cancelled a promotional event of their upcoming blockbuster 'Fast and Furious 9' in Shanghai China over security concerns. The event was scheduled to take place on Tuesday ahead of the film's release but the company received threats and now the event has been cancelled. "Currently, Universal Pictures received threats that would make it impossible for us to hold the press conference and could cause considerable security risks. Although Universal Pictures poured a lot of efforts for the press conference, security will always be our top priority. As a result, after careful evaluation, Universal Pictures was forced to cancel the press conference for Fast and Furious 9," the US film production company said in a statement on its official Weibo account. The company said it had reported the details of the threats to law enforcement agencies in China. The planned promotional event would allow Chinese fans to experience the breath-taking car chase scenes in the movie, the company said in earlier posts. The new movie will be released in theaters in China as scheduled on Friday, the company added. The Fast and Furious franchise is one of the most successful Hollywood movie franchises in the Chinese market. The previous installment known as 'The Fate of the Furious 8' generated 2.6 billion yuan (about $404 million) in China, which made it the 15th highest-grossing movie in country`s the box office history. When the movie was first released in China in April 2017, it shattered the daily box office record in the Chinese market by generating 417 million yuan on the first day. After successfully containing local COVID-19 transmissions, theaters in China were allowed to open its doors to moviegoers beginning in last July.

'Fast and Furious 9' event in China cancelled after receiving threats

A large segment of a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;is expected to make an&nbsp;uncontrolled&nbsp;re-entry&nbsp;into the&nbsp;Earth's atmosphere on the weekend, but Beijing has downplayed fears and said there is a very low risk of any damage.

A Long March-5B&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;launched the first module of China's new space station into Eart orbit on April 29. Its 18-tonne main segment is now in freefall and experts have said it is difficult to say precisely where and when it will re-enter the atmosphere.

Re-entry&nbsp;is expected to be around 2300 GMT on Saturday, according to the Pentagon, with a window of plus or minus nine hours either side.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="China says 'extremely low' risk of damage from rocket debris">China says 'extremely low' risk of damage from rocket debris</a>

Chinese&nbsp;authorities have said most of the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;components would likely be destroyed on&nbsp;re-entry.

"The probability of causing harm... on the ground is extremely low,"&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on Friday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-closely-tracking-uncontrolled-chinese-rocket-re-entering-atmosphere-pentagon-383094">US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon</a>

Although there has been fevered speculation over exactly where the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;-- or parts of it -- will land, there is a good chance any debris that does not burn up will just splash down into the ocean on a planet made up of 70 percent water.

"We're hopeful that it will land in a place where it won't harm anyone," said Pentagon spokesman Mike Howard.

Howard said the United States was tracking the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;segment but "its exact entry point into the&nbsp;Earth's atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its&nbsp;re-entry".

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier said that the US military had no plans to shoot it down, and suggested that China had been negligent in letting it fall out of orbit.

"Given the size of the object, there will necessarily be big pieces left over," said Florent Delefie, an astronomer at the Paris-PSL Observatory.

"The chances of debris landing on an inhabited zone are tiny, probably one in a million."

In 2020, debris from another Long March&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;fell on villages in the Ivory Coast, causing structural damage but no injuries or deaths.

A large segment of a Chinese rocket is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere on the weekend, but Beijing has downplayed fears and said there is a very low risk of any damage.

A large segment of a Chinese rocket is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere on the weekend, but Beijing has downplayed fears and said there is a very low risk of any damage. A Long March-5B rocket launched the first module of China's new space station into Eart orbit on April 29. Its 18-tonne main segment is now in freefall and experts have said it is difficult to say precisely where and when it will re-enter the atmosphere. Re-entry is expected to be around 2300 GMT on Saturday, according to the Pentagon, with a window of plus or minus nine hours either side. Also read | China says 'extremely low' risk of damage from rocket debris Chinese authorities have said most of the rocket components would likely be destroyed on re-entry. "The probability of causing harm... on the ground is extremely low," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on Friday. Also read | US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon Although there has been fevered speculation over exactly where the rocket -- or parts of it -- will land, there is a good chance any debris that does not burn up will just splash down into the ocean on a planet made up of 70 percent water. "We're hopeful that it will land in a place where it won't harm anyone," said Pentagon spokesman Mike Howard. Howard said the United States was tracking the rocket segment but "its exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its re-entry". Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier said that the US military had no plans to shoot it down, and suggested that China had been negligent in letting it fall out of orbit. "Given the size of the object, there will necessarily be big pieces left over," said Florent Delefie, an astronomer at the Paris-PSL Observatory. "The chances of debris landing on an inhabited zone are tiny, probably one in a million." In 2020, debris from another Long March rocket fell on villages in the Ivory Coast, causing structural damage but no injuries or deaths.

Chinese rocket to tumble back to Earth in uncontrolled re-entry

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The proposed dam, which one Chinese official said has 'no parallel in history' will be built in Medog county, where the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is located. Medog is the last county in Tibet, which is located close to the Arunachal Pradesh border.&nbsp;

The plan to build the mega-dam, which is part of China's 14th five-year plan beginning from this year, was approved by China's Parliament, the National People's Congress in March this year.&nbsp;

But the engineers are concerned about the threats posed by landslides and barrier lakes to the dam, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.&nbsp;

“But an icy obstacle could put a halt to much of the plan. In 2018, a landslide caused by a melting glacier blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo 'the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River' at the Sedongpu Basin in Milin county," it said.&nbsp;

It formed a lake containing about 600 million cubic metres of water. With the river spilling over the top at present, the dam could collapse at any time, it said.&nbsp;

The Sedongpu lake sits just a few dozen kilometres upstream from the planned construction site of the super hydropower plant. With so much water hanging overhead, no construction workers can move in to clear the ground, it said.&nbsp;

To build the big dam, they must get rid of the small dam formed by the landslide first, the report said.&nbsp;

India and Bangladesh, the lower riparian states, have raised concerns over China's plan to build the massive dam on Brahmaputra River. But China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday.

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday. The proposed dam, which one Chinese official said has 'no parallel in history' will be built in Medog county, where the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is located. Medog is the last county in Tibet, which is located close to the Arunachal Pradesh border. The plan to build the mega-dam, which is part of China's 14th five-year plan beginning from this year, was approved by China's Parliament, the National People's Congress in March this year. But the engineers are concerned about the threats posed by landslides and barrier lakes to the dam, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. “But an icy obstacle could put a halt to much of the plan. In 2018, a landslide caused by a melting glacier blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo 'the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River' at the Sedongpu Basin in Milin county," it said. It formed a lake containing about 600 million cubic metres of water. With the river spilling over the top at present, the dam could collapse at any time, it said. The Sedongpu lake sits just a few dozen kilometres upstream from the planned construction site of the super hydropower plant. With so much water hanging overhead, no construction workers can move in to clear the ground, it said. To build the big dam, they must get rid of the small dam formed by the landslide first, the report said. India and Bangladesh, the lower riparian states, have raised concerns over China's plan to build the massive dam on Brahmaputra River. But China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind. (With inputs from agencies)

Melting glaciers threaten China's plan to build massive dam over Brahmaputra in Tibet: Report  

Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;passed a new immigration law on Wednesday that includes powers to stop people entering or leaving the city, raising fears Chinese mainland-style "exit bans" could be deployed in the international business hub.

The legislation sailed through a legislature now devoid of opposition as Beijing seeks to quash dissent and make the semi-autonomous city more like the authoritarian mainland following huge and often violent democracy protests.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-legislatures-passes-immigration-bill-381092/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Activists, lawyers and some business figures have sounded the alarm over various provisions within the bill, including one that allows the city's immigration chief to bar people from boarding planes to and from the city.&nbsp;

No court order is required and there is no recourse to appeal.

The city's influential Bar Association (HKBA) warned the bill's wording gave "apparently unfettered power" to the immigration director.

Speaking after the bill was passed on Wednesday, labour activists and legal critics said the legislature had ignored concerns about the law's broad wording and said they feared exit bans could now be employed in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kongs-new-immigration-bill-could-give-authorities-arbitrary-control-over-peoples-movement-380646">Hong Kong's new immigration bill could give authorities arbitrary control over people's movement</a>

"When they have this power, absolute power, you don't know who they will use it on," barrister Chow Hang-tung, from the pro-democracy&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;Alliance, told reporters after the bill was passed.&nbsp;

Hong&nbsp;Kong's government&nbsp;said the immigration bill was needed to address a backlog of non-refoulement claims and to screen illegal immigrants before they depart for the city.

"It will only apply to flights heading to&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong," the Security Bureau said.

However, the wording of the bill does not limit the power to arriving flights or immigrants and legal experts say it could also be deployed against anyone leaving or arriving in&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong.&nbsp;

So-called "exit bans" are often used in mainland China against activists who challenge authorities.&nbsp;They have also impacted business figures.&nbsp;

One recent example is Richard O'Halloran, an Irishman who has been unable to leave Shanghai for two years because of a legal dispute involving the Chinese owner of a Dublin-based company for which he works.

Authoritarian swing

Under Beijing's direction,&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong's government has swung more authoritarian since 2019's huge protests.&nbsp;

Faith in official assurances that the city is not becoming like the mainland has been rattled by the recent crackdown.

Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;last year, arguing it was needed to return stability and would not impact freedoms.

But its broad wording and subsequent application has criminalised much dissent and radically transformed a once politically pluralistic city.

Many of&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong's prominent pro-democracy figures have since been arrested, detained or fled overseas.

The city's formerly raucous legislature has been cleared of pro-democracy opponents who resigned en masse late last year after three of their colleagues were disqualified for their political views.

Since then, the government has fast-tracked a number of laws with limited scrutiny and dissent in the legislature.

Wednesday's immigration bill received 39 votes in favour and two against. It was passed shortly after lawmakers approved a budget in record time with just one dissenting vote.

Beijing has also unveiled a new plan&nbsp; dubbed "patriots rule&nbsp;Hong&nbsp;Kong", to politically vet anyone standing for office and reduce the number of directly elected seats in the legislature to a small minority.

