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

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

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

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

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-unions-urge-cathay-pacific-to-end-white-terror-244958">Hong Kong</a>'s airport and the roads and railways leading to it were operating normally early on Saturday despite <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-airport-faces-renewed-protest-turbulence-after-last-weeks-fracas-245072">plans by protesters </a>to implement a "stress test" of transport links to the aviation hub early in the day.

Those seeking to enter the terminal had to show valid boarding passes and passports, Reuters witnesses said. Train stations feeding the airport, as well as roads to it, were largely clear, with a light police presence along some access routes.

Authorities had taken out a court order to prevent demonstrations at the airport, which was forced to close for part of last week after protesters thronged the main terminal for several days, grounding around 1000 flights and occasionally clashing with police.

Other protests are planned on Saturday in various districts, including Kwun Tong on the Kowloon peninsula.

The city`s train operator, the MTR Corporation, said in a statement on Friday that it had been granted an injunction to prevent protesters from disrupting train services. The operator also said that if "fights, vandalism or other acts of violence occur," train services at affected stations could be stopped immediately.

The protests, which began as opposition to a now-suspended bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited to mainland China, have swelled into wider calls for democracy, plunging the city into an unprecedented crisis and posing a direct challenge to China`s leaders. 
&nbsp; 
Demonstrators say they are fighting the erosion of the "one country, two systems" arrangement that enshrined a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong since it was handed back from British to Chinese rule in 1997.&nbsp;

Almost three months after the demonstrations began, there is no sign of let-up across the China-ruled territory.

On Friday night, thousands of chanting protesters formed human chains around the city in a peaceful protest dubbed the "Hong Kong Way".

Organisers said 135,000 people took part in the demonstration, inspired by one in 1989, when an estimated 2 million people joined arms across three Baltic states in a protest against then-Soviet rule that became known as the "Baltic Way" or "Baltic Chain".

Friday`s protest, which included people linking arms and shining lights on sidewalks and atop Kowloon`s Lion Rock mountain, followed warnings from Communist Party leaders in Beijing and city leader Carrie Lam to stop the demonstrations and restore order.

Authorities have so far refused to meet any of the protesters` five key demands, including calls for an independent inquiry into police brutality, a full withdrawal of the extradition bill, and full democracy.

Organisers are planning a host of protests in the coming weeks including a mass march, a city-wide strike and class boycotts at the city`s universities.

Hong Kong's airport and the roads and railways leading to it were operating normally early on Saturday despite plans by protesters to implement a "stress test" of transport links to the aviation hub early in the day.

Hong Kong's airport and the roads and railways leading to it were operating normally early on Saturday despite plans by protesters to implement a "stress test" of transport links to the aviation hub early in the day. Those seeking to enter the terminal had to show valid boarding passes and passports, Reuters witnesses said. Train stations feeding the airport, as well as roads to it, were largely clear, with a light police presence along some access routes. Authorities had taken out a court order to prevent demonstrations at the airport, which was forced to close for part of last week after protesters thronged the main terminal for several days, grounding around 1000 flights and occasionally clashing with police. Other protests are planned on Saturday in various districts, including Kwun Tong on the Kowloon peninsula. The city`s train operator, the MTR Corporation, said in a statement on Friday that it had been granted an injunction to prevent protesters from disrupting train services. The operator also said that if "fights, vandalism or other acts of violence occur," train services at affected stations could be stopped immediately. The protests, which began as opposition to a now-suspended bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited to mainland China, have swelled into wider calls for democracy, plunging the city into an unprecedented crisis and posing a direct challenge to China`s leaders. Demonstrators say they are fighting the erosion of the "one country, two systems" arrangement that enshrined a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong since it was handed back from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Almost three months after the demonstrations began, there is no sign of let-up across the China-ruled territory. On Friday night, thousands of chanting protesters formed human chains around the city in a peaceful protest dubbed the "Hong Kong Way". Organisers said 135,000 people took part in the demonstration, inspired by one in 1989, when an estimated 2 million people joined arms across three Baltic states in a protest against then-Soviet rule that became known as the "Baltic Way" or "Baltic Chain". Friday`s protest, which included people linking arms and shining lights on sidewalks and atop Kowloon`s Lion Rock mountain, followed warnings from Communist Party leaders in Beijing and city leader Carrie Lam to stop the demonstrations and restore order. Authorities have so far refused to meet any of the protesters` five key demands, including calls for an independent inquiry into police brutality, a full withdrawal of the extradition bill, and full democracy. Organisers are planning a host of protests in the coming weeks including a mass march, a city-wide strike and class boycotts at the city`s universities.

Hong Kong airport operating normally despite planned 'stress test' protest

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam warned Friday that two months of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-gravitas-hong-kong-civil-unrest-escalates-241594">pro-democracy demonstrations </a>were causing economic chaos in the city but ruled out making concessions to "silence the violent protesters."

The embattled leader abruptly announced a press conference after meeting business leaders as demonstrators rallied at the airport, with the protest movement entering its third month.

Lam, whose support for a bill to allow extradition to mainland <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-tells-united-states-diplomats-in-hong-kong-to-stop-interfering-241565/amp">China</a> sparked the crisis, warned that the economic impact of the unrest threatened to be worse than the 2003 SARS outbreak in the financial hub.

"The downturn this time came very quickly. Someone described it as coming like a tsunami," Lam said.

"Compared to the economic downturn caused by SARS that we handled previously, which caused an economic storm, the situation this time is more severe."

"In other words, the economic recovery will take a very long time," she added.

Watch: Fresh protests at Hong Kong airport, mock boarding passes read 'HK to freedom'

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While Lam is a figure of hatred for many pro-democracy activists, her comments echo worried statements from the private sector and the tourism industry in particular.

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific has warned bookings are down, travel agencies have reported drops of up to 50 percent in group tour bookings and the tourism board reported double-digit declines in visitor arrivals in the second half of July.

Protesters have continued to stage almost daily rallies despite increasingly violent confrontations with police that have prompted several countries to issue Hong Kong travel warnings for their citizens.

On Friday, thousands of pro-democracy protesters staged a sit-in at the airport to bring their message to arriving visitors.

Lam has suspended the bill that sparked the crisis, but has not yet responded to protester calls to withdraw it altogether, and she has brushed aside demands for an enquiry into police brutality.

She ruled out meeting the demands of protesters, which also include a call for the direct election of the city's chief executive, currently chosen by Beijing.

"As far as political solution is concerned, I don't think we should just sort of make concessions in order to silence the violent protesters," she said.

"We should do what is right for Hong Kong. And at this moment what is right for Hong Kong... is to stop the violence, and to say no to the chaotic situation that Hong Kong has experienced in the last few weeks, so that we can move on."

She said the way for the economy to begin recovering was to "stop the widespread violent actions now appearing in Hong Kong." 
&nbsp;

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam warned Friday that two months of pro-democracy demonstrations were causing economic chaos in the city but ruled out making concessions to "silence the violent protesters.

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam warned Friday that two months of pro-democracy demonstrations were causing economic chaos in the city but ruled out making concessions to "silence the violent protesters." The embattled leader abruptly announced a press conference after meeting business leaders as demonstrators rallied at the airport, with the protest movement entering its third month. Lam, whose support for a bill to allow extradition to mainland China sparked the crisis, warned that the economic impact of the unrest threatened to be worse than the 2003 SARS outbreak in the financial hub. "The downturn this time came very quickly. Someone described it as coming like a tsunami," Lam said. "Compared to the economic downturn caused by SARS that we handled previously, which caused an economic storm, the situation this time is more severe." "In other words, the economic recovery will take a very long time," she added. Watch: Fresh protests at Hong Kong airport, mock boarding passes read 'HK to freedom' × While Lam is a figure of hatred for many pro-democracy activists, her comments echo worried statements from the private sector and the tourism industry in particular. Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific has warned bookings are down, travel agencies have reported drops of up to 50 percent in group tour bookings and the tourism board reported double-digit declines in visitor arrivals in the second half of July. Protesters have continued to stage almost daily rallies despite increasingly violent confrontations with police that have prompted several countries to issue Hong Kong travel warnings for their citizens. On Friday, thousands of pro-democracy protesters staged a sit-in at the airport to bring their message to arriving visitors. Lam has suspended the bill that sparked the crisis, but has not yet responded to protester calls to withdraw it altogether, and she has brushed aside demands for an enquiry into police brutality. She ruled out meeting the demands of protesters, which also include a call for the direct election of the city's chief executive, currently chosen by Beijing. "As far as political solution is concerned, I don't think we should just sort of make concessions in order to silence the violent protesters," she said. "We should do what is right for Hong Kong. And at this moment what is right for Hong Kong... is to stop the violence, and to say no to the chaotic situation that Hong Kong has experienced in the last few weeks, so that we can move on." She said the way for the economy to begin recovering was to "stop the widespread violent actions now appearing in Hong Kong."

Hong Kong chief Carrie Lam warns of economic fall, rules out concessions

Hong Kong is facing its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-warns-hong-kong-protesters-not-to-mistake-restraint-for-weakness-241090">biggest crisis </a>since it returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, the head of China`s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office said on Wednesday, as more <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-protest-9th-week-of-protest-in-a-row-protesters-pelt-stones-at-police-station-240708">protests</a> were set to rock the Asian financial hub.

Zhang Xiaoming, one of the most senior Chinese officials overseeing Hong Kong affairs, made the comments during a meeting in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

Zhang was holding a forum that included Hong Kong delegates to China`s parliament, the National People`s Congress and China`s main consultative body, the CPPCC, to discuss the political crisis in the territory.

Hong Kong has faced months of sometimes violent protests that began with opposition to a now-suspended extradition law, which would have allowed suspects to be tried in mainland courts controlled by the Communist Party.

But the protests have broadened into a backlash against the Hong Kong government, fuelled by many residents` fears of eroding freedoms under the tightening control of China`s Communist Party leaders in Beijing.

Hong Kong lawyers dressed in black are set to march in silence on Wednesday to call on the government to safeguard the independence of the city`s justice department.

Watch: China's warning to Hong Kong's protesters: Do not play with fire

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Protesters plan to surround Hong Kong`s Revenue Tower on Wednesday, after police late on Tuesday fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Sham Shui Po, one of the city`s poorest districts.

Hong Kong`s lawyers fear the Department of Justice`s prosecutions of arrested protesters is taking on an increasingly political slant after 44 protesters were charged with rioting, an offence which carries a 10-year jail term.

Last week a group of unnamed government prosecutors published an open letter accusing Justice Chief Teresa Cheng of putting politics above legal principles.

Hong Kong`s mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, states that the city`s Department of Justice "shall control criminal prosecutions, free from any interference".

Hong Kong was guaranteed freedoms not granted in mainland China, including an independent judiciary, under a "one country, two systems" formula, when Britain handed it back to China in 1997. But many residents see the now suspended extradition bill as part of a relentless march toward mainland control.

Protesters are demanding a complete withdrawal of the bill, an independent inquiry into the crisis, an investigation into what they say is excessive use of force by police, and for Hong Kong`s leader Carrie Lam to step down.

In China`s sharpest rebuke yet of the protesters, the government on Tuesday warned them not to "play with fire", saying they were pushing Hong Kong into a "dangerous abyss" and called on Hong Kong citizens to protect their homeland.&nbsp;

Global Times, a Chinese tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party`s People`s Daily, showed a video on its official Twitter feed of thousands of police officers taking part in an anti-riot training drill in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen which borders Hong Kong.&nbsp;

The video showed officers in helmets and shields clashing with people in black shirts and yellow construction hats, similar to the unofficial uniform of protesters in Hong Kong.&nbsp;

Hong Kong is facing its biggest crisis since it returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, the head of China`s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office said on Wednesday, as more protests were set to rock the Asian financial hub.

Hong Kong is facing its biggest crisis since it returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, the head of China`s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs office said on Wednesday, as more protests were set to rock the Asian financial hub. Zhang Xiaoming, one of the most senior Chinese officials overseeing Hong Kong affairs, made the comments during a meeting in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. Zhang was holding a forum that included Hong Kong delegates to China`s parliament, the National People`s Congress and China`s main consultative body, the CPPCC, to discuss the political crisis in the territory. Hong Kong has faced months of sometimes violent protests that began with opposition to a now-suspended extradition law, which would have allowed suspects to be tried in mainland courts controlled by the Communist Party. But the protests have broadened into a backlash against the Hong Kong government, fuelled by many residents` fears of eroding freedoms under the tightening control of China`s Communist Party leaders in Beijing. Hong Kong lawyers dressed in black are set to march in silence on Wednesday to call on the government to safeguard the independence of the city`s justice department. Watch: China's warning to Hong Kong's protesters: Do not play with fire × Protesters plan to surround Hong Kong`s Revenue Tower on Wednesday, after police late on Tuesday fired tear gas to disperse protesters in Sham Shui Po, one of the city`s poorest districts. Hong Kong`s lawyers fear the Department of Justice`s prosecutions of arrested protesters is taking on an increasingly political slant after 44 protesters were charged with rioting, an offence which carries a 10-year jail term. Last week a group of unnamed government prosecutors published an open letter accusing Justice Chief Teresa Cheng of putting politics above legal principles. Hong Kong`s mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, states that the city`s Department of Justice "shall control criminal prosecutions, free from any interference". Hong Kong was guaranteed freedoms not granted in mainland China, including an independent judiciary, under a "one country, two systems" formula, when Britain handed it back to China in 1997. But many residents see the now suspended extradition bill as part of a relentless march toward mainland control. Protesters are demanding a complete withdrawal of the bill, an independent inquiry into the crisis, an investigation into what they say is excessive use of force by police, and for Hong Kong`s leader Carrie Lam to step down. In China`s sharpest rebuke yet of the protesters, the government on Tuesday warned them not to "play with fire", saying they were pushing Hong Kong into a "dangerous abyss" and called on Hong Kong citizens to protect their homeland. Global Times, a Chinese tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party`s People`s Daily, showed a video on its official Twitter feed of thousands of police officers taking part in an anti-riot training drill in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen which borders Hong Kong. The video showed officers in helmets and shields clashing with people in black shirts and yellow construction hats, similar to the unofficial uniform of protesters in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong facing biggest crisis since handover: Senior China official

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-converge-on-hong-kong-police-headquarters-in-anti-govt-demonstration-229127">Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong</a> kicked off a new mass rally on Saturday as they defy increasingly stern warnings from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-state-media-criticise-foreign-hypocrisy-over-hong-kong-after-climbdown-227824">China </a>over weeks-long unrest that has plunged the city into crisis.

The semi-autonomous southern Chinese financial hub has seen two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms.

Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing this week signalled a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tear-gas-rubber-bullets-fired-at-hong-kong-protesters-near-beijings-office-239035">hardening stance</a>, including with the arrests of dozens of protesters, and the Chinese military saying it was ready to quell the "intolerable" unrest if requested.

But protesters have remained unyielding, vowing to hold multiple rallies and marches throughout the weekend and into next week, sending tensions soaring once more.

Thousands of protesters filled a park in the densely populated neighbourhood of Mongkok, which has previously seen clashes between police and demonstrators, listening to speeches and shouting slogans.

Police initially denied activists permission to march through the neighbourhood but later allowed it after an appeal.