Critics of the immigration bill also say it will make it easier to detain and deport refugees.&nbsp;

Hong&nbsp;Kong&nbsp;only approves around one percent of refugee claims, one of the lowest rates in the world, and there is a huge backlog.&nbsp;

Refugees are unable to work while their applications are being processed and often live in miserable conditions.

Hong Kong passed a new immigration law on Wednesday that includes powers to stop people entering or leaving the city, raising fears Chinese mainland-style "exit bans" could be deployed in the international business hub.

Hong Kong passed a new immigration law on Wednesday that includes powers to stop people entering or leaving the city, raising fears Chinese mainland-style "exit bans" could be deployed in the international business hub. The legislation sailed through a legislature now devoid of opposition as Beijing seeks to quash dissent and make the semi-autonomous city more like the authoritarian mainland following huge and often violent democracy protests. Activists, lawyers and some business figures have sounded the alarm over various provisions within the bill, including one that allows the city's immigration chief to bar people from boarding planes to and from the city. No court order is required and there is no recourse to appeal. The city's influential Bar Association (HKBA) warned the bill's wording gave "apparently unfettered power" to the immigration director. Speaking after the bill was passed on Wednesday, labour activists and legal critics said the legislature had ignored concerns about the law's broad wording and said they feared exit bans could now be employed in Hong Kong. Also read | Hong Kong's new immigration bill could give authorities arbitrary control over people's movement "When they have this power, absolute power, you don't know who they will use it on," barrister Chow Hang-tung, from the pro-democracy Hong Kong Alliance, told reporters after the bill was passed. Hong Kong's government said the immigration bill was needed to address a backlog of non-refoulement claims and to screen illegal immigrants before they depart for the city. "It will only apply to flights heading to Hong Kong," the Security Bureau said. However, the wording of the bill does not limit the power to arriving flights or immigrants and legal experts say it could also be deployed against anyone leaving or arriving in Hong Kong. So-called "exit bans" are often used in mainland China against activists who challenge authorities. They have also impacted business figures. One recent example is Richard O'Halloran, an Irishman who has been unable to leave Shanghai for two years because of a legal dispute involving the Chinese owner of a Dublin-based company for which he works. Authoritarian swing Under Beijing's direction, Hong Kong's government has swung more authoritarian since 2019's huge protests. Faith in official assurances that the city is not becoming like the mainland has been rattled by the recent crackdown. Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong last year, arguing it was needed to return stability and would not impact freedoms. But its broad wording and subsequent application has criminalised much dissent and radically transformed a once politically pluralistic city. Many of Hong Kong's prominent pro-democracy figures have since been arrested, detained or fled overseas. The city's formerly raucous legislature has been cleared of pro-democracy opponents who resigned en masse late last year after three of their colleagues were disqualified for their political views. Since then, the government has fast-tracked a number of laws with limited scrutiny and dissent in the legislature. Wednesday's immigration bill received 39 votes in favour and two against. It was passed shortly after lawmakers approved a budget in record time with just one dissenting vote. Beijing has also unveiled a new plan dubbed "patriots rule Hong Kong", to politically vet anyone standing for office and reduce the number of directly elected seats in the legislature to a small minority. Critics of the immigration bill also say it will make it easier to detain and deport refugees. Hong Kong only approves around one percent of refugee claims, one of the lowest rates in the world, and there is a huge backlog. Refugees are unable to work while their applications are being processed and often live in miserable conditions.

Hong Kong passes immigration bill empowering govt to ban exit, entry

China is set to construct the "Polar Silk Road" and is actively participating in the development of polar regions. In the country's new 2021-2025 "five-year plan'' published on Friday, China is pushing for influence in Arctic and Antarctic regions.

According to the plan, China intends to "participate in pragmatic cooperation in the North Pole", in a bid to “raise its ability to participate in the protection and utilisation of the South Pole”, Reuters reported.

As temperatures rise and the danger of depleting natural resources hangs at bay, China has been eyeing potential mineral resource in the Arctic regions.&nbsp;

The melting of ice caps in the region may cause minerals to become closer to human reach.

In 2018, China had released a White Paper highlighting plans to create new freight routes linking Asia and Europe via the Northeast, Northwest, and Central Passages of the Arctic.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/over-20000-us-organisations-affected-by-chinas-microsoft-hack-reports-368371" hreflang="en">Over 20,000 US organisations affected by China's Microsoft hack: Reports</a>

In addition - in 2020, China announced plans to launch a new satellite that would track shipping routes alongside monitoring changes in the Arctic region's sea ice. The satellite is set to be launched in 2022.

The much-debated Transpolar Sea Route (TSR) is the Arctic shipping route that runs through the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and is also called the Trans-Arctic Route. With the melting icecaps, it is increasingly being viewed as the next big shipping route over the next decade.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/chinas-moves-against-hong-kong-direct-attack-on-autonomy-us-368357" hreflang="en">China's moves against Hong Kong 'direct attack' on autonomy: US</a>

In the White Paper, China had claimed the&nbsp;Arctic is the "Polar Silk Road" connecting Asia and Europe with the expansion of China's ambitious Belt and Road initiative(BRI).

"China is an important stakeholder in Arctic affairs. Geographically, China is a Near-Arctic State, one of the continental States that are closest to the Arctic Circle," the White Paper had said.

China is set to construct the "Polar Silk Road" and is actively participating in the development of polar regions. In the country's new 2021-2025 "five-year plan'' published on Friday, China is pushing for influence in Arctic and Antarctic regions.

China is set to construct the "Polar Silk Road" and is actively participating in the development of polar regions. In the country's new 2021-2025 "five-year plan'' published on Friday, China is pushing for influence in Arctic and Antarctic regions. According to the plan, China intends to "participate in pragmatic cooperation in the North Pole", in a bid to “raise its ability to participate in the protection and utilisation of the South Pole”, Reuters reported. As temperatures rise and the danger of depleting natural resources hangs at bay, China has been eyeing potential mineral resource in the Arctic regions. The melting of ice caps in the region may cause minerals to become closer to human reach. In 2018, China had released a White Paper highlighting plans to create new freight routes linking Asia and Europe via the Northeast, Northwest, and Central Passages of the Arctic. Also read: Over 20,000 US organisations affected by China's Microsoft hack: Reports In addition - in 2020, China announced plans to launch a new satellite that would track shipping routes alongside monitoring changes in the Arctic region's sea ice. The satellite is set to be launched in 2022. The much-debated Transpolar Sea Route (TSR) is the Arctic shipping route that runs through the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and is also called the Trans-Arctic Route. With the melting icecaps, it is increasingly being viewed as the next big shipping route over the next decade. Also read: China's moves against Hong Kong 'direct attack' on autonomy: US In the White Paper, China had claimed the Arctic is the "Polar Silk Road" connecting Asia and Europe with the expansion of China's ambitious Belt and Road initiative(BRI). "China is an important stakeholder in Arctic affairs. Geographically, China is a Near-Arctic State, one of the continental States that are closest to the Arctic Circle," the White Paper had said.

China pledges to build 'Polar Silk Road' by 2025 to tap natural resources

There are different ways of testing people for the deadly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> but China has come up with a new way, and Japan has had to intervene to protect its citizens from this new test.

Japan has warned China to stop taking anal swab tests for coronavirus on its citizens upon their entrance to the country.

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Some citizens have complained that the procedure of this anal swab test has caused them "psychological distress".

As per reports, China started carrying out anal swab tests in January — a few days after the Asian country was able to control the domestic cases.&nbsp;

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China, from where the coronavirus reportedly began, has denied the accusation that it had asked US diplomats to undergo such tests. The denial came after some of the local US media houses complained about the anal swab test procedure.

"Some Japanese reported to our embassy in China that they received anal swab tests, which caused great psychological pain," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said.

To perform these tests, a 3-5cm (1.2-2.0 inches) cotton swab is inserted into the anus and gently rotated to get the sample, which is then tested for the deadly coronavirus.

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These swab tests have been used on Japanese citizens who were already quarantined or were entering China. However, it has not been confirmed how many Japanese citizens have been subjected to this procedure.

The Japanese authorities also said that, as of now, the use of this strange swab test "has not been confirmed anywhere else in the world".

Anal swab tests were introduced in a few select Chinese cities where experts claimed these can "increase the detection rate of infected people".

However, at the time of the launch, the local media had reported a conflict between experts as some of them believed these swab tests were less efficient in the upper respiratory tracts, and the usual swab tests should be preferred as most people contract the deadly virus orally.

There are different ways of testing people for the deadly coronavirus but China has come up with a new way, and Japan has had to intervene to protect its citizens from this new test.

There are different ways of testing people for the deadly coronavirus but China has come up with a new way, and Japan has had to intervene to protect its citizens from this new test. Japan has warned China to stop taking anal swab tests for coronavirus on its citizens upon their entrance to the country. Also read | Israel's Supreme Court restricts usage of coronavirus smartphone tracking Some citizens have complained that the procedure of this anal swab test has caused them "psychological distress". As per reports, China started carrying out anal swab tests in January — a few days after the Asian country was able to control the domestic cases. Also read | Moderna's coronavirus vaccine side effects are severe, but worth it: CDC study China, from where the coronavirus reportedly began, has denied the accusation that it had asked US diplomats to undergo such tests. The denial came after some of the local US media houses complained about the anal swab test procedure. "Some Japanese reported to our embassy in China that they received anal swab tests, which caused great psychological pain," Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said. To perform these tests, a 3-5cm (1.2-2.0 inches) cotton swab is inserted into the anus and gently rotated to get the sample, which is then tested for the deadly coronavirus. Also read | Pfizer coronavirus vaccine may be less effective in obesity: Study These swab tests have been used on Japanese citizens who were already quarantined or were entering China. However, it has not been confirmed how many Japanese citizens have been subjected to this procedure. The Japanese authorities also said that, as of now, the use of this strange swab test "has not been confirmed anywhere else in the world". Anal swab tests were introduced in a few select Chinese cities where experts claimed these can "increase the detection rate of infected people". However, at the time of the launch, the local media had reported a conflict between experts as some of them believed these swab tests were less efficient in the upper respiratory tracts, and the usual swab tests should be preferred as most people contract the deadly virus orally.

'It's a psychological distress': Japan asks China to stop anal swab tests for coronavirus on citizens

A top Chinese official on Monday talked about outlining plans that will ensure that Hong Kong would be run by 'patriots'. Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, made this speech just two weeks ahead of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp parliament. There is speculation that China is planning further moves that will tighten its grip on Hong Kong.

"The most vital and pressing task to enforce rule by patriots is to improve the relevant systems, particularly the relevant electoral system," Xia said, according to a speech published by his office.

"Being patriotic means loving the People's Republic of China."

Formerly a British colony, Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997. During the handover, China agreed to grant a certain autonomy and liberty to Hong Kong for 50 years. This model was dubbed as "One Country, Two systems".

However, China has been criticised for not honouring the commitment in recent years.

Hong Kong has never been a democracy -- something that has fuelled years of protests and resentment towards Beijing.

But until recently, the city had a veneer of choice that allowed a small and vibrant opposition to flourish at certain local elections.

After huge and often violent democracy protests swept the city in 2019 -- and opposition politicians won a landslide in district council elections -- Beijing responded with a major crackdown.

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At its last annual meeting, China's National People's Congress imposed a sweeping national security law that outlawed much dissent in Hong Kong and radically transformed its relationship with the authoritarian mainland.

Hong Kongers are therefore looking closely at what the next meeting might bring.

Xia's comments suggest Beijing is seeking to ensure no opposition candidates are able to stand in the city's limited elections and come after weeks of calls in China's state media for such a purge.

Authorities, he said, must "close loopholes" that allow "anti-China troublemakers" into politics.

"Improving the relevant electoral system must be led by the central government," he added.

Xia also laid out the criteria for what makes a "real patriot", which included love for the People's Republic of China, its constitution and the Communist Party of China.

He added that members of the judiciary must also be patriots -- a potentially ominous warning for those who fear Beijing is planning to overhaul Hong Kong's independent courts, one of the pillars of its success as a business hub.

(With AFP input)

A top Chinese official on Monday talked about outlining plans that will ensure that Hong Kong would be run by 'patriots'. Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, made this speech just two weeks ahead of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp parliament.

A top Chinese official on Monday talked about outlining plans that will ensure that Hong Kong would be run by 'patriots'. Xia Baolong, head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, made this speech just two weeks ahead of the annual meeting of China's rubber-stamp parliament. There is speculation that China is planning further moves that will tighten its grip on Hong Kong. "The most vital and pressing task to enforce rule by patriots is to improve the relevant systems, particularly the relevant electoral system," Xia said, according to a speech published by his office. "Being patriotic means loving the People's Republic of China." Formerly a British colony, Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997. During the handover, China agreed to grant a certain autonomy and liberty to Hong Kong for 50 years. This model was dubbed as "One Country, Two systems". However, China has been criticised for not honouring the commitment in recent years. Hong Kong has never been a democracy -- something that has fuelled years of protests and resentment towards Beijing. But until recently, the city had a veneer of choice that allowed a small and vibrant opposition to flourish at certain local elections. After huge and often violent democracy protests swept the city in 2019 -- and opposition politicians won a landslide in district council elections -- Beijing responded with a major crackdown. Also Read | India-China standoff: China detains bloggers for questioning official version of Galwan clash At its last annual meeting, China's National People's Congress imposed a sweeping national security law that outlawed much dissent in Hong Kong and radically transformed its relationship with the authoritarian mainland. Hong Kongers are therefore looking closely at what the next meeting might bring. Xia's comments suggest Beijing is seeking to ensure no opposition candidates are able to stand in the city's limited elections and come after weeks of calls in China's state media for such a purge. Authorities, he said, must "close loopholes" that allow "anti-China troublemakers" into politics. "Improving the relevant electoral system must be led by the central government," he added. Xia also laid out the criteria for what makes a "real patriot", which included love for the People's Republic of China, its constitution and the Communist Party of China. He added that members of the judiciary must also be patriots -- a potentially ominous warning for those who fear Beijing is planning to overhaul Hong Kong's independent courts, one of the pillars of its success as a business hub. (With AFP input)

Hong Kong: Top Chinese official talks of plans to let 'patriots' run the city

China on Friday,&nbsp;made allegations of 'ideological prejudice' as Britain revoked license of Chinese state broadcaster CGTN. British regulator Ofcom revoked CGTN's license on Thursday after finding that CGTN's state-backed ownership structure broke UK law.

This means that UK broadcast providers should stop CGTN broadcast or pay unlimited fine.

Beijing hit out at the ruling on Friday, saying it was "based on ideological prejudice and political reasons."

"China urges the UK to immediately cease political manipulation and correct its mistakes," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, adding that China "reserves the right to make the necessary responses."

He said the news channel had played a role in "enhancing understanding and communication" between the two countries.

Ofcom said CGTN's licence holder, Star China Media Ltd, had failed to show it had editorial oversight over the network and that a proposed transfer to another media group would still keep it tied to the Chinese Communist Party.

According to British law, broadcasters must not be controlled by political bodies.

"We have given CGTN significant time to come into compliance with the statutory rules. Those efforts have now been exhausted," Ofcom said.

The regulator added that an investigation into alleged breaches by CGTN of impartiality, fairness and privacy requirements would be completed "shortly".&nbsp;

(With AFP inputs)

China on Friday, made allegations of 'ideological prejudice' as Britain revoked license of Chinese state broadcaster CGTN. British regulator Ofcom revoked CGTN's license on Thursday after finding that CGTN's state-backed ownership structure broke UK law.

China on Friday, made allegations of 'ideological prejudice' as Britain revoked license of Chinese state broadcaster CGTN. British regulator Ofcom revoked CGTN's license on Thursday after finding that CGTN's state-backed ownership structure broke UK law. This means that UK broadcast providers should stop CGTN broadcast or pay unlimited fine. Beijing hit out at the ruling on Friday, saying it was "based on ideological prejudice and political reasons." "China urges the UK to immediately cease political manipulation and correct its mistakes," said foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, adding that China "reserves the right to make the necessary responses." He said the news channel had played a role in "enhancing understanding and communication" between the two countries. Ofcom said CGTN's licence holder, Star China Media Ltd, had failed to show it had editorial oversight over the network and that a proposed transfer to another media group would still keep it tied to the Chinese Communist Party. According to British law, broadcasters must not be controlled by political bodies. "We have given CGTN significant time to come into compliance with the statutory rules. Those efforts have now been exhausted," Ofcom said. The regulator added that an investigation into alleged breaches by CGTN of impartiality, fairness and privacy requirements would be completed "shortly". (With AFP inputs)

China cries 'ideological prejudice' as Britain revokes CGTN license

CGTN, a Chinese state-owned broadcaster has lost its broadcast licence in the UK after Britain's broadcast regulator Ofcom concluded that the Chinese Communist Party had ultimate editorial responsibility for the channel.

"We are unable to approve the application to transfer the licence to China Global Television Network Corporation because it is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law.Our investigation showed that the licence for China Global Television Network is held by an entity which has no editorial control over its programmes," &nbsp;Ofcom said.

The licence holder for CGTN is Star China Media.

Beijing routinely threatens retaliation against Western countries for acting against its media operations, which have grown in sophistication and reach down the years, warning of sanctions in turn against groups such as the BBC in China.

There was no immediate comment from CGTN, which opened a state-of-the-art European headquarters in London in 2019, or from the Chinese government to the ruling by Britain's Ofcom regulator.

But in a parallel development, China's foreign ministry said it had lodged "stern representations" to the BBC, accusing the UK broadcaster of "fake news" in its coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

In Britain, the BBC has been airing a hard-hitting documentary that accuses China of covering up the origins of the pandemic around the city of Wuhan in late 2019.

"We stand by our accurate and fair reporting of events in China and totally reject these unfounded accusations of fake news or ideological bias," the BBC responded in a statement.

Ofcom said CGTN's current licence holder, Star China Media Ltd, had failed to show that it had editorial oversight over the network. And it ruled that a proposed transfer of the licence to another media group wouldn't &nbsp;work as the alternative was ultimately tied to the Chinese Communist Party.

"We have given CGTN significant time to come into compliance with the statutory rules. Those efforts have now been exhausted," Ofcom said in a statement.

"Following careful consideration, taking account of all the facts and the broadcaster's and audience's rights to freedom of expression, we have decided it is appropriate to revoke the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK."

Ofcom added that it would conclude an ongoing investigation into alleged breaches by CGTN of impartiality, fairness and privacy requirements "shortly".&nbsp;

The English-language satellite broadcaster has long faced criticism for parroting the Communist Party line in its global broadcasts.

In the United States, CGTN is one of seven Chinese media outlets that have been designated as state-sponsored actors, rather than as independent media.&nbsp;

'Crucial' info missing

Last July, Ofcom said it was considering sanctions against CGTN after upholding a complaint brought by a UK national who says he was forced to make a criminal confession aired by the broadcaster.

Peter Humphrey was jailed for more than two years by a court in Shanghai in 2014, in connection with a corruption case involving pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

He accused Chinese authorities of drugging him and locking him inside a small metal cage to conduct the confession and of illegally obtaining and using personal data.

The Chinese broadcaster justified its reports to Ofcom on public interest grounds, arguing it had obtained Humphrey's consent and was not aware of any mistreatment.

The regulator has the power to impose fines on UK-licensed broadcasters for breaches of media rules on impartiality and fairness. Overall, the law states that they must not be controlled by political bodies.

"Our investigation concluded that Star China Media Limited, the licence-holder for the CGTN service, did not have editorial responsibility for CGTN's output," Ofcom said.

"As such, SCML does not meet the legal requirement of having control over the licensed service, and so is not a lawful broadcast licensee."

Moreover, Ofcom said it could not transfer the licence to a replacement proposed by CGTN, called China Global Television Network Corporation (CGTNC).&nbsp;

"This is because crucial information was missing from the application, and because we consider that CGTNC would be disqualified from holding a licence, as it is controlled by a body which is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party."