Watch- Hong Kong protests: Civil servants join protest

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Two marches are also planned for Sunday -- one on Hong Kong island and the other in the Tseung Kwan O district -- as well as a city-wide strike on Monday and rallies in seven locations.

The call for strike action appears to be gaining more traction than previous walkouts, with a host of organisations and unions vowing to join.

- Sliding freedoms -

Hong Kong has witnessed eight consecutive weekends of huge rallies -- often followed by violent clashes between police and small groups of hardcore protesters.&nbsp;

Under the terms of the 1997 handover deal, the city has rights and liberties unseen on the mainland, including an independent judiciary and freedom of speech.

But many say those rights are being curtailed, citing the disappearance into mainland custody of dissident booksellers, the disqualification of prominent politicians and the jailing of pro-democracy protest leaders.

Public anger has been compounded by rising inequality and the perception that the city's distinct language and culture are being threatened by ever-closer integration with the Chinese mainland.

The past two weekends have seen a surge in violence used by both protesters and police, who have repeatedly fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse projectile-throwing crowds.&nbsp;

A mob of pro-government thugs also attacked protesters, putting 45 people in hospital.

Hong Kong's police have increasingly adopted tougher tactics, including this week charging 44 protesters with rioting -- an offence that carries up to 10 years in jail.

Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has made few concessions beyond agreeing to suspend the extradition bill and has made few public appearances.

Protesters are demanding her resignation, an independent inquiry into police tactics, an amnesty for those arrested, a permanent withdrawal of the bill and the right to elect their leaders.

On Friday evening, thousands attended a rally organised by members of Hong Kong's usually tight-lipped civil service -- a remarkable development as they called on their paymasters to meet the protesters' demands.

Many civil servants wore surgical masks to hide their identities after the government warned that employees should show "total loyalty" and could be punished for attending.

Thousands of pro-government supporters also held a rally in a separate park on Saturday, many waving Chinese flags.&nbsp;

Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong kicked off a new mass rally on Saturday as they defy increasingly stern warnings from China over weeks-long unrest that has plunged the city into crisis.

Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong kicked off a new mass rally on Saturday as they defy increasingly stern warnings from China over weeks-long unrest that has plunged the city into crisis. The semi-autonomous southern Chinese financial hub has seen two months of protests and clashes triggered by opposition to a planned extradition law that quickly evolved into a wider movement for democratic reforms. Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing this week signalled a hardening stance, including with the arrests of dozens of protesters, and the Chinese military saying it was ready to quell the "intolerable" unrest if requested. But protesters have remained unyielding, vowing to hold multiple rallies and marches throughout the weekend and into next week, sending tensions soaring once more. Thousands of protesters filled a park in the densely populated neighbourhood of Mongkok, which has previously seen clashes between police and demonstrators, listening to speeches and shouting slogans. Police initially denied activists permission to march through the neighbourhood but later allowed it after an appeal. Watch- Hong Kong protests: Civil servants join protest × Two marches are also planned for Sunday -- one on Hong Kong island and the other in the Tseung Kwan O district -- as well as a city-wide strike on Monday and rallies in seven locations. The call for strike action appears to be gaining more traction than previous walkouts, with a host of organisations and unions vowing to join. - Sliding freedoms - Hong Kong has witnessed eight consecutive weekends of huge rallies -- often followed by violent clashes between police and small groups of hardcore protesters. Under the terms of the 1997 handover deal, the city has rights and liberties unseen on the mainland, including an independent judiciary and freedom of speech. But many say those rights are being curtailed, citing the disappearance into mainland custody of dissident booksellers, the disqualification of prominent politicians and the jailing of pro-democracy protest leaders. Public anger has been compounded by rising inequality and the perception that the city's distinct language and culture are being threatened by ever-closer integration with the Chinese mainland. The past two weekends have seen a surge in violence used by both protesters and police, who have repeatedly fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse projectile-throwing crowds. A mob of pro-government thugs also attacked protesters, putting 45 people in hospital. Hong Kong's police have increasingly adopted tougher tactics, including this week charging 44 protesters with rioting -- an offence that carries up to 10 years in jail. Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam has made few concessions beyond agreeing to suspend the extradition bill and has made few public appearances. Protesters are demanding her resignation, an independent inquiry into police tactics, an amnesty for those arrested, a permanent withdrawal of the bill and the right to elect their leaders. On Friday evening, thousands attended a rally organised by members of Hong Kong's usually tight-lipped civil service -- a remarkable development as they called on their paymasters to meet the protesters' demands. Many civil servants wore surgical masks to hide their identities after the government warned that employees should show "total loyalty" and could be punished for attending. Thousands of pro-government supporters also held a rally in a separate park on Saturday, many waving Chinese flags.

Hong Kong protesters defy China warnings with weekend rallies

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-police-fire-tear-gas-at-anti-triad-rally-report-238816">Hong Kong police fired tear gas and rubber bullets</a> Saturday at protesters holding a banned rally against suspected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kongers-defy-police-ban-with-mass-anti-triad-rally-238808">triad gangs</a> who beat up pro-democracy demonstrators near the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-is-chinas-hong-kong-will-never-allow-any-foreign-forces-to-intervene-foreign-ministry-238638">Chinese border</a> last weekend, tipping the finance hub further into chaos.

Riot police used tear gas throughout the afternoon and evening in Yuen Long, a town close to the border, after tense standoffs with protesters, some of whom were throwing projectiles and had surrounded a police van.

Hospital authorities said nine people were injured, with five in a serious condition.

Rubber bullets were fired later in the evening to disperse remaining protesters. Battles then broke out in the town's station as officers with batons and shields swooped on demonstrators there and made multiple arrests, leaving pools of blood on the floor.

Public anger has been raging since last Sunday when a gang of men in white T-shirts, armed with poles and batons, set upon anti-government protesters and bystanders in the same station in Yuen Long.

That brazen assault -- which hospitalised at least 45 people -- was an escalation of seven weeks of unprecedented political violence that shows little sign of abating as the city's pro-Beijing leaders refuse to budge.

Police have been heavily criticised for being too slow to respond to Sunday's violence, fueling accusations of collusion or turning a blind eye to the pro-government mob -- allegations the force has denied.

- Triad links -

Hong Kong has been plunged into its worst crisis in recent history after millions of demonstrators took to the streets and sporadic violent confrontations erupted between police and pockets of hardcore protesters.

The demonstrations were triggered by a controversial bill which would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, but have evolved into a call for wider democratic reforms and a halt to sliding freedoms.

Saturday's violence compounds the political crisis with the city's leadership seemingly unable, or unwilling, to end the chaos.&nbsp;

Yuen Long is in Hong Kong's New Territories, a rural area where many of the surrounding villages are known for triad connections and their staunch support for the pro-Beijing establishment.&nbsp;

Police say they have arrested 12 people so far in connection with Sunday's violence, nine of whom have known triad links.

The white shirt mob ran into two villages near Yuen Long station after their attack and later left without police making any arrests despite a large presence of officers.

These two villages became the focus of protester anger on Saturday.

The rally began peacefully. But small groups of more hardcore protesters, many in helmets and carrying shields, confronted police outside the villages and accused them of protecting triads.

Tensions quickly rose with projectiles hurled. Soon tear gas rounds were arcing through the air and a now-familiar pattern of running battles between police and protesters began.&nbsp;

On one road, a parked Lexus that was found to have wooden sticks and clubs similar to those used in Sunday's attacks inside it -- as well as a Samurai-style sword -- had been trashed.

By late evening only some 200 protesters remained around the main station who were then charged by riot police.

- Pokemon Go and shopping sprees - 
In a rare move, police banned Saturday's rally saying they feared reprisal attacks against villagers from protesters, a decision that only heightened anger towards a force already perceived to be protecting pro-government aggressors.

Social messaging channels used to organise the largely leaderless movement filled with calls for people to go on a "shopping spree" in Yuen Long or play the popular mobile game Pokemon Go there.

One female protester surnamed Cheung said she wanted to show "we are not afraid and that Hong Kongers won't cower in fear".

"The police and (the government) are together suppressing people's freedom to express their views," she added.

- Few concessions -

Weeks of unprecedented protests with huge turnouts -- as well as frequent clashes and the sacking of parliament -- have had little luck persuading Beijing or Hong Kong's leaders.&nbsp;

Beijing has issued increasingly shrill condemnations in the last fortnight, but has left it to the city's semi-autonomous government to deal with the situation.

City leader Carrie Lam has shown no sign of backing down beyond agreeing to suspend the extradition bill.

On Friday thousands held a 10-hour protest at the airport arrival hall in a bid to "educate" visitors about their movement -- especially those on the Chinese mainland where news is heavily censored.

The protest was peaceful and there was no disruption to flights.

Protesters also plan to march on Sunday through a district where riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at projectile-hurling protesters the week before.

Hong Kong police fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday at protesters holding a banned rally against suspected triad gangs who beat up pro-democracy demonstrators near the Chinese border last weekend, tipping the finance hub further into chaos.

Hong Kong police fired tear gas and rubber bullets Saturday at protesters holding a banned rally against suspected triad gangs who beat up pro-democracy demonstrators near the Chinese border last weekend, tipping the finance hub further into chaos. Riot police used tear gas throughout the afternoon and evening in Yuen Long, a town close to the border, after tense standoffs with protesters, some of whom were throwing projectiles and had surrounded a police van. Hospital authorities said nine people were injured, with five in a serious condition. Rubber bullets were fired later in the evening to disperse remaining protesters. Battles then broke out in the town's station as officers with batons and shields swooped on demonstrators there and made multiple arrests, leaving pools of blood on the floor. Public anger has been raging since last Sunday when a gang of men in white T-shirts, armed with poles and batons, set upon anti-government protesters and bystanders in the same station in Yuen Long. That brazen assault -- which hospitalised at least 45 people -- was an escalation of seven weeks of unprecedented political violence that shows little sign of abating as the city's pro-Beijing leaders refuse to budge. Police have been heavily criticised for being too slow to respond to Sunday's violence, fueling accusations of collusion or turning a blind eye to the pro-government mob -- allegations the force has denied. - Triad links - Hong Kong has been plunged into its worst crisis in recent history after millions of demonstrators took to the streets and sporadic violent confrontations erupted between police and pockets of hardcore protesters. The demonstrations were triggered by a controversial bill which would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, but have evolved into a call for wider democratic reforms and a halt to sliding freedoms. Saturday's violence compounds the political crisis with the city's leadership seemingly unable, or unwilling, to end the chaos. Yuen Long is in Hong Kong's New Territories, a rural area where many of the surrounding villages are known for triad connections and their staunch support for the pro-Beijing establishment. Police say they have arrested 12 people so far in connection with Sunday's violence, nine of whom have known triad links. The white shirt mob ran into two villages near Yuen Long station after their attack and later left without police making any arrests despite a large presence of officers. These two villages became the focus of protester anger on Saturday. The rally began peacefully. But small groups of more hardcore protesters, many in helmets and carrying shields, confronted police outside the villages and accused them of protecting triads. Tensions quickly rose with projectiles hurled. Soon tear gas rounds were arcing through the air and a now-familiar pattern of running battles between police and protesters began. On one road, a parked Lexus that was found to have wooden sticks and clubs similar to those used in Sunday's attacks inside it -- as well as a Samurai-style sword -- had been trashed. By late evening only some 200 protesters remained around the main station who were then charged by riot police. - Pokemon Go and shopping sprees - In a rare move, police banned Saturday's rally saying they feared reprisal attacks against villagers from protesters, a decision that only heightened anger towards a force already perceived to be protecting pro-government aggressors. Social messaging channels used to organise the largely leaderless movement filled with calls for people to go on a "shopping spree" in Yuen Long or play the popular mobile game Pokemon Go there. One female protester surnamed Cheung said she wanted to show "we are not afraid and that Hong Kongers won't cower in fear". "The police and (the government) are together suppressing people's freedom to express their views," she added. - Few concessions - Weeks of unprecedented protests with huge turnouts -- as well as frequent clashes and the sacking of parliament -- have had little luck persuading Beijing or Hong Kong's leaders. Beijing has issued increasingly shrill condemnations in the last fortnight, but has left it to the city's semi-autonomous government to deal with the situation. City leader Carrie Lam has shown no sign of backing down beyond agreeing to suspend the extradition bill. On Friday thousands held a 10-hour protest at the airport arrival hall in a bid to "educate" visitors about their movement -- especially those on the Chinese mainland where news is heavily censored. The protest was peaceful and there was no disruption to flights. Protesters also plan to march on Sunday through a district where riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at projectile-hurling protesters the week before.

Police fire tear gas, rubber bullets at Hong Kongers protesting 'triad' attack

Hong Kong police fired tear gas to disperse protesters late on Sunday in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-on-security-alert-as-thousands-march-in-fresh-wave-of-protests-237449">latest wave of violence </a>to roil the financial centre, hours after a largely peaceful rally against a now-suspended extradition bill that has plunged the city into chaos.

Thousands of protesters descended on China's representative office in Hong Kong, throwing paint bombs and writing graffiti, as anger over the extradition bill morphed into a fresh front against what many see as a broader erosion of freedoms by the city's political masters in Beijing.

Riot police eventually moved in to disperse the protesters into the Sheung Wan district. Protesters were seen wearing gas masks and holding improvised shields while chanting slogans including "Revolution of our era", a slogan associated with radical pro-independence groups.

Millions have rallied over the past two months in an unprecedented show of force against Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, triggering the worst social turmoil to rock the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule 22 years ago.

Black-clad activists, many wearing masks, defied police orders and marched beyond the official end-point of a rally that took place earlier in the day as they made their way towards the Liaison Office, in a direct challenge to authorities in Beijing.

When asked whether the protesters would attempt to force entry into the building, one 30-year-old man dressed head to toe in black said "No", as he mimicked a throat-slitting action.

"That would be the death of Hong Kong," he added.

Some protesters pelted eggs at the walls of the Liaison Office, while others spray-painted graffiti in the latest wave of demonstrations to rock the Asian financial centre.

Hundreds of riot police faced off with protesters, firing tear gas to disperse them as police and ambulance sirens echoed through the crowds.

Activists had daubed graffiti on massive concrete pillars leading up to Beijing's Liaison Office in the city, with the words "Restore Hong Kong, Revolution of Time".

Sunday's protest, which had proceeded peacefully along the police-mandated route, is the latest in a series of rallies that have plunged the Chinese-ruled city into political crisis.

Some held up banners that said, "LIAR" and "No excuse Carrie Lame". A poster plastered on a lamppost called for an "Investigation on police brutality".

More demonstrations are planned over the coming weekends, posing the greatest popular challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he took power in 2012. For Xi's Communist Party in Beijing, stability is an overwhelming priority.

Recent images of police firing rubber bullets and tear gas near the city's financial district as well as chaotic scenes of demonstrators storming the legislature were beamed live to the world - except in mainland China, where they were blocked from many social media sites.

Earlier on Sunday, authorities used blue and white water-filled barriers to barricade government and police headquarters, while global bank HSBC, in a rare move, pulled down large metal barriers on the street level of its gleaming skyscraper building.

While most of the rallies have passed off peacefully, some have erupted into violence late at night when more radical protesters have clashed with police.

The city's police force has come under scrutiny after officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas last month to disperse demonstrators in some of the worst violence to roil Hong Kong in decades.