In 2012, Ofcom revoked the licence of Press TV, the Iranian state broadcaster's English-language outlet, for failing to transfer general editorial control to London from Tehran.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

CGTN, a Chinese state-owned broadcaster has lost its broadcast licence in the UK after Britain's broadcast regulator Ofcom concluded that the Chinese Communist Party had ultimate editorial responsibility for the channel.

CGTN, a Chinese state-owned broadcaster has lost its broadcast licence in the UK after Britain's broadcast regulator Ofcom concluded that the Chinese Communist Party had ultimate editorial responsibility for the channel. "We are unable to approve the application to transfer the licence to China Global Television Network Corporation because it is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law.Our investigation showed that the licence for China Global Television Network is held by an entity which has no editorial control over its programmes," Ofcom said. The licence holder for CGTN is Star China Media. Beijing routinely threatens retaliation against Western countries for acting against its media operations, which have grown in sophistication and reach down the years, warning of sanctions in turn against groups such as the BBC in China. There was no immediate comment from CGTN, which opened a state-of-the-art European headquarters in London in 2019, or from the Chinese government to the ruling by Britain's Ofcom regulator. But in a parallel development, China's foreign ministry said it had lodged "stern representations" to the BBC, accusing the UK broadcaster of "fake news" in its coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. In Britain, the BBC has been airing a hard-hitting documentary that accuses China of covering up the origins of the pandemic around the city of Wuhan in late 2019. "We stand by our accurate and fair reporting of events in China and totally reject these unfounded accusations of fake news or ideological bias," the BBC responded in a statement. Ofcom said CGTN's current licence holder, Star China Media Ltd, had failed to show that it had editorial oversight over the network. And it ruled that a proposed transfer of the licence to another media group wouldn't work as the alternative was ultimately tied to the Chinese Communist Party. "We have given CGTN significant time to come into compliance with the statutory rules. Those efforts have now been exhausted," Ofcom said in a statement. "Following careful consideration, taking account of all the facts and the broadcaster's and audience's rights to freedom of expression, we have decided it is appropriate to revoke the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK." Ofcom added that it would conclude an ongoing investigation into alleged breaches by CGTN of impartiality, fairness and privacy requirements "shortly". The English-language satellite broadcaster has long faced criticism for parroting the Communist Party line in its global broadcasts. In the United States, CGTN is one of seven Chinese media outlets that have been designated as state-sponsored actors, rather than as independent media. 'Crucial' info missing Last July, Ofcom said it was considering sanctions against CGTN after upholding a complaint brought by a UK national who says he was forced to make a criminal confession aired by the broadcaster. Peter Humphrey was jailed for more than two years by a court in Shanghai in 2014, in connection with a corruption case involving pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. He accused Chinese authorities of drugging him and locking him inside a small metal cage to conduct the confession and of illegally obtaining and using personal data. The Chinese broadcaster justified its reports to Ofcom on public interest grounds, arguing it had obtained Humphrey's consent and was not aware of any mistreatment. The regulator has the power to impose fines on UK-licensed broadcasters for breaches of media rules on impartiality and fairness. Overall, the law states that they must not be controlled by political bodies. "Our investigation concluded that Star China Media Limited, the licence-holder for the CGTN service, did not have editorial responsibility for CGTN's output," Ofcom said. "As such, SCML does not meet the legal requirement of having control over the licensed service, and so is not a lawful broadcast licensee." Moreover, Ofcom said it could not transfer the licence to a replacement proposed by CGTN, called China Global Television Network Corporation (CGTNC). "This is because crucial information was missing from the application, and because we consider that CGTNC would be disqualified from holding a licence, as it is controlled by a body which is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party." In 2012, Ofcom revoked the licence of Press TV, the Iranian state broadcaster's English-language outlet, for failing to transfer general editorial control to London from Tehran. (With inputs from agencies)

China's state broadcaster CGTN kicked out of UK after Ofcom ruling

Nearly 11,000 Hong Kongers moved to Taiwan in 2020 after Beijing imposed a sweeping security law on the city. The figure is almost double the number of a year earlier. &nbsp;

Hong Kong people seeking an alternative to the city's frenetic pace and sky-high rents have been attracted by democratic Taiwan for a long time. &nbsp;

The new security law has just accelerated an exodus. According to Taiwan's National Immigration Agency, the number of Hong Kongers granted short-term residency soared to 10,813 from 5,858 in 2019. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The previous record was 7,506 in 2014 during the financial hub's pro-democracy 'Umbrella Movement'. &nbsp;

The number of arrivals would have been higher if there wouldn’t have been border restrictions due to coronavirus scare, Taiwan's Liberty Times newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying. &nbsp;

Fearful of a potential influx from the authoritarian mainland, Taiwan does not have an asylum or refugee law, nor does it accept refugee applications. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hong Kongers can, however, apply to live on the island through other channels, including investment visas. &nbsp;&nbsp;

President Tsai Ing-wen's government has vowed support for Hong Kong's democracy movement and launched a new office last year to deal with Hong Kongers seeking to stay on the island. &nbsp;&nbsp;

An increasing number of Hong Kong people, including some prominent activists, have gone into exile after local authorities stepped up prosecutions based on the national security law. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A dozen activists were also arrested by the Chinese coast guard in late August when they tried to flee the city to Taiwan by boat. &nbsp;

Most of those aboard the vessel had been charged in Hong Kong for alleged offences linked to last year's huge and often violent pro-democracy protests. &nbsp;

Canada has also emerged as a favourite destination, aided by a network of activists, who have helped people escape Beijing ever since the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Britain has also extended residency rights for nearly three million Hong Kongers eligible for British National (Overseas) passports, those born before the former colony's 1997 handover.&nbsp;

Nearly 11,000 Hong Kongers moved to Taiwan in 2020 after Beijing imposed a sweeping security law on the city. The figure is almost double the number of a year earlier.

Nearly 11,000 Hong Kongers moved to Taiwan in 2020 after Beijing imposed a sweeping security law on the city. The figure is almost double the number of a year earlier. Hong Kong people seeking an alternative to the city's frenetic pace and sky-high rents have been attracted by democratic Taiwan for a long time. The new security law has just accelerated an exodus. According to Taiwan's National Immigration Agency, the number of Hong Kongers granted short-term residency soared to 10,813 from 5,858 in 2019. The previous record was 7,506 in 2014 during the financial hub's pro-democracy 'Umbrella Movement'. The number of arrivals would have been higher if there wouldn’t have been border restrictions due to coronavirus scare, Taiwan's Liberty Times newspaper quoted unnamed sources as saying. Fearful of a potential influx from the authoritarian mainland, Taiwan does not have an asylum or refugee law, nor does it accept refugee applications. Hong Kongers can, however, apply to live on the island through other channels, including investment visas. President Tsai Ing-wen's government has vowed support for Hong Kong's democracy movement and launched a new office last year to deal with Hong Kongers seeking to stay on the island. An increasing number of Hong Kong people, including some prominent activists, have gone into exile after local authorities stepped up prosecutions based on the national security law. A dozen activists were also arrested by the Chinese coast guard in late August when they tried to flee the city to Taiwan by boat. Most of those aboard the vessel had been charged in Hong Kong for alleged offences linked to last year's huge and often violent pro-democracy protests. Canada has also emerged as a favourite destination, aided by a network of activists, who have helped people escape Beijing ever since the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown. Britain has also extended residency rights for nearly three million Hong Kongers eligible for British National (Overseas) passports, those born before the former colony's 1997 handover.

Around 11,000 Hong Kongers moved to Taiwan in 2020

Nepal Foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, who is in New Delhi, has said that Kathmandu believes in good relations with both New Delhi and Beijing and keen to use its geography as opportunity.&nbsp;

In response to a WION question during his only public meet during a 3-day visit, Gyawali said, "Nepal has always maintained good relations with our both neighbours. We never compare our relationship with our friends."

He explained, that, “being located between the 2 largest markets of the global speaks a volume...It provides us to be benefited by the fastest economic growth of our neighbouring countries. That is why we are strengthening our relations with neighbouring countries but we never compare our relations."

China has increased its foray in Nepal, even as the country has had much-celebrated ties with India based on "roti beti ka rishta" (family ties).&nbsp;

Beijing, under the KP Sharma Oli govt and the erstwhile united Nepal communist party saw a lot of high-level exchanges including a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, India's focus, even amid the new Nepal map row was continued people to people exchange.&nbsp;

The Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum products pipeline is the first cross country pipeline in south Asia, with both sides keen on the expansion of the pipeline to Chitwan.&nbsp;

A new pipeline on the eastern side connecting Siliguri to Jhapa in Nepal is being discussed. On the connectivity front, the focus is on the possible Raxaul-Kathmandu broad gauge railway line.

Lauding India, the FM said, "India has demonstrated how democracy and development could be successfully pursued together so as to promote overall progress and prosperity of the people."&nbsp;

Indian PM Modi has travelled many times to Nepal and had a number of engagements with Nepal PM Oli. Last year on India's Independence Day both PMs had spoken to each other.

Nepal Foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, who is in New Delhi, has said that Kathmandu believes in good relations with both New Delhi and Beijing and keen to use its geography as opportunity.

Nepal Foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, who is in New Delhi, has said that Kathmandu believes in good relations with both New Delhi and Beijing and keen to use its geography as opportunity. In response to a WION question during his only public meet during a 3-day visit, Gyawali said, "Nepal has always maintained good relations with our both neighbours. We never compare our relationship with our friends." He explained, that, “being located between the 2 largest markets of the global speaks a volume...It provides us to be benefited by the fastest economic growth of our neighbouring countries. That is why we are strengthening our relations with neighbouring countries but we never compare our relations." China has increased its foray in Nepal, even as the country has had much-celebrated ties with India based on "roti beti ka rishta" (family ties). Beijing, under the KP Sharma Oli govt and the erstwhile united Nepal communist party saw a lot of high-level exchanges including a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Meanwhile, India's focus, even amid the new Nepal map row was continued people to people exchange. The Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum products pipeline is the first cross country pipeline in south Asia, with both sides keen on the expansion of the pipeline to Chitwan. A new pipeline on the eastern side connecting Siliguri to Jhapa in Nepal is being discussed. On the connectivity front, the focus is on the possible Raxaul-Kathmandu broad gauge railway line. Lauding India, the FM said, "India has demonstrated how democracy and development could be successfully pursued together so as to promote overall progress and prosperity of the people." Indian PM Modi has travelled many times to Nepal and had a number of engagements with Nepal PM Oli. Last year on India's Independence Day both PMs had spoken to each other.