The police are struggling to cope amid haphazard decision-making, worsening morale and anger among rank-and-file officers that they are taking the public heat for government unpopularity, serving and retired officers, politicians and security analysts told Reuters.

Protest organisers said 430,000 attended Sunday's rally. Police put the number at 138,000 at its peak.

"KILL BILL" CALL

The latest protest comes a day after tens of thousands gathered to voice support for the police, whom some have accused of using excessive force against activists, and demand an end to the violence.

Sunday's march focused on calls for the full withdrawal of the extradition bill, which would allow people to be extradited to mainland China for trial, and an independent investigation into complaints of police brutality.

Other demands include charges against protesters to be dropped and universal suffrage.

"I came back to Hong Kong this summer because of the protests," said Mandy Ko, 27, who is originally from Hong Kong and now lives in Australia.

"My spirit is still with Hong Kong people."

Activists formed human chains as they handed out supplies, including umbrellas, hard hats and even gas masks to protesters.

A Reuters reporter received an AirDrop message that said "Be Water", a strategy inspired by a maxim of home-grown martial arts legend Bruce Lee, that encourages protesters to be flexible.

Last weekend, two initially peaceful protests degenerated into running skirmishes between baton-wielding police and activists, resulting in scores of injuries and more than 40 arrests.

Those fights followed larger outbreaks of violence in central Hong Kong last month, when police forced back activists with tear gas, rubber bullets and bean-bag rounds.

Lam has apologised for the turmoil the extradition bill has caused and declared it "dead". Opponents of the bill, which they fear could be used to silence dissent, say nothing short of its withdrawal will do.

Under the terms of the handover from Britain in 1997, Hong Kong was allowed to retain extensive freedoms under a "one country, two systems" formula, including an independent judiciary and the right to protest.

But for many Hong Kong residents, the extradition bill is the latest step in a relentless march towards mainland control.

The protests have at times paralysed parts of the financial district, shut government offices and disrupted business operations across the city. Officials have also warned about the impact of the unrest on the economy.

A commentary published in the Chinese Communist Party's People's Daily newspaper on Sunday said: "If violence continues, it will inevitably deal a greater blow to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability."

China has condemned the violent protests as an "undisguised challenge" to the one country, two systems formula.

Police late on Friday seized explosives and weapons in an industrial building in the New Territories district of Tsuen Wan. Three people were arrested. Police described the seizure as the largest of its kind in Hong Kong.

They said it was unclear whether the explosives were related to the protest.

Hong Kong police fired tear gas to disperse protesters late on Sunday in the latest wave of violence to roil the financial centre, hours after a largely peaceful rally against a now-suspended extradition bill that has plunged the city into chaos.

Hong Kong police fired tear gas to disperse protesters late on Sunday in the latest wave of violence to roil the financial centre, hours after a largely peaceful rally against a now-suspended extradition bill that has plunged the city into chaos. Thousands of protesters descended on China's representative office in Hong Kong, throwing paint bombs and writing graffiti, as anger over the extradition bill morphed into a fresh front against what many see as a broader erosion of freedoms by the city's political masters in Beijing. Riot police eventually moved in to disperse the protesters into the Sheung Wan district. Protesters were seen wearing gas masks and holding improvised shields while chanting slogans including "Revolution of our era", a slogan associated with radical pro-independence groups. Millions have rallied over the past two months in an unprecedented show of force against Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, triggering the worst social turmoil to rock the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule 22 years ago. Black-clad activists, many wearing masks, defied police orders and marched beyond the official end-point of a rally that took place earlier in the day as they made their way towards the Liaison Office, in a direct challenge to authorities in Beijing. When asked whether the protesters would attempt to force entry into the building, one 30-year-old man dressed head to toe in black said "No", as he mimicked a throat-slitting action. "That would be the death of Hong Kong," he added. Some protesters pelted eggs at the walls of the Liaison Office, while others spray-painted graffiti in the latest wave of demonstrations to rock the Asian financial centre. Hundreds of riot police faced off with protesters, firing tear gas to disperse them as police and ambulance sirens echoed through the crowds. Activists had daubed graffiti on massive concrete pillars leading up to Beijing's Liaison Office in the city, with the words "Restore Hong Kong, Revolution of Time". Sunday's protest, which had proceeded peacefully along the police-mandated route, is the latest in a series of rallies that have plunged the Chinese-ruled city into political crisis. Some held up banners that said, "LIAR" and "No excuse Carrie Lame". A poster plastered on a lamppost called for an "Investigation on police brutality". More demonstrations are planned over the coming weekends, posing the greatest popular challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping since he took power in 2012. For Xi's Communist Party in Beijing, stability is an overwhelming priority. Recent images of police firing rubber bullets and tear gas near the city's financial district as well as chaotic scenes of demonstrators storming the legislature were beamed live to the world - except in mainland China, where they were blocked from many social media sites. Earlier on Sunday, authorities used blue and white water-filled barriers to barricade government and police headquarters, while global bank HSBC, in a rare move, pulled down large metal barriers on the street level of its gleaming skyscraper building. While most of the rallies have passed off peacefully, some have erupted into violence late at night when more radical protesters have clashed with police. The city's police force has come under scrutiny after officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas last month to disperse demonstrators in some of the worst violence to roil Hong Kong in decades. The police are struggling to cope amid haphazard decision-making, worsening morale and anger among rank-and-file officers that they are taking the public heat for government unpopularity, serving and retired officers, politicians and security analysts told Reuters. Protest organisers said 430,000 attended Sunday's rally. Police put the number at 138,000 at its peak. "KILL BILL" CALL The latest protest comes a day after tens of thousands gathered to voice support for the police, whom some have accused of using excessive force against activists, and demand an end to the violence. Sunday's march focused on calls for the full withdrawal of the extradition bill, which would allow people to be extradited to mainland China for trial, and an independent investigation into complaints of police brutality. Other demands include charges against protesters to be dropped and universal suffrage. "I came back to Hong Kong this summer because of the protests," said Mandy Ko, 27, who is originally from Hong Kong and now lives in Australia. "My spirit is still with Hong Kong people." Activists formed human chains as they handed out supplies, including umbrellas, hard hats and even gas masks to protesters. A Reuters reporter received an AirDrop message that said "Be Water", a strategy inspired by a maxim of home-grown martial arts legend Bruce Lee, that encourages protesters to be flexible. Last weekend, two initially peaceful protests degenerated into running skirmishes between baton-wielding police and activists, resulting in scores of injuries and more than 40 arrests. Those fights followed larger outbreaks of violence in central Hong Kong last month, when police forced back activists with tear gas, rubber bullets and bean-bag rounds. Lam has apologised for the turmoil the extradition bill has caused and declared it "dead". Opponents of the bill, which they fear could be used to silence dissent, say nothing short of its withdrawal will do. Under the terms of the handover from Britain in 1997, Hong Kong was allowed to retain extensive freedoms under a "one country, two systems" formula, including an independent judiciary and the right to protest. But for many Hong Kong residents, the extradition bill is the latest step in a relentless march towards mainland control. The protests have at times paralysed parts of the financial district, shut government offices and disrupted business operations across the city. Officials have also warned about the impact of the unrest on the economy. A commentary published in the Chinese Communist Party's People's Daily newspaper on Sunday said: "If violence continues, it will inevitably deal a greater blow to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability." China has condemned the violent protests as an "undisguised challenge" to the one country, two systems formula. Police late on Friday seized explosives and weapons in an industrial building in the New Territories district of Tsuen Wan. Three people were arrested. Police described the seizure as the largest of its kind in Hong Kong. They said it was unclear whether the explosives were related to the protest.

Hong Kong police fire tear gas to disperse protesters in fresh wave of clashes

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-locks-down-as-thousands-gather-for-latest-anti-extradition-bill-rally-237420">Tens of thousands marched in sweltering heat in Hong Kong </a>on Sunday as anti-government protests show no sign of let-up, with anger over an extradition bill morphing into a fresh front against what many see as an erosion of freedoms by Beijing.

Millions have rallied over the past two months in an unprecedented show of force against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-police-seize-explosives-ahead-of-protests-237353">Hong Kong</a> leader Carrie Lam, triggering the worst social turmoil to rock the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule 22 years ago.&nbsp;

Protesters marched in temperatures of around 31 degrees Celsius (87.8°F) from Victoria Park in the bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay to Wan Chai, just one metro stop away, after police shortened the route, citing safety concerns.

Some held up banners that said, "LIAR" and "No excuse Carrie Lame". A poster plastered on a lamppost called for an "Investigation on police brutality". 
Many ignored the official end point and appeared to make their way to Admiralty district, where protesters stormed and ransacked the city`s legislature three weeks ago in chaotic scenes beamed live to the world.&nbsp;

"The police are terribly worried, I understand, about possible scuffles, clashes ... violence around the government and legislative complexes and the police headquarters," said pro-democracy legislator Claudia Mo.

Authorities used blue and white water-filled barriers to barricade government and police headquarters, while global bank HSBC, in a rare move, pulled down large metal barriers on the street level of its gleaming skyscraper building.&nbsp;

While most of the rallies have passed off peacefully, some have erupted into violence late at night when more radical protesters have clashed with police.&nbsp; 
The city`s police force has come under scrutiny after officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas last month to disperse demonstrators in some of the worst violence to roil Hong Kong in decades.&nbsp;

The police are struggling to cope amid haphazard decision-making, worsening morale and anger among rank-and-file officers that they are taking the public heat for government unpopularity, serving and retired officers, politicians and security analysts told Reuters.

"Kill Bill" Call

The latest protest comes a day after tens of thousands gathered to voice support for the police, whom some have accused of using excessive force against activists and demand an end to the violence.

Sunday`s march focused on calls for the full withdrawal of the extradition bill, which would allow people to be extradited to mainland China for trial, and an independent investigation into complaints of police brutality.

Other demands include charges against protesters to be dropped and universal suffrage.&nbsp;

"I came back to Hong Kong this summer because of the protests," said Mandy Ko, 27, who is originally from Hong Kong and now lives in Australia.&nbsp; 
"My spirit is still with Hong Kong people."&nbsp;

Last weekend, two initially peaceful protests degenerated into running skirmishes between baton-wielding police and activists, resulting in scores of injuries and more than 40 arrests.&nbsp;

Those fights followed larger outbreaks of violence in central Hong Kong last month, when police forced back activists with tear gas, rubber bullets and bean-bag rounds.

Lam has apologised for the turmoil the extradition bill has caused and declared it "dead". Opponents of the bill, which they fear could be used to silence dissent, say nothing short of its withdrawal will do.&nbsp;

Under the terms of the handover from Britain in 1997, Hong Kong was allowed to retain extensive freedoms under a "one country, two systems" formula, including an independent judiciary and the right to protest.

But for many Hong Kong residents, the extradition bill is the latest step in a relentless march towards mainland control.

The protests have at times paralysed parts of the financial district, shut government offices and disrupted business operations across the city. Officials have also warned about the impact of the unrest on the economy.

A commentary published in the Chinese Communist Party`s People`s Daily newspaper on Sunday said: "If violence continues, it will inevitably deal a greater blow to Hong Kong`s prosperity and stability."&nbsp;

China has condemned the violent protests as an "undisguised challenge" to the one country, two systems formula.

Police late on Friday seized explosives and weapons in an industrial building in the New Territories district of Tsuen Wan. Three people were arrested.

Police described the seizure as the largest of its kind in Hong Kong.

They said it was unclear whether the explosives were related to the protest.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands marched in sweltering heat in Hong Kong on Sunday as anti-government protests show no sign of let-up, with anger over an extradition bill morphing into a fresh front against what many see as an erosion of freedoms by Beijing.

Tens of thousands marched in sweltering heat in Hong Kong on Sunday as anti-government protests show no sign of let-up, with anger over an extradition bill morphing into a fresh front against what many see as an erosion of freedoms by Beijing. Millions have rallied over the past two months in an unprecedented show of force against Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, triggering the worst social turmoil to rock the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule 22 years ago. Protesters marched in temperatures of around 31 degrees Celsius (87.8°F) from Victoria Park in the bustling shopping district of Causeway Bay to Wan Chai, just one metro stop away, after police shortened the route, citing safety concerns. Some held up banners that said, "LIAR" and "No excuse Carrie Lame". A poster plastered on a lamppost called for an "Investigation on police brutality". Many ignored the official end point and appeared to make their way to Admiralty district, where protesters stormed and ransacked the city`s legislature three weeks ago in chaotic scenes beamed live to the world. "The police are terribly worried, I understand, about possible scuffles, clashes ... violence around the government and legislative complexes and the police headquarters," said pro-democracy legislator Claudia Mo. Authorities used blue and white water-filled barriers to barricade government and police headquarters, while global bank HSBC, in a rare move, pulled down large metal barriers on the street level of its gleaming skyscraper building. While most of the rallies have passed off peacefully, some have erupted into violence late at night when more radical protesters have clashed with police. The city`s police force has come under scrutiny after officers fired rubber bullets and tear gas last month to disperse demonstrators in some of the worst violence to roil Hong Kong in decades. The police are struggling to cope amid haphazard decision-making, worsening morale and anger among rank-and-file officers that they are taking the public heat for government unpopularity, serving and retired officers, politicians and security analysts told Reuters. "Kill Bill" Call The latest protest comes a day after tens of thousands gathered to voice support for the police, whom some have accused of using excessive force against activists and demand an end to the violence. Sunday`s march focused on calls for the full withdrawal of the extradition bill, which would allow people to be extradited to mainland China for trial, and an independent investigation into complaints of police brutality. Other demands include charges against protesters to be dropped and universal suffrage. "I came back to Hong Kong this summer because of the protests," said Mandy Ko, 27, who is originally from Hong Kong and now lives in Australia. "My spirit is still with Hong Kong people." Last weekend, two initially peaceful protests degenerated into running skirmishes between baton-wielding police and activists, resulting in scores of injuries and more than 40 arrests. Those fights followed larger outbreaks of violence in central Hong Kong last month, when police forced back activists with tear gas, rubber bullets and bean-bag rounds. Lam has apologised for the turmoil the extradition bill has caused and declared it "dead". Opponents of the bill, which they fear could be used to silence dissent, say nothing short of its withdrawal will do. Under the terms of the handover from Britain in 1997, Hong Kong was allowed to retain extensive freedoms under a "one country, two systems" formula, including an independent judiciary and the right to protest. But for many Hong Kong residents, the extradition bill is the latest step in a relentless march towards mainland control. The protests have at times paralysed parts of the financial district, shut government offices and disrupted business operations across the city. Officials have also warned about the impact of the unrest on the economy. A commentary published in the Chinese Communist Party`s People`s Daily newspaper on Sunday said: "If violence continues, it will inevitably deal a greater blow to Hong Kong`s prosperity and stability." China has condemned the violent protests as an "undisguised challenge" to the one country, two systems formula. Police late on Friday seized explosives and weapons in an industrial building in the New Territories district of Tsuen Wan. Three people were arrested. Police described the seizure as the largest of its kind in Hong Kong. They said it was unclear whether the explosives were related to the protest.

Hong Kong on security alert as thousands march in fresh wave of protests

Hong Kong police on Saturday said they had uncovered a makeshift factory producing high-powered explosives alongside pro-independence leaflets, a discovery which comes as the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/government-supporters-rally-in-hong-kong-to-seek-end-to-violence-237282"> city is rocked by unprecedented political protests</a>.