'We don’t compare ties', says Nepal FM on ties with China & India

China's President Xi Jinping has asked former Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz to help promote trade between Washington and Beijing in a rare missive to a foreign business figure, state media reported Thursday.

Xi, responding to an earlier message from Schultz, urged the multi-billionaire to "continue to play an active role in promoting China-US economic and trade cooperation", the official Xinhua news agency said.

China will "provide a broader space for companies from all over the world, including Starbucks and other American companies, to develop in China", Xi wrote in his letter.

It was not immediately clear why the letter was published by state media, but it comes as relations between the superpowers have reached a nadir with bitter disputes over trade, tech, security and rights.

Starbucks, a ubiquitous sight in major Chinese cities, says it has opened over 4,700 coffee shops across the country since 1999.

Schultz, who stepped down as chairman of the chain in 2018 but retains an honorary title at the company, had previously congratulated Xi on China's transition into "moderately prosperous society", Xinhua said.

US-China ties have grown increasingly strained under the administration of Donald Trump.

Beijing and Washington have also sparred over blame for the Covid-19 pandemic and China's human rights record in Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

But China's top diplomat Wang Yi has called for both sides to "restart the dialogue" and "rebuild mutual trust" with the incoming US administration of president-elect Joe Biden.

Xi and Schultz previously met at a formal reception in Seattle during the Chinese leader's state visit to the US in 2015.

China's President Xi Jinping has asked former Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz to help promote trade between Washington and Beijing in a rare missive to a foreign business figure, state media reported Thursday.

China's President Xi Jinping has asked former Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz to help promote trade between Washington and Beijing in a rare missive to a foreign business figure, state media reported Thursday. Xi, responding to an earlier message from Schultz, urged the multi-billionaire to "continue to play an active role in promoting China-US economic and trade cooperation", the official Xinhua news agency said. China will "provide a broader space for companies from all over the world, including Starbucks and other American companies, to develop in China", Xi wrote in his letter. It was not immediately clear why the letter was published by state media, but it comes as relations between the superpowers have reached a nadir with bitter disputes over trade, tech, security and rights. Starbucks, a ubiquitous sight in major Chinese cities, says it has opened over 4,700 coffee shops across the country since 1999. Schultz, who stepped down as chairman of the chain in 2018 but retains an honorary title at the company, had previously congratulated Xi on China's transition into "moderately prosperous society", Xinhua said. US-China ties have grown increasingly strained under the administration of Donald Trump. Beijing and Washington have also sparred over blame for the Covid-19 pandemic and China's human rights record in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. But China's top diplomat Wang Yi has called for both sides to "restart the dialogue" and "rebuild mutual trust" with the incoming US administration of president-elect Joe Biden. Xi and Schultz previously met at a formal reception in Seattle during the Chinese leader's state visit to the US in 2015.

Amid strained US ties, Xi Jinping writes to former Starbucks chairman

China on Monday threatened a "counterstrike" against a move by the United States to lift restrictions on official contacts with Taiwan as military tensions grow between Beijing and the self-ruled island.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday Washington would lift "complex internal restrictions" on contacts with Taipei by diplomats, after a year of mounting US-Chinese friction on topics including human rights, trade and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Beijing says Taiwan is an inviolable part of China to be reclaimed, by force if necessary, and opposes any diplomatic recognition of the democratic island.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Beijing "strongly condemns" the move and accused the United States of violating the terms of Washington's diplomatic relations with Beijing.

"Any action that harms China's core interests will receive a resolute counterstrike from China," Zhao warned, urging Pompeo to retract the decision or face "severe punishment".

It was not clear what the change means in practice, with Pompeo saying executive branch communications with Taiwan will be handled by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which is owned by the US government and serves as the de facto embassy.

The AIT was founded in 1979, when the United States extended diplomatic recognition to mainland China under a historic agreement requiring it to end formal recognition of Taiwan.

But Washington remains a staunch ally of Taipei and is bound by Congress to sell it weapons for self-defence. It opposes any move to change Taiwan's current status by force.

Military tensions between mainland China and Taiwan have grown sharper in the past year -- reaching their worst since the mid-1990s, some analysts say.

Chinese jets made a record 380 incursions into Taiwan's defence zone last year, a military official said Tuesday.

Beijing's animosity has increased dramatically since Tsai Ing-wen won election as Taiwan's president in 2016 -- she rejects Beijing's insistence that the island is part of "one China".

China on Monday threatened a "counterstrike" against a move by the United States to lift restrictions on official contacts with Taiwan as military tensions grow between Beijing and the self-ruled island.

China on Monday threatened a "counterstrike" against a move by the United States to lift restrictions on official contacts with Taiwan as military tensions grow between Beijing and the self-ruled island. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday Washington would lift "complex internal restrictions" on contacts with Taipei by diplomats, after a year of mounting US-Chinese friction on topics including human rights, trade and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Beijing says Taiwan is an inviolable part of China to be reclaimed, by force if necessary, and opposes any diplomatic recognition of the democratic island. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Beijing "strongly condemns" the move and accused the United States of violating the terms of Washington's diplomatic relations with Beijing. "Any action that harms China's core interests will receive a resolute counterstrike from China," Zhao warned, urging Pompeo to retract the decision or face "severe punishment". It was not clear what the change means in practice, with Pompeo saying executive branch communications with Taiwan will be handled by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which is owned by the US government and serves as the de facto embassy. The AIT was founded in 1979, when the United States extended diplomatic recognition to mainland China under a historic agreement requiring it to end formal recognition of Taiwan. But Washington remains a staunch ally of Taipei and is bound by Congress to sell it weapons for self-defence. It opposes any move to change Taiwan's current status by force. Military tensions between mainland China and Taiwan have grown sharper in the past year -- reaching their worst since the mid-1990s, some analysts say. Chinese jets made a record 380 incursions into Taiwan's defence zone last year, a military official said Tuesday. Beijing's animosity has increased dramatically since Tsai Ing-wen won election as Taiwan's president in 2016 -- she rejects Beijing's insistence that the island is part of "one China".

China threatens ‘counterstrike’ as US lifts Taiwan restrictions

An Indonesian fisherman has caught what is apparently a 'Chinese' submarine drone.

News reports citing Indonesian news outlet Detik News have said that the object the fisherman identified as Saeruddin bears striking resemblance to submarine drones developed by Chinese Academy of Sciences, a state-run organisation in China.

The fisherman caught the drone on December 20 near Selayar Islands that are part of Indonesia's South Sulawesi province. He then handed the drone to police who, in turn, gave it to the Indonesian military.
<img alt="Indonesia Chinese drone" data-caption="Image tweeted by Twitter handle @Jatosint" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f7fc08e2-2f98-4f50-a7be-42388c90814f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Indonesia%20drone.png" />
As per reports, the torpedo-shaped drone is 7.4 feet long. There is sensor equipment at the front while antenna-like structure protrudes from the rear end.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A fisherman in Selayar Island, South Sulawesi, has found a UUV: 
 
Length: 225 cm 
Tail: 18 cm 
Wingspan: 50 cm 
Trailing antenna: 93 cm 
 
Very similar to China's 'Sea Wing' UUV, which, if it's true, raised many questions especially how it managed to be found deep inside our territory <a href="https://t.co/RAiX8Xw2BK">pic.twitter.com/RAiX8Xw2BK</a>
— JATOSINT (@Jatosint) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jatosint/status/1343749243798896640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

This is not the first time these drones have been found in Indonesian waters. Such drones were reportedly found near Masalembu Islands and Riau Islands of Indonesia. These islands, along with Selayar Islands are situation near sea-routes that connect South China Sea and Indian Ocean.

China has long been working to increase its presence in the Indian Ocean where the Indian Navy is dominant. Whether these drones are being used to chart undersea routes for Chinese submarines is not yet clear.

An Indonesian fisherman has caught what is apparently a 'Chinese' submarine drone. News reports citing Indonesian news outlet Detik News have said that the object the fisherman identified as Saeruddin bears striking resemblance to submarine drones developed by Chinese Academy of Sciences, a state-run organisation in China.

An Indonesian fisherman has caught what is apparently a 'Chinese' submarine drone. News reports citing Indonesian news outlet Detik News have said that the object the fisherman identified as Saeruddin bears striking resemblance to submarine drones developed by Chinese Academy of Sciences, a state-run organisation in China. The fisherman caught the drone on December 20 near Selayar Islands that are part of Indonesia's South Sulawesi province. He then handed the drone to police who, in turn, gave it to the Indonesian military. As per reports, the torpedo-shaped drone is 7.4 feet long. There is sensor equipment at the front while antenna-like structure protrudes from the rear end. A fisherman in Selayar Island, South Sulawesi, has found a UUV: Length: 225 cm Tail: 18 cm Wingspan: 50 cm Trailing antenna: 93 cm Very similar to China's 'Sea Wing' UUV, which, if it's true, raised many questions especially how it managed to be found deep inside our territory pic.twitter.com/RAiX8Xw2BK — JATOSINT (@Jatosint) December 29, 2020 × This is not the first time these drones have been found in Indonesian waters. Such drones were reportedly found near Masalembu Islands and Riau Islands of Indonesia. These islands, along with Selayar Islands are situation near sea-routes that connect South China Sea and Indian Ocean. China has long been working to increase its presence in the Indian Ocean where the Indian Navy is dominant. Whether these drones are being used to chart undersea routes for Chinese submarines is not yet clear.