Police said they swooped on an industrial building in the district of Tsuen Wan on Friday evening and arrested a 27-year-old man.

"We are dealing with a homemade laboratory for the manufacture of high explosive, specifically TATP," Superintendent Alick McWhirter, a bomb squad specialist, told reporters on Saturday.

"This is an extremely sensitive and extremely powerful high explosive. It will cause exceptional amounts of damage when used," he added.

TATP requires skill to manufacture but has been used in a number of major terror attacks, including the 2005 London suicide bombings and the recent deadly Easter attacks on hotels and churches in Sri Lanka earlier this year.

McWhirter said his team had carried out at least one controlled explosion and expected to do more because the TATP they had discovered was volatile.

Items also displayed by police after the raid included a T-shirt with the logo of the Hong Kong National Front, a pro-independence group, as well as leaflets related to huge anti-government protests currently engulfing the international finance hub.

The Hong Kong National Front, a small fringe group, released a statement on Facebook saying the man arrested was a member but added it had no knowledge of any explosives.&nbsp;

In November 2017, two members of a fringe independent group were found guilty of making explosives and were jailed.

Under the 1997 handover deal with the British, China promised to allow Hong Kong to keep key liberties such as its independent judiciary and freedom of speech.

But many say that 50-year deal is already being curtailed, citing the disappearance into mainland custody of dissident booksellers, the disqualification of prominent politicians and the jailing of democracy protest leaders.

Authorities have also resisted calls for the city's leader to be directly elected by the people.

A small number of pro-independence groups have since emerged but they remain fringe elements with little popular support. 
&nbsp;

Hong Kong police on Saturday said they had uncovered a makeshift factory producing high-powered explosives alongside pro-independence leaflets, a discovery which comes as the city is rocked by unprecedented political protests.

Hong Kong police on Saturday said they had uncovered a makeshift factory producing high-powered explosives alongside pro-independence leaflets, a discovery which comes as the city is rocked by unprecedented political protests. Police said they swooped on an industrial building in the district of Tsuen Wan on Friday evening and arrested a 27-year-old man. "We are dealing with a homemade laboratory for the manufacture of high explosive, specifically TATP," Superintendent Alick McWhirter, a bomb squad specialist, told reporters on Saturday. "This is an extremely sensitive and extremely powerful high explosive. It will cause exceptional amounts of damage when used," he added. TATP requires skill to manufacture but has been used in a number of major terror attacks, including the 2005 London suicide bombings and the recent deadly Easter attacks on hotels and churches in Sri Lanka earlier this year. McWhirter said his team had carried out at least one controlled explosion and expected to do more because the TATP they had discovered was volatile. Items also displayed by police after the raid included a T-shirt with the logo of the Hong Kong National Front, a pro-independence group, as well as leaflets related to huge anti-government protests currently engulfing the international finance hub. The Hong Kong National Front, a small fringe group, released a statement on Facebook saying the man arrested was a member but added it had no knowledge of any explosives. In November 2017, two members of a fringe independent group were found guilty of making explosives and were jailed. Under the 1997 handover deal with the British, China promised to allow Hong Kong to keep key liberties such as its independent judiciary and freedom of speech. But many say that 50-year deal is already being curtailed, citing the disappearance into mainland custody of dissident booksellers, the disqualification of prominent politicians and the jailing of democracy protest leaders. Authorities have also resisted calls for the city's leader to be directly elected by the people. A small number of pro-independence groups have since emerged but they remain fringe elements with little popular support.

Hong Kong police uncover 'homemade explosive lab'

Anti-government protesters who fought police inside a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-unrest-7-media-associates-organize-silent-march-in-hong-kong-235961">Hong Kong</a> shopping mall were "rioters", the finance hub's pro-Beijing leader said Monday, as she threw her support behind the city's beleaguered police force following another weekend of clashes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-reporters-march-against-alleged-police-violence-235812">Hong Kong</a>'s ongoing political crisis deepened further on Sunday as riot police and protesters fought running battles inside a shopping complex packed with luxury stores.

Police used pepper spray and batons against small groups of protesters, who responded by hurling umbrellas, bottles and other projectiles, in a night of fresh violence in the international hub.

Both officers and protesters were injured in the chaotic melee which left bloodstains on the floor and at least 28 people needing hospital treatment.

City leader Carrie&nbsp;Lam rounded on protesters after visiting injured officers Monday.

"They were committed to the duties, and also very professional and restrained. But they were wantonly attacked by rioters -- I think we can really describe them as rioters," Lam told reporters.

Lam said police and prosecutors will press charges following investigations.

Hong Kong has been rocked by more than a month of huge largely peaceful protests -- as well as a series of separate violent confrontations with police -- sparked by a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China and other countries.

Watch- Hong Kong: Extradition law 'dead', but protests alive

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Last month, parliament was trashed by hundreds of masked, youth-led protesters in unprecedented scenes.

The bill has since been suspended, but that has done little to quell public anger which has evolved into a wider movement calling for democratic reforms, universal suffrage and a halt to sliding freedoms in the semi-autonomous hub.

Lam's use of the word "rioters" will likely infuriate protesters, who have balked at that description.

They have accused police of using disproportionate force and demanded the designation be retracted.&nbsp;

"Instead of seeking reconciliation, she (Lam) turned to the police for support, by initiating hatred and bloodshed," democracy activist Joshua Wong wrote in a tweet.

Police commissioner Stephen Lo said early Monday more than 40 people were arrested during Sunday's clashes -- which took place in Sha Tin district -- and that an officer had part of his finger bitten off.

A hospital authority spokesperson said 28 people had sought emergency treatment and seven men remained in hospital Monday morning, including two who were in serious condition.

The spokesperson did not provide a breakdown of injuries among police and protesters.&nbsp;

But Lam said more than 10 officers were injured during the clashes and six were still in hospital on Monday.

Her administration has made little headway in defusing the city's worst crisis in decades.

Protesters are demanding the bill be scrapped entirely, an independent inquiry into police use of tear gas and rubber bullets, an amnesty for those arrested, and for Lam to step down.

Anti-government protesters who fought police inside a Hong Kong shopping mall were "rioters", the finance hub's pro-Beijing leader said Monday, as she threw her support behind the city's beleaguered police force following another weekend of clashes.

Anti-government protesters who fought police inside a Hong Kong shopping mall were "rioters", the finance hub's pro-Beijing leader said Monday, as she threw her support behind the city's beleaguered police force following another weekend of clashes. Hong Kong's ongoing political crisis deepened further on Sunday as riot police and protesters fought running battles inside a shopping complex packed with luxury stores. Police used pepper spray and batons against small groups of protesters, who responded by hurling umbrellas, bottles and other projectiles, in a night of fresh violence in the international hub. Both officers and protesters were injured in the chaotic melee which left bloodstains on the floor and at least 28 people needing hospital treatment. City leader Carrie Lam rounded on protesters after visiting injured officers Monday. "They were committed to the duties, and also very professional and restrained. But they were wantonly attacked by rioters -- I think we can really describe them as rioters," Lam told reporters. Lam said police and prosecutors will press charges following investigations. Hong Kong has been rocked by more than a month of huge largely peaceful protests -- as well as a series of separate violent confrontations with police -- sparked by a law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China and other countries. Watch- Hong Kong: Extradition law 'dead', but protests alive × Last month, parliament was trashed by hundreds of masked, youth-led protesters in unprecedented scenes. The bill has since been suspended, but that has done little to quell public anger which has evolved into a wider movement calling for democratic reforms, universal suffrage and a halt to sliding freedoms in the semi-autonomous hub. Lam's use of the word "rioters" will likely infuriate protesters, who have balked at that description. They have accused police of using disproportionate force and demanded the designation be retracted. "Instead of seeking reconciliation, she (Lam) turned to the police for support, by initiating hatred and bloodshed," democracy activist Joshua Wong wrote in a tweet. Police commissioner Stephen Lo said early Monday more than 40 people were arrested during Sunday's clashes -- which took place in Sha Tin district -- and that an officer had part of his finger bitten off. A hospital authority spokesperson said 28 people had sought emergency treatment and seven men remained in hospital Monday morning, including two who were in serious condition. The spokesperson did not provide a breakdown of injuries among police and protesters. But Lam said more than 10 officers were injured during the clashes and six were still in hospital on Monday. Her administration has made little headway in defusing the city's worst crisis in decades. Protesters are demanding the bill be scrapped entirely, an independent inquiry into police use of tear gas and rubber bullets, an amnesty for those arrested, and for Lam to step down.

I think we can really describe them as 'rioters': Carrie Lam on Hong Kong mall protesters

UK Court Allows Fugitive Liquor Baron Vijay Mallya To Appeal Against His Extradition

Gravitas: Temporary Relief for Vijay Mallya

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/the-royal-courts-of-justice-in-london-approves-vijay-mallyas-plea-to-appeal-against-extradition-case-232488">Beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya</a> on Tuesday said that he was "glad" after a court here permitted him to appeal against the UK Home Secretary's order to extradite him to India to face trial in alleged fraud and money laundering charges involving Rs 9,000 crore.

"I am glad. I won on the prima facie. The division bench felt that (Westminster) magistrate's decision is appealable. It means the most to me," a confident Mallya told media persons.

Mallya, however, reiterated his offer to the consortium of Indian banks to return their money.

"I still want the banks to take all the money. All they have to do is to leave me in peace," he said.

A two-member bench of Justices George Leggatt and Andrew Popplewell of the Administrative Court division of the Royal Courts of Justice granted him permission to appeal against the order signed off by Home Secretary Sajid Javid.

While Clare Montgomery represented Mallya, there was no representation from the Home Secretary and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to argue for the government of India.

Mallya's counsel Montgomery told the court that her client would not receive a fair trial in India, be subjected to a "trial by media, and the judicial process would be coloured by political bias; the prison conditions in India would breach his basic human rights."

Seeking the court's permission to appeal against the order, Mallya's counsel also said that the Indian government did not have a prima facie case against him.

While rejecting the first four of the arguments, the court agreed that India still has to do more to prove a prima facie case against the accused.

Montgomery said that the order of Westminster Court Judge Emma Arbuthnot was erroneous in sending his case to Home Secretary Sajid Javid to order his extradition.

"The Government of India submitted fabricated e-mails (evidence) to the court. Instead of questioning the mail's authenticity, the judge took it as evidence.

The e-mails were presented as statements of the witnesses," she told the court.

Montgomery said that British law requires every document produced in the court to be backed by proof of its origination.

"In the face of it, there is no evidence against Mallya," she submitted.

She also told the court that Mallya was not just charged because he is an economic offender but because of his political views too.

The businessman's counsel also argued that Kingfisher Airline made its financial position very clear as against Judge Arbuthnots'&nbsp;ruling that Mallya and the defunct airline misrepresented its financial situation to the consortium of banks.

The 63-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines chief lost a "leave to appeal" in the UK High Court on paper on April 5 against the extradition order, leading to an oral hearing of his renewal application.

On April 11, he applied for an oral hearing to argue his case, which had been listed in a four-hour slot on Tuesday.

Mallya came with his son Siddharth and girlfriend and former Kingfisher Airline hostess Pinki Lalwani to the court.

Mallya, who flew out from India in March 2016, has been living in the United Kingdom since then.

The Patiala House Court in New Delhi had already declared Mallya a proclaimed offender for evading summons in January 2018. The court had also issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against him for evading summons and law of the land in 2017.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Tuesday said that he was "glad" after a court here permitted him to appeal against the UK Home Secretary's order to extradite him to India to face trial in alleged fraud and money laundering charges involving Rs 9,000 crore.

Beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Tuesday said that he was "glad" after a court here permitted him to appeal against the UK Home Secretary's order to extradite him to India to face trial in alleged fraud and money laundering charges involving Rs 9,000 crore. "I am glad. I won on the prima facie. The division bench felt that (Westminster) magistrate's decision is appealable. It means the most to me," a confident Mallya told media persons. Mallya, however, reiterated his offer to the consortium of Indian banks to return their money. "I still want the banks to take all the money. All they have to do is to leave me in peace," he said. A two-member bench of Justices George Leggatt and Andrew Popplewell of the Administrative Court division of the Royal Courts of Justice granted him permission to appeal against the order signed off by Home Secretary Sajid Javid. While Clare Montgomery represented Mallya, there was no representation from the Home Secretary and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to argue for the government of India. Mallya's counsel Montgomery told the court that her client would not receive a fair trial in India, be subjected to a "trial by media, and the judicial process would be coloured by political bias; the prison conditions in India would breach his basic human rights." Seeking the court's permission to appeal against the order, Mallya's counsel also said that the Indian government did not have a prima facie case against him. While rejecting the first four of the arguments, the court agreed that India still has to do more to prove a prima facie case against the accused. Montgomery said that the order of Westminster Court Judge Emma Arbuthnot was erroneous in sending his case to Home Secretary Sajid Javid to order his extradition. "The Government of India submitted fabricated e-mails (evidence) to the court. Instead of questioning the mail's authenticity, the judge took it as evidence. The e-mails were presented as statements of the witnesses," she told the court. Montgomery said that British law requires every document produced in the court to be backed by proof of its origination. "In the face of it, there is no evidence against Mallya," she submitted. She also told the court that Mallya was not just charged because he is an economic offender but because of his political views too. The businessman's counsel also argued that Kingfisher Airline made its financial position very clear as against Judge Arbuthnots' ruling that Mallya and the defunct airline misrepresented its financial situation to the consortium of banks. The 63-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines chief lost a "leave to appeal" in the UK High Court on paper on April 5 against the extradition order, leading to an oral hearing of his renewal application. On April 11, he applied for an oral hearing to argue his case, which had been listed in a four-hour slot on Tuesday. Mallya came with his son Siddharth and girlfriend and former Kingfisher Airline hostess Pinki Lalwani to the court. Mallya, who flew out from India in March 2016, has been living in the United Kingdom since then. The Patiala House Court in New Delhi had already declared Mallya a proclaimed offender for evading summons in January 2018. The court had also issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against him for evading summons and law of the land in 2017.

'I am glad that I won,' says Mallya after London court allows him to appeal against extradition

UK court allows Mallya to appeal against extradition. To know more watch the video

Mandy Clark on Mallya Granted permission to appeal against extradition

<a href="http://wionews.com/india-news/i-am-here-to-watch-the-game-says-vijay-mallya-spotted-at-oval-for-indvaus-world-cup-encounter-225680">Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya</a>'s permission to appeal against the extradition case against him has been approved by the Royal Courts of Justice, London.&nbsp;

The hearing was set for today, July 2, to convince a High Court judge that Mallya should be given permission to proceed to a full-blown appeal process against his extradition to India to face alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 crores.

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Vijay Mallya’s permission to appeal against the extradition case has been approved by the Royal Courts of Justice,London. Details awaited. <a href="https://t.co/5wzU0KzVpK">pic.twitter.com/5wzU0KzVpK</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1146060835040587776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The 63-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss had filed the "renewal application" earlier in April after he failed in his first written attempt seeking leave to appeal in the High Court, news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

United Kingdom's Westminster Court had last year ordered Mallya's extradition to India after he failed to convince authorities there.&nbsp;

On April 8, a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mallyas-extradition-uk-high-court-to-hear-vijay-mallyas-plea-on-july-2-213741">UK court denied permission to appeal</a> against his extradition order to India to face trial for alleged fraud and money laundering amounting to Rs 9,000 crore.

The beleaguered liquor baron had approached the court against the February 5 order signed by the UK Home Secretary approving his extradition.

Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya's permission to appeal against the extradition case against him has been approved by the Royal Courts of Justice, London. The hearing was set for today, July 2, to convince a High Court judge that Mallya should be given permission to proceed to a full-blown appeal process against his extradition to India to face alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 crores.

Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya's permission to appeal against the extradition case against him has been approved by the Royal Courts of Justice, London. The hearing was set for today, July 2, to convince a High Court judge that Mallya should be given permission to proceed to a full-blown appeal process against his extradition to India to face alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 crores. Vijay Mallya’s permission to appeal against the extradition case has been approved by the Royal Courts of Justice,London. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/5wzU0KzVpK — ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2019 × The 63-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss had filed the "renewal application" earlier in April after he failed in his first written attempt seeking leave to appeal in the High Court, news agency PTI reported. United Kingdom's Westminster Court had last year ordered Mallya's extradition to India after he failed to convince authorities there. On April 8, a UK court denied permission to appeal against his extradition order to India to face trial for alleged fraud and money laundering amounting to Rs 9,000 crore. The beleaguered liquor baron had approached the court against the February 5 order signed by the UK Home Secretary approving his extradition.

The Royal Courts of Justice in London allows Vijay Mallya to appeal against extradition

Mallya's last resort appeal in UK court. Mallya to challenge extradition order

Mallya's last resort appeal in UK court

China's Foreign Ministry denounced the UK for its "interference" in Hong Kong affairs on Wednesday after the British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told parliament that London would ban sales of tear gas to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-converge-on-hong-kong-police-headquarters-in-anti-govt-demonstration-229127">Hong Kong</a> and called for an independent probe into the recent violence.

Speaking at a&nbsp;news conference in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China demands "the UK immediately stop interference of any kind in Hong Kong and China's internal affairs."

When asked about protests earlier on Wednesday outside major foreign consulates in Hong Kong calling on leaders at the upcoming G20 summit to support the scrapping of a controversial extradition bill, Geng said "<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-activists-call-on-g20-leaders-to-help-liberate-city-230498">G20 </a>will <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-will-not-allow-hong-kong-issue-to-be-discussed-at-g20-summit-229878">not discuss Hong Kong issues</a>. China will certainly not agree to G20 discussing Hong Kong affairs. This is entirely China's internal affair."

Responding to China, Britain's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it would continue to defend its position over Hong Kong.

The foreign ministry said, "The Joint Declaration is a legally binding treaty between the UK and China that remains as valid today as it was when it was signed and ratified over 30 years ago."

"As a co-signatory, the UK government will continue to defend our position.”

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which laid out how Britain would end its rule over Hong Kong before it was handed back to China in 1997, still applied.

The declaration guaranteed Hong Kong's rights and freedoms

Millions of people in Hong Kong have protested in recent weeks against the&nbsp;extradition bill that would have allowed individuals, including foreigners, to be extradited to mainland China to face trial.

Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed leader Carrie Lam, eventually caved in after some of the worst violence seen in decades on the city's streets, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

But Lam stopped short of protesters' demands to scrap the bill altogether, saying it would be suspended indefinitely.

 
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China's Foreign Ministry denounced the UK for its "interference" in Hong Kong affairs on Wednesday after the British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told parliament that London would ban sales of tear gas to Hong Kong and called for an independent probe into the recent violence.

China's Foreign Ministry denounced the UK for its "interference" in Hong Kong affairs on Wednesday after the British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told parliament that London would ban sales of tear gas to Hong Kong and called for an independent probe into the recent violence. Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China demands "the UK immediately stop interference of any kind in Hong Kong and China's internal affairs." When asked about protests earlier on Wednesday outside major foreign consulates in Hong Kong calling on leaders at the upcoming G20 summit to support the scrapping of a controversial extradition bill, Geng said "G20 will not discuss Hong Kong issues. China will certainly not agree to G20 discussing Hong Kong affairs. This is entirely China's internal affair." Responding to China, Britain's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it would continue to defend its position over Hong Kong. The foreign ministry said, "The Joint Declaration is a legally binding treaty between the UK and China that remains as valid today as it was when it was signed and ratified over 30 years ago." "As a co-signatory, the UK government will continue to defend our position.” A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which laid out how Britain would end its rule over Hong Kong before it was handed back to China in 1997, still applied. The declaration guaranteed Hong Kong's rights and freedoms Millions of people in Hong Kong have protested in recent weeks against the extradition bill that would have allowed individuals, including foreigners, to be extradited to mainland China to face trial. Hong Kong's Beijing-appointed leader Carrie Lam, eventually caved in after some of the worst violence seen in decades on the city's streets, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. But Lam stopped short of protesters' demands to scrap the bill altogether, saying it would be suspended indefinitely.

UK should stop interfering in Hong Kong and China's internal affairs: Foreign ministry

Tens of thousands marched to the streets&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-braces-for-huge-rally-after-leader-climbdown-227457">in Hong Kong&nbsp;</a>on Sunday demanding the scrapping of the controversial extradition bill.

The rally, organised a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-leader-says-divisive-extradition-law-will-be-suspended-227273">suspended the bill</a>, also&nbsp;protested for the ousting of the city's leader.

Lam on Saturday indefinitely delayed the bill that could send people to mainland China to face trial.

She, however, stopped short of committing to permanently scrapping the proposal and the concession was swiftly rejected by protest leaders, who called on her to resign, permanently shelve the bill and apologise for police tactics.

The international finance hub was rocked by the worst political violence since 1997 on Wednesday as tens of thousands of protesters were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

The about-face was one of the most significant political turnarounds by the Hong Kong government since Britain returned the territory to China in 1997, and it threw into question Lam`s ability to continue to lead the city.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-backs-suspension-of-hong-kong-extradition-bill-227355">'We respect and understand this decision,' China backs suspension of Hong Kong extradition bill</a>

Critics fear the Beijing-backed law will tangle people up in China's notoriously opaque and politicised courts as well as hammer the city's reputation as a safe business hub.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tens of thousands marched to the streets in Hong Kong on Sunday demanding the scrapping of the controversial extradition bill. The rally, organised a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam suspended the bill, also protested for the ousting of the city's leader.

Tens of thousands marched to the streets in Hong Kong on Sunday demanding the scrapping of the controversial extradition bill. The rally, organised a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam suspended the bill, also protested for the ousting of the city's leader. Lam on Saturday indefinitely delayed the bill that could send people to mainland China to face trial. She, however, stopped short of committing to permanently scrapping the proposal and the concession was swiftly rejected by protest leaders, who called on her to resign, permanently shelve the bill and apologise for police tactics. The international finance hub was rocked by the worst political violence since 1997 on Wednesday as tens of thousands of protesters were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. The about-face was one of the most significant political turnarounds by the Hong Kong government since Britain returned the territory to China in 1997, and it threw into question Lam`s ability to continue to lead the city. Also read: 'We respect and understand this decision,' China backs suspension of Hong Kong extradition bill Critics fear the Beijing-backed law will tangle people up in China's notoriously opaque and politicised courts as well as hammer the city's reputation as a safe business hub. (With inputs from agencies)

Thousands march in Hong Kong demanding scrapping of extradition bill

In this videos, Journalist, Atul Aneja speaks to WION over Hong Kong protests.

Hong Kong protesters demand complete withdrawal of bill

Hong Kong on Sunday, June 16 woke up to a calm morning before anti-extradition law protesters take to the street once again to convey their stance against the controversial bill. Watch this video to know more.

Hong Kong protesters: Chief Executive Lam must go

Hong Kong on Sunday (June 16) woke up to a calm morning before anti-extradition law protesters take to the street once again to convey their stance against the controversial bill.

Hong Kong | The Extradition bill | The march of mass protest and anger

Thousands of mothers rallied in Hong Kong to protest against an extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to China for trial. Watch this video to know more.

Hong Kong sees worst violence in decade

Following huge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-is-watching-hong-kong-protests-joe-biden-warns-china-227245">protest </a>against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explainer-why-proposed-changes-to-hong-kongs-extradition-law-are-fuelling-protests-227269">controversial extradition bill</a>, Hong Kong on Saturday decided to suspend the law which proposed on extradition to mainland China.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said, "divisive extradition law will be suspended".

"The government has decided to suspend the legislative amendment exercise," Lam told reporters.

"The council will halt its work in relation to the bill until our working communication explanation and listening to opinions is completed," she said. "We have no intention to set a deadline for this work., " she added.

Support for the extradition bill began to crumble on Friday with several pro-Beijing politicians and a senior advisor to Lam saying discussion of the bill should be shelved for the time being.

The international finance hub was rocked by the worst political violence since its 1997 handover to China on Wednesday as tens of thousands of protesters were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.

Three days earlier record crowds held a record-breaking rally in which organisers said more than a million people hit the streets calling for the law to be scrapped.

As criticism mounted, Lam found herself under pressure to backtrack, even from within her own political camp and advisors.

She said the extradition law was needed to plug loopholes and stop the international finance hub being a haven for criminals but admitted her administration had underestimated the public backlash.&nbsp;

"I feel deep sorrow and regret that the deficiencies in our work and various other factors have stirred up substantial controversies and disputes in society following the relatively calm periods of the past two years," she said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

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Following huge protest against the controversial extradition bill, Hong Kong on Saturday decided to suspend the law which proposed on extradition to mainland China.

Following huge protest against the controversial extradition bill, Hong Kong on Saturday decided to suspend the law which proposed on extradition to mainland China. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said, "divisive extradition law will be suspended". "The government has decided to suspend the legislative amendment exercise," Lam told reporters. "The council will halt its work in relation to the bill until our working communication explanation and listening to opinions is completed," she said. "We have no intention to set a deadline for this work., " she added. Support for the extradition bill began to crumble on Friday with several pro-Beijing politicians and a senior advisor to Lam saying discussion of the bill should be shelved for the time being. The international finance hub was rocked by the worst political violence since its 1997 handover to China on Wednesday as tens of thousands of protesters were dispersed by riot police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Three days earlier record crowds held a record-breaking rally in which organisers said more than a million people hit the streets calling for the law to be scrapped. As criticism mounted, Lam found herself under pressure to backtrack, even from within her own political camp and advisors. She said the extradition law was needed to plug loopholes and stop the international finance hub being a haven for criminals but admitted her administration had underestimated the public backlash. "I feel deep sorrow and regret that the deficiencies in our work and various other factors have stirred up substantial controversies and disputes in society following the relatively calm periods of the past two years," she said. (With inputs from AFP)

Hong Kong leader says divisive extradition law will be 'suspended'

The Hong Kong government's move to allow extraditions to mainland China had&nbsp;sparked the biggest demonstrations since the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997.

Under the handover deal, Hong Kong benefits from a "One Country, Two Systems" policy that allows it to retain certain key liberties, such as freedom of speech and an independent judiciary, until 2047.

A push for democratic reforms saw unprecedented street protests in 2014, with demands for change reignited in February this year, leading to the worst political violence in the financial hub since 1997.

Here is an overview.

- 2003: National security law -

Some half a million people marched against a controversial attempt by the government to introduce a national security law that critics feared would hammer free speech.&nbsp;

The bill, which came after a deadly outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, was the first mass demonstration movement the city's pro-Beijing leaders had faced since the 1997 handover.

It was eventually shelved and set in process the resignation of then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa.

- 2012: Education protests -

Tens of thousands of predominantly young demonstrators, many of them school children, surrounded the city government's complex for 10 days.&nbsp;

The target of their ire was a government order for schools to teach "Moral and National Education" classes that praised China's communist and nationalist history while criticising republicanism and democracy movements.&nbsp;

The government abandoned the curriculum and some of the protest leaders, such as then 15-year-old Joshua Wong, went on to become leading democracy advocates.

- 2014: Umbrella Movement -

For two months in late 2014 tens of thousands of protesters paralysed parts of the city with mass student-led demonstrations and sit-ins to demand democratic reforms such as the right to elect the city's leader.

There were clashes and scenes of violence, until then rare in the semi-autonomous territory, as police used pepper spray and tear gas to break up the demonstrations.

It becomes known as the Umbrella Movement after some demonstrators used umbrellas to protect themselves.

Police dismantled the main pro-democracy site in December, hauling off a hard core of protesters who vowed that their struggle would live on.&nbsp;

But the movement failed to win any concessions and many of its leaders are now in prison.&nbsp;

- 2019: Extradition anger -

In February 2019 Hong Kong's government announced plans for a bill that would allow, for the first time, extraditions to mainland China.

The move was prompted by a murder but the opposition and lawyers fear such a law would tighten Beijing's grip on civil society and allow it to pursue its political enemies in Hong Kong.

Tens of thousands of people hit Hong Kong's streets in protest on April 28 in one of the biggest demonstrations since the Umbrella Movement.

It came just days after four prominent democratic leaders were jailed for their role in organising the 2014 protests.

Hong Kong's government made concessions on May 30, saying the extradition law would only apply to cases involving a potential jail term of at least seven years.

Britain and Canada raised concerns that expatriates living and working in Hong Kong, an international business hub, could also face extradition.

- Protests grow -

On June 4, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers, fearful for their own liberties, commemorated 30 years since China's bloody Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy protests.&nbsp;

Such commemorations are not allowed in mainland China.

Two days later, thousands of Hong Kong lawyers marched in silence against the draft extradition law.

On June 9, more than one million people, according to organisers, took to the streets for seven hours in the biggest demonstration by far since the return to Chinese rule.&nbsp;

The police, who made 19 arrests, put the turnout at 240,000.

On June 12, a scheduled second reading of the controversial bill was delayed after huge crowds rally, blocking major roads and attempting to storm parliament.

Police used tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds -- small fabric bags filled with lead pellets -- on the demonstrators, most of them young people and students.

They were the worst clashes since the 1997 handover, leaving nearly 80 people injured, two in a serious condition.

More than 100 businesses and shops had shut down in support of the movement.

Beijing described the protests as "riots", and said it supports the local government's response.

The Hong Kong government's move to allow extraditions to mainland China had sparked the biggest demonstrations since the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997.