Indonesian fisherman catches 'Chinese' submarine drone

A Chinese citizen journalist who covered Wuhan's coronavirus outbreak has been jailed for four years, almost a year after the virus first surfaced in the central China city.

Zhang Zhan was found guilty of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble", a frequent charge against activists.

Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer, was sentenced at a brief hearing in a Shanghai court for allegedly "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" for her reporting in the chaotic initial stages of the outbreak.

Her live reports and essays were widely shared on social media platforms in February, grabbing the attention of authorities, who have punished eight virus whistleblowers so far as they defang criticism of the government's response to the outbreak.

Beijing has congratulated itself for "extraordinary" success in controlling the virus inside its borders, with an economy on the rebound while much of the rest of the world stutters through painful lockdowns and surging caseloads a year on from the start of the pandemic in Wuhan.

Controlling the information flow during an unprecedented global health crisis has been pivotal in allowing China's communist authorities to reframe the narrative in their favour.

But that has come at a serious cost to anyone picking holes in that storyline.

"Zhang Zhan looked devastated when the sentence was announced," Ren Quanniu, one of Zhang's defence lawyers, told reporters confirming the four year jail term outside Shanghai Pudong New District People's Court on Monday morning.

Her mother sobbed loudly as the verdict was read, Ren added.

Concerns are mounting over the health of 37-year-old Zhang who began a hunger strike in June and has been force-fed via a nasal tube.

"She said when I visited her (last week): 'If they give me a heavy sentence then I will refuse food until the very end.'... She thinks she will die in prison," Ren said before the trial.

"It's an extreme method of protesting against this society and this environment."

China's communist authorities have a history of putting dissidents on trial in opaque courts between Christmas and New Year to minimise Western scrutiny.

The trial comes just weeks before an international team of World Health Organization experts is expected to arrive in China to investigate the origins of Covid-19.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Chinese citizen journalist who covered Wuhan's coronavirus outbreak has been jailed for four years, almost a year after the virus first surfaced in the central China city.

A Chinese citizen journalist who covered Wuhan's coronavirus outbreak has been jailed for four years, almost a year after the virus first surfaced in the central China city. Zhang Zhan was found guilty of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble", a frequent charge against activists. Zhang Zhan, a former lawyer, was sentenced at a brief hearing in a Shanghai court for allegedly "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" for her reporting in the chaotic initial stages of the outbreak. Her live reports and essays were widely shared on social media platforms in February, grabbing the attention of authorities, who have punished eight virus whistleblowers so far as they defang criticism of the government's response to the outbreak. Beijing has congratulated itself for "extraordinary" success in controlling the virus inside its borders, with an economy on the rebound while much of the rest of the world stutters through painful lockdowns and surging caseloads a year on from the start of the pandemic in Wuhan. Controlling the information flow during an unprecedented global health crisis has been pivotal in allowing China's communist authorities to reframe the narrative in their favour. But that has come at a serious cost to anyone picking holes in that storyline. "Zhang Zhan looked devastated when the sentence was announced," Ren Quanniu, one of Zhang's defence lawyers, told reporters confirming the four year jail term outside Shanghai Pudong New District People's Court on Monday morning. Her mother sobbed loudly as the verdict was read, Ren added. Concerns are mounting over the health of 37-year-old Zhang who began a hunger strike in June and has been force-fed via a nasal tube. "She said when I visited her (last week): 'If they give me a heavy sentence then I will refuse food until the very end.'... She thinks she will die in prison," Ren said before the trial. "It's an extreme method of protesting against this society and this environment." China's communist authorities have a history of putting dissidents on trial in opaque courts between Christmas and New Year to minimise Western scrutiny. The trial comes just weeks before an international team of World Health Organization experts is expected to arrive in China to investigate the origins of Covid-19. (With inputs from agencies)

China jails citizen journalist Zhang Zhan for four years over Wuhan coronavirus reports

The European Union on Monday called for China to release jailed lawyer Li Yuhan and other human rights defenders, as the bloc closes in on a major investment pact with Beijing.&nbsp;

Li was detained in 2017 after working as an attorney for rights lawyers swept up in Beijing's "709 crackdown" -- so named because it began on July 9, 2015. &nbsp;

"Credible sources indicate that, during her detention, Ms Li has been subject to torture and ill-treatment and that she has not received adequate medical assistance," a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. &nbsp;

"Her health condition has been seriously deteriorating while in detention."

The statement demanded the "immediate release" of Li, as well as other lawyers and activists including Yu Wensheng, Huang Qi, Ge Jueping, Qin Yongmin, Gao Zhisheng, Ilham Tohti, Tashi Wangchuk, Wu Gan and Liu Feiyue.

"The European Union expects China to ensure full respect for the rule of law," it said.&nbsp;

The latest call from the EU for the rights defenders to be freed comes as Brussels and Beijing say they are getting near to sealing a long-awaited investment deal after seven years of negotiations.&nbsp;

The two economic powerhouses are keen to tie up the pact -- which would lower barriers for EU firms to gain access to China's lucrative markets -- before the end of the year.

The deal would be a major boost for both sides and strengthen economic ties before the arrival of US president-elect Joe Biden in the White House in January, as Beijing squares off with Washington over trade.&nbsp;

Talks on the investment agreement have advanced despite major concerns in Europe over China's human rights record, especially its clampdown in Hong Kong and treatment of the Uighurs.

The European Union on Monday called for China to release jailed lawyer Li Yuhan and other human rights defenders, as the bloc closes in on a major investment pact with Beijing.

The European Union on Monday called for China to release jailed lawyer Li Yuhan and other human rights defenders, as the bloc closes in on a major investment pact with Beijing. Li was detained in 2017 after working as an attorney for rights lawyers swept up in Beijing's "709 crackdown" -- so named because it began on July 9, 2015. "Credible sources indicate that, during her detention, Ms Li has been subject to torture and ill-treatment and that she has not received adequate medical assistance," a spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. "Her health condition has been seriously deteriorating while in detention." The statement demanded the "immediate release" of Li, as well as other lawyers and activists including Yu Wensheng, Huang Qi, Ge Jueping, Qin Yongmin, Gao Zhisheng, Ilham Tohti, Tashi Wangchuk, Wu Gan and Liu Feiyue. "The European Union expects China to ensure full respect for the rule of law," it said. The latest call from the EU for the rights defenders to be freed comes as Brussels and Beijing say they are getting near to sealing a long-awaited investment deal after seven years of negotiations. The two economic powerhouses are keen to tie up the pact -- which would lower barriers for EU firms to gain access to China's lucrative markets -- before the end of the year. The deal would be a major boost for both sides and strengthen economic ties before the arrival of US president-elect Joe Biden in the White House in January, as Beijing squares off with Washington over trade. Talks on the investment agreement have advanced despite major concerns in Europe over China's human rights record, especially its clampdown in Hong Kong and treatment of the Uighurs.

EU urges China to free Li Yuhan and other human rights activists

In one Beijing artist’s recent depiction of the world in 2098, China is a high-tech superpower and the United States is humbled. Americans have embraced communism and Manhattan, draped with the hammer-and-sickle flags of the “People’s Union of America,” has become a quaint tourist precinct.

This triumphant vision has resonated among Chinese.

The sci-fi digital illustrations by the artist, Fan Wennan, caught fire on Chinese social media in recent months, reflecting a resurgent nationalism. China’s authoritarian system, proponents say, is not just different from the West’s democracies, it is also proving itself superior. It is a long-running theme, but China’s success against the pandemic has given it a sharp boost.

“America isn’t that heavenly kingdom depicted since decades ago,” said Fan, who is in his early 20s and has described his style as “People’s Punk.” “There’s nothing special about it. If you have to say there’s anything special about it now, it’s how messed up it can be at times.”

China’s Communist Party, under its leader, Xi Jinping, has promoted the idea that the country is on a trajectory to power past Western rivals.

China stamped out the coronavirus, the messaging goes, with a resolve beyond the reach of flailing Western democracies. Beijing has rolled out homegrown vaccines to more than 1 million people, despite the safety concerns of scientists. China’s economy has revived, defying fears of a deep slump from the pandemic.

“In this fight against the pandemic, there will be victorious powers and defeated ones,” Wang Xiangsui, a retired Chinese senior colonel who teaches at a university in Beijing, averred this month. “We’re a victor power, while the United States is still mired and, I think, may well become a defeated power.”

The firm leadership of Xi and the party has earned China its recent success, say newspapers, television programs and social media.

“Time to wake up from blind faith in the Western system,” said a commentary in the state-run China Education News last week. “Vicious partisan fighting has worsened in certain Western countries, social fissures have deepened, and a severe social crisis is brewing.”

The theme of China as triumphantly vindicated against critics also has real public appeal these days, including among the youth, as reflected in the work of artists like Fan and a stream of online commentary. In Fan’s depiction of communist Manhattan, displayed on the ArtStation website, a caption describes a tour guide as saying that Asia and Europe are where the future is.

“To take in the changes of history and feel the afterglow of the imperialist era,” the guide says, “head to North America.”

China’s current swaggering mood could add to the challenges facing Joe Biden when he takes office as president. President Donald Trump’s defeat in the election has done little to ease Chinese suspicion of the United States, said Liu Jianqiu, a businessman and online commentator, in a telephone interview.

“I think China has gained the psychological edge,” said Liu, in his 40s, who described the pandemic as a turning point in his attitudes. “The performance of the West was completely out of my expectations and shifted my thinking even more — the facts prove that the American system really has no superiority.”

Combative national pride surged in China in the runup to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and after the United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1999. Now there is a sharper sense that the Western powers are in perhaps irreversible decline, and that the pandemic has confirmed China’s ascent.

“Most ordinary Chinese people previously were more admiring of the United States, but in recent years, the advantages of the Chinese system have become clearer to them,” said Jin Canrong, an international relations professor at Renmin University in Beijing who has become a popular commentator under the nickname “Commissar Jin.” “There’s greater self-confidence.”

China’s diplomats and its state-run media have responded to criticism from Western governments with scornful disdain. Chinese supporters of a more muscular foreign policy call for hitting back against Western critics, especially in the wake of the pandemic.