The Hong Kong government's move to allow extraditions to mainland China had sparked the biggest demonstrations since the former British colony was handed back to China in 1997. Under the handover deal, Hong Kong benefits from a "One Country, Two Systems" policy that allows it to retain certain key liberties, such as freedom of speech and an independent judiciary, until 2047. A push for democratic reforms saw unprecedented street protests in 2014, with demands for change reignited in February this year, leading to the worst political violence in the financial hub since 1997. Here is an overview. - 2003: National security law - Some half a million people marched against a controversial attempt by the government to introduce a national security law that critics feared would hammer free speech. The bill, which came after a deadly outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, was the first mass demonstration movement the city's pro-Beijing leaders had faced since the 1997 handover. It was eventually shelved and set in process the resignation of then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa. - 2012: Education protests - Tens of thousands of predominantly young demonstrators, many of them school children, surrounded the city government's complex for 10 days. The target of their ire was a government order for schools to teach "Moral and National Education" classes that praised China's communist and nationalist history while criticising republicanism and democracy movements. The government abandoned the curriculum and some of the protest leaders, such as then 15-year-old Joshua Wong, went on to become leading democracy advocates. - 2014: Umbrella Movement - For two months in late 2014 tens of thousands of protesters paralysed parts of the city with mass student-led demonstrations and sit-ins to demand democratic reforms such as the right to elect the city's leader. There were clashes and scenes of violence, until then rare in the semi-autonomous territory, as police used pepper spray and tear gas to break up the demonstrations. It becomes known as the Umbrella Movement after some demonstrators used umbrellas to protect themselves. Police dismantled the main pro-democracy site in December, hauling off a hard core of protesters who vowed that their struggle would live on. But the movement failed to win any concessions and many of its leaders are now in prison. - 2019: Extradition anger - In February 2019 Hong Kong's government announced plans for a bill that would allow, for the first time, extraditions to mainland China. The move was prompted by a murder but the opposition and lawyers fear such a law would tighten Beijing's grip on civil society and allow it to pursue its political enemies in Hong Kong. Tens of thousands of people hit Hong Kong's streets in protest on April 28 in one of the biggest demonstrations since the Umbrella Movement. It came just days after four prominent democratic leaders were jailed for their role in organising the 2014 protests. Hong Kong's government made concessions on May 30, saying the extradition law would only apply to cases involving a potential jail term of at least seven years. Britain and Canada raised concerns that expatriates living and working in Hong Kong, an international business hub, could also face extradition. - Protests grow - On June 4, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers, fearful for their own liberties, commemorated 30 years since China's bloody Tiananmen crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Such commemorations are not allowed in mainland China. Two days later, thousands of Hong Kong lawyers marched in silence against the draft extradition law. On June 9, more than one million people, according to organisers, took to the streets for seven hours in the biggest demonstration by far since the return to Chinese rule. The police, who made 19 arrests, put the turnout at 240,000. On June 12, a scheduled second reading of the controversial bill was delayed after huge crowds rally, blocking major roads and attempting to storm parliament. Police used tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds -- small fabric bags filled with lead pellets -- on the demonstrators, most of them young people and students. They were the worst clashes since the 1997 handover, leaving nearly 80 people injured, two in a serious condition. More than 100 businesses and shops had shut down in support of the movement. Beijing described the protests as "riots", and said it supports the local government's response.

High points of Hong Kong's huge protests

Thousands of protesters marched through Hong Kong to voice their opposition on legislation that would allow people to be extradited to mainland China. Watch this video to know more.

Hong Kong: New bill allows extradition to China

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-held-in-london-jail-ahead-of-long-legal-fight-209853">Wikileaks founder Julian Assange</a> is being held in London's high-security Belmarsh prison which has housed some of Britain's most notorious inmates, a legal source told AFP Friday.

The Sun newspaper had earlier reported that Assange had been taken to Wandsworth Prison following his dramatic arrest at Ecuador's embassy in London on Thursday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/timeline-key-developments-leading-to-julian-assanges-arrest-209585">Timeline: Key developments leading to Julian Assange's arrest</a>

Meanwhile, in Australia, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said consular officials would try to visit Assange, a 47-year-old Australian citizen, on Friday.

The Australian High Commission in London could not confirm or deny whether the visit had gone ahead.

The prison in southeast London became one of the country's best-known jails after Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs and career criminal Charles Bronson -- dubbed "the most violent prisoner in Britain" -- were held there.

Opened in 1991 next to Woolwich Crown Court, it has frequently been used in high-profile national security cases.

Among those to have called its cells home is former Finsbury Park Mosque hate preacher Abu Hamza -- who now resides in an American "supermax" prison following extradition.

Radical cleric Anjem Choudary, who was convicted in 2016 of encouraging support for the Islamic State group, spent some of his sentence there.

Belmarsh earned the moniker "the UK's Guantanamo Bay" in the period following the 9/11 attacks after it was used to detain a number of people under anti-terror laws.

The prison, which has a capacity of around 900, houses inmates on remand and serving short sentences as well as those convicted of the most serious offences.

It can hold prisoners "requiring specific management arrangements because of their public and media profile," according to an inspection report last year.

The report said the facility suffered from a "significant shortage of frontline staff" which had resulted in a "severely depleted daily regime" that limited the time inmates could be given outside their cells.

Belmarsh may be an upgrade for Assange on his previous British prison digs.

The infamous whistleblower spent nine days in Wandsworth prison in 2010 following an investigation over alleged sexual assault in Sweden.&nbsp;

Deemed "the most overcrowded prison" in England at its last inspection in 2018, the 19th-century facility holds around 1,600 inmates, with most prisoners sharing a cell designed for one person.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is being held in London's high-security Belmarsh prison which has housed some of Britain's most notorious inmates, a legal source told AFP Friday.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is being held in London's high-security Belmarsh prison which has housed some of Britain's most notorious inmates, a legal source told AFP Friday. The Sun newspaper had earlier reported that Assange had been taken to Wandsworth Prison following his dramatic arrest at Ecuador's embassy in London on Thursday. Timeline: Key developments leading to Julian Assange's arrest Meanwhile, in Australia, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said consular officials would try to visit Assange, a 47-year-old Australian citizen, on Friday. The Australian High Commission in London could not confirm or deny whether the visit had gone ahead. The prison in southeast London became one of the country's best-known jails after Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs and career criminal Charles Bronson -- dubbed "the most violent prisoner in Britain" -- were held there. Opened in 1991 next to Woolwich Crown Court, it has frequently been used in high-profile national security cases. Among those to have called its cells home is former Finsbury Park Mosque hate preacher Abu Hamza -- who now resides in an American "supermax" prison following extradition. Radical cleric Anjem Choudary, who was convicted in 2016 of encouraging support for the Islamic State group, spent some of his sentence there. Belmarsh earned the moniker "the UK's Guantanamo Bay" in the period following the 9/11 attacks after it was used to detain a number of people under anti-terror laws. The prison, which has a capacity of around 900, houses inmates on remand and serving short sentences as well as those convicted of the most serious offences. It can hold prisoners "requiring specific management arrangements because of their public and media profile," according to an inspection report last year. The report said the facility suffered from a "significant shortage of frontline staff" which had resulted in a "severely depleted daily regime" that limited the time inmates could be given outside their cells. Belmarsh may be an upgrade for Assange on his previous British prison digs. The infamous whistleblower spent nine days in Wandsworth prison in 2010 following an investigation over alleged sexual assault in Sweden. Deemed "the most overcrowded prison" in England at its last inspection in 2018, the 19th-century facility holds around 1,600 inmates, with most prisoners sharing a cell designed for one person.

Julian Assange held in London's Belmarsh prison ahead of long legal fight

Using cryptography and virtual drop boxes, Julian Assange's WikiLeaks created a revolutionary new model for media to lure massive digitised leaks from whistleblowers, exposing everything from US military secrets to wealthy tax-dodgers' illicit offshore accounts.

Assange's arrest in London Thursday on a US extradition request to face charges of computer crimes could spell the end of 13-year-old WikiLeaks.&nbsp;

But his legacy will live long in the world's media.&nbsp;

News outlets and journalists everywhere can now offer to potential sources encrypted apps and secure virtual mailboxes to receive secrets that were once divulged by discreet whispers, furtive phone calls and unmarked manila envelopes.

Skilled at hacking and cryptography -- and motivated by a deep distrust of traditional institutions -- Australia-born Assange took a cypherpunk's libertarian streak to the challenge of government secrecy.

In 2006 he built an online platform that offered an anonymous, encrypted path to leak computerized files without fear of exposure.

'We liberated cryptography'

Leaks have forever been crucial currency in journalism. But no one had before created a convenient, relatively easy-to-use electronic drop box that could almost instantly, with absolute secrecy, take delivery of gigabytes of documents.

And he did it at a ripe time, as the connected world emerged and social media took off.

For Assange, it was the democratization of powers that had before belonged to governments alone. "Cryptography was then the exclusive property of states," he wrote in 2013.

"By writing our own software and disseminating it far and wide we liberated cryptography, democratized it and spread it through the frontiers of the new internet."

WikiLeaks' first release in December 2006 was an apparent assassination order by a Somali rebel leader that may or may not have been authentic.

But it drew attention. Over the next year, WikiLeaks obtained documents baring the Kenyan leader's corruption, the secret operating rules for the US Guantanamo Bay prison camp, and offshore banking records from a Swiss bank.

It began scooping mainstream media on stories from secret climate discussions to Iran's nuclear activities and Icelandic banking fraud.&nbsp;

The Manning files&nbsp;

In 2010 US army intelligence official Chelsea Manning -- a transgender woman then known as Bradley -- began secretly feeding hundreds of thousands of classified files to WikiLeaks.

They showed possible war crimes by US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a never-before-seen video of a US helicopter attack in Iraq that killed 18 people, including civilians and two Reuters journalists.

The stunning leak could not have been carried out in the old days of faxes and printers and it put WikiLeaks into the mainstream.

Assange partnered with The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and others to help sort through and make sense of the Manning material. WikiLeaks won awards and Assange was put on the cover of Time magazine.

"What WikiLeaks demonstrated was the potential for a stateless transparency organization to get around the ability of the most powerful governments in the world to suppress information," said Micah Sifry, author of a 2011 book on WikiLeaks.

WikiLeaks copycats

Almost as soon as he hit that peak, Assange's star began to fade.

Political pressure to counter WikiLeaks was huge. A multi-country effort got major credit card and payment firms to cut WikiLeaks' financial lifeline of donations.

And he began to fall out with collaborators, a victim of his domineering personality that made WikiLeaks a one-man show, and his insistence that leaked material be published unedited, including that information that could harm people -- soldiers in the field, human rights activists and others.

But by 2012 others were already adopting his model of setting up encrypted, anonymous paths for leakers to hand over documents.

WikiLeaks copycat sites opened in different countries. Journalists became trained in the use of encryption and secret file transfers.

"Exposing the secrets of the US government was a powerful signal that nobody could keep information under control in the internet age," said Sifry.

US whistleblower Edward Snowden did not deliver his trove of hundreds of thousands of top-secret intelligence and military documents to a media drop-box in 2013.&nbsp;

But he used encrypted communications that Assange helped popularize to communicate with the journalists he collaborated with.

In 2013 the Freedom of the Press Foundation, which had aided WikiLeaks with financing, developed a new anonymous drop box free for anyone to use: SecureDrop.&nbsp;

The New Yorker, an early adopter, explained its value to leakers: "As it's set up, even we won't be able to figure out where files sent to us come from. If anyone asks us, we won't be able to tell them."

SecureDrop is important to the most successful WikiLeaks-like operation, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.&nbsp;

In recent years it has obtained from leakers millions of financial account files detailing money laundering and tax avoidance from offshore banking centers -- the "Panama Papers" and "Paradise Papers."

The top of the ICIJ's web page offers links to SecureDrop and other encrypted tools for sharing information.

And it has one simple invitation for its users: "Leak to us."

 
&nbsp;

Using cryptography and virtual drop boxes, Julian Assange's WikiLeaks created a revolutionary new model for media to lure massive digitised leaks from whistleblowers, exposing everything from US military secrets to wealthy tax-dodgers' illicit offshore accounts.

Using cryptography and virtual drop boxes, Julian Assange's WikiLeaks created a revolutionary new model for media to lure massive digitised leaks from whistleblowers, exposing everything from US military secrets to wealthy tax-dodgers' illicit offshore accounts. Assange's arrest in London Thursday on a US extradition request to face charges of computer crimes could spell the end of 13-year-old WikiLeaks. But his legacy will live long in the world's media. News outlets and journalists everywhere can now offer to potential sources encrypted apps and secure virtual mailboxes to receive secrets that were once divulged by discreet whispers, furtive phone calls and unmarked manila envelopes. Skilled at hacking and cryptography -- and motivated by a deep distrust of traditional institutions -- Australia-born Assange took a cypherpunk's libertarian streak to the challenge of government secrecy. In 2006 he built an online platform that offered an anonymous, encrypted path to leak computerized files without fear of exposure. 'We liberated cryptography' Leaks have forever been crucial currency in journalism. But no one had before created a convenient, relatively easy-to-use electronic drop box that could almost instantly, with absolute secrecy, take delivery of gigabytes of documents. And he did it at a ripe time, as the connected world emerged and social media took off. For Assange, it was the democratization of powers that had before belonged to governments alone. "Cryptography was then the exclusive property of states," he wrote in 2013. "By writing our own software and disseminating it far and wide we liberated cryptography, democratized it and spread it through the frontiers of the new internet." WikiLeaks' first release in December 2006 was an apparent assassination order by a Somali rebel leader that may or may not have been authentic. But it drew attention. Over the next year, WikiLeaks obtained documents baring the Kenyan leader's corruption, the secret operating rules for the US Guantanamo Bay prison camp, and offshore banking records from a Swiss bank. It began scooping mainstream media on stories from secret climate discussions to Iran's nuclear activities and Icelandic banking fraud. The Manning files In 2010 US army intelligence official Chelsea Manning -- a transgender woman then known as Bradley -- began secretly feeding hundreds of thousands of classified files to WikiLeaks. They showed possible war crimes by US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a never-before-seen video of a US helicopter attack in Iraq that killed 18 people, including civilians and two Reuters journalists. The stunning leak could not have been carried out in the old days of faxes and printers and it put WikiLeaks into the mainstream. Assange partnered with The New York Times, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and others to help sort through and make sense of the Manning material. WikiLeaks won awards and Assange was put on the cover of Time magazine. "What WikiLeaks demonstrated was the potential for a stateless transparency organization to get around the ability of the most powerful governments in the world to suppress information," said Micah Sifry, author of a 2011 book on WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks copycats Almost as soon as he hit that peak, Assange's star began to fade. Political pressure to counter WikiLeaks was huge. A multi-country effort got major credit card and payment firms to cut WikiLeaks' financial lifeline of donations. And he began to fall out with collaborators, a victim of his domineering personality that made WikiLeaks a one-man show, and his insistence that leaked material be published unedited, including that information that could harm people -- soldiers in the field, human rights activists and others. But by 2012 others were already adopting his model of setting up encrypted, anonymous paths for leakers to hand over documents. WikiLeaks copycat sites opened in different countries. Journalists became trained in the use of encryption and secret file transfers. "Exposing the secrets of the US government was a powerful signal that nobody could keep information under control in the internet age," said Sifry. US whistleblower Edward Snowden did not deliver his trove of hundreds of thousands of top-secret intelligence and military documents to a media drop-box in 2013. But he used encrypted communications that Assange helped popularize to communicate with the journalists he collaborated with. In 2013 the Freedom of the Press Foundation, which had aided WikiLeaks with financing, developed a new anonymous drop box free for anyone to use: SecureDrop. The New Yorker, an early adopter, explained its value to leakers: "As it's set up, even we won't be able to figure out where files sent to us come from. If anyone asks us, we won't be able to tell them." SecureDrop is important to the most successful WikiLeaks-like operation, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. In recent years it has obtained from leakers millions of financial account files detailing money laundering and tax avoidance from offshore banking centers -- the "Panama Papers" and "Paradise Papers." The top of the ICIJ's web page offers links to SecureDrop and other encrypted tools for sharing information. And it has one simple invitation for its users: "Leak to us."

WikiLeaks set 21st century model for cyber-leak journalism

A UK court on Thursday found Julian Assange guilty on the charge of breaching his bail conditions after the Wikileaks co-founder was arrested by Scotland Yard officers from his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ecuadors-withdrawal-of-asylum-for-assange-illegal-wikileaks-209553">Ecuador Embassy</a> hideout in London as the South American country withdrew the asylum granted to him.