Le Yucheng, a Chinese vice minister of foreign affairs, said in a speech last week that China was not spoiling for fights, but he also warned other governments not to underestimate its resolve to push back against criticism.

“Faced with this suppression and containment without scruples,” Le said, “we’ll never swallow our pride or stoop to compromise.”

Critics worry that hubris could lead China to overestimate its strengths and misjudge how far it can push the United States and other Western countries.

“These ideas aren’t sealed off in the halls of Zhongnanhai,” the Communist Party leaders’ headquarters in Beijing, said Julian Gewirtz, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who has written about Chinese perceptions of American decline.

“Their triumphalism is shaping both popular nationalism and official diplomacy,” he wrote in an email. “It is fueling ever-sharper demands for deference to China’s wishes.”

Online, Chinese commentators have plumbed the depths of history to capture the current moment. Some likened the United States to the crumbling British Empire of the last century, overstretched and exhausted.

Others are reaching back further, comparing America to China’s own Ming dynasty, which crumbled in the 1600s under the weight of corruption, insurrections and invasions. In this view that spread online this year, China should take the role of the “barbarian” Manchu armies who — in the commentators’ vivid, not-always-accurate retelling — swept over the Asian steppes, breached the Great Wall, and crushed the Ming rulers.

Modern-day China must act like the Manchu forces, advocates of the analogy say, and prepare to “break through” a ring of geopolitical hostility by dominating vital seas around China.

Geremie R. Barmé, a Sinologist in New Zealand who has followed the rise of “break-through studies” says the historical comparisons reflect anxiety “about China’s great nation status and its place in the world.”

“The underpinning is that China is morally superior — we the Chinese people under the Communist Party — because we have none of the failings of America,” he said.

China’s leader, Xi, has not commented on the recent pronouncements of American decline. But he sees China and the United States as locked in ideological rivalry. Since coming to power in 2012, he has called for Chinese schools, textbooks and websites to inoculate youth against Western values that could erode party rule and the country’s “cultural self-confidence.”

“Our schooling must never nurture wreckers or gravediggers of socialism,” Xi said in a speech in 2018 that was recently published in a book of his comments on ideology.

Some warn that China risks underestimating the strengths of the United States. In recent months, Chinese scholars have debated how Beijing should handle the post-COVID world, with a good number urging restraint as the best way to win lasting influence.

“China’s high-volume nationalism at home is making the United States feel that China is getting aggressive,” Xiao Gongqin, a historian in Shanghai wrote in an essay that was published last month, prompting wide discussion.

The United States is far from the only country feeling the lash of official and public anger from China. Australia has drawn China’s ire for criticizing Beijing, initiating laws aimed at reducing Chinese government influence-building efforts in Australia, and urging an investigation into the origin of the pandemic — a touchy subject in Beijing.

Last month, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson tweeted a Chinese artist’s fabricated image of an Australian soldier poised to slit the throat of an Afghan child. Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, demanded an apology from China over the image, which was a reference to an inquiry by the Australian military that found that its troops had unlawfully killed more than three dozen Afghan civilians.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry scoffed at Morrison’s demand, and the artist who created the image, Fu Yu, created another one mocking the Australian leader.

In one Beijing artist’s recent depiction of the world in 2098, China is a high-tech superpower and the United States is humbled. Americans have embraced communism and Manhattan, draped with the hammer-and-sickle flags of the “People’s Union of America,” has become a quaint tourist precinct.

In one Beijing artist’s recent depiction of the world in 2098, China is a high-tech superpower and the United States is humbled. Americans have embraced communism and Manhattan, draped with the hammer-and-sickle flags of the “People’s Union of America,” has become a quaint tourist precinct. This triumphant vision has resonated among Chinese. The sci-fi digital illustrations by the artist, Fan Wennan, caught fire on Chinese social media in recent months, reflecting a resurgent nationalism. China’s authoritarian system, proponents say, is not just different from the West’s democracies, it is also proving itself superior. It is a long-running theme, but China’s success against the pandemic has given it a sharp boost. “America isn’t that heavenly kingdom depicted since decades ago,” said Fan, who is in his early 20s and has described his style as “People’s Punk.” “There’s nothing special about it. If you have to say there’s anything special about it now, it’s how messed up it can be at times.” China’s Communist Party, under its leader, Xi Jinping, has promoted the idea that the country is on a trajectory to power past Western rivals. China stamped out the coronavirus, the messaging goes, with a resolve beyond the reach of flailing Western democracies. Beijing has rolled out homegrown vaccines to more than 1 million people, despite the safety concerns of scientists. China’s economy has revived, defying fears of a deep slump from the pandemic. “In this fight against the pandemic, there will be victorious powers and defeated ones,” Wang Xiangsui, a retired Chinese senior colonel who teaches at a university in Beijing, averred this month. “We’re a victor power, while the United States is still mired and, I think, may well become a defeated power.” The firm leadership of Xi and the party has earned China its recent success, say newspapers, television programs and social media. “Time to wake up from blind faith in the Western system,” said a commentary in the state-run China Education News last week. “Vicious partisan fighting has worsened in certain Western countries, social fissures have deepened, and a severe social crisis is brewing.” The theme of China as triumphantly vindicated against critics also has real public appeal these days, including among the youth, as reflected in the work of artists like Fan and a stream of online commentary. In Fan’s depiction of communist Manhattan, displayed on the ArtStation website, a caption describes a tour guide as saying that Asia and Europe are where the future is. “To take in the changes of history and feel the afterglow of the imperialist era,” the guide says, “head to North America.” China’s current swaggering mood could add to the challenges facing Joe Biden when he takes office as president. President Donald Trump’s defeat in the election has done little to ease Chinese suspicion of the United States, said Liu Jianqiu, a businessman and online commentator, in a telephone interview. “I think China has gained the psychological edge,” said Liu, in his 40s, who described the pandemic as a turning point in his attitudes. “The performance of the West was completely out of my expectations and shifted my thinking even more — the facts prove that the American system really has no superiority.” Combative national pride surged in China in the runup to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and after the United States bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1999. Now there is a sharper sense that the Western powers are in perhaps irreversible decline, and that the pandemic has confirmed China’s ascent. “Most ordinary Chinese people previously were more admiring of the United States, but in recent years, the advantages of the Chinese system have become clearer to them,” said Jin Canrong, an international relations professor at Renmin University in Beijing who has become a popular commentator under the nickname “Commissar Jin.” “There’s greater self-confidence.” China’s diplomats and its state-run media have responded to criticism from Western governments with scornful disdain. Chinese supporters of a more muscular foreign policy call for hitting back against Western critics, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Le Yucheng, a Chinese vice minister of foreign affairs, said in a speech last week that China was not spoiling for fights, but he also warned other governments not to underestimate its resolve to push back against criticism. “Faced with this suppression and containment without scruples,” Le said, “we’ll never swallow our pride or stoop to compromise.” Critics worry that hubris could lead China to overestimate its strengths and misjudge how far it can push the United States and other Western countries. “These ideas aren’t sealed off in the halls of Zhongnanhai,” the Communist Party leaders’ headquarters in Beijing, said Julian Gewirtz, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who has written about Chinese perceptions of American decline. “Their triumphalism is shaping both popular nationalism and official diplomacy,” he wrote in an email. “It is fueling ever-sharper demands for deference to China’s wishes.” Online, Chinese commentators have plumbed the depths of history to capture the current moment. Some likened the United States to the crumbling British Empire of the last century, overstretched and exhausted. Others are reaching back further, comparing America to China’s own Ming dynasty, which crumbled in the 1600s under the weight of corruption, insurrections and invasions. In this view that spread online this year, China should take the role of the “barbarian” Manchu armies who — in the commentators’ vivid, not-always-accurate retelling — swept over the Asian steppes, breached the Great Wall, and crushed the Ming rulers. Modern-day China must act like the Manchu forces, advocates of the analogy say, and prepare to “break through” a ring of geopolitical hostility by dominating vital seas around China. Geremie R. Barmé, a Sinologist in New Zealand who has followed the rise of “break-through studies” says the historical comparisons reflect anxiety “about China’s great nation status and its place in the world.” “The underpinning is that China is morally superior — we the Chinese people under the Communist Party — because we have none of the failings of America,” he said. China’s leader, Xi, has not commented on the recent pronouncements of American decline. But he sees China and the United States as locked in ideological rivalry. Since coming to power in 2012, he has called for Chinese schools, textbooks and websites to inoculate youth against Western values that could erode party rule and the country’s “cultural self-confidence.” “Our schooling must never nurture wreckers or gravediggers of socialism,” Xi said in a speech in 2018 that was recently published in a book of his comments on ideology. Some warn that China risks underestimating the strengths of the United States. In recent months, Chinese scholars have debated how Beijing should handle the post-COVID world, with a good number urging restraint as the best way to win lasting influence. “China’s high-volume nationalism at home is making the United States feel that China is getting aggressive,” Xiao Gongqin, a historian in Shanghai wrote in an essay that was published last month, prompting wide discussion. The United States is far from the only country feeling the lash of official and public anger from China. Australia has drawn China’s ire for criticizing Beijing, initiating laws aimed at reducing Chinese government influence-building efforts in Australia, and urging an investigation into the origin of the pandemic — a touchy subject in Beijing. Last month, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson tweeted a Chinese artist’s fabricated image of an Australian soldier poised to slit the throat of an Afghan child. Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, demanded an apology from China over the image, which was a reference to an inquiry by the Australian military that found that its troops had unlawfully killed more than three dozen Afghan civilians. The Chinese Foreign Ministry scoffed at Morrison’s demand, and the artist who created the image, Fu Yu, created another one mocking the Australian leader.

China’s combative nationalists see a world turning their way

Union minister Raosaheb Danve on Wednesday claimed that China and Pakistan were behind the ongoing protests by farmers, who are seeking repeal of three new farm laws.&nbsp; 
 
"The farmers` agitation that is taking place in Delhi is not that of farmers. The Central government is ready to spend for the benefit of our farmers. Countries like China and Pakistan have a hand behind these protests," Danve said while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of a Primary Health Centre in Maharashtra`s Aurangabad. This comes amid the mass agitation taking place in and around the national capital.&nbsp;

Farmers from across the country, mostly from Punjab and other northern states, are protesting three of the Centre`s farm laws that were passed in Parliament on September by voice vote, despite objection by opposition parties.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, leaders of opposition parties including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Communist Party of India (Marxist) met President Ram Nath Kovind to urged him to persuade the government "not to be obdurate" and accept the demand of protesting farmers for the repeal of three farm laws.

Farmer unions have rejected the government`s proposals on changes in the three farm laws and said the protest would intensify till the laws were repealed. Before Tuesday`s meeting, the government and farmer unions had held five rounds of talks.

The farmer unions had called a Bharat Bandh on Tuesday in support of their demand which was supported by several political parties. The farmers are protesting against the Farmer`s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Union minister Raosaheb Danve on Wednesday claimed that China and Pakistan were behind the ongoing protests by farmers, who are seeking repeal of three new farm laws.

Union minister Raosaheb Danve on Wednesday claimed that China and Pakistan were behind the ongoing protests by farmers, who are seeking repeal of three new farm laws. "The farmers` agitation that is taking place in Delhi is not that of farmers. The Central government is ready to spend for the benefit of our farmers. Countries like China and Pakistan have a hand behind these protests," Danve said while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of a Primary Health Centre in Maharashtra`s Aurangabad. This comes amid the mass agitation taking place in and around the national capital. Farmers from across the country, mostly from Punjab and other northern states, are protesting three of the Centre`s farm laws that were passed in Parliament on September by voice vote, despite objection by opposition parties. Earlier in the day, leaders of opposition parties including the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Communist Party of India (Marxist) met President Ram Nath Kovind to urged him to persuade the government "not to be obdurate" and accept the demand of protesting farmers for the repeal of three farm laws. Farmer unions have rejected the government`s proposals on changes in the three farm laws and said the protest would intensify till the laws were repealed. Before Tuesday`s meeting, the government and farmer unions had held five rounds of talks. The farmer unions had called a Bharat Bandh on Tuesday in support of their demand which was supported by several political parties. The farmers are protesting against the Farmer`s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (With inputs from agencies)

Union Minister claims China, Pakistan behind farmers' protests  

China's Sinovac Biotech has secured $515 million in funding from a local firm to double the production capacity of its coronavirus vaccine, the companies said on Monday, as it expects efficacy data of its experimental shot this month.

The investment deal also comes as Sinovac expands supply deals and trials of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac with more countries following positive results from early to mid-stage clinical trials.

China's Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited said on Monday a business unit will invest $515 million in Sinovac Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Sinovac, to help development and production of CoronaVac.

The investment will give Sino Biopharmaceutical a 15.03% interest in Sinovac Life Sciences, Sino Biopharmaceutical said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Sinovac said in a separate statement that it would be able to manufacture 300 million vaccine doses annually and aims to complete construction of a second production facility by the end of 2020 to increase annual COVID-19 vaccine production capacity to 600 million doses.

Depending on market conditions and the availability of financing, it may seek to further expand its production capacity, Sinovac said.

Sinovac has secured CoronaVac supply deals with several countries including Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil and Chile, and is holding talks with the Philippines for a potential sale.

CoronaVac is also one of three experimental COVID-19 vaccines China has been using to inoculate around 1 million people under an emergency use programme.

Brazil's Butantan Institute biomedical centre, which is running a Phase 3 trial of CoronaVac in the country, said last week that Sinovac was expected to publish efficacy results from its vaccine trials by December 15.

China's Sinovac Biotech has secured $515 million in funding from a local firm to double the production capacity of its coronavirus vaccine, the companies said on Monday, as it expects efficacy data of its experimental shot this month.

China's Sinovac Biotech has secured $515 million in funding from a local firm to double the production capacity of its coronavirus vaccine, the companies said on Monday, as it expects efficacy data of its experimental shot this month. The investment deal also comes as Sinovac expands supply deals and trials of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac with more countries following positive results from early to mid-stage clinical trials. China's Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited said on Monday a business unit will invest $515 million in Sinovac Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Sinovac, to help development and production of CoronaVac. The investment will give Sino Biopharmaceutical a 15.03% interest in Sinovac Life Sciences, Sino Biopharmaceutical said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Sinovac said in a separate statement that it would be able to manufacture 300 million vaccine doses annually and aims to complete construction of a second production facility by the end of 2020 to increase annual COVID-19 vaccine production capacity to 600 million doses. Depending on market conditions and the availability of financing, it may seek to further expand its production capacity, Sinovac said. Sinovac has secured CoronaVac supply deals with several countries including Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil and Chile, and is holding talks with the Philippines for a potential sale. CoronaVac is also one of three experimental COVID-19 vaccines China has been using to inoculate around 1 million people under an emergency use programme. Brazil's Butantan Institute biomedical centre, which is running a Phase 3 trial of CoronaVac in the country, said last week that Sinovac was expected to publish efficacy results from its vaccine trials by December 15.

China's Sinovac secures $515 million to boost covid vaccine production 

Hearing for sexual harassment allegation against a popular television personality in China has begun. The accuser has called this a major moment in country's still-young #MeToo movement

Zhou&nbsp;Xiaoxuan, now 27, levelled sexual allegation charges against prominent television host Zhu Jun in 2018. She accused him of groping and forcibly kissing her when she was an intern at state broadcaster CCTV.

China's first-ever civil code -- passed in May -- expanded the definition of sexual harassment, but many women are still reluctant to come forward and it is rare for cases like this to make it to court.

"I'm very nervous," she told AFP on Wednesday ahead of the hearing. "But whether we win or lose the case, it has meaning."&nbsp;

"If we lose, it allows the questions we raised at least to remain in history. Someone will have to give us an answer."&nbsp;

Zhou Xiaoxuan's&nbsp;case against Zhu was originally filed under the "personality rights" law -- covering rights relating to an individual's health and body -- but her lawyers have asked for it to be considered under the new legislation.

She said she found herself alone in a dressing room with Zhu in 2014, and that he groped her after asking if she wanted to continue to work for the channel after her internship.

Zhu is a former host of the country's annual Spring Festival Gala -- one of the world's most-watched television shows -- and other major broadcast events.

He has denied the allegations, and launched his own court case accusing her of damaging his reputation.The woman&nbsp;was among a wave of people who came forward in 2018 when an emerging #MeToo movement rocked China.

When Zhou&nbsp;initially reported the case to police, she said she was told that speaking out would affect the image of the state broadcaster where Zhu worked and hurt the feelings of those who admired him.

"These (experiences) make you feel like your existence is very insignificant," she told AFP.&nbsp;

"Actual harm inflicted on your body can't even compare with the other party's illusory fame and power."

Many women are reluctant to speak out in China's conservative society where victims can also face blame.

But the woman&nbsp;has no regrets about launching the case and says that even if it is unsuccessful, she hopes it will encourage more women to speak up.

"Even if I had to experience this all over again, I don't regret it. In this process I developed an emotional connection with many women and men who had similar experiences," she said.

"I think all of this is still meaningful."

Although China's #MeToo movement was restrained by online censorship and a tightening on civil community issues, several well-known individuals came under fire over allegations of sexual misconduct, including the former head of the government-run Buddhist association.

Lawyer Lu Xiaoquan told AFP that although disputes over sexual harassment can now be taken to court, "having these laws cannot fundamentally change the difficulties sexual harassment victims face."

(With AFP inputs)

Hearing for sexual harassment allegation against a popular television personality in China has begun. The accuser has called this a major moment in country's still-young #MeToo movement Zhou Xiaoxuan, now 27, levelled sexual allegation charges against prominent television host Zhu Jun in 2018.

Hearing for sexual harassment allegation against a popular television personality in China has begun. The accuser has called this a major moment in country's still-young #MeToo movement Zhou Xiaoxuan, now 27, levelled sexual allegation charges against prominent television host Zhu Jun in 2018. She accused him of groping and forcibly kissing her when she was an intern at state broadcaster CCTV. China's first-ever civil code -- passed in May -- expanded the definition of sexual harassment, but many women are still reluctant to come forward and it is rare for cases like this to make it to court. "I'm very nervous," she told AFP on Wednesday ahead of the hearing. "But whether we win or lose the case, it has meaning." "If we lose, it allows the questions we raised at least to remain in history. Someone will have to give us an answer." Zhou Xiaoxuan's case against Zhu was originally filed under the "personality rights" law -- covering rights relating to an individual's health and body -- but her lawyers have asked for it to be considered under the new legislation. She said she found herself alone in a dressing room with Zhu in 2014, and that he groped her after asking if she wanted to continue to work for the channel after her internship. Zhu is a former host of the country's annual Spring Festival Gala -- one of the world's most-watched television shows -- and other major broadcast events. He has denied the allegations, and launched his own court case accusing her of damaging his reputation.The woman was among a wave of people who came forward in 2018 when an emerging #MeToo movement rocked China. When Zhou initially reported the case to police, she said she was told that speaking out would affect the image of the state broadcaster where Zhu worked and hurt the feelings of those who admired him. "These (experiences) make you feel like your existence is very insignificant," she told AFP. "Actual harm inflicted on your body can't even compare with the other party's illusory fame and power." Many women are reluctant to speak out in China's conservative society where victims can also face blame. But the woman has no regrets about launching the case and says that even if it is unsuccessful, she hopes it will encourage more women to speak up. "Even if I had to experience this all over again, I don't regret it. In this process I developed an emotional connection with many women and men who had similar experiences," she said. "I think all of this is still meaningful." Although China's #MeToo movement was restrained by online censorship and a tightening on civil community issues, several well-known individuals came under fire over allegations of sexual misconduct, including the former head of the government-run Buddhist association. Lawyer Lu Xiaoquan told AFP that although disputes over sexual harassment can now be taken to court, "having these laws cannot fundamentally change the difficulties sexual harassment victims face." (With AFP inputs)

Court hearing begins in sexual harassment case marking China's MeToo movement

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