Assange, who has also been arrested on a provisional US extradition warrant, was produced before Westminster Magistrates Court in London where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to surrender.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-is-no-hero-british-foreign-secretary-jeremy-hunt-209613">Julian Assange 'is no hero': British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt</a>

Describing his behaviour as that of a "narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interest", District Judge Michael Snow ruled Assange was guilty for breaching bail and ordered him to appear via videolink on May 2 for an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/julian-assange-to-fight-us-extradition-request-lawyer-209644">extradition hearing</a>.

The court heard that during his arrest at the embassy after nearly seven years in hiding, the 47-year-old had to be restrained as he shouted, "This is unlawful, I am not leaving."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/timeline-key-developments-leading-to-julian-assanges-arrest-209585">Timeline: Key developments leading to Julian Assange's arrest</a>

Scotland Yard said after his initial arrest on breach of bail conditions in the UK, Assange was further arrested on behalf of the US authorities after his arrival at a central London police station on an extradition warrant.

British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the arrest in Parliament, describing it as a "legal matter" as Assange now faces extradition proceedings to the US on "charges relating to computer offences".

"He has also been arrested in relation to an extradition request from the United States authorities," May told the Commons in a statement. "This goes to show that in the United Kingdom, no one is above the law," she said.

Assange, who was seen in public after many years as he was dragged out of the Ecuador Embassy, appeared visibly aged and sporting a long white beard. He waved a thumbs-up sign at the public gallery in court as he was produced in court. He now faces a 12-month sentence in the UK on the charge of failure to surrender and will remain in judicial custody until he is sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London next month. According to details that emerged in court, his extradition to the US is sought on alleged conspiracy charges related to one of the largest leaks of government secrets.

Earlier on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said its officers had executed a warrant against Assange dating back to June 29, 2012 for "failing to surrender"&nbsp;before a UK.&nbsp;

The Australian-born campaigner has been holed up in a back room of the Ecuador embassy in central London for nearly seven years since his arrest on sexual assault charges in Sweden.&nbsp;

He had claimed asylum on the grounds that he feared ultimate extradition to the US, where he claims to face a possible death sentence or torture for Wikileaks' alleged leak of American secrets.&nbsp;

Assange sought refuge at the Ecuador Embassy in Knightsbridge in June 2012, having lost an appeal against extradition to Sweden for questioning on allegations of rape and sexual assault that went up to the UK Supreme Court.&nbsp;

While the Swedish case has since been dropped, Assange was wanted by Scotland Yard for breach of bail and faced arrest the moment he stepped out of the diplomatically immune territory. But once that immunity was lifted, he was taken into custody.

The UK government welcomed the arrest, which it said was the result of "extensive dialogue" between the UK and Ecuador. A Downing Street spokesperson stressed that the UK did not lobby for his arrest in any way and the "decision to revoke asylum"&nbsp;was entirely made by Ecuador.&nbsp;

"Ecuador's actions recognise that the UK's justice system is one in which rights are protected and in which, contrary to what Mr Assange and his supporters may claim, he and his legitimate interests will be protected," UK home secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement to Parliament.

UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, stressed in his statement that Assange was no "hero"&nbsp;as he had hidden from the truth for years.&nbsp;

Ecuador's President, Lenin Moreno, said the country had withdrawn Assange's asylum after he repeatedly violated the conditions of his asylum. 
Wikileaks tweeted that Ecuador had acted illegally in terminating Assange's political asylum "in violation of international law".

The relationship between Assange and his host country had soured considerably in recent months, resulting in the Wikileaks co-founder taking legal action against Ecuador last October for allegedly violating his "fundamental rights and freedoms". He was placed under a new set of house rules and allowed only limited internet access.&nbsp;

The US authorities have never officially confirmed that they have charged Assange but the criminal charges related to the publication of classified documents were accidentally made public last year.&nbsp;

In December 2017, Ecuador gave Assange citizenship and was reportedly preparing to appoint him to a diplomatic post in Russia, but the British government made clear that if he left the embassy, he would be arrested.&nbsp;

Assange set up Wikileaks in 2006 with the stated aim of obtaining and publishing confidential documents and images. The organisation hit the headlines four years later when it released footage of US soldiers killing civilians from a helicopter in Iraq.&nbsp;

The US Department of Justice said in a statement that the extradition request was in connection with federal charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, relating to the Chelsea Manning revelations. They carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.&nbsp;

A UK court on Thursday found Julian Assange guilty on the charge of breaching his bail conditions after the Wikileaks co-founder was arrested by Scotland Yard officers from his Ecuador Embassy hideout in London as the South American country withdrew the asylum granted to him.

A UK court on Thursday found Julian Assange guilty on the charge of breaching his bail conditions after the Wikileaks co-founder was arrested by Scotland Yard officers from his Ecuador Embassy hideout in London as the South American country withdrew the asylum granted to him. Assange, who has also been arrested on a provisional US extradition warrant, was produced before Westminster Magistrates Court in London where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to surrender. Also read: Julian Assange 'is no hero': British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt Describing his behaviour as that of a "narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interest", District Judge Michael Snow ruled Assange was guilty for breaching bail and ordered him to appear via videolink on May 2 for an extradition hearing. The court heard that during his arrest at the embassy after nearly seven years in hiding, the 47-year-old had to be restrained as he shouted, "This is unlawful, I am not leaving." Timeline: Key developments leading to Julian Assange's arrest Scotland Yard said after his initial arrest on breach of bail conditions in the UK, Assange was further arrested on behalf of the US authorities after his arrival at a central London police station on an extradition warrant. British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed the arrest in Parliament, describing it as a "legal matter" as Assange now faces extradition proceedings to the US on "charges relating to computer offences". "He has also been arrested in relation to an extradition request from the United States authorities," May told the Commons in a statement. "This goes to show that in the United Kingdom, no one is above the law," she said. Assange, who was seen in public after many years as he was dragged out of the Ecuador Embassy, appeared visibly aged and sporting a long white beard. He waved a thumbs-up sign at the public gallery in court as he was produced in court. He now faces a 12-month sentence in the UK on the charge of failure to surrender and will remain in judicial custody until he is sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in London next month. According to details that emerged in court, his extradition to the US is sought on alleged conspiracy charges related to one of the largest leaks of government secrets. Earlier on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said its officers had executed a warrant against Assange dating back to June 29, 2012 for "failing to surrender" before a UK. The Australian-born campaigner has been holed up in a back room of the Ecuador embassy in central London for nearly seven years since his arrest on sexual assault charges in Sweden. He had claimed asylum on the grounds that he feared ultimate extradition to the US, where he claims to face a possible death sentence or torture for Wikileaks' alleged leak of American secrets. Assange sought refuge at the Ecuador Embassy in Knightsbridge in June 2012, having lost an appeal against extradition to Sweden for questioning on allegations of rape and sexual assault that went up to the UK Supreme Court. While the Swedish case has since been dropped, Assange was wanted by Scotland Yard for breach of bail and faced arrest the moment he stepped out of the diplomatically immune territory. But once that immunity was lifted, he was taken into custody. The UK government welcomed the arrest, which it said was the result of "extensive dialogue" between the UK and Ecuador. A Downing Street spokesperson stressed that the UK did not lobby for his arrest in any way and the "decision to revoke asylum" was entirely made by Ecuador. "Ecuador's actions recognise that the UK's justice system is one in which rights are protected and in which, contrary to what Mr Assange and his supporters may claim, he and his legitimate interests will be protected," UK home secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement to Parliament. UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, stressed in his statement that Assange was no "hero" as he had hidden from the truth for years. Ecuador's President, Lenin Moreno, said the country had withdrawn Assange's asylum after he repeatedly violated the conditions of his asylum. Wikileaks tweeted that Ecuador had acted illegally in terminating Assange's political asylum "in violation of international law". The relationship between Assange and his host country had soured considerably in recent months, resulting in the Wikileaks co-founder taking legal action against Ecuador last October for allegedly violating his "fundamental rights and freedoms". He was placed under a new set of house rules and allowed only limited internet access. The US authorities have never officially confirmed that they have charged Assange but the criminal charges related to the publication of classified documents were accidentally made public last year. In December 2017, Ecuador gave Assange citizenship and was reportedly preparing to appoint him to a diplomatic post in Russia, but the British government made clear that if he left the embassy, he would be arrested. Assange set up Wikileaks in 2006 with the stated aim of obtaining and publishing confidential documents and images. The organisation hit the headlines four years later when it released footage of US soldiers killing civilians from a helicopter in Iraq. The US Department of Justice said in a statement that the extradition request was in connection with federal charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, relating to the Chelsea Manning revelations. They carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Julian Assange found guilty of breach of bail in UK after arrest, faces extradition to US

WikiLeaks founder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/timeline-of-wikileaks-founder-julian-assanges-arrest-209547">Julian Assange</a> will be "contesting and fighting" a US request for his extradition, his lawyer Jennifer Robinson said on Thursday following his arrest by British police.

Robinson said Assange had also told her to pass a message to his supporters that his repeated warnings about the risk of US extradition had been proved right.

"He said, 'I told you so'," she said outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London.

Wikileaks founder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/timeline-of-wikileaks-founder-julian-assanges-arrest-209547">Julian Assange</a>&nbsp;was arrested in London on Thursday&nbsp;after being evicted from the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ecuadors-withdrawal-of-asylum-for-assange-illegal-wikileaks-209553">Ecuadorean Embassy</a>.

UK police say they were invited into the Ecuadorian embassy after its government withdrew asylum.

Assange was taken into custody at a central London police station, before he’s presented at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The United States Justice Department has filed criminal charges against Assange, 47, related to the publication of classified documents, a fact that prosecutors accidentally made public in November. He also faces a charge in a British court of jumping bail.

Assange is also suspected of aiding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election by releasing material stolen from the computers of the Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party. In July, the Justice Department charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking those computers, and the indictment contends that at least one of them was in contact with WikiLeaks.

Julian Assange has been the subject of a sophisticated spying operation in the Ecuadorean embassy where he has been holed up since 2012, the group said.

Assange’s future in the embassy was called into question last year after the president of Ecuador said he would “eventually” have to leave the property and revealed that he was in discussions with British authorities to end his asylum.&nbsp;

The WikiLeaks founder was first granted asylum in 2012 in order to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be "contesting and fighting" a US request for his extradition, his lawyer Jennifer Robinson said on Thursday following his arrest by British police.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be "contesting and fighting" a US request for his extradition, his lawyer Jennifer Robinson said on Thursday following his arrest by British police. Robinson said Assange had also told her to pass a message to his supporters that his repeated warnings about the risk of US extradition had been proved right. "He said, 'I told you so'," she said outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was arrested in London on Thursday after being evicted from the Ecuadorean Embassy. UK police say they were invited into the Ecuadorian embassy after its government withdrew asylum. Assange was taken into custody at a central London police station, before he’s presented at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. The United States Justice Department has filed criminal charges against Assange, 47, related to the publication of classified documents, a fact that prosecutors accidentally made public in November. He also faces a charge in a British court of jumping bail. Assange is also suspected of aiding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election by releasing material stolen from the computers of the Clinton campaign and the Democratic Party. In July, the Justice Department charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking those computers, and the indictment contends that at least one of them was in contact with WikiLeaks. Julian Assange has been the subject of a sophisticated spying operation in the Ecuadorean embassy where he has been holed up since 2012, the group said. Assange’s future in the embassy was called into question last year after the president of Ecuador said he would “eventually” have to leave the property and revealed that he was in discussions with British authorities to end his asylum. The WikiLeaks founder was first granted asylum in 2012 in order to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations of sexual assault.

Julian Assange to fight US extradition request: Lawyer

The ED on Tuesday said it was "proactively" pursuing all issues pertaining to the extradition of Nirav Modi, the main accused in the USD 2 billion PNB scam, from the UK as it dismissed media reports that Indian agencies "did not respond" in time when British investigators extended help.

The central agency, which is probing Nirav Modi under the criminal sections of the anti-money laundering law, issued a two-page clarification, saying the media reports in this context "have been distorted with speculative writing and wrong conclusions have been drawn".

A British daily recently published a report and video showing Modi walking on the streets of London and said the fugitive diamantaire was living in a swanky 8-million pounds apartment in the city's West End and that he was involved in new diamond business.

Calling the reports of inaction on part of the agency "insinuating", the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said, "It has been wrongly reported in the news item that the UK SFO had confirmed to Indian authorities by March 2018 that Nirav Modi was in the UK.

"In this connection, it is submitted that no such formal or informal communication was received by the ED from UK authorities in March 2018 or at a later date, informing that Nirav Modi was in the UK."

The ED added that the National Central Bureau of Manchester, the nodal agency of the UK for dealing with Interpol notices and cooperating with other countries, had instead asked Indian agencies to "provide it" with intelligence inputs that suggested Nirav Modi was in the UK.

It said the UK government's "consistent stand" had been that a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against an accused could only be executed through an "extradition request" and not through letters rogatory (LR) or the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).

Hence, it said, the extradition request for Nirav Modi could only be sent after a charge sheet was filed against him, which was done by the agency in May last year.

"An extradition request cannot be sent at the stage of the investigation. Accordingly, upon initiation of investigations by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in February last year against Nirav Modi and others, the first NBW was issued on March 5, 2018, and that was not acted upon by the UK government," the agency said.

The ED obtained a fresh NBW against Nirav Modi from a Mumbai court after filing the charge sheet and sent it to the Interpol, which notified the "red warrant" for arrest against the fugitive diamantaire on June 29 last year, and subsequently, a fresh request for extradition was sent to the UK government, the agency said.

It added that it had also sent a supplementary MLAT request in October last year for execution of an order of attachment of the UK-based assets of Nirav Modi.

"In response to these MLAT requests, the UK authorities had raised queries from time-to-time, which were promptly examined, and detailed replies were sent by the ED. These MLAT requests are yet to be executed by the UK authorities," the central probe agency said.

"It is reiterated that the ED has been proactively following up all the issues relating to the Nirav Modi case with authorities of various countries, including the UK. The directorate has also been making necessary efforts for successful extradition of Nirav Modi," it said.

The agency said the latest media reports reflected that the "understanding regarding the legal issues is contrary to the facts and established international protocols and procedures".

"This kind of misreporting and speculative news may create a wrong impression to the public at large," it said.

On March 9, the ED had said the UK home secretary had recently referred India's request for extraditing the tainted businessman to a court for initiating legal proceedings against him.&nbsp;

The ED on Tuesday said it was "proactively" pursuing all issues pertaining to the extradition of Nirav Modi, the main accused in the USD 2 billion PNB scam, from the UK as it dismissed media reports that Indian agencies "did not respond" in time when British investigators extended help.

The ED on Tuesday said it was "proactively" pursuing all issues pertaining to the extradition of Nirav Modi, the main accused in the USD 2 billion PNB scam, from the UK as it dismissed media reports that Indian agencies "did not respond" in time when British investigators extended help. The central agency, which is probing Nirav Modi under the criminal sections of the anti-money laundering law, issued a two-page clarification, saying the media reports in this context "have been distorted with speculative writing and wrong conclusions have been drawn". A British daily recently published a report and video showing Modi walking on the streets of London and said the fugitive diamantaire was living in a swanky 8-million pounds apartment in the city's West End and that he was involved in new diamond business. Calling the reports of inaction on part of the agency "insinuating", the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said, "It has been wrongly reported in the news item that the UK SFO had confirmed to Indian authorities by March 2018 that Nirav Modi was in the UK. "In this connection, it is submitted that no such formal or informal communication was received by the ED from UK authorities in March 2018 or at a later date, informing that Nirav Modi was in the UK." The ED added that the National Central Bureau of Manchester, the nodal agency of the UK for dealing with Interpol notices and cooperating with other countries, had instead asked Indian agencies to "provide it" with intelligence inputs that suggested Nirav Modi was in the UK. It said the UK government's "consistent stand" had been that a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against an accused could only be executed through an "extradition request" and not through letters rogatory (LR) or the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). Hence, it said, the extradition request for Nirav Modi could only be sent after a charge sheet was filed against him, which was done by the agency in May last year. "An extradition request cannot be sent at the stage of the investigation. Accordingly, upon initiation of investigations by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in February last year against Nirav Modi and others, the first NBW was issued on March 5, 2018, and that was not acted upon by the UK government," the agency said. The ED obtained a fresh NBW against Nirav Modi from a Mumbai court after filing the charge sheet and sent it to the Interpol, which notified the "red warrant" for arrest against the fugitive diamantaire on June 29 last year, and subsequently, a fresh request for extradition was sent to the UK government, the agency said. It added that it had also sent a supplementary MLAT request in October last year for execution of an order of attachment of the UK-based assets of Nirav Modi. "In response to these MLAT requests, the UK authorities had raised queries from time-to-time, which were promptly examined, and detailed replies were sent by the ED. These MLAT requests are yet to be executed by the UK authorities," the central probe agency said. "It is reiterated that the ED has been proactively following up all the issues relating to the Nirav Modi case with authorities of various countries, including the UK. The directorate has also been making necessary efforts for successful extradition of Nirav Modi," it said. The agency said the latest media reports reflected that the "understanding regarding the legal issues is contrary to the facts and established international protocols and procedures". "This kind of misreporting and speculative news may create a wrong impression to the public at large," it said. On March 9, the ED had said the UK home secretary had recently referred India's request for extraditing the tainted businessman to a court for initiating legal proceedings against him.

ED refutes allegation of inaction, says it's taking proactive steps to get Nirav Modi extradited

Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mallya-prepares-for-lengthy-appeal-against-uk-governments-extradition-order-195448">filed his application in the UK High Court</a>, seeking permission to appeal against an extradition order signed by the British Home Secretary.

The 63-year-old businessman, who remains on bail on an extradition warrant in the UK, made the application in the Administrative Court division of the High Court on Thursday, 10 days after Home Secretary Sajid Javid signed off on the order triggering a 14-day window for his appeal application.

"The application has been sent for a judge on papers decision, which is expected any time between two to four weeks,"a UK court representative said.

A "judge on papers"&nbsp;decision will involve a High Court judge determining the merits of the application and if it is accepted, the case will proceed to a ?substantive hearing? in the next few months' time.

In the event that Mallya's application is rejected at this stage, he will have the option to submit a "renewal form".

The renewal process will lead to a 30-minute oral hearing during which Mallya's legal team and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - on behalf of the Indian government - will renew their respective claims for and against an appeal for a judge to determine if it can proceed to a full hearing.

The process, to be heard in the Royal Courts of Justice in London, could take months as the listing of a hearing will depend on the availability of judges and other factors.

Following the outcome at the High Court level, both sides could apply for the right to appeal to the Supreme Court, which would involve at least another six weeks.

However, that process is more complex as the UK High Court must certify that the appeal involves a point of law of general public importance, and either the High Court or the Supreme Court gives leave for the appeal to be made.

Mallya and his legal team have not made a renewed comment in relation to the appeal but soon after the UK home secretary had signed off on the Westminster Magistrates' Court order in favour of extradition on February 4, the businessman had taken to social media to confirm his plans to seek an appeal.

"After the decision was handed down on December 10, 2018 by the Westminster Magistrates Court, I stated my intention to appeal. I could not initiate the appeal process before a decision by the Home Secretary. Now I will initiate the appeal process," he said in a Twitter statement earlier this month.

The former boss of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines took to Twitter again this week to call on Prime Minister Modi to accept his settlement offer in relation to the airline's loan default.

"I respectfully ask why the Prime Minister is not instructing his Banks to take the money I have put on the table so he can at least claim credit for full recovery of public funds lent to Kingfisher," he said, adding that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/made-an-offer-to-settle-before-honorable-high-court-court-of-karnataka-vijay-mallya-197267">his offer to the Karnataka High Court</a> should not be dismissed as "frivolous"&nbsp;because it is a "perfectly tangible, sincere, honest and readily achievable offer".

Mallya has been based in the UK since March 2016 and remains on bail on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard in April 2017.

In her verdict at the end of a year-long extradition trial in December last year, Judge Emma Arbuthnot had ruled that the "flashy"&nbsp;billionaire had a "case to answer"&nbsp;in the Indian courts.

The court had also dismissed any bars to extradition on the grounds of the prison conditions under which the businessman would be held, as the judge accepted the Indian government's assurances that he would receive all necessary medical care at Barrack 12 in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail.

India and the UK have an Extradition Treaty signed in 1992 and in force since November 1993. So far only one successful extradition has taken place from the UK to India under the treaty - that of Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who was sent back to India in 2016 to face trial in connection with his involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002.&nbsp;

Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, has filed his application in the UK High Court, seeking permission to appeal against an extradition order signed by the British Home Secretary.

Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, has filed his application in the UK High Court, seeking permission to appeal against an extradition order signed by the British Home Secretary. The 63-year-old businessman, who remains on bail on an extradition warrant in the UK, made the application in the Administrative Court division of the High Court on Thursday, 10 days after Home Secretary Sajid Javid signed off on the order triggering a 14-day window for his appeal application. "The application has been sent for a judge on papers decision, which is expected any time between two to four weeks,"a UK court representative said. A "judge on papers" decision will involve a High Court judge determining the merits of the application and if it is accepted, the case will proceed to a ?substantive hearing? in the next few months' time. In the event that Mallya's application is rejected at this stage, he will have the option to submit a "renewal form". The renewal process will lead to a 30-minute oral hearing during which Mallya's legal team and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) - on behalf of the Indian government - will renew their respective claims for and against an appeal for a judge to determine if it can proceed to a full hearing. The process, to be heard in the Royal Courts of Justice in London, could take months as the listing of a hearing will depend on the availability of judges and other factors. Following the outcome at the High Court level, both sides could apply for the right to appeal to the Supreme Court, which would involve at least another six weeks. However, that process is more complex as the UK High Court must certify that the appeal involves a point of law of general public importance, and either the High Court or the Supreme Court gives leave for the appeal to be made. Mallya and his legal team have not made a renewed comment in relation to the appeal but soon after the UK home secretary had signed off on the Westminster Magistrates' Court order in favour of extradition on February 4, the businessman had taken to social media to confirm his plans to seek an appeal. "After the decision was handed down on December 10, 2018 by the Westminster Magistrates Court, I stated my intention to appeal. I could not initiate the appeal process before a decision by the Home Secretary. Now I will initiate the appeal process," he said in a Twitter statement earlier this month. The former boss of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines took to Twitter again this week to call on Prime Minister Modi to accept his settlement offer in relation to the airline's loan default. "I respectfully ask why the Prime Minister is not instructing his Banks to take the money I have put on the table so he can at least claim credit for full recovery of public funds lent to Kingfisher," he said, adding that his offer to the Karnataka High Court should not be dismissed as "frivolous" because it is a "perfectly tangible, sincere, honest and readily achievable offer". Mallya has been based in the UK since March 2016 and remains on bail on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard in April 2017. In her verdict at the end of a year-long extradition trial in December last year, Judge Emma Arbuthnot had ruled that the "flashy" billionaire had a "case to answer" in the Indian courts. The court had also dismissed any bars to extradition on the grounds of the prison conditions under which the businessman would be held, as the judge accepted the Indian government's assurances that he would receive all necessary medical care at Barrack 12 in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail. India and the UK have an Extradition Treaty signed in 1992 and in force since November 1993. So far only one successful extradition has taken place from the UK to India under the treaty - that of Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who was sent back to India in 2016 to face trial in connection with his involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002.

Vijay Mallya files for permission to appeal in UK High Court against extradition order

A defiant Vijay Mallya has confirmed his plans to initiate a lengthy <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/uk-home-secretary-signs-order-to-extradite-vijay-mallya-to-india-195145">appeal process against the UK government's order to extradite him</a> to face charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to nearly Rs 9,000 crores in India.

The 63-year-old embattled liquor baron's extradition was approved by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid on Sunday, boosting India's efforts to bring back the fugitive businessman.

Mallya has two weeks to lodge permission to appeal in the High Court after Javid signed off on his extradition order. Hours later, Mallya took to social media to confirm his plans to appeal against the decision.

"After the decision was handed down on December 10, 2018, by the Westminster Magistrates Court, I stated my intention to appeal. I could not initiate the appeal process before a decision by the Home Secretary. Now I will initiate the appeal process," Mallya said in a statement on Twitter.

Once the application is made, the court will consider whether there are grounds for the appeal to be admitted and that in turn would trigger another set of hearings over the next few months in the Administrative Court, which is part of the UK High Court.

"It could take months for the case to be heard as the court gets very clogged up and the whole process could take up to five or six months," explained Sarosh Zaiwalla, Founder and Senior Partner of UK-based law firm Zaiwalla &amp; Co.

"The Crown Prosecution Service (arguing on behalf of the Indian government) could apply for an expedited appeal process but it is not common for this to be granted. You would have to show the need of urgency," he said.

Following the outcome at the High Court level, both sides could apply for the right to appeal to the Supreme Court, which would involve at least another six weeks.

However, that process is more complex as the UK High Court must certify that the appeal involves a point of law of general public importance, and either the High Court or the Supreme Court gives leave for the appeal to be made.

Mallya has been based in the UK since March 2016 and remains on bail on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard in April 2017.

In her verdict at the end of a year-long extradition trial in December last year, Judge Emma Arbuthnot ruled that the "flashy" former Kingfisher Airlines boss had a "case to answer" in the Indian courts.

She found there was "clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds" and accepted a prima facie case of fraud and a conspiracy to launder money against Mallya, as presented by the on behalf of the Indian authorities.

The court also dismissed any bars to extradition on the grounds of the prison conditions under which the businessman would be held, as the judge accepted the Indian government's assurances that he would receive all necessary medical care at Barrack 12 in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail.

"There was no evidence which allowed me to find that if extradited Dr Mallya was at real risk of suffering a flagrant denial of justice," the verdict noted.

India and the UK have an Extradition Treaty signed in 1992 and in force since November 1993. So far only one successful extradition has taken place from the UK to India under the treaty that of Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who was sent back to India in 2016 to face trial in connection with his involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002.

As India falls under the Category 2 set of countries within the UK's Extradition Act 2003, any decision of the courts must be endorsed by the UK Home Secretary, who has the authority to order extradition. It is not uncommon for a higher court to give leave to appeal and then to overturn the verdict of a lower court.

In a related extradition case of alleged bookie Sanjeev Kumar Chawla wanted in India on match-fixing charges, the High Court had overturned an earlier Westminster Magistrates' Court ruling against his extradition to India due to human rights concerns related to Tihar Jail in Delhi where he was to be detained.

Under the legal process, the case was sent back to the magistrates' level where a District Judge overturned the previous ruling last month and found in favour of the Indian government.

Javid is also due to announce his decision on the extradition order of Chawla, a key accused in the cricket match-fixing scandal involving former South African captain Hansie Cronje in 2000, within the stipulated two-month period, which runs until early March.&nbsp;

A defiant Vijay Mallya has confirmed his plans to initiate a lengthy appeal process against the UK government's order to extradite him to face charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to nearly Rs 9,000 crores in India.

A defiant Vijay Mallya has confirmed his plans to initiate a lengthy appeal process against the UK government's order to extradite him to face charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to nearly Rs 9,000 crores in India. The 63-year-old embattled liquor baron's extradition was approved by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid on Sunday, boosting India's efforts to bring back the fugitive businessman. Mallya has two weeks to lodge permission to appeal in the High Court after Javid signed off on his extradition order. Hours later, Mallya took to social media to confirm his plans to appeal against the decision. "After the decision was handed down on December 10, 2018, by the Westminster Magistrates Court, I stated my intention to appeal. I could not initiate the appeal process before a decision by the Home Secretary. Now I will initiate the appeal process," Mallya said in a statement on Twitter. Once the application is made, the court will consider whether there are grounds for the appeal to be admitted and that in turn would trigger another set of hearings over the next few months in the Administrative Court, which is part of the UK High Court. "It could take months for the case to be heard as the court gets very clogged up and the whole process could take up to five or six months," explained Sarosh Zaiwalla, Founder and Senior Partner of UK-based law firm Zaiwalla & Co. "The Crown Prosecution Service (arguing on behalf of the Indian government) could apply for an expedited appeal process but it is not common for this to be granted. You would have to show the need of urgency," he said. Following the outcome at the High Court level, both sides could apply for the right to appeal to the Supreme Court, which would involve at least another six weeks. However, that process is more complex as the UK High Court must certify that the appeal involves a point of law of general public importance, and either the High Court or the Supreme Court gives leave for the appeal to be made. Mallya has been based in the UK since March 2016 and remains on bail on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard in April 2017. In her verdict at the end of a year-long extradition trial in December last year, Judge Emma Arbuthnot ruled that the "flashy" former Kingfisher Airlines boss had a "case to answer" in the Indian courts. She found there was "clear evidence of dispersal and misapplication of the loan funds" and accepted a prima facie case of fraud and a conspiracy to launder money against Mallya, as presented by the on behalf of the Indian authorities. The court also dismissed any bars to extradition on the grounds of the prison conditions under which the businessman would be held, as the judge accepted the Indian government's assurances that he would receive all necessary medical care at Barrack 12 in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail. "There was no evidence which allowed me to find that if extradited Dr Mallya was at real risk of suffering a flagrant denial of justice," the verdict noted. India and the UK have an Extradition Treaty signed in 1992 and in force since November 1993. So far only one successful extradition has taken place from the UK to India under the treaty that of Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, who was sent back to India in 2016 to face trial in connection with his involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002. As India falls under the Category 2 set of countries within the UK's Extradition Act 2003, any decision of the courts must be endorsed by the UK Home Secretary, who has the authority to order extradition. It is not uncommon for a higher court to give leave to appeal and then to overturn the verdict of a lower court. In a related extradition case of alleged bookie Sanjeev Kumar Chawla wanted in India on match-fixing charges, the High Court had overturned an earlier Westminster Magistrates' Court ruling against his extradition to India due to human rights concerns related to Tihar Jail in Delhi where he was to be detained. Under the legal process, the case was sent back to the magistrates' level where a District Judge overturned the previous ruling last month and found in favour of the Indian government. Javid is also due to announce his decision on the extradition order of Chawla, a key accused in the cricket match-fixing scandal involving former South African captain Hansie Cronje in 2000, within the stipulated two-month period, which runs until early March.

Mallya prepares for lengthy appeal against UK government's extradition order

